By Kim J. Harmon

All the hard work, endless hours of practices and performances, and monumental fundraising efforts of the past paid off in a big, big way for the Newtown High School cheerleaders when they had a chance to perform this month at the UCA National Cheerleading Championships in Orlando, Florida.

Fate threw a bit of a monkey wrench into their plans, though, when the Lady Nighthawks – less than 24 hours before their airplane was set to leave Bradley International Airport in Hartford – discovered they would have to rearrange their routine because a key member of the squad was unable to make the trip.

But they pulled themselves together at practice on Thursday afternoon and even managed to work out some stunts in the airport terminal before boarding their plane and were ready for more practice, practice, practice when they hit Disney World later that afternoon.

More than 200 teams were in Orlando to compete at the championships. The ‘Hawks were grouped in the Large Varsity Division with about 40 other teams from around the country and were unable to secure a spot in the semifinals.

Co-captains Amber Butler and Amanda Klabonski had a chance this week to reflect on the trip and the accomplishments of the Newtown High School cheerleading squad …

On the trip itself –

Amber Butler: “We had so much fun. The weather was gorgeous. We couldn’t have asked for anything more.”

The goals –

Amber Butler: “We wanted to improve on our last competition. We didn’t really worry at all about placing.”

The national competition –

Amber Butler: “It was a huge awakening for us. We knew teams would be really good, but some were just insane. We’ve seen some of these teams on television and they are so good you have to wonder how it’s possible.”

The performance –

Amber Butler: “We didn’t perform as well as we had hoped, but at the same time we look at it from the aspect of having working so hard to get there that we were proud of what we had done.”

Amanda Klabonski: “We just wanted to have fun. If (Amber and I) had worried about too many things then the girls would get too nervous. I wasn’t upset with how we did, but considering everything that had happened it was amazing (we did as well as we did).”

The achievement –

Amanda Klabonski: “We have spent so much of our lives together, we have grown together as a team, and to be able to work together, to get through our differences and to perform on a national level is so remarkable. I am just so proud.”

Amber Butler: “It was a great experience and well worth it.”