USA Federation for Sports Cheering
Group Will Field National All-Star Team to Compete At Inaugural World Cup
Championship; Represent the U.S. Globally
MEMPHIS, Tenn., May 22 /PRNewswire/ — A group of America’s most
accomplished leaders in cheerleading have announced today the formation of
the USA Federation for Sports Cheering, which will be known and marketed as
USA Cheer.
USA Cheer will serve as the official governing body of cheerleading in
the United States, and the officially recognized U.S. representative of the
International Cheer Union (ICU), the acting worldwide organization
overseeing the activity.
The new governing body will represent the U.S. in international cheer
competitions, including the inaugural World Cup Championship that will be
held in April 2009 at Disney World in Orlando, Florida. USA Cheer will
assemble a 24-member national team of America’s elite cheer talent that
will compete against similar teams from over 50 countries. Competing
countries will field co-ed and all girl teams, ages 14 and up.
In addition to representing the U.S. internationally, USA Cheer will
focus efforts and resources on increasing participation in and support of
cheer throughout the country. The organization has stated that two of their
primary goals is to USA Cheer brings together the entire cheerleading
community, both at the school level, as well as clubs, known as all-star
programs, to promote the many positive experiences cheerleading provides
millions of young people across the country, as well as promoting cheer
safety education nationwide.
Jeff Webb, the CEO and founder of Varsity Brands Inc, the world’s
largest cheerleading brand, has been selected President of USA Cheer. Other
executives and board members include:
– Jim Chadwick (VP) – President of U.S. All-Star Federation for Cheer and
Dance and the International All-Star Federation
– Dawn Calitri (VP) – President of the National Cheerleaders Association
and the National Dance Association
Representing the U.S. All-Star Federation (USAF)
– Aaron Flaker – Founder and Co-Owner of the JAM Brands and a director
for the USASF
– Karen Halterman – Director for the USASF
Representing the National Federation of State High School Associations
– Rhonda Blanford Green – Assistant Commissioner of the Colorado High
School Activities Association
Representing the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and
Administrators are (AACCA):
– Jim Lord – Executive Director of AACCA
– T. Lynn Williamson – Senior Associate General Counsel for the
University of Kentucky, and Spirit Advisor for University of Kentucky
for the last 30 years.
– Carolyn Shoemaker – President for the Florida Cheer Coaches
Association, and a director for the AACCA
Representing the National Alliance for School Cheerleading:
– Mike Burgess – President of the United Spirit Association (USA)
– Jim Thorp – Founder and President of Cheerleading Technique Camps and
the American Championships
Representing the Active Athletes:
– Krisler Bailey – Executive Committee Representative for Active Athletes
and former cheerleader for Hofstra University.
– David McDowell – Former four-year cheerleader for the University of
Kentucky and currently Head Coach for University of Alabama
Cheerleaders.
– Emily Burster – Former four year cheerleader for Drexel University
“Establishing USA Cheer and unifying this multi-talented leadership
team is an historic, pivotal step toward continuing the steady domestic
growth and international expansion of competitive cheer,” said Webb, who is
widely credited with revolutionizing the sport. He added, “Cheerleading is
a unique activity in that it functions at times as a sport during
competitions, but it is also viewed as an important campus leadership
activity at thousands of colleges and high schools in the US.”
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