By Anna Guido
Enquirer contributor

WEST CHESTER TWP. - Hours of practice have paid off with a national title for the Lakota West High School competitive cheerleading squad.

The all-girls team placed first in their division Dec. 29 at the National Cheerleaders Association championships in Dallas. They qualified at regionals in August at Paramount's Kings Island.

"They say practice makes perfect, and even though we weren't perfect, we practiced a great deal, and I think that's what helped us," said Nicole Higgins, 14, of Liberty Township.

Nicole is one of 31 cheerleaders, grades 9-12, on the squad. Captain Sara Chaney, 17, of West Chester Township, said she knew the Dallas competition was "hard-core" by the way her peers talked to her.

"I was in an elevator and the other cheerleaders didn't say hi. They just asked me what division I was in."

Competitive cheerleading is a varsity sport at Lakota for about six years. "It's fairly new everywhere," district athletic director Stu Eversole said. "I don't even think every school in our conference has it."

Lakota also has traditional sideline cheerleaders who rally fans and perform at basketball and football games.

Coach Tanya Roesel holds practices for the competition squad several hours a week, and up to 10 hours a week before competitions.

A 15-year cheerleading coach and dance/color guard instructor, Ms. Roesel said the national title captured by her Lakota West squad is among her proudest career achievements.

"We competed against teams from all over the U.S.," Ms. Roesel said. "And we raised more than $20,000 to get there."

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