Garfield football's biggest booster is a cheerleader with Down syndrome

Katie Sobko | NorthJersey

Show Caption Hide Caption Garfield High School cheerleader brings the cheer wherever she goes Jessica Alfonso is a Freshman at Garfield High School and a cheerleader who happens to have Down Syndrome.

GARFIELD — When Jessica Alfonso was just 8 years old, she would watch her older brother Mikie play football and cheer her heart out for him from the stands. Now a freshman at the city’s high school, she gets to cheer for him and his friends from the sidelines every week.

Like her fellow cheerleaders, she wears the purple school colors and waves bright gold pompons. Unlike them, she has Down syndrome. It makes little difference as far as the team is concerned.

“Jess got on the team the same way as everyone else. She tried out,” said her father, Michael Alfonso, who serves the district as the athletic director. “Everyone has been supportive and accepting. She gets along with everyone.”

Jessica said she likes cheering for Mikie and two of his friends and fellow seniors, Kacper Szuberski and Josue Matias.

After 10 years of practicing all varieties of dance, including tap and ballet, at a school in New Milford and cheering in the Garfield recreation program, Jessica decided to give it a shot for the high school team.

She enjoys the bus rides and has fun with the other girls, many of whom she knew from her recreation days, her father said.

Although the football season wrapped up early in November, Jessica won’t have much downtime before she is back at it again. During the winter season she plans to manage the wrestling team, in which Mikie and his friends also take part.

“We are just so proud of her, because she is doing so well,” her father said before acknowledging that “it was hard letting go in the beginning to let her be more of an adult and more independent.”

Overall, Jessica is adjusting to high school well and likes “gym class and basketball” the best. But at the end of the day, Jessica said, the best part is “cheering and singing for Mikie.”

Katie Sobko is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: sobko@northjersey.com Twitter: @katesobko

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