Charlotte Lady Cats at the P-R-O Convention.

By Paul LaPann
Parkersburg News and Sentinel
November 21, 2012

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Parkersburg High School graduate is a member of the National Basketball Association’s most popular dance team.

Amber Tracewell is in her third year with the Charlotte Bobcats’ Lady Cats, who perform dance routines and interact with the fans during basketball games. The Lady Cats also have a philanthropic side as they visit children in hospitals and distribute food to the hungry as part of the Cats Care program.

Fans have selected the Lady Cats the top NBA dance team the past two years in online voting. Tracewell has two championship rings to show for her efforts.

“We hope to win this year for a third time,” Tracewell said.

The Bobcats did not fare as well as the Lady Cats on the basketball court last season – posting an all-time NBA worst record of 7 wins and 59 losses. But the team was 5-4 after Monday night’s win over the Milwaukee Bucks.

Even with all the losses on the basketball court, Tracewell said she enjoys being a member of the Lady Cats.

“The fans have been great,” she said.

Tracewell attended Williamstown schools before transferring to Parkersburg High her sophomore year. She was a member of the Red Wings dance team at Parkersburg High and participated on all-star cheerleading squads during this time.

After graduating from Parkersburg High in 1999, Tracewell was a cheerleader at West Virginia University for two years before a severe ankle injury cut short her college cheerleading career.

She received a degree in English/political science from WVU in 2003 and a master’s in public administration from West Virginia University in 2008.

Tracewell moved to Charlotte in 2008 after graduate school. For three years, she was the executive director of the Matthews Free Medical Clinic for low-income, uninsured people in North Carolina, a job she loved and found rewarding.

Tracewell said she plans to return to nonprofit work some day and enjoys public speaking.

As a Lady Cat, Tracewell has traveled to Milan, Italy, and Cancun, Mexico, to promote the NBA. The Bobcats’ “My Hero Gala” fundraiser in October supported the Presbyterian Hospital Community Care Cruiser and the Cats Care Foundation.

NBA legend Michael Jordan is the majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats.

The Lady Cats participate in Charlotte’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade in March.

Tracewell is a fan of WVU and Williamstown High School football. Her brother Jake was quarterback for the Yellowjackets this season and brother Alan was a football standout at Williamstown High.

She attends WVU alumni events in Charlotte and enjoys living in the “Queen City.”

Tracewell said she “recruited” former Marshall University cheerleader Hali Eplin of Man to join the Lady Cats.

Amber is the daughter of Ken and Kim Tracewell of Williamstown and the late Paula Brace of Vienna.

A trio of Charlotte LadyCats during pre-game rehearsal

The Chatlotte LadyCats and Charlotte CheckMates are teaming up for a huge Pink Carpet Event on September 29th.

The squads are raising money for their Race for the Cure teams, Team Dolla Dolla Bills and Team London.

Fans can attend the Pink Carpet Event on September 29th and donate to the teams or donate online.

[Team London]

[Team Dolla Dolla Bills]

[Charlotte LadyCats]

[Charlotte CheckMates]

Chimere of the Charlotte Lady Cats

The 2012 auditions for the Charlotte Bobcats dance team kicked off on Saturday. After a competitive first day, the pool of candidates has been narrowed down to 32 finalists. Click here for photos from the audition, and Click here to see who made the finals!

DANCE PREP CLASSES

Wednesday, June 13th: 7:30pm – 9:30pm
Time Warner Cable Arena (5th street entrance)

Learn Lady Cats choreography similar to what will be taught at auditions
Opportunity to have all your questions answered
All prep classes are $20 (cash only) payable upon arrival
Prep Classes are closed to the public

BEAUTY + BUSINESS PREP CLASSES

Monday, June 4th: 7:00pm – 8:30pm
Time Warner Cable Arena (5th street – executive entrance)

A fun class for you to learn helpful hints and tips on
how to prepare and what to expect at auditions
Get expert advice on how to prepare your look for auditions
$15 (cash only) payable upon arrival
Closed to public

REQUIREMENTS

Must be at least 18 years of age by June 16th, 2012 (must present valid ID)
Must have graduated from high school or received a G.E.D.
Must have proper audition attire and footwear
You must be available every night during the week of bootcamp (June 18th – 22nd)

AUDITION DAY TIPS

You MUST wear midriff top, dance shorts, flesh tone stockings and non-marking tennis or dance shoes
Bring a warm up suit or cover up. Restrooms will be available but there will be no formal changing area
Be prepared for a long day – concession stands will NOT be open, bring your own snacks and water
Auditions are closed to the public and no unauthorized video cameras will be allowed

[Lady Cat Registration]

By Mark Kern
bobcats.com

Sometimes it only takes one person to realize the potential someone has and help them to reach it.

Lady Cat Brittany Kerr was cruising around in her car this summer with her friend and fellow Lady Cat Rhema, when the band Pussycat Dolls came on the radio. The two joined in and it didn’t take long for Rhema to realize Brittany’s talents.

“I heard Brittany belting it out and I told her, you can genuinely sing,” said Rhema. “She was all bashful saying she couldn’t sing, but I kept telling her she could genuinely sing.”

Once Rhema heard Brittany singing, she was convinced – Brittany had to try out for American Idol. Brittany tried to play it off at first, telling Rhema there was no way she was good enough to make that leap, but with some more prodding from her friend, Brittany finally decided to give it a shot.

“I have always been a huge fan of music. I think I just did a lot of singing, in my room, in my car and by myself,” she said. “I started to realize I had a chance to take my singing a step further, so I decided to go on Idol.”

