ORLANDO (UCFKnights.com) - While the UCF Cheer Team was competing at the UCA Cheer and Dance Nationals in January, one member of the squad had more on his mind than just his team's performance. Senior member, Anthony DiCicco, not only competed and placed third in partner stunts, he also went through try-outs and made Team USA. Being a member of Team USA was a dream of his, and a goal he had set for himself.
Since making Team USA, DiCicco was given skills to work on and sent in videos to his coaches after he accomplished them. The team got together for the first time on April 14th to learn their routine for the world championships that would take place on April 27th.
After learning the routine, DiCicco says the nine days leading up to the competition were challenging. However, he says he would not have had it any other way.
"It was by far the most physically and mentally demanding nine days of my life," he said.
The International Cheer Union World Cheerleading Championships took place at Walt Disney World's ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla. There were more than 80 countries represented at the world championships. Team USA took home first place by 20 points, an enormous margin in Cheerleading scoring.
"He played a major role in the performance, basing every elite partner stunt," Head Coach Linda Gooch said proudly. "They had him placed front and center for the entire routine which is a huge responsibility."
DiCicco: "It was such an incredibly rewarding experience to work that hard for such a short amount of time and watch all of our hard work pay off on the floor. Hearing our names called out for first place was the validation of all of our hard work."
Rounding out the remainder of the Top 3 were Canada in third place and Chinese Taipei in second place.
"The best feeling for me was the few minutes after we hit the routine," DiCicco said. "Just letting it soak in that we went out there and did exactly what we knew we were capable of, we knew none of us would regret anything after we finished."
DiCicco will be graduating with his degree in exercise science within the next week, and will continue school in the fall as he works towards his master's during his final year of eligibility on the UCF Cheer Team.
"He did a wonderful job of representing both our University and the nation," Gooch said.
