Athletes from the University of Tennessee Pom Team will represent USA in the
US National Team Cheer Freestyle Pom Division
Sacramento, California, February 18, 2020 – USA Cheer has announced the coaching staff and regional area that will represent the United States in the US National Team Cheer Freestyle Pom division at the 2020 International Cheer Union (ICU) World Cheerleading Championships, which takes place April 27 – 29, 2020 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at the Walt Disney World® Resorts.
The University of Tennessee Dance Team is coached by Kelley Tafazzoli, who herself was a four-year member of the UT Dance Team and joined the coaching staff in 2006. She coached the team to UDA National Championships in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2015, 2016 and 2020. The UT Dance Team has been featured on Monday Night Football, music videos and at the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Dubai. Tafazzoli, who was nominated by the National Dance Coaches Association, is married to Matt Tafazzoli and the mother of Shea and Cole.
“We are beyond excited for the opportunity to compete on behalf of the US at 2020 ICU World Championship,” says Tafazzoli. “As a university, we are thrilled to showcase a coast-to-coast representation of the USA, with 9 represented out of our team of 22. As a coach, I am overjoyed to see the pride, fight, and work carry over to an international platform. Go USA!”
Among the states represented by members of the UT Dance Team that will be a part of the US National Team are California, Colorado, Kentucky, Virginia, New York, New Jersey, Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee.
“The University of Tennessee dance team members have always embodied strength, determination, and humility,” says Cristin Lewis, Assistant Coach, who is also an alumnus of the UT Dance Team, and a staff member for three years. “It’s truly an honor for this program to be selected to represent something so prestigious. They are unwavering ambassadors for our university, and I know that will carry over for the US National Team.” Lewis is also the Company Director of Revolution Dance, and the choreographer for Farragut High School, who won Universal Dance Association’s National High School Dance Championships in 2018 and 2019.
“I am so thrilled to have the University of Tennessee Dance Team represent USA Cheer in the Performance Pom category at the 2020 ICU Championships,” says Stacy Shelton, Director of Dance for USA Cheer. “This team has such an incredible routine to showcase on the world stage and I know they are going to be amazing. Their routine will bring strength, precision, and genuine entertainment to the competition. These athletes are powerful, athletic, disciplined, and will do whatever it takes to put the very best out there for USA Cheer and their country. I’m also very excited to create more with Kelley, Cristin, and choreographer Katie Lane. There is so much experience within those three women and I know we will make a great team.”
For more information about STUNT and USA Cheer, contact Lauri Harris, lharris@usacheer.org.