Nassau County Executive Bruce A. Blakeman and Comptroller Elaine Phillips joined with members of Long Island High School Cheerleading teams to stand against the vaccine mandate at the 2022 NYS Cheerleading Championship hosted by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association.
Other state championships like wrestling were moved to venues that do not require a vaccine mandate.
County Executive Blakeman announced Nassau County is offering to host the NYSPHSAA Cheerleading Championship event at the Nassau County Mitchel Field Athletic Complex on March 5th free of charge, with no vaccination requirement.
Cheerleading is the only sport in NYS with the championship event having a vaccine mandate, not permitting unvaccinated students to participate, even with proof of a negative COVID test.
“If we do not teach fairness and equity to our children, what are we teaching them?” County Executive Blakeman asked. We should treat everyone on all teams the same way, in Nassau County we are going to do our absolute best to make sure our Cheerleaders have equal opportunity to compete.” Blakeman continued.