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NORWALK, Conn. Competing for the first time against international competition, the Norwalk-based Xtreme Cheer Connecticut Inferno distinguished itself at the Cheerleading and Dance World Championships last weekend in Orlando, Fla.
Inferno finished 26th in the 43-team field and was the only Connecticut team in International Open Coed Level 5 event. The 23 team members range in age from 14 to 34 and compete at Level 5, one of the highest ranks in cheerleading competition.
Our goal was to get there, said Dana Talbot, who owns and coaches the team with her husband, Mike. We were not expecting to go, and when we qualified we didnt know if we could go because of affordability. At the end of the day, we had our expenses covered. All of the team members stepped up and sponsored the team so we could go. It was an amazing experience.
Talbot said only one team had fewer deductions for flaws in the performance. The teams score did not earn mant points for difficulty, but that was expected, Talbot said. We did not have the difficulty compared to the top 10 teams, she said. Theyve been around for a long time and have members with cheerleading experience from some of the top college programs in the country. We dont have that with our team, but we were happy with the performance.
Inferno is the newest team on the expanding Xtreme Cheer lineup, which also now includes teams from a facility that opened late last year in Hopewell Junction, N.Y. Xtreme Cheers younger teams will compete this weekend in the U.S. Finals in Providence, R.I. Tryouts for teams that will compete next year will be held May 18 to 19.
Infernos lineup included Norwalks Sophia Buitrago and Michaela Santalucia, Greenwichs Camille Monette, Stamfords Hannah Gilpatrick, Wiltons Amanda Sirois, Joe Brown of Yonkers, Angel Neris of Waterbury, Westports Maddy Mann and Kanah Higuchi, Elle Chukwu of Orange, and Lorian Thompson of New Rochelle, N.Y. Other members included Christine Albert, Josef Areaga, Jesse Baum, Alex Birch, Dilmer Bonifacio, Ryan Brown, Ryan Jackson, Elizabeth Pehota, Jonathan Ruffin, Morgan Pullian, Amanda Sirois, Lorian Thompson and Alexis Zeballos. Mike Talbot also competed for Inferno, his first competitive event in 17 years.
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