A special kind of cheer

SARASOTA — Mention cheerleading, and 15-year-old Navene Shehadeh’s eyes light up. 

It’s the one sport where Shehadeh isn’t afraid to be herself. 

She can let her contagious smile shine bright and her competitive spirit reign supreme. 

More importantly, she can have fun without having to worry about what others might think if her forward roll is slightly off balance or her jumps aren’t accented by perfectly pointed toes. 

“You get to have fun and all of the boys like cheerleaders,” a giggling Shehadeh said. “It’s awesome.” 

Shehadeh always wanted to be a cheerleader. She wanted to be a part of a team. 

Three months ago, Shehadeh was able to do just that when the Funtastics Force launched a cheerleading program in September for children with special needs. 

The special athletes team, which is comprised of 11 cheerleaders, ranging in age from 8 to 19, practices every Sunday from 10-11 a.m. 

During each practice, the cheerleaders stretch and review what they learned the previous week before working on the next phase of their routine, which features stunts, motions and jumps, among other elements. 

Getting all 11 cheerleaders to remain focused and remember their cues for the duration of the practice can be challenging at times, so structure, both in terms of the routine itself and the time allotted to each segment, has become key to the special athletes all finding success in working together. 

In addition to working with their two coaches, all of the cheerleaders have been paired up with a volunteer buddy to help them throughout the season. 

“My favorite part of cheerleading is Hope, because she does backflips and cartwheels,” said Dennis Hernandez, 8, of his volunteer buddy Hope Bumgarner, a sophomore at Sarasota High. 

While working with Bumgarner, Hernandez has mastered his back handspring — he’s a member of the back handspring club — and his forward roll. 

“We always have fun,” Bumgarner said. “Dennis loves to stunt and jump. He’s open to anything.” 

Over the next three months, the squad will perfect its choreographed routine, which includes practicing it to music, before taking it to competition in April. 

Funtastics’ special athlete team will compete in at the Jamfest Jam Bash April 2, in Kissimmee, and the National Cheerleaders Association Daytona Beach International Championships April 16. 

“I’m going to be nervous, but I’m excited to go,” Shehadeh said. 

The special athlete program is the brain child of Riverview High senior cheerleader Jamey Paul, who is entering her 10th season with the Funtastics Force and serves as head coach for the special athlete team. 

Last May, Paul was at a cheerleading competition where she watched a group of special athlete teams perform for the first time. 

Paul, who has spent the past three years volunteering at Oak Park School, a school for children with special needs in Sarasota, quickly turned to her Force coaches and asked if they could start a special athlete team of their own. 

“I thought those kids would be so good for cheerleading,” Paul said. “It would be a good experience for them to experience and love the sport that I love.” 

With the help of fellow coach Kait Brooks, Paul began trying to get the word out about the new program. The coaches started brainstorming in August and started planning their first season in September. 

Paul hoped to have between five and eight cheerleaders for the special athlete team’s first season. She had 15 people sign up and ultimately ended up with 11 for the season. 

The special athletes team held its first practice Oct. 11 and will continue practicing through April 10. 

“It melts my heart and gives you a whole new perspective on life,” said Brooks, a former cheerleader herself and Hernandez’s nanny. “These kids have a smile on their face every single day. They love life.” 

Volunteer and Funtastics cheerleader Logan Gardner agreed. 

“It’s very motivational,” Gardner said. “They love coming to practice. It changes the way you think about cheerleading. It makes you want to learn more.” 

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected].