Photo by RT Productions: Black Diamonds, a United All-Star competitive cheer team based in Fort Dodge, won its second consecutive world championship earlier this month in Orlando, Fla.

ORLANDO, Fla. — The only step above winning an All-Star World Championship on the competitive cheer scene is repeating the feat one year later.

Black Diamonds, an international co-ed Level 5 squad based out of the United All-Stars camp in Fort Dodge, did just that. The local team defended its world title at the Orange County Convention Center earlier this month.

A total of 15 athletes — 13 from the Iowa Central Community College cheer program and two Fort Dodge Senior High students — worked tirelessly for months to prepare their routine, then scored a United All-Stars best 98 out of 100 in the final round to defeat teams from New Jersey and Canada.

“This was a ‘dream team,'” said UAS owner Mindy DeBaun, who joined head coach Jacey DeBaun and assistants Jenna Cox and Jake Michaelis on the sidelines. “Their talent was unstoppable, and their passion for cheer showed every day.

“They are hard working, great humans who we have enjoyed coaching throughout the year. We (qualified for worlds) for the first time last year and won this division, which was super exciting. They set a goal to go back-to-back and do it again.”

Black Diamonds earned a bid to the prestigious competition alongside another UAS squad, Pink Onyx. Three other local teams — Senior Stones, Junior Jade and Obsidian — also advanced with at-large invitations.

Tritons in the Black Diamonds group were returnees Seth Hofer, Sam Opfer, Hayden Heatley, Carl Bacheldor, Diamond Hagan, Rylee Yant, Kenzie Whiting and Laila Taylor. They were joined by newcomers Dominic Mulato, Sam Downing, Emma Bocanera, Torrence Hicks and Hannah Duskie.

Ava Sortedahl is a senior at FDSH who was with last season’s group; Paisley Mundie is a freshman first-timer.

“We have (in-state) kids from Fort Dodge, Cedar Rapids, Mason City, Des Moines, Independence and Iowa City, as well as Illinois, Arkansas, California and Missouri,” DeBaun said. “One special memory for me personally was watching my daughter, Jacey, coach her niece, Paisley, and seeing the two win a huge event together.”

The routine for Black Diamonds consisted of high-level stunts, jumps, high-level tumbling and dance. They are judged on a two-minute, 30-second performance.

“Several of our athletes were on the team last year,” DeBaun said. “They came together in late August when the college athletes arrived, and from there, the work began.

“They practiced two or three times per week, and attended seven competitions, where they earned their bid.”

Black Diamonds also secured multiple sportsmanship awards throughout the year.