Area trio help capture national title
National champions: Members of the Diamonds All-Stars Junior Black cheer team celebrate after winning the Summit National Championship at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World. Anderson County cheerleaders Amelia Goins, Gracelyn Montecalvo and Raelyn Franzmann were part of the championship squad. Other team members include Allie Krueger, Kinzie Bartz, Jillian Probst, Bailynn Williams, Hadley Jones, Amber Daniel, Lenni Bentley, Sophia Self, Loralei Cansler, Lola Uleski, Lily Shoenfeld, Reagan Callison, AJ Hazelip, Charlie Neal, Madilyn Smith, Zoee Letard, Abryahna Kraatz, Kaylor Tilley, Sydney Chute, Rebecca Bailey, Ariana Fayziyev, Genevieve Probst, Reese Wadas, Monroe Smith, Lexi Eilson, Millie Blevins and Emmy Forsythe. The Summit National Championship is one of the nation’s premier competitions for youth all-star cheer teams. (photo:Submitted )
Amelia Goins, Gracelyn Montecalvo and Raelyn Franzmann competed for the Diamonds All-Stars Junior Black team, which captured the Summit National Championship at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World.
Diamonds All-Stars competes year-round, and its teams have claimed multiple championships over the years.
Junior Black added another title by winning one of the sport’s premier events for its age division.
“We had to qualify for the Summit National Championship,” Diamonds All-Stars owner Noel Coley said. “The Summit National Championships are the biggest competition other than the Cheer Worlds, and this group was not old enough to compete in the Cheer Worlds. This was the biggest championship they could’ve won, and this was as far as they could go.”
The championship run was anything but easy.
“I’ve been doing this for 17 years,” Coley said. “This was our 17th season, and this was the hardest-working and most energy-driven team that we’ve ever had. This group of girls worked extremely hard, and they had a drive to succeed.
“I’m extremely proud of these girls,” he said.
“They all worked hard, and this is a premier championship for them.”
The Junior Black roster included Montecalvo, Franzmann, Allie Krueger, Kinzie Bartz, Jillian Probst, Bailynn Williams, Hadley Jones, Amber Daniel, Lenni Bentley, Sophia Self, Loralei Cansler, Lola Uleski, Lily Shoenfeld, Reagan Callison, AJ Hazelip, Charlie Neal, Madilyn Smith, Zoee Letard, Abryahna Kraatz, Kaylor Tilley, Sydney Chute, Rebecca Bailey, Ariana Fayziyev, Genevieve Probst, Reese Wadas, Monroe Smith, Lexi Eilson, Millie Blevins and Emmy Forsythe.
Marah Brown served as the team’s head coach, while Cailin Dugan was the assistant coach.
Brown said the championship was the reward for months of dedication and perseverance.
“They earned every second of this moment,” Brown said. “Every hard practice, every setback, every comeback, every ounce of hard work and determination and their love for each other got us here.
“I am so proud of these girls. They are my heart.”
