After many long practices and plenty of hard work, the varsity and JV cheer squads from Freedom High School were ready for their first competition of the season. Paramount's Great America was host to the United Spirit Associations regional competition. Parents, friends and some members of the freshman squad were on hand to cheer for the squads.

The varsity squad took to the mats first, performing a nearly flawless routine. The girls executed each move with pure energy from beginning to end. Their performance not only landed them a second-place finish; it was also good enough to earn a bid to the USA Nationals to be held in Anaheim

this March.

Despite the roar of the Top Gun rollercoster and jet engines from airplanes taking off from nearby San Jose Airport, the JV squad did not miss a beat in its Song/Pom routine. Filled with music changes and a variety of formations, the squad took home second place. Although the JV cheerleaders did not earn a bid to nationals, they will still enter two more competitions, where they can make some minor changes to their routine in hopes of earning a bid.

Coaches Meleasa Clement and Tanya McKenzie are optimistic about attending Nationals this year. Both will be pushing their squads to practice hard in preparation for the next competition in December.

- Contributed by Tina Wallace