CENTER TWP — Recollections of a picture taken nearly 10 years ago brings a smile to Nichole Moore's face.

One of three current coaches of the Butler High School competitive cheerleading team, Moore was a member of the Golden Tornado squad from 2002-05 that placed 11th, third and fourth at national competitions in Florida.

The picture she mentioned was of a little girl, Emily Huber, sitting with Moore when the latter was a cheerleader.

Huber is now one of four captains on the 2014-15 Butler team that recently won the WPIAL small varsity championship at Hempfield.

Not much has changed with this program through the years.

“This was a well-structured program when it was handed over to us,” Butler cheerleading coach Nicole Nea said. “We just wanted to keep things rolling.”

They've certainly done that.

The WPIAL and PIAA introduced their own competitive cheering tournaments two years ago. Butler finished second to Pine-Richland in the 16-team small varsity — 14 cheerleaders or fewer — portion of the WPIAL tourney the first two years before edging out the Rams 245-243.5 in this year's small varsity division.

The Golden Tornado won the first-ever PIAA competition in 2013 before finishing second to Johnstown last year.

Now Butler wants it back.

“Since we were the first PIAA champions, we feel like it's our baby,” Nea admitted.

Team captains Taylor Stobert, Brooke Carr, Haley Stariat and Huber agree.

“Winning the WPIAL just gives us that much more confidence going into the state meet,” Huber said. “We're focused on the PIAA. Winning that this season has been our goal from day one.”

Butler beat out Pine-Richland for the WPIAL title despite having a girl fall during a tumble routine one more time than did the Rams.

The Tornado's “energy level” won out in the end.

“I could feel the energy among all the girls when we were performing,” Stariat said. “We really have a close group this year, really tight.

“It's hard to explain, but it's like we're all on the same page, that competitive level ... It helps our score.”

Moore said performances can “appear robotic” when a team is concentrating too much on its next step or move during a cheer and dance performance.

“These girls don't do that,” she said. “It's all natural to them. They're genuinely having fun out there and it shows.”

Teams are selected to hit the stage and perform their two minute, 30-second routine in random order. Butler was the fourth team to perform out of the 16.

“I think that worked to our advantage,” Carr said. “We like setting the bar for everyone else.”

“It can be intimidating to other teams when somebody posts a high score early,” Huber added.

And doing well as one of the first teams to compete leaves a lasting impression on the judges.

“If you're the last team to go out there, you better do something memorable because the judges have just watched 14 or 15 other teams do their thing,” coach Sarah Preston said. “It becomes harder to grab their attention as the day goes on.”

Butler's cheerleaders have been gaining positive attention through positive competitive performances for years now.

“The coaches have been the big reason for that success,” Stobert said. “They're very motivating. They work with us as individuals and as a team. They help us with everything.”

Carr said the “willpower of the coaches and the girls” make the difference.

“We're not afraid to push it, in practice or during competition,” Carr said. “Every team, every year, wants to carry on the tradition.”

Each year at tryouts, the Butler cheerleaders receive a 100-page handbook — revised and updated annually — with the expectations and traditions of the program spelled out.

“It's always been a regimented, disciplined program and we want to keep it that way,” Nea said. “We have 50 to 60 cheerleaders at the high school level, another 30 to 40 in junior high.

“This competitive team ... It's the cream of the crop, absolutely.”

The PIAA meet takes place Friday and Saturday in Hershey. The cheerleaders will do a send-off performance following Tuesday's home basketball game with Shaler.