Jul 21, 2025
Courtesy Photo The Champion Force P.I.A. Division 5.4 team competes at Nationals in Lexington, Kentucky.
Two teams from the Champion Force P.I.A. (Presque Isle/Alpena) Competitive Cheer team participated in the NYAA (National Youth Activities Association) National Competition on July 12 and 13 in Lexington, Kentucky.
The teams earned their bids to Nationals from placements at Champion Force Athletics Michigan state competition in June 2024 and January 2025. Bids were announced in February 2025.
Division 5.4 PIA Legacy competed on Saturday, July 12, earning second place and Hit Zero, which means they had no stunting or tumbling falls.
Division 6 PIA Legends competed on both Saturday, July 12, and Sunday, July 13, earning third place. The scores are tallied by using 75% of their best score and 25% of their lower scored performance.
Attending the competition were teams from Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, New Jersey, Minnesota, Missouri, Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Arizona, California, Kansas, Mississippi and Alabama.
Courtesy Photo The Champion Force P.I.A. Division 6 team competes at Nationals in Lexington, Kentucky.
Teams are score on partner and pyramid stunts, basket tosses, tumbling, jumps, dance and overall performance.
The teams practice at the APlex Event Center. Ann Hirschman has been the head coach since 2002 and Assistant Coach Sierra Eddy was a member of the team from ages 5 to 18 and started coaching after she graduated.
Division 5.4 team members include Olivia Bailey, Farrah Zwolinski, Zoey Guy, Jada Martz, Amiah Curtis, Taytom O’Neal, Jayden Johnson, Adalynn Fournier, Emmalyn Dingess, Aiyanna Ford, and Mikayla Ritthaler.
Division 6 team members include Madilynn Baur, Allison Kellar, Indigo Bauer-Carlson, Aria Wagner, Ariel Worley, Kianna Caraveau, Clorissa Hoeppner, Nevaeh Smith, and Riley Miller.
Coaches are Hirschman, Eddy, and Bella Hill.
Courtesy Photo Division 6 team members, pictured in front, from left, are Madilynn Baur, Allison Kellar, Indigo Bauer-Carlson, and Aria Wagner. In back, from left, are Coach Ann Hirschman, Ariel Worley, Kianna Caraveau, Clorissa Hoeppner, Nevaeh Smith, Riley Miller, Bella Hill, and Coach Sierra Eddy.
A Champion Force P.I.A. Division 4 team is going to a National Competition on July 23 in Cleveland, Coach Hirschman said. The Division 6 team took first place in state competition in June in Grand Rapids.
Courtesy Photo Division 5.4 team members, front row, from left, are Olivia Bailey and Farrah Zwolinski. Middle row, from left, are Zoey Guy and Jada Martz. Back row, from left, are Amiah Curtis, Taytom O’Neal, Jayden Johnson, Adalynn Fournier, Emmalyn Dingess, Aiyanna Ford, Mikayla Ritthaler, Coach Ann Hirschman, Coach Sierra Eddy, and Coach Bella Hill.
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