Coming on the heels of some disappointing losses for the Firebirds at the CCS basketball tournament, the squad's first-place finish March 2 in the small co-ed varsity cheer division was something to brighten up school spirit come Monday morning. The team is now scheduled to compete in the USA Nationals later this month in Anaheim, along with the school's junior varsity squad, which also placed first in its division at Hayward.

Coach Michael Contreras attributes the recent victory to the attitude of the 18 girls and five boys who comprise the squad.

"They work tremendously hard, and the expectations they place on themselves are very high. They don't miss a stunt and just let it go. And if a kid doesn't show up for practice, they hear about it from the others. That's the dedication that really helps our team. Our kids push each other to develop and become better."

Cheer team member Matt Barclay feels, however, that it's the coach who's the key to the success of the squad. "He's very intense, very involved, and he keeps everyone on track," Barclay says.

Contreras, who was a member of the Santa Clara University cheer squad when he was in college, has been involved with the Fremont team for four years, helping to build its reputation on campus as a team worthy of recognition from other athletes.

"What we do is highly athletic cheerleading," Contreras says. "We've chosen to have a competitive program, and the other athletes on campus understand that what we do is very physical and they respect that."

The team's performance at regionals included a stunt that Contreras feels set them apart from the crowd. After five cheerleaders launch from a handstand position onto the shoulders of three "bases," the five execute the "Liberty," a pose in which they balance on one foot on the hands of their supporters.

Winning is nothing new for the varsity team, which placed first in November at a regional competition in Santa Rosa and second at a regional competition in Antioch in January. The team has also gone to the nationals the past several years, though they've yet to clinch the U.S. title.

However, Contreras feels that there might be something a little different about this year's trip.

"This is the first time we've scored first place at regionals," he says. "I think this is the first year that the kids really feel they can bring home a trophy. And our program has grown to the point where anything less than a strong finish at the nationals would be a disappointment to the kids. But I always tell them—the only pressure is to perform at the level they know they can perform at. Like any team, if you practice hard, that dedication will show through on the competition floor."