Medfield’s Cadigan Finalist for Patriots Cheerleading Squad

Erica Cadigan, 21, a nursing student at Boston College, is a finalist for the 2013 New England Patriots Cheerleading squad.
By Theresa Knapp
Medfield Patch
March 25, 2013

Medfield’s Erica Cadigan, 21, is a finalist for the 2013 New England Patriots Cheerleaders squad.

Cadigan is currently a junior, studying medicine in the Connell School of Nursing at Boston College. She works in the Oncology-Hematology Units at Children’s Hospital in Boston as well as on the General medicine unit at Massachusetts General Hospital. She is an active volunteer in the Kreative Kids program at Boston College, which is a music program for children with special needs.

Cadigan has had many years of dance training at both Sheri Gold’s and Jeanette Neil’s, and has also had about 15 years of gymnastics and cheerleading experience. Erica has cheered at the collegiate level at Boston College. This past season was Erica’s rookie year on the Patriots Cheerleaders squad.

The annual Patriots Cheerleaders Boot Camp, the final step in the month-long process to select the 2013 squad, kicked off on Wednesday night. The interview process began earlier this month when approximately 320 applications were submitted at open auditions, among the highest turnout in team history. Fifty-seven candidates were invited back for final auditions on March 16.

Now, entering its final stages, 36 contestants will compete in the annual boot camp portion, which consists of four sessions. At the end of the fourth session on March 30, twenty-four of the most talented, fit and qualified women will be selected for the 2013 Patriots Cheerleaders.

The finalists will run through intensive training sessions consisting of elements of standard Patriots Cheerleader practices. The sessions will involve rigorous fitness and physical training, choreography, public speaking exercises and promotional appearance training drills.

The 2013 Patriots Cheerleading Squad rehearses twice each week and performs at all Patriots home games. In addition to performing in front of nearly 70,000 fans, a spot on the squad provides many exciting and unique opportunities. The cheerleaders travel to an exotic location in the spring for the Patriots Cheerleaders Swimsuit Calendar shoot, with this year’s trip set to take place in June at Coconut Bay Resort in St. Lucia.

The New England Patriots Cheerleaders serve as goodwill ambassadors for the team year-round, making hundreds of appearances throughout New England.

Additionally, the Patriots Cheerleaders have visited deployed military troops in more than 25 countries. In 2012, they were ranked as the number one cheerleading squad in the NFL by CNBC. Patriots Cheerleaders have also appeared on local and national television, including Entertainment Tonight, E!, Inside Edition, Fox News, Late Show with David Letterman, On-Air with Ryan Seacrest, Good Morning America and the CBS Early Show, and in magazines including Sports Illustrated, Maxim and Muscle and Fitness.

36 Finalists for 2013 Patriots Cheerleaders Squad Begin Boot Camp

Finalists are currently participating in the annual Patriots Cheerleaders Boot Camp. Twenty-four women will be selected to the 2013 squad following the boot camp.
by Jeremie Smith
Walpole Patch
3/24/2013

The New England Patriots Cheerleaders kicked off the annual Patriots Cheerleaders Boot Camp Wednesday night, the final step in the month-long process to select the 2013 squad.

Finalists Allison, Kathryn, Stephanie P, Caite, Heather, Stephanie S, Alexandria, Erica, Lisa Marie, Casey, Amber, and Jodi

Finalists made it through the preliminary auditions earlier this month when approximately 320 applications were submitted at open auditions, among the highest turnouts in team history.

Fifty-seven candidates were invited back for final auditions last Saturday and made the cut down to 36. Now, entering its final stages, the 36 contestants will compete in the annual boot camp portion, which consists of four sessions.

At the end of the fourth session on March 30, 24 of the most talented, fit and qualified women will be selected for the 2013 Patriots Cheerleaders.

The finalists will run through intensive training sessions consisting of elements of standard Patriots Cheerleader practices. The sessions will involve rigorous fitness and physical training, choreography, public speaking exercises and promotional appearance training drills.

The 2013 Patriots Cheerleading Squad rehearses twice each week and performs at all Patriots home games. In addition to performing in front of nearly 70,000 fans, a spot on the squad provides many exciting and unique opportunities.

The cheerleaders travel to an exotic location in the spring for the Patriots Cheerleaders Swimsuit Calendar shoot, with this year’s trip set to take place in June at Coconut Bay Resort in St. Lucia. The New England Patriots Cheerleaders serve as goodwill ambassadors for the team year-round, making hundreds of appearances throughout New England. Additionally, the Patriots Cheerleaders have visited deployed military troops in more than 25 countries.

In 2012, they were ranked as the number one cheerleading squad in the NFL by CNBC. Patriots Cheerleaders have also appeared on local and national television, including Entertainment Tonight, E!, Inside Edition, Fox News, Late Show with David Letterman, On-Air with Ryan Seacrest, Good Morning America and the CBS Early Show, and in magazines including Sports Illustrated, Maxim and Muscle and Fitness.

Vote for your favorite Pats Cheerleader finalists!

The judges have narrowed the competition down to 36 finalists for the 2013-14 Patriots Cheerleaders. Now they are asking for your input in determining the final members of the team. Click here to vote for your top ten!

