_{Bishop Ireton cheerleaders perform at the Christian Cheerleaders of America Competition in Fayetteville, N.C., where they claimed their third consecutive national title. JW ELITE PHOTOGRAPHY  |  Courtesy}

The varsity cheerleaders from Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria swept the Christian Cheerleaders of America’s (CCA) National Championships held at The Crown Coliseum Complex in Fayetteville, N.C., March 1-3. The team clenched the title for the third year in a row.

The team took first place in tumbling, and in the Large Varsity Division in the music and non-music categories at the competition. The Cardinals became the National Grand Champions after receiving the highest score of any division in the National Competition. They competed against teams from South Carolina, North Carolina, Kentucky, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama and Virginia.

The Cardinals also won the National Spirit of Competition trophy. This honor is voted on by all of the teams at the competition for the team who showed support to other teams off the mat.

Ireton Head of School Thomas J. Curry and Principal Denise Tobin celebrated the team’s tremendous accomplishment. “Mrs. Tobin and I are so proud of all the hard work our cheer squad and their coaching staff have put in to reach their goal of a national championship,” said Curry. “To meet this mark three years in a row is a testament to the spirit of teamwork that is the foundation of this squad. These are student athletes of the highest order. Go Cardinals.”

At the competition, Cardinals coach Angela Hope-Eskew, the 2012 CCA National Coach of the Year, also was recognized for being in the CCA’s Coach’s Hall of Fame.