Two Nicolet Cheerleaders Named To All-Star Team, Will Travel To London

Two cheerleaders won't be huddled around their televisions New Year's Day watching football — they will be in London with an all-star cheerleading team performing in the New Year's Day parade.

Joslyn Briggs and Iyana Turner are among 600 cheerleaders throughout the country selected to travel with the Universal Cheerleading Association’s All-American Cheerleading team after tryouts at St. Norbert College earlier this month. 

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Briggs, a senior at Nicolet said. "I love to cheer and being in London is like 'WOW' to me." 

Tuner is just as elated to go, and says the process of getting through the tryouts is part of what makes it so surreal.

"It's really exciting. I have never had an opportunity to do something like this," she said. "It means more because I actually worked for it with my own sweat and blood. I feel really honored."

After excelling in two dance routines and a jump test, the girls were chosen from about 30 cheerleaders.

"I was actually a little nervous because there was a lot of girls watching me, but I just did it," Briggs said.

The Universal Cheerleading Association provides training to high school and college cheerleaders. The organization holds camps and clinics throughout the United States, emphasizing cheerleading gymnastic and leadership skills. 

Turner, who has a background in dance, said she has evolved as a cheerleader, working hard at learning the cheers and gymnastics that go along with the teamwork of participating in the squad. 

"I loved it from the beginning, but now I have more endearment for (cheerleading) because there is more meaning now," she said, adding that London is the final culmination of the work that she has done to become a leader on the Nicolet cheerleading team. 

However, great accomplishments can come with big responsibility. Each girl will have to foot the roughly $3,000 bill for the trip and Briggs said that's a bit sobering.

"It's a lot of money," she said, as she also needs to pay for college and prom in the near future. "I have a lot of other things to worry about right now. I am kind of worried about the cost of the London trip."

Both girls plan to hold fundraisers — such as bake sales — during the next few months to help defray the cost of the eight-day trip.

All the cheerleaders will stay in London, touring historic sites throughout both London and Windsor. The trip will include a visit to Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, St. Paul's Cathedral and Windsor Palace. 

The cheerleaders will also get to do a little shopping, and hop aboard a night-time disco cruise on the River Thames.

While both girls are very excited to visit London, sight seeing and shopping, Turner said the trip is really about what they will be able to learn from so many other talented cheerleaders.

"There is always someone better than you," she said.