Chuck Chartrey and his collection of all-stars have plenty to cheer about this season.

Chartrey’s first-year lineup of youngsters captured their share of trophy hardware in regional meets held throughout the competitive cheer season.

For the Kent couple, it has been a promising and rewarding start to their two-squad Northwest XTreme Cheer All-Stars, a growing nonprofit program based out of David Hart’s gymnastics center in north Auburn.

“It’s been a great building year,” said Chartrey, who coaches the boys and girls along with his wife, Charmaine, assistant Joe McCann and other volunteers. “We began with a lot of new faces who have never seen cheerleading, and some have been in it through Pop Warner. We are giving them the opportunity to cheer, including those who wouldn’t have that chance otherwise.

“We grew as a team,” he added. “By going to (a four-day) camp down in Corvallis (Ore.), we learned a lot of new stunts, and really bonded as a team.”

From there, the Northwest XTreme Cheer All-Stars took off, placing among the top three in area meets.

The breakthrough came at the Sequoia Invitational in Covington. The Northwest XTreme’s youth group (ages 6-11) narrowly took home its first win, while the juniors (11-14) finished second against a higher-caliber team.

“To have them work so hard, go out and step onto the floor and come up with a first-place trophy was a highlight,” said Chartray, who has been involved in gymnastics and cheerleading for more than 12 years.

Northwest X-treme competed at a two-day international competition last week in Bellevue.

The season concludes with a three-day competition in Portland on March 13, followed by an all-star state meet in Tacoma on March 20.

The Chartreys came to Auburn with an extensive background. Chuck Chartrey was a member and coach of several national champion competitive cheer teams, including the University of Oregon cheerleading squad.

In addition to previously running her own gymnastics program in Oregon, Charmaine Chartrey participated and coached several competitive cheer squads.

With a solid first season behind them, the Chartreys are looking to expand the roster and opportunities. The first full season brought 40 girls and two squads. They hope to expand the coming season to four teams and 60 girls.

Northwest XTreme intends to add a senior Level IV tumbling team for ages 14-17, along with a showcase college open team for those more advanced.

“Everything is taking off. We have a lot of interest,” Chuck Chartrey said.

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For more information about Northwest XTreme Cheer All-Stars tryouts, clinics and other program information, please visit www.xtremecheerct.net.