DMC Cheerleaders

DMC Cheer Team Qualifies for First-Ever National Competition

January 22, 2026
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For the first time in school history the Des Moines Christian School Competition Cheer Team will compete at the National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) High School Nationals January 23-25, held in Fort Worth, Texas. Due to forecasted weather conditions, the team is not traveling to Fort Worth but is competing virtually at 3:30PM Friday, January 23 in the DMC gymnasium. 

DMC Head Competition Cheer Coach Sarah Rabinowitz said the team has 17 state titles and moved up to the 3A division in the 24/25 school year. She said, “I felt it was important to challenge the athletes further so their success would truly reflect their growth and effort. We’ve now won the 3A division two years in a row. With nearly half of our roster graduating in 2026, this felt like the right moment to pursue an experience at Nationals for this group of athletes to showcase the team’s skill on a larger stage and extend a very successful season.”

The DMC cheer team attended a designated NCA camp and then earned third place in the Intermediate Varsity Performance division, which qualified the team for Nationals.  

Senior Lucy Durick says this accomplishment is not just for the team, but for the program and school. “Our team of girls is very special because we are all close friends in and outside of practice and we work really well under pressure. Our routine is different from others performing in our division because we added a ‘surprise’ pyramid at the end of the routine, in addition to the one required pyramid. Our team also has many high-level tumblers, which pushes our difficulty on the score sheet to the maximum of 4. For the seniors, it is very exciting to lead the team and school into a first-ever national competition.” 

Competition Cheer Members: Kalaya Bennett ('26), Addison Beukema ('26), Ava DeGan ('26), Abigail Dunn ('28), Lucy Durick ('26), Kamdyn Ferrell ('27), Amelia Fjellman ('26), Lauren Herman ('29), Caydence Justice ('26), Meredith Keenan ('27), Anna Phillips ('26), Lucy Rediger ('27), Lindsay Rosel ('27), Olivia Simpson ('28), Elise VandeGriend ('27), Anastasia Wood ('29)

Coaches: Head Competition Cheer Coach Sarah Rabinowitz; Assistant Competition Cheer Coach Emily Laska; High School Spirit Football and Basketball Cheer Coach Courtney Robyn