A Kutztown University cheer team practice is a dizzying rush of lifting, flipping and falling, all in carefully choreographed movements.

Working out in their maroon, gold and white uniforms, the Golden Bears are putting the finishing touches on a routine they hope will score high marks at the Universal Cheerleaders Association's 2010 College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championships.

The 22 KU team members leave Friday for the competition in Orlando, Fla., which they entered by submitting a qualifying video.

The team's routine will be judged on various elements: basket tosses, partner stunts and pyramids, tumbling, dance and cheering.

"It's only two minutes, 45 seconds long, but it's exhausting," Erin M. Miller, a freshman from Downingtown, Chester County, said of the routine. Miller is an alternate, ready to step in if a teammate gets injured.

A year ago, the KU cheer team placed fourth at nationals.

This year, they will compete against 16 other teams in the All-Girl Division II category, said team adviser Crystal A. Piparato, adding that the team hopes to place in the top five again.

Albright College also is sending a team to nationals in the Small Coed Division II category.

To maintain peak physical fitness, the KU squad attends three-hour practices twice a week. The team cheers at home football games and some away games. They also cheer at men's and women's basketball games up to four times a week, Miller said.

Team members come to the university with strong backgrounds in cheerleading, gymnastics and dance, Piparato said.

The 2009-10 squad is led by seniors April Beidler, Tiffany Salaga, Vanessa Vonelli and Courtney Zuber.

Piparato said the cheer team is a tight-knit group of young women.

"I think we have a strong bond as far as relationships go, and that will help with our routine," she said.

Contact Greta Cuyler: 610-371-5042 or gcuyler@readingeagle.com.