Sports

Youth Cheerleaders Compete In National Championship

Published: Dec 26, 2025 7:05 am

The D12 Youth Cheer team traveled to Kissimmee, Fla. from December 3 to 7 to compete in the American Youth Cheer (AYC) National Championship, representing their community on one of the sport’s biggest stages. Competing in the highly competitive D12 Large Level 3 category, the team delivered a strong and memorable performance against top programs from across the country.

Newtown’s squad took the mat on day one and the routine earned Newtown a coveted spot in the top five, advancing the team to Super Saturday, the final round of competition. After an exciting weekend of high-energy performances, the D12 Youth Cheer team finished fifth in their division nationally with a score of 90.18, an impressive achievement at the national level.

Members of the D12 Level 3 team are: Lillie Dougherty, Emmy Bell, Eve Ramsdell, Brielle Keil, Camryn Potter, Grace McCambley, Maggie Guman, Cecily Auresto, Teagan Conant, Brynn Clark, Natalie Patty, Ellie Veneziano, Hayden Salinger, Teagan Hufnagel, Eleanor Driscoll, Hannah Bowen, Avianna Leonardi, Brooke Duncan, Adina Fung, Sawyer Gottschalk, Victoria Maklyan, Sofia Reyes, and Trishelle Aubin.

In addition to the success of the D12 Youth team, there is immense pride in the 13 Newtown athletes who also competed at Nationals as members of the Shoreline D12 and D14 Elite teams. The Shoreline D12 Elite team placed third in their division and the D14 Level 3 Elite team placed fifth, further highlighting the strength, talent, and dedication of Newtown’s cheer athletes.

Members of the Shoreline Elite teams are: D14: Sawyer Gottschalk, Ellie Veneziano, and Hannah Bowen; and D12: Maddison Vaccaro, Hayden Salinger, Brielle Keil, Brynn Clark, Camryn Potter, Cecily Auresto, Eleanor Driscoll, Eve Ramsdell, Lillie Dougherty, and Victoria Maklyan.

Additionally, members of our D14 and D12 cheer teams will be extending their season into the winter months, competing in YCADA Global Cheer competitions from January through March.

Coaches, families, and supporters alike celebrated the athletes’ hard work, teamwork, and commitment that carried them from months of preparation to the national stage. Their performances in Kissimmee not only showcased athletic excellence but also represented their community with pride, sportsmanship, and heart.

Newtown’s youth cheerleaders had quite a showing at the National Championship. Pictured are, from left, front: Lillie Dougherty, Brielle Keil, Cecily Auresto, Aviana Leonardi, Brynn Clark, Teagan Hufnagel, and Maggie Guman; middle: Sofia Reyes, Hannah Bowen, Eleanor Driscoll, Ellie Veneziano, Sawyer Gottschalk, Victoria Maklyan, Evie Ramsdell, and Camryn Potter; and back: Teagan Conant, Grace McCambley, Adina Fung, Brook Duncan, Trishelle Aubin, Natalie Patty, Emmy Bell, and Hayden Salinger. —photo courtesy Amber Deamico

Flyer Brynn Clark, supported by bases Evie Ramsdell and Camryn Potter, along with Brielle Keil. —photos courtesy Kristen Keil

Flyers Teagan Hufnagel, Brynn Clark, and Lillie Dougherty.

Ellie Veneziano competes for Newtown.

Flyer Lillian Dougherty being supported by secondary flyer Hannah Bowen and bases Teagan Conant, Eleanor Driscoll, and Camryn Potter.

Newtown’s Shoreline Elite cheerleaders are, from left, front: Lillie Dougherty, Brielle Keil, Cecily Auresto, Brynn Clark, and Camryn Potter; and back: Hayden Salinger, Eleanor Driscoll, Ellie Veneziano, Sawyer Gottschalk, Hannah Bowen, Maddison Vaccaro, Evie Ramsdell, and Victoria Maklyan.

