Butler High School's competitive cheerleading program is making a national impact - again.

Two members of the Golden Tornado's third-place squad at the Universal Cheerleading Association Nationals in Orlando, Fla., this winter earned spots on Division I college cheerleading rosters.

Butler co-captain KayLeigh Vodenichar is heading to Florida State University while Tornado teammate Missy Fogel is going to Penn State University.

Both girls made their respective collegiate cheerleading squads during intense tryout sessions last weekend.

"There were 84 girls trying out and they took four new girls - two sophomores and two freshmen," Fogel said of Penn State's tryouts. "I thought I had a chance when I drove out there, then I saw how many people there were and I wasn't so sure.

"I can do a full twist and figured that would help me. I saw 10 to 15 other girls do the same thing and I was thinking, 'Uh-oh,'" she added.

Fogel's name was the last one called Sunday, when the coaches announced the names of those who made the team.

"It was nerve-wracking," she said. "I heard I had one of the best interviews and I think that helped me."

Penn State's cheerleading team is a coed squad consisting of 11 men and 11 women.

Vodenichar flew to Tallahassee, Fla., for the weekend and stayed with Lisa Ireland, a Florida State sophomore cheerleader and a 2002 Butler graduate.Like Vodenichar, Ireland was captain of Butler's cheerleading squad as a senior."I never got a chance to cheer with Lisa in high school because I was a sophomore when she was a senior," Vodenichar said. "But the JV team interacted a lot with the varsity and I got to know her."Florida State has two cheerleading squads - one coed and one all-female unit. Vodenichar was among 70 young women vying for 20 sports on the women's squad.Ireland was trying out for the squad at the same time. At Florida State, every cheerleader has to try out each year to keep her position."It's pretty intense, but it keeps everybody sharp," Ireland said. "I know a couple of our cheerleaders from last year didn't make next year's squad."It's really exciting, having KayLeigh coming down here. When I left Butler, I was hoping I would energize and inspire other girls to move on as well," she added.While she knew she'd be attending Florida State, Vodenichar didn't decide to go out for cheerleading until a month ago."It was a pretty sudden thing," she said. "I've stayed in contact with Lisa and she told me how much fun it was and how good the program is."Florida State's cheerleading program didn't have a competitive cheering squad last year, but one might be formed next season. The women's cheerleaders unit performs at football, women's basketball and volleyball games.Penn State's cheerleading squad does participate in UCA competitions, along with cheering at football, basketball and volleyball games."I'm hoping they have a competitive team next year," Vodenichar said. "It's great cheering at sporting events and supporting the teams, but it's also nice to compete on our own and show what kind of team we have by ourselves."Ireland, Fogel and Vodenichar are the first Butler cheerleaders to go on to Division I college cheerleading programs."Those three are the cream of the crop when it comes to Butler cheerleading," Butler coach Randi Stoner said. "I'm glad they've got the courage and desire to go on to do this."All three girls will be UCA staff members this summer as well. They will be paid to teach at UCA cheerleading camps during the summer.Fogel said she knew she wanted to be a college cheerleader once she made the varsity squad as a junior.She is graduating No. 2 in her class and will major in biochemistry."I wanted to cheer at a big school and it was between Penn State and Florida State," Fogel said. "My brother (Rick Vogel) is a sophomore at Penn State and they have an excellent chemistry program, so my decision was easy."I was going to Penn State whether I made the cheerleading team or not."Vodenichar is undecided on her major."She's in for a wonderful experience," Ireland said. "Florida State has always been a dream school of mine. I saw them compete at a national competition when I was younger and they were unbelievable."Each year, it gets harder and harder to make this squad. That just means it's getting better. We keep having to acquire higher skills. But performing in front of 83,000 fans, doing what we do - I can't describe the feeling."