Bella Bunce is someone who truly gets the essence of what makes cheerleading such an uplifting sport. She has harnessed the love of her teammates to cultivate an unmatched optimism that can never be quelled as an encouraging captain.

While dancing for a decade, Bella first showed her spirit on the sidelines by being a mascot for her brother’s youth football team. It spring-boarded her into starting out competitive cheer in sixth grade and then joining the Yellowjackets as a sophomore. Now, she is an integral part of the team as a senior captain in its preparation for the upcoming competitive campaign this winter.

“In competitive cheer, I love the adrenaline rush you get because you get onto the mat with your best friends and know it will be the best two minutes together,” says Bella. “I just keep a positive attitude out there. It is such a long year for us with summer conditioning then cheering at football games in the fall, and then the competitive season. So with that, I go to each practice with a mindset that it will be a good day.”

Bella explains that no matter what hurdles she may encounter during her day, she leaves it behind as she walks to the mat. The compartmentalization, along with a confident and sound mentality, helps her achieve peak performance consistently.

“I definitely try to not let bad days affect my performance with cheer. I leave all of that at the door when I go to practices,” says Bella. “My teammates are also very uplifting, and because of how supportive they are, it helps let other things go.”

While she has taken time to learn other sections of the sport, Bella has been a solid anchor for her squads’ routines through the years. One thing that has helped her take on more physical and social responsibilities within the team is the encouragement of her mentors.

“Ever since I started cheerleading, I have been a back spot. I have grown and learned some new skills, and I know how to base,” Bella says. “I was nervous at first when I started in middle school, but I have had great coaches in middle school and high school. They have made it easy to feel confident, which helps me progress. It is hard for me to grasp tumbling, but I have made up for it in other areas of cheerleading.”

One thing Bella appreciates in the cheerleading community in Connecticut is the clearly evident mutual admiration and reverence from each other. Even if it is in the setting of a competition, each and every competitor desires only the best out of its adversary.

“It is great whenever we are at a competition, and you see all of the other teams in the stands cheering you on no matter what,” says Bella. “We always say hello to each other, and we never snub each other. We all have great respect for each other, and we show it.”

Bella knows how critical a role captains played in her assimilating into the Yellowjackets when she joined as an underclassman. She looks to come full circle and play that same brand ambassador role to the up-and-coming stars at East Haven.

“Being a captain is definitely an honor because when I first joined the team as a sophomore, I was nervous, but I knew some of the girls from middle school, and the captains let me in more,” says Bella. “I want to do the same for the younger girls now. I want to be the positive person they can come to, and cheer them up while making them smile.”

East Haven cheerleading Head Coach Tianna Speringo explains that in her decision process of appointing Bella as captain, she marveled at her mature approach to the team. She is not only dedicated to giving her all, regardless if it is a standard practice or a state-title routine, but also helping her younger colleagues grasp every aspect of their roles on the mat.

“When naming captains for the 2024-’25 season, Bella was another candidate that really stuck out to me because of her leadership skills and determination. Bella is only a three-year athlete, however, she has grown so much and really was a standout candidate when it came to picking captains,” says Speringo. “Bella is a back spot on the team. She is always teaching our freshman athletes how to back if needed, ensuring they are using the correct technique and grips. At practice, she gives 100% and is another great go-to person for the girls. She is always kind and respectful to not only her coaches, but her teammates, as well. Bella is a very motivated person. She wants nothing but the best for the team, especially with competition season approaching us.”

After making major strides in postseason competitions last winter, Bella and the Yellowjackets are ready to take the final steps to the top this time around. Yet no matter the level of success they attain as a group, she never wants them to lose sight of what truly brings them together.

“For the team competitively, I want us to place well at every meet and hopefully get a ring at states,” says Bella. “Within our team, I want us to stay as close with each other as we are now. We want to act as a family because I think of all these girls as my sisters.”