From 2021- 2023 the James Caldwell High School football team, led by head coaches Tom Lamont & Todd Romano won 37 consecutive games. These boys did not win all on their own, they had their fans and the Varsity cheerleaders cheering them on no matter the time, place, or weather. During the 2024 fall football season, the boys have been facing losses back to back, but the fans and cheerleaders still show up every Friday to support them.
Although those two years were an all time high for the Caldwell Chiefs, they have faced some trouble during this season currently 1-4 (at time of writing) with their only win against Wayne Hills.
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When questioned about his techniques when it comes to motivating his team; Head Coach Todd Romano responded “by getting better and better every day. We are playing a difficult schedule so we know coming in each week is going to be tough and we need to stay with the process and the course and keep going along.” There is no doubt that the initial losses this season have taken a toll on the team, but they show up every week ready to play, expecting a win.
The boys went from winning 37 games back to back, to losing almost every game. There is no doubt that the team will bounce back and redeem themselves because they have the support of their coaches, the student section (Tribe), fans, and cheerleaders (led by Coaches Bergmann and Callaghan).
Switching to the sidelines, the cheerleaders are often overlooked. Even though the girls varsity cheerleading squad is cheering on the boys in all different climates, they still try to maintain a positive attitude and do all that they can to encourage the players and fans.
One of the head coaches of the cheerleading squad, Sue Callaghan, believes, “a losing season is the test of true character. It’s easy when you are winning but it’s how you react to the losses that is important. As far as cheerleaders go, the teams need more support when they are losing than when they are winning.” These words of wisdom are to both encourage her team to try their hardest, even when they suffer a hard loss.
Photo courtesy of JoeStef/Smugmug
The cheerleaders work hard perfecting their halftime routine and cheers so that it is entertainment for the fans during halftime when the boys are getting their heads back in the game. The cheerleaders are there to cheer on the team and fans and get them riled up. Sometimes that is not always the case because the girls feel the losses as much as the boys do, but Coach Bergmann is always chanting: “You can do it! You can do it, If you put your mind to it! Buckle down! Buckle down! Do it, do it, do it!” It is something that she has started this season and it has become a part of the chants that the cheerleaders do right before they perform.
Having a good spirit is important for both the cheerleading squad and the football team because win or lose, they know that they have tried their best and that is all that matters. It is too early to tell if the football team will end the season on a good note or not, but the cheerleaders, fans, and tribe will be cheering them on regardless of the end results.
