The Belchertown Twirlers recently competed at the National Championships for the United States Twirling Association (USTA) and the National Baton Twirling Association (NBTA).

Delaney Ochs competed at the USTA National Championships in Fairborn, Ohio from July 10-12. Ochs competed with elite twirlers in advanced skill divisions. She won sixth place in Advanced 2 Baton, eighth place in Advanced Artistic Twirl and 10th place in Advanced Solo. All of the routines are individual solo events.

Ochs then traveled from Ohio to South Bend, Ind. to compete in the NBTA Championships held July 14-19 at the University of Notre Dame with her teammates. The Belchertown Twirlers competed in the week-long championships with over 1,200 twirling athletes. Team and individual competitions are held each day. Events are judged on the variety and difficulty of tricks within routines, the speed used to execute tricks and the showmanship and presentation on the competition floor.

The Belchertown Twirlers were the national winners in the Beginner Primary Small Twirl Team Division. The team competed in several additional team events and was awarded second place in Advanced Small Primary Halftime, fifth place in Advanced Small Youth Halftime, sixth place in Beginner Primary Small Dance Twirl and seventh place in Beginner Youth Small Twirl Team. Members of the winning teams were Everly LaVallee, Quinn LaVallee, Emelia Maldanis, Evelyn Maldanis, Delaney Ochs and Mya Weise. This was the first year for some of the team members, who range from 6-12 years old, to compete at the national level.

The Twirlers continued after team wins to compete in individual solo events. Ochs competed in individual events in all advanced divisions, which is the highest level of competition, and came away with seventh place in Advanced Solo and 10th place in Advanced 2 Baton. She won the Pre-Teen Miss Majorette of the Northeast and represented the Northeast in the Miss Majorette of America Pageant.

Emelia Maldanis took first in the Intermediate 2 Baton Division. She also competed in advanced solo, the highest level of competition, and came away with sixth place as well as 10th place in Beginner Strut. Emelia Maldains is the Pre-Teen Miss Majorette of Massachusetts Royalty and she represented Massachusetts in the Miss Majorette of America Pageant.

Quinn LaVallee competed for her first time and had many top 10 placements. Quinn LaVallee was awarded fourth in Novice Strut, seventh in Show Twirl, and ninth in Novice 2 Baton and ninth in Team Member of the Year. Quinn LaVallee represented the Northeast in the Beginner Juvenile Pageant.

Everly LaVallee, also a first time national competitor, grabbed seventh in Novice Strut and eighth in Show Twirl. She was awarded the Beginner Tiny Tot Northeast Pageant Winner and represented the Northeast in the Beginner Tiny Tot Pageant.

Evelyn Maldanis took home seventh place in Show Twirl and eighth place in Novice Strut. Mya Weise also competed in her first nationals competition and placed 11th in Novice 2 Baton and 14th place in Novice Solo.

The Belchertown Twirlers also competed in duet competition. Emelia Maldanis and Ochs competed in the Advanced Division and won seventh place for their winning duet. Ochs and Mya Weise finished in eighth place in Intermediate Duet, Quinn LaValle and Evelyn Maldanis took fifth in Beginner Duet and Everly LaVallee and Quinn LaVallee turned in a seventh place finish in Novice Duet.

Kristi Ochs is the proud primary coach of the Belchertown Twirlers, and is assisted by Cate Senecal, Brittani Ladd and Megan Senecal. The nationals-winning Belchertown Twirlers offer fall classes and can be joined through the Belchertown Rec Department.