January 04, 2025
State | Northwest Herald
State

Twins seniors celebrate state titles for Belvidere North High School

By ADAM KRADLE
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In this Feb. 6, 2017 photo, twins Jordyn Lutzow, left, and Jenna Lutzow show off their state championship medals at Belvidere North High School in Belvidere, Ill. Jordyn was a champion in competitive cheer and Jenna in cross country this school year. (Arturo Fernandez/Rockford Register Star via AP) (Arturo Fernandez)

BELVIDERE – There’s no sibling rivalry between twin sisters Jenna and Jordyn Lutzow. But before Belvidere North’s coed cheerleading team captured the IHSA state championship last month, only one could call herself a state champion.

“It was such an emotional experience for me,” said Jenna, who won the individual state title and team title with North in cross country last fall. “Right after they performed – we didn’t even know if they won yet – I was already bawling, and it was mainly just wanting her to excel at her own thing. It’s finally her time, and my time to step down and be a true supporter for her. It’s a wonderful experience.”

Jordyn is one of 13 seniors on the Blue Thunder cheerleading squad, which took first place by a margin of 3.66 points after scoring 93.29 with their final routine.

And not only did she help bring home North’s fifth state championship trophy in school history, but she earned a medal to match her sister’s.

“It’s like a dream come true,” Jordyn said. “I never would’ve expected this. I know how amazing she is, and she just motivates me to be the best I can be. I honestly can’t believe it happened.”

Jenna still has a chance to garner some more accolades in the spring with Belvidere North’s girls track team. She finished second in the state in the 800-meter run as a junior. But together, the Lutzows already have made school history.

“That’s the only set of twins I know that have had that experience,” Belvidere North athletic director Jody Flynn said. “It couldn’t happen to two better individuals. It’s nice that they’re both able to share that experience their senior year.”

And it’s been an experience that neither Jenna nor Jordyn could imagine having alone.

“Knowing I have this person there with me who’s been there with me through everything and knows how to calm me down and push me to be the best, I love having her there, and I don’t know what I’d do without her,” Jordyn said.

“Being a twin, it’s literally another half of you, so there’s just this bond there,” Jenna said. “It’s hard to describe to people, but it’s just there. It connects us even more, and this is another thing that will connect us forever.”