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02/20/2024 11:22 AMFor any cheerleading squad to be successful, there needs to often be a solid foundation for their routine at competitions. But on a micro level personally, Ava Guarniere knows that the genesis of that lies in the emotional uplifting of the teammate next to her.
The North Haven cheerleading team senior captain had done dance for eight years, and while her parents had reservations about cheer because of potential dangers it presented, she was introduced to the sport via her friends. After making the varsity squad as a sophomore, Ava recently helped pilot the Nighthawks to an SCC championship back on Feb. 3 in their home gymnasium.
“I love the environment here and the girls encouraging me. I also like how there are individual aspects to the sport. But also, my teammates have become my best friends, and I could not ask for anything more,” says Ava. “I would not have wanted to win that SCC title with anyone else other than these girls. We did not go in expecting to win; we just wanted to be better than we were the week prior. Before each routine, I hug each girl and tell them I love them, and that no matter what happens, we love each other. When they announced that we won, the entire team was in disbelief. We started to believe we can do this, and do it well going forward.”
That growth mindset of wanting to prevail over the day prior has stuck quite strongly in Ava’s mind. She explains that while holding herself to only the highest standards, a bronze finish last postseason only further fueled the team’s fire to attain gold.
“I am so hard on myself, so having the reassurance of the constant support of my teammates and coaches is simply the best for me,” says Ava. “I have had my ups and downs with the sport, and a big example was last year when we finished third at states, and we all wanted to do better. But I went to practice the next day just wanting to be better than yesterday. Myself and the team are about practicing not just to win, but to be better than the day before.”
Ava accelerated past some early and expected apprehensions mentally by being the lone underclassman her rookie varsity campaign. It led her to be more willing and eager to take chances and step outside of her comfort zone, while improving by leaps and bounds as an athlete.
“My confidence is something I have grown into over the years,” Ava says. “I think that came from being the only sophomore on varsity my sophomore year, as the youngest person on the team. I was intimidated, but I became more confident in myself and the team. My jumps have also progressed for me; they have improved significantly.”
Ava assumed a role she sought after her entire tenure with North Haven by being appointed to a captainship. She simply drew upon the inspirations invoked in her from her predecessors, and quickly understood that selflessness rules above all else in some of the gut-check moments.
“Being captain is something I have always wanted. I have just looked up to my past captains on this team and try to embody them,” says Ava. “I want to be to them what my prior captains were to me. I want to be there for all of my teammates on and off the mat. Sometimes you have to put the interest of the team before your own as a captain.”
North Haven cheerleading Head Coach Kathleen Crisafi details that Ava has her entire focus on the community around her, instead of her own personal gain. She will always champion the feats of others before her own.
“Ava is all that you would want in a captain. She possesses leadership qualities and maturity beyond her years. She is very talented and always giving 110,” says Crisafi. “She is always encouraging her teammates to excel, and celebrates all of their accomplishments. She is a selfless teammate, whose main focus is always the team, not the individual accolades. She is someone who brings the things you can’t teach in the character and the work ethic.”
Taking on responsibility for any shortcoming is also something that Ava has grasped the importance of as she moves forward in her life and starts looking towards the future post-graduation. Ava adds that interpersonal skills are paramount when it comes to trying to touch success in any field or occupation in the working world.
“The biggest thing I have learned while being a cheerleader is that it is so important to take accountability,” Ava says. “In cheerleading, so many people can be focused on blaming others. I have learned that it is OK to say that something was my fault and that I am sorry. Teamwork is also super important, and everything in life with a job is a team effort.”