Liz started Staten Island Elite in 1996, marking this as her 30th season as owner and head coach of the program. Under Liz’s leadership and guidance, the program has transformed from a basic-beginner program to a fleet of national champion cheerleaders. Along the way, she watched her Gems grow from elementary school students to college graduates and now see the beautiful families they have created. Many Gems remain close to Liz, becoming a second family.
Over the years, Liz has helped coach many winning teams throughout Staten Island. Before SIE, she coached St. Teresa Elementary and Notre Dame Academy HS.
Along with assuring that her girls will be top-level competitors, Liz has made a mark for herself in the coaching world as well, where she was the 2nd runner-up for United Performing Association's top five National Cheerleading Coach of the Year Award.
Over the seasons, SI Elite has won awards for their outstanding choreography full of dramatic visuals, energetic and engaging sequences, and over-the-top dance segments that clearly set Elite apart from the competition in the judge’s eyes. These awards are a culmination of Liz & the SIE staff’s input, the way SIE works best – Together!
Most recently, Liz introduced Staten Island to the newest addition in cheerleading: STUNT. STUNT the Sport is a vigorous new addition is a half-year cheer program that focuses on perfecting skills and techniques while stunting, jump & tumbling. The Staten Island Elite STUNT teams brought home more wins in Club STUNT that any other NY Club STUNT team since its introduction in 2020. It has become so popular that local sport publication, Staten Island Advance, have been following the Staten Island Elite STUNT teams and their victories!
Coach Cathrine joined the Staten Island Elite family in May 2001 as an Emerald and progressed to the Diamond team. The things she loved most about being on the team were being able to travel throughout the country, double-teaming, and winning numerous regional and national championship titles! Cathrine has helped SIE in the past, assisting other coaches and training girls during tryouts. Her first year as part of the coaching staff officially began in the 2011-2012 season coaching the Youth Rubies & Junior Emeralds. She loves the opportunity to be coaching alongside her forever coach/mentor, Liz, as well as coaching with other SIE alums.
Cat has also cheered for Central Jersey All-Stars Open 6 Co-ed team & All-Girl Open 6 teams from 2009-2014, where she competed at the Cheerleading Worlds, placing 4th in the US and 8th in the world. She also competed at the 2014 Cheerleading Worlds where the team placed top 10 in the US and top 25 in the world.
While cheering for CJA, she was also one of the original members of CSI Dolphins' Cheerleading program and has competed in CUNY Cheerleading Competitions, consistently ranking in top 2.
Cathrine was also a licensed STUNT official for USA Cheer, where she judged and/or refereed STUNT games for PSAL and USA Cheer events.
Cat graduated cum laude with a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing from CSI’s Verrazano School with Honors Distinction. Cathrine has been a New York State Licensed Registered Nurse since May 2010. She is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree as a Psychiatric Mental Health-Nurse Practitioner at NYU Rory Meyers College.
Coach Emily began her cheer career on the St. Joseph, St. Thomas elementary school team. She then cheered at St. Joseph Hill Junior Varsity and Varsity teams before joining Staten Island Elite. Emily competed on our Senior Level 4 Diamond team for her junior and senior years of high school. After her HS graduation, Emily was part of the Marist College team for two seasons. Excited to be back on the mat this season, Emily is a part of the SIE Gemsation adult team!
From 2017-2020, Emily taught at Victory Gymnastics including assistant coaching the rec team, Excel Silver, and Excel Gold teams.
She has been coaching at Staten Island Elite since 2018. Coaching both all star and STUNT teams, Emily also offerss private lessons.
Outside of cheerleading, Emily currently works in foreign exchange trading.
