As a cheerleader for Donegal Youth Cheerleading, Lillie Smith wants people to know the depth of the sport.

"You don't just wave pom poms and yell cheers," she said. "You do a lot of fun things!"

For the members of the Green and White teams - for students in grades four to six and one through three, respectively - this past season has been particularly fun.

The teams won all first-place and grand champion honors at their three local competitions this past fall.

Competitions took place in Elizabethtown, Manheim Township and Hempfield school districts. An exhibition was also held at Donegal High School.

"Teams are from all over Lancaster and Lebanon county youth cheer programs, ranging from five to nine teams in each division," explained Liz Smith, who coaches the Green Team. "The grand champion was against all first- through sixth-grade teams combined."

Each competition requires the team members to perfect their routines. "The girls are judged on cheer, dance, tumbling and stunting," Liz shared.

Part of the Donegal Braves football and cheerleading program, the teams are no strangers to success.

"Last season, we competed in two competitions and one exhibition with the White Team placing first at E-town and second at Manheim Township," Liz remarked. "The Green Team placed first at E-town and first at Manheim Township, also winning grand champion, which is given at that competition."

The teams' season begins in August and runs through early November. Sign-ups for the teams occur in the spring for the following fall.

"Anyone within Donegal School District is able to join, including private and homeschooled (students)," Liz said. "No tryouts are required or previous cheer experience."

She encourages students to try cheerleading, noting, "Cheer is such a great sport because not only do you push yourself physically with the demanding stunts and tumbling and choreography, but you make lifelong friendships and memories. With starting at such a young age in the Braves organization, you are learning the skills and teamwork that is needed if you choose to follow the sport through junior high and high school."

This year, three high school cheerleaders helped to coach the youth program. "It was great to see the future generation of high school cheerleaders learning from the girls they look up to," Liz said. "If your child has any interest in cheer, have them join the Braves organization. (They'll enjoy) the way the coaches devote their time and energy in teaching all the basic skills to your child while having fun and growing so much as an athlete."

Lillie, a sixth-grader who is a member of the Green Team, has been cheering for four years. She said she enjoys interacting with other girls who share her interests. She also enjoys the physicality of the sport.

"I like being able to do stunts and try new things," she said. "And I love when we go to competitions."

She's proud of how well the teams performed this year at their events.

"I think we did great," she said. "We all worked so hard to prepare for the competition that winning first made all the hard work worth it. ... Competition cheer is a lot harder than gameday cheer, and we put so much work into getting ready for our competitions."