RIVER VALE, N.J. — The River Vale Raiders is a recreational football and cheerleading organization that has been in existence for over 50 years. Children who are River Vale residents can join this program as early as kindergarten and continue through eighth grade. We’d like to give a shout out to the eighth-grade cheerleaders, who just performed their amazing routine for the last time as Raiders. They are the best around! They have been exemplary role models for our younger girls as they have continued to grow, develop higher level skills, show dedication to their craft, and have a great time doing it! They have truly developed a bond that I believe will always connect them, and they exemplify what it means to be a Raider.

Sophia Dalton

Sophia has been a Raiders cheerleader for five nonconsecutive years and has served as a backspot and a base. This year, Sophia served as a main base, which is the base that holds the bulk of the flyer’s weight during one-legged stunts, and this is her favorite position. Her favorite stunt that she has performed as a Raider was basing this year’s front flip in the pyramid at the end of the routine. Sophia’s favorite tumbling pass is a front walkover. Sophia’s favorite cheer memories are from cheer camp, as well as the Color Wars competition in which our team participated this year. Sophia says that the most important qualities of being a Raiders cheerleader are to be peppy and positive no matter what, as well as to be able to perform regardless of the conditions. Sophia will miss the camaraderie that she has enjoyed with the rest of the Raiders cheerleaders, as well as wearing the Raiders uniform. However, she is looking forward to the wider range of activities and sports that Pascack Valley High School has to offer. Sophia plans to cheer for PVHS next year.

Bridgette Lewison

Bridgette has been a Raiders cheerleader for five years, joining in the fourth grade, and has served as a base, which is her favorite position. Her favorite stunts have been those performed in this year’s routine, including a series of one-legged stunts as well as a basket toss into a full extension. Bridgette’s favorite tumbling pass is a front walkover. Some of Bridgette’s favorite cheer memories include cheering at a Pascack Valley High School football game, winning the Super Bowl in her last year as a Raider, and other memories from this past season. Bridgette believes that the most important qualities of being a Raiders cheerleader are to have fun and be reliable, attending all games and practices. Bridgette will miss spending time together with her friends as Raiders cheerleaders, but she is looking forward to new opportunities at Pascack Valley High School, such as playing basketball and becoming a Varsity cheerleader one day. Bridgette plans to cheer at Pascack Valley High School.

Brianna Deutsch

Brianna joined the Raiders cheer team as a first grader and has been in the program for eight years. Brianna has held the positions of flyer and base, but her preferred position is base. Her favorite stunt performed was this year’s basket toss reload into a full extension, which she performed as a base. Brianna’s favorite tumbling pass is a back handspring, which she performs during sideline cheers. Some of Brianna’s favorite cheer memories include cheering and dancing in ponchos in the rain during football games and winning the Super Bowl this season. Brianna says that the most important qualities of being a Raiders cheerleader are to be positive and cheer loud! Brianna will miss performing the cheers that she’s always known as a Raider as well as putting up stunts with her usual stunt group, but she is looking forward to cheering for Pascack Valley High School and mastering a back tuck.

Emilie Ciancio

Emilie joined the Raiders cheer team as a first grader and has been in the program for eight years. Emilie has held the positions of flyer and front spot, but her favorite position is flyer. Her favorite stunt performed was this year’s first stunt, which includes a series of one-legged skills, and she performed this stunt as a flyer. Emilie’s favorite tumbling skills are a front walkover, which she also performs during our halftime routine, and a back handspring, which she performs during sideline cheers. Some of Emilie’s favorite cheer memories include learning new choreography and new skills for our routine each year. Emilie says that the most important qualities of being a Raiders cheerleader are to be peppy, happy, determined and reliable. Emilie also served as a volunteer junior coach for the Raiders Flag and Mighty Mites squads for the last two years. Emilie will miss everything about being a Raider, but she is looking forward to new opportunities and cheering for Pascack Valley High School.

