Contributed article by Sara Arlotti

Greenwich High School’s varsity cheerleading team put the finishing touch on an outstanding season by making program history.

For the first time in program/school history, Greenwich earned first place honors at the 9^th Annual Connecticut High School Coaches Association Team of the Year Competition, registering a score of 97.55 points to claim the title as the 2026 CHSCA Connecticut Team of the Year.

The Connecticut High School Coaches Association (CHSCA) Team of the Year Competition was held at Newtown High School on March 14 and featured the top six teams in each division. The Cardinals received the highest score of all 30 teams across every division to capture the coveted title.

“I am so incredibly proud of the team for winning the 2026 State Opens competition and being named Connecticut’s 2026 Team of the Year,” Greenwich head varsity cheerleading coach Julia Vyskocil said. “What people see on the mat is only a glimpse of the countless hours of hard work, sacrifices, and the heart they pour into this sport every single day.”

“Their resilience and belief in one another never wavered, and to make history as the first GHS cheer team to win this title is something they will carry with them forever,” Vyskocil continued. “This win is a true reflection of their trust in the process and in each other, their strength, determination, and the love they have for each other and for this sport.”

Greenwich’s momentous victory was recognized and celebrated on March 25th at the CHSCA’s 22nd Annual Connecticut All-State Cheerleading Banquet in Southington, Conn. Cardinals senior captains, Leila Alza and Sadie Trager, reflected on the varsity cheer squad’s historic achievement.

“This win meant more to our team than anything else,” captain Sadie Trager said. “Seeing all of our countless hours in the gym and hard work pay off was such a special feeling.”

Said Cardinals captain Leila Alza: “We struggled early on in the season and we were constantly putting in hard work so that we could be the best we could be, and it paid off. This win showed our resilience, and most importantly, it taught us to never give up.”

“Being named the Team of the Year was the best honor we could have gotten,” Trager added.  “There’s truly nothing that will ever top this win or this team.”

Alza shared the same sentiment.

“The hard work and lessons that we learned in order to win this title is something that we will remember and cherish forever,” she said.

In addition to Greenwich’s exciting team award, one exceptional cheerleader from the Cardinals’ varsity squad, senior captain Ingrid Imp, was named the CHSCA 2026 Cheerleader of the Year in the state of Connecticut for her excellence both on and off the mat.

Ingrid was also honored as a recipient of the 2026 Nina Poeta Trail of Glitter Cheerleading Scholarship, an annual award given to a cheerleader who exemplifies the qualities of generosity and service in memory of Nina Poeta.

 “To be part of something as special as cheerleading has been the greatest blessing of my life,” Imp said. “Every single day, I strive to make others feel seen, loved, inspired, and valued because that’s what this sport has given me. I am forever grateful.”

Coach Vyskocil reflected on the impact Imp had on the program over the years.

“Ingrid is truly the heart and soul of this program and the embodiment of what it means to be a Greenwich High School cheerleader,” Vyskocil said. “She has given so much of herself to this team and her impact reaches far beyond the mat. She makes her teammates better people and pushes me to be a better coach every day. She has helped shape this program into what it is today, and I feel so lucky to have coached her. I cannot imagine anyone more deserving of this honor.”

With 19 athletes, Greenwich High varsity cheer team also finished as the first runner-up (second place overall) at the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference Cheerleading Championships at Trumbull High School on February 26. The Cardinals were also first runner- up at the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference Class LL Championships at Newtown High School on March 7^th and had a strong showing at the  New England Interscholastic Spirit Championship on March 21 at Worcester State University, posting a second runner-up performance. 

Additionally, GHS athletes were selected as members of the CHSCA Class LL All-State Cheerleading Team- seniors Ingrid Imp (All Academic), Claire Kilcullen and Sadie Trager and junior, Scarlett Arlotti.

Three athletes selected as All-FCIAC Cheerleaders: Seniors Leila Alza, Ingrid Imp and Claire Kilcullen received All-FCIAC Team honors.

Claire Kilcullen shared some insight to the team’s success:  “I have never been on a team as close as this one and that is 100 percent the leading factor in our success. Because of the love we have for each other, each and every single one of us shows up and gives our all for each other every day. This sport demands trust and builds meaningful friendships that are different than any other relationship we have in our lives. Being a member of this team means putting your momentary needs or pain aside to benefit your team and I am so proud to say I get to practice next to girls who bring that level of selflessness and dedication to practice every day.”

Greenwich’s varsity cheerleading squad, the 2026 CHSCA Team of the Year included: seniors: Leila Alza (captain), Ingrid Imp (captain), Claire Kilcullen (captain), Sadie Trager (captain), Maddie Ambrogio, Carly Hurwitz, Kendyl Inesta, and Julia Petty. Juniors, Scarlett Arlotti, Brianna Cipollone, Gemma Elezaj, Darby Kent, Kolbie Douglass, Mia Melgar, Maya Morales, Hanalei Perrucci and Lily Yardis. Sophomore Jaleah Johnson and freshman Alyssa DiBernardo.

The Cardinals were guided by head coach Julia Vyskocil, assistant coaches Kat Ernye, Nikki Capalbo and Lauren Bria, choreographers Anthony Munoz and Jay Ruffin and tumbling coach Ric-Chara Pina.