WE CAN'T STOP THE FIRE

This year marks the 21st season for the PVRDT, an endeavor that began in the fall of 1984 when Mrs. Susan Hard, head cheerleading coach at Pascack Valley High School, took the winter cheerleading squad to a Pom Pom dance competition in Union City, NJ. They did not exactly get off to a roaring start, but everyone could still feel something special about having dance in the cheer program. The underclassmen of the squad wanted more.

In 1985-86, Mrs. Hard retired as head coach, replaced by Mrs. Marilou Allgor, former River Vale (NJ) Raiders cheerleading director/head coach. She understood the girls' desire to compete in cheer and dance, and launched a new, more intense program of conditioning and training. By March 1988, the dance team had polished their skills to the point that they competed at the Southern States Contest of Champions in Lakeland County, FL. The seniors of 1988, the only surviving members of the 1984-85 pioneer team, experienced such a thrill as the team won first place in both Pom and Jazz, firmly establishing dance as part of the PV repertoire.

Mrs. Allgor also reintroduced the North Bergen Inter-Athletic League (NBIL) Cheer and Dance Competition, held every fall since 1987. This was the best chance for the league's cheer and dance programs to strut their stuff for their peers. In addition, Mrs. Allgor also brought to New Jersey, and PV specifically, the wherewithal to qualify and compete in many prestigious national high school dance championships.

Upon Mrs. Allgor's retirement in 1990, Mrs. Daun Nagan took over. She coached for three years, continuing with pride the fine traditions already established. The 1991 squad, under her guidance, placed fourth in the Pom division at the national championships. Mrs. Dena Noone, Mrs. Nagan's daughter and choreographer of the 1988 championship dance, became an assistant to the coach.

In 1994-95, Mrs. Noone replaced her mother as head coach; the team took third place overall in 1996 at the NCA National High School Dance Team Competition in Dallas, TX. Returning in 1997, they placed fifth in Pom and first in Team Performance. The team eventually expanded to include girls from Pascack Hills High School, changing its name to the Pascack Valley Regional Dance Team. In 2001, the team was fourth in Team Performance and took first place in Pom at the NDA National Dance Championship in San Diego, CA.

The PVRDT competed in the New Jersey Cheerleading Coaches' Association (NJCCA) annual All-States Cheer & Dance Competition in March 2002, where they took First Place in the Jazz category and Second Place in Pom.

For 2002-2003, the team celebrated its finest year to date, winning both the Jazz and Pom categories at the NJCCA All-States Cheer & Dance Competition, then proceeding to the NDA National Dance Championships in Orlando, Florida, where they took First Place in Team Performance, Second Place in Jazz, and Third Place in Pom -- a true Championship Season!

This year, the 2003-2006 season, the PVRDT competed in the NJCCA All-States Competition again, finishing first in Jazz, second in Funk, and third in Pom. At the NDA National Dance Championships in Orlando, they finished first in Pom AND Funk, and second in Team Performance -- another true Championship Season!

For the past two years, several seniors on the team have also been selected for the NJCCA All-States Cheer & Dance Team. For 2002-2003, the team members chosen were Sarah Boland, Stacey Meyer, Rachel Meyerson, and Alana Williams. For 2003-2004, two seniors were chosen: Chie Gomyo and Lauren Maksym.

This year, we are fortunate to have the assistance of Ms. Debra Nelson and Ms. Leah Rinaldi for choreography and coaching.

Past and present team members are proud of their pioneering accomplishments. We hope to have many more years of local and national success. The time and efforts of the coaches, team members, parents, and the community support keep the flame burning.