CHEERLEADER SQUADS SCORE FOR THEMSELVES IN REGIONAL, NATIONAL TROPHY COMPETITION.

Byline: Sharon Cotal Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - Let's hear it for our local high school cheerleading squads.

Cheer squads from Hart, Valencia and Saugus high schools recently won trophies at state, regional and national levels.

The Saugus High School varsity squad placed third overall at the American Open National Championships in Tampa, Fla. It was the squad's first trip to a national competition, and members exceeded their own expectations and even coach Christy Culver's.

``Our goal was to make it to the finals,'' Culver said. ``We had no idea we would place so high.''

During what the judges called the toughest competition in the history of the event, the Saugus cheerleaders were noticed for their creative style that stood out.

``Coaches and others came to me saying they had never seen anything like our routine,'' Culver said.

The Valencia High School competition coed cheer squad, coached by Joey Lang, set a precedent for the Santa Clarita Valley by becoming the first coed squad to win the West Coast Championships at Disneyland.

They placed among eight coed squads from all over the West Coast.

The Hart High School varsity competition squad defended its state title and placed first for the second year in a row at the Magic Mountain State Championships. The squad outperformed 45 others and won $1,000 and free season passes to the theme park. At the same competition, Hart's junior varsity squad placed second among 30 teams.

The Hart teams are coached by Shelly Gramatky, and both teams will compete at the USA Nationals in Anaheim on April 1 and 2.

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Photo: no caption (Hart High School cheerleader squad)