Middletown Eagles Contender Program Hits The Field For Its Second Season

The Middletown Eagles Contenders are looking to take the field once again during their second season.

The Middletown Eagles Contender program is a cheer and flag football program for children between the ages five and 18 with special needs, including but not limited to autism, Down Syndrome, mitochondrial disease and cerebral palsy.

Cheerleading girls perform during halftime at Middletown Eagle tackle games that do not have cheerleaders. The girls dance and shout out a cheer that is made specifically for them by their coaches.

“We use the same cheers as the other cheerleaders, but we modify them to the Contenders abilities,” said Christine Kraidman via email. “They sound the same but sometimes look differently.”

The cheer team practices two nights a week, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. at Croydon Hall. The fall season began Monday, July 23 runs until the end of October but games do not begin until August 25.

The football team, on the other hand, is looking to gain footage on the field this year.

In the past year there was insufficient enrollment for the flag football but this year the Contenders look to grow, said Christina Kraidman.

The Contenders program is run through the Middletown Athletic Club, which was home to Pop Warner football until last year when Pop Warner switched to American Youth Football & Cheer.  

“We had a great first season and would love if the program grew,” Kraidman said.

Kraidman added if they were able to form a Contender Flag Football team, the Contender girls would cheer for them.

Anyone with any questions can contact us at Contender@Middletowneagles.com or Christine Kraidman at (732) 977-4516.