Sharpsville Competition Squad is returning Wednesday to Orlando, Fla., to defend its national champion title. The squad was named "Team of the Week" Jan. 22 by WFMJ in Youngstown.

A sendoff is planned for 6 to 8 p.m. today in Sharon Elementary School. They will perform the routine they will use for the national competition. The public is invited.

The group will depart at 9 a.m. Wednesday from Lock Stock & Barrel, Sharpsville, and will return at 3 p.m. next Monday.

The squad, which began practice in September, placed first Feb. 1 in a regional competition held by Americheer, which also hosts the Disney Nationals.

The squad scored 304.5 points out of 375 and walked away with the second-highest score behind a varsity squad with 311.

The Sharpsville group took first place at Shaler in Pittsburgh and at Slippery Rock University. It placed second in two other competitions, missing first by only 1 point.

The group traveled March 1 to Columbus, Ohio, to the Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic and was placed in the varsity division. A few members also shook hands with the actor. The squad earned second place, only to lose by 3 points to a varsity squad; the squad is junior varsity.

The event drew more than 7,000 people in three days.

The group has been raising funds and practicing nearly every day after school in First United Methodist Church, Sharpsville.

The squad had a large bingo fund-raiser this month in Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6404, Sharpsville, and held a dance in Sharpsville American Legion Post 162.

A spaghetti dinner Tuesday, hosted by The Brass Lantern restaurant in Transfer, was the group's final fund-raiser.

Information: coach Rita Sloan, (724) 962-7347.