The season never ends for the Fordham University Varsity Cheerleading team. Under the direction of Coach Doreen Franquinha, the team performs at all football, men??s and women??s basketball games and Midnight Madness. In between games they also find time to perform at various Fordham events, volunteer for the Special Olympics and assist local cheerleading teams. This year??s team is comprised of 23 talented girls; 11 returning members and 12 new members. Leading the team as captains are seniors Alicia Pieracini and Marisa Falletta. Also on their roster is the mascot, Joseph Franquinha. This is Joseph??s third year as the Ram. After impressing the crowd with his hip-hop moves and famous Michael Jackson routine, Joseph was featured on MSG Sports Desk and interviewed for numerous articles in local and national publications. He also spent this past summer as the mascot for the New York Liberty where he was able to perform his moves night after night on the Madison Square Garden Court. Joseph looks forward to coming up with new routines this season to entertain the Fordham fans. The Varsity Cheer Team is already off to a successful start after returning from UCA Camp with Four Superior Ribbons and taking home two First Place trophies in the Division 1 All Girl competition and third place in the sideline competition. Throughout the year the team practices three nights a week (with a stronger concentration before competition) and is required to do one hour twice a week in the Varsity weight room on non-practice days. They travel to the men??s and women??s basketball Atlantic 10 Tournament and attend away games for football season. Along with appearances on MSG Sports Desk, College Sports Television, American Cheerleader Magazine and the About.com Cheerleading website, these athletes have been able to perform at Madison Square Garden, the Meadowlands, the New York City Yankee Parade, the televised Revlon Run/Walkathon in Central Park and a pep rally for the NBA Store in Manhattan. The 2001-2002 team had the honor of being the focus of a documentary on college cheerleading for the European television show, Urbanation and last years seniors were also featured on the cover of the ??Lifeline?? section in the Daily News. This year??s cheer team looks forward to a great season and supporting all the Fordham athletic teams. GO RAMS!