At Hendrick Hudson High School, there’s a saying that rings true across every field and court: “Once a Sailor, always a Sailor.” Few embody that spirit more than Nicole Curran (formerly Selvaggi-Landry).

A 2009 graduate of Hen Hud, Curran has spent nearly two decades shaping the school’s cheerleading program – first as an athlete, then as a coach, mentor, and leader. Now in her 16th year on the sidelines, she continues to be the steady force behind the Sailors’ success.

“I graduated in June and started coaching as a volunteer that first summer of college,” Curran said. “From 2009 until now, the program has grown in more ways than I could have ever imagined.”

Under Curran’s leadership, Hen Hud cheer has transformed into a respected, competitive co-ed program – earning recognition at the state and national levels. In January 2024, the Sailors placed fourth at the NCA High School Cheerleading Nationals in Dallas, competing among thousands of teams from across the country. Upon their return, the team was honored by the Town of Cortlandt during a March board meeting.

That milestone is just one of many in Curran’s tenure as head coach, a role she assumed roughly over a decade ago. Another standout moment came in 2016, when her team captured a national title at the Cheer Ltd. Nationals in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

But Curran’s influence stretches far beyond trophies and titles. As both Hen Hud’s varsity head coach and the director of the Town of Cortlandt’s youth cheer program, she introduces the sport to dozens of young athletes each year – teaching not just chants and stunts, but also teamwork, discipline, and perseverance.

“There’s no modified cheer program in the district,” she explained. However, through the town’s “feeder system,” Curran oversees around 60 kids from kindergarten through sixth grade – helping shape them into future Sailors. By seventh grade, athletes can take the Advanced Placement Test, making them eligible for high school cheer.

That continuity has paid off. Most Hen Hud cheerleaders have grown up under Curran’s guidance, joining the high school team with years of experience. “We haven’t done cuts in years,” she said. “We just place athletes where they’ll grow best. Many of them have been with us for six years.”

For Curran, watching that long-term growth is the most rewarding part of coaching. “One of my athletes, who was my first registration [in the Town of Cortlandt program], is now a senior on my team. It’s amazing to see.”

Cheerleading, Curran notes, is far more demanding than outsiders often realize. “It’s not just cheering on a sideline with pom-poms,” she said. “There’s stunting, there’s jumps, there’s dances, there’s several aspects of the sport that have become very competitive.”

She’s witnessed that evolution firsthand. In 2014, cheerleading became an officially recognized interscholastic sport in New York State, giving teams like Hen Hud the chance to compete at sectionals and states. Today, the Sailors compete in both fall and winter seasons, attending up to ten competitions a year – while also cheering at every football game.

The team practices at Frank G. Lindsey Elementary and often volunteer in the community – at events like Cortlandt Family Fun Day – reinforcing the values Curran strives to instill.

“I hope my athletes walk away as kind, hardworking people with great work ethic,” she said. “The wins and trophies come after that.”

Curran isn’t alone in her efforts. Her coaching staff is made up entirely of former athletes she once coached herself: junior varsity coach Kymberleigh Vigliotti, assistants Katie Luposello (Class of 2016) and Lily Callaghan (Class of 2022), and stunt coach Jasmine DeCosmo.

“It’s amazing to see them still carrying the same values you instilled in them, and now they’re applying it as they stand next to you, opposed to in front of you,” said Curran. “We’ve been to Dallas, Texas. We’ve been to Pennsylvania. We’ve been to Albany – and that’s all because of the support that those four coaches have given me through and through. We couldn’t have done it without them.”

Vigliotti, who now teaches in the district, said the experience has come full circle. “Coach Curran was not only my coach but also my teammate during one memorable season,” she recalled. “Her passion for this program is undeniable – she truly bleeds blue and white.”

“I am greatly fortunate to be able to coach alongside her… I’ve learned so much from her, especially about how cheerleading has evolved into the dynamic, athletic sport it is today,” she added.

That shared Sailor pride – spanning generations – is what keeps Curran anchored to the program. Even as she balances life with a one-year-old and a full-time job as a daycare director, she can’t imagine stepping away.

“Coaching is just a way of life for me,” she said. “Until I can’t walk anymore, I’ll be here for as long as I can”

Looking ahead to the 2025 winter season, Curran has one clear goal: “We have about 14 juniors on varsity this year, so we’re a very veteran team. We’re really aiming for that first-place finish at sectionals.”

From teaching kindergartners their first cheer to guiding high schoolers toward national recognition, Nicole Curran’s influence on Hen Hud Cheer is undeniable. For her, it all comes back to one enduring truth: “Once a Sailor, always a Sailor.”