For two months, the four cheer squads of the Delta Patriots football and cheer program have worked to perfect their routines with one goal in mind: to show that last year's success at the NYFL Cheer Competition was not just beginner's luck. Eleven NYFL cheer teams, from Galt to Los Banos, gathered at Los Banos High School for the annual event on Sept. 16.

The Rookie squad showed how advanced it has become in the past 12 months. Stunting, unity, choreography and showmanship earned it a first-place finish.

The Junior Varsity team kept the spirit up with its sharpness, synchronization and advanced difficulty and brought home another first-place trophy.

The Starts squad showed everyone its best performance ever but did not make it into the top three. They kept their heads up and their smiles on because they knew they cheered their hearts out.

The Varsity cheerleaders ended the day's competition by placing third, showing the other leagues just what facials, jump techniques and precision were all about.

"I was really impressed with all of the teams' presence, their humble attitudes and determination, which in turn permitted them to achieve such great success this year," said Grissell Barros, Cheer Athletic Director.

Brenda Garibay, Junior Varsity Head Coach added, "I am so ecstatic and proud of my girls. In the last two weeks, with eight girls missing for science camp, we have had to make so many changes, and with one last change before we went up on stage, we still showed the league we are Number One."

The Delta Patriots will participate in the USA Competition at Great America on Oct. 1. On Oct. 15, they will perform at the JAMZ Regional Competition at Marine World. A good showing there can take them to the JAMZ Nationals in Las Vegas for the second consecutive year.