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My darling, You were the best GRANDmother a child could ask for. You created so many great memories & traditions that I have passed down to your Great grandchildren. You brought joy into every room you stepped into. Your laughter, singing, whistling and the signature Rockettes high kicks, is something I will always hold in my heart. There was something about walking into your home and being greeted by your beautiful face. *kiss on each check* followed by HELLOOOOOO Darling! The classical music playing softly in the background and your love and comfort made your home, a safe space. Somewhere, where love knew no boundaries. It was so much more than a home. I aim for the same in my home, and play the classic music 24/7, but it will never be the same. I pray I can be 1/4 of GRAND, you put in GRANDmother. You were so resilient. You found the positive in every situation. I look up to you so much. I remember begging Mom and Dad for years to change my name to “Carmen”. They didn’t officially change my name, but eventually started calling me “Carmenita” as I am a little you. THE HONOR. You were there for me, no matter the day or hour. You were always the one who would talk me through whatever hard situation I was going through. When my baby passed away, I refused to talk to anyone for 3 weeks. Except for you. You said to me “Better days are coming, babes. There’s always a rainbow after the storm”. Of course, you were right, because you are GRAND. I picture you in heaven dancing and laughing with him. Uncle Jay playing the money game with him. To know you are with your children again & with mine does bring me some joy. Twas the night before Christmas & New Year’s Eve, will never be the same. Another tradition you created. A memory that will last forever. Not just with me, but for generations to come. It may not be the same, but we won’t let it die. It will live on, in your name. To be your first GRANDchild was a blessing. I could write an entire book about you & all the amazing things about you. Even though we were robbed of time together & it makes me angry, I know I will see you again. This isn’t a goodbye, but a “see you later”. Just like we ended every phone call. Ciao, darling. I love you. MWAH MWAH! Love your GRANDchild, Kimberly aka Carmenita

Carmen Accashian

Unfortunately, I think this is likely to get worse, not better... Based on both public comments and private conversations, I’m increasingly concerned that our newly elected First Selectman intends not just to install these cameras, but to expand their use for full-blown enforcement and fines. Try getting a straight answer out of him about the long-term plan and you quickly realize how vague the responses become. Tyler is absolutely right to raise the privacy issue. These systems don’t just “catch speeders” — they quietly build a database of where we drive, when we drive, and who is in our vehicles. Once that infrastructure is in place, it becomes very easy to justify expanding its scope: more cameras, more locations, more uses, and eventually more automated enforcement. If Newtown is going down this road, residents deserve clear, written answers to some basic questions before anything is expanded: What limits will be placed on how and where cameras are used? Will footage and plate data be used only for speed enforcement, or for other investigations too? How long will data be stored, and who can access it? What safeguards will prevent vendors and individuals from abusing this information? Without firm, enforceable rules in place, “just a few cameras to slow traffic” can turn into something very different over time. I support safe roads — but not at the cost of unchecked surveillance and vague promises from our leaders. You try getting straight answers out of our First Selectman, myself and others have not been able to...

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Real people were just in a frightening car accident. To immediately frame their misfortune as rhetorical ammunition against new housing — affordable housing included — feels less like concern for “health and safety” and more like opportunistically using a scary moment to support a pre-existing position. If we’re going to debate this proposal, we should do it honestly: with data on traffic volume, accident history, engineering recommendations, and the town’s housing needs, not by seizing on a single crash as proof that 300 apartments are inherently unsafe. Newtown deserves a thoughtful, fact-based conversation about growth, safety, and affordability — one that doesn’t turn other people’s bad day into a political talking point.

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To add context that did not occur at the meeting would not be an accurate representation of the meeting and would, in fact, be editorializing to shape public opinion. The editorial staff here do not consider ourselves to be final arbiters of what the truth is (and if we did, it would make us partisan and biased), and we would need to provide a source for any dissenting information (sourcing all information in an article is literally Journalism 101). There were no such sources present at the meeting in question, and so it would not be appropriate to include such information in an article about the meeting. Dissenting voices appear in meeting stories when there were active participants with dissenting opinions, such as during public participation or the words of a council member who disagreed. It should be noted that the Interfaith Council, like many local boards and commissions, conduct meetings that are open to the public. This was not an article on the actions of the Greater Danbury Area Unites for Immigrants, or on immigrants, or on ICE's actions in the community, where including other voices or perspectives would be appropriate. We appreciate your opinion, but we stand by our meeting coverage and consider this discussion closed.

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Youth Cheerleaders Compete In National Championship

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