Members of the two-time national champion Young Americans dance-baton twirling team, based out of Saxonburg, include, from left, front, Kayla Travis, Bethany Jones, Libby Casey and Lurena Stewart; back, Haleigh Perrucci, Kendall Vettori, Jill Ford, Kyleigh Fleeger and Frankie Ansell.

SAXONBURG — Shooting for one national championship wasn't enough for the Young Americans dance and baton twirling team.

It decided to go for two.

And got them.

The nine-member senior team — out of Gwen's School of Champions by Natalie in Saxonburg — won the small beginner senior dance twirl and large beginner senior dance twirl national titles recently at the University of Notre Dame.

The Young Americans were competing in the America's Youth on Pasrade competition, put on by the National Baton Twirling Association. Teams were there from all over the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

“There were 22 teams in our division and to win two championships at the same competition is something this program has never done,” Young Americans coach Natalie Watt said.

The Young Americans have now won seven national titles in their history. Watt was a member of the organization's first two national championship teams in 2004 and 2007.

Other title years were 2009, 2011 and 2013.

Team members are Butler graduate Jill Ford, Knoch seniors Libby Casey, Frankie Ansell and Kendall Vettori, Knoch junior Kayla Travis, Freeport senior Lurena Stewart, Karns City senior Kyleigh Fleeger, Evangel Heights senior Bethany Jones and Hampton senior Haleigh Perrucci.

Read the full story in Thursday's Butler Eagle.