Cheerleaders from First State Allstars Port Macquarie are on a high after securing a spot at the national cheerleading finals in Sydney in November.
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Competing in just their second ever competition, two of the three competition teams placed fourth overall and the third team received a no faults routine at the state finals in Sydney, September 7-9.
Head coach Courtney Longa said the group had done a phenomenal job going from novices to nationals in half a year.
“I am really proud of everything they achieved in Sydney," Ms Longa said.
“We have only been a team for the last six months so to be able to come away with such a great result is amazing.
“All three of our teams have won places at the national championships in November which is incredible.
“At state there were over 12,000 athletes from all over NSW so it was a great chance for them to see what they will be up against at the national finals.”
Ms Longa said there should be no doubt cheerleaders are athletes in their own right.
“We are yet to include pom poms in any of our routines and we will never ever go and cheer at a sporting match. The cheerleaders are athletes themselves,” she said.
“Cheerleading is a mix of dance, stunts, tumbling and jumps and it requires total dedication which is what these kids have given since we started.
“They come and give 100 percent and despite the bruises and long hours they all love it and are so passionate about everything the learn.”
The group have been training just once a week and from the get-go the club has been expanding.
“We opened at the beginning of the year and in our first term we have 100 people singed up to come to our classes.
“We now have over 200 athletes who train weekly perfecting their skills and well as a tumbling class.
“This year we have only had three competition teams, youth aged 5-11, our junior team aged 7-13 and our open team with is 14 years and over.
“Our first competition was in Newcastle and they did really well but they have all been doing great so we will be expanding our teams for next year."
The three teams head to their third competition to compete against cheerleaders from all over the country in November.