By Christina Scanlon
Hunting, fishing, football, baseball, cheerleading, fire department member, volunteer work, employment at the
Granville, N.Y. Price Chopper and a future in carpentry… It’s an impressive resume for a not quite 17-year-old from Poultney and he’s about to add another item to the growing list.
Zachary Kasuba, a Poultney High School junior, will be one of 650 high school students headed to London, England to represent the best in high school cheerleading and dancing.
He was selected this summer out of more than 325,000 cheerleaders attending summer camps hosted by Universal Cheerleaders Association.
The honor gets him a spot in London’s New Year’s Day Parade, among performers from all over the world.
“I’m not letting this opportunity pass by,” said Kasuba, noting the next step for him is to raise enough money to go, as he’s responsible for his own travel expenses, $5,000 total.
Carlene Kasuba, his grandmother with whom he lives, is one of his biggest fans. “Nain,” as he calls her, which is Welsh for grandma, will be rooting for him from home.
Accompanying him will be his aunt and uncle, Sue and Michael Kasuba, of Wells.
During the school year Kasuba plays football in the fall and baseball in the spring. It’s winter sports that brings him to cheering for basketball, as well as about three annual competitions with his fellow teammates.
Kasuba believes it’s his stunting and tumbling abilities that helped win him the prized spot for London.
Watching those abilities is not for the faint of heart, as he skillfully tosses another cheerleader in the air, expertly catching her posed above his head.
He’s not certain of his routine for his London performance yet, a disk will soon be arriving for him to learn from. The moves he’ll perfect before going to London will then become part of the large choreographed performance by the group.
To help raise the funds for his trip, his family has assisted in setting up some fundraising opportunities.
Currently, a t-shirt sale is being conducted online and can be found at www.booster.com/zactolondon2015. A raffle for a Ruger American 270 with a Redfield 3x9x40 scope purchased from Mart’s Sporting Goods in Poultney will also take place. Tickets will be $5 each or a book of 5 for $20 and can be purchased by contacting Michael Kasuba on Facebook. The drawing will be held Nov. 1.
Poultney Town Manager Jonas Rosenthal was happy to hear about Kasuba’s selection for London. He’s familiar with the teen as he volunteers for the town often.
“Last winter when we were buried in snow, he volunteered to shovel hydrants,” he said.
He brought a few friends with him to help with the effort, said Rosenthal. “He’s a good all-around kid.”
