The Williamsport YMCA Twisters is an all-star cheerleading squad that has been practicing, competing and winning as a team for the past 10 years.
"Our motto is we practice as a team, compete as a force, win as a family," said Deena Cooper, Twisters coach. "I basically think we are a highly competitive family!"
Cooper said that hundreds of kids and parents have been involved over the seasons. The Twisters have three teams within the organization, divided by age: a mini team for ages 5 to 8, a junior team for ages 9 to 14 and a senior team for ages 10 to 18.
"When we started this program 10 years ago, we started with three girls, an old wrestling mat and an idea that we could make a difference with not only cheerleading as a sport, but in children's lives," Cooper said.
According to Cooper, a lot of the girls in the program have gone on to college and became teachers, day care workers, social workers and more.
Tesa Johns, 17, of Montoursville, has been a Twister for six years and helps coach the mini team. Johns said that being a Twister has taught her leadership and opened her up to a lot of different people.
"I think as a program, we have helped these girls realize there is more to life, to go after your dreams, do well in school, become somebody and help others on your way," Cooper said.
The world of an all-star cheerleader isn't cheap, Cooper said. The Twisters do a lot of fundraising to help offset the gym, competition and uniform fees. They also look for sponsors to aid with costs.
"As a business, they would be helping out young people striving for their dreams," Cooper said. "These dreams have a direct effect on the future of our society."
According to Cooper, the summer practices are to condition and get the cheerleaders ready. This is when they are taught solid, safe and fun skills, work on tumbling and practice stunts. The fall practices are to teach each team their routines. Then in December and January, the Twisters start competing.
"In the summer, we practice one to two times a week and in the fall we practice two or three times a week," Cooper said. "But no weekend practices during the summer - they are kids!"
The Twisters compete all over the Northeast on a local and national level. Cooper said that the competition season runs from December to May. Each team will compete in about eight to 10 competitions per season.
Cooper said that competitions are the most fun. The cheerleaders travel all over the Northeast to places such as Philadelphia, Baltimore and Virginia Beach. They get a chance to meet boys and girls from all over the country.
"The last 10 years have been amazing!" Cooper said. "Our program awards increase every year."
The Twisters have hundreds of trophies and banners. They have won seven national titles, a few grand-level champions, more than 10 Keystone State titles, choreography awards, parent participation awards, and some individual and stunt group awards.
"It brings out the best in everyone," said Arlina Fowlkes-Darpino, 16, of Williamsport, a fifth-year Twister.
During the season, the Twisters went to the U.S. finals in Virginia Beach where the junior team received seventh place and the senior team came in sixth. There are four U.S. finals all over the country. The judges take all scores and video and rank everyone in the country who competed at the U.S. finals. Overall, the junior team was ranked eighth in the country and the senior team was ranked ninth.
"Over 1,000 teams competed and to have both teams in the top 10 is a great accomplishment!" Cooper said.
Aside from competing and growing as a team, the Twisters have plans of starting a hip-hop team in the fall.
"Twisters is a family first and foremost," Cooper said. "We love to be successful like any other all star team, but we pride ourselves in being more."
The tryouts for this season are from 10 to 11 a.m. for ages 8 and younger, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. for ages 9 to 14 and from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. for ages 15 to 18 on June 6. Tryouts also will be held at 6 p.m. June 8 for all ages who could not attend June 6 tryouts. A parent meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. June 8. Cheerleaders must be 5 to 18 years old before Aug. 31.
More information about the Twisters may be found at www.geocities. com/williamsporttwisters/ or e-mail twistercoach@ hotmail.com.
