UTICA, NY--Buffalo State walked away with the first place trophy and the title of New York State Champions on today at the 2007 New York State Championships held at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.

The competition marked the first time Buffalo State has qualified for the New York State Championships and its first major win of the season. Buffalo State previously won first place at the Extreme Cheer and Dance Challenge in January and at the IFC Championships last November, both local competitions.

Led by first year Head Coach Reynaldo Rivas and co-captains Bonnie Simmons and Ashley Verril, Buffalo State earned 222 points in the College All-Girl Division to finish ahead of SUNYAC-rivals Geneseo (216) and Plattsburgh (180), as well as Cazenovia (153.5).

Buffalo State included some of the most difficult elements in its routine which included four different collegiate mounts, stunt sequences, tumbling passes, dances and cheers. Buffalo State was able to overcome two drops from mounts and a miss from one basket toss, by incorporating a high degree of difficulty and excellent energy-level in the routine.

This was Buffalo State’s fourth competition of the season and its third win. Buffalo State will now move on to the 2007 Cheer New York Nationals, a National Championship hosted by CNY Cheer Company, at the end of the month at Hofstra University in Uniondale, NY, with its sites set on the school's first national championship.

The Bengals' final competition of the season will come next month at the 2007 COA National Championships. Last year, Buffalo State took second place behind Geneseo at the annual event.