Madison Grskovic

Madison joined the Raiders cheer team as a first grader and has been in the program for eight years. Madison has served as a base and a backspot, but basing is her favorite position. Her favorite stunts performed as a Raider are all of those included in the 2021 routine, which include one-legged stunts, basket tosses, full extensions and a one-legged flip in the pyramid. Madison performed each of these stunts as both a backspot and a base. Madison’s favorite tumbling skill is a back handspring. Some of Madison’s favorite cheer memories are from when River Vale hosted our annual Cheer Showcase. Madison believes that the most important quality of being a Raiders cheerleader is to be energetic. She has also served as a volunteer junior coach for the Raiders Flag and Mighty Mites squads for the last three years. Madison will miss all of the fun talks and time spent with the other Raiders girls, but she is looking forward to continuing her cheer career next year. Madison plans to try out for the Pascack Valley High School Cheer Team.

Amanda Bramley

Amanda has been a Raiders cheerleader since kindergarten and has been in the program for nine years. Amanda has held many positions including flyer, base, backspot and tumbler, and her favorite positions are flyer and tumbler. Her favorite stunt performed as a Raider was this year, when they flipped a flyer in a one-legged stunt in the pyramid. Amanda’s favorite tumbling skill is a front walkover roundoff tuck. Some of Amanda’s favorite cheer memories are from the River Vale Cheer Showcases. Amanda believes that the most important qualities of being a Raiders cheerleader are to be sharp, tight, and to always have a smile on your face! Amanda is an incredibly talented singer and it is her amazingly beautiful voice that will often be heard singing the National Anthem at our Raiders games at Mark Lane. Amanda will miss being part of an undivided team with her fellow Raiders girls and knowing that her teammates are always there for her, but she is looking forward to continuing her cheer career next year and hopefully becoming a Varsity Cheerleader at Pascack Valley High School.

Danielle Sigona

Danielle has been a Raiders cheerleader since kindergarten and has been in the program for nine years. Danielle has held the positions of flyer and tumbler, and her favorite position is flyer. Her favorite stunt performed as a Raider was in last year’s routine, when she got to do a backflip at the top of the pyramid. Danielle’s favorite tumbling skill is a roundoff back handspring back tuck, which she performs during sideline cheers. Some of Danielle’s favorite cheer memories include hanging out with friends, decorating the football players’ houses, cheering at a Pascack Valley football game, and learning new skills during cheer camp. Danielle says that the most important qualities of being a Raiders cheerleader are to be hardworking, enthusiastic, and to have the ability to work together as a team. Danielle has also served as a volunteer junior coach for the Raiders Flag and Mighty Mites squads for the last four years. In her free time, Danielle enjoys baking and hanging out with her friends. Danielle will miss cheer camp and choreography with Judy, but she is looking forward to continuing her cheer career next year at Pascack Valley High School. She is excited to learn new skills and cheers as well as have more fun experiences with her current and new teammates.

Sophia Vaughan

Sophia has been a Raiders cheerleader since kindergarten and has been in the program for nine years. Sophia has always been a backspot, and backspotting is her favorite position. This is the position that holds the whole stunt group together and Sophia executes this position flawlessly. Sophia loves basket tosses, and she always ensures her flyer’s safety, even if that means throwing herself underneath to protect her flyer. Sophia’s favorite tumbling skill is a front walkover, which she performs several times throughout the routine. Some of Sophia’s favorite cheer memories include getting close with the girls and making new memories at every practice and game. Sophia believes that the most important qualities of being a Raiders cheerleader are to always have a smile and to be loud! Sophia also served as a volunteer junior coach for the Raiders Mighty Mites squad this year. Sophia will miss everything about Raiders cheer, but mostly she will miss cheering with her girls. She is looking forward to continuing her cheer career next year at Pascack Valley High School.

A fan?

Follow your favorite teams

This is an unedited user writing submission. The views, information, or opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Best Version Media or its employees.