By Kim J. Harmon

The work has begun.

While their most notable presence is on the sidelines at a football game or somewhere around midcourt during a timeout at a basketball game, the Newtown High School cheerleaders have another aim – another goal – in mind, as well, and that’s to be the best they can be.

Stuff like that, though, is determined at things like the Sacred Heart University cheerleading camp, the South-West Conference cheerleading championships, the CIAC state championship or the New England championship.

Last year – featuring a theme of Top Gun – the Newtown co-ed cheerleaders were first in a competition at Wolcott High School, second at Sacred Heart, third at the SWCs, and second at the states.

It was that stellar second-place finish in the state competition that earned the Nighthawks the opportunity – which they were unable to take advantage of – to perform at the New England competition.

This year, the ‘Hawks hope to do better than all that.

Right now, the varsity cheerleading squad numbers 15 performers – two sophomores, eight juniors, and five seniors. When the winter sports season rolls around, the ‘Hawks will pick up four or five guys and truly become the co-ed team.

And then they can really start fine-tuning the new routine for the 2002 competition season.

The routine the Nighthawks take into competition will be a streamlined two minutes and 30 seconds – that’s all, just 150 seconds to show for months and months of preparation. And it’s a constantly changing routine, as well, as critiques from judges opens up new possibilities and movements.

But senior co-captain Kali Santarpia believes the team is up for the challenge. So do captains Whitney Cross (senior), Shelley Solheim (junior) and Jaime Huppenthal (senior).

The captains hope to show sophomores Allie Ragusa and Shanah Fahey, juniors Ashley Klabonski, Courtney Smith, Heather Balmforth, Jaime Willie, J. Marie Dahlgard, Megan Kelley, and Sarah DeNicola, and seniors Kate Whalen and Kristen DeLaVega the way.

The team is coached by Heather Bernhart and Stacey D’Amico.

Competitions will begin in early February and finish up sometime in mid-March. The ultimate goal, of course, is to once again qualify for the New England championship. And with two hours of practice every day, halftime performances at football games and steady work at basketball games, the ‘Hawks should be more than ready.