On kickline team, hard work leads to friendship and fun

Our team is what? Red hot! Our team is what? Red hot!

Do you consider kickline a sport? Many argue that kickline is not a sport. We are two eighth-graders on the Commack Middle School Cougarettes. Our team works 10 hours each week to ensure that we will be ready for competitions. Our coaches, Emily Goonan and Gabrielle DiBiase, train us to reach our full potential. Our captains lead us in stretches and drills.

Throughout the season we participate in many competitions, events and fundraisers, such as the Scholastic Kickline Championships. In addition, we take part in a fundraiser called the Stephanie Belli Memorial Dance Festival. Stephanie, who was a Smithtown West Whisperette, died July 18, 2015, along with three other young women in a limo crash in Cutchogue.

The best part about being a Cougarette is that you get to be part of a team and make unforgettable memories and friendships. You can count on everyone to have your back. You make so many friends who are always there for you. During practice we always have so much fun as a team.

We also do team activities, including going out to dinner together and hanging out. One team-building exercise we do is having big and little sisters. Everyone who has previously been on the team is a big sister. Anyone who is new to the team is a little sister.

Another reason the Commack kickline is so enjoyable is that each practice, the coaches teach us something new. Being on this team is a great experience. We love our team so much.