The Rice University athletics employee decided it was time for a change at age 25
By Julia Hickey
SanLuisObispo.com
Aug. 31, 2009

At age 25, Megan Dodge experienced what she calls a “quarter-life crisis.” It’s not what you’d expect from the 2001 senior class president of San Luis Obispo High School, a woman with great looks and a promising career as director of marketing for the athletic department at Rice University in Houston.

“When I hit 30 I want to focus on having a family and things like that,” she said. But looking forward from that mid-20s crux, there seemed too many goals and too little time.

So she increased the intensity of her workouts, enrolled in hip hop dance classes to sharpen her skills and three months later was chosen out of 600 women to become a cheerleader for the Houston Texans of the NFL.

Dodge described the April day she tried out for the squad. After the 12-hour day of elimination rounds, Dodge said, “I ripped off my fake eyelashes and rushed to work a Rice baseball game.”

In addition to her daily 7 a. m. to 5 p. m. shift as athletic marketing director at Rice, Dodge attends most Rice home games for many of the sports teams. She sits next to the announcer, who reads a script that she’s written, and she dons a headset to direct operations and cue stadium big screen graphics.

Her transition from director to the spotlight as a cheerleader has been an exhilarating one. She described her Aug. 22 cheerleading debut in a preseason game at the Texans’ Reliant Stadium, before 70,000 fans, as “amazing.” She almost started crying while waiting in the tunnel because she had achieved the goal she had set “on a wing and a prayer.”

Texans cheerleaders may refute the stereotype of women whose looks alone carry them through life. They may have to maintain perfect Frenchtipped nails, in the Texans’ “battle red” team color, but in fact all 31 cheerleaders are required by coach Alto Gary to work or study full-time.

“I chose this concept because I wanted women with substance. I do not want someone sitting at home eating Doritos contributing nothing to herself or life,” Gary said. Among the cheerleaders are a financial analyst and three teachers.

They endure up to five three-hour practices a week to perfect the dance routines that keep crowds enthralled, and the women attend up to 500 promotional appearances a year.

Dodge said with a giggle, “When I have a day that there’s nothing scheduled, I get confused.”

But Dodge says cheerleading is “a stress reliever.”

“Dancing is what I love to do,” she said.

She started dancing at Lori Silvaggio’s Academy of Dance in San Luis Obispo, and said she would work out and dance on her free time anyway.

Plus, she has connected with the Houston community in a way she didn’t expect. Her first appearance was a fundraiser for underprivileged children, where cheerleaders helped attract customers to lemonade stands.

“I didn’t expect to feel I was helping other people in the process,” she said.

Dodge isn’t the only San Luis Obispo County woman to land in the NFL spotlight. Atascadero native Erin Kennedy, daughter of Kennedy Club Fitness owners Barb and Kevin Kennedy, became a San Diego Charger Girl in 2001, and Heather Greene of Templeton made the same squad in 2007.

Dodge said she thinks her California upbringing was a good prelude to life in Texas.

“I tell people, if you’ve ever seen a cowboy surf, they’re probably from my hometown,” she said. “A lot of SLO County is cowboys — and it reminds me of Texas.”

When reflecting on her accomplishments, the newly 26-year-old Texas State University grad said, “I admit I have done very well for myself.” (And a word to interested men—she’s taken.)

But when speaking about the future, she seems open. She says she’ll try out again for the team next year if she’s still in the Houston area. Of course, there are still many goals to achieve before she turns 30: earning a master’s degree, writing a book about compassion in education, visiting Europe and inventing something.

“My grandpa and I have something in the works,” she said of her possible invention. “But I am not sure I can tell you about it.”

From the Orlando Magic Dancers’ Twitter Feed:

Don’t think I ever told u all where Trinity was going this yr! She’s now a WWE Diva Wrestler! Starts training on Mon! Coach J

Congratulations to good friend of the blog Mindy Winkler, who was named Indianapolis’ “Best Local Traffic Reporter” for the 4th year in a row.

