Seven Adaptive Abilities and Special Olympic teams have been selected to represent the United States in the International Cheer Union World Championships
Sacramento, Calif., January 8, 2020 – USA Cheer, the national governing body for cheer, has announced it will be fielding seven teams in the Adaptive Abilities and Special Olympics divisions 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® Resort.
“We are extremely proud to have the tremendous representation in the Unified and Traditional divisions for our athletes with disabilities,” says Tony Nash, Director of the US National Teams for USA Cheer. “It is inspiring to see these athletes come together to represent our Country at the ICU World Championships. I am so proud to have each team represent the US National Team for USA Cheer.”
USA Cheer, one of 116 member nations of the ICU, is committed to expanding opportunities for athletes of all abilities. The Adaptive Abilities Unified teams (formerly called “ParaCheer”) and the Special Olympics Unified teams offer competitive opportunities for athletes with and without an intellectual disability, and the Special Olympics Traditional Teams are comprised of athletes with disabilities only. In 2018, the ICU signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Special Olympics, committing to creating more opportunities for athletes with intellectual disabilities through Special Olympics Unified Sports.
The 2020 US National Adaptive Abilities and Special Olympics teams and coaching staff are:
US National Adaptive Abilities Unified
Head Coach: Lee Trudell
ParaCheer Spirit Wolves, Chicago, IL
US National Special Olympics Unified Intermediate
Head Coach: Kaylee Pellack
Cheer Dynasty/Team Illinois, Chicago, IL
US National Special Olympics Traditional Intermediate
Head Coaches: Patty Hermann/Jacqueline Sanchez
Elite Stars, Elk Grove, IL
US National Special Olympics Unified Team Cheer Hip Hop
Head Coach: Gayle Watterson
Calvert County/Starz Unified, Sunderland, MD
US National Special Olympics Unified Team Cheer Freestyle Pom
Head Coach: Crystal Wells
Team Texas, Midlothian, TX
US National Special Olympics Traditional Team Cheer Hip Hop
Head Coach: Barbara Baker
Howard County Columbia, MD
US National Special Olympics Traditional Team Cheer Freestyle Pom
Head Coach: Kelly Roule
Iconic Allstar Wildcats, South Elgin, IL
For more information, contact media@usacheer.org.
About USA Cheer:
The USA Federation for Sport Cheering is a not-for-profit organization and is the national governing body for all disciplines of cheerleading. USA Cheer exists to serve the entire cheer community, including club cheering (All Star), traditional school based cheer programs and the new sport of STUNT. USA Cheer has three primary objectives: help grow and develop interest and participation in cheer throughout the United States; promote safety and safety education for cheer in the United States; and represent the United States of America in international cheer competitions.