following in the Hunter Valley. 

And you may not be aware that Francis Greenway High School has a squad which has previously competed in state championships either. 

But the squad’s 22 dedicated students have taken a big step in ensuring their success will be trumpeted far wider by taking out the first national scholastic championship.

Francis Greenway beat schools from Victoria, the ACT and Queensland in the Australian All Star Cheerleading Federation’s maiden nationals at Homebush and is still celebrating the win a month on.

Coaches Tegan Xenos and Kiralee Andruschak said the Francis Greenway cheersquad, established five years ago, won both the overall competition and the stunt group section by being awarded a highly coveted perfect score. 

Ms Xenos said it was a tall order.

The competition involved sections that test the jumping, dance, choreography and tumbling skills of the troop. 

The scores for each section are added together and mistakes or illegal moves deduct from the final score. 

The Francis Greenway troop achieved an elusive perfect score, a feat few teams ever achieve.

“We think we’re the only team that day that had a perfect run and you get a very rare stamp on your scoresheet that everyone is excited to see,” Mrs Andruschak said. 

While the two expected their squad to achieve an impressive result, the flawless victory and the reality of bringing home the overall winner’s banner was unexpected.

“We were sort of expecting second place but when they didn’t read our name everyone’s eyes bugged out of their head and looked around at each other... It was a big surprise to win the overall highest score,” Mrs Andruschak said. 

“Even our stunt group won their division which means they beat universities as well as every other school.” 

As each person’s role in the routines are so specialised and specific, Ms Xenos said cheerleading is more than a weekend sport, it’s a lifestyle that 

commands dedication and commitment. 

Ellie Papas, a year 8 tumbler who has competed in cheerleading for four years, including in the top class in out-of-school nationals, said she was speechless when she won.

“I was shocked, I wasn’t expecting to win but it was amazing” she said.

“The team who came second, our rivals, they were really good ... but we were better.” 

Mrs Andruschak and Ms Xenos said that they are already looking ahead to defending the title and will have to be prepared for more teams with more solid 

routines at the 2015 championship.