Shake down the thunder! Notre Dame H.S. cheerleaders shout it out with a purpose

By Rick Menning

WEST HAVEN, CT -- Students had not yet begun to arrive at Notre Dame High School for the first day of classes back in September, but a group of girls were already in formation outside practicing some basic routines.

With very little time to prepare, and understandably some nervous anticipation considering the historic occasion, the Green Knights' first-ever cheerleading squad took front and center as cars, buses and media vehicles soon made their way onto the campus.

TAKING FLIGHT: Notre Dame High School's cheerleaders practice their routines inside the gymnasium. The team capped off its fall season of performances by showcasing its skills at the annual Green Bowl varsity football game in Hamden. (Photo courtesy of Alycia Sandella.)

As the members of the classes of 2026-'29 headed toward the entrance, they were greeted with pomp and circumstance as the cheerleaders performed to the sound of the Notre Dame Fight Song coming across the outdoor speaker system.

The girls representing the green and gold greeted each arriving student with the same enthusiasm and welcoming smiles that made this milestone day of Notre Dame going coed a memorable one.

By the time that September start had evolved into late November and an appearance on their biggest stage -- the annual Green Bowl varsity football game against rival Hamden -- the Notre Dame cheerleaders were indeed deserving of being in the spotlight in front an appreciative audience on Thanksgiving morning.

"The primary highlights of our (fall) season were truly defined by how hard the cheerleaders worked from start to finish," said head coach Taliyah McGee. "Every week brought a new moment to be proud of."

It didn't take long for this group -- comprised predominately of girls who had never cheered within a team setting -- to hone their talents and reach a point where they were in synch with so many types of cheers.

Quick learning abilities

"For most of the team, cheerleading was completely new, yet at our very first game they had already learned 28 cheers/band dances -- virtually!" McGee stated. "From that moment on, I knew this group of girls was something special."

The continual progression from that initial gathering on the opening day of school to a cohesive unit was evident at the pep rally inside the gymnasium.

"Watching them perform in front of the entire school, seeing every motion hit sharp and every stunt go up perfectly -- it took everything in me not to cry tears of joy," McGee exclaimed. "Their dedication, their teamwork, and the pride they put into that routine made it the most memorable moment of our season."

An exceptional effort considering that the cheerleaders only had a very short period of time to learn a few basic cheers in preparation for that first day of school.

Nevertheless, team captain Aniya Barnes was happy with how everything went especially considering that they were not only greeting students but also facing television and print media in attendance for the historic welcoming of girls.

Even Robert Curis, the school's president, was focused on their performance and couldn't have been more thrilled to watch them shine.

LOUD AND PROUD: Notre Dame High School of West Haven's first-ever cheerleading squad greets students arriving for the opening day of classes back in early September. (Photo courtesy of Alycia Sandella.)

"It was a very good experience," said Aniya, an incoming sophomore who previously attended West Haven High School. "It was nice to see new faces, and it was also fun to be a part of history."

There was an admitted learning curve to performing at the Green Knights' football games and building an exuberant atmosphere between themselves and the fans, but the cheerleaders never wavered in their positivity.

That spirit created an adrenaline rush as the action heated up on the gridiron.

Pepping up the crowds

"We always cheered with our heads held high each game," Aniya said. "We always want to do our best in front of the crowds."

For freshman Melinda Martinez, the challenge of learning all the cheers that McGee put on their plates -- some requiring differing routines within each cheer -- was the biggest hurdle to overcome.

"There were so many cheers ... too many to count actually ... but we worked hard, we paid attention to our coach, we asked questions and it all came together. We had a great time," said Melinda, who completed her studies at F.A.M.E. (Family Academy of Multilingual Exploration) in New Haven.

When the final buzzer sounded ending Notre Dame's 20-12 victory at Hamden High School, the cheerleaders exchanged hugs in a showcase of the team's togetherness.

"Their chemistry and camaraderie this season were extraordinary," McGee said. "It showed in everything they did. There are things they experience and feel together that no one outside the team will ever truly grasp."

Even before the squad moved into stunting, the focus was on team bonding and instilling a sense of connection.

"What grew from that was something deeper than just teamwork; we became a family," the coach emphasized. "The girls formed a true sisterhood made up of strong individuals who cry together, encourage one another, and quite literally catch each other when they fall."

Freshman Chelseigh Theodore, who came to Notre Dame after graduating from Joseph Melillo Middle School, will now move on to the sport of track and field as she expands her athletic horizons. She will forever remember her cheerleading experiences.

"Being a cheerleader has been so much fun," said Chelseigh, who lives in East Haven. "I really liked being out there and being seen by (others) while working hard to perform my best."

Next-level preparations

While the team's attention now turns to basketball and possibly other winter sports, Aniya noted that huge focus will also turn to cheering competitively against other schools.

"We're getting our skills and our routines together so we can be in competitions (later in the school year)," she said. "We've come from not knowing one another -- and not really even knowing cheerleading because of our different backgrounds like gymnastics and dancing -- to being of one mind and as you said staying in synch as a group."

That drive toward continual improvement in their very first year is what makes McGee beam over the possibilities.

"Their confidence, timing, and overall performance improved every single week, and they are now heading into basketball and competition season even stronger," she said. "This is only the beginning, and I’m excited to watch each girl continue to blossom as we move into the next chapter of our program."

Notre Dame High School of West Haven

History-Making Girls' Cheerleading Team!

2025 Green Knights' first-ever roster (in alphabetical order): Aniya Barnes, Amirah Blake, Payton Hendricks, Jaliyah Perez, Melinda Martinez, Alysa Marino, Mariyah Mason, Chelseigh Theodore and Emely Velasco. The coach is Taliyah McGee, and the athletic director is Jason Shea.