Special Forces Cheer
By Chris Rotolo
When reminiscing about their time spent between the white lines, working the court, or performing on the mat, athletes and coaches will often discuss the impact of sports extending beyond the act of competition.
There are life lessons to be learned; social, emotional and mental attributes that are strengthened; and bonds built that can last a lifetime.
For the members of Special Forces, a Central New Jersey-based cheerleading squad for children with special needs, traveling to Disney’s Wide World of Sports in May and capturing a globe at the World Cheerleading Championships was more meaningful than any ranking on the global stage could be.
“This is about having something all their own; something that they fought for and earned. It’s about having something they can be truly proud of,” Special Forces head coach Brooke Palle, an educator in the Middletown Township Public School District, told The Two River Times. “There are so many times in life where kids with disabilities don’t have something they can take pride in. Or they’re looked upon with helplessness; like they can’t do something on their own. But I’m not that coach. And that is not our program.”
Middletown resident Hannah Piasecki, 13, joined Special Forces five years ago when the program only garnered enough participation to roster a single exhibition squad. At the exhibition level, assistants may provide hands-on support for athletes during their performance. As the squad’s numbers increased, so did the individuals’ skill levels, prompting Special Forces to upgrade its status to the Cheer-Abilities Elite division in 2019, a level at which athletes are required to perform their routines independently.
Hannah’s mother Vera recalled her daughter’s first attempt with Special Forces, and how the cacophony of sound reverberating off the gymnasium walls induced an overwhelming sense of uneasiness. The startling environment caused Hannah to retreat to the sideline, but her withdrawal was short-lived.
“This is a girl with scoliosis, low muscle tone and who finds it tough to balance, but she’s come to a point now where she knows where she needs to be on the mat. She’ll serve in a base position for her teammates and do whatever is asked of her. It’s a far cry from where she started. At the beginning I was skeptical that she would even participate. But this has become a passion for her, and the strides she’s making by trying new things on the mat is helping to build a willingness to try new things in her day-to-day life,” Vera said.
Vera described a chaotic scene in Disney World, with throngs of park patrons, high-rise escalators leading into hotels and up to ride entrances, and a consuming noise generated by all of it. The accompanying pressures of performing created the perfect sensory overload stormfront that moved in on Hannah and the Special Forces outfit.
“Sure, there were some meltdowns. But that’s expected with new experiences like this. Hannah in particular approaches new situations with a lot of caution, but with new experiences comes a new confidence to face new challenges. There’s a resilience being built,” Vera said. “It’s why I want her included and involved. Because life isn’t experienced in a self-contained room with people to help you. Life can be loud. Life can be busy with all different types of people and personalities. You want your kids to experience as much as they can.”
Palle said making the attempt is what matters most, whether her athletes are developing new skills on the mat or embarking on new journeys in their daily lives.
“What we try to instill in our kids is that, in any aspect of life, you might not get it today. You might not get it tomorrow. You might not even get it in six months. But if you keep working at something you’ll get the result you’re looking for,” Palle added.
Vera said Special Forces has helped offer Hannah and her teammates valuable opportunities to visit new locations, accomplish new goals and achieve feats they may not have otherwise received in an athletic environment.
“This team is a microcosm of what you might find with another larger team at our gym, in terms of training, competition and travel, but the experiences are just as impactful, if not more so,” Vera said. “Things like socializing in a pool, or in some cases visiting a theme park or a beach for the first time, it’s just nice that they have the chance to experience these things, regardless of anything else.”
Following their appearance in Disney, Special Forces is currently ranked second in the world amongst Cheer-Ability Elite programs. Hannah told The Two River Times she is ready to get back on the mat and chase the top slot with her teammates, but Palle hopes her team can obtain something more indelible.
“If they can come away from our program with a sense of pride in their accomplishments, and an understanding that there are people in their corner who believe in them, that’s what’s most important to me. That’s what will make the most lasting impact on their lives. That’s what we’re here for,” Palle said.
The Special Forces roster includes Rhea Alathur, Alexis Applegate, Sara Bakst, Sarah Butler, Makayla Cregg, Emma Kruger, Eva Nisenzon, Bronx Perry, Hannah Piasecki, Lizzie Pineiro, Cassidy Radcliffe and Sam Santangelo with coaches Brooke Palle and Lucia Millan.
The article originally appeared in the June 2 – 8, 2022 print edition of The Two River Times.
