Limited finances and restricted competitions didn't stop the Northridge and Bountiful High School cheerleading squads from recently taking California by storm. Neither squad will be able to participate in a larger competition in Florida because of the high cost -- and, in Northridge's case because they have one male on their squad, which some competitions disallow. Northridge and Bountiful High School competed in the Cheerleaders of America (COA) West Coast Open National Championship at the Bren Events Center in Irvine, Calif., on March 11-12. Northridge took first place, out of seven teams, in the Large Varsity Mount Routine with their 18 girls and one boy, Landon Dreans.

"He was front and center," Jill Griffeth, Northridge's cheer advisor, said. Northridge also took first place in the Hip-Hop Dance Routine out of six teams. Northridge was awarded Grand Champion in hip-hop for the best cheer and dance routine of all divisions by the judges.

Bountiful High School, meanwhile, took second place in Medium Varsity Mount Routine. Last year Bountiful had a small squad and Sue Baylis, Bountiful High's cheer advisor, anticipates a large squad next year. Bountiful High's cheer squad also took third place in the Hip-Hop Dance Routine.

Both Northridge and Bountiful were invited to the COA Ultimate Nationals in Florida but neither squads can attend because they do not have enough money left in the budget, set by the Davis County School District.

Davis High School, meanwhile, competed in the Universal Cheer Association (UCA) Nationals in Florida on Feb. 11-12. Davis High took 16th place overall out of the 60 teams that competed in the Medium Varsity Mount Routine.

Unlike other Davis County teams Davis does not compete in hip-hop dance. Davis chose to go to UCA because some of the best schools in the country go there, Lisa Olsen, Davis High's cheer advisor said.

"It's the one (Davis) has always gone to," she said.

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