For BOHS competitive cheer, the road to the national championships in Florida wasn’t just a cross country plane ride, but a 16-day marathon.

In a whirlwind two weeks from Jan. 23 to Feb. 8, the Wildcats:

• Travelled nearly 6000 miles by car, van, and plane.
• Captured a second straight California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section (CIF-SS) 4AAA title in Azusa, Jan. 23.
• Claimed second place at the CIF State Championships in Folsom, Jan.31.
• Competed against some of the nation’s top cheer programs at the Division I National School Spirit Championships at ESPN Wide World of Sports in Kissimmee, Fla., Feb. 6-8.

From championship mats in the San Gabriel Valley to the national stage in Florida, the team barely had time to unpack before competing again, and then again. 

“Having CIF, State, and going right to nationals was super busy,” Aubrey Lowe (’26), co-captain, said. 

The team’s postseason began at Azusa Pacific University for the CIF-SS 4AAA championships on Jan. 23, where the Wildcats scored an 89.6 out of 100 to claim first place out of 22 teams. The Wildcats delivered a “hit zero” performance, meaning no deductions, a key factor in defending their section title.

“’Hitting zero’ gave us an advantage and contributed to us bringing home a CIF championship,” co-captain Kylie Mullings (‘26) said. 

Just eight days later, the team traveled by caravan to Folsom — seven hours and 438 miles away — for the 2026 State Cheer Invitational. Competing in the non-tumbling small group division, which emphasizes advanced stunting and choreography, the Wildcats placed second among the 19 competing schools, just behind state champion Bullard High School of Fresno.

With only one day to rest, the team pushed past their exhaustion from the 876 miles, two-day trek to and from Northern California for the premier event of their season: nationals.  

“It was definitely stressful with so little time to prepare in between all three competitions, but we stayed composed and made sure that practices during the week made us feel confident and prepared to go into another comp weekend,” Mullings said.

The team traveled out of Santa Ana to Florida on Feb. 3,  three days before the competition, to prepare for prelims, practicing multiple times at ESPN’s warm-up facilities and throughout the host resort. 

“Competing at a national level is incredibly exciting because it pushes us beyond our comfort zone and raises the level of competition,” Mullings said.

With reserved mat time at the warm-up facility, the Wildcats ran partner stunts and pyramids while fine-tuning timing and transitions. Knowing that even minor mistakes could lead to costly deductions, they worked on precision and clean execution.

“We focused on perfecting execution and testing our mental toughness so we could perform at our best when it mattered most,” Lowe said.

Once settled in Florida, the team participated in bonding activities, such as group worship, team meals, and visiting Disney World. 

“We had a lot of fun,” Ariana Payan (’27) said. “It was a great learning experience, and I formed a better relationship with my team.”

Lowe added, “Being together with our team for such a long time let us bond a lot.” 

On the first day of competition, in prelims, the Wildcats scored a 76.3 despite four deductions, good enough to advance to the semifinals. (Deductions in competitive cheer typically result from execution errors or timing issues, according to USA Cheer.)

Beyond technical skills, the team’s experience from competing in the section and state championships helped the athletes stay grounded under pressure. 

“Our trust in each other helps us stay focused and prepared once we take the mat,” Lowe said.

In the semifinals, a score of 78.2 placed the Wildcats 17th overall, ending their competition. 

“Though it was not the outcome we had hoped for, we are so proud of the hard work we put in to get there,” Mullings said.

Although the Wildcats did not advance to finals, competing against some of the top programs in the country marked another step forward in building a championship-level tradition.

“What these girls gained goes far beyond a score sheet,” head coach Stefanie Camarena said. “They showed resilience, supported one another, pushed through challenges, and represented our program with heart and character.”