The KZ Cheer West Maui Starz compete at the Jamz National Championships on Feb. 18 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

LAHAINA — Three teams from KZ Cheer placed in the top three in the Jamz National Championships held on Feb 18 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“Ten little girls from Lahaina did what no other five- to seven-year-old All-Star Cheerleader on Maui has ever done before! The Tiny Prep Team, KZ Cheer West Maui Starz, became National Champions,” coach Sue Martin noted.

In addition, the West Maui Sweethearts placed second in the Youth Prep Level 1.1 Division, and the West Maui Queenz placed third in the Junior 2.2 Division.

It was a very successful debut from KZ Cheer, with 31 girls representing Maui and Lahaina against tough competition from teams across the country.

Lahaina-based Kid Zone Maui created a new All-Star Cheer Program called KZ Cheer. It’s coached by Martin, Summer Inman and Danielle Milanio, and managed by Heidi Allado.

KZ began its recreational program in January 2022. After a presentation in May 2022, coaches decided it would be a wonderful opportunity to train the girls to enter one competition in the 2023 season.

“Our goal was to compete on Oahu at a fun competition called the Aloha Spirit Championships. We recruited the girls and informed the families that we just wanted to go over to Oahu, just a puddle hop, to perform on stage for their first effort,” said Martin, director of KZ Cheer.

Three teams were selected: a Tiny Team 1.1 of five- to seven-year-olds, a Youth 1.1 Team (ages 6-12) and then a Junior 2.2 higher level team.

“Several things then happened that totally changed the direction of things,” Martin explained.

After only training for six weeks, a fire in the adjoining unit on Sept. 12, 2022 closed Kid Zone Maui down, because the Kupuohi Street facility needed to undergo extensive repairs to rectify smoke damage within the walls. The girls now had no facility to train in.

The kids and families still wanted to travel, so training continued outside on the grass.

Then, a month later on Oct. 13, 2022, organizers of the Aloha Spirit competition sent an e-mail cancelling the event.

According to Martin, “The coaches, families and team members were devastated at the thought of giving up, so it was decided that the girls should enter a Mainland competition. Coaches presented the idea of competing in Vegas at the Jamz Nationals on the ‘Ninth Island!’ Surprisingly, families were open to it, training continued and aggressive fundraising followed. The unexpected extra travel expenses was not going to ruin the hard work of the team. The community rallied, and aggressive fundraising support poured in.”

The children sold brownies and raised $7,000. A silent online auction generated $15,000, because local businesses saw in their hearts the need to support these kids in their battle to finish their season.

The final push was $4,000 that Resort Rentals Maui donated that covered the entry fee for all members on the all-star team.

“The village’s outpouring of support kept the dream alive for these families to afford the trip and kept the spirit strong for KZ Cheer to push forward into the national-level competition,” she added. This year, after three months of training on grass, the KZ gym was finally ready to let the girls practice indoors in their final efforts to prepare for competition.

“Saturday, Feb. 18th, 2023, the Tiny Team West Maui Starz hit the stage at 7:12 a.m. Their performance was spectacular — even with a music malfunction, they dominated the stage and clinched the title of National Champions out of six teams from across the country. Coaches, parents, teammates and friends cheered the girls on. They literally set the stage for teammates to follow,” Martin explained.

“The Youth West Maui Sweetheartz performed an hour later — and with brilliance — and went on to clinch second place… and the final team at a high level, the Juniors West Maui Queenz, got third.

“Victory through adversity! KZ Cheer team and families acknowledge with gratitude the help and support they received from the community and from businesses. This was truly an amazing group effort.”

The Tiny Team Starz includes Sophia Castaneto, Jori Saribay, Tayenna Curimao, Evie Loughran, Kirra Pico, Avianna Luben, Juliet Farinas, Kylee Beneliezer, Daydree Duque and Ryleigh McDonald.

The Youth Team Sweetheartz squad is made up of Juliet Farinas, Kailah Allado-Guzman, Konalia Pascua, Marjorie Carillo, Chloe Willard, Kolea Ortiz Alboro, Alexa Perminova, McKensy Haia, Mischa Masslon, Leona Mouery, Melina Cabrera, Olivia McNeil, Eavan Dunning-Zeches, Gwen Cappello, Sharena Allado, Emi Perminova, Ka’iulani Balinbin, Anuhea Gonzales and Nohealani Soldwisch-Park.

Junior Team Queenz members include Chloe Willard, Carsen Pico, Eavan Dunning-Zeches, Ka’iulani Balinbin, Avianna Luben, Leona Mouery, Kolea Ortiz Alboro, Mischa Masslon, Sharena Allado, Kalea Markulis, Emma Patao, Anuhea Gonzales, Kailah Allado-Guzman and Olivia McNeil.