It was, admitted Lisa Roy, a rather inauspicious start. On Oct. 13, the Screamin’ Eagles Division 14 spirit squad took the floor at Bedford High School, exhibiting a routine that was, well, routine.

“The girls were like, ‘I’m not really happy with that performance,’” said Roy, in her seventh year with the Screamin’ Eagles.

But they improved, finishing second at states and regionals.

Along the way, they added nuance and difficulty to that rocky early season routine. By December, it was a polished gem.

In fact, that group – 22 girls strong – was crowned American Youth Football national cheerleading champions in the combined Division 14 and 15 large-team field. And they weren’t Goffstown’s only championship story.

Led by cheer coordinator Tammy Gagne, the Screamin’ Eagles won a pair of national crowns and completed the unprecedented task of sending each of its spirit squads to the national competition.

The Division 8 team, coached by Gagne, also took home a title.

The Division 11 group, under head coach Keri Belanger, who’s also the mentor at Goffstown High, took second at nationals.

The Division 10 team, coached by league president David Gagne and the only D-10 team competing in the Division 11 group, finished fifth at the event, which took place in Orlando, Fla., the first week of December.

“After states, we fixed some problems and made (the routine) more difficult,” said Roy of the D-14’s changes. “Then after Pelham-Windham beat us (at regionals), we added even more difficulty. The girls had to nail it, and they did.”

Roy mentioned three reasons for her personal involvement in a second-straight national title – her Division 12 group won the small-team crown in 2006.

First, the coach pointed to Jen Simard, her trusted assistant and the head coach of the cheer squad at Mountain View Middle School.

“She’s the creative one. She’s probably already thinking about what routine they’ll do next year,” said Roy with a laugh.

Second, the mentor marveled at the performance of her young charges, especially the 15 eighth-graders who led the team through its 2 1/2-minute performance.

“What a terrific group. I’m really going to miss them,” said Roy almost wistfully.

She said her team has a number of fine, fearless athletes who embraced the challenge of improving their airborne stunts and body-twisting tumbles, while perfecting the dance and cheer portions of their routine.

“As soon as they (did) the last stunt and (hadn’t) dropped anything, then I let my breath out,” said Roy, whose team was first on the floor and beat a pair of New Hampshire challengers, one from Massachusetts and another from Chicago, Ill.

Third, Roy acknowledged the tremendous efforts of Tammy Gagne, whose D-8 group, an invitee to nationals, beat two other squads. Roy said Gagne not only coordinated the entire trip to the Sunshine State but, as a cheerleading judge, carries a vast store of cheer knowledge.

“She’s the one I called after regionals and asked, ‘How can I beat Pelham?’” said Roy. “I don’t know what the program would be without her.”

No worries there. The cheer program does have Gagne, a spirited group of athletes and, of course, two more national championship trophies on display.

“(We) have a great group of coaches, and they treat the kids with respect, so the kids come back,” said Tammy Gagne, who noted the D-14 team in particular is loaded with experienced coaches, including Weare Middle School mentor Mary Turcotte. “And the kids go into school and talk it up.

“All of our coaches make sure,” added Gagne, “that each girl reaches her best potential.”