By Geena Monahan—For the North Star Reporter
The road to the 2025 American Youth Cheer National Championship has been a hard-earned one for North Attleborough’s 12U and 14U Rockets – and for the first time in a decade, both teams will head to Florida to compete on the national stage in December.
Head coach Lisa Champagne, who has been involved with the North Attleborough Junior Football and Cheer program for over 30 years and served as president for the past four, said excitement is high across both age groups.
“Both teams are very excited,” she said. “I think both have a great chance at placing in the top five.”
Champagne described the season as one marked by progress and resilience. The 14U team, competing at Level 3, has 11 of its 17 athletes performing at that level for the first time.
“It’s been a slow but steady work in progress,” said Champagne, noting that blending skill levels and experience was one of the group’s biggest challenges early on.
The 12U team faced its own adjustments, with a new coach and the increased commitment that comes with higher-level cheer. Champagne said the team has now “mastered” its skillset and continues to fine-tune routines through practice.
While development has always been the program’s priority, North Attleborough cheer has a strong history of success. Since 2015, the program has sent a team to the national competition in eight of the past 10 seasons – but never two in the same year, until now.
Both teams won first place in their respective divisions at Power in Pink competition in Norton and the Eastern Massachusetts Youth Football and Cheer competition, both held in October. The squads then placed first at states, qualifying for the New England AYC Championship on Nov. 8, where the top three teams in each division earned a spot at Nationals
At the New England AYC Championship, the 12U Rockets tied for second before ultimately taking third after the tiebreaker portion of the competition. The 14U team placed fourth by just one-tenth of a point – a finish Champagne assumed would end their season.
Five days later, she got a surprise call: the 14U Rockets had been chosen for the new X-Factor bid, awarded to one standout team per division nationwide that demonstrated exceptional potential, but missed a qualifying placement.
“It was a complete surprise,” said Champagne. “The kids were thrilled.”
Ella Poirier, a North Attleborough Middle School student in her second year on the 12U squad, said the team is feeling the pressure – and excitement – of preparing for Nationals.
“We’re very excited – plus a little nervous – because most of these girls have never been to Nationals before, including me,” said Poirier. “It’s a great opportunity for us and I’m excited to get the experience of performing on an outdoor stage for the first time.”
The Rockets will have a packed schedule in Florida, an atmosphere Champagne described as competitive, but fun. The teams arrive Tuesday, Dec. 2, for three days of practices and bonding before competition begins Friday night. The top five teams in each division advance to Saturday’s finals before heading home on Sunday.
Beyond the competition, the trip offers a host of memorable experiences. Champagne said the girls are most looking forward to swimming, pajama party traditions, and stepping on the mat together as a team.
“My favorite part is meeting athletes from across the country and making coaching connections,” said Champagne. “It’s also rewarding to take kids from our town who may have never traveled outside the local area. For many, it’s their first time on a plane.”
The two teams include 33 athletes, and both groups have been working hard to raise money for their trip through sponsorships, bow-coloring fundraisers, canning, photos with Santa, bake sales and raffles.
Nationals bring together the most competitive youth teams in the country, and Champagne expects each team to face somewhere around 10 to 15 competitors per division. To her, success at this level is measured by more than just trophies.
“A successful performance to me is hitting zero – meaning no points taken off for mistakes,” she said. “Hopefully the routines I’ve taught will be enough to place top five in the country.”