After leading the Danbury High School cheerleading team to its third consecutive Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference (FCIAC) title this season, Head Coach JoAnn Tatarzycki was recently named the 2019 FCIAC Coach of the Year.
Tatarzycki is in her eighth season of coaching the Danbury High School varsity cheerleading team after seven years of coaching the junior varsity team. A graduate of DHS, Tatarzycki has worked in the district for 20 years; the past ten as secretary to the Athletic Director.
“They have been a powerhouse for many years,” Tatarzycki said. “I’m keeping the tradition going by continuing the work ethic: the conditioning, the tumbling, and working every day.”
A tremendous amount of effort goes into the sport, including two hours of daily practice, mandatory tumbling classes at an outside facility, weightlifting and running for cardio and strength. The cheerleaders start the season in June and its runs through April. In the fall, they cheer for the football team and then move onto to basketball. They are currently in competition season. The team also boasts the number one cheerleader in FCIAC, Avery Marquis.
“I’m getting them prepared for the real world – being on time, being respectful, taking school seriously and working with a group.”
DHS Athletic Director Chip Salvestrini said that district is fortunate to have such a dedicated coach, who is the second coach in the school’s history to bring her team to three FCIAC titles in a row.
“Not only is Coach Tatarzycki the FCIAC Coach of the Year, I believe she is one of the top high school cheerleading coaches in Connecticut,” said Salvestrini.