MOUNT VERNON — Three weeks ago, they didn’t even have the money to go to the 2010 Arnold Nationals in Columbus. Last week, they not only went, they pulled off a huge upset and took first place.

The YMCA Rockets All-Star Cheerleading Squad, its their first year of existence, defeated a field of larger and more experienced teams to do the impossible.

“I have been coaching for 18 years and this is the first time I’ve ever gotten a national championship,” said Rockets’ coach Michele Snyder. “I’m so proud of my young team. This is the first year that the YMCA has ever had an All-Star Squad and they did fabulous in their first year.”

Snyder took girls from all over Knox County to build a champion.