|
| « Back |
| |
April 26, 2009 - Coach Tori Hardy and Coach Ant Ridgeway have worked hard to prepare their team, UNITY for their premiere appearance at the Cheerleading World Championships in the International Open Coed 6. UNITY won their bid from FutureCheer, and the United Kingdom's National Championships. FutureCheer was the first IASF member to offer international bids to Worlds, and is making the World's journey possible to UK teams for the fourth consecutive year.
Tori and Ant are delighted to be representing FutureCheer, and appreciate the honour of competing at Worlds. Coach Tori noted, �The style between the UK and the USA is not that different, however the difference in training facilities varies greatly. Also, they are no fully paid bids to Worlds for international teams, and this is tough.�
Tori went on to say, �Money was a big issue to get here. Our team is not parent funded, as every team member is university aged, and must find ways to pay their own way fully, while also focusing on full-time education or work. We worked events, helped out with PR and tried to be creative while we kept saving for Worlds.�
UNITY's all-star team comes from 15 different places across the UK, as far as Wales and the Channel Islands. The coaches shared that the unique thing about their team is that they can only get together to train once a month.
Prior to Worlds, UNITY came out early to the USA compete at the All Star Challenge in Baltimore where they beat four USA teams, to place 3rd out of seven teams. They also travelled to three different USA facilities to visit some of the top teams in the industry to receive training. Coach Tori and Coach Ant shared that they particularly admire World Cup Shooting Stars, the California All Stars and FAME.
Coach Ant said, �What we have seen of the other international teams is impressive, as the standard has risen dramatically from last year. Columbia and Thailand are particularly worth watching.�
Coach Ant went on to say, �UNITY's Worlds goal is to place in the Top 10, despite our tough division, and to hit our routine cleanly on both days. Our least experienced member just started cheering in September, while the most experienced has been cheering for seven years.�
Coach Tori added, �We train harder than anyone else than we have ever competed against or worked with. We will define our success based on our own performance at Worlds, but it is hard to know what the judges are looking for when the styles are so diverse. Our motto is, 'Don't chase the trophy, chase the dream.'� |
|
| |
| Search Archives |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
