It takes some serious talent to compete at the highest level of cheerleading on the planet, and the 2016 USA all girl team has exactly that and then some. Passion, pride and the insatiable desire to succeed is the driving force behind the team's performance. As the dominant team in the Premier all girl division, The USA National Team is home to America's top female athletes in the prime of their cheerleading career.

Only 36 athletes are selected for the team and of that group, 24 make the mat. It's a journey that takes place over just four short months, where there are several skill checks. The team members are from all over the states so most of the accountability after tryouts is through video and digital feedback.

It's intense for them. They're under a lot of pressure to be perfect at what they do. -Tony Nash, Coach of USA All Girl National Team

9 days before the ICU World Cheerleading Championships, the team met for the first time ever to form stunt groups, build their routine and become a world championship team. We went beyond the routine and behind the mat to see first-hand what it's like to put together one of the most difficult all girl routines of 2016 in just a few days.

You can't deny their power and you can't ignore their talent -- the 2016 USA National Team is one for the history books.

Haven't seen the Going for Gold series yet? Check out the trailer below.

2016 All Girl Team Roster:

Name	University
Allison Shores	North Carolina State University
Ali Bianco	Morehead State University
Ally Jamerson	Indiana University
Andrea Larkins	Hawaii Pacific University
Anna Richey	Brigham Young University
Ashley Curtiss	Morehead State University
Ashley Lober	Oklahoma State University
Brittany Messina	Indiana University
Carly Santo	University of Alabama
Catie Callen	University of West Georgia
Emily Booth	University of Alabama
Gianna Rizzi	North Carolina State University
Hayley Daniel	Indiana University
Haley Marr	University of West Georgia
Jade Morgan	Morehead State University
Jocelyn Stephens	Morehead State University
Jordan Herron	University of West Georgia
Kaitlin Sexton	Hofstra University
Kayla Basak	University of West Georgia
Kaylin Lapel	Indiana University
Kellen Gades	Morehead State University
Kelly Gomez	Indiana University
Kelsey Davis	Morehead State University
Kirby Lynch	Indiana University
Lauren Santoru	Morehead State University
Lauren Strasser	Morehead State University
Maddie Woolway	Oklahoma State University
Meghan Floyd	Indiana University
Melissa Banyai	Oklahoma State University
Michelle Smith	Oklahoma State University
Mikayla Raleigh	North Carolina State University
Rachel McGuigan	Oklahoma State University
Rachel Stuckey	North Carolina State University
Sara Baty	Oklahoma State University
Sarah Guzman	University of Alabama
Tristan Hawk	Morehead State University

RELATED:

• USA National Team: Making the Mat
• Q&A: USA National Team's Sara Baty
• Q&A: USA National Team's Andrea Larkins
• Q&A: USA National Team's Kaitlyn Sexton
• Hydration Hacks by USA National Team Athletic Trainer Anda Udris