Both the Middlesboro middle and high school cheerleading squads are in Kissimmee, Florida where they have competed against the best squads in the nation as part of the national cheerleading competition.

According to the ESPN website, the National High School Cheerleading Championship is the most prestigious cheerleading championship in the country and is nationally televised on ESPN and ESPN2.

“This experience will be an experience I will never forget, and I hope that our girls will have memories that last a lifetime,” said Middlesboro Middle School cheerleading coach Jennifer Lambert.

Lambert recalls telling her husband during last year’s event that one day she wanted to go watch the competition.

“Never did I think a year later I would be walking into Nationals as a coach with my cheerleaders and my coaches right beside me,” she said.

“We coaches are very proud of the girls and their hard work,” she said. “They put many hours into gymnastics and practices every week. That’s what got us to Nationals.”

The Middlesboro High School squad advanced to the semifinals in the competition.

On Saturday, Middlesboro Middle School posted a photo along with a description of the squad’s day of competition.

“Wow! What a day it’s been,” the post read. “We didn’t make it to finals but you know what? Only 33 Jr. High Squads made it to Nationals and MMS Cheerleaders were one of those 33 squads. Only 17 of those squads made it to semi-finals and we were one of those squads! We didn’t make it to finals but we placed 12th in the Nation and top 10 made it to finals.”

Both cheerleading squads are expected to return home Tuesday.

“The Middlesboro Independent School system is extremely proud of both MMS and MHS for their hard work and dedication at the National Cheer Competition,” Superintendent Waylon Allen said Monday.