Lely cheerleaders have Hartz

Submitted photo Ashley Hartz, Lely varsity cheerleading coach.

Submitted photo The Lely varsity cheerleaders pose with their coach Ashley Hartz, near the fountain with horses at the entrance to Lely Resort. First row, from left, Rachel Haustin, Anna Rafferty and Frankie Hague. Second row, Samantha Sparks, Stephanie Etienne, Allison Blanco, captain, Maria Reyes and Tara Joseph. Third Row, Oriny Dera, Taylor Ullom, Jessica Noel, Shauni Lynch, captain, Fran Ianotta, Sahilee Buhler, ArielTorres, Kristi West and Malorie Anderson. Top row, Kira Wiedermann, Alexis Mayerhofer, Josie Miller, Joel Pierrot, Hartz, Vanessa Grisko, Angela Muscato, Katelyn Rozankowski and Veronica Castill. Not in photo, Luis Carajal and Farrah Walden.

Photo by ROGER LALONDE
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Submitted photo Lely JV Cheerleaders, front row from left, Macy Mahanke, Maddie Hague, Jamie Peterson, captain, Jessica Tower, captain, Blair Seldman and Samantha Norgard. Second row, Madison Simmons, Betsy Hyppolite, Melody Shaffery, Maniouckika Jean Baptiste and Ginger Hackman. Top row, Brooke Oberhaus, Madison Skotzke, Lovely Rahman, Kristin Porreca and Celeste Liorca. Bot shown are Elizabeth Garcia and Elliese Desvaristes.

Photo by ROGER LALONDE
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Submitted photo Lely JV and assistant varsity coach Heather Burdick.

s ready for another year of raising the excitement over the Trojans sports teams.

Ashley Hartz is the new coach for a spirited group that numbers 47. There are 27 on the varsity, including two boys, and 20 on the JV squad.

“We have had a great turnout and give the girls a task they usually accomplish it in one practice.”

The “we” is Hartz and JV coach Heather Burdick, in her first year as a teacher and coach at Lely.

Experience, Hartz has plenty.

“I’ve been cheering in Collier County since I was 3,” the 2002 Lely graduate said. She was a Lely varsity cheerleader all four years, serving as captain in her senior year. She has served as an assistant varsity and JV coach for four years at Lely. She teaches all levels of history at Lely.

The team is led by senior captains Shauni Lynch and Allison Blanco and juniors Vanessa Grisko, Josie Miller and Ariel Torres.

“Shauni is a very strong base, Allison is one of the main flyers, Josie is a strong base and one of our best tumblers, Vanessa is the strongest back spot and a tumbler and Torres is good all-around, being a tumbler, base and does some flying,” Hartz said.

Hartz is looking to develop the team to the point it can be in competition in the next two years. One of team’s leading examples to success is Marco’s Halley Kretschmer who earned a full scholarship to the University of Miami in 2009.

While advancing cheerleading, she also wants to see her team have a positive impact in the community. The team has already helped make this year’s Lely Touchdown Club fund drive a success. The club now provides funds for football and cheerleading.

They also will assist in the American Cancer Society in cancer awareness in October.

“This team is all about bonding, being a family and helping others,” Hartz said.

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