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When the Gloucester High School co-ed Cheerleading team left home for Orlando, Fla. and the Cheerleaders of America Ultimate Nationals, they left as a pretty accomplished team.

The Fishermen had already won the Northeastern Conference and finished second at the Massachusetts Regionals, as well as the State and New England Championships.

The Gloucester High School cheerleading team received some good news and some bad news this weekend.

The bad news was that they were edged out by Methuen and finished second in the co-ed division of the state competition on Sunday at Shrewsburry High School.

The Gloucester cheerleading team is approaching dynasty status, and its members will have their chance to get to that point this weekend.

The Fishermen will be looking for their third straight state cheerleading title when they compete Sunday at Shrewsbury High School starting at 10 a.m.

Last updated October 3, 2007

Success is no stranger to the Gloucester cheerleading squad. The 19 member co-ed squad is looking to build on the success from last school year, when the team won the state championship in the winter and fall seasons to go along with two Northeastern Conference titles. They also finished in second place at the National Championship.

The Blue Devils cheerleading squad is hoping for a third win at the New England championship competition this year, but they'll have to overcome their arch-rivals at Pinkerton Academy to do it.

Under the coaching of Colleen O'Shea, who has led the Salem squad since 1991, the Blue Devils were first place finishers in the New England competition in 2006 and 2007.

The North Andover cheerleaders have hundreds of cheers to choose from at every football game. They aren’t just out there yelling, though. The squads also perform tumbling, stunts and pom pom dance routines.