ORLANDO, Fla. - The six a.m. practices since September have finally paid off.

The Moses Lake Molahiettes were crowned Grand National Champions at the Champions of Dance Nationals held at the University of Central Florida recently.

A first in the team's history.

"I think finally right now it feels like it was OK to practice that long," coach Lori Baker said with a laugh. "About a week ago it wasn't."

Despite entering nationals with four wins in previous competitions, Baker was "shocked" that the Molahiettes were able to take home the overall championship.

The Molahiettes previously competed at nationals in California, but Baker felt the field in Orlando was stronger this year.

"I think the caliber of these teams in Florida were better so that's why we wanted to go there," she said. "California doesn't have a state championship so almost all the California teams go to that."

The Molahiettes were able take first place in the Kick and Pom competitions, second in Military and third in Dance. Along with the Overall Grand National Championship, the Molahiettes were also awarded Best in Small Teams.

Baker was unaware if her team had a chance to take home the big prize for the majority of the competition, but as the results began to trickle in it dawned on her that the Molahiettes could contend for the overall title.

"To be honest, no. I was completely shocked when they announced it," she said. "About three minutes before they announced it as they were doing the awards and we'd won our categories and then we won the overall small team championship I thought, 'OK possibly we might have a chance.'"

The Molahiettes were able to refine their routines throughout the year at competitions around the state as well as during the halftime of football and basketball games.

"Anytime we can perform the number in front of people I think it's really helpful," Baker said. "It gives them more experience and more confidence. I think we've been to four competitions this year and they were undefeated at that point so I think they went into nationals with some confidence."

Baker, a Utah native, has measured her team against the dance-drill team from Bountiful, Utah, a perennial state and national champion.

The Bountiful Madonelles have won several state and national championships so it was a priority for the Molahiettes to execute their routines to perfection.

Now that nationals have concluded, the Molahiettes set their sights on districts March 15 at Pasco High School and state March 28 at the Yakima Sun Dome.

The team will be holding a state preview 7 p.m. March 24 at Moses Lake High School for those who can't make the trip to Yakima.

"It's hard to keep practicing just because we're tired," Baker said. "But I think the girls want to win districts and state every bit as much as nationals. It's important to them to represent their school and locally."