For the second consecutive year, the ShowTwirlers competitive team has brought a national title back to Central Pennsylvania.
The twirlers won first place in the Large Beginner Junior Dance Twirl Team Championship at America's Youth on Parade, the national championship of baton twirling, held July 16 to 20 at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind.
An estimated 110 teams competed in the beginner dance twirl divisions, including a younger ShowTwirlers' team that earned a seventh-place finish in the Large Beginner Preteen Dance Twirl Team category.
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This year marked the fourth straight year that the ShowTwirlers competed in team events at the national level, bringing home a first-place victory three out of the four years and top 10 finishes all four years.
In addition to the team success, members of the ShowTwirlers also competed in national solo events while at Notre Dame.
Nearly every team member came home with at least one top 10 finish in an individual event. The results are as follows (with competing age in parentheses):
Haley Aiken (age 9) - first in Beginner Solo, second in Beginner X-Strut and sixth in Beginner 2-Baton.
Shelby Anderson (age 17) - fourth in Intermediate Solo, eighth in 3-Baton and 10th in Intermediate X-Strut,
Sarah Balmforth (age 15) -?seventh in Intermediate Solo.
Gabby Bean (age 10) - 11th in Novice Solo, 11th in Novice Flag and 12th in Novice 2-Baton.
Melanie Boop (age 16) - fifth in Beginner 2-Baton.
Kaylee Campagna (age 10) -?first in Beginner Flag and seventh in Beginner Solo.
Brittany Dancha (age 11) -?second in 3-Baton, eighth in Intermediate 2-Baton, eitghth in Novice X-Strut.
Gabi Dancha (age 14) - seventh in 3-Baton and seventh in Intermediate Duet with Kayla Irvin.
Courtney Detwiler (age 13) - first in Intermediate Solo, second in ShowTwirl, third in Beginner X-Strut, third in Beginner Flag and fourth in Intermediate 2-Baton.
Mackenzie Detwiler (age 11) -?fifth in Beginner Flag and ninth in Intermediate 2-Baton.
Kacie Emeigh (age 13) - first in Beginner Solo, sixth in Intermediate X-Strut, sixth in Beginner Flag and eighth in Beginner 2-Baton. Kacie also qualified to compete in the Miss Majorette of America Beginner Pageant, where she placed
eighth overall in the 13 to 15 age group.
Allison Gasperich (age 16) - sixth in Beginner Solo, 7th in Beginner X-Strut.
Darrian Graham (age 15) - first in Novice Solo, third in Novice X-Strut, eighth in Beginner Flag and ninth in Novice Duet with Shianne Graham.
Shianne Graham (age 11) -?eighth in Beginner Solo, ninth in Novice X-Strut and ninth in Novice Duet with Darrian Graham.
Cristen Heaton (age 15) - second in Novice Solo and fifth in Novice 2-Baton.
Kayla Irvin (age 14) -?first in Beginner X-Strut, second in Beginner Solo, seventh in Intermediate Duet with Gabi Dancha.
Claudia Jo Johnstonbaugh (age 15) -?first in Novice Flag, second in Novice 2-Baton, eighth in Novice X-Strut and eighth in Novice Solo.
Madison Mattas (age 11) -?first in Intermediate Flag, third in Beginner X-Strut, fifth in Beginner Solo, fifth in Intermediate 2-Baton and ninth in Intermediate Duet with Libby Sarra.
Rose McDaid (age 12) - sixth in Novice Solo.
Kaitlyn Millbauer (age 12) - 16th in Beginner Solo.
Shayna Miller (age 9) - fourth in Novice Solo and eighth in Novice 2-Baton.
Bower Sarra (age group 10-12)-first place team member of the year, first place in intermediate duet with Molly Sarra, first in Men's Advanced Military March, second place in Men's Advanced 2-Baton, second place in Men's Advanced 2-Baton Twirl-Off, third place in Men's Advanced Solo, fourth place in the Men's Advanced Solo Twirl-Off, fourth place in the Men's Grand National Solo, fourth place in Intermediate Flag and fifth place in 3-Baton.
Libby Sarra (age 14) - third place in Intermediate Flag, seventh place in Intermediate 2-Baton and ninth place in Intermediate Duet with Madison Mattas.
Molly Sarra (age 8) - first place in Intermediate Flag, fifth place in Beginner Solo, fifth place in Intermediate 2-Baton and eighth.place in Intermediate X-Strut. Molly also qualified to compete in the Miss Majorette of America Beginner Pageant, where she placed eighth overall in the 7 to 9 age group.
The ShowTwirlers are coached by Pam Maierhofer, who is celebrating her 40th year of teaching this year, PJ Maierhofer and Heather Bean.
For more information, visit www.showtwirlers.com.
