Penn-Trafford cheerleaders earn top-10 finish at national competition
The Penn-Trafford high school cheerleading squad made its first-ever trip to the UCA National Competition, held in Florida, and finished among the top 10.
Teams from 50 states and several international squads competed, showcasing group stunts and tumbling skills. The Penn-Trafford squad finished 10th in the competition’s Large Varsity Division II finals.
“This was our first time attending UCA Nationals,” said coach Katie Caruso. “We received a bid last year, but we didn’t prepare to go, and we thought they needed a year of building up the program to be ready to compete at that level.”
It was worth the wait, she said.
“It’s unheard of for a first-year team to advance to the finals,” Caruso said. “We are so incredibly proud of how they did.”
Because they finished in the top 10, the 20-member competition squad will receive an invitation to compete next year at the World Cheerleading Championships.
“The top 10 teams in each division get invited,” Caruso said. “This team has worked so hard, never gave up and peaked at just the right time.”
Patrick Varine is a TribLive reporter covering Delmont, Export and Murrysville. He is a Western Pennsylvania native and joined the Trib in 2010 after working as a reporter and editor with the former Dover Post Co. in Delaware. He can be reached at pvarine@triblive.com.
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