Mahanoy Area cheerleading highly awarded at Pine Forest Cheer Camp
Story & Photos by Colleen Kardisco, MA Cheerleading Coach
GREELEY, Pa. — Mahanoy Area Varsity Cheer attended Pine Forest Cheerleading camp from June 14-17th. With over 10 year absence since their last appearance, they came out with guns blazing. Accomplishments that were achieved include:
- Blue 1st place ribbon in band chant dance and sideline
- Gold ribbon in cheer and dance
- 2nd place all- around in all 3 categories of chant, cheer and dance.
- 5 UCA All- American Cheerleaders- they are Urijah Fazio, McKayla Coll, Jordynn Primrose, Amy Swantek and Kendall Kardisco. Each girls had several opportunities to travel with the UCA All-American organization and represent their home team during 2025-2026 year.
- 2 recipients of “ Why America needs cheerleaders” which were selected by UCA Staff at Camp, out of 600 plus girls. They were Josmeilyn Rosario (sr) and Ava Kowalchick (jr). This award was given to a hand selected group of ladies that encompasses the definition of cheerleading; Spirit, Leadership and Sportsmanship.
Mahanoy Area also offers an special squad of performance cheerleaders to be members of the Mahanoy Area Marching Band. This select group of cheerleaders perform with our band during the field show and competitions though out football season. In June 2026, the girls will have the opportunity to perform in Walt Disney World.
On 8/9 the Mahanoy Varsity squad hosted our annual “Mini Camp” with over 50 youth cheerleaders in attendance, the future of Mahanoy cheerleading is looking bright. We invite all of out camp cheerleaders to come back on 9/5 to perform during the 3rd quarter of our home Varsity football. As many of my current varsity cheerleaders have come through the mini cheer program, I find it to be import to keep this tradition alive and continue to grow bigger and better each year. Mahanoy Varsity Cheerleading has several social media platforms: TikTok, Facebook and Instagram that we use to showcase our talents and keep the community up to date on what we have been working on.
As the Head Coach and leader of the entire cheerleading program grades 7-12 I believe that your only as good as the team that surrounds you. I am luck to have 3 ladies who are the backbones of the entire operations and give 1,000% all year round. They are Assistant Varsity Coach, Journey Uber, JV Coach Kellie Solnoki and 7/8th grade coach Liz Lavin.
