Senator Helming Welcomes State Champion Canandaigua Cheerleading Team to the State Capitol

ALBANY – Senator Pam Helming proudly celebrated the members of the Canandaigua Academy Braves cheerleading team and their coach at the State Capitol Monday, April 16. The cheerleaders, coach, and athletic director were special guests of Senator Helming. She welcomed them to the Senate floor and sponsored a resolution to honor the state champions. Senator Helming offered remarks in which she congratulated the team and the school and acknowledged the athletes’ hard work, dedication, and teamwork. She presented certificates to each of the cheerleaders as well as copies of the resolution to Head Coach Laura Burgess and Canandaigua City School District Athletic Director Jim Simmons.

“Canandaigua Academy has a long history of producing stellar student athletes, and this cheerleading team builds upon that tradition. These young women started their season labeled as the sectional underdogs and were often referred to as a team in a rebuilding stage. Rather than being defined by this label, Coach Laura and the cheerleaders used it as inspiration and committed to working hard and training even harder. As their season progressed, so did their performances. These remarkable young women not only won the sectional championship for their division, they went on to win the New York State Championship, where they also captured the title Grand Champion for earning the highest score of the competition. This team has the distinct honor of being the school’s first cheerleading team to win the state title. I was so proud to have the Canandaigua cheerleaders with us at the state capitol,” Senator Helming said.

Afterward, Senator Helming hosted a pizza party for the cheerleaders and their coach and gave them a tour of the Capitol. She spoke to them about her experience in local and state government as a female leader and representative, and she talked about the importance of women getting involved locally and globally to help shape the future. She gave the example of how others fought for cheerleading to become a sanctioned sport to help pave the way for this team to win an official state championship.

The athletes honored include Caelyn Taribassi, Lexi Wagenbaugh, Alaynna Richmond, Samantha Collea, Mckiah Ayers, Olivia Wethington, Sage Simmons, Teagan Cronk, Alsatia Holbrook, Katelynn Kimble, Lexi Taft, Meleena Mortimer, Katie Opiela, Aspen Farnes, Mikayla  Coleates, and Gabi Tepedino.