From KUAthletics.com

Raquel Thomas, a national champion dance coach and former captain of the Kansas City ChiefsCcheerleaders, has been selected as the new leader of the Rock Chalk Dance Team as announced by spirit squad coordinator Cat Jarzemkoski Wednesday.

Thomas, a Shawnee Mission, Kan. native, has been involved with dance since the age of three. Most of her dance training was obtained from The Miller Marley Dance Studio. She is an alumna of Shawnee Mission West High School, where she was a member of the cheer and drill team for four years.

Thomas graduated from Avila University with a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s degree in teaching and learning. She served as the assistant dance coach for the Avila University Glitter Girls for 10 years and continued to devote time and support toward the program for two more years by helping the team prepare for UDA Nationals competitions. During her tenure with Avila, the squad won the 2005 National Championship in Orlando, Fla. In that same year, the Avila spirit squad became NAIA Conference Champions.

While coaching the Avila dance team, Thomas was a member of the Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleaders for five years. She was a squad captain and represented the team at the 2001 NFL Pro Bowl in Honolulu, Hawaii. In 2003 and 2004, as a Chiefs Cheerleader, Thomas was selected to be a part of the USO Variety Show Tours and traveled all over the world to entertain American troops. On tour, Thomas danced in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Italy, Fort Worth, Texas, Pensacola, Fla., and Fort Riley, Kan., among others.

During the 2011 season, Thomas was the Director for the AFL KC Command Dancers. Thomas currently teaches fifth grade in the Blue Valley School District. She resides in Overland Park with her husband, former Jayhawk basketball player, Billy Thomas, and their two children, Zion and Leyland.

“Dancing and cheering is the essence of a true performer,” Thomas said. “I am so grateful to be working with such a talented and dedicated group of women. Not only are they passionate about dancing, but they enjoy supporting the passion of their fellow athletes.”

Every year we have a heck of a time getting our hands on the official Pro Bowl Cheerleaders photo card. I don’t know why it’s always so difficult, but it never seems to make its way online. This year, we found this photo on Flickr, but we’re still looking for the real thing. So if you’ve got it, let us know!

The announcement was made at the Eagles-Redskins game on January 1st. SWOOP, who will also be attending the Pro Bowl, adorned her with Hawaiian leis while she was performing on the sidelines during the 1stquarter. Jen said, “I was incredibly surprised when I found out that I was the one cheerleader who was chosen out of the 38 beautiful and talented women on my team. It is such an incredible honor.”

[Jen at PhiladelphiaEagles.com]

Ariana, a  five-year veteran and two-year captain, has been selected as the MDC representative for the 2012 Pro Bowl.  A South Florida native, she has been with the squad since she was 18 and is currently a junior studying communications at a local university.   Being selected Pro Bowl Cheerleader is considered to be the highest honor a Miami Dolphins Cheerleader can receive.

“I am so honored to be chosen by my teammates to represent the Miami Dolphins for the 2012 Pro Bowl,” Ariana said. “I was so overwhelmed with joy when they called my name on the field and was excited to celebrate it having my best friends right beside me.  It means so much that my teammates view me as the best representation of this squad.  I know that I won’t let them down.  I am looking forward to being in Hawaii for the first time and meeting the other talented Pro Bowl cheerleaders!”

[Arianna at MiamiDolphins.net]

Congratulations to seven-year veteran Brandy, who was selected by her teammates to represent the AFC at the 2012 Pro Bowl.

[Brandy at AtlantaFalcons.com]

Congratulations to Line Captain Lauren O. who was selected as the Pro Bowl Cheerleader for the Charger Girls.

Lauren is a third year Charger Girl and a first year Line Captain.  She graduated from Sonoma State University with a Bachelor of Science in Economics and is the owner of two mobile dance companies that teach dance, cheer and creative movement to local school children.

Congratulations Lauren!

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”

It’s time for the annual San Diego Chargers Pro Bowl Cheerleader vote. The Chargers organization has narrowed the field down to three candidates: veterans Katie, Lauren O., and Marissa. Click here to cast your vote.