SLIPPERY ROCK — Nothing but the best.

Butler graduate and Slippery Rock University freshman cheerleader Courtney Cashdollar knows no other way.

Cashdollar is a member of the SRU all-female competitive cheering team that won the Universal Cheering Association Division II National Cheerleading Championship Jan. 16 in Orlando, Fla.

A competitive cheerleader for seven years, Cashdollar was a member of the FCA Gems organization in Sarver for six seasons. Her team won the national title every year she was there.

"No pressure there," she said, smiling at the prospect of continuing such a streak at SRU. "We do have a very talented group here.

"I've wanted to come to Slippery Rock University since sixth grade. The physical therapy program here is awesome and the cheering team has always been good."

Gemma Fotia has been The Rock's cheerleading coach since 1992. SRU's national title this year marked its first since 1988, when Fotia was a member of the team.

"We've never placed lower than fifth nationally since 1986," Fotia said. "We started a coed team later and that squad has never placed lower than fifth since 2001."

SRU's coed cheerleading team, featuring Butler graduate Nichole Geibel, Slippery Rock High grad Adam Kummer and Knoch grad Tyler Krahe, placed second at this year's national championships.

Kummer and Krahe were football players in high school.

"We look for guys who played football, basketball or some other sport in high school who may be too small to do that sport in college," Fotia said. "We recruit those athletes to cheer and they're drawn to the competitive nature of the sport.

"Competitive cheering fills that void of competition for them and their athleticism enables us to do more things in our routine."

SRU has 23 cheerleaders on its all-female roster and 18 on its coed roster. The Rock was one of nine teams to make the national finals in Orlando.

The competitive routine at nationals lasts 2 minutes, 30 seconds, 1:45 of which is performed to music.

"You have to be creative," Fotia said.

SRU senior cheerleader Jill Klocek was a member of a national championship cheering squad at Serra Catholic High. Klocek said she still had to raise her intensity when she joined The Rock squad.

"Everybody is into it 100 percent here," Klocek said. "Your heart has to match theirs. I absolutely love the dedication and passion of this team."

Cashdollar isn't the lone FCA Gems alumna on The Rock roster. Freeport graduate Lauren Morrison, Knoch grad Keriann Napora and Butler grad Jocelyn Nulph cheered with the Gems as well.

Morrison is a graduate student who began work as an environmental health and safety manager for General Electric shortly after the national championships.

"I've done some coaching with FCA Gems and I'd love to coach cheerleading down the road," Morrison said. "Once it's in your blood, you can't get it out."

Fotia doesn't see the quality of SRU's competitive cheering program slipping anytime soon.

"There's plenty of quality youth and high school programs in this region to draw from," she said.

Besides, Cashdollar doesn't plan on losing.

"The fun part of being a freshman on a team like this is living up to the level that's been established," she said. "We don't want to let anybody down."