Schools : Education news : 2 High Schools Take Cheerleading Honors

Cheerleading squads from Aliso Niguel and Mater Dei high schools took top honors at the National Cheerleading Assn.’s national competition in Dallas during the holidays.

The Monarchs, from Mater Dei in Santa Ana, won first place in the team event, as they have in several previous years.

Aliso Niguel’s Wolverines, participating in the national event for the first time, took third place.

In individual competition, senior Tim Paselaqua captured third place, then teamed up with junior Kelly Stapleton to win the doubles competition.

The squad from Aliso Niguel, a 3-year-old school in Aliso Viejo was honored for its achievement by the Capistrano Unified School District’s trustees at their meeting Monday.