A night in the world of Big North competitive cheerleading by Darren Cooper of The Record
PARAMUS – There’s a line to get in.
It’s a Wednesday night in North Jersey, and it’s not a big-time wrestling match, or a basketball game between powers drawing people to Paramus Catholic.
It’s the last night of the regular season for competitive cheerleading in the Big North Conference. There are eight teams set to match-up head-to-head with spots of the playoffs – yes, playoffs – at stake.
Women are wearing “Cheer Mom” sweatshirts in the stands. Dads exclaim, “Man, they hit that,” after a routine is finished (even if the routine had some flaws) and plenty of little girls filming on their smart phones.
The teams fill one side of the bleachers, bows on heads, with fans packed in on the other. A two-inch thick black mat, really a stage if you think about it, is on the floor. The teams have four minutes to warm-up, then compete one after the other.
Two judges watch intently and fill out a scorecard. Before the next match begins, the winner of the last match is announced.
It’s impossible not to be impressed by the athleticism. Sure, competitive cheerleading has a complex reputation — what is it really? Well, the best explanation might be that is a combination of gymnastics, stunts, dance and enthusiasm.
And before you knock it…you should go see it.
“I hosted a match at my high school last week and every seat was filled,” said Indian Hills coach, and league President Jim McMullan. “There were kids sitting on the floor.”
There are 28 teams competing in three different divisions under the Big North Conference banner. McMullan said there are a lot more who want to join, but it’s hard because schools also have to be able to host a meet like this. The Big North is the only high school conference in New Jersey to recognize it as a sport.
This is not a sport sanctioned by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, so officially it’s a club.
And it is serious. The first match pits Northern Highlands and Clifton. Clifton has two boys, one – Jim says his name is Milton – is outstanding, and finishes center stage when the Mustangs are finished.
Northern Highlands’ routine is solid, but I must admit I never think of calling them “NHRHS” which the cheerleaders do for Northern Highlands Regional High School. Clifton is announced as the winner.
The second round is between Westwood and Passaic. Passaic has 12 boys, the most of any of the teams there and they add strength and power to the performance. Both teams are good, and it’s impossible to tell who is better to the untrained eye, but Westwood is tagged as the winner.
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McMullan explains that the teams are being judged in multiple categories including technique, execution, building, tumbling, jump, dance and an overall score of how the routine flowed (whether they really “hit” or not). It’s interesting that the scores are not announced just the winner.
Like in figure skating or gymnastics, there’s a risk/reward component to it. Try harder skills and you can be rewarded with a higher score. Or you could try lesser skills and do them flawlessly, but your total may not be as high.
Action continues on the black mats, Pascack Valley comes out and fans ring cowbells. A girl from Cliffside Park falls somewhat awkwardly on a tumbling run, but pops up smiling.
Passaic scores the highlight of the night when it beats previously-undefeated Paramus Catholic. Paladins coach Heather Messer congratulates the celebrating Indians and notes that the two teams worked together recently – she laughs that she’s not going to let that happen again.
The music stays loud. All the routines fall into similar patterns. They start as one, then break up into smaller groups and perform tricks, then they join up again to perform one hard skill. There is constant motion. Everyone smiles at the judges.
“Our teams are fantastic, some of the best athletes in the state,” said McMullan, and he should know, he once had his own MTV show about coaching cheerleaders. “There’s a lot of talent up here.”
Paramus Catholic comes back for its second match and beats Westwood (of the eight matches I picked the correct winner six times – this was not one of them). Paramus Catholic’s routine includes a spot where eight girls wave a flag with a letter spelling out Paladins. They also shout at one point, “Jersey Girls are where it’s at!”
For most teams, performing a second time is much harder. There are a couple of rough moments, but no one seems seriously hurt. It’s telling, though, how many competitors have wraps on their knees and ankles. McMullan says two girls on his team recently got concussions when they knocked heads.
The playoffs are Monday at Lakeland. West Milford is the defending champ of the large school division. Four teams that are tied in the standings have to have a “sudden death” performance just to qualify. Then it will be time to jump, tumble and fly. The audience will be waiting.
Big North Cheerleading Championships
Monday, Feb. 5
At Lakeland Regional
Bergen Catholic vs. Indian Hills vs. Ridgewood vs. Paramus, 7 p.m.
Pascack Valley vs. Dumont, 7:25 p.m.
Paramus Catholic vs. Fair Lawn, 7:35 p.m.
Lakeland vs. Hackensack, 7:45 p.m.
NVOT vs. winner of first match, 7:55 p.m.
Large Division final round, 8:05 p.m.
Small Division final round, 8:15 p.m