Many cheerleaders dream of competing at a national competition and winning the top spot, but can’t fathom doing it twice. That is exactly what 30 youth cheerleaders did last month. Not one, but two Medway/Millis Youth cheerleading teams beat out teams from all over the country to earn the top spot as American Youth Cheer National Champions of their divisions, once in 2019 and again on Dec. 12, 2021. 

The two youth teams, 12U (5th and 6th graders) and 14U (7th and 8th graders) are students from the towns of Medway and Millis.  

Each year, over 200 Cheer, Dance and Step squads, across all American Youth Cheer divisions, compete for a National Championship Title in Kissimmee, Florida, home to Universal Studios and Disney World. 

American Youth Cheer has eight regions, including Desert Pacific, Mountain Northwest, Midwest, Southwest, Big East, Atlantic, New England, and Southeast. Each regional competition is the qualifier for the National Championships. The top three teams in each division advance to compete for a national championship. That is exactly what these two teams did in 2019 and again this year, the Saturday before Thanksgiving. While unable to compete in 2020 during the pandemic lockdown, these athletes continued working on their stunting and tumbling skills.

Aileen Green, Medway/Millis Youth Football & Cheer President shares, “When we kicked off the season this August and I saw many of our cheerleaders back with smiles and faces full of determination, I knew the road to Nationals in Florida to defend the 2019 National titles was a very strong possibility, and as the season went on and they honed their skills as a team, it was a no brainer to me. The cheer excitement in our towns hasn’t stopped since they came back from the regional competition. The cheerleaders and their parents fundraised to send all 30 of them, and their coaches, to Florida. We are so thankful to all the businesses and individuals that supported them and in turn, we were able to support them as well by signage on two Medway Christmas parade floats and sponsor t-shirts the athletes wore at Nationals.”

The heart of these two teams is passionate Program Cheer Coordinator and Coach, Kayla Ober, longtime Medway resident and former Captain of the Medway High School Cheer team. She and our coaches have given these athletes cheerleading skills as well as life skills and confidence that when you believe in yourself and do the hard work that needs to be done, anything is possible.

The Medway/Millis Youth Flag, Tackle Football & Cheer non-profit program serves Medway and Millis youths, which cheer for grades K-8 and the tackle football for grades 2-8. For more information, visit www.medwaycolts.com