TopCats Treat Us to Halloween Memories

TopCat Captain Courtney can't mask that she adores candy corn

The October 30th home game against the Vikings was filled with tricks and treats for the TopCats, the Carolina Panthers Cheerleaders. First, it must have felt like a trick to practice at 8 am in temps barely above freezing, but it was a treat that game time was sunny and generally warm enough not to shiver. Then the TopCats were treated to a last minute rally, as Cam Newton completed a 44-yard pass on fourth and 15, which, at worst, certainly would allow a Panthers field goal to tie the game. However, the Panthers missed the 31-yard field goal, which felt like a very mean trick to the enthusiastic Panther fans. TopCats coordinator/choreographer Richelle Grant felt like the game was a bad dream that certainly she would awaken from.

But the one thing Carolina fans can count on is that they will always be treated to seeing the great performances by the TopCats. Certainly if you have seen their leg kicks, you would know any of them would have nailed a 31-yard field goal.

Though not exactly scary, having that Elvis sneak up behind you is, well, creepy

And to help us get into the holiday spirit, the TopCats graciously shared some Halloween memories. They note their favorite and least favorite Halloween “treats” that they found in their trick-or-treat bags, and certainly they know what not to hand out: raisins, whoppers, dots. But perhaps Lindsey is mistaken, listing Milk Duds as her least favorite, since Milk Duds are probably the most delectable foodstuff ever concocted. Perhaps Lindsey confused them with Mounds. Read on to learn about the TopCats candy preferences, scary movies, favorite costumes, and embarrassing scary moments, which will teach us that if gorilla masks must be used, please use them responsibly!

Laura B
Laura B:
First Costume: Parrot
Favorite Childhood Costume: Ninja Turtle
Favorite Thing to Get as a Treat: Snickers
Least Favorite Thing to Get in Your Bag: Dots
Eiesha
Eiesha:
First Costume: A Smurf
Favorite Childhood Costume: Dumbo the elephant
Favorite Thing to Get as a Treat: Chocolate covered strawberries
Least Favorite Thing to Get in Your Bag: Anything with peanuts
Favorite Scary Movie?: The Exorcist
Any embarrassing stories of you scaring someone or someone scaring you?: My brother hid in my linen closet wearing a monkey suit and handed me the iron.
Jenny
Jenny:
First Costume: Minnie Mouse
Favorite Childhood Costume: Belle from Beauty and the Beast
Favorite Thing to Get as a Treat: Anything chocolate
Least Favorite Thing to Get in Your Bag: Whoppers
Favorite Scary Movie?: All of The Saw movies
Any embarrassing stories of you scaring someone or someone scaring you?: Getting chased all of the way to my car at a haunted trail. I ran the whole trail
Shannon
Shannon:
Favorite Childhood Costume: Gypsy
Favorite Thing to Get as a Treat: Peanut M & M’s
Least Favorite Thing to Get in Your Bag: Whoppers
Favorite Scary Movie?: The Shining
Stacey
Stacey:
First Costume: Clown
Favorite Childhood Costume: Cyndi Lauper
Favorite Thing to Get as a Treat: Snickers
Least Favorite Thing to Get in Your Bag: Candy corn
Favorite Scary Movie?: Nightmare on Elm Street (the original)
Candis
Candis:
Favorite Childhood Costume: Indian
Favorite Thing to Get as a Treat: Gummy bears
Least Favorite Thing to Get in Your Bag: Popcorn balls (ugh)
Favorite Scary Movie?: Paranormal Activity
Lindsey
Lindsey:
First Costume: Pumpkin
Favorite Childhood Costume: Bag of jelly beans
Favorite Thing to Get as a Treat: Dark chocolate Hershey’s kisses
Least Favorite Thing to Get in Your Bag: Milk Duds
Favorite Scary Movie?: The Exorcist
Any embarrassing stories of you scaring someone or someone scaring you?: I am the girl that screams out loud in the theater at scary movies…so sorry!
Courtney
Courtney:
First Costume: Pumpkin
Favorite Childhood Costume: Belly dancer
Favorite Thing to Get as a Treat: Candy corn
Least Favorite Thing to Get in Your Bag: Whoppers
Favorite Scary Movie?: Hocus Pocus
Any embarrassing stories of you scaring someone or someone scaring you?: When I was little, I went trick or treating with a huge group of kids in my neighborhood. We went up to a house and when the door opened, a man came out with a huge chainsaw dressed up like “Jason.” All of the kids went running and crying back to their parents. I just stood there and waited for my candy.
Katie B
Katie B:
Favorite Childhood Costume: Pink Panther
Favorite Thing to Get as a Treat: Twix
Least Favorite Thing to Get in Your Bag: Raisins
Favorite Scary Movie?: Hocus Pocus (Halloween movie, I HATE scary movies)
Any embarrassing stories of you scaring someone or someone scaring you?: I went to a haunted house once and was chased by a man dressed up like Mike Myers with a chainsaw. I ran so fast, I fell in a ditch! I will never go in a haunted house ever again!
Jessie
Jessie:
First Costume: Ghost
Favorite Childhood Costume: Ballerina princess
Favorite Thing to Get as a Treat: Candy corn
Least Favorite Thing to Get in Your Bag: Twix
Favorite Scary Movie?: The Craft
Ashley
Ashley:
First Costume: Pumpkin
Favorite Childhood Costume: Cruella Deville
Favorite Thing to Get as a Treat: Reese’s cups
Least Favorite Thing to Get in Your Bag: Raisins, Whoppers, York peppermint patties
Favorite Scary Movie?: Hocus Pocus
Kristy
Kristy:
First Costume: Minnie Mouse
Favorite Childhood Costume: Cheerleader
Favorite Thing to Get as a Treat: Skittles!
Least Favorite Thing to Get in Your Bag: Chocolate
Favorite Scary Movie?: Halloween
Marissa
Marissa:
First Costume: Bumble bee
Favorite Childhood Costume: Minnie Mouse
Favorite Thing to Get as a Treat: M & M’s
Least Favorite Thing to Get in Your Bag: Gummy bears
Favorite Scary Movie?: Halloween
Cynthia
Cynthia:
First Costume: Bunny
Favorite Childhood Costume: Simba from The Lion King
Favorite Thing to Get as a Treat: Kit Kat
Least Favorite Thing to Get in Your Bag: Dots!
Favorite Scary Movie?: The Shining
LeAnne
LeAnne:
First Costume: Pippi Longstocking
Favorite Childhood Costume: Fun loving cowgirl
Favorite Thing to Get as a Treat: Anything chocolate
Least Favorite Thing to Get in Your Bag: Apples
Favorite Scary Movie?: I don’t like scary movies
Kiswuana
Kiswuana:
First Costume: Pumpkin
Favorite Childhood Costume: Crayon
Favorite Thing to Get as a Treat: Wildberry Skittles
Least Favorite Thing to Get in Your Bag: Dark chocolate
Favorite Scary Movie?: 7th Sense
Megan
Megan:
First Costume: Clown
Favorite Childhood Costume: Skunk
Favorite Thing to Get as a Treat: Milk Duds
Least Favorite Thing to Get in Your Bag: Dots
Favorite Scary Movie?: Paranormal Activity and Nightmare Before Christmas
Myra
Myra:
First Costume: Clown
Favorite Childhood Costume: Catwoman
Favorite Thing to Get as a Treat: Snickers
Least Favorite Thing to Get in Your Bag: Reese’s pieces
Favorite Scary Movie?: Halloween
Any embarrassing stories of you scaring someone or someone scaring you?: Went to a haunted forest, someone popped out to scare me, and I judo chopped them!
Samantha, Katie G, Rachel, and Shelby had "the suite life" during game day, so here they are during the frosty morning practice

