Hoover’s junior varsity dance team took first place on Sunday during the USA Nationals in Anaheim.

This is the first time in program history that JV has won nationals in its division and it is also the third national title that the Hoover dance team has captured in the past four years.

“It felt really good winning, knowing that we were the first JV team to win throughout history for Hoover High’s JV pom,” said Amber Romano, a freshman on the JV dance team.

The two-day competition required JV to place top two on the first day in order to advance, which they did, placing first and doing the same thing Sunday.

At finals, Hoover JV was against Capistrano Valley High School.

Both the JV and varsity teams have been competing in weekly dance competitions and showcases since December and have been putting in the hard work and effort required to make it to finals.

The varsity team was also able to make the finals and come home with a medal, as they placed third.

“I am genuinely very, very proud of my team, said Sadie Peters, another freshman on JV. “I have a senior on my team and I wanted to place first for her since it is my first year, and I have more shots but this was her last competition.”

Throughout the school year, the dance team has been preparing for nationals. They spent countless hours practicing their competition pom routine, getting to school at 6:30 a.m. most days, and would perform five separate routines in rotation for school and sporting events.