FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 

The CYC Raiders All Star program & Coach Dorothy Wentland receive many questions regarding our cheerleading, dance, tumbling/gymnastics programs and competitive teams.

Here you will find answers to many of your questions. This information is provided "as is" and for general informational purposes only.  It stands as written, but, as the program's webmaster, I ask you to note that Classic Youth Cheer & Dance program policies may change, and this web page may not yet reflect those possible updates. You know how it goes on the web, even when we make every attempt to keep current, you lag behind.  

All information here is subject to change.

Check back for updates.  Please take the time to read through this, it is long - but will give you a feel for the program and provide you with answers to many of your questions. 

• Classic Youth Cheer & Dance offers competitive CYC Raiders All Stars Cheerleading & Dance teams to girls & boys from grades K-12, ages 5-18 in the Kenosha, Wisconsin area.  Check the right column for our class contact information, parent meetings and tumbling information.
• The CYC Raiders All Stars were established in 1987 by Coach Dorothy Wentland. Now Classic Youth Cheer & Dance is an INDEPENDENT non-profit program and Dorothy Wentland continues to lead this program. 
• We're very proud to report that our program now has it's own well equipped gym - after 16 years of being squatters all over Kenosha, Wisconsin.  The athletes, family members and Phil & Dorothy Wentland have equipped our 5 year old gym to train our athletes safely on two springboard floors, a tumble track, misc. other tumbling equipment, mats, mirrors, lockers (limited), etc.   We've been steadily growing, and re-modeling the interior physical space as we go.
• We are NOT affiliated with any other non-profit or other organization in Kenosha Wisconsin.  We are an independent Wisconsin non-profit organization.  We formed the non-profit in 2003 when we decided it was time to "go out on our own" so we could obtain gym space to serve our needs and have broader fund raising opportunities.
• Our teams are multi-time State, National, World & Grand Champions in both Cheerleading & Dance. The 2010-2011 season is proving to continue in that tradition of excellence for our teams and athlete competitors. Details in the news section.
• There will be some beginner class/rec offerings for YOUNG prospective cheerleaders throughout the year. Those athletes that "may" want to attend ONLY classes are STRONGLY encouraged to attend the clinics even if they do NOT tryout!  Check the right column ==>>
• The upcoming 2011-2012 Season Spring Clinic & Season Tryouts will be held sometime very soon  - DATES TO BE ANNOUNCED.  Join the email Tryout notification list.
• If you attend a CYC Raiders clinic, you do NOT "have to" tryout - you can just "try" cheerleading and dance at the clinic. Most participants DO tryout.   Coach Dorothy strongly encourages the athletes (even the beginners) to attend our clinics for exposure to more advanced skills.  The clinic/tryou fee is all inclusive; you are paying for the coaching.   There is no "discount" if you do "not" tryout. 
• All TRYOUT material will be taught at the multi-day clinic prior to your tryout. Athletes will be required to demonstrate their most advanced standing and running tumgling at their TRYOUT; there will be tumbling practice scheduled into the clinic sessions.
• If an athlete does NOT already tumble, the athlete will be required to LEARN to tumble to earn a place on a CYC RAIDERS ALL STAR COMPETITIVE CHEERLEADING TEAM. We will have an integrated tumbling program; our gym contains mats, tumbling equipment, a tumble track and TWO SPRINGBOARD FLOORS!
• Dorothy encourages our athletes to compete in INDIVIDUAL, STUNT and other specialty competition divisions in addition to their team(s) competition(s) when they have reached a high level of competency at their respective level, and incumbent upon a coach's endorsement, and a demonstrated commitment to their Raiders team and responsibilities.  Competitions award the specialty divisions all sorts of awards - including scholarships. 
• All CYC Raiders are required to maintain a degree of excellence in their academic endeavors, too. Report cards must be submitted to the program at each grading quarter [some competitions use GPA and/or uses them as verification of grade in school]. Time manangement is essential for all Raiders.
• Most CYC Raiders Dance team members are CYC Raiders cheerleaders. Most dancers that enter the CYC Raiders program choose to be on a competitive cheerleading team, too,  for the exposure to the additional choreography and training.   Experience makes a difference.  If "making" a college dance or cheerleading team, then Raiders is the way to have "mat time" to give you the edge.  Competition exposure develops confidence.
• Each season the costs will vary and will depend on the TEAM(s) and events which the athlete participates.
• Costs for team activities, competitions and events vary for each athlete depending on "what they do and where they go."
• Our program costs are fixed as far as the monthly fees, but we cannot control the travel costs and competition fees charged nor the rising energy costs. Our progrom is non-profit and tries to find the most cost-effective way to accomplish EVERYTHING.
• The member athletes each pay a monthly a "gym fee" that "puts the roof over our heads." The gym space, utilities, phone, insurance, administrative costs, coach costs, etc., aren't free, so the families split the cost each month. I'm Estimating the gym fee to be about $100 monthly for the upcoming season [with energy costs it could be MORE, stay tuned for adjustments]. This is just a "GUESSTIMATE" amount at this time that this is being posted - it is SUBJECT TO CHANGE and solely the "guess" of this author.  Dorothy never wants to raise prices for the athletes.
  
