NORTH ATTLEBORO -- The North Attleboro High School varsity competition cheerleaders on Sunday won their third state championship title in four years during the state finals at Lowell High School.

Not only did they win three out of the four years, but they won in three different divisions, moving up each time. In 1997, they won Division 3, in 1998, Division 2 and now, Division 1.

The girls were also undefeated this year, winning six out of six competitions.

``Overall, our season includes a Hockomock league championship, a Division 1 Regional South championship and the Division 1 State Championship,'' said Patti Johnson, North Attleboro High School cheerleading coach after the day's win.

``Today's performance was far superior to all their other performances,'' Johnson said. ``Their routine was the cleanest that I've ever seen it.'' Local police gave the girls a cruiser escort when they drove back into town.

Finishing second in the competition in Division 1 was Agawam High School.

A team from Norton High School also competed in Division 3 and did not place. Only the winner and the runner-up in each division were announced.

With regard to scoring, Johnson said, ``The girls were noted for the creativity of their routines and the solidness of their stunts. They scored well on fundamental skills, which include gymnastics, jumps, arm motions, partner stunts and pyramids.''

It was a year that senior co-captains Gina Droney and Katherine McIsaac will probably be telling their future children and grandchildren for years to come.

``The season has just fallen into place as I always dreamed it would,'' said Droney. ``The team just worked together.

``It was a storybook season. I think that everybody realized that this was it, and put three months of hard work into a flawless three-minute routine.''

McIsaac echoed her sentiments, saying, ``Our long road to success had its bumps, but the final reward proved the reason for our hard work.

``I could not dream of a more perfect way to end a flawless season or my senior year of high school.

``Our months and months of preparation have paid off and the State Championship title shows that. I am honored to be a part of the North Attleboro High School cheerleading tradition of excellence and extremely proud of my teammates and coaches. ``We did it girls!''