Local titles are becoming old hat to these Auburn cheerleaders.

State titles? Been there, done that.

A regional title? Now that's something to cheer about #-- especially when a trip to Disney World is on the line.

The Auburn Midget Pop Warner Cheerleaders took first place in both the local and state competitions this season, and now have advanced to the regional contest for the fourth straight time.

They'll have some company, too -- the Auburn Junior Midgets took second at the state qualifier and also earned a trip to the Nov. 18 competition in Trenton, N.J., for the second straight year.

The top two teams from the 13-team Midget field and seven-team Junior Midget field will earn a spot in the national competition, which will be held in Disney World, Dec. 7.

“This is what they've worked so hard for over the past five years together,” said Midget head coach Michelle VanGeisen, whose team took fourth place at regionals a year ago- when the squad thought it was the last hurrah.

This season the Midget girls- all 14-year-olds except for one- became eligible to cheer for the high school squads. But the team convened and decided one more try for nationals was in order.

“Although they were excited and appreciated how well they really did, it was still disappointing for them; they really had their hearts set on first or second,” VanGeisen said of last year's finish.

“They didn't want to be split up. In high school, you try out and are placed on a team. They wanted to give it one more shot.”

With good reason.

It's easy to have confidence when you've spent five years together as a group and made it to regionals four of those times.

Not to mention they've posted a better finish in each successive trip to Trenton. Now they're hoping that trend continues.

“They respect one another, and they care about each other so that they really know what to expect from one another,” VanGeisen said.

“They are working hard, and they know that they have what it takes to do well at this tournament.”

The Junior Midgets hope they've got what it takes, too. They certainly have experience. Last year, the squad had 34 girls. This year, the total is down to 27, but 24 of those girls were on the team a year ago, which gives Auburn a distinct advantage.

“We know what to expect,” said head coach Lisa Stearns, a seven-year coaching veteran. “Last year was our first time being there. It's definitely going to be a little easier.”

The cheerleaders won't be the only ones making the trip, though.

The girls will be joined by friends, family and a wealth of supporters who will make their presence felt.

“It's amazing and it's great for Auburn cheerleading; it seems to grow bigger every year and get more successful,” Stearns said. “Just being able to look at the arena- it's a massive building- just to look over and see our little piece of maroon in the crowd is amazing.”

What they'll see is a routine that is just shorter than 2.5 minutes- anything longer and the team gets penalized.

The Midget routine was created by C.J. Murphy, a junior advisor who got to work on the performance immediately after last year's season came to a close.

The Junior Midgets#, routine was created as a group effort and has been a work in progress since the local contest.

After each performance, judges compile a score sheet and also cassettes or DVDs with critiques.

Stearns then takes those suggestions and works on perfecting the final product.

But in the end, it's the girls who are performing, so Stearns leaves some of the decision-making to them.

“It makes them very proud to go out and perform a routine they put together,” she said. “They're the ones on the floor; they have to perform it so they should have a say in the moves and the music.”

Mostly, it all boils down to fun, though- and that's what could bring home the gold.

“They have to go out with a ton of enthusiasm, hit all their stunts,” VanGeisen said on what it takes to win.

“They have to get the judges excited about what they're doing out there and really have fun with the routine.”