West Babylon cheerleaders overcome injury, budget woes to celebrate homecoming

Wearing an air cast for a leg injury incurred at a recent competition, freshman cheerleader Hailey Griffin sat under a pop-up tent performing her squad’s routines from the waist up at West Babylon High School’s homecoming game on Saturday.

“We really like to support our teams in any event,” coach Christine Makarius said. “If they’re out there playing, we’re out here cheering.”

Griffin is awaiting her doctor’s word to see whether her tibia is broken.

However, she and the other members of the junior varsity and varsity cheerleading squads braved whipping winds and soaking rain to support the Eagles in their homecoming game against the Thunderbirds of Half Hollow Hills East.

“Regardless of the weather, it’s an event that everyone comes out to support,” Superintendent Anthony Cacciola said.

Nearly 100 supporters draped in ponchos and under tents cheered from the stands. While the annual parade and other festivities were canceled earlier in the day, the floats were on display just outside the field.

Athletics director Anthony Spinelli said it’s been a challenging each year to keep the sports programs going because of budget issues.

However, local politicians and school administrators “have been key in getting the funding back for us,” Spinelli said.

That funding is allowing the cheer squad to return to the Universal Cheerleaders Association’s regionals on Dec. 7 in their bid for nationals. If the cheerleaders advance, it would be their eighth year representing the school in the national competition.