Local cheer squad wins competition in Florida

High Intensity Athletics, a cheerleading team from Hawaii, recently won a competition in Orlando, Fla.

The Warriors went to The Summit, the world’s largest cheerleading competition, and won the senior level 5 co-ed division.

HIA, comprised of 11 cheerleaders, were the only team in the competition from Hawaii.

“This was our third time going to Summit, but our only time actually winning. It was very special, especially as the only team from hawaii. We had to carry on that opportunity. We feel very honored,” cheerleader Juliet Caston told KHON2’s Mitch Riberal.

Added coach Kainoa Rudolfo: “When you become a Summit winner, you get to carry that prestige with you, you carry that confidence. … When they go to a college team and they walk in that room and they can say ‘I’m a Summit Champion’, that’s very rare for anyone to see. And so it gives them exposure, it gives them legitimacy and it backs up what their talent is.”