The spirit of Sacramento State will aerial, tumble and toe-touchinto the 2004 Universal Cheerleaders Association NationalChampionships as the No. 1 seed.

The Division I Hornet co-ed cheer squad will travel to Orlando,Fla. to compete in the college championship held at Walt DisneyWorld Resort from Jan. 15-19.

“Having the feeling, being out there and competing,that’s the most memorable,” men’s captain CharlesButler said. “No matter how you do, you’re out thereperforming in front of the crowd and doing what youlove.”

Doing what they love back on Nov. 19, the cheerleaders traveledto Stanford in support of the Hornet men’s basketball teamwho was playing the then 17th ranked Cardinal.

Sac State basketball went down fighting, but the cheer squadstole the show drawing “oohs” and “ahhs”from the crowd and even the Stanford cheerleaders, who all staredwide-eyed at Sac State’s high-flying tricks and technicaltumbling passes.

Sac State has done well the past three years at nationals,winning fourth place in 2001, fifth place in 2002 and second placein 2003.

“It’s very important to us to win this year,”Butler said. “Right now were ranked No. 1.”

The Hornets’ tape, a recording of a cheer routine enteredto UCA judges, got Sac State a paid bid to the championships.

Morehead State University has won the last two years in Div. I,which is just below Div. I-A, and took second place in 2001 to theUniversity of Delaware.

“It’s time for a team from the West Coast to step upand show what we’ve got,” women’s co-captainBrittinny Allen said. “Most teams that win are from the southand no one makes a name for themselves out here.”

Allen, who has been cheerleading since she joined a Pop Warnersquad 10 years ago, shares female co-captain duties with LindsayEskildsen.

“There’s no rivalry between us,” Eskildsensaid. “It’s much easier actually; it’s lesswork.”

In October, Eskildsen graced the cover of “AmericanCheerleader,” a national magazine, as its “Cheerleaderof the Month.”

Helping squad members with problems they may have and taking thelead in organizing team practices, events and fundraisers are justsome of the duties of the captains.

The physical demands are strenuous, as women captains are amongthe ones to be thrown more than 20 feet into the air, spinning likethe carton Tasmanian devil.

Allen was once thrown so high that she hit a vent near theceiling in Solano 1000, a gymnastics room where the Hornetspractice.

“I hit that vent upside down, we got it on video tape andeverything,” Allen said. “It was actually quite painfulbut something to show the kids for sure.”

“It’s really hard to be a captain on theteam,” co-ed head coach Chelly Uyeno said. “They arevery responsible and take the lead for me.”

In practice, Uyeno’s intensity is obvious as she gets downon all fours yelling at her squad to use their counts and hit alltheir moves.

“Sometimes I feel like I fix things and we breakthem,” Uyeno said in frustration after a practice inpreparation for the championships.

Others on the squad voiced similar concerns.

“We shouldn’t be paranoid, last time I checked wewere the ones coming in No. 1,” cheerleader Mike Mollettsaid. “If I we’re scared we are going to lose,we’re not going to hit. It’s not scary it’sfun.’