Tears of joy overwhelmed Whitehall High School's cheerleaders, coaches, and fans when the Zephyrs medaled in the small division of the District XI Competitive Spirit Championships on Jan. 10 at Shawnee Middle School, Easton.

Whitehall scored 196.6 points and was runner-up to first place winner Wilson High School, with 212 points, both qualifying for the PIAA State Cheerleading Championships scheduled for this weekend at Hershey Giant Arena.

"We hit a perfect routine. Our parents were so happy, and our coaches were crying, and I was crying," said Whitehall senior, Alexis Freedman. "Before Wilson went on, we were hoping for first place, but we didn't have as much difficulty as we could, but we saw Parkland, and beating them felt good."

Whitehall came in ahead of Parkland by 2.4 points, although the third place Trojans also qualified for states as did Liberty with 182.1 points and Lehighton with 166.3 points.

The Zephyrs routine began with standing tumbling, followed by running tumbling, and the first stunt sequence. The cheer portion of the routine was next, and the ending was comprised of jumps, a dance, and a pyramid.

"As soon as we hit the first stunt sequence and went into the cheer, I knew it was going really good, and I knew we could finish," said Whitehall senior, Alyssa Boyer. "I noticed the crowd a lot in the cheer, and I don't think I ever felt that kind of energy. I cried tears of joy. We worked really hard that week."

One of the Zephyr cheerleaders suffered a last-minute injury and had to be replaced the day before the competition.

Freedman said, "I peeked over at the new girl flying, and as soon as she hit it, I felt this shock of energy."

Freedman is also a flyer, as is Boyer.

"It's a little stressful," said Boyer. It's easier if the rest goes good, but I do what I have to do to stay up there."

In the ending pyramid, Freedman did a back handspring up to a teddy bear, and after being rolled out, switched stunt groups to be a brace for Boyer, while Boyer did a 360 to a lib, switched to a side stretch, later switching to the top with a hitch.

"Everybody hit," Freedman said.

For the state competition, the injured cheerleader will be back as will her alternate.

"We're working on adding some stuff, and doing some harder tumbling for states," said Boyer.

In districts, however, Boyer and Freedman agreed there was nothing they could have done better.

The Zephs are coached by Jean Marsteller.