A few notes:

  1. Registration isrequired (I know, it’s a drag) but it puts you in the running for a free NEPC calendar
  2. Voting ends on Friday, March 29 at 5pm (EST)
  3. You can only vote once
  4. There’s no telling how many women will be eliminated to form the final squad. Heck, maybe they’ll keep all of them. (Over the last few years, the team has ranged between 24 and 31 cheerleaders)
  5. Do your votes count? The website doesn’t say so, so I’m guessing not. But it’s probably good for bragging rights for a few of the cheerleaders
  6. We have established that there are at least 3 year veterans among the finalists. As many of you eagle-eyed readers have noted, some of these are Alyssa Caddle, Angela Lavoie, Stephanie Sanchez
  7. About a third of the group are veterans from last year’s team or returning alumni
  8. Rachel was a rookie Charger Girl last year and Kelly is an alum of the Boston Cannons dance team

Separated at birth?

Ok, is this, or is this not the same person? On the left, we have Mysterious Female Person at this year’s New England Patriots Cheerleaders finals. On the right, Angela Lavoie, alumni Patriots Cheerleader (on the team for the 2007, 2008, and 2010 seasons.)

Everybody knows the Pats Cheerleaders have a three-season term limit. Three seasons, and you’re out. That’s been the rule for as long as I can remember. Angela did her three, so that can’t be her. But that other girl…IS her. Seriously, do they not look exactly alike? Is Angela back? Is that her evil twin?

As they say in Español, explicame por favor, because I do not understand this. And it’s going to bug the crapola outta me until I get some answers.

Something to cheer about

By Jordan Graham
Boston Herald
March 3, 2013

[photo gallery]

Hundreds of high-spirited hopefuls from all over New England converged on Foxboro yesterday to show off their moves for a chance to be a Patriots cheerleader.

The first round of auditions, open to any woman over 18, was a day to remember for many dancers.

“The coaches are amazing and were really positive the entire time,” said Sarah Levi of New Hampshire.

Even though she was cut, Levi said she would try out again next year.

“I’ve been cheering my whole life, and it’s always been something I’ve wanted to do,” she said.

Up to 65 dancers will be asked back for the final auditions March 16.

SI.com: NFL Playoffs

Check out Sports Illustrated’s photos from the playoffs. The collection includes cheerleaders from Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Houston Texans, New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers, andWashington Redskins. Click here to check it out!

Prepping for the playoffs

By Michelle Nigro
Swampscott Reporter
Wicked Local: Swampscott
January 18, 2013

Swampscott — As the Patriots head further into the playoffs, memories of the excitement of the Super Bowl last January fill my head. The cheerleaders are already starting to prepare, to ensure we’re ready if our team is lucky enough to advance into February.

The past year was a fantastic time to be a Patriots cheerleader. It started at the Super Bowl and continued to provide members of the squad with endless opportunities to travel and be a part of exciting promotional appearances.

Since cheerleading tryouts in March, everything has been labeled with a “last” for me: last calendar trip, last six-hour Saturday practice, last season home opener, last Halloween game, and the list goes on. But about a month ago, the idea of my last season with the Patriots was questioned.

Traditionally, cheerleaders were only allowed to spend three years on the team. But new policies now permit Patriots cheerleaders to stay on for an additional year. The current “third years” —including myself — are grandfathered into the former rules, and we will be able to receive a retirement ring if we choose to retire. But now, we have the ability to tryout…again.

When I heard the news, I was in shock. After a year of counting my blessings during what I thought was my last chance to be a part of such a wonderful organization, I had to once again decide whether or not I wanted to tryout. I weighed the pros and cons of each decision thoughtfully.

I reflected on one of the most memorable experiences I had this year. It didn’t happen on the sidelines of Gillette or even of Lucas Oil Stadium. It didn’t happen in Jamaica or even in Shanghai. It happened at a little restaurant in Gardner, Mass.

Before an appearance at a liquor store, the owner asked me to have lunch with a local Pop Warner cheerleader who had recently lost her mother after having lost her father last year. I met Mariah, an 11-year-old girl who, despite going through a difficult time, was the sweetest girl I have ever met. We were able to eat lunch in a private dinning room, and within five minutes she was showing me her cartwheels and cheering moves, barely able to contain her excitement.

As we ate buffalo chicken pizza — a favorite food for both of us — she told me her dream was to be just like me when she got older. It’s moments like those I realize the true significance the title of a Patriots cheerleader holds, and how very lucky I am to have been given that honor. I’ll miss meeting incredible young ladies like Mariah, and the rest of the people that have touched my heart over the past three years.

One might think it would be crazy not to try out for another year of once-in-a-lifetime opportunities and experiences as a Patriots cheerleader. But the truth is, I have to move on to the next stage of my life; my college degree needs to be dusted off and put to work.

There are also a few little things that I’ve been doing for the past three years that I could live without. For instance, I don’t remember what it’s like to not have to sit in hours of Boston traffic every Tuesday and Thursday on my way to Foxboro. I have a bad habit of always feeling like I’m going to fall asleep during that ride, regardless of how many iced coffees I drink!

I can’t remember how it feels to have a free Saturday in the summer to catch up with friends or catch up on sleep. And because we’re only allowed to miss one practice a year, taking a vacation has been off-limits for me for quite some time.

I’ve also worked my body hard since I made the team. Sometimes I feel as if my legs are going to pop off if I do another kick. I wouldn’t mind being able to take a week off from the gym without feeling guilty, or not having to second-guess eating a cheeseburger the day before a game.

Despite the little annoyances, if I had to go back to sophomore year in college and decide if I wanted to tryout, I would do it all over again. I would probably try even harder, knowing what was in store for the next three years!

I’m overjoyed my last game at Gillette Stadium will be the AFC Championship, and can’t wait to cheer our team to victory!

I have nothing but excitement for the new ladies who make the team this year, and I hope they are all lucky enough to have the experiences I did, especially meeting amazing people like Mariah.

Michelle Nigro is a Swampscott native, a Patriots cheerleader and a freelance reporter for the Swampscott Reporter.