The Sachem North High School cheer team are state champions.

The team won best in the state for Division I schools- small team.

The state championships were held over the weekend at Rochester Institute of Technology and the school’s policy required vaccinations for all participating athletes.

Some cheerleaders weren’t vaccinated, and the team created an online petition.

The State Athletic Association worked with Rochester Institute of Technology and limited capacity in the field house to 400 people.

The lower capacity the school said would allow for unvaccinated athletes.

Their coach says he couldn’t be prouder of their victory.

“These kids put in so much hard work to get here,” says Danielle Gresalfi. “They fought even to get the opportunity to go in and compete. So we were just excited to come home with a win.”

The school says they are going to have their trophy in the display at the school next to their other state victory

Senior Grace Calabra was on the team that won and says this win is even better

“We just wanted everyone to get the same feeling that when we won,” Calabra says.

In a different division, MacArther High School in Massapequa won the state competition for the first time in more than 10 years.