From Nuvo.net

Best local traffic reporter (TV or radio): Mindy Winkler
It’s hard to drive in Indy and not hear Mindy Winkler’s traffic reports. Reporting for the Smiley Morning Show on Z99.5, 104.5WJJK and 102.4 Hit Country WMDH, Winkler is there to cheerfully report the plagues of every morning commute. Formerly Commander KC on WTTV, Winkler eventually moved through WRTV-6 as a fill-in traffic reporter and through miscellaneous voiceover jobs into her current place in Indy radio traffic reporting. Winkler has made herself a permanent installation in the lives of Indianapolis commuters, making what can be a torturous experience into something with a little optimism

Mindy is a former Indianapolis Colts Cheerleaders and also cheered for the CISL Indianapolis Twisters.

[Mindy and the Fun Company]

From the first half of Friday’s game it’s Ashley A. in the burgundy uniform.

From the second half of Friday’s game it’s Buffy in the yellow/gold uniform.

From Fan Appreciation Day it’s Talmesha sporting the new skirt.

And here are the results from last week’s poll:

By Mary Shedden
The Tampa Tribune
August 29, 2009

* Photo gallery

TAMPA –

Nearly 200 girls wanting a glimpse of professional football cheerleading are spending the weekend with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers squad. The 12th annual junior cheerleading clinic started today, with the 30 cheerleaders introducing a three-minute choreographed routine to a popular Miley Cyrus tune.

The camp at Jefferson High School continues Sunday. It culminates Friday when the girls, ages 6 to 17, perform during halftime of the preseason matchup between the Bucs and Houston Texans at Raymond James Stadium.

“We hope the girls get out of it a great mentoring program from our NFL cheerleaders,” Sandy Charboneau, the Bucs’ cheerleading manager, said of the annual clinic.

Tomoko Kojima, a Bucs cheerleader in her seventh season, said the camp differs from other public events because she can identify with the girls, who constantly hug her and pepper her with questions. In addition to teaching a halftime routine, the squad members also teach cheers and participate in games with the campers.

“I was a little kid like them,” said Kojima, who was coaching ages 6 to 8. “I saw cheerleaders and said, ‘Oh, I want to be like those girls when I get older.’”

An estimated 3.5 million youngsters participate in cheerleading nationwide, according to the U.S. Sports Academy. Despite stereotypes of cheering as little more than dance in cute outfits, it is recognized as a sport by high school athletic associations and in the competitive sports club arena.

Palm Harbor teen Alexis Salzer doesn’t cheer at school but hasn’t missed a Bucs cheer camp for seven years. The 16-year-old said it’s a place to meet friends from outside school. She also likes seeing the Bucs cheerleaders she has grown to know perform on game days.

“My family is totally into football and the Bucs,” she said. “My grandma has season passes, so when we go, it’s like I know them.”

New photos of the Texans Cheerleaders are now online at HoustonTexans.com! Click here to view photos from their training camp, and click here to view new game day photos.

Stamford native soars with Jets Flight Crew
By Kate King, Correspondent
Stamford Advocate
08/29/2009

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — There is no chanting or giggling at this cheerleading practice.

The only sound heard on the field Monday evening was the steady rustling of green and white pompoms as the New York Jets Flight Crew practiced its routines. For certain dances, the women counted up to eight as their feet moved in unison.

“It’s tough,” said Samantha Longo, 23. “It’s a lot of work. We run, we dance the whole time. It’s really demanding on our bodies.”

Longo, who grew up in Stamford and Greenwich and now lives in Norwalk, is in her rookie season as a New York Jets cheerleader. While many people associate cheerleading with back flips and human pyramids, cheering in the NFL is nothing like that, she said.

“Really, we’re a dance team,” Longo said.

Dancing wasn’t Longo’s strength when she auditioned for the Flight Crew, said its director Denise Garvey. Longo, who cheered for three years with the Spirit All-Stars gym in Hamden, had more of a background in competition cheerleading than dancing. She stood out to Garvey, however, by demonstrating a strong work ethic and burning desire to dance for the New York Jets.

“I could sense that she was passionate about making the team,” said Garvey, a former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader. “That type of spirit I definitely sensed at her audition.” Longo was one of 30 women selected from a pool of over 200 for this year’s crew, Garvey said. After she made the team, Longo said she immediately got to work learning the library of over 30 one-minute dances the cheerleaders perform at home games.

“There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t practice,” she said. “Every night I review my dances.” The team is now undergoing training camp, which lasts from June 1 through opening day on Sept. 20. Even after they make the team, cheerleaders are under constant pressure. There is no guarantee that each woman will perform in every game, Garvey said. Any lapse in concentration or effort can land them on the sidelines.

