The Jamfest Light Competition was the first competitive event for the Xtreme Athletic Competitive Cheer squads and Coach Josh Filiault said he could not have been more pleased.

“I tell the teams that, if they work hard in practice, it will pay off in the competitions,” Filiault said. “They had worked hard and it paid off. We were all excited with the way the squads competed.”

Filiault said the competition in Huntsville included a two-and-half minute routine composed of dance, tumbling, jumps and stunts.

The coach expected big things from the Junior Level 2 Competitive Cheer Squad and he was not disappointed.

“They worked extremely hard in practice and it definitely paid off for them with first place in their first competition,” Filiault said. “By winning first place, the squad qualified for the U.S. Finals in the spring and received a third place bid and discount rate to compete. We have choice of five or six places to go from Pensacola to Washington D.C. to California.”

If the Junior squad has several top finishes at future competitions, the squad could receive a full paid bid to the U.S. Finals.

The Senior squad had made several changes to the squad and added new people only three weeks ago.

“One girl had never flown before so we were up against the odds but the girls worked together and fought together as a team and put together a strong routine,” Filiault said. “If it had not been for a couple of bobbles we would been up there and might have won.”

And, for the first competition, the coach said the Youth team did phenomenally well.

“Our team members are ages four through 11 and they were hanging in there with girls ages nine through 11 so they did outstanding,” he said.

Jody Singleton, Xtreme Athletics co-owner with Filiault, said she was ecstatic about the performances of the competition cheer squads.

“They competed with teams from across the state and from as far away as Tennessee,” Singleton said. “For their first competition, they were poised and confident and did all that was asked of them. We’re just looking forward to the next competition.”

The squads have four more competitions scheduled. The Senior squad will also compete in New Orleans and the Junior squad is considering adding that competition as a sixth.

Each squad has 13 members and the squads are filled for now. Tryouts for the squads will be held in April/May. The ages for the squads are Youth, 11 and under; Junior, 14 and under; and Senior, 10-18.