A jump above the rest, Old Rochester Peewee Cheerleaders head to nationals
Pee Wee Cheer Team at New England Regional Competition with coach Jessica Stephens. Source: Jessica Stephens
Pee Wee Corey Watlington (Mattapoisett) at New England Regionals. Source: Jessica Stephens
Pee Wee Cheer Team performing their dance at New England Regionals.
Pee Wee Cheer Team with Coach Jessica Stephens at New England Regionals. 
Old Rochester Youth Pee Wee pyramid: Flyers Corey Watlington, Caroline Sadek, and Izzy Waterman. 
Pee Wee Cheer Team at New England Regionals. Flyers Corey Watlington, Caroline Sadek, Kylie Davignon, and Izzy Waterman.
Pee Wee Cheer Team at New England Regional Competition with coach Jessica Stephens. Source: Jessica Stephens
Pee Wee Corey Watlington (Mattapoisett) at New England Regionals. Source: Jessica Stephens
Pee Wee Cheer Team performing their dance at New England Regionals.
Pee Wee Cheer Team with Coach Jessica Stephens at New England Regionals.
Old Rochester Youth Pee Wee pyramid: Flyers Corey Watlington, Caroline Sadek, and Izzy Waterman.
Pee Wee Cheer Team at New England Regionals. Flyers Corey Watlington, Caroline Sadek, Kylie Davignon, and Izzy Waterman.
MATTAPOISETT — The Old Rochester Regional Youth Peewee cheer team is heading to the national cheer and dance competition in Charlotte, North Carolina. They will be there from Dec. 9 through Dec. 12.
The Peewee team is made up of 20 fifth, sixth and seventh grade girls who have been practicing since July. The team performs at Old Rochester Regional High School football games and competitions through the fall.
Head Coach Jessica Stephens said she is excited for her team to enjoy their trip to nationals, which they have been fundraising since late November for.
“The camaraderie with these girls is like nothing I've ever seen before. I'm just excited for them to experience it together and to see what working together as a team and where it can get you,” Stephens said.
The team won the Grand Champion at regionals for the first time this year.
“Old Rochester is kind of viewed as an underdog,” Stephens said. “I think it makes them really fight for it and really persevere.”
The cheer program has four teams of children in kindergarten through seventh grade. When Stephens first started coaching, there were 40 members on the team. Now, there are 70.
Stephens said the team has prepared well and has trained hard for nationals.
“There's not a ton of fooling around. They're tough, hard workers. Physically they are prepared and ready,” she said.
Stephens said the team struggles with stunting but perseveres through the other challenges thrown at them.
“I think it is just because [the team] is very good at most things, so when something needs more work and more patience, they get a little frustrated because they're used to it just picking up on it quickly,” she said.
Stephens said she wants them to enjoy the moment and have fun since they are as ready as they will ever be.
“This is where they get to shine,” Stephens said. “They're nervous and they have this anxiety, so we always talk about the butterflies in your stomach, using that as excitement rather than anxiety.”
