The US Junior National Hip Hop and Pom Teams are comprised of the most talented dancers in America.
USA Junior Hip Hop Pom are selected as dance teams to represent the United States in international competition within the Junior Hip Hop or Pom Performance Cheer Divisions. Teams may represent the United States in multiple divisions depending on the year. 

2025 US NATIONAL TEAM SELECTIONS

DANCE COACHING STAFF

DANCE DIRECTOR • STACY SHELTON

Stacy Shelton grew up dancing from a young age and has trained in ballet, jazz/contemporary, hip hop, modern and pom. Stacy graduated from the University of Memphis where she was captain of the 16x National Champion Memphis Pom Squad, winning a hip-hop national championship during her tenure. She also represented the USA and received a silver medal on the US National Hip Hop Team in 2012. She has instructed coaches and dancers across the world; USA, South America, Europe, Aisa, and Australia. Stacy has been with Varsity Spirit for fifteen years in various roles and is currently the Varsity Spirit Dance Director where she oversees all of the company’s dance legacy brands on the scholastic side. In fall of 2016, Stacy was appointed Director of Dance for USACheer, a role in which she still holds today, helping provide choreography, technique, and training for some of the top programs in the nation while leading them to compete on the international stage. Stacy has had various experiences as a choreographer as well as a judge from high school/college tryouts, regionals, and international judging. Stacy resides in her home state of Sweet Home Alabama.

ASSISTANT DANCE DIRECTOR • LIZZY HOWARD

Over the last 10 years, Lizzy has coached, choreographed and adjudicated in many different facets within the dance industry. While still in Idaho she founded Eminence, a competitive hip hop program at her local studio. Currently, Lizzy is the Program Director for the National Dance Alliance. Along with NDA, Lizzy continues to choreograph many all-star, high school and college programs representing at state, national and collegiate championships. In 2023, Lizzy accepted the position of Assistant Dance Director for USA Cheer to coach the US National Dance Teams. She is beyond grateful to continue her dance journey coaching, choreographing, adjudicating and speaking at coaches conferences across the nation!

JUNIOR HIP HOP HEAD COACH • ERIKA COX

Erika has been involved in the dance community for the majority of her life and has a huge passion for mentoring dancers. She attended Brigham Young University where she received a Bachelors degree in exercise & wellness. She was a member of the BYU Cougarette Dance Team for 3 years and led as a Captain for 2 of those years. During that time, they won 4 National Titles. Erika then had the amazing opportunity to assistant coach for the BYU Cougarettes for 2 years while finishing college, which is where her love for coaching began.

Erika has taught and choreographed all over Utah for years and this year makes her 7th year coaching the Bingham Minerettes. In that time she has won 4 state titles, 6 Region titles, and multiple national titles.

JUNIOR HIP HOP ASSISTANT COACH • CARTER WILLIAMS

Carter Williams is a highly acclaimed dancer, instructor, and coach, renowned for his exceptional talent and unwavering dedication to the art of dance. With a stellar track record in competitive dance, including being a Top 6 Finalist on So You Think You Can Dance and appearing on renowned platforms such as World of Dance and America’s Got Talent, Carter has shown to be promising talent. His journey to success includes notable accolades such as being a Best Dancer Winner at The Dance Awards, 2-time National Latin Champion, 4-time World Latin Finalist, and a 3-time Collegiate National Champion and Gold Medalist.

Known for his captivating choreography that blends technical precision with emotive storytelling, Carter stands out in the dance world. His dynamic style has been seen on stages nationwide, captivating audiences and leaving a lasting impression. Beyond his own performances, Carter shares expertise and passion through teaching workshops and masterclasses across the country, inspiring dancers of all levels. Having collaborated with dance programs like the Ohio State Club Dance Team and Ball State University, Carter continues to push boundaries and shape the future of dance with each new opportunity, eagerly anticipating the journey ahead. Carter continues to make a significant impact in the dance community through his dynamic performances, innovative choreography, and commitment to nurturing the next generation of dancers. The blend of talent, leadership, and dedication sets him apart in the world of dance.

JUNIOR HIP HOP ASSISTANT COACH • ALYSSA BAGLEY

Alyssa Bagley is an experienced coach and choreographer with over 10 years of experience in teaching, coaching, and choreography. For the past three years, she has been coaching the Bingham High School Minerettes and has achieved Region, State, and National Titles. A former member of the Minerettes herself, Alyssa has a deep connection to the team and its legacy. As a dancer, she earned three national titles, further showcasing her passion and expertise in the world of dance and competition.

JUNIOR POM HEAD COACH • KERI ATCHISON

Coach Atchison is a Colorado native, growing up in Littleton. She attended Heritage High School where she was a Liberty Belle (pom). After graduating, she moved to California for college. She attended Scripps College where she majored in English with a minor in dance. She then attended Claremont Graduate University where she earned her Masters degree in Education. After 9 years of teaching and coaching in Southern California, she moved back to Colorado.

