MANCHESTER – Central Florida, meet Southern New Hampshire.

The Salem Rams and Pelham/ Windham Razorbacks youth spirit squads were among the best at the American Youth Football New England Region Spirit Championships on Saturday, Nov. 25, at the Verizon Wireless Arena.

The two programs earned five bids between them to the national cheerleading championships in Tampa, Fla., on Dec. 9.

The Salem Rams tied the Wolcott (Conn.) Eagles and the Franklin/Tilton Falcons for the most awards with three, taking first among Division 12 Large Red and Division 15 Large Blue squads and third among those in Division 10 Large Red. It marks a return to the national scene for the Division 15 team and coach Terri Dion.

Pelham/Windham claimed two top-three spots, finishing in second in both Division 10 Large Red and Division 15 Large Red.

It’s the first time in program history P/W will send two squads in the same year to nationals.

Salem also had a Division 11 Large Red squad qualify for regionals, and Pelham/Windham sent a Division 11 Large Red Squad to regionals.

“My team was in a 15-year old division, but we had no 15 years old on our team,” said Pelham/Windham coach Lisa Paquette. “So they really blew me away by blowing those other teams away.”

Amidst all the excitement, however, Salem experienced its fair share of controversy. A computer error originally left the Division 15 team out of the top three. But after looking at her score sheets with her squad and discovering it had received no deductions, Dion went to notify competition officials of a possible error, only to find they had already recognized it.

A few nervous moments later, Salem was notified that it, in fact, had claimed first place. By that time, nearly everyone except Rams supporters had filed out of the arena.

“So unfortunately, it was a little anti-climatic for the kids,” Dion said.

Jody LaChance, Salem Rams vice president of spirit, said the Rams will be presented with their first-place trophy by officials at practice on Wednesday, Nov. 29. LaChance also added the program plans to send only the two first-place squads to Florida because of costs, which can range anywhere from $8,000 to $12,000 per team.

Competitors on Salem’s two first-place teams are as follows. The Division 12 team, led by head coach Nicole Deschene, includes Marissa-Ann Gagnon, Nicole Gray, Shaylyn Perella, Kasie Bibeau, Elizabeth Deschene, Alexandra Powers, Alexis Adaschik, Jordan Brewer, Madison Lavoie, Katrina Hill and Samantha Szweda.

It also includes Rebecca Scafidi, Kelly Merkle, Genell Gorman, Ashley Corriveau, Kelsie Collins, Alanna Driscoll, Amanda Cail, Alexis Younker, Taylor Saulnier, Samantha Sirmaian, Emily Fitzgerald, Samandtha Pare, Courtney Mulry, Kate Hammett, Kayla Kendall, Caitlin Scanlon, Kaitlyn Arsenault, Hannah O’Shaughnessy and Maryellen Devine.

The Division 15 team consists of Danielle Smith, Keanen Fosman, Carli Dion, Alyssa Wall, Kelsey Kurto, Angela Bartlett, Shannon Daher, Jordan Brazil, Nicole Arsenault, Jordyn Tommasi and Danica Blakslee.

It also includes Shannon Carter, Allyson Doin, Samantha Johnston, Samantha Klein, Jenna Beshara, Lauren Holm, Jessica Hanlon, Kayla Dowgiert, Gabriella Brennan, Kelsey Caron, Anna Kennelly, Allyson Mello, Allana Ormond and Sarah Dascoli.

The Pelham/Windham Division 15 team includes Kelly Armstrong, Samantha Caplis, Catherine Carnazzo, Kaelin Carter, Erin Chaput, Kathy Cheam, Amber Darisse, Mollie Haberman, Sirena Hilbert and Kelsey Kenney.

It also features Courtney Lamont, Ashley Loughran, Samantha Madden, Molly McColgan, Kailynd Mercier, Nicole Paquette, Allison Petrillo, Ashley Pimentel, Nicole Prud’Homme, Jessica Steere, Ashley Sunderland, Rachel Ward, Caleigh Wilson and Desiree Wright.