TRUMBULL — It was a nearly flawless performance when Newtown High School’s cheerleading team competed in the Class LL State Championships, at Trumbull High on March 2. In fact, only two squads — first-place Danbury and runner-up Greenwich — finished ahead of the Nighthawks.

“They were thrilled. To be top three in LL is quite an accomplishment,” Newtown Coach Susan Bridges said.

The Nighthawks were in sync with their basket tosses, inversions, low-to-high and high-to-high stunts, among many other displays of athleticism matched with precise timing.

Each team has two and a half minutes to show off their skills to a panel of judges. And while the girls may nail their routine most times in practice they have to put it all together in competitions which can be quite nerve-wracking.

“It’s a lot. You only get one shot,” Chase Sferruzzo said. “You train so much it becomes second nature.”

“It feels good. I’m relieved to get it over with,” Hannah Guman added.

Emily Hechler pointed out that “the energy was great” during Newtown’s routine.

The crowd claps to the beat and cheers on each team. When there is a mistake, and very few teams get by without some kind of miscue — a flyer losing her balance while being held up by her teammates, for example — squads have to move on. Newtown had no such trouble this time with a nearly perfectly smooth routine.

“You have to snap out of it, put a smile on your face, and focus. You have to put it behind you,” senior Rachel Szor said.

This mentality applies not only to the competition itself but the days leading up to performing routines in front of judges. The week of practice before the state competition did not start off so great for the Hawks, but the team pulled it together just in time for all the confidence it needed when it counted most.

“We came in ready to work each day,” Hannah Busillo said.

“Cheerleading is a mental game. You’ve got to be able to handle it,” Bridges said. “We just ask they do the best they can and that’s all you can ask for.”

The Nighthawks still have more competitions ahead of them. The top three teams qualify for the Regional Championships and the top six move on to the Team of the Year competition. The Team of the Year event is Saturday, March 9 at 3 pm and the Regional event will be held at Worcester State University in Worcester, Mass. on March 16.

In addition to Sferruzzo, Guman, Hechler, Busillo, and Szor, all seniors, the Hawk squad includes juniors Ella Macey, Ashley Jackson, and Cydney Turoczi; and sophomores Isabella Walder, Bella DaSilva, Mel Lordeiro, Abi Gonzalez, Leticia DeOliveira, and Olivia DeCatur.

Sports Editor Andy Hutchison can be reached at andyh@thebee.com.