KINGSTON – At the Section IX Cheerleading Championships, on Saturday, February 20, the Pine Bush Varsity Cheerleading squad blew away the competition with a flawless performance and captured their fifth title in six years.

"The dedication of the kids and their families on my varsity squad is exceptional," said Coach Cherie Ramsay, after her team had won the competition.

"They push themselves through whatever little things they're going through. We always say, 'bring your box of tissues to practice.' To get to this level requires a commitment eight months beforehand, because the way this works, you get your two and a half minutes to perform, and you're done. And if there's a flaw, there's no second innings, no way to recover. You have to get it right the first time."

Coach Ramsay said that watching her team step out onto the floor was a big moment this year.

"I felt like it had come full circle. I saw so many cheerleading alumni from the program. They came out for this team. Our whole JV team was here, and there were a lot of fans, the boys. They put up a lot of noise."

The Pine Bush crowd fairly shook the roof of the gym in Kingston.

"They were cheering so long and loud that at the beginning of the second half, I hesitated to put on the music, because I wasn't sure the girls would hear it!"

The competition ended with Pine Bush first, Minisink Valley second, and Monticello third in the Divison One Schools Large Squad competition.

"Minisink Valley did a nice job, although there were some skill things that were incomplete. I'm sure they will be coming back next year," said Ramsay.

"The core to this is positive energy. That energy breeds more positive energy and the whole team feeds on that. And then, you own the floor when you're confident."

Looking ahead, Coach Ramsay said, "Next year's team has got some big shoes to fill. Eleven seniors will be gone. So, we will start earlier, and we will work harder."