Jupiter High’s competitive cheerleading team won the state championship on Jan. 31 with a raw score of 88.90 and competed at the UCA National High School Championship from Feb. 6 to Feb. 10 in Orlando.

“Winning states was the best feeling, but what felt better was hitting our routine without any deductions,” sophomore cheerleader Reese Walker said. 

Nationals took place at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, and states took place at the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center at the University of Florida in Gainesville.

To prepare for nationals, the team practiced five days a week for two hours with extended practices over school breaks.

“Over winter break, we practiced four to five hours every day for days straight,” junior cheerleader Leigha McCrudden said.

The team increased the difficulty of their routine since UCA Regionals in Tampa, Fla. on Dec. 7 because their coach Kim Beine said there still is always room for improvement. 

They are judged on energy level, skill, content, difficulty and crowd leading. The judges look for a clean routine with positive attitudes on and off the mat. 

“The competitions are stressful, fun and relieving once you finish competing,” freshman cheerleader Nina Torres said. “When we won states, it felt so good that all the hard work we put in paid off, especially using our free time, weekends and vacation breaks to practice instead of relaxing.”