Miss MidState Teen Emily Fancher receives her crown from former Miss MidState Bryn Patton (back left) and former Miss Greater Juniata Valley Finley Miller.

LEWISTOWN — When something good happens in sports, the natural human reaction is to celebrate.

Many athletes like to shake it and show off their dance moves. Over the years, there have been many celebratory dances: Deion Sanders’ “Prime Time” during his 16 years in the NFL, the Atlanta Falcons’ “Dirty Bird” of the 1990s and lest we forget the Chicago Bears’ Super Bowl Shuffle from 1985.

Madelyn Rowan joined that list on Saturday afternoon by putting her best foot forward during the talent portion of the Miss Central Pennsylvania Scholarship Competition. Perhaps it was a foreboding sign of things to come.

The 21-year-old contestant, a 2025 graduate of West Chester University, performed a competitive Irish step dancing to the song “Victory.”

Rowan was one of six contestants to earn crowns on the Mifflin County Middle School stage as she will begin her year-long reign as Miss Central Pennsylvania. Outgoing Miss Central Pennsylvania Abby Traxler, who finished as the runner-up for Miss Pennsylvania, crowned Rowan during coronation ceremonies.

Also crowned were Annie Reig as Miss Greater Juniata Valley, Hannah Fox as Miss MidState and Camryn Sacco as Miss Freedom Forge.

“It was really a tough competition,” Miss Central Pennsylvania Scholarship Organization Executive Director Lisa Metzger said. “The new titleholders should really be proud of their performance.

“I am really excited to work with all six titleholders,” Metzger added.

Rowan finished with the top interview score, while Fox won top talent. A total of 13 contestants participated in this year’s competition. Rowan’s community service initiative was “The Loosen the Leash Project,” ending animal abuse in America.

In the teen division, Sterling Busza was named Miss Central Pennsylvania Teen and Emily Fancher won the title of Miss MidState Teen.

“My current title holders really stepped up and kept things moving,” Metzger added. “To make the competition run smoothly.”

All six title holders advance to the Miss Pennsylvania and Miss Pennsylvania’s Teen Scholarship competitions to be held at the Appell Center for the Performing Arts in York in June.

The current Miss Pennsylvania is Page Weinstein, of Pittsburgh, while former Miss Central Pennsylvania Miranda Moore was the winner in 2023.

Since 2012, five titleholders from the Miss Central Pennsylvania competition have gone on to win Miss Pennsylvania.