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 participating in the America's Youth on Parade 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.

“We have 130 students in the school,” Watt said. “We evaluate the girls all the time and see if we can place them on our competive teams.

“We have four teams, covering ages 6-18 — juvenile, pre, junior and senior. Most of the girls climb the ladder that way.”

Casey, who joined Stewart as a senior team co-captain this year, was one of them.

“I began dancing when I was 3, saw the baton twirlers and it looked like fun,” Casey said. “I wanted to give it a try.

“I've made my best friends in the world on that team. It's been a tremendous experience. Our bond is so tight.”

A competitive routine lasts approximately two minutes and 30 seconds. The Young Americans worked on the routine that won one of their national titles for an entire year, practicing one hour each week.

They learned and practiced the routine that claimed the second national crown in just three days.

“That was crazy,” Stewart said. “We were in the gym for hours on those days. We were juggling the routines, work on one, then work on the other.

“I do think our close bond made a difference. The bond of this team was special. We all wanted to win this for each other.”

Stewart's mother was on the 1985 Young Americans team, the first to ever go to nationals.

“My mom always wanted me to get into this,” Stewart said. “It's super weird. When she was in it, they barely had a studio. Now it's a big school.”

Ford is the only graduate from this year's team. She is headed to Elon University in North Carolina on a partial baton scholarship.

“It was never my goal to get one,” Ford said of the scholarship. “I consider it an added bonus.”

Ford also played doubles on the Butler High School girls tennis team and was a two-year captain for the Golden Tornado. Like the majority of her Young American teammates, she was a featured twirler for her high school's band as well.

“The friendships I made with this group will last forever,” Ford said of the Young Americans. “We text each other all the time and it will always be that way.

“All of us ... We're so proud of what we've been able to accomplish.”

The team had to remain in sync throughout both of its championship performances.

“That's a huge part of it,” Casey said.

Team members also did well in solo categories at nationals. Perrucci took first place in three-baton, Casey fourth in two-baton, Jones fourth in fancy strut. Fleeger and Stewart finished second in duet.

“All of these girls put a lot of work in,” Watt said. “We competed in numerous twirling events at local high schools to help get ready for this. We did the regionals in York ... all to get the girls used to performing for an audience.”

Casey and Stewart are leaving the door open to doing more baton events in college, but recognize they may be entering their final season in the sport.

“I'll always stay involved in some way,” Casey said. “Even if I just come back to the school and teach, it will be a part of my life.”

“It depends on where school and my education takes me,” Stewart said. “If this is it for me, it's been so worth it.”