On the sidelines, cheerleaders Quinn Stadshaug, Desiree Hanssen and Elizabeth Sadler all root for different schools. When they step onto the mats at the Connect All-Stars training gym they become one team.

The girls are members of the Senior Co-ed cheer team at Connect All-Stars, a program that has continued to dominate competitions on the local and national level. The Bellevue-based gym opened in 2003 by former Seattle SuperSonics Dancer, Amanda Daugherty and former UW Stunt Team member, Mateo Salado.

As the head coach of the Connect All-Star Cheerleading program, Salado brings years of experience in competitive cheer. Currently cheering for the acclaimed squad at the University of Hawaii, the former title winner for the 2000 Emerald Cup BodyBuilding Championship continues to watch his program grow. The national champion gym now has 70 members and boasts a handful of top-notch coaches with strong cheer background and ties to the Universal Cheerleaders Association.

Robby Sortore, recently named WSCCA 2007 All-Star Coach of the Year, cheered along side Salado in high school and stepped into his current position, coaching the Senior Co-ed level five team at Connect.

“Coaching is so rewarding,” Sortore said, who hopes to be a positive mentor to the kids he coaches. “I get to watch these kids grow within cheer and gain skills. The looks on their faces when they do well – those looks are priceless.”

Connect All-Stars is open to both guys and girls interested in joining either a cheer or dance team. The program’s members currently represent 20 schools spread throughout the community.

Connect offers training to members ages 4 to 18 and recently added the Northwest Open College Team for ages 17 and older. The program welcomes all skill levels.

“We won’t turn anyone away because everyone brings something to the team,” Sortore explained.

According to Sortore, the kids that start at a young age have the “no fear” factor when it comes to tumbling and they achieve muscle memory, helping them progress through the skills. He was quick to add that the gym sets guidelines to avoid potential burnout such as setting a two team limit.

“No one can be on more than two teams at one time because you have to love what you do, and when you overdue it, you burn out,” he said.

Many of the athletes cheer at both Connect and their school teams, balancing practice time, travel and additional conditioning outside the gym.

Quinn Stadshaug wears the colors of Juanita high school outside the gym, but once inside she proudly wears the Connect logo on her shirt.

“In here, you’re part of a team where everyone’s so supportive and motivating – we’re always cheering each other on,” Stadshaug said.

In response to those who think cheerleading is not a sport, Stadshaug and the other girls just laughed.

“They have no idea the amount of training and conditioning that goes into cheer,” 16-year-old Sadler chimed in. “We definitely work as hard as any football player.”

Kristen Couch, the newly appointed director for Connect All-Stars, says they encourage the athletes to participate in both club and school cheer or dance. The members practice twice a week, training year-round, but the coaches at Connect are mindful to schedule practices around school, aware that many of their members will be cheering on game nights.

The gym also has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to drugs and alcohol. Although they don’t officially track school progress, the coaches work with the parents to make sure their members are succeeding inside and outside of the gym.

“School comes first,” Couch explained and added that many of the Connect coaches also coach for local high school teams. The program helps build the skills necessary for college level cheer for those who want to continue with the sport beyond high school. Two Connect members recently were selected to cheer on the University of Washington cheer squad and another member will cross the ocean to cheer for the University of Hawaii.

“Cheer teaches them leadership skills and how to work hard and builds self-confidence- all while having fun,” Couch said.

This coming competition season, the Co-Ed Senior cheer team will gear up to travel to Atlanta and Orlando to show off their high-flying skills. To keep costs relatively low for travel and membership, the members and their parents are encouraged to participate in the fundraisers and community events the gym puts on throughout the year.

“We are so fortunate to have parents who love to get involved and be a part of what their kids are doing,” Couch explained. “These parents show up on competition day with faces painted, huge signs and pom-poms to cheer on the teams. It’s really like one big family here.”

Connect All-Stars is located at 14360 S.E. Eastgate Way, Suite 102 in Bellevue. For more information visit www.connectallstars.com.

Lindsay Larin can be reached at llarin@reporternewspapers.com or 425-453-4602.