Standing at the apex of a 12-person pyramid, the look on fifth grader Katie Council’s face was one of pure, unrivaled excitement. Unlike the ordered, disciplined, high-spirited cheer routine she was participating in, her reaction was unscripted.

Council is one of the leaders on the Leopards, an East Carolina Cheerleading and Tumble School (ECCATS) team made up of 22 11-12-year-old girls from Tumble B Gym in Washington. And while the team (and the gym) is just two years old, it already seems to have reached its peak, earning a bid for The Summit, a three-day cheerleading and tumbling spectacle held at Walt Disney World Resort that features the top 500 teams from some of the most renowned gyms in the United States.

“I think we were just completely astonished,” said Misty Brown, co-owner of Tumble B Gym. “The first year we opened with 40 or 50 kids and no one had ever cheered before. We had kids who didn’t know how to do a forward roll or a cartwheel and to see their progress over the years … this was the year where it just finally clicked. We’ve got some experienced kids and some great parents and it just got to the point where everything came together. It’s a great feeling.”

Practicing two or three times a week through an eight-month season, the Leopards, as well as the school’s three other teams, participate in five to six tournaments a season, along with a collection of noncompetitive showcases. So far, the ECCATS of Washington have competed and excelled in four tournaments with all four of the school’s teams placing in each one of the events.

Brown customarily registers her teams for a single Summit qualifier a year with the hope that one of her four teams can claim one of the toughest accolades in the sport. And earlier this month at the Encore Championships in Richmond, the Leopards executed their routine to perfection, not only taking first place in their division, but also earning one of the highest scores at the competition and, subsequently, earning an at-large bid to The Summit.

“This year they’re starting to understand that all the hours and hard work are paying off,” said Charlie Brown, Misty’s husband and Tumble B Gym co-owner. “The look on their faces, before they even get awards, just coming off the floor after running their routine, it’s awesome.”

Last year’s Summit Tournament included teams of all shapes and sizes from 39 states. On average, Misty Brown said, about 10 percent of the cheer and tumble gyms in the country earn bids.

Last Saturday at the Spirit Express Tournament in Jacksonville, the first event since earning The Summit bid, Tumble B Gym completed the sweep, each team’s routine taking first place in their respective divisions. The senior team, the Lions, took the title of overall grand champion, meaning their routine posted the highest score at the competition.

The routines themselves run for about two and a half minutes and the girls do choreographed dances to custom sound tracks, consisting of about 10 to 15 songs. Teams are judged in variety of areas, including tumbling, stunts, jumping, motions, dance and pyramids, and each routine is never “finished.”

“We bring in choreographers throughout the season to help us with that and clean up the routine,” Misty Brown said. “With this team, they have had issues with their routine since the very beginning, pieces not clicking together, and this competition was the first time everything clicked all at the same time. All that hard work paid off at the right time.”

While the Browns are pleased with how far their program has come in such a short time, they agree that there’s a deeper purpose for doing what they do, teaching kids life lessons like leadership, confidence and even time management. The program goes far beyond simply athletics.

“What Anna has learned not just from a skill level, in terms of what she can to physical, but what she has learned in terms of teamwork is great,” said Pam Shadle, a first year cheer mom. “If one person is not there then they can’t do a stunt. If one person is missing, it’s a big deal. It is the epitome of teamwork and hard work.”

Along with perfecting their routine, the Leopards are looking to raise $25,000 for their trip to Florida — costs that cover transportation and boarding, while making sure each child has one parent accompanying them for the ride. So far, the team has raised $12,000.

To help raise money, ECCATS of Washington will be holding a silent auction on April 19 at Southside High School that will also feature a small showcase event, including 120 of the school’s athletes. On April 17, ECCATS will also have a booth set up at Music in the Streets in downtown Washington.

Tomorrow, the Leopards will be holding a carwash at Verizon Wireless on West 15th Street.