ADAMS TWP — The only school jump rope team in Butler County celebrated the culmination of its first year by sending eight jumpers to regional competition in Ohio this month.

Pam Best, gym teacher and jump rope team coach, said Mars School District boasts 24 jumpers on two teams made up of students in grades four, five and six.

Before becoming a competitive activity this school year, the group spent two years performing jump rope moves and techniques as a demonstration team for the American Heart Association.

Eight students on the teams inquired about participating in the Amateur Athletic Union jump rope competition in Richfield, Ohio, and Best made it happen.

The students competed individually at regionals, and two Mars jumpers qualified for the AAU championship competition in Knoxville, Tenn., this summer.

Fourth grader Devin Kohler and third grader Jessica Bender qualified for championships.

Best said she was proud of all her jumpers, as they learned the nuances of jump rope competition, which should make them more competitive next time.

Best said Mars was the only team from Pennsylvania to compete at regionals.

She said competitive jump rope is hugely popular in Ohio, and regionals also showcased jumpers from Indiana, West Virginia and Ontario, Canada.

At regionals, individual jumpers competed in three categories: speed, power and freestyle routine.

Speed was simply how many times the competitor could jump using the jogging step in one minute.

Power saw jumpers doing as many "double unders" as they could in one minute, meaning the rope had to go under the jumpers feet twice before he or she lands.

In freestyle, Best explained, jumpers had 45 to 75 seconds to cover a certain amount of floor space and show a change of speed and center of gravity in a routine of their own creation.

Kohler cleaned up at the competition, bringing home the gold in both freestyle and power.

Best said Kohler would have taken first place in speed as well, but he dropped his rope.

"Even dropping his rope, Devin had 170, and the kid who won had 174," said Best.

Mars has one boy on each of its two teams, and that circumstance repeated itself at regionals.

Devin was one of only two boys in each category in his age group, as boys and girls do not compete against one another.

But Best said Devin is so talented she is sure he could rival any competitor.

"He's Mr. Personality," she said. "He's one of the best jumpers I've ever had. Girls ask for his autograph wherever we go."

While Jessica did not place in the top six in any of the categories, all jumpers who placed in the top 10 are invited to championships.

Jessica competed against more than 20 girls in her age group at regionals.

Best said Jessica's dedication to the sport is amazing, and since regionals, she has stayed after school to practice every chance she gets.

"Her mom said Jessica is on cloud nine (about championships)," said Best. "She's one of only two third graders on the team, and she'll get a lot of experience in Knoxville so she'll be even better in fourth grade."

Best said she held a jump rope clinic at Mars Elementary late last year to demonstrate the skills necessary to make the team, then held tryouts.

She said 51 students tried out, and 24 made the team.

But jumping is not just for competitors at Mars, as all elementary students are invited to join jump rope club.

Best said the 2006-07 Mars club boasted 90 students. The club met two mornings a week in January and February, while the team practices twice a week all school year long.

"It's different from most competitive sports," said Best. "You still have to work together, but it's almost like track, where you compete individually. There's not this fighting over winning and losing and refereeing. It's different."

Best said the demonstration team is booked all year, performing at events and other schools.

She said the team raised $13,700 for the American Heart Association by performing at various events, which included demonstrations at Glade Run Children's Home and the Kids Health Expo at Uniontown Mall.

The team also performed at several school districts, including Seneca Valley, Slippery Rock, North Allegheny, Hampton, Kiski and Highlands.

"We've actually maxed out the number of times we can go out during school," said Best.

Best would like to see more boys compete and said some boys joined the team after watching the movie "Jump In" about a boxer who abandons his sport to join a jump rope team.

Best said jump rope is great for kids because it is a lifetime skill students can continue as adults.

"I just love it," said Best. "It's my passion."

Joni Bender, mother of championship-bound Jessica Bender, said a big part of the team's success comes from Best's enthusiasm.

"She does a great job," said Bender. "Her enthusiasm just pours over from her to these kids."

Jessie said she became interested in the jump rope program as a second grader after seeing the team perform at Mars Primary Center last year.

Jessie began practicing in gym class and discovered she had an affinity for the sport.

Jessie said she spends about an hour a day practicing, whether at school or home or both.

"My favorite thing is just the experience of jumping," said Jessie.

"And it's healthy for you." Jessie also praised Best.

"Miss Best is a great coach because she's fun, but she does push you," said Jessie. "She really wants you to be able to do that trick or that kind of jump."

Jessie's favorite trick is her front cross squat jump, in which the jumping is done in a squatting position and the rope is crossed in front of the jumper on each rotation.

Best gives kudos to her team for their effort at regional competition, and has high hopes for the future.

"I'm proud of all of them for going and trying," said Best. "It's another step we're taking."