BUTLER TWP — Butler High School's competitive cheerleading program should adopt a new motto.

The cheers don't stop here.

Four former Butler cheerleaders — two each at Slippery Rock University and Delaware — are already actively involved in collegiate cheerleading. They will soon be joined by three others.

Butler senior competitive cheerleaders Logan Donnel, Emily Livermore and Nathan Baker all recently committed to doing the same. Donnel and Livermore are headed toClarion University, Baker to South Florida.

Butler became a co-ed competitive cheering team only last year. Donnel and Baker will become the second and third boys from that program — joining Colin Crouch (Delaware) — to continue the sport in college.

“I love it,” Butler cheer coach Marianne Miller said. “Nathan and Logan ... They are two of the hardest working, respectful, dedicated members of our team. They were the heart and soul of our team this year.

“I love that they're getting this opportunity. We have one boy committed to be on our team next year, so we'll remain co-ed. Hopefully, we'll get some more.”

Baker recalled a school fair hosted by Butler last year at which the University of South Florida (in Tampa) was the college visiting from farthest away.

“I wanted to go far away, so I visited with them and looked into the school,” Baker said. “They have a good program in what I want to study and they have a competitive cheering team.

“I never dreamed I'd be doing any sport in college, let alone cheerleading. But I love the team aspect of it. I've never been much of a social person, but I changed through the family feeling of a sports team.”

Baker carries a 4.02 grade point average at Butler. He plans to major in civil engineering. He made the South Florida cheering squad during tryouts two weeks agio.

“They were pretty grueling,” he said of the tryouts. “We were doing stunts and stuff for 19 hours over a three-day period. But I made it.”

Clarion does not have a competitive cheer team. Donnel and Livermore will be members of the university's cheerleading squad that cheers at football, basketball games and wrestling matches.

Donnel carries a 3.6 grade point average and will study to be a physician's assistant.

“I got some Division III looks for football, but wasn't interested,” said Donnel, a tight end for the Golden Tornado. “I enjoyed the friendships and memories I gained through cheerleading.

“It was something new, something I wanted to continue doing.”

Donnel also looked at Slippery Rock University before deciding on Clarion. He car-pooled with Livermore to the tryouts.

“It will be fun cheering again with Emily. It will be like old times,” Donnel said.

Livermore was not part of Butler's competitive cheer team this season. She stepped away from it in November after suffering a broken tibia and fibia during an ATV accident last May.

“It was the day after prom,” she said. “It flipped over and I broke those bones pretty good. I just had rods and screws removed last week.

“After all I went through, I needed a break. But I always intended to cheer in college, though.”

Miller said: “I'm glad she was able to walk again, let alone cheer. She got hurt pretty bad, but she worked her way back.”

Livermore plans to enter the nursing program at Clarion. She also looked at Indiana (Pa.), Robert Morris and Butler County Community College.

“Clarion has an excellent nursing program and it's close to home,” Livermore said. “When I saw Logan was going there, we decided to try out together.

“We became a package deal, so to speak.”

While Donnel and Baker began cheerleading as high school juniors, Livermore has been involved in the sport for 13 years. She cheered for East Butler in the Butler Area Midget Football League and for the FCA Gems growing up.

“We're proud of all three of these kids,” Miller said. “They are good athletes who work just as hard as athletes in other sports. And our season lasts 10 months, not three.

“They will always have a home with Butler Cheer. And our new boys coming in? They will have tough shoes to fill.”