The championship marked the Dons’ first-ever appearance at the prestigious national competition. The two-day event, held Feb. 7–8, brought together elite high school cheer programs from across the country. After advancing through preliminary rounds Saturday, Sierra Vista delivered a high-energy, technically precise routine Sunday, earning first place and securing the national championship title.
Captain Sophia Lopez said qualifying for nationals was a milestone in itself. “When we qualified, it was something we had never experienced before,” Lopez said. “As a national competition, it was exciting for us to put our name out there. We saw all these big-name Division I schools that we’ve looked up to. It was surreal.”
Reflecting on her leadership role, Lopez emphasized the importance of empathy. “As captain, I focused on having empathy for everyone on the team,” she said. “Outside of cheer, everyone is dealing with different things or has a class load on their mind. Creating a positive space where we could put personal differences or drama aside made a big difference for us.”
The road to nationals required an extraordinary level of commitment. Since November, the team practiced daily from 6 to 8 a.m. before school and again after school, while also cheering at games and maintaining their academic responsibilities. “I think what stood out this year was that everyone on the team was equally committed,” said team captain Cayla Salazar.
Captains Marlyn Carillo, Sophia Lopez, Celia Revuelta and Cayla Salazar led the team through the demanding schedule under the guidance of coaches Gaby Mendoza and Rozanna Soria. “Leading up to it, our coaches prepared us really well,” Salazar said. “Every week they were changing and tweaking things to make us sharper and on point.”
That preparation showed early. After the first day of competition, the Dons held a nine-point lead heading into finals. “Both days felt so natural for us,” Revuelta said. “We rehearsed so much that it felt like we were at practice.”
Before taking the mat, the team leaned into traditions that helped calm nerves and build unity. The Dons gathered to pray together and, at times, listened to “Moment 4 Life” as part of their pre-performance ritual. They also made space to be playful — dancing and being silly together to release nerves before competing.
Beyond the competition floor, the experience carried emotional weight. With most families unable to travel to Florida, the athletes received letters from home before competing. “It was so emotional and inspirational for all of us,” one captain said. “That’s when we really knew how much this meant.”
Head Coach Gaby Mendoza credited the athletes’ discipline and resilience throughout the season. “This group trusted the process and each other,” Mendoza said. “They committed, they pushed themselves, and they earned this. We are all extremely proud of them.”
The championship marks the first UCA national title in program history and a major milestone for Sierra Vista High School and the Baldwin Park Unified School District community. The team will be formally recognized at an upcoming District Showcase and in coordination with a planned City recognition.
Looking ahead, the Dons have their sights set on the upcoming USA National Championships, where they hope to defend last year’s title.
PHOTOS
SVHS Cheer Team poses for a group photo with their trophy at Nationals
SVHS Cheer Team celebrates their 1st Place win on the competition floor
SVHS Cheer Team poses for a photo with the Baldwin Park City flag at ESPN Zone at Walt Disney World Florida