QUEENS, N.Y. (Mar. 7, 2019) - The College of Staten Island won its second-straight CUNYAC Cheerleading Championship on Thursday night at the York College Gymnasium in Jamaica.
 
The Dolphins scored 69.30 points in the team competition to earn back-to-back titles, while it was their fourth league championship in program history.
 
“It’s a great feeling,” said CSI Head Coach Kristie Perrotta. She continued, “I’ve never been in this situation before in my 20 years of coaching. We put together a routine that we thought would be a winning routine and the kids went out and just did their thing.”
 
CSI swept the floor in every category, also winning gold in the stunt, tumbling and jumping competitions, led by senior Alyssa Dunn.
 
“Alyssa just has overall cheerleading experience,” Perrotta stated. “She’s a teacher, we have confidence in her. We know that whatever we put her in, it’s going to get done.” 
 
Dunn soared into first place, earning 73.10 points with her stunt group. Additionally, her tumbling earned her 17.8 points for another first-place finish, en route to being named the championship’s Most Valuable Performer.
 
“I have no words, it feels really amazing, I’m so happy I won this,” she said, unable to contain her excitement. Dunn, also the CUNYAC Diver of the Year in women's swimming, explained, “constant practice and overall perseverance led to our success”.
 
Last year’s championship MVP Malay’ja Heard took home the gold for the Dolphins in the jumping competition with 17.80 points. Borough of Manhattan Community College’s Neila Charles was a close second with 16.6 points.
 
In the team competition, BMCC came in second with 53.45 points and Lehman placed third with 52.10 points. John Jay followed behind in fourth, tallying 43.40 points.
 
2018-19 CUNYAC Cheerleading All-Stars
Performer of the Year: Chelsea Ortiz, Staten Island
Rookie of the Year: Crystal Alvarado, Brooklyn
Coach of the Year: Matthew Brown, BMCC
Sportsmanship Award: Teemara Williams, BMCC
Sportsmanship Team: Stewart Bailon, BMCC, Mathilda Bruny, Medgar Evers, Jazira Encarnacion, Lehman, Mirtha Wong Hernandez, John Jay, Nancy Galbo, Staten Island