Maddie Bittle, U of I Cheerleader
Maddie tried out for cheerleading in 7th grade and hasn't looked back since!
(In the picture on the right of this screen, she's the one on the left side.)
All 4 years of high school she was on Varsity cheer at Clarkston High, and her Junior and Senior year she was Captain.
Near the end of senior year she became UCA staff!
Last summer she traveled all over the west coast doing UCA cheer camps and will continue this summer.
She is on the Vandal Spirit Squad, and she loves it -and plans to continue all throughout college at University of Idaho. She has choreographed Clarkston High School Competition routine and Lighting Elite Cheer routines with skills learned while being a part of UCA staff.
Maddie is a popular coach at Lightning Elite Cheer, and her skills, warm personality, and responsible outlook are greatly appreciated!
(In the picture on the right of this screen, she's the one on the left side.)
All 4 years of high school she was on Varsity cheer at Clarkston High, and her Junior and Senior year she was Captain.
Near the end of senior year she became UCA staff!
Last summer she traveled all over the west coast doing UCA cheer camps and will continue this summer.
She is on the Vandal Spirit Squad, and she loves it -and plans to continue all throughout college at University of Idaho. She has choreographed Clarkston High School Competition routine and Lighting Elite Cheer routines with skills learned while being a part of UCA staff.
Maddie is a popular coach at Lightning Elite Cheer, and her skills, warm personality, and responsible outlook are greatly appreciated!
Ellin Karl, Gymnast
Bio coming soon-
Director, Cindy Barnhart:
Cindy holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from the University of Oklahoma. Professional Cheerleader: UCA/UDA Staffer and national dance and cheerleading competitions. Traveled to 7-9 college campuses each summer, teaching high school dance teams and pom squads, including University of Alabama, University of Texas, University of Oklahoma, Kansas State University, Wichita State University, Northern Arizona University, Sam Houston State, San Angelo State, Southern Methodist University, and more. Along with 9 other UDA/UCA instructors that were specially selected, in 1990 performed on ESPN to kick-off the Universal Dance Association (subsidiary of UCA) Nationals Competition. UDA staff alumni. Cindy has used her knowledge of cheer, dance, and educating young adults and children all her life. She danced from age 4, performed with Encore! Dance Company, played the piano and violin, was a ballet en pointe, jazz, and tap dancer, and Madrigal Show Choir member, and her high school spirit team placed at Nationals two years in a row. She was the Executive Director of Festival Dance & Performing Arts for 8 years, where she managed 4 dance studios in four different cities and learned all about running successful youth programs. Cindy is Marketing Manager at the University of Idaho with University Communications and Marketing (UCM).
After realizing there were no opportunities in the area for elite cheerleading, Cindy began Lightning Elite Cheer in March of 2015 to raise the water level of cheer in the area and provide cutting edge Elite Competitive cheer. The first practice was in her driveway with 5 middle school athletes and Josee Johnson (U of I Cheer Squad Captain at the time) coaching. Now, over 130 athletes and 10 Grand Champion titles later, Lighting Elite Cheer is known as a serious contender in competitive cheer in our region.
Cindy holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from the University of Oklahoma. Professional Cheerleader: UCA/UDA Staffer and national dance and cheerleading competitions. Traveled to 7-9 college campuses each summer, teaching high school dance teams and pom squads, including University of Alabama, University of Texas, University of Oklahoma, Kansas State University, Wichita State University, Northern Arizona University, Sam Houston State, San Angelo State, Southern Methodist University, and more. Along with 9 other UDA/UCA instructors that were specially selected, in 1990 performed on ESPN to kick-off the Universal Dance Association (subsidiary of UCA) Nationals Competition. UDA staff alumni. Cindy has used her knowledge of cheer, dance, and educating young adults and children all her life. She danced from age 4, performed with Encore! Dance Company, played the piano and violin, was a ballet en pointe, jazz, and tap dancer, and Madrigal Show Choir member, and her high school spirit team placed at Nationals two years in a row. She was the Executive Director of Festival Dance & Performing Arts for 8 years, where she managed 4 dance studios in four different cities and learned all about running successful youth programs. Cindy is Marketing Manager at the University of Idaho with University Communications and Marketing (UCM).
After realizing there were no opportunities in the area for elite cheerleading, Cindy began Lightning Elite Cheer in March of 2015 to raise the water level of cheer in the area and provide cutting edge Elite Competitive cheer. The first practice was in her driveway with 5 middle school athletes and Josee Johnson (U of I Cheer Squad Captain at the time) coaching. Now, over 130 athletes and 10 Grand Champion titles later, Lighting Elite Cheer is known as a serious contender in competitive cheer in our region.
Michael Ruby and Josette Johnson were our first coaches! (Along with Garrett and Hayden Senefsky, and Avery McKee!