Three Catasauqua High School recently graduated athletes are excited to represent their school after being chosen as cheerleaders for the Lehigh Valley All-Star Football Classic. Proud Rough Riders Alyssa Baker, Caroline Rodriguez and Kadince Waldron are ready to make CHS proud, while helping a good cause.

The game brings senior/graduating football players and cheerleaders from the Lehigh Valley and Poconos together for one last game. It will be held 7:30 p.m. June 12 at Nazareth High School, 501 E. Center St. Athletes are chosen and invited to take part in the event.

All the proceeds from the “premier all-star football game in Eastern Pennsylvania” go to charity, according to its website. All of the game participants have a personal fundraising goal to meet through donations and sponsorships. Proceeds benefit Ronald McDonald House of Philadelphia and St. Luke’s Children Hospital.

The three cheerleaders have a range of experience. Waldron said she’s been cheering for about 10 years, having started in second grade. Rodriguez cheered in elementary school and started again sophomore year. Baker said she has only been cheering for one year but has been taking dance classes since she was 2 years old.

Because of this background, Baker particularly enjoys the dance portions of cheer routines. Both Waldron and Rodriguez said stunting is their favorite part of cheering.

All of the cheerleaders commented on how close knit the team is and how much fun they have together. This has enriched their time cheering together at Catasauqua. Baker gave a special mention to their coach, who makes cheering fun and helps them bond together as a team.

Kawaunna Waldron, CHS cheerleading coach and mother of Kadince Waldron, said she is proud of the athletes for stepping out of their comfort zone and doing something new, especially for such a good cause.

She is also happy with the students’ leadership in representing the school. She said it was good to be asked to participate and that the students wanted to take part.

All three cheerleaders were also heavily involved in other clubs and activities at Catasauqua High School. All three were members of Varsity C Club and track team. Baker and Kadince Waldron were also members of the Media Club. Rodriguez was on the cross-country and soccer teams, student council, student forum and the student athletic leadership team. Baker was on the volleyball team and dances at Cheryl Chickey’s All American Performing Arts Center.

Kadince Waldron was the school class president, and Rodriguez had been captain of the soccer team for three years.

Since all three of the cheerleaders were graduating seniors, they are already looking forward to the future. Rodriguez is going to study early childhood education at Cedar Crest College, where she will also play soccer. Baker will study athletic training at East Stroudsburg University. She also plans to continue cheering in college. Kadince Waldron will also attend East Stroudsburg University to study biology-premed. She is considering becoming a radiologist.

The cheerleaders are busy preparing for the all-star game. They mentioned there are rehearsals nearly every other day in June. They will be learning about 30 cheers, stunts and a halftime routine for the game.

It was noted this process might be an extra mental challenge since they already have some cheers that are similar to the new ones. They will have to combat the muscle memory and “reprogram” their brains and bodies with the changes.

There was some apprehension about how they will mix with the other cheerleaders from schools across the Lehigh Valley. At the same time, Kadince Waldron reported she is excited for the experience and to learn from other cheerleaders. They said they are looking forward to a new fun experience with others.

Kadince Waldron said being chosen for this game means a lot to her since she has worked so hard at the sport since she was young.

“Being able to cheer one last time, as a senior, means a lot to me,” Kadince Waldron said.

Rodriguez is happy to represent CHS, and Baker is ready to have fun for a good cause.

CHS joins Whitehall, Allentown Central Catholic, Dieruff, East Stroudsburg North and South, Emmaus, Executive Charter, Lehighton, Northern Lehigh, Northwestern, Palmerton, Parkland, Pleasant Valley, Pocono Mountain East and West, Salisbury, Southern Lehigh, Stroudsburg and William Allen high schools on Team St. Luke’s.

They will face off against Team Ronald McDonald House, comprised of players from Northampton, Bangor, Bethlehem Catholic, Easton, Freedom, Liberty, Nazareth, Notre Dame, Palisades, Pen Argyl, Phillipsburg, Saucon Valley and Wilson high schools.

All three cheerleaders encouraged the community members to attend the game to support the school and the cheerleaders. They will honor CHS by wearing their own uniforms during the game.

“Come watch and be part of the game,” Rodriguez said.