The Branford High School cheerleading team recently completed its season by competing at the New England Regional Championship in Providence, Rhode Island on March 18. The Hornets received an invitation to represent Connecticut at regionals this season by virtue of placing as the runner-up at the Co-ed State Championship on March 4. The last time that Branford’s high school cheer team had competed at regionals was in 2011.

Then on March 22, four of Branford’s athletes and Head Coach Melissa Mansi were invited to the CIAC All-State Cheerleading banquet to celebrate the quartet’s recognition of being nominated as Class L All-State cheerleaders. The cheerleaders from Branford recognized were senior captain Amanda Acquarulo, senior captain Addison Ferrara, junior Charles Longway, and freshman Rachel Rustemeyer.

The Hornets finished their season with a pair of first-place finishes, two runner-up distinctions, a grand championship title, a top-10 finish at regionals, three All-SCC cheerleaders, and four Class L All-State cheerleaders. Branford’s team consisted of seniors Acquarulo and Ferrara; juniors Riley Carroll and Longway; sophomore Kailee Desiderio; and freshmen Rustemeyer, Taylor Nichols, Lila Beard, Jade Smith, Chloe Scott, and Bella Miranda.

Tryouts for the 2017-’18 season begin on Tuesday, May 23.

Information courtesy of Melissa Mansi