Once she decided to tryout of for American Idol, it was off to Savannah, Georgia, where she made quite an impression on judge Steven Tyler. Kerr had just walked onto the stage when Tyler all of a sudden said, “I say yes!”

Even though this was a boost of confidence, Kerr still had to sing for the three judges. The song she decided to sing was “Spoiled” by Joss Stone.

Randy Jackson cast the first vote and, like Tyler, was impressed with Kerr and voted for her to move on.

The next judge, Jennifer Lopez, was not as impressed as the other judges and voted against Kerr going to Hollywood.

This left the final decision up to Tyler, and her performance did not change his opinion, as he again voted for Kerr to get her golden ticket.

This means Kerr is moving on to the Hollywood round, and she could not hide her excitement, along with the many people with her supporting her throughout her incredible journey watching at Strike City in the Epicentre on Wednesday night.

“I am super excited. As you guys just saw, I got my ticket to Hollywood,” she beamed. “I am here with all my friends and family and they are supporting me.”

As great as the accomplishment is for Brittany, it’s also another accomplishment for NBA’s Back-to-Back Most Popular Dance Team, the Lady Cats.

“This is bringing so much attention to our team and organization,” said Rhema. “Brittany was already a star, and now we get to see her on a different stage in a totally different light. We are trying to achieve so many goals and it is truly a blessing, and we could not be more proud of her.”

Now it’s off to Hollywood, where Brittany will again showcase her talent to the country. How far will she go? Make sure to check your local listings and tune to FOX to watch American Idol.

[Brittany at Bobcats.com]

TopCat captain Stacey during the October 30th Panthers-Vikings game

When Stacey became a member of the Carolina Panthers’ TopCats dance team, bloggers and her hometown newspaper pointed out that she had achieved the “Charlotte Trifecta,” cheering for all three of Charlotte’s professional teams: the Checkmates, who dance for minor league hockey’s Charlotte Checkers, then the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats’ Lady Cats, and then the TopCats. That doesn’t even count her first team, dancing for the ABA’s Carolina Thunder. Stacey was the first to achieve the “Charlotte Trifecta,” (observant reader Bill comments below that TopCat rookie Kristy also hit the same trifecta this season) but she also may be the only person to pull off a national feat, the “All-Star Double.” Stacey was selected to represent the Lady Cats at the 2007 NBA All-Star game in Vegas and represented the TopCats in last seasons’ Pro Bowl in Hawaii. I have a feeling no one, man or woman, has represented their teams at both the NBA and NFL all-star games, so Stacey’s feat may be truly unique. Stacey shared with UltimateCheerleaders her path from growing up in a town with one traffic light to a pro dance career that took her to the uncountable lights of Vegas and the brightest NFL stars in Hawaii.

Stacey was born in a large city, but was soon in her small home town. “I was born in Atlanta but my family moved back to West Virgina when I was one,” explains Stacey. “My entire family is from West Virgina. I grew up in a one stop light town called Chapmanville. Seriously, one stop light! Cheerleading, dance, school, and going to my brother’s ball games was my life. It is so far away from my life now, but I look back on that time with the greatest memories.”

For someone who has danced at hockey, basketball, and football games, Stacey’s childhood centered on the other of the “Big Four” sports. “My fondest memories of childhood are from the baseball field,” recalls Stacey. “My town is big into baseball so much of my childhood was at the diamond. My brother played so I was the team’s little sister, concession stand worker, team bracelet maker, and loudest fan for years. I loved every minute of it!”

Stacey’s young life was filled with family, fun, and games. “Being from a small town, family is extremely important,” Stacey relates. “My Sundays growing up were at my grandmother’s house for Sunday dinner. Other family events revolved around some type of game, whether it be croquet, volleyball, Guesstures, Taboo, Uno, or Scrabble. Being together was always number one.”

And of course, dance was a big part of Stacey’s life from early on. “I remember from the time I could make my body move I would dance, cheer, or tumble,” Stacey remembers. “I drove my brother crazy most of the time, and sometimes he would just give up and start dancing too. Mostly because he had no choice. I would stand in front of the TV and perform for my family. Which means no one ever got to watch TV and the poor carpet had a whole in it from my dancing obsession. Needless to say I wasn’t much of a shy kid! I would break into dance whenever and wherever there was an opportunity. Local restaurants, grocery stores, the beach, wherever.”

Cheerleading was in Stacey’s genes, with Stacey’s mom as head cheerleading coach at Chapmanville Regional High School. Stacey’s mom is her role model and supporter on many levels. “My mom was the greatest parent in the world,” Stacey says. “She made sure I had the support and all of the outlets I needed to feed my passion. She was my cheer coach for years, traveled 30 minutes one way three times a week for dance and gymnastics lessons, and gave me the encouragement I needed to chase my dreams. She still comes to most of my games all of these years later and she is hours away.”

“I eventually had to grow up and fly the nest,” Stacey says, who attended Morehead State University in Kentucky. “I received my degree in Exercise Physiology and cheered on an amazing team. After college I attended Marshall University’s Master’s program in Huntington, West Virginia, and received a Master’s of Business. While there, I had the wonderful opportunity to coach the dance team. It was such a great experience.”
Continue reading TopCat Stacey Parlays the “Charlotte Trifecta” into an “All-Star Double”

The new Lady Cats site went live last week, before the NBA season was saved. Check out all the new photos, videos and bios.

[Charlotte Lady Cats]