Cheerleader off to US after two title wins

A PUPIL at Robert Piggott Junior School in Wargrave has won her second national cheerleading title this year.

Olivia Marshall, eight, was part of the Kick Twist cheerleading team which won the six- to- eight-year-olds category at the British Open Cheerleading Championships in Nottingham.

Olivia’s team of 15 dancers, called Team Banana, set the top score of 85.5 out of 100 after being judged on their stunts, pyramid, tumble, jumps and dance elements during a two-minute routine.

They have been invited to represent UK cheerleading at the Universal Orlando Resort in Florida next year.

In May they won a national title at the MK Arena in Milton Keynes.

Olivia, from Woodley, said: “The difficult part was not acting sassy — that was a piece of cake. It was the second part that was hard because I was lifting people up. I wasn’t nervous because I am kind of used to it now.

“We had to leave at 5.30am and it took three hours to get there. I slept for the whole journey. I’m a little bit anxious about going to Florida but I’m really happy at the same time and I will get to compete against American cheerleaders.”

Olivia has competed in cheerleading competitions since she was five and trains once a week with her teacher Kelsey Hudson.

Her mother Maria said: “Olivia was so excited to have won. She kept saying to me, ‘When am I going to Florida?’

“The highlight was seeing the girls’ confidence. They are not their usual selves when they perform. They come out with this different persona.

“They love performing and are having fun being around the buzz of the other cheerleaders. I’m incredibly proud of Olivia. She is doing her extra training and is very sport-focused.

“I am thinking about doing some fundraising and getting the message out there so they can go to Florida.”

Team Banana and two other Kick Twist teams hope to fly to America and stay in a shared villa which sleeps 26 with a theme park ticket for Disneyworld and Universal Studios Florida.

Ms Hudson said: “The trip can be quite costly. We are keen to secure a sponsorship from a local business to cover the costs of the athletes’ entry fees.

“About £4,500 will cover the competition costs for the team and would ease the financial burden for the parents.

“For some of these athletes, it will be their first time abroad and we can’t wait to make lots of memories with them.”