Liberty High School’s cheerleaders were crowned district champs in the small division at the 2015-2016 PIAA District XI Competitive Spirit Cheerleading Championships on Jan. 9 at Easton Area Middle School.

Liberty coach Robi Hanley said, “I’m very, very happy. This is so great. I was getting emotional, and I’m not emotional, so I was thinking I don’t know what this is.”

The Hurricanes performed last out of 22 squads on Saturday.

Liberty senior, Maggie Connelly, said, “While we were waiting, our coaches wouldn’t let us watch the other teams [in our division]. Then, once we started, our nerves would go away. Then, we could feel the energy.”

The Hurricanes had also won the East Penn Conference title last month.

“We did add some elements since leagues,” said Allison Reese, also a senior. “Some of it was the first time we were doing them, but our coach will only put things on the floor if we’re ready.”

On the Tuesday before districts, it appeared that the Hurricanes were anything but.

Connolly said, “We practiced at Freedom because they have a dead mat, but everything was bad. Stunts were falling ... but our coach puts out our cleanest, best routine.”

Hanley confirmed that clean, clean, clean is his goal.

“I was on edge the entire time. Every time they hit an element, I knew we were in the clear. It was an emotional roller coaster,” he said.

The Hurricanes had no falls of any kind.

“We have some really, really strong kids, so our pyramid is the easy part. We have a strict conditioning regimen, and we don’t lack on that at all,” said Hanley.

Liberty’s routine included tumbling, stunts, cheer, dance, and ended with the Hurricanes in a sitting position that hit in unison. Crowd appeal was clearly evident, and the routine kept fans wondering what was coming next.

Reese said, “The feeling afterward was the best, and we wanted to feel that, but when they said our names, that’s the moment.”

The Hurricanes will move on to the PIAA State Cheerleading Competition on Jan. 23 in Hershey.

Bethlehem Catholic also qualified for states, winning second place in the small division. Freedom will join their neighboring rivals in Hershey, having taken fourth place in the medium division.