Coach Atchison is part of the original staff when Mountain Vista opened and is currently in her 33rd year of teaching and 24th year of coaching. She is the original pom coach for Vista and has seen great successes in this program. For 15 years, Coach Atchison served as a board member for the Colorado Spirit Coaches Association and the Colorado High School Coaches Association to constantly improve the sport of Spirit. She is currently the CHSAA Dance Liaison, working with our CHSAA Commissioner to serve all pom coaches in the State. She has been named Coach of the Year for the Continental League 8 times and in 2008 and 2021 was chosen as the Colorado Dance Coach of the year. In 2018, she was awarded the prestigious Dale Yost Teacher/Coach of the Year by the Colorado High School Coaches Association. In 2022, she was recognized as a National Coach of the Year finalist at the Nationals Coaches Convention. She is most proud of her induction into the Colorado High School Coaches Hall of Fame in 2024. She is the first pom coach and only the second spirit coach to receive this honor. 

The Vista Varsity Poms have captured 14 League and 16 Regional titles in Pom, Jazz and Hip-Hop, as well as 10 5A State titles and five State Runner-ups. Vista Poms is the only team in the State of Colorado to hold State titles in all 3 dance divisions: Pom (2006, 2008, 2009) Hip Hop (2013, 2014) and Jazz (2010, 2015, 2018, 2021, 2023). The team has traveled to the National Dance Team Championships in Orlando, Florida where the team has finished Top 5 in both Pom and Jazz several times and danced in finals for 12 straight years. Currently the team attends NDA Nationals where they captured their first National Championship in the Medium Jazz division in 2017 and finish in the top 5 year after year, finishing 3rd this past season.
Coach Atchison loves being able to make a living following her passion. Her goal each year is to push every young dancer who enters the program to graduate as a strong, confident, leader in the world. She gets her support from her team, the parents, the community and most importantly her amazing family Ron and Britta.

JUNIOR POM ASSISTANT COACH • LIZ ROSENTHAL

Coach Liz is a Mountain Vista Pom Alumni. She competed in the years 2006-2010 where she won three 5A Pom State Championships for Mountain Vista. She was part of the first state championship the program ever won in 2006. While she was on the team, Vista poms went undefeated in the state of Colorado in both Pom and Jazz for two years. They also placed top 5 at UDA nationals in both pom and jazz several times. She was a captain her senior year and was awarded the MVP “Most Valuable Pom” award at the end of her pom career with Vista.

Coach Liz went on to attend University of Colorado-Boulder where she continued to dance on the CU Buffaloes Dance Team. At CU, Liz competed at UDA college nationals for four years, winning top 5 in both pom and jazz her senior year. She also had the amazing opportunity to dance on the football field and basketball court for the CU Buffs. She was a captain of the dance team her senior year. Along with dancing at CU Boulder, Coach Liz also earned her Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering and a Master’s degree in Structural Engineering. She graduated with the Ketchum award for Outstanding graduate of the Civil/Architectural/Environmental Engineering department and the Distinguished Senior award for the Civil Engineering department. She currently works at KL&A Structural Engineers and Builders designing the structure for commercial, residential, and other types of buildings. Recently, Coach Liz earned her Professional Engineering License.

Coach Liz is going on her eighth year of coaching at Vista. While Liz has been a coach at Vista, the Varsity team has won multiple League championships, Regional championships, and State championships as well as multiple top three national finishes, including winning the program’s first national championship in 2017 in Medium Jazz.

JUNIOR POM ASSISTANT COACH • HAYLEY ELLINGSWORTH

Coach Hayley is a Mountain Vista Pom Alumni. She competed in the years 2006-2010. She was on an undefeated JV team her freshman year and then moved up to Varsity where she won two 5A Pom State Championships for Mountain Vista. They also placed top 5 at UDA nationals in both pom and jazz several times. Coach Hayley went on to attend University of Colorado-Boulder where she continued to dance on the CU Buffaloes Dance Team. At CU, Hayley competed at UDA college nationals for four years, winning top 5 in both pom and jazz her senior year. She also had the amazing opportunity to dance on the football field and basketball court for the CU Buffs. This is Coach Hayley’s 8th year coaching and 5th at Mountain Vista. She has helped win 3 state titles as a coach in both the pom and jazz divisions.

JUNIOR POM CHOREOGRAPHER • KATIE FEAR LANE

Katie was brought up in Colorado and developed a deep love and passion for dance while training in the studio and as a member of her high school dance team. She later earned a scholarship as a member of the University of Tennessee dance team, where her team won their first Universal Dance Association National Championship in 2007 in the jazz category. For over a decade, Katie has been a member of the UDA staff, teaching elite, college, and international dance camps. She has an impressive choreography portfolio that includes multiple top 10 high school and college routines for teams across the nation in Jazz, Pom, and Hip Hop dance styles. Some of her routines were even featured on UDA’s ESPN show. Recently, she has choreographed various Middle School, High School, and College national championship routines, including The University of Tennessee 2020 Division 1A pom national championship and Kansas State University Division 1A 2023 DTU Pom National Championship. Currently, Katie is passionate about promoting safe strength and stretch practices for dancers of all ages.