Bethlehem Catholic’s cheerleaders and coaches jumped to their feet when it was announced that the Golden Hawks were the champions of the EPC cheerleading competition last Wednesday at Easton Area Middle School.

“At first, I thought, who are the Golden Hawks,” laughed Becahi senior Olivia Blasco, “and then my team is jumping and hugging each other. It’s a sigh of relief. Every year, we got better with the same girls all working together.”

Blasco, the only senior, leads a squad of 16 which includes Bridget Ehrig, Reagan Zemgulis, Rebecca Seeds, Gina Gaglione, Angelina Murphy, Riley Daunton, Keianna Lopez, Maura Harnett, Mckenna Harnett, Faith Chajnacki, Reilly McNally, Mya Mitchell, Natalia Kokosky, Lucy Weed, and Emma Valle.

“We’ve been working on this routine since July four times a week, and in the summer, we had eight-hour practices, two days in a row,” Blasco said.

Becahi’s competition routine began with three stunts, followed by tumbling, partner stunts, a cheer, dancing and jumps, and ended with a pyramid.

“This was our fourth competition,” said Becahi coach Colleen Iannetta. “We upgraded our pyramid and added difficulty. Our choreography has been a work in progress.”

Although Iannetta and assistant Alex Lisicky knew the Hawks did well, they also knew it would be a close competition. Fifteen squads competed for only two places. Nazareth came in second.

“Our girls have just been working really, really hard, they were ready to perform, and they really wanted it this year,” Iannetta said.