The Great Oak High School Competition Cheer Team won first place in the CheerPros state-wide competition at the Ontario Business Bank Arena on Jan. 26.

The Great Oak cheerleaders qualified for Nationals at the first competition of their season, and won first place in the following two competitions, one of which was the Regional Competition.

The squad has prepared for the competition season by repeatedly running their selected routine that they present to the judges. Stunt training began last July, before school was even in session. At practices, the team warms up by running ten laps and moving right into run-throughs of their routine.

At every performance, the judges’ critiques on aspects such as arm motions, dances, and stunts is evaluated and used to adjust the routine.

The girls learn choreography and routines from their two coaches and the three co-captains: Kyleigh Camp (’14), Bree Brown (’14), and Rylee Leavitt (’13). Camp says the team works well as a unit "by bonding outside of cheer."

"At comp you’re really working, you don’t have time to chit-chat or anything, but we have [team] dinners sometimes, and we’ll get to know each other through that," said Camp. They also bond through the couple hours before competitions in which the teammates can talk to each other and mentally prepare. When asked if this process builds trust, Camp assuredly said, "Definitely."

The athleticism and skill required of the competition team is what has set it apart from other cheer teams. Their skills are challenged on a broader range, against a larger group of individuals, all competing for one title.

In March, the Great Oak Competition Cheer Team will use the strength from this season to face over 50 teams in the high school intermediate division at Nationals.