On December 9, 2009, the Hillsborough Dukes Jr. Midget Cheer squad achieved what was just a goal, perhaps more a dream just 4 months ago, by winning the Pop Warner Jr. Midget Cheer Large-Novice National Championship Title for 2009 at the Pop Warner National Championships at the Walt Disney Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida.   The squad had little time to practice between qualifying at the Eastern Region Qualifiers back on November 21 and having to depart for Florida on December 7.  The coaching squad put together an intense 2 week practice schedule into place to turn a regional-qualifying routine into a national-winning routine by perfecting what already worked, discarding what didn’t, and adding new parts to make their routine even better. All this in two weeks, plus Thanksgiving – no easy feat on the squad or the coaches.

On December 9, the competition began at 8:30am. The Dukes were the 12th squad to perform at 9:15am out 41 squads that morning, and the 6th squad to perform in the Jr Midget Large-Novice category of 13 squads. The Dukes squad went up against the Hobart Brickies, Winston-Salem Indians, Lehigh Acres Raiders, South Plainfield Eagles, Franklin Chargers, Milford Elks, Oak Ridge Colts, Bolingbrook Trojans, Scripps Ranch Falcons, Brea Bengals, Cape Youth Tornados, and Panaewa Alii. It was a long wait until noon to see who would place.

After the Parade of Colors, the officials got down to business and started announcing the teams that placed.   When they got to the Jr. Midget category, nothing could be taken for granted. There were some really good routines turned in by several of the squads.  With the best 13 Jr Midget squads in the nation, it could go any which way.  So it went...  3rd place – Milford Elks.  2nd place – South Plainfield Eagles.  And in 1st place – Hillsborough Dukes!!  The crowd went wild and the Dukes parents just about fainted!  The squad shouted, cried for joy, and jumped jubilently at the wonderful announcement.

Our girls achieved the goal put out in front them almost four months ago - make it to Nationals. And then they surpassed that goal by winning it all and doing it with style, composure, and good sportsmanship.