Western’s Norton, Gibbons’ St. Thomas are Broward co-cheerleading coaches of the year

For the first time ever, the Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons cheerleading team won a national championship.

Davie Western finished runner-up on the national stage and repeated as state champions during another successful season.

Both came under the tutelage of their coaches - Western’s Carrie Norton and Cardinal Gibbons’ Julie St. Thomas, who are the Miami Herald’s Broward Competitive Cheerleading Co-Coaches of the Year.

St. Thomas led Gibbons, which restarted its program three years ago, to a state runner-up finish in the Class 1A Extra Large non-tumbling division. It was the Chiefs’ second state runner-up finish all-time. They have also won two state titles.

But Gibbons took things up a notch the following week when they won their first national title at the UCA Championships at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando.

The Chiefs finished first in the Large Varsity Non-Tumbling Division II at nationals. Their team consisted of Angelina Ávila, Chrissy Beasley, Gianna Cammarata, Sofia Castronovo, Lulu Dettor, Olive Dettor, Rumiana Dimitrova, Ellison DiSanto, Savannah Dreibelbis, Leah Faison, Katya Fonte, Sadie Friedman, Nina George, Ariana Gunter-Hatcher, Ava Hall, Ellysia Hecksher, Callie Johasky, Amanda Kerry, Abigail Klein, Whitney Linder, Ruby Miller, Morgan Moyano, Leia Naar, Kennedy Neilen, Haneita Palmer, Mila Panahi, Ashley Shields, Brooke Shields, Farrah Sorhage, Goldie Sorhage, Sofia Vera, Adler Viola, Jaelyn Wanes and Hayli Wolfe.

Meanwhile, the Wildcats finished second at nationals in the Varsity Coed Non-Tumbling Division 1. But Western did triumph at the state level, repeating as FHSAA state champions in the Class 2A Small Coed division. Western also had state runner-up finishes in 2016 and 2020.

Western’s national runner-up squad consisted of Abbie Dunn, Adriana Ribotti, Angelina Caccavale, Anthony Reguero, Audrey Johnson, Emily Harris, Giuliana Caglianone, Jaleah McDougle, Jayden Mennalla, Journey Bey, Evelis Valencia, London Jackson, Alana Placide, Lailani Almodovar, Myla Friend, Olivia Deveza, Oria Buhbut, Jaela Deligio, Yael Schwartzman, Zoe King, Lauren Bowlby, Mason Cooperman, Stella Cooperman, Saige Beauregard, Liel Levi, Jayden Diaz, Anna Granville, Gabi De Wilde and Caleb Delaney.

Norton credited her fellow coaches Kristi Warren, Holly Allen and Joey Bayron for the victories as well.

Andre C. Fernandez

Miami Herald

Andre Fernandez is the Deputy Sports Editor of the Miami Herald and has covered a wide variety of sports during his career including the Miami Marlins, Miami Heat, Miami Dolphins, University of Miami athletics, and high school sports.