Photos By: Brianne Rios

They stand huddled together in a circle, pumping each other up, praying, waiting to hear their team name called out.  They have 2:30 to show the judges, their family, friends, and other teams what they can do.   Now is the time to stick it, and nothing hits the floor.

Stick it? Hit the floor? Well that's some cheer lingo for you.  

Cheerleading competitions are held in different states all over the country. Competitions are so teams can go out for two-and-a -half minutes to show everyone why they believe they are the best and deserve to win first place.   

"Winning doesn't always mean placing first," says Rey Lozano, Long Beach State's Cheer and Dance Coach, and owner and founder of U.S. Spiritleaders.  "You 'win' just by getting to the point where you have earned the right to step on that floor."

Last Sunday, Long Beach State's Walter Pyramid hosted the King of the Bleachers Cheer and Dance Competition.  Here, high school, college, and all-star teams competed to be number one.  Earning them sweatshirts, a trophy, banner, and medals, as well as the chance to qualify for the Best of the West competition in March.    

"It may not be on a field or a court, but it's a sport. Trust me," says Aaron Talvy, an injured all-star cheerleader.