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April 26, 2009 - Coach Fiona DaVisco, from Jamaica's Hydel High School, said, �This is our teams first time to compete at Worlds. We received our bid opportunity from Jamfit. The greatest challenge we encountered was raising the funds. We started with 22 on this team, but financially that was just too much. Only seven have been able to come, and that's after we had a car wash, performed stunts to visitors at our school and used sponsorship sheets to collect money. Our goal after coming all this way is to be able to compete in the Finals.�
As Jamaica's team of seven members performed at Disney's Milk House in the International Open All Girl division, they were delighted with the crowd's response as their routine culminated with style of dance that the girls clearly loved to perform. Coach Fiona said, �We didn't expect that amazing response to our dance. We were hoping the crowd would like it. It was truly amazing.�
As the team came off the floor, members of Cheer Dynasty Excalibur met them to offer congratulations and to ask for a photo with the Jamaican team. Dynasty member Christen Ross, 15, said, �I thought they were awesome to watch, and I wanted to let them know.�
Dynasty teammate Chanel Williams, 15, added, �It was great to see how they incorporated their culture into their fun-to-watch routine.�
Kat McKim, 16, also of Dynasty, said, �It is so good to see teams from different countries and cultures coming together to compete. Jamaica can really break it down.�
Coach Fiona explained, �In Jamaica cheerleading is not a popular sport, but it is growing. There are now cheerleaders in about 35 high schools. We compete two times a year, but we do not have opportunities to be on a spring floor. Cheerleading in our country is self-funded through contributions from team members and parents. It is not easy to get uniforms and training equipment.�
�In our program we have 25 members, aged 14-18. We don't have mats or mirrors or anything; we have a space at the back of our school we use. We have seven girls on our Worlds team, and they have been cheering less than three years. We especially enjoy stunting.�
Coach Fiona confided, �The team they would most like to meet is Top Gun, and the girls are really enjoying meeting cheerleaders from the international community; they have been very encouraging and friendly. It is such a privilege to be part of the wider cheer community and to be here at Worlds.� |
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