Dragons win national titles in Orlando

Brick Township again has a national champion in cheerleading and in dance competition

In fact, it has two from the Brick Dragons program.

The Junior Midget dance team won at least its eighth title since 1995, first since 2004, according to coach Cathy Lindenbaum, and the Junior PeeWee cheer team of coach Carey Nardoza also notched top honors at Walt DisneyWorld in Orlando, Fla., last week.

Three other teams finished in second place, including the PeeWee team of coach Lori High-Martucci that competed in the IntermediateDivision after winning the national title in Novice last year, as well as the Brick Mustangs' PeeWee cheer squad of coach Cathe Murphy in the Intermediate Division and the Junior Midget cheer squad of coach Nancy Skoog in the Small Intermediate Division.

"It was a great week for Brick," said High- Martucci. "Going into Intermediate, they had to do different stunts, and they worked very hard at it and were dedicated. I couldn't ask for anything more. And the Junior PeeWees also made us very proud as they stepped it up despite injuries toward the end."

Lindenbaum's team had its highest score this season after finishing second in the Jersey Shore and second in the region. "We were definitely an underdog," she said. "But this is the same group as we had last year, and they worked very hard. I'm very proud of them. They pulled together as a team and it showed when we won the Spirit award. This is well deserved."