Taking cheer to the USA

LOCAL cheerleader Maddy Theobald will soon be on a plane heading to Orlando in America for a major contest.

The 25-year-old is set to compete in the Cheerleading World Championships.

Theobald will be representing Team Australia for the second year in a row, but things will be a little different this time.

“Last year I was on Co-Ed elite,” she said. “Which is boys and girls. This time around I am on all-girl elite, which is an all-girls outfit.”

It’s not just a different division for Theobald, she said the whole tryout process had been revamped.

In previous year’s whole teams would earn selection together, but this year selections were made individually.

“2023 is the first time Australia has been able to put together a true Australian representative team,” she said.

“The tryout process was extensive. There were online and in-person stages, and we have people on our team from almost every state.

“After making it through the preliminary process, I had to go up to Queensland in November.

“Selectors wanted to see a whole list of high-level skills that we were competent at doing and from there they cut it down to the final team.”

Theobald said she is bullish on the Australian team’s chances with the new selection process, but also because of the coaching staff.

“I do think we have a chance,” she said. “We have a really, really strong team with incredible coaches.

“Our head coach Derek Turner is from New South Wales and competed for Team USA way back in the day, so he has got worlds experience.

“We have state coaches that are incredibly experienced and great at what they do as well.”

The Cheerleading Worlds will take place from 21 April to 24 April in Orlando, Florida.