Karleny Leon and Cathalina Eisan assist Roselly Lassus in a stunt.

If Northern Essex had a school spirit award, Roselly Lassus, an exercise science major from Haverhill, would be a likely candidate.

Lassus, with the support of staff advisor Noelia Figuereo, is starting a Northern Essex Community College cheerleading squad, and she’s busy recruiting students.

The Whittier Regional High School grad has been cheerleading since the fourth grade.  When she realized there was no cheer team at Northern Essex, she decided to get one up and running on her own.

She messaged Athletic Director Dan Blair to get the okay to start the process. “I think it’s a nice addition; they have potential to be strong moving forward,” said Blair. “I’d love to have them support us at our basketball games.”

So far, they have varied student interest but Karleny Leon, a business transfer major, also from Haverhill, is a fixed member. Leon said she wanted to join the cheerleading squad to support her best friend, Lassus.

Lassus has the experience to lead a successful squad: she was captain of the varsity cheer team at Whittier Tech her junior and senior year and led them to first place in multiple competitions.

The group meets Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 2:00-4:00 p.m. in the D building room D154 on the Haverhill campus.

For more information, contact Roselly Lassus at 00302694@student.necc.edu or the staff advisor Noelia Figuereo at nfiguereo@necc.mass.edu.