Students at Tahquitz High School are celebrating a major achievement after the school’s cheerleading squad captured a national title at one of the country’s largest cheer competitions.
The team traveled to Florida in early February to compete in the National High School Cheerleading Championship, where hundreds of teams from across the United States gathered to showcase their routines. According to Hemet Unified School District officials, the event featured more than 1,200 teams representing 34 states and nearly 27,000 student-athletes.
Tahquitz entered the competition in the Large Varsity Coed Division I category, one of the most competitive divisions at the national event. After advancing through preliminary rounds, the team secured a place among the top five finalists.
During the final round, the squad delivered what school officials described as an exceptional routine that helped secure first place and the national championship.
Head coach Sarah Peterson credited the victory to the team’s dedication and commitment throughout the season.
“This group believed in what they could accomplish long before others recognized it,” Peterson said. “Their work ethic, teamwork and determination helped them reach this moment.”
The victory is a historic one for the program. Tahquitz High School is the first school from California to win the Large Varsity Coed Division I title since the national competition began in 1980.
The school has competed in the same division for the past eight years and previously earned two second-place finishes before finally reaching the top of the podium this season.
School officials said the championship represents years of hard work by the athletes and coaching staff and is a milestone achievement for the school and the Hemet community.
