Bullard High School’s competitive cheer team capped a historic run by winning the CIF state championship and earning third place at the UCA National High School Cheerleading Championship in Florida, a milestone for a program making its national debut.

Head coach Britney Audino, in her first year at Bullard, said the journey began with a shift in mindset. Traditionally, the team competed at intermediate-level USA Nationals, but Audino encouraged them to aim higher.

“Originally I came to them and I said, we’re gonna change things up a little bit. They’ve traditionally gone to USA Nationals and we said, let’s do the big one. Let’s go to Florida,” she said.

Audino added an extra day of practice to focus on foundational skills, technique, and mental preparation. The team progressed through UCA regionals in Northern and Southern California, then captured the Valley title before claiming the CIF state championship.

“This season, our focus was more on foundations and making sure the girls were progressing at the rate they needed to be in the advanced division,” Audino said.

The season was not without challenges. Just weeks before the state championship, one of the team’s flyers, the person who is thrown into the air, broke her arm during practice. The injury could have derailed their momentum, but the squad adapted quickly.

Audino said the team modified routines and lifted each other up to maintain their performance level. The injured flyer attended nationals to cheer on her teammates, serving as an inspiration.

“This was the first time the school had ever gone to UCA, and the girls really trusted the process,” Audino said. Despite nerves and the pressure of competing against more than 60 teams in their division, the team advanced through preliminaries, semifinals, and finals to secure a national medal in their debut year.

Parents as Cheerful as the Students

For parents, the experience was equally remarkable. Noah Dye, whose daughter is a junior on the team, said traveling with the squad to Florida was rewarding. “As a parent, it’s really exciting to see your children explore their passions and then obviously be very successful with those passions,” Dye said.

He recalled the team performing a cheer for fellow passengers during the flight to Orlando, at the flight crew’s request, earning admiration from bystanders who had never seen competitive cheer at that level.

Dye also addressed the skepticism the sport sometimes faces. “Anyone bashing cheerleading, I would just say, I’d love time to debate you.”

“Come to one of their competitions and watch. I saw a great video recently… it shows a girl flying, it shows girls tumbling, it shows the connection across the mat. You do one sport, we do seven sports, and we land and hit harder than football players,” he said. “We strategize across the mat like soccer players. The evolution of the sport and where it is today is absolutely incredible,” he said, noting his own respect grew as he watched the girls train and compete.

Dye described the team’s journey from Valley champions to state champions to national medalists as an emotional rollercoaster.

“In the moment, you come off of winning the section championship in the Valley, you then go and win the state championship. And I think they got to nationals and it can be overwhelming… but third is amazing for their first time going,” he said.

School and Community Credited for the Team’s Success

Audino and Dye credited the school and community for the team’s success. Administrators, athletic staff, and parents provided logistical and emotional support, allowing the squad to focus on training and competition. “Our campus is extremely supportive. Having parents, administration, and the athletic department behind them makes all the difference,” Audino said.

Audino said Bullard’s Stomp team joined a practice to help the cheerleaders project more energy and presence.

“They literally taught the girls how to be louder, and then we reciprocate at the basketball games,” Audino said. “It’s really nice to see that it’s bringing kids together and making everything kind of… like a heartbeat all together.”

Susan Wittrup, Fresno Unified Trustee who oversees the Bullard High School area, said, “This state championship is a testament to the discipline, resilience, and heart of the Bullard High School Cheer team. They’ve represented Fresno Unified with excellence both on and off the field, and I couldn’t be more proud. Their achievement reflects the strength of our students, coaches, and the entire Bullard community.”

The Bullard cheer program has expanded rapidly, now featuring varsity and junior varsity squads with plans for a freshman team. Audino and parents said the team’s achievements this season — overcoming adversity, embracing rigorous training, and earning a national medal — have set a new standard for the program and inspired excitement for the seasons to come.

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