The US National Pom Doubles are comprised of the most talented dancers in America.
The USA Pom Doubles are chosen as a group to represent the United States in international competition within the Pom Doubles Performance Cheer Division.

2026 ICU World Championship Finals

In varying groups selected, the USA Pom Doubles have won both gold and silver at the ICU World Championship since the inception of the division. Globally, the USA Pom Doubles have achieved gold medal finishes at the ICU World Cup, as well as a silver finish at the 2024 ICU Pan-American Championship. Most impressively, USA Pom Doubles achieved a preliminary win at the World Games Series in Hong Kong to qualify for the 2025 World Games in Chengdu, continuing on to win the gold medal at the 2025 World Games, a historic moment for the first year with this division at the event. 

HISTORY MADE – USA Cheer Celebrates Historic Gold Medal in Cheerleading Pom Doubles at the World Games

USA Cheer proudly announces a landmark victory as Cheerleading Pom Doubles made its debut at the World Games, with USA athletes Sydney and Allison from Wisconsin’s Energizers Dance Studio capturing the Gold Medal. This marked the first time Pom Doubles was included in international competition at the Games. Sydney and Allison led the competition in all three rounds, with scores of 88.50 in round 1, 88.75 in round 2, and finishing with 89.86, securing first place throughout and showcasing unwavering consistency.

“This is a historic moment for USA Cheer and for our athletes,” said Executive Director Lauri Harris. “Sydney and Allison brought passion, teamwork, and flawless execution to the floor. Their performance not only earned them the gold medal but also set the tone for the future of Pom Doubles on the world stage.”

WATCH THE POM DOUBLES PERFORMANCES AT THE 2025 WORLD GAMES

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!

ASSISTANT DANCE DIRECTOR • G SANDOVAL

G Sandoval has nine years of experience with Varsity Spirit, he has served as a Core Staff Member, Curriculum Team Contributor, and Head Instructor for both the high school and college circuits under the UDA brand, and currently holds the position of Northwest State Director for Varsity Dance brands (UDA, NDA & USA). His choreography has received national recognition, contributing to titles such as the UDA All Star Nationals Senior Large Hip Hop National Championship and the Tennessee State Hip Hop Championship. Gerardo also consults for high school and collegiate teams. In addition to his leadership and judging experience, G has professional dance experience within the Entertainment industry in Las Vegas. Some of his credits include Disney’s feature film Stargirl. Originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, he now resides in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he continues to teach, choreograph, and inspire dancers while continuing his own training.

HEAD COACH • EMILY WINKEL

Emily is originally from Mesa, Arizona, where she began dancing at age three. She was a member of her studio’s pre-professional company, training in all styles, and was a member of her high school dance team. She then attended the University of Arkansas, where she graduated with a degree in Speech-Language Pathology and was a 4-year member of the Razorback Dance Team, receiving All-SEC honors and performing across the country at Bowl Games, SEC tournaments, and March Madness.

After graduation, she moved to Texas where she spent 3 seasons dancing professionally for the Dallas Mavericks. While dancing for the Mavericks, Emily had the opportunity to perform across Texas, internationally at the NBA Global Games in Abu Dhabi, the NBA Finals, and with award-winning artists, such as T-Pain and Leon Bridges. Emily began her head coaching career in Dallas and developed a team into a competitive program. She is now in her second year as the Head Coach of Mountain View Toro Pom, where they won two USA National Titles and a UDA 1st-Runner Up finish in her first season.

Most recently, Emily started her own dance team training business, Prepped and Ready Dance, where she helps train and equip dancers auditioning for high school and college programs! Emily loves sharing her passion for dance with the next generation and she can’t wait to have her dancers represent America as the US National Pom Doubles Team!

ASSISTANT COACH • JESSIE PALMER

Jessie Palmer was born and raised in Cave Creek, Arizona, where her love for dance began at the age of 3. She trained and competed throughout her early years before discovering dance team as a freshman in high school, where her passion for dance team truly took off. She went on to become a four-year member and captain of the Cactus Shadows High School Pom team, earning three AIA State Titles and a USA National Championship.

Jessie continued her dance career at Arizona State University as a four-year member of the ASU Dance Team, serving as Lead Choreographer her senior year. During her time on the team, she helped earn two top-three finishes at UDA Collegiate Nationals in Division IA Jazz, while also graduating summa cum laude with a degree in Family and Human Development.

Over the past five years, Jessie has built a career as a dance educator, choreographer, professional judge/adjudicator and most recently an assistant coach for Mountain View High School. She travels across the country teaching, mentoring, and inspiring dancers of all ages, and proudly works as a professional choreographer with TRIBE 99 Choreography Agency.

ASSISTANT COACH • HAYLEE HOLLAND

Born and raised in Arizona, Haylee Holland is a former three-year member and captain of the Arizona State University Dance Team, where she helped lead the program to consistent top-four finishes at UDA College Nationals, including two third-place finishes in Division IA Jazz. She also co-choreographed ASU’s 2020 Division IA Pom routine, which earned fourth place nationally.

Haylee currently serves as an Assistant Coach for Mountain View High School’s Toro Pom program and as a professional choreographer and creative assistant with TRIBE 99. Her choreography experience spans high school and collegiate programs nationwide, including Penn State University’s third-place finish in Division IA Pom at the 2024 UDA College Nationals and Mountain View High School’s 2026 National Runner-Up finish in Division I Small Pom.

A Summa Cum Laude graduate of Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University, Haylee holds a degree in Biomedical Engineering and works full-time in the medical device industry. She is honored to coach and choreograph the U.S. National Pom Doubles Team as they represent the United States at the ICU World Championships.