BUTLER TWP — Summer time is down time for Butler High School’s competitive cheer program.

“We only practice two days a week. It’s much more laid back than when school is in session,” senior Anna Munko said.

Except for last week.

Butler’s cheerleaders attended the week-long Universal Cheerleading Association (UCA) Camp at Trails End in The Poconos. They were among approximately 25 teams at the camp learning a song and dance routine taught by members of the UCA staff.

After three days, cheerleaders are invited to try out for UCA All-American, a process that involves performing that song and dance routine in front of the entire gathering.

“We’re talking about 500 to 600 people overall, including coaches, cheerleaders from other schools and UCA staff,” Golden Tornado senior Madison Varner said. “It’s definitely putting yourself out there.”

Yet Munko, Varner and Matt Davis — the only seniors on Butler’s 2022-23 squad — did exactly that.

All three tried out and all three received All-American status. They received medals, pins, invitations to perform in parades in Hawaii and London, and the opportunity to become UCA staff members down the road.

Davis will not be pursuing the latter. The second-year cheerleader has plenty on his plate right now. Besides cheering, he is a sprinter and jumper on the track and field team, competes on five different ROTC military teams and is a member of seven different orchestras.

He is planning to train to become a Navy SEAL after high school.

“I was on the field at a football game with ROTC when I noticed the cheerleaders performing,” Davis said. “It looked interesting, so I decided to give it a try. Some of the practices conflict time-wise with ROTC, but ROTC has been very cooperative in allowing me to do both.

“I didn’t hesitate to try out for All-American (last week). I saw it as an opportunity. I didn’t know what to expect or how it would go, but at least I was going to try so I wouldn’t have to wonder what it might have been like later.”

To the contrary, Munko admitted she didn’t decide to try out for All-American until 10 minutes before the actual event.

“I was nervous. I wasn’t confident,” Munko said. “My coaches talked me into it. It’s a big step, going out there in front of everybody trying to perform something you just learned. Looking back, I’m glad I did it.

“I proved something to myself.”

First-year Butler cheer coach Kristin Karam — an assistant coach under Marianne Miller the previous five years and a former Tornado cheerleader herself — said Butler only allows seniors to tryout for UCA All-American.

“It’s a reward for their hard work in the program and by showing the courage to put themselves out there, it’s an important step toward becoming a leader,” Karam said. “These three are great leaders, great people and very talented cheerleaders.”

A 2010 Butler graduate, Karam was on a Butler team that placed fifth at UCA Nationals.

Davis had to perform a coed stunt during UCA tryouts while Munko and Varner did the dance routine. The latter two performed together and have been in the Butler cheer program since seventh grade.

“We had to do individual jumps, but besides that, we could do the routine together,” Varner said. “That helped, being out there at the same time.

“We want to be more bonded as a team this year, work together more. Our skills are at the point where we should be able to win.”

Butler has narrowly missed winning the PIAA Spirit Championship in recent years and Munko said that winning the state title “is definitely a goal.”

Karam said similar criteria is used in determining UCA All-Americans that is used at team competitions.

“They look at sharpness, voices, physical fitness, athleticism, things like that,” the coach said. “It’s a good way to get ready for the season.

“It’s important that our seniors give this a shot. We encourage them all to try out each year. We’re preparing these kids to succeed at life, not just cheerleading. Even ones who don’t make All-American, they use the experience to better themselves.”