Parade Celebrates Manchester's Pee Wee Cheerleading Champions
By Lauren Puglisi

--Photo Courtesy Of Manchester Hawks Cheerleading Association

According to Renee Hourigan, first vice president of the Manchester Hawks' 2008 executive board, the parade was held for the Pop Warner Pee Wee Novice Cheerleading Division, who recently won a National Cheer Title.

"In December, the girls took first place in the 2007 National Cheer Championships in Florida," Hourigan said.

Manchester's Pee Wee division is made up of 11- and 12-year-old girls from the area.

Maureen Schultze, president of the Manchester Hawks Cheerleading Association, said there were about 30 to 40 people at the parade.

"The girls and us coaches had a blast. The parents were also excited to be able to ride on the trucks, they really loved it," Schultze said.

Volunteers from the Ridgeway Fire Department followed Manchester Police vehicles, which kicked off the start of the parade.

Mayor Michael Fressola and the Town Council greeted spectators by riding with the Manchester Police while the winning cheerleading squad and their parents proudly sat in the township's fire truck.

The parade started at Commonwealth Blvd. and ended at Ridgeway Road near the fire department complex.

"After the parade made its way throughout the township, breakfast and drinks were served to the squad and their families at the fire department," Hourigan said. "The girls and their families had a great day celebrating their victory together."

Fressola and members from Manchester's governing body also visited Ridgeway Fire Department at the conclusion of the parade to show their support.

Since all children in the area are welcomed to the join the Jersey Shore Pop Warner cheering squads, participation has been growing. Tryouts of any kind are prohibited in Pop Warner programs. That allows anyone interested to be a part of their township's local squad.

Similar to Manchester's Pee Wee Cheer Champs, the Pop Warner traditional spirit squads compete during the playing season of August 1 through December 31, which allows for all major competitions to take place during the early weeks of December.

The Manchester Hawks Pee Wee Cheerleading division participated in many fundraising events over the past year to make their trip and their victory as National Champs in Florida possible.

For more information on the Manchester Hawks, visit the township's Pop Warner Web site at http://www.manchesterhawkspopwarner.com/index.html.