“I don’t believe in saving your energy or only going full-out at the game,” Garvey said. “Every day is full-out. Life is full-out.”

Women who audition for the Flight Crew must be at least 18 and high school graduates, Garvey said. This year, members are 19 to 29 years old. Garvey said she looks for women who are attractive, skilled dancers and “good people” when putting together her team.

“Being a member of the Flight Crew, or being a professional cheerleader, really is a lifestyle,” she said. “It means being a lady. It means being well mannered. It means conducting yourself in a manner to be proud of.”

Longo said she is working hard to insure she cheers at the Jets’ Thursday preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

“I knew it was going to be tough,” she said. “But it’s constant pressure. Yeah, you’re on the team, but you don’t know if you’ll be out there.” Longo danced in the Jets’ first preseason game on Aug. 14 against the St. Louis Rams. It was her first real taste of NFL cheerleading. The Jets’ first regular season home game is Sept. 20 against the New England Patriots.

“The stands were half-full,” Longo said. “On opening day, everything will be packed.” The Norwalk resident puts in a lot of time, and a lot of driving, in order to cheer for the Jets. The Flight Crew practices three hours a day, three times a week as well as three hours on game days.

“We always say it’s like part-time work but full-time commitment,” Garvey said.

Two practices a week are held at the New York Sports Club in Manhattan, but every Monday the cheerleaders meet at the Jets Facility in Florham Park, N.J., to rehearse.

Longo’s drive to New Jersey is an hour and a half each way, and she usually gives herself an extra 45 minutes in case she hits traffic. She shares the driving, and gas costs, with the only other team member from Connecticut, Ridgefield resident Lauren Zavarella.

“This is a really long commute but it’s definitely worth it,” Zavarella, 24, said.

In addition to keeping each other company during the long car rides, Longo and Zavarella have also supported each other throughout the start of their first year as NFL cheerleaders.

“We were experiencing this new thing together,” Zavarella said. “It was really nice to have someone there, going through that with you.” Both women hope they will return next year as Flight Crew members but know there are no guarantees.

Veteran cheerleaders are required to audition for the team each year and are not necessarily invited back, Garvey said. Last year, 19 of the crew’s 22 members re-auditioned and 15 were selected to return.

Longo said she hopes to cheer with the Jets again as an experienced team member. She said that as a veteran, there would be less pressure to learn the steps and more opportunity to enjoy the dancing.

Longo’s mother, Stephanie DiGiovanni, knows her daughter has what it takes.

“She’s always been one of the top cheerleaders on any of the squads she’s ever been on,” DiGiovanni said. “I think she likes to entertain crowds. I think my daughter likes to be a star.”

The Rochester Knightingales dance team will be holding auditions for responsible, professional, outgoing, talented dancers September 19th & 20th

The Knightingales are fun, outgoing, professional woman who represent healthy goals and superior entertainment. In addition to performing at the NLL Rochester Knighthawks home lacrosse games the team will support community projects throughout Greater Rochester. The Knightingales will perform at many exciting events and make numerous appearances including modeling, public speaking, event entertainment and support throughout Monroe County. The Knightingales are provided by RET Talent.

The Knightingales are dedicated women who are physically fit, talented in dance/cheer or promotional modeling and are able to present themselves in a professional manner. Because the Knightingales are influential role models to the youth in our communities, we select women that are committed to leading a healthy productive lifestyle.

The Directors are looking to fill a variety of positions and look for personality, willingness to learn and physical appearance as well as ability.

Dance Auditions will be located at the Radisson Hotel Riverside Rochester on September 19th and 20th, applicants will commit to both days while being judged on a solo, interview and an audition routine.

Dancers Team Duties include:

Greeting, Sales, Team Appearances, Some Promotions, Distributing Giveaways, on field performances and in-stand dances.

Audition Dates, Times, Locations:

September 19th & 20th – Must commit to both days

Location: Radisson Hotel Riverside Rochester – Frontier Hall
120 East Main Street, Rochester, NY 14604

Parking: $4 in Hotel Garage (Mention Knightingales Auditions)

Time: 9:00am-5:00pm Both Days

Complete details here.