Lucy Kaczanowicz

Lucy Kaczanowicz is in her inaugural year as head high school cheerleading coach at Burrell but she's not new to the school nor to cheerleading. The New Ken native has been an assistant coach for the Bucs' cheerleading squads for the past 6 years. This year she is responsible for 39 cheerleaders, 16 of them varsity--and one Buccaneer mascot.

The New Ken native--and former Valley cheerleader--has been coaching cheerleading since 1983 during her cheerleading days at IUP. Later varsity coach at Wellington, Florida and an instructor for a cheerleading company, the Bon Air first grade teacher says she enjoys "working with the student athlete. It's a high level of competition and it's nice to see them develop as people and athletes."

Coach Kaczanowicz, like many cheerleading coaches in the Alle-Kiski region, works at giving her squad confidence not only when they are performing but especially at practice. That's something this writer can certainly understand… somersaulting off a human ladder 2000 feet in the air, hoping a tiny target on the ground catches you, all the while working without a net is just a LITTLE bit scary.

"Introducing new and higher level tricks, sometimes they get afraid," Lucy says, [but] "this year at Burrell, we have well-rounded athletes, gymnasts, runners--so much talent, it's incredible. Because of so much talent these girls are able to take their cheerleading skills to the next level." The Bucs' squad has been in an intensive conditioning program according to the coach. "Push ups, weight lifting, crunches to do lifts--this year we have definitely improved in strength. We have all-around strong girls able to do a lot of positions, like basing or flying."

Many of the cheerleaders moonlight on Burrell's terrific track team or other athletic squads. "We have loads of gymnasts who compete in clubs and YMCAs, and we have at least 8 that participate in track. One of the top runners, Kristen Murtha, runs relays and is a wonderful [cheerleader]," Kaczanowicz notes. Another example of the squad's athleticism is Megan Kovitch. "She's an incredible all-around gifted athlete," the coach says. "She goes up in the air, twists, tumbles--her nickname is "Diesel", due to her strength."

That's a good thing. From the sound of things, Burrell's cheerleaders are a well-oiled machine.