Members of the Twin Valley High School (TVHS) cheerleading squad have earned a bid to compete at the Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) National High School Cheerleading Championship to be held in February at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando.

To qualify for nationals, the team participated in the UCA Regionals, where it competed in the Small Game Day Non-Tumble Division. Competing against seven teams, the cheerleaders from TVHS placed second at the event and received the highest score of their competition season so far.

"They competed in regionals in Wilkes-Barre in December, and they had to place first, second or third in order to be eligible for a bid to go to Florida," explained cheer mom Amanda Dominguez. "They placed second and were offered the bid to compete with all different girls from across the country at nationals."

The girls on the squad represent all TVHS grade levels, nine to 12, and most also cheer for the TVHS basketball and football teams as well.

Head coach Jess Hoffman explained that Game Day is a traditional event that represents what cheerleaders do on the sidelines of games to encourage the crowd. At nationals, the cheerleaders will perform one three-minute routine.

"They do a chant and a cheer, and it ends with a fight song. It's a crowd leading (category)," explained Hoffman, who is assisted by coach Jamie Payne. "It's very high energy."

After a short break for the holidays, the girls are back practicing and cheering at games. "We are at it five days a week, plus (the girls cheer at) varsity girls' and boys' basketball games and (there will be) three additional competitions we will do locally. They will be very busy," said Hoffman.

The girls are also fundraising in order to finance the cost of travel, accommodations and entry fees needed to compete at nationals. During select home basketball games, the team is running its own concession stand. It has also planned a spaghetti dinner fundraiser on Monday, Jan. 15, from 5 to 9 p.m. at Sleepy Hollow Athletic Club, 482 Westley Road, Mohnton. The dinner will include spaghetti and meatballs, salad and bread. Takeouts will be available, and diners may purchase beverages and dessert.

"The girls will be serving," said Hoffman, noting that there will also be an opportunity for attendees to win gift baskets.

Hoffman said that the girls have high hopes for the upcoming competition, noting that while two of the 12 girls on the squad have taken part in nationals before, this is the first time these particular cheerleaders will compete together as a team. Additionally, this is Hoffman and Payne's first year coaching at TVHS.

"(At nationals) we have prelims on Friday and semifinals on Saturday and then the finals. Our goals is finals," said Hoffman. "We are confident in them."

"They are a good group of girls; they have a really good bond," added Dominguez. "They are good friends on and off the floor."

To learn more about the squad and to donate, visit http://www.schoolfundr.org/fund/tvhscheer. More information is also available by searching for "Twin Valley HS Cheerleading" on Facebook.