Winnacunnet cheerleaders to perform at halftime of Citrus Bowl on New Year's Day

HAMPTON – Six members and three coaches of the Winnacunnet High School cheerleading squad have special plans to finish the calendar year as they earned an invitation to perform at halftime of the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl on New Year's Eve Day in Orlando.

Winnacunnet attended a recent four-day National Cheerleaders Association camp at Husson University in Bangor, Maine. The Warriors, competing in the high school varsity division, placed first in the team cheer event, and second in the competition routine.

Placing first or second in either event earned an invitation to perform at halftime of the Citrus Bowl, the seventh-oldest collegiate bowl game in the country. The game, to be played at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, will feature a team from the Big Ten and SEC.

This invitation to perform at the game came as a surprise to the team, especially for head coach Kally Keefe.

"We really had no idea,” Keefe said. “We’re excited for the opportunity. This is huge for Winnacunnet cheerleading, huge for Winnacunnet athletics and for the Winnacunnet community in general.”

Members of the team include Lilly Azamor, Reilly Johonnett, Alison Pouliot, Abby Gentilella, Kinsley Cantin and Kacie Coleman.

“It’s incredible we were able to get this opportunity,” said Azamor, a junior who lives in Seabrook. “We had a rocky start to camp, but to bounce back and be invited to perform at an event like the Citrus Bowl is a great achievement.”

Keefe said the cost for the six girls and three coaches will be roughly $16,000, which would cover all expenses.

“It’s quite expensive, especially because of the time of year,” Keefe said. “Traveling to Florida on December 27 and staying through New Year’s Day is what makes it so costly.”

Keefe said the team has various fund-raisers planned to help offset the cost. Jen Chandonnet and Carly Birch are the two other coaches.

“Cheer, sometimes gets put on the back-burner to other sports,” Keefe said. “Many people still believe it’s not a sport. For these girls to keep pushing through and putting in the hard work and doing these amazing things is a great reward for the kids. They really worked hard for it.

“This is the hardest we’ve seen these girls work in a couple of years,” Keefe said. “We’re going to try to make it work for them to go to Florida and have this awesome opportunity.”

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Winnacunnet cheerleaders to perform at halftime of Citrus Bowl on New Year's Day