The College of Staten Island recently completed what was their final turn through the City University of New York Athletic Conference in 2019-20.  Leaving behind a tremendous wake as one of the CUNYAC's founding members, day-by-day we will be looking back at each of CSI's programs, notably the CUNYAC Championship teams spanning over 40 years in our spring CUNYAC retrospective entitled, "Remember the Legacy."  This historical look back will chronicle the amazing achievements of CSI athletics programs, complete with championships, milestones, and amazing performances.

Our next sport spotlighted will be Cheerleading.  Although not an official NCAA varsity sport, the College of Staten Island has carried a Cheerleading program for some time, developing as a student interest club, to an organized and championship-worthy unit through the years.  THe program has been a mainstay for the past several years, enjoying a lot of success while infusing the entire campus with strong support and spirit efforts.


 

THE START
For as long as CSI has had athletics, Cheerleading has been in the background, on again and off again for the first couple of decades of their time in Division III and the CUNYAC.  Because Cheerleading is not an NCAA-sponsored sport, the Cheerleading unit is one supported by student-interest, and in many years, student-run leadership at the helm.  That changed, organizationally, in 2003.  Then, a group of students petitioned the Athletics program to start both a Cheer and a Dance team, primarily for showcasing at basketball games and to work up to an appearance at the annual CUNYAC Cheerleading Championship Exhibition.  There, senior colleges that support cheer programs collect with junior colleges across CUNYAC for an organized championship, usually in front of energetic, capacity crowds.  The squad captured lightning in a bottle that year, but then waned until several years later and has been a mainstay at the Sports & Recreation Center since. 
 
AN UNBELIEVABLE ENTRY - 2002-2003
For the cluster of cheerleaders that started the program, it was clear that they were highly organized. The collection of 10-12 faces had approached the department about starting a team, already having collected and worked on a training regimen for themselves, and the department's first order of business was bringing in a coach.  CSI found one in CSI staffer Lisa Reilly, who at the time worked at CSI's Center for the Arts and had a Cheerleading background.  She was able to organize practices for the unit, led by the likes of captain Annmarie Daber.  The group purchased uniforms and got ready for their final showcase at Baruch College, the school that had won 13 CUNYAC Cheerleading Championships to that point.  CSI proved they were the little team that could that night.  In front of a raucous crowd, the collection of 10 student-athletes dazzled, taking the crown against the rival Bearcats and terrific Lehman College side as well.  For the many in attendance, even the young ladies that comprised the team that year, the result was quite a surprise, and it clearly put CSI on the map within the CUNYAC in the developing sport at the college.
 
WITHOUT A TRACE - 2004-2008

Almost as quickly as the Dolphins entered the CUNYAC ranks as leaders in the sport, they soon exited the same way.  CSI's Dance team folded following the 2003 campaign, and although there was moderate interest, the Cheer program couldn't quite come together like it did the year before.  Interest waned, and by the start of the 2004-05 season, Cheerleading was gone.  But, like all good stories, there was a reprisal.  In 2007, then-student Camello Vanloo and a small cohort of students again petitioned the administration for a team over the summer.  The admin complied and CSI then followed at re-establishing itself, and did so ultimately during the 2008-09 season.  With then Interim Athletic Director David Pizzuto overseeing Vanloo and others like Caitlin McKeever as student-coaches, the team finally returned to the CUNYAC Championship stage in 2009, taking second place overall in the familiar confines at Baruch College.  It took a little while to claim another title, but this time, CSI Cheer was here to stay.
 
BUILDING A CHAMPION
In 2009, CSI hired Alexandra Thaten as an entrenched coach to help guide the unit, and to help turn the corner competitively.  Thaten's appointment, however, was short-lived, and she gave way during the 2009-10 school year to Justine E. Green, a former established collegiate cheerleader and coaching leader.  Green instantly lent credibility to the unit, building a program-feel around the team, and being a voice for the CUNYAC overall in their Championship format and scoring procedures, keeping it in-line with many national practices.  The ultimate prize, of course, was trying to capture the elusive CUNYAC crown that evaded them.  CSI thought they had one in 2011, but a tremendous performance, perhaps one of their best all-time, only merited them second place, as Brooklyn College claimed their eighth-straight CUNYAC title on their home floor, leaving the CSI team and their supporters, in relative shock.

