Best of Pasco, a Sunshine Athletic Conference cheerleading competition in its 19th year, was held last Saturday at the Land O’ Lakes gym and the home squad won out. The Gators claimed two titles, winning in the All-Girls and Overall categories while Hudson won the Co-ed championship.

Every public high school in Pasco County participated except for Zephyrhills with coach Dionne Yargas declining to enter her team, in part, due to the competition being moved ahead by a week.

Rounding out the top three all-girls teams were runner-up Sunlake and third-place Mitchell. Wiregrass Ranch a a runner-up in the all-girls division last year, placed third in the co-ed competition, just behind runner-up Fivay.

Wiregrass Ranch coach Danielle Hammer and assistant Jennifer Catalanotto, both in their first year, were thrilled with the results on what they deem a rebuilding squad.

“We placed,” Hammer said of a team that lost five seniors. “That’s all that matters. We have high expectations.”

Added Caralanotto, “They improved tremendously.”

Wesley Chapel’s team appeared to attempt more flips and jumps, proving to be more acrobatic than some of the other squads. Nonetheless, the Wildcats could not crack the top three in any category.

“Obviously we’re disappointed,” said coach Ashley O’Donnell, adding that her cheerleaders “worked really hard and did really well. They put on a good performance.”

Cypress Creek, a second-year team, set its sights on simply gaining another year’s worth of experience while improving their routines along the way. The Coyotes also hoped to build on last season’s performance at the state level when they placed eighth in their division.