Three-time UCA National Champions Rocky Point Varsity Cheerleading are back and hungry for the gold in 2018.

Since 2011, the Long Island, New York, team has been in the top three at the UCA National High School Cheerleading Championships, with three first-place titles, one second-place finish, and three third-place finishes.

RPVC's competition squad is made up of 16 girls with only one girl left from the 2014 National Champion team, Samantha Ferrara.

"We are very excited for this season," explained head coach Anna Spallina and assistant coach Arianna Scanlon. "We are working to perfect difficult and intricate skills. We are hoping that our hard work, mental strength, and sacrifices can be rewarded with a national title."

For many years, RPVC's motto has been "I am the greatest," part of a famous Muhammad Ali quote. In 2011, RPVC alumni and two-time national champion Elizabeth Johannsen used to tell her team, "You are the greatest and you need to believe it before anyone else would believe it to be true."

The team has shirts made with the quote to remind them of their motto and to help them always believe in themselves. Every year the team wears their motto shirt on the Friday before competition day.

A team's chemistry is directly related to their success so RPVC is always working to create a strong family bond.

"This year's team just has such good chemistry," junior Samantha Ferrara said. "We are friends in and out of the gym and always have each other's backs."

Is this going to be Rocky Point's year? Catch them at the 2018 National High School Cheerleading Championship this weekend!

Photos & Written By: Courtney Kelly