Samantha:

First Costume: Pumpkin
Favorite Childhood Costume: Nancy Kerrigan with a bum knee
Favorite Thing to Get as a Treat: Sweet tarts and gummy bears
Least Favorite Thing to Get in Your Bag: Chocolate
Favorite Scary Movie?: What Lies Beneath
Any embarrassing stories of you scaring someone or someone scaring you?: I was so excited to be a ballerina when I was 5. The first kid that came to our house before I went trick-or-treating was a gorilla. I was so scared and hid in my dad’s arms the rest of the night, and never went trick-or-treating.

Katie G:

First Costume: Ballerina
Favorite Childhood Costume: Kitty Cat
Favorite Thing to Get as a Treat: Whole candy bars
Least Favorite Thing to Get in Your Bag: Raisins
Favorite Scary Movie?: I don’t do scary movies
Any embarrassing stories of you scaring someone or someone scaring you?: When I was running from a chainsaw zombie in a haunted woods display, I fell and chipped my tooth.

Rachel:

First Costume: A little devil
Favorite Childhood Costume: A bride costume
Favorite Thing to Get as a Treat: Anything chocolate!
Least Favorite Thing to Get in Your Bag: Gum
Favorite Scary Movie?: I’m too scared to watch scary movies.
Any embarrassing stories of you scaring someone or someone scaring you?: Getting lost in a haunted trail and being scared for my life being by myself.

Shelby:

First Costume: Clown
Favorite Childhood Costume: Cat/kitten
Favorite Thing to Get as a Treat: Strawberry blow pops and bubble gum
Least Favorite Thing to Get in Your Bag: Tootsie rolls and almond joy
Favorite Scary Movie?: Sixth Sense
Any embarrassing stories of you scaring someone or someone scaring you?: When I was five years old and my dad came out in a huge gorilla mask. I cried for hours until he assured me it was only “daddy in a mask.”

Thanks so much to Richelle Grant for assisting UltimateCheerleaders learn about the best and worst of TopCats Halloween, and also Tina Becker, cheerleader/mascot manager for providing access to this wonderful squad!