Rikki Greenberg casts her vote in the “national poles”
The pencils are sharpened, the 2009 bracket sheet is printed out and the pair of sparkly, clear plastic heels is sitting patiently in the locker room for next Sunday’s championship competition.
The countdown to the 2009 US Pole Championship begins now and I cannot wait to see if my bracket predictions come true. 12 finalists are competing for opportunities to participate in the Miss Pole Dance Australia 2009 and the World Pole and Fitness Championship, it’s all about the poles.
Sadly, my videotape was not submitted in time, but that doesn’t mean I can’t participate in the booty bearing, hip swinging and high-heeled wearing world of competitive pole dancing.
Let’s take a look how these players are going to do when a pole and three months of free subscription to Pole2Pole magazine is involved.
ROUND 1
No. 1 JessaLynn Medairy
No. 12 Lian Tal
Both girls possess incredible pole strength and itty, bitty competition apparel. JessaLynn has the edge over Tal because of her number one seed status and experience at the top of the pole ( i.e. franchise director for Xpose Fitness and performed in the Pole Unity Show in England), but Tal could easily stage a low ranking comeback with a deadly inner thigh hold and split combination.
Predicted winner: Lian Tal:
JessaLynn Mediary:
No. 11 Jenyne Butterfly
No. 2 Brynlyn Loomis:
Jenyne Butterfly gets points for creativity on team name and has experience in Big Dance and regional situations (Pole-a-Palooza Champion three years running, Princess on the Pole, Miss Seamless). Loomis is the clear winner in footwear with an expansive collection of clear, black and red sky-high heels (shoe deal anyone?) and provides some saucy competition.
Predicted winner: Jenyne Butterfly
Jenye Butterfly:
No. 3 Michula Renee Nunez:
No. 10 Gabrielle Valliere
The buzzer beater for Valliere could be the pole worm, but I have a feeling the judges will be blown away (literally) by her numerous hair whips. This beauty isn’t no bimbo either. Valliere has a B.S. in Anthropology, M.S. in Child Life from Wheelock College, and is pursuing a nursing degree. Nunez also has brains and beauty on her side (former science teacher turned pole dancing teacher), so this could be a battle of the smarts as well as upright static poses.
Predicted winner: Gabrielle Valliere:
No. 9 Caterina Gennaro
No. 4 Sarah Cretul:
Gennaro is the owner/founder of Poleates, underwater photographer, television personality on Discovery’s “Shark Week” and mother of twins. She also did competitive gymnastics and modeled internationally for Ford and Elite agencies. Cretul is a 21-year-old self-taught pole dancer/paranormal investigator originally from Romania. Do I even have to ask whose going to win this one?
Predicted winner: Caterina Gennaro
Caterina Gennaro:
No. 5 Chika
No. 8 Denise Brown
Brown’s resume is pretty extensive with owner/instructor of Vertical Expressions Pole Aerobic Dance and Aerial Arts Studio, aerial arts and pole performer for various bands and clubs, as well as a mother of two daughters. Not much is known about Chika except for the absence of a last name and any information on what kind of competitive background the Japanese native has.
Predicted winner: Denise Brown
Chika:
No. 6 Lauren
No. 7 Althea
Both are instructors at pole dancing facilities. Both are extremely passionate about the sport and share the same taste in kid-sized clothing. The competition is pretty steep between these two pole dancing divas, but sassy and energetic might win over slow and lethargic.
Predicted winner: Lauren
ROUND 2
No. 1 LianTal
No. 2 Jenye Butterfly
The athletic Butterfly has the mentality of a college hoops player, while Tal leans more towards club dancer with a steel rod accessory. When it comes down to the game-winning shot, I’m predicting Butterfly is going to pull out a myriad of splits and come away with a victory.
Predicted winner: Jenye Butterfly
No. 3 Gabrielle Valliere
No. 4 Caterina Gennaro
It’s the battle of the studios for this heated match up. Valliere’s NY Pole Dancing can pump up members with a series of acrobatic pole moves, while clients of Gennaro’s Poleates can mix up exercise routines with pole dancing and Pilates. I’m going with the combination platter of Gennaro for this duel.
Predicted winner: Caterina Gennaro
No. 5 Denise Brown
No. 6 Lauren
Brown can easily capture the mom vote in this competition, while Lauren is representing for the dancers. I would hope that after two kids, I can look as good and pull off more moves than Brown can. The only question left is…What can Brown do for you?
Predicted winner: Denise Brown
ROUND 3
Jenyne Butterfly
Caterina Gennaro
Denise Brown
Predicted US Pole Dancing Champion: Jenyne Butterfly!!!