MANCHESTER – It happens at the beginning of every winter spirit season; it doesn’t count in the final standings; participation is optional to prevent any early season injuries; and it allows other teams to see what you’ll bring to the state championship meet.

But, it’s the one competition Granite State cheerleaders look forward to most. This year’s annual Kiwanis cheer competition once again drew teams from across the state. On Saturday, Jan. 20, hundreds of cheerleaders took over Southern New Hampshire University’s athletic complex.

Hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Manchester, the competition included 28 teams from Class L, I and M/S in front of a packed house.

While teams showed up with different music, routines and cheers, all could agree on the one thing that sets Kiwanis apart from any other cheer competition.

“First off, it’s the setup of the lights,” said Pembroke Academy junior Corinne St. Laurent. “It’s very different from other competitions with the lights turned off except for the stage where the teams perform. It adds a cool atmosphere to the show when it’s like that.”

St. Laurent and her Spartan teammates had another reason to jump up and cheer when Pembroke Academy took first place in the Class I standings with 150.0 points. The Spartans placed second last year, and it was the first time Pembroke Academy earned top honors since 2002.

In Class L, Manchester Memorial placed third, behind city rival West, with 158.0 points. The Crusaders head coach, Diane McMillan, agreed with St. Laurent, recalling when she performed at Kiwanis as a high school cheerleader.

“This is a nice little ‘practice’ before the state competition,” said McMillan. “I was in Kiwanis and loved it. They do such a great job at making the girls feel good while keeping the competitive spirit alive. I mean, it’s a lot of fun, but it’s a lot of pressure because teams want to perform their best.”

While most of the cheering was done under the spotlight, Spartan fans made themselves heard, accounting for the second- highest amount of ticket sales behind Laconia, which brought the most fans.

“A state championship brings a banner to your gym, but this is just as important,” said Pembroke Academy head coach Donna Ong. “We’ve been here a lot of years, but to have so many supporters out there is just awesome. It’s what these girls deserve.”