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Cheers will reverberate throughout the Stamford High School gymnasium when more than two dozen cheerleading squads perform in exhibitions Saturday afternoon and evening.
The Stamford Youth Foundation Cheerleading Squads' Mitey Mites and Elementary Division will hit the floor from 4 to 6 p.m., while members of the Middle School Division will showcase their skills from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. A total of 23 squads, consisting of 400 girls, will perform. Joining them will be area varsity cheerleading squads.
The cost at the door is $10 for each exhibition. Admission is free for youngsters age 3 and under.
"I think that you're going to see some really talented kids. This is a really big event for them," said Krissy Carboni, the foundation's cheerleading president and program director of the cheerleading division.
The cheerleading program was established 10 years ago. Carboni's then 6-year-old daughter was among the first to join. When the coach quit mid-season that first year, Carboni filled the void and became the new coach.
"Somebody had to step up and I did, and I've been with it ever since," she said. "It's been a wonderful experience." Carboni currently oversees about 60 squad coaches.
The girls cheer for local sports teams. So far it's just girls, although cheerleading is open to boys as well. In fact, the program has an open door policy.
"If you sign up, you're automatically on the squad," Carboni said, adding that she's especially proud of older girls who have gone through the program.
"The kids that leave our program come back as our coaches. They stay with the community service. We couldn't run it without them."
Everyone has worked hard to prepare for Saturday, said Carboni. "The exhibition is the one day that these girls get to shine."
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