BANGOR, Maine When the Central High School cheerleading team is performing, there are 20 girls dancing, jumping and tumbling around the mat.

While that means there is more potential for a catastrophic mistake, the Red Devils instead showed Saturday afternoon that there is strength in their considerable numbers.

Central of Corinth demonstrated energy, precision and overall cohesiveness while taking home the Maine Principals Association Eastern Maine Class C cheerleading championship at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor.

The Red Devils racked up 127.4 points to register a comfortable victory over runner-up Narraguagus of Harrington, which scored 113.3 points, and third-place Houlton (109.8).

So much could go wrong, but we practice so much, said Central senior co-captain Melyssa Prescott.

We have a lot of different stunts this year, like our waterfalls, she added. We use everyone in our pyramid and not a lot of teams do it.

Sumner of East Sullivan (108.8), Orono (106.4) and Dexter (102.7) were the other three teams to earn spots in the state championships, which are scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 8, at the Augusta Civic Center.

The other scores were: Bucksport 101, Mattanawcook Academy of Lincoln 99, Washington Academy of East Machias 90.5, Calais 87.9, Penquis of Milo 84, Lee Academy 83.8 and George Stevens Academy of Blue Hill 54.

More than 2,500 fans turned out to watch the days three competitions in Classes B, C and D.

Central, directed by co-coaches Cristy Strout and Whitney Susee, won the first regional cheering championship for the school. The Red Devils, who tuned up for the Eastern Maine competition by winning the Penobscot Valley Conference crown a week earlier, will try to win their second state championship in three years.

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Central Red Devils capture EM Class C cheerleading title