V-I-C-T-O-R-Y for Mater Dei Squad

Mater Dei High School of Santa Ana captured its third straight title in the large-school coed division of the High School Cheerleaders National Championship.

Aliso Niguel High School of Aliso Viejo took third place in the coed division.

More than 5,000 cheerleaders from 350 high school squads in 35 states competed in the Super Bowl of the cheerleading world.

They were judged on motion, jumps, tumbling, partner stunts, dance, showmanship, timing, spacing and formations, creativity and overall crowd appeal.

The three-day championships concluded Saturday.

The top three in each category:

* Large varsity: Judson High School, Converse, Texas; Union High School, Tulsa, Okla.; Louisville Male High School, Louisville, Ky.

* Medium varsity: Fort Walton Beach High School, Fort Walton Beach, Fla.; Martin High School, Arlington, Texas; Westview High School, Martin, Tenn.

* Small varsity: Floyd Central Junior-Senior High School, Floyds Knobs, Ind.; Jasper High School, Jasper, Ind.; Coronado High School, Lubbock, Texas.

* Coed varsity: Mater Dei High School, Santa Ana; Humble High School, Humble, Texas; Aliso Niguel High School, Aliso Viejo.

* Junior varsity: Judson High School, Converse, Texas; West Mid-High School, Norman, Okla.; Union High School, Tulsa, Okla.

* Junior high: Kitty Hawk Junior High School, Universal City, Texas; Carl Albert Junior High School, Midwest City, Okla.; Moroney Junior High School, Midwest City, Okla.

* Best mascot: Katy O’Halloran, Arlington High School, Arlington, Texas; Beth Albright, Plano East High School, Plano, Texas; Heather Lamotte, W.T. White High School, Dallas.