Reporter staff

The Auburn Mountainview Cheer Team reached the finals in one division and the semifinals in another at the Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) National High School Cheerleading Championships at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla., Feb. 10-11.

The Lions finished with a No. 4 national ranking after completing their routine in the Game Day Medium Non-Tumbling finals program. They also advanced to the semifinals of the Traditional Medium NT division, earning a No. 6 prelims ranking. But in the combined A/B preliminary session, the Lions finished two teams away from making the finals, ranking 16th overall out of 45 squads.

Auburn Riverside also competed in Florida but did not move on from the prelims.

Auburn Mountainview coach Shana Biggs couldn’t have asked for more out of her team, all 14 strong.

“We are beyond proud of how far this team has come and surpassed our goals going into nationals,” Biggs said.

The Lions captured two divisions in the 2A, 3A, 4A state finals at Battle Ground High School on Jan. 27.

All told, it was the program’s second consecutive state title and its third in four years.

“They work hard … and really want to do their best for each other,” Biggs said.

Biggs’ coaching staff includes Kaitlyn Hanley.

The team consists of: Christina Thompson (captain, senior); Katherine Setera (senior); Melanie Coleman (captain, senior); Morgan Ennever (senior); Shelby Anderson (captain, senior); Bailey Ketchum; Mya Mancuso; Paula Chiang; Taylor Altick; AvaClaire Andersen; Caitlin Barba; Isabelle Zahnow; Jessica Murdock; and Kendra Lewis.