Spirit Nationals is a family first affair for many of our spotlighted athletes competing at this Worlds Bid event in New Jersey. Team members spend so much time together that quite often they begin to treat each other like family - which means they get “REAL” with one another. But in the case of many of our spotlighted athletes this weekend they really do have a family tree that intertwines. In addition, personal struggles can form a bond amongst team members that will make them “family” even if they don’t share the same bloodline.

Photo: Karen Brenner

Photo: Karen Brenner

Photo: Karen Brenner

This weekend All Star One has much more on their minds than Worlds Bids. Their hearts and minds are focused on their “sister in cheer”, Dominique who was diagnosed two months ago with Stage 2 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Dominique is your typical 16 year old teenager attending Oakcrest High School in New Jersey.  She loves the color purple, she’s dedicated six years to competitive cheer as well as participating in recreational and high school cheerleading. She counts her All Star One Skylights team members as some of her best friends and outside of cheer loves the peacefulness of knitting. But the difference between Dominique and other teens is that she is currently going thru chemotherapy. She had to give up her spot on Skylights recently but this weekend she is able to attend the competition and watch her “sisters” compete. The entire gym is dedicating their performances to Dominique this weekend and wearing her favorite color, in the form of a ribbon, to support her in her struggle.  It’s a reminder to all of us that life can change in the blink of an eye so love your family and those that you’ve chosen to call your family.

Photo: Sarah DeRosa

Photo: Sarah DeRosa

Two other athletes to look for this weekend are Sarah DeRosa and Taylar Bronstein. These two have more than just their love for cheer in common. They both cheer on Extreme Starz Five Star, they have both been flyers, they are both Juniors in high school and they are both elite level athletes that bring assets to their team. But in addition to those similarities their moms happen to be the coaches for the team as well as sisters so that makes Sarah and Taylar COUSINS!  We caught up with Sarah and Taylar and learned a little more about them besides their genealogy. 

Sarah DeRosa 

1. What is your cheer specialty or strength?

My cheer speciality as a flyer is flexibility. I am able to pull all body positions on both sides including heel stretches, bow and arrows, scorpions, etc.

2. Do you have a particular pass or skill that you do in your team's routine that we should look for?

In my team's routine, I half turn ball up to heel stretch and proceed to high to high tick tock to bow and arrow in the first partner stunt. 

3. Are there any recent struggles that you've gone thru in your training that you're pushing thru or coming back from?

A recent struggle that I have pushed through over the last year has been a mental block with my tumbling. It was the hardest task that I have had to accomplish so far in my cheerleading career but it has caused me to have a stronger mindset and more positive outlook.

4. Are you nervous about anything you're having to perform this weekend?

I am not nervous about anything I have to perform this weekend. I have worked very hard to prepare myself in order to hit the routine I was given.

5. Who or what motivates you to push yourself harder?

My team, my coaches, and myself are who motivate me to push myself beyond my limits. It is very important to me that I continue to move forward with all of my skills and do my part as a member of a team.

6. Tell us a little more about who you are outside of cheer…your favorite things...other hobbies...what makes you unique?

Outside of cheerleading, I enjoy spending time with friends and family and working my hardest in school to achieve the best grades that I possibly can. I was recently inducted into the National Honor Society and have a 4.0 GPA. I am also involved in many clubs at my school that help out the community, so I donate much of my time to helping those in need.

7. What’s it like to have your mom as your coach? 

I love having her as my coach because she is one of the many people who always push me to be my best. She inspires me with her positivity and I couldn't be more grateful to have her as the person I look to for help with all of my skills.

Photo: Taylar Bronstein

Taylar Bronstein

1. What is your cheer specialty or strength?

My cheer specialties are my jumps to tuck, dance skills, and my pyramid flying showmanship. I am the center girl in jump section, pyramid and dance section.

2. Do you have a particular pass or skill that you do in your team's routine that we should look for?

You should definitely look for my jumps as well as my dance skills.

3. Are there any recent struggles that you've gone thru in your training that you're pushing thru or coming back from?

In my past seasons as a Level 5 cheerleader, I have always been a flyer in the partner stunt sections. This year I am a main base for the partner stunt sections so it has been adjustment learning how to base Level 5 skills, especially since I have always had a herniated disc in my back. It has been exciting, as well as a challenging, learning how to base Level 5 skills. I have become a better cheerleader, as I am now able to see the sport from all different perspectives. 

4. Have you received any honors in your years of cheering?

The biggest honor was in 2012, when our Small Senior 4 team became a Small Senior 5 team later on in the season and we got our gym’s very first first bid to Worlds. We were the first team from my gym to go to Worlds. Going to Worlds every year after with my team is an honor in itself. Even though it’s not one of my individual honors, a team honor is far more important to me as cheerleading is a team sport.

5. Are you nervous about anything you're having to perform this weekend?

I would have to say my first partner stunt as myself and the back spot in my group have always been flyers in the past. In addition, our other base had to be replaced very last minute so our entire stunt group is working very hard to adjust to the new group dynamics.

6. Who or what motivates you to push yourself harder?

Definitely my family who happen to also be my coaches, as my mom and aunt are my coaches and the owners of the gym. In addition, my two older sisters are also coaches.

7. Tell us a little more about who you are outside of cheer…your favorite things...other hobbies...what makes you unique?

I am very family oriented. I have a big family (2 sisters, 2 brothers) and lots of dogs, 5 to be exact. I also enjoy spending time with my friends. I am the only redhead in my family, which definitely makes me unique as I definitely stand out in a family of brunettes. I love hair and makeup, especially styles done for cheerleading. My one sister does my hair and the other does my makeup for competitions. I also enjoy modeling for pictures on my sister’s makeup blog, 
http://mylittlebeautybook.com./
http://mylittlebeautybook.com/sweat-proof-makeup-tips-and-products/
http://mylittlebeautybook.com/cheer-hair-makeup-teased-hair-smokey-eye/

8. Do you plan on cheering in college?

I will most likely not cheer in college as I will focus most of my time on my studies to become a nurse. If I choose a college near my home, I will definitely help my sisters coach an Allstar team. I will always be a part of the cheerleading community throughout college as I am lucky enough to have a mom who owns an Allstar cheerleading gym.