Debbie Tornetta earns Lifetime Achievement Award for her dedication to PWHS cheerleading
Debbie Tornetta, affectionately known as “Mrs. T,” was recently honored by the Montgomery County Coaches Hall of Fame with a Lifetime Achievement Award for her 30+ career as coach of the Plymouth Whitemarsh High School cheerleading team.
During her tenure, the team advanced to the PIAA state championships five times and regularly earned bids to the UCA national championships in Orlando, Florida.
The current PWHS coaches contributed the following tribute for the Montgomery County Coaches Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony program:
Debbie Tornetta has left an incredible mark on the Plymouth Whitemarsh High school cheerleading program. Her actions and kindness have had such an amazing impact on our program and whose legacy continues to inspire us. We would like to share the achievements of Mrs.T, a remarkable individual whose contributions have made a lasting difference in our world.
For the past 33 years, since 1990, Debbie was the Plymouth Whitemarsh High School Cheerleading Head Coach, advancing to the PIAA State Championships five times and placing in the top three. Prior to this, she was the cheerleading director for the Plymouth Whitemarsh Spartans youth football program from 1986-1990. Debbie's dedication to the sport of cheerleading, her abundant energy, positive encouragement and goal-driven success have consistently produced young women of excellence who cherish the lifetime bond of sisterhood Debbie has engendered over the years.
However, it’s not just the numbers that define Mrs.T’s Legacy. It’s the countless stories of individuals whose lives were transformed because of her efforts. It’s the hope she instilled in those who had lost it, the opportunities she provided to those in need, and the empathy she showed to both the Plymouth Whitemarsh Spartans and then Plymouth Whitemarsh High School programs.
Debbie was not a person who sought the limelight or chased after fame. Instead, her passion and commitment to a cause drove her to work tirelessly behind the scenes—making a difference in the lives of countless individuals. It is often said that the measure of a person's greatness is not found in the attention they receive but in the positive change they bring about.
Today, we honor Debbie Tornetta for not only what she achieved but for the principles and values she embodied in each cheerleader she coached. She showed us that one person with determination and compassion can make an enduring impact on others and will always leave a mark on those she has had the pleasure of coaching or has coached beside.
The current PWHS coaches, cheerleaders, alumni, Plymouth Whitemarsh Spartans Organization, and Colonial School District would like to thank Debbie for her time and commitment to every program she was a part of.
The 2023 Montgomery County Coaches Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Banquet was held on Tuesday, November 21. This is the group’s 21st year.