By Rich Fisher | Correspondent

Mater Dei Prep has put itself on the cheerleading map in recent seasons and, for coach Stephanie DiPoalo, it has been about the journey rather than where the Middletown team ended up.

But the final destination wasn’t too bad either.

This March, Mater Dei won the Intermediate Varsity, New Jersey Cheerleading and Dance Coaches Association State Championship in Trenton.  The Seraphs then won the JAMfest Mega Jam Series at Temple University in Philadelphia. JAMFest is an international event production company that hosts approximately 70 regional cheer and dance competitions across the United States, Europe, and Canada. They each feature around 80 teams.

The championship run started when Mater Dei won the 2012 Gator Bowl National Championship in Jacksonville, Fla.

“It’s not the winning part that makes me happy,” DiPoalo said. “It’s looking at this team and seeing how far they have come… to see these girls overcome so many obstacles is what makes me happy.

“These girls are champions to me, no matter what place they come in. I always tell them I don’t care what happens when they announce the results, as long as we go out and hit the routine the way we know we can. 

“My goal every year is not just to win, even though it’s very nice. But it’s to grow the program and teach the girls teamwork, responsibility, trust, community, respect, etc.”

DiPoalo has been coaching for seven years and is a certified judge for ProSpirit Judges Association. She cheered for 17 years in various programs, serving as captain for the World Cup All-Stars in Freehold.

The Seraphs roster includes senior captains Erin Caddock and Gianna Limeri and junior captain Lauren Matuszewski. Rounding out the young team are senior Erin Yetman, juniors Amanda Dressler, Angela Porcello, Nicole Smith and Mackensie Stimpson, sophomores Tara-Lynn Francisco, Marisa Garcia and Emily Morgan, and freshmen Nicole Cleary, Kayla Greiss, Jess Mandile and Amanda Zeuschner.

Since each competition follows different rules, DiPoalo and assistant Cheryl Morgan rework the routine for each meet. She says the key to Mater Dei’s consistently clean routines is performing the skills they have to the best of their ability, rather than try to do too much.

“When a cheerleader can hit the mat feeling comfortable in what they do it shows in their body language and how they perform,” the coach said. Leaving nothing to chance, the Seraphs even practice mistakes during certain parts of the routine, in order to train themselves to recover quickly.

“Sometimes you can mess up and the judge never sees it if you can cover it up,” DiPoalo noted. 

Since numerous girls cheer at football and basketball games as well – which includes making banners and signs for the players and decorating the locker room -  there is a lot of work involved. The competition team practices four hours during the week and host a five-hour practice after attending 7:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday.

The coaches, who have already put an ambitious schedule in place next year, will try and break up any tension that arises with parties, themed practices and contests.

“They understand there are going to be fun times and also lots of stress,” DiPoalo said. “But they know it’s all worth it when they hear their name called as champions.”

It’s a happy destination after a wonderful journey.