Introducing the Holy Trinity High Flyers
The High Flyers from Holy Trinity School in Ligonier are in their seventh year as a demonstration team for the American Heart Association (AHA) and have also done demonstrations for USA Jump Rope. The team competes annually in the USA Jump Rope National Championships and AAU Junior Olympics and many of the High Flyers have won both regional and national medals and ribbons. Several team members are gold medalists from the most recent AAU Junior Olympics in Des Moines, Iowa. This fall, part of the team will represent USA Jump Rope in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade in New York City.
Just as important, the team prioritizes messaging around good nutrition, physical activity and staying tobacco-free. Since the team began, the High Flyers have held demonstrations at several schools across southwestern Pennsylvania. The team has presented their skills before thousands of students, sparking interest in the sport of jump rope and spreading messages about healthy lifestyles.
In March 2009, the High Flyers traveled to Washington, D.C. to perform a demonstration on Capitol Hill during a press conference which supported the FIT Kids Act, legislation prioritizing physical education in schools. Participants of the conference included members of Congress, the National Football League (NFL), as well as the national media.
Later that summer, they performed at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention inaugural “Weight of the Nation” Conference in Washington, D.C. The event highlighted the nation’s work towards addressing the obesity epidemic.
The High Flyers have showcased their talents at numerous other venues including Idlewild and SoakZone, Ligonier, halftime shows for the University of Pittsburgh and Bucknell University, Radio Disney events, the Pittsburgh Convention Center, Pittsburgh Zoo, Clarion University, Pittsburgh Children’s Institute, and the Children’s Museum in Pittsburgh.
In 2008, the team was highlighted in a Subway commercial focusing on schools that are creating healthy environments for students. The commercial played in the Pittsburgh media market through much of that year. Later that August, the team was showcased by WTAE-TV (ABC affiliate in Pittsburgh) for its demonstration at the Healthy for Life Expo at the Pittsburgh Convention Center.
There have been over 100 students involved in the jump rope program at Holy Trinity School since its inception. The team also conducts occasional jump rope clinics that draw students from the school and community. Some schools have started their own jump rope clubs and many physical educators have integrated the skills into their physical education programs after watching the High Flyers perform.
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