Teams from the University of Kentucky and Arizona State University will represent the United States at the International Cheer Union World Championship

Bartlett, Tenn., February 14 – USA Cheer has selected the teams that will represent the U.S. National Teams in the Team CHeer Pom, Jazz and Hip Hop divisions at the International Cheer Union (ICU) World Championships in April. The competition will take place at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex on the grounds of the Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida on April 26, 2017.

The ICU is the international governing body for cheer, and is comprised of 110 Member Nations. Their World Championship hosts athletes from around the globe, and in 2016 hosted more than 70 nations. The U.S. National dance teams have taken home 18 gold medals and 4 silver medals in the last 8 years.

The University of Kentucky will represent the U.S. National team in the World Championships Hip Hop and Pom divisions. Over the past three years, The University of Kentucky has placed in the Top 5 in Hip Hop for the past three years at the UDA College Nationals Dance Team Championship, and placed in the Top 4 in Pom this year. Throughout the year, they support the athletic teams at UK football games, men’s and women’s basketball games, and make special appearances on behalf of the university. The team maintains an average GPA of 3.46.

Arizona State University will represent the U.S. National team in the Premier Jazz division. With a long history of being in the top of the rankings at UDA College Nationals Dance Team Championship, ASU has consistently placed in the Top 5 for several years. They also represented the U.S. National team in 2013, and earned a Gold Medal for the United States.

“I am excited to get started and work with these amazing programs. ASU brings so much experience in the Jazz division. They are some of the best technicians in the college team community, and will deliver a powerful performance,” says Stacy Shelton, U.S. National Team Director of Performance Cheer. “The University of Kentucky has an innovative and new take on Hip Hop that I know will wow the judges and crowd at ICU. They will also bring that fun and energetic vibe in their Pom routine.”  

Dawn Walters, the Head Coach for the University of Kentucky is also enthusiastic. “I am so thrilled to have this incredible opportunity to represent our country as the U.S. National Team in both Hip Hop and Pom,” says Dawn. “I am so proud of my kids for their performances at UDA College Nationals last month and thrilled that they get another chance to perform this season on an international level. This is a Coach’s dream!”

This sentiment is echoed by the coach of Arizona State University, April Hoffman.  “I am beyond excited and proud of my team for their hard work leading up to Nationals, and to be selected as part of the U.S. National Team for Jazz is such an honor. I’m grateful to lead them as ambassadors of our country at the International Cheer Union in April.”

More information about USA Cheer and the U.S. National Teams is available at usacheer.org. For more information about USA Cheer, please contact Sheila Noone, media@usacheer.org.

About USA Cheer
The USA Federation for Sport Cheering is a not-for-profit national governing body for all disciplines of cheerleading (including Traditional Cheerleading, STUNT, and Club Cheer/All Star). USA Cheer has three primary objectives: promote safety and safety education for Cheer in the United States; help grow and develop interest and participation in Cheer throughout the United States; and represent the United States of America in international Cheer competitions.