Union High School's Varsity Cheerleading Squad Wins National Championship

By Ashli Sims, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- Union High School's athletic program snags another championship. This time it's a national honor and it's some Lady Redskins who claimed the victory. 

The Union Varsity Cheerleaders won the Universal Cheerleaders Association National Championship at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. They beat 16 other teams in the Super Varsity division.

The waiting area at Tulsa International Airport erupted in an impromptu victory celebration Monday. Dozens embraced the conquering champions with balloons, bears and big hugs.

But don't let the giggles, hair ribbons and satin jackets fool you. Strip away the pom-poms and the pep and you've got some dedicated athletes.

"They don't think we're a sport at all. Even though we practice and train just like a sport. They don't think it's a sport," said Kendal Kramer, a Union senior.

The girls train long after the pep rallies are over -- often 15 hours a week, eleven months out of the year. And they know a little something about playing through the pain.

"Oh yeah, lots of hurt ankles, braces... we tape things to hide them," one cheerleader said.

There may not be any first downs or yellow flags, but the girls know how to claw their way back from a shaky start.

"It was definitely a stressful warm-up, having to make a couple of little changes. But we're definitely good at pulling together as a squad when it counts," said Chloe Winden, a Union senior.

And like many athletes at the top of their game, they get a little cocky, saying they thought they would win.

In the glow of victory, the girls forego swagger for sisterhood.

"We're a family. We've stayed together this whole year. We haven't had much drama on the squad and we've just been closer than friends. We truly are sisters and it paid off in the end when we won," said Chloe Winden. 

Union's varsity cheerleading squad has won four straight national championships.