The 2022-23 Twin Valley Youth Cheer Team, made up of 12 student-athletes in third through seventh grades, was recently named national champion at The ONE Cheer and Dance Finals. The team competed in the Recreation Cheer Level One division.

As part of the competition, the team was given the opportunity to perform its cheer/dance routine in either Virginia Beach, Va.; Sandusky, Ohio; Las Vegas; or Orlando, Fla.

The team members from Twin Valley competed in Virginia Beach, where they received first place, advancing them to the Virtual Global Finals to be judged against the top teams in each of the locations.

"There were physical locations, and the teams that finished in first place at the physical locations all competed virtually," explained parent volunteer Holly Bretzius. "The judges reviewed the first-place winners from all of the locations, and they chose the No. 1 team (from each). (The team from Twin Valley) was the best of the best and won nationally."

In recreational cheer, the teams are judged on their stunts; showmanship; tumbling; formations, like pyramids; and transitions. "They watch every detail of the performance," said Bretzius, noting that along with the title, each cheerleader was awarded a championship medal, ring and jacket, and the team received a banner.

Earning the national title was the culmination of the Twin Valley Youth Cheer Team's season, during which it earned seven first-place wins under the guidance of cheer coordinator Jasmine Draper and competition coaches Andrea Michener and Jillian Ressel. The team's presenting sponsor for the season was Brodie Generational Capital Partners, which provided the funding for the girls to register for The ONE competition in Virginia Beach.

"I'm so proud of our youth cheer team. What a way to put Twin Valley youth cheer at the front of the pack," said Mark Mountz, board president for the league.

The Twin Valley Youth Football & Cheer League is a nonprofit recreational organization, which is open to youths who live in or near the boundaries of the Twin Valley School District. In addition to competitions, participants cheer on the sidelines of Twin Valley youth football games and perform a short routine during halftime. Cheerleading is open to student-athletes of any ability. For more details, visit http://www.twinvalleyfootball.com/cheer.