It is always great to see alumni come back and make a difference in their childhood community. That is certainly what cheer coach Heather Coniglio has done. The former Pius and UNL cheerleader now spends her time leading the current Pius cheerleading team.  Coach Coniglio works to help these young ladies push themselves to become better cheerleaders, more confident and self-assured in their personal lives, and to look towards their future. Heather has truly enjoyed all of the experiences she has had coaching for the past three years and the relationships she has built with her team. “I have a special place in my heart for each of them”, Heather says about her team. 

As much as Coach Coniglio enjoys working with her team, her team loves having her as a coach. Senior captain Natalia Unger speaks highly of her time spent with Coach Coniglio. She says that Heather has helped her grow as a cheerleader and as an individual. Natalia has come to value the relationships she has been able to create through her years as cheerleader, just as Coach Coniglio has. 

Natalia also loves the feeling of coming to school and feeling the excitement and anticipation that occurs on every game day, especially Homecoming. Natalia thrives on the excitement and enthusiasm of the crowd as they cheer on their team. The air of camaraderie and support the team feels everyday is intensified with the whole school and crowd when the cheerleaders are working hard to make sure everyone feels the Pius school spirit. 

As much as Natalia loves cheering for Pius, she has started to look towards the future throughout her senior year. She is looking forward to attending UNL to pursue a nursing degree. She did not say whether cheer would be a part of her life at UNL but after being involved in cheer and dance her whole life, it is a smart bet that she will be involved in promoting the Husker spirit, even if it is not as a UNL cheerleader. Who knows she may one day follow in the footsteps of her current coach and role model Heather and come back to give back to the Pius community.  

Written by Jennifer Ericson.