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Schools

Whiz Kids: The MVMMS Cheerleading Squad

The seventh and eighth grade girls will compete in Florida this weekend against teams from across the country.

Melrose Patch Whiz Kids of the Week: The Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School cheerleading squad. 

  • Meaghan DelGenio
  • Haley Ackerman
  • Kali McLaughlin
  • Sam Iacone
  • Lauren Rosie
  • Emily Blatchford
  • Maria Drago
  • Alex Venuti
  • Taylor Norton
  • Adrianna Petitpas
  • Isabella Robbins
  • Maddie Zarzour
  • Maddie Mahoney
  • Jenna Tirone
  • Emily Donovan
  • Brooke Foley
  • Colleen Hourigan
  • Katie Addonizio
  • Aislynn Richardson 
  • Kylie Persons
  • Kira DeLucia
  • Their accomplishment: The team, with the help of coaches Gretchen Burkhardt, Sharon DelGenio and Jenn Madigan, will travel to Orlando, Fla. this weekend to compete in the National Cheerleading & Dance Competition. 

From coach Sharon DelGenio: 

This is a great honor, not only for the girls and their school but for the City of Melrose. 

This is only the second year for the cheerleading program. It is run by the Melrose Recreation Department and is for the seventh and eighth grade students of the school. It is also the second year for football. Both programs started together in the fall of 2010.   

The girls started practicing in August, three nights per week. They entered the New England Cheer & Dance Competition at the Reggie Lewis Arena in Boston in November. They placed in their division and were invited to compete in the National Cheer & Dance Competition being held next weekend in Orlando, Fla. at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Arena. They will be one of 13 teams representing the New England States and one of 500 teams that will be attending this competition. Nineteen girls and their families will be heading down to Orlando next week to prepare for their competition which will be held on Sunday, Feb. 12. 

Sign up for next year's cheerleading squad will be held in March. Any girl that will be in seventh or eighth grade next year can sign up. There are no tryouts, therefore everyone who signs up is automatically on the team. 

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Nominate a Melrose Kid!

Each week, Melrose Patch will seek suggestions from readers for individual kids, youth groups, teens, and even sports teams that wow us with their accomplishments. We want to hear about these amazing children and teens and select one each week as the Patch Whiz Kid.  Submit your nomination in our comment box below or e-mail the information to danield@patch.com. Be sure to include all of the following information:

  • Nominator's Name
  • Nominator's E-Mail
  • Whiz Kid's Name
  • Whiz Kid's Age
  • Whiz Kid's School
  • Whiz Kid's Accomplishment
  • An explanation of the accomplishment (approximately 150-300 words).
  • A photo, if available.

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