Newtown High School's cheerleading team is set to put its offseason training and skill both on display and to the test this fall and winter with a bit of a new look.

"I am incredibly excited to be back for another season with this group of Nighthawks. We have a great group of talented, motivated athletes, and I’m looking forward to seeing all that they will accomplish together," Coach Susan Bridges said. "This will be an interesting year for us as we enter the season without any seniors on the roster. While we won’t have the experience of senior leadership, I’m excited to see the natural leaders within this group emerge."

The Nighthawks may have some voids left by talented team members who graduated last spring, but they also have a very strong junior class in Kaelyn Rosvally, Mikaela Sisenstein, Alexa Harrison, Maddie Moore, Macie Phillips, Ava Kiel, Reese Roland, Lily Willinger, and Charlotte Oltran. "This group is battle-tested, proven, and has already gained valuable experience competing at a high level. I will be looking to them to step up, lead by example, and help set the tone for the team," Bridges said.

The NHS coach noted that the fall season is all about being Nighthawks and supporting fellow athletes. "We love being on the sidelines and cheering on our fall teams, and there is nothing quite like Friday night lights. The energy in the stadium, the excitement of the crowd, and the incredible turnout from our community make football games some of our favorite nights of the season. We also love working with our student section, The Hawks Nest, and teaming up with them to create fun and exciting sideline material that gets everyone involved," Bridges said.

"Fall is an important part of our preparation — not only physically, but mentally. It gives us time to build our foundation, strengthen our team chemistry, develop new skills, and prepare for what will be a challenging competition schedule," Bridges added.

As the fall season progresses, the cheer team's focus will gradually shift toward winter and the competitive season. The Nighthawks will go for a fourth consecutive South-West Conference Championship as well as a third straight state title this winter, but — as dominant as the Hawks have been on the mats — there is other talent in the way.

"We know the competition in the SWC is always tough. Masuk and Brookfield are consistently strong competitors, and every year another team seems to emerge and add itself to that conversation. That level of competition is one of the things that makes our league so exciting. It pushes us to continue improving and brings out the best in everyone," the Newtown coach said.

"Once we reach the state competition level, we know the challenge only gets tougher. North Haven and East Lyme have consistently proven to be strong competitors, and we expect them to be right there competing at a high level again this season. There are so many talented programs across the state, and we know that every competition will require us to be prepared, focused, and ready to perform.

"We are coming off another incredible season, highlighted by a three-peat as SWC Champions, back-to-back Class L State Championships, and a first runner-up finish at the New England Championships. Those accomplishments are something we are extremely proud of, but they belong to last season. This team has the opportunity to create its own story," the coach added. "Our goal this year is to take it one competition at a time, continue to get better every day, and enjoy the journey. We know there will be challenges along the way, but I am excited about this group and what they can accomplish when they work together, trust one another, and give their best effort. It’s a new season, a new team, and a new opportunity. I can’t wait to see where this group takes us."

Bridges is in her 19th year coaching the Hawks; Assistant Coach Caitlin Horvath is in her 13th year, and Assistant Coach Elie Mouchantat in her fifth with the team. New to the Nest is Assistant Coach Mackenzie Woodhouse, NHS class of 2017. She was a standout member of the cheer program, earning All State accolades three times. Woodhouse went on to cheer at University of Louisville and is also a world champion with GymTyme All-Stars.

"So excited to have her on staff," Bridges said.

Sports Editor Andy Hutchison can be reached at andyh@thebee.com.