Denali All-Stars capture grand champion award

On Nov. 9, the Denali All Stars proved the Valley grows more than just big cabbages.

Twisting, dancing and tumbling through the air with precision, agility and athletic skill, the Denali All Stars performance cheerleading squad recently captured grand champion status at the Alaska statewide spirit competition in Anchorage.

The annual event features the talents of hundreds of Alaska's finest junior and senior high school cheerleaders. From around the state, these kids captivate and dazzle crowds with their skill and talent.

The Valley's Denali All Stars elevated the standards with their award-winning performance proving cheerleading is not window dressing for other sports, it's a show. Part of the crowd might be at a game for the game. The rest of us go to watch the halftime show.

The 17-member squad is made up of students from Houston, Wasilla, Palmer, Colony and Chugach and represent Denali Gymnastic Academy's newest program. The cheer programs, developed and coached by the family team of Sandy and Leon Reynolds with help from Lynn Reynolds and Lana Rodriguez, was launched late last May.

"To win grand champion their first year?" asked Holly Prevo, vice president of the Alaska State Spirit Coaches Association, sponsor of the annual statewide competition. "Well, it's just amazing. We never expected it."

Their win was such a surprise, the association, although aware the team would be competing, did not prepare by updating their rules to deal with the possibility the Valley team could take top honors.

"Their program has only been in existence for five months," said Spirit Coaches Association board member Robin Eleazer. "We knew Sandy and Leon were good, but we had no idea what they could do. The performance by this team really was amazing."

Because of the surprising win, the team, after taking first in their division, was passed over during the judging of the best all-around squad.

"As a board, we talked about all-star squads and high school squads being in different divisions," said Eleazer. "But we didn't address the all-around category. We should have. As a result the Denali All Stars were not included in that award."

When the competition ended and Leon Reynolds realized their squad earned the highest score, yet did not receive the trophy, he filed a protest.

"We recognized that he had a valid point and it was our error for not addressing, in writing, the possibility they might win," said Eleazer. "That will be corrected next year.

"These kids worked hard and deserved this award," she said. "But we didn't want to take anything away from the students at Bartlett High, the high school team that received first. So we felt the Denali All Stars should be awarded grand champion."

The team was presented a beautiful, grand champion award and the recognition that this squad has a bright future.

"We're definitely looking for this program to grow," said Sandy Reynolds. "In fact, we recently held tryouts and now have a squad of 26 members. These kids still have lots to work on. We also want to develop younger teams. We plan to hold tryouts for a younger, Shooting Stars, squad in May."

And Leon Reynolds said he hopes that's just the beginning. "Our goal is to build several teams at several different age levels in the future. We already have a lot of interest in the program, and we hope to satisfy that interest the best we can."

Despite the many hours of hard work, hundreds of pushups, situps, handsprings, back tucks and toe touches he makes them do, these kids keep coming back for more.

"As tough as it is, I like to come to practice," said Tiffany Lebahn, a freshman at Colony High School and member of the award winning team. "I get so much out of it that when I don't come, I really miss it. Our coaches are so supportive and dedicated. They make us believe we can do anything."

Lebahn and her teammates say what they gain goes way beyond trophies and performing to a cheering crowd. They talk about unity and ethics. Values and hard work. Friendship and respect.

"It's not just cheerleading," said Wasilla High Senior, Lisa Pontius. "We're like a family. Sandy is our 'mom.' And Leon will say things like, if you're wearing bagging pants or your stomach shows or something, 'that's not appropriate.' So they are teaching us to be good role models too."

According to Leon Reynolds, it's what he calls teaching the basics. "As a coach, it's our job to instill the principals and ethics that have proven successful. Like good values. And if you work hard, you will be successful. We build on those lessons and successes every day. I never ask them to do anything that they are not ready to do."

Julia Paddon, another Wasilla senior agreed.

"Our coaches have helped us so much. They've shaped us to become strong mentally, physically and to build our confidence. If Leon says, you can do something, even if you don't think you can, you can. He's like magic."

One of the biggest surprises squad members have found is the unity they feel toward each other. Before joining the All Stars they were former cross-town rivals.

"We we're all like, enemies before because our school teams played against each other," said Kristen Fox, a Colony junior. "And at first I wondered if this could work. But now, we all get along so well. It doesn't matter what school you go to, we've discovered, we're really all so much alike."

Sandy and Leon Reynolds said that unity is an important goal for their teams and the community.

"We are building a performance team that cheers for all the Valley schools," said Sandy Reynolds. "We celebrate active, involved youth in sports. We focus on education and building strong, educated adults. And delivering a positive message. We encourage our athletes to cheer on their school teams. And most of them do."

A college education is a priority for many of these students. Over the years, cheerleading has spawned a billion dollar industry that provides training and free college educations to hundreds of qualified students every year. These kids see their time at Denali Gymnastics Academy as an investment in their future. And so do their parents.

"With the need for a college education so critical, and the cost growing more exorbitant every year," said cheer mom Nan Snellburg.

"I see this program as an investment in my daughter's future. Sandy and Leon do an amazing job with these kids in helping them achieve success," she said.

"Leon helps us every step of the way," said Fox. "From making videos so we can see what we need to improve on to helping us with college applications, he's always there for us. He goes way beyond what other coaches I've had were willing to do."

But Leon Reynolds loves it and wouldn't want to give less than all he can.

"Helping these kids is a huge reward. When I see them achieve a skill they didn't realize they could do, the accomplishment in their eyes, that's worth a hundred trophies to me."

"We're really proud of them," said Leon. "They've proven, if you work hard you'll be successful. We don't need an award to confirm that. Trophies don't mean success. But it sure is nice when someone else recognizes that success."