Double Victory

Visit Seattle’s Ballard High School, and you can’t help but notice the championship banners hanging from the gymnasium rafters.

Add two national cheer championships to that mix. The Ballard Cheer team clinched a double victory at the recent USA Spirit Nationals — an annual event that showcases choreography, stunts, and team spirit — held in Anaheim, Calif. The team won both the Game Day (recognized for leading the audience) and Band Chant divisions, marking the first national championships for a squad that has recently dominated state competitions.

“Winning a national championship title is a once in a lifetime achievement. Multiply that by two, and it’s even more unbelievable,” says Amber Torres, program director and head of Ballard cheerleading for the past four years. “Ballard Cheer cannot wait to see our National Championship banner hang in the gym to commemorate this accomplishment.”

The team won state championships from 2017 through 2019. Ballard skipped the state competition this year because it conflicted with USA Spirit Nationals.

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