Cheer World SWEEPS It’s Season with FIVE US Championship Titles!

Cheer World SWEEPS It’s Season with FIVE US Championship Titles!

The coaching staff at Cheer World All Stars knew they were approaching a milestone year last fall as their seven teams were busy learning their routines and preparing for a tough competition season.  What they didn’t realize was that milestone would be record-breaking in more ways than one.

Cheer World All Star’s competitive cheerleading program has grown substantially over the past five to six years, almost doubling in size year after year.  This year was no different.  During evaluations in May 2011, the number of athletes trying out for the program hit an all time high.  After careful screening, skill testing and athletic strategy, seven teams were formed all together - a special needs team (Zeta), a recreational tiny youth team (Alpha), a mini level one team (Beta), a junior level one team (Theta), a junior level three team (Kappa), a senior level 4.2 team (Sigma) and a senior co-ed Level four team (Omega).  Then, the real work began... 

A competitive All Star cheerleading season consists of many hours of practice and conditioning in the gym, as well as five to seven competitions with the hopes of qualifying for a U.S. Finals bid.  With seven teams, five of them eligible to qualify, Cheer World’s coaching staff set high goals and expectations. 

"At Cheer World we aim to give our athletes, parents and staff something to BELIEVE in, something that is bigger than any one athlete, any one team, any one parent, or any one coach.  When a group of amazing people buy into a vision, mission and set of values that works - magical things happen,” stated Coach Patrick Fogarty.

Summers at Cheer World are filled with athletes conditioning, and learning new skills and choreographed routines for the upcoming competition season.  This is a sport that takes a lot of dedication and teamwork to succeed.  And, succeed they did!!  Cheer World opened the season in Cleveland on December 3rd by sweeping the awards with all first place finishes.  The sweep awarded all five teams with their bids for the U.S. Finals. 

“The Cleveland Rockin’ Jam competition in early December was an exciting way to begin our season,” stated Coach AJ Ganim.  “We knew that our hard work through the summer and fall would pay off - just not this quickly.  It was a proud moment for the entire program.”

However, that was just the beginning.  After the holidays, Cheer World had competitions in Columbus, Detroit, Akron, and Canton. It quickly became a season of achievements.  Teams Theta and Sigma went undefeated the entire season - an accomplishment that is almost unheard of - while the other teams consistently placed in the top three.  Additional Cheer World accolades include nine Grand Championship titles, four Amazing Choreography awards and three Blaring Energy awards. 

"The Gymnastics & Cheer World Family couldn't be more proud of the accomplishments of the Cheer World All Stars program this season. Our athletes and families put their F.A.T.E. (focus, attention, teamwork, effort) into our system and believed in themselves and FAMILY. We are thrilled about the foundation we've laid for the NEW generation of Cheer World All Stars!" continued Ganim. 

After each competition, the athletes came to practice the following Monday with renewed energy, striving to be the best they can be to capture that U.S. Finals title.  

On March 30th, approximately 150 family members, 61 athletes, five coaches and five teams in five divisions headed to Indianapolis for the U.S. Finals Midwest Cheer and Dance Championship Competition with the hopes of bringing home a U.S. championship title.  Day one opened with CW’s mini level one team performing at 8:30 a.m.  It was a truly amazing performance with off the chart energy levels.  Team Beta had won a U.S. Finals Championship!!  The excitement and energy continued to build throughout the day.  Team Theta performed around noon and Kappa closer to 5:00 p.m.  By the end of the competition day, all three Cheer World teams were crowned U.S. Finals Midwest Champions in their respective divisions.  Amazing!!  

 With two CW teams yet to compete on day two, the pressure was building.  Can one program really come to the U.S. Finals and earn a US Championship in every division they compete in?  Has this ever happened before with a five-team program?  These were the questions swirling around in everyone’s heads.  

Well, Cheer World athletes are taught to believe in themselves, believe in their teammates, and believe in their family.  That strong belief system paid off!  Day two of the US Finals began with the level four team Omega performing a nearly flawless routine at 8:33 a.m., followed by level 4.2 team Sigma forty-five minutes later.  Both teams performed solidly and were crowned US Finals Midwest Champions as well. Incredible!!  

"I could not be more pleased to be part of the Cheer World Family.  Each and every day I see these athletes working so hard.  It truly takes all of us together: athletes, parents, and coaches, to accomplish what we have this year!  We went into this season BELIEVE-ing and found that our hard work and dedication paid off.  What an amazing season, I couldn't be more proud and I love my Cheer World family!!" stated Coach Melissa Ritchey.

 Cheer World All Stars swept the U.S. Finals!  This accomplishment is truly a testament to the Cheer World competitive program, its coaches and athletes.  Each member followed their heart and dreams to accomplish this amazing feat.  The sport of All Star cheerleading is growing rapidly, and the Cheer World program is growing with it.

The U.S. Finals has grown into the single most successful multi-brand event in the entire U.S. attracting nearly 1700 teams in 2011! The U.S. Finals is an end-of-the-year series of seven events aimed at crowning TRUE CHAMPIONS in all divisions and levels of cheer and dance, giving teams a chance to see where they rank against other teams in their respective divisions from coast to coast and around the world!  Final rankings in each division will be released on May 18, 2012.  This also happens to be the day before Cheer World 2012/2013 try-outs.

"It is a true honor to work with such incredible athletes, families and coaches.  The amazing outpouring of support at U.S. Finals was a testament to the vision that we have built and strive to uphold together.  From the smallest of our athletes, to our graduating seniors, our athletes exemplified sportsmanship, pride and love for the sport of All Star Cheerleading.  Congratulations to Beta, Theta, Kappa, Sigma and Omega!   I am so proud to be a Cheer World coach!" stated Coach Katy Fogarty.

To find out more about Cheer World All Stars or to register for the 2012/2013 tryouts, visit www.cheerworldohio.com or stop by the gym at 6630 Harris Rd, Broadview Hts, OH 44147.

"I've known for the five years I was an athlete here that Cheer World All Stars is special - that's why I wanted to continue to be a part of it. This past weekend, however I was overwhelmed with just how special it truly is. And it's not just because of the successes with all of our teams' placements, but at the US Finals I saw the importance of family, I saw leadership and younger athletes looking up to positive role models, and I saw hard work and dedication paying off. I couldn't be happier with this weekend and this entire season, and I couldn't be more proud of every single member of our Cheer World family." said Coach Claire Lucas.