London calling

In eighth grade Korynne Elliott told her mom she wanted to travel to London for her senior trip. “I told her if I got all A’s I wanted to go see Big Ben, because I was randomly obsessed with Big Ben. It just so happens we’re going to London this year (her senior year) and will see Big Ben,” Elliott said. It wasn’t just the A’s on Elliott’s report card that scored her dream trip, it was the double A’s she earned at cheer camp, the honor of being named an All-American. In fact, she’s a two-time All American cheerleader, an honor bestowed on her through her participation and performance at annual summer cheer camps. All-Americans are chosen by the Universal Cheerleaders Association and National Cheerleaders Association based on superior athletic and leadership skills. Only 12% percent of athletes who attend camp earn the distinction. Elliott has been cheering since middle school and throughout high school was on the sidelines for both Coaler football and basketball. She’s also a member of the Coal City High School competition cheer team. As an All-American cheerleader, Elliott was invited by Varsity Spirit Corp. to participate in one of several special events—college bowl games, Thanksgiving parades and New Year’s Day parades. Her selection was London’s popular New Year’s Day Parade. Elliott is one of more than 800 high school cheerleaders from across the country and one of 22 from Illinois who will be representing the United States in the 2020 parade. Although she was interested in performing in the 2019 parade, Elliott said it simply did not work out with her scheduled and it was a bit cost prohibitive. “This year after I got (All-American) again we were like it’s my senior year we might as well just do it,” she said. The “we” she refers to includes her mom, Jennifer Jones. “I’m excited to do this with mom,” Elliott said. The mother and daughter will depart Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport with a large contingent of cheerleaders on Thursday. The seven- day trip includes a full itinerary including sightseeing and parade rehearsals, and of course the big event—the parade that winds its way through London’s West End from Picadilly to Parliament Street. The parade steps off at noon—that’s 6 a.m. local time—on Wednesday, Jan. 1. It can be viewed via livestream at tv.varsity.com or lnydp.com. In addition to the cheerleaders, over 20 U.S. marching bands will appear in the parade including two from Illinois—Lake Zurich High School and Glenbrook North High School. Elliott is excited and looking forward to all that awaits her in London. “I’m most excited to perform during the parade in front of a bunch of people with my peers,” she said. According to LNYDP.com more than one million view the parade in person. Along with participating in the parade, the group will visit some of the city’s most iconic sights from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey and Big Ben. They will also travel to Windsor for a tour of the royal grounds including Windsor Chapel and although she thinks it doubtful, she’s hoping to see someone from the Royal Family. Elliott and her mom will be making a day trip to Paris, France where she is planning to try out the hot chocolate. “I don’t feel I will have this opportunity to go to London again, so I am going to try and take in the whole experience,” she said. Cheerleading has provided her with some amazing moments, and this experience is one of them. The best part of the sport she said is the opportunity to develop new friendships. Along with cheerleading, Elliott is a competitive gymnast. She said the skills she’s learned at the gym have helped build her strength and endurance for cheerleading, especially competitive cheer. As she heads into her final semester of high school, Elliott is looking toward the future. She plans to enroll at Marquette University in Milwaukee with a goal of earning a doctorate of physical therapy degree. She also hopes to cheer in college. For now, she is looking forward to her long anticipated and well deserved trip overseas, and finally having the opportunity to see Big Ben up close.