Athletes from the Utah Valley University Jazz team will represent the USA in the US National Team Jazz Division

Bartlett, Tenn., February 15, 2019 – USA Cheer has announced the coaching staff and regional area that will represent the United States in the US National Team Jazz division at the 2019 International Cheer Union (ICU) World Cheerleading Championships, which takes place April 24 – 26, 2019 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at the Walt Disney World® Resorts.

The jazz team from Utah Valley University is coached by head coach Ashley Hardison, along with Trista Tempest and Bri Sorenson. Under coach Hardison, the UVU jazz team has amassed several national championship titles, and earned a reputation on campus as ambassadors on behalf of the university. At UVU, the dance program falls under the Student Leadership and Involvement Department, which pushes them to focus on leadership principles that they take with them into other areas of their lives. Their goas is to be a team that focuses on the innovation of our sport. Many of the athletes represented on the US National Team are from Utah, California, Idaho, Arizona and Colorado.

“It is an amazing honor to be able to have our team represent our country by showcasing something that we are so passionate about,” says Hardison. “We are blessed to have our talents bring us together for this opportunity to compete at ICU Worlds Championship.”

“Utah Valley University will bring so many different elements to the Team Jazz category that we’ve been looking for: Innovative lifts and partner tricks, unique transitions in and out of skills, and staging,” says Stacy Shelton, USA Cheer Director of Dance. “I am so eager to work with them and fine tune this routine. They have so much talent, power, and confidence on stage and I know their performance on the international one is going to be remarkable. Everyone is in for a treat!”

“It is such an honor to be representing the USA at the ICU World Championships,” says Bayleigh Loveless, the Senior Officer of the UVU dance team. “I am so proud of my team and all of our accomplishments, and am so grateful for this opportunity.”

Madison Phillips, the team president, agrees, “The opportunities I have received through this team have been unimaginable. I am honored to represent the US National Team in this competition, and to share what we have to offer. This year has already brought so much excitement for our team and we cannot wait to finish our season with this opportunity of a lifetime.”

For more information about USA Cheer, visit www.usacheer.org, or contact Sheila Noone, media@usacheer.org.

About USA Cheer
The USA Federation for Sport Cheering is a not-for-profit organization and is the 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.