Island Cheer Extreme’s senior and youth team took home a first-place trophy for their competition scores in the two-day Power Athletics National Competition held at the Tacoma Convention Center the weekend of March 7 and 8.

The girls worked very hard going up against several other teams in their level. Earning 40 percent of their score on Saturday and having to step it up a little on Sunday to earn 60 percent of the total score, really shows how determined the team is.

Island Cheer’s hip hop team placed second in its performance.

Individually, Mariella Saludares took home a third-place trophy, Jember Jansen won in the junior division and in the mini division, Mica Shipley brought home the second-place award. Each individual competed against 4 to 7 others in their respective divisions.

The team learned that competitive cheerleading is well on its way to the Olympics and the girls work very hard and endure a lot of pain to be the best.

Who knows, Island Cheer Extreme may just have an Olympic team in the making.

ICE travels to Palm Springs, Calif., at the end of March for the nationals.