HORSEHEADS' FATULA COMPETES AT INTERNATIONAL CHEER EVENT AT DISNEY (2022-05-04)

By Brian Fees
Southern Tier Sports Report
For years Cassidy Fatula’s schedule has been so packed with cheerleading and school she rarely has a moment of free time.

The Horseheads senior has put so much energy into cheerleading over the years, and now as she gets closer to graduating high school she knows that her time in the sport is also about to end.

“I do not plan to cheer in college,” Fatula said. “Cheer has been such a big part of my life for so long that at some point it has to come to an end and with my future ahead of me I’m excited to embrace new adventures in my life.”

Before she finishes up with the sport Fatula had one last great experience to enjoy as she joined her Cheer Athletics team out of Rochester, N.Y. in competing at the D1 Summit Cheer Competition at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports.

“This competition is extremely exciting for me, considering it will be my last ever competition,” Fatula said.

The team had to compete across the U.S. for a bid and they earned their way in.

“We had to earn a bid to this competition, so we practiced and trained as hard as we could to ensure a win at a competition that gave out bids,” Fatula said.

For the Horseheads senior it was special to get a chance to head to Florida for the competition.

“I love the beach and warm weather and I hope to eventually move down here after school so I absolutely love traveling to Florida,” Fatula said.

One of the best parts about the competition for the Horseheads senior is getting a chance to meet so many cheerleaders from throughout the country.

“This competition is international, so I have met many kids from different states and different countries,” Fatula said. “I love meeting new people and reconnecting with old teammates or cheerleaders I have met in the past.

“There are multiple teams across the East U.S. I know attending the competition and many people on the team I know as well.”

Cheer has been a big part of Fatula’s life for nearly a decade now.

“I have been cheering for eight years,” she said. “I’ve cheered high school, rec and all-star. All-star has a different kind of connection than the others.

“Everyone is sacrificing everything and focused on the same goal in order to make it to this competition to compete with the best of the best.”

Over the years Fatula has put a ton of time and effort into the sport.

“This is my second year attending this competition and both years nobody from my school could really understand or appreciate the commitment and dedication I have put into this sport.

“I do everything I can to make it possible by completely packing my schedule so whether I’m at school work or practice there is absolutely no free time. The gym I cheer for is all the way in Rochester, which is a little over two-hour drive so as soon as school is over I”m on my way there and I get out around 9:30 (p.m.) so I get home around 11:45 p.m.-midnight when I finally have time to sit down and do homework. Or if I’m not at practice I get out of school and head to work until 10 then head home after.”

For Fauta it’s not only fun competing, but also watching others compete. The Horseheads senior enjoyed the chance to enjoy one last competition in the sport.

“Watching other girls just encourages me to have fun and enjoy it while I still have it,” Fatula said. “One day it will be all over and it has been a large part of my life for so long it’s going to be hard to live without it. But, I’me excited for what the future holds.”
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