Cheerleaders Root for Themselves to Win : Pep: After last year’s success at national finals, Santa Margarita Catholic High squad heads back to Florida with higher hopes.

For the past eight months, while their friends found other things to do, the 16 members of the cheerleading squad at Santa Margarita Catholic High School stayed behind at school.

After all, there were chants to memorize, somersaults to perfect, dance routines to learn and grueling gymnastic sessions to attend.

The girls’ hard work and dedication finally paid off in a big way. Come February, they’ll be heading to Orlando, Fla., to compete in the National High School Cheerleading Championships after placing first at a regional competition at Loyola Marymount University in November.

“There have been a lot of times when we felt we were missing out when we had to stay after school to practice and everyone else gets to have fun,” confessed the squad’s captain, Deana Pointon, 17. “Going to Florida makes it all worth it.”

“We worked so hard to get to this point,” Pointon added. “This is the highlight of our whole year.”

The road to the national competition wasn’t easy. Along with homework and cheering at all their school games, the students had to practice three hours every day after school and attend a gymnastics class one night a week.

At the November regionals, they beat eight other “best of the best” cheerleading teams, said activities director Paul Marks.

Next month’s trip to Florida’s Sea World marks the squad’s second trip to the national championships. Last year, against 87 other squads, the team placed eighth, and Marks said the girls’ chances of placing fifth or better this year are high.

“They’re determined, talented and have what it takes to go back to the nationals and make the top five,” he said.

Qualifying for the nationals is certainly no easy feat, but what makes the Santa Margarita squad stand out is the fact that the school opened only four years ago.

“One of the most exciting things is how fast success has come to these kids,” Marks said.

Because most of the girls have practiced and performed together for the past four years, the squad’s strength comes from the camaraderie that has developed since the school’s inception.

“We work really good together,” squad captain Pointon said. “And, if we had arguments, we put aside our differences when we get together as a team.”

As motivated as they are by their success, the cheerleaders won’t let their quick ascent cloud the fact that come February all eyes will be on them to see if they can repeat last year’s performance.

“Your success is your biggest obstacle,” Marks said. “Going in this year, we know how well we did last year, so the expectation is higher.

“Now, people are going to look and see what we’re going to do.”

The cheerleaders also realize that between now and the competition--Feb. 2 and 3--they still have much to do to prepare for the nationals.

Jaimi Orlowski, 15, whose 87-pound frame is an integral part of much of the team’s gymnastic routine, said she feels no pressure in returning to the national spotlight and a shot at a title.

“It’s gonna take a lot of hard work, but it’s possible,” she said.

The cheerleaders also hope to use last year’s experience in competing with other top teams to their advantage this time.

“We want for our weakest point to be the strongest point of the other squads,” said co-captain Erin Stone, 17. “That way we can be better.”