Just before its game against Springville on Sept. 4, Moody High cheerleader Montana Maniscalco was surprised by her father, Sgt. Norman Maniscalco, who returned from deployment four months early to watch his daughter on the sidelines for the first time. Above, the family celebrates Sgt. Maniscalo’s return. From left are Norman, Montana, Jennifer and Aurora Maniscalc. Photo courtesy of Montana Maniscalo.

Moody cheerleader delighted on sideline by father’s early return from deployment. 

It’s Friday night under the lights, and players are going through pregame warmups. Families are settling into the bleachers, and kids are throwing footballs to each other behind the visitors’ section.

As the game nears, a cheerleader is warming up the student section. She, like others, pauses at the sight of balloons and flowers as they approach, just long enough to realize they’re for her.

On Sept. 4 before the kickoff between Springville and Moody at Bill Morris Stadium, Moody senior cheerleader Montana Maniscalco was at first confused to see Sgt. Norman Maniscalco. After all, he wasn’t due back for another four months. That confusion quickly turned to joy however, as her daddy had come home.

It’s the surprise of a lifetime.

Last week, for the first time, Montana’s father, a Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Specialist with the Army’s 23rd Chemical Battalion, had the opportunity to watch his daughter lead the crowd as a Moody cheerleader.

“It was my wife, Jennifer, and her sister’s idea,” Maniscalco said. “My wife worked with the school to create this surprise, there were a lot of moving parts to it.”

The elaborate plan included staying Thursday night and Friday day in a hotel room.

“My wife kept some secrets from me (during the process), more than I expected.”

Earlier in the day, Maniscalco surprised his younger daughter, Aurora, in the Moody Junior High School lunchroom, then checked her out of school to keep the secret from Montana.

Before kickoff, Maniscalco was led onto the field and told to lay in the grass as his daughter cheered in front of the student section. “When a reporter from Fox 6 approached me with a microphone, I realized I was not surprising (Montana) on a small-scale.”

“This year is my only chance to watch my daughter, Maniscalco continued. “After my deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, the timing never worked out for me to be there, but this year I had a chance to watch in last week’s game and again this week when the Mortimer Jordan game is played.”

After his tour in South Korea ends at the end of 2015, Maniscalco will be stationed at Camp Shelby in Mississippi, but his plans for the future center around Moody and his family.

“We bought a house here (in Moody) so that Montana can finish her senior year here,” he said. “I want my family to have some stability after so many years of traveling. We want to make a home for Aurora and a home base for Montana.”

Montana said she felt a bit confused before the rush of recognition and love filled her.

“I really didn’t expect it because I understood that I would not be seeing him until January. First of all, I can’t see that far at all, so I couldn’t recognize him until I squinted my eyes a bit.”

Ms. Maniscalco went on to say that when she finally recognized him, she looked, she saw, and she ran — straight into her father’s arms.

The family will be together for Moody’s road game against Mortimer Jordan before Sgt. Maniscalco reports for duty.