April 9, 2010
By John Denton
UCFAthletics.com
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ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Getting chosen to represent Team USA in the International Cheer Union World Championships was the thrill of a lifetime for UCF senior Lauren Whitt. But she knows it will likely pale in comparison to the moment ahead when she represents her country for the first time in her life.
``It's a huge honor, and considering everybody who tried out it's just the biggest honor ever. For cheerleading, it doesn't get much bigger than being on your country's team,'' Whitt said. ``I think it will really hit me when I get that uniform that says `U S A' across it. That will be amazing.''
Whitt, a psychology major who graduates in May, has been a part of UCF's highly successful cheerleading squad the past four years. The Knights won the national championship in 2007 when Whitt was a freshman and they finished third each of the past three seasons. The Knights had dreams of winning another title this season, but finished behind Kentucky and Alabama at the nationals.
Whitt, 22, has been cheering since she was in the eighth grade. She initially had dreams of someday being a college basketball player, but had to shift her focus when size interrupted her plans.
``I just kind of stayed at 4-foot-10 and everybody else kept growing,'' Whitt said with a good-natured laugh. ``I was kind of a tomboy growing up, so my friends and I just decided to pick the girliest sport we could find and I just totally fell in love with cheerleading.''
Admittedly, she wasn't very good at the sport in her early high school days at First Academy. (She finished high school at Olympia High). But one of her coaches recognized her athleticism, fearlessness and passion for the sport and helped her become the standout that she is today.
Said Whitt: ``Fortunately, he saw the potential in me and helped me.''
At UCF, she was a part of the cheerleading squads at football, basketball and volleyball games and competitions. It was, she said, both a consuming and rewarding passion that helped complete her time at UCF.
``I was the one who always looked forward to the next competition as soon as one was over with,'' she said. ``I already miss it so much.''
Whitt will be one of 24 cheerleaders to represent Team USA at the ICU Worlds at Disney's Milk House starting on April 23. The event will feature 160 teams from 60 countries around the world. An Olympic-style Opening Ceremonies will be held on Thursday, April 22 at the Milk House.
Whitt leaves on Sunday for Atlanta, where Team USA will drill for the next two weeks on their routines for the Worlds. She takes comfort in the fact that the Worlds will be held at Disney's Milk House, the site of where UCF competed in the national championships each of the past four years.
``I'll be used to the atmosphere, but it's for a different team and it's for the United States,'' Whitt said. ``So I'm sure it will be a lot more nerve-wracking for me. I was always so excited competing for UCF, but this will be great, too.''
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John Denton's Knights Insider appears on UCFathletics.com several times a week. E-mail John at jdenton@athletics.ucf.edu.