• The CYC Raiders program schedule develops as we progress through the competitive & calendar year, choosing the competitions that offer the best fit for the teams' abilities and the various competition dates and levels.  
• Expect that there will be multiple weekly team practices and tumbling practices for all competitive teams; throughout the year there will be some off weeks for everybody. The intensity of the schedule will depend on the team and the time of season. Our season runs for almost the full year following the Spring Clinic & Tryouts; roughly from May to May.
• Our COMPETITIVE athletes pay an annual registration fee, monthly gym fees [mentioned above], competition and travel costs, uniforms costs, camps, choreography and (always) for a few other assorted items. Remember, the program has NO CONTROL over those costs, but we continually strive for the "best deal."
• Financial details will be discussed at a PARENT MEETING following the CLINIC & TRYOUTS. Dates & Times T.B.A. - check the postings in our gym at the tryouts and subscribe to our CLINIC & TRYOUT LIST to receive notification of the date & time. We'll be posting that info here at the website, also.
• Fund Raising opportunities are available!  You get as much out of it as you put into it.  Most families meet their obligations through a mix of fund raising and out of pocket payments.   Parents organize the fund raisers and the Raiders are receptive to new lucrative ideas to ease the costs for the athletes and their families.
• Our parents are the backbone of the program.  Parents provide the bulk of administrative support that makes the program run - our families are an integral part of all aspects of the program - except the actual COACHING.
• We do not have paid "administraive staff," the parents do the work. It is usually a parent or athlete answering the gym phone! The coach is usually ON THE FLOOR COACHING when in the gym - so try to get through to the coach, Dorothy Wentland, at her daytime phone number of (262)889-4632 Monday-Friday if you need to talk to her (mornings are the best).
• Together we make this happen FOR the athletes.  Everything works only if Dorothy, the parents, and athletes are all working together!
• Our coach, Dorothy Wentland has been the National Coach of the Year multiple times and she was inducted into the Cheerleader Coaches "HALL OF FAME". Dorothy has a NATIONAL reputation to always produce teams that are the "ones to watch!"
• Dorothy will TRY to find a place for EVERY child that wants to commit to a competitive cheerleading and/or dance team. Each season Dorothy will assess the athletes that tryout and determine who wants to just "try" cheerleading in a class/rec program - and then work from there. This is a unique program - we "FIT" the athletes and give them the opportunity to learn from the best and compete with the *elite* CYC Raiders ALl Stars.
• No one is "guaranteed" a spot on a competitive team, yet, we strive to find an opportunity for every athlete. This is about a common goal and serving each other.
• This is TEAM - NOT a "business"! The parents make us run and Coach Dorothy Wentland makes our athletes into ALL STAR CHAMPIONS.

I hope this helps answer some of the most frequently asked questions.  Please attend an "open house" to see the teams in action and find out more about the program in relation to your athlete.  Mrs. KJ Martin, Parent Volunteer & Webmaster

Clinic & Tryout email list:  cycraiders@yahoo.com