BUTLER TWP— Butler's competition cheerleading squad has one more step to climb this weekend.

The Golden Tornado have placed among the top six at the Universal Cheerleading Association National High School Cheerleading Championships in Orlando, Fla., four times in the past eight years.

Last year, the team finished second in the small-squad (12 cheerleaders or fewer) division. No Butler team has finished higher.

Six members of that team, tri-captains Maggie Steinheiser, Brandi Scott and Emily Wingfield, along with Fallon O'Donnell, Jenessa Allshouse and Valerie Rodgers, return this season.

Rodgers has been out for weeks with a back injury and won't be competing this weekend.

Preliminary competition in Orlando is Saturday morning. The semifinals are Sunday morning with the finals slated for early Sunday evening.

"Is there pressure? There is incredible pressure. It feels like a noose," co-coach Randi Stoner said of trying to beat or match last year's performance.

Problem is, there's no way to gauge the competition. There are 56 teams in Butler's division.

"This is the only true national cheerleading event,"Stoner said. "It's the only one with the finals on ESPN,and there are teams coming to Florida from all over the country.

"It's not like you can scout the competition and see where you're at. There's a team coming from Hawaii. ... We can't go to Hawaii."

Other Butler squad members include Brittany Shankle, Megan Kosar, Alisha Slomers, Kristin Karam, Kellie Sub, Stephanie Isaacs and Adaire Robinson.

"All we can concentrate on is doing what we do,"co-coach Lindsay Hasychak said. "We have no control over the competition, but I know what we're capable of."

Stoner agreed.

"If we perform our routine well and hit it flawlessly, we'll be thrilled and very satisfied, no matter where we wind up placing,"she said. "If we don't perform to our capability, we'll be disappointed.

"You can't go down there with the attitude that if we don't win it or place in the top three we failed, because you have no idea what you're going to be up against. Competitive cheering squads nationwide keep getting better every year."

Regardless, Butler's past performances in Florida have increased expectations.

"We keep raising the bar, that's for sure,"Hasychak said.

The 1999 squad broke through and finished sixth at nationals, Butler's highest finish in years.

Jen Watterson, now coaching national contender FCAGems out of Sarver, was a cheerleader on that 1999 unit.

"I know she still talks about it,"Stoner said. "We were so excited when that happens. Now it's almost expected."

Results of this weekend's competition can be found at varsity.com or butlercheer.com.