 

BACK ON TOP - 2012
It took almost a whole decade, a small handful of coaches and a rebirth to the sport for CSI to realize their second CUNYAC title in the sport.  In 2011-12, CSI actually had a younger team, with just two seniors in total on the roster.  The focus, however, was clear, CSI was chasing a Championship and would do so, this time, on their home floor, as CSI volunteered to host the event.  There was a lot of parity within the CUNYAC that season, as joining Brooklyn as standouts were Medgar Evers College and John Jay College as well.  With all teams performing very well, CSI benefited from their high-energy, dance-infused,routine, and they had just enough to take down John Jay to win the title in 2012.  Ashley Isaacs was recognized, taking a medal in the Jumping routine as well, the start of a tremendous four-year career for her.

A TRANSITIONING UNIT - 2013-17
In 2014, Green departed the team, leaving them in the very capable hands of former pupil Vanloo, who doubled as Head Cheer Coach for New Dorp High School.  CSI failed to win another CUNYAC title in his near three years at the helm, and CSI abandoned the CUNYAC Championship altogether to pursue a more Stunt competition regimen, hosting a Stunt event as well on campus.  Ultimately, CSI refocused on getting back to the Cheer unit being a support mechanism at the college while showcasing at the annual CUNYAC Championship as a payoff to their efforts during the year.  With that in mind, CSI turned the program over to established Cheer Coach Kristie Perrotta, who in a short time has put the squad on capable footing.

THE CUNYAC STANDARD - 2018-2020

Perrotta's standards since coming aboard in 2017 has merited the Dolphins a host of success.  The coach has worked at recruiting both advanced and beginners to the sport, meshing the team into a cohesive unit that trains hard at a routine that is both demanding and high-energy.  Numbers have been terrific, and CSI Cheer has become engrained with the campus as a whole, lending itself to numerous campus-wide and community-service projects.  Of course, CUNYAC excellence has come in tow.  At the 2018 Championship held at York College, CSI burst back on to the scene in a huge way, clean sweeping every major category and bringing home the school's third CUNYAC Championship, winning by just 13 points over what would have been a back-to-back title for John Jay College, and sent a clear message that CSI was back on the scene.  Alyssa Dunn, Malay'ja Heard, Alexandra Diodato, and Dayana Dunac were the ringleaders in the effort.

That same fire carried over to the 2018-19 campaign.  CSI turned the roster over in a big way, welcoming in several new faces, but the results were in line with expectations.  Perrotta's unit worked feverishly into the late evening at times perfecting their routine and come Championship time, again at York College, the team delivered, winning the title by a 16 points over the Borough of Manhattan Community College, and landing Alyssa Dunn MVP honors after CSI swept Jumping, Tumbling, and Stunting honors as well.  

In time for the 2019-20 season, optimism was on high again.  The Dolphins were looking to become only the third CUNYAC side to win three-straight titles, joining Baruch and Brooklyn in that distinction.  They needed to get over a few humps for sure, as mid-season losses and injuries loomed over the team.  Still, the unit was humming by March and keying in on what would have been another title defense when COVID hit and the spring season was wiped away.  CUNYAC and CSI suspended all play, ironically, on the date that the CUNYAC Championship Exposition was due to take place again at York College.

Despite the setback, it is clear that CSI regained its footing as the CUNYAC standard in Cheerleading.  The future is a hopeful one for the team.  CSI is advancing into the Division II ranks, and it is uncertain what that future will hold within the CUNYAC.  CSI could likely remain a part of the conference championship, much like the junior college sides as well.
 
REMEMBER THE LEGACY
First Season: 2003, 2008 (Reboot)
CUNYAC Postseason Championships: 4 - 2003, 2012, 2018, 2019

Cover Photo from left to right:  CSI's 2003 & 2018 Championship teams.  2009, Dunn, and 2019 photos courtesy of Denis Gostev