Rutgers University and Eisenhower High School will represent the United States at the International Cheer Union World Championship

Bartlett, Tenn., February 16 – USA Cheer has announced the teams that will represent USA Cheer in the Performance Cheer 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 25-27, 2018.

Rutgers University will represent USA Cheer in the Team Cheer Freestyle Pom division. With a long history of being in the top of the rankings at the College Nationals Championships in Orlando, the Rutgers Pom Team placed in the Top 3 this year.

Eisenhower High School will represent the USA Cheer in the Team Cheer Hip Hop and Team Cheer Jazz divisions. The Eisenhower team has placed in the Top 3 in Jazz for the past ten years, and Top 3 in Hip Hop for the past four years. The program has won six national titles at the NDTC National High School Championships.

“I am excited to work with these amazing programs. Rutgers has a very creative, innovative and visual Pom routine which will help them stand out. They also have great execution of skills and strong technique,” says Stacy Shelton, USA Performance Cheer Director. “Eisenhower brings a unique flair that captivates and draws you into watching their Jazz routine, and their Hip Hop performance is so energetic and strong. I am thrilled to work with these programs and watch them compete on a global stage.”

Christine Zoffinger, the Head Coach for the Rutgers Pom Team is also enthusiastic. “We are beyond excited to be chosen to represent our country as the US National Team Cheer Pom team. We are grateful for the amazing opportunity and are looking forward to a once in a lifetime experience,” says Christine. “I am so proud of my team for always pushing themselves to be stronger and cannot wait for them to have the chance to perform their Pom routine on the ICU stage alongside the best teams in the world.”

This sentiment is echoed by the coach of Eisenhower’s team, Rachelle Kiehle.  “I am honored, humbled and so excited to be the first high school program to represent the USA Cheer in both Hip Hop and Jazz. This is such an incredible opportunity, and I am still in shock. The coaches and team have worked so hard all year long, and I am excited for our amazing journey to continue. This feeling is truly indescribable.”

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 2017 hosted more than 70 nations.

More information about USA Cheer and the US 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.