Cheerleaders ecstatic after big success

Whangarei cheerleaders have plenty to cheer about after their highest team won a national competition.

The Level 4 all-girl team Remix out-performed two top Auckland teams to win gold at the Rock and Cheer Nationals in Auckland.

Fantasy Cheerleading competes in all-star cheerleading, which involves components such as tumbling, dance, jumps, cheers and stunting, often on a sprung floor.

Coach Toni Saunders was extremely pleased with the team's win, and even a little surprised.

"I'm very proud of the team and how well they worked - they did a great routine."

Ms Saunders said the Remix team was well ahead of the Auckland teams in terms of difficulty of manoeuvres.

"I think we are doing pretty well if we are winning at Level 4.

"One of our next aims is to get a Level 5 team [international competition level able to compete at the World Championships in Florida]."

Remix team captain Jacqueline Loftus, 18, says it was "great" to win a national competition.

"It's good to be a role model for the younger girls too."

Other Fantasy Cheerleading teams also performed well at the Rock and Cheer Nationals on Sunday June 23.

The Megamix team got first place in Level 1; the Divas came fourth in Level 2; Vogue second in Level 3 and Dubstep third in Level 3 open.

The Fantasy stunt team of Katie Prestidge, Demi Wharfe, Ellen Taylor, Jordanah Thomas gained first place.

In the individual cheerleader challenge Grace Hegh was second and Lakiesha Cummings came third.

Grace Hegh also dominated the Junior Tumble Challenge with a punch front round-off back-handspring double twist - out-performing even the senior tumblers.