Dreams Meet Reality for Jills Hopefuls
Three cheerleaders kick up their heels in tryouts for the Buffalo Jills
By Jay Skurski
Buffalo News
Think American Idol, without the snarky Simon Cowell. And instead of singing, it’s cheerleading that’s being judged.
In this reality show, the grand prize isn’t a recording contract, but rather a chance to cheer in front of 70,000 raucous fans at Ralph Wilson Stadium. More than 100 young women filled the Town Ballroom recently, auditioning to become the next team of Buffalo Jills.
Three emotional rounds of tryouts. Three would-be Jills.
There’s Rebecca, a 21-year-old from Lancaster who is a coach with the Lancaster Redskins junior cheerleaders. (There is a Buffalo Bills policy against disclosing the women’s last names.)
There’s also Jenna, a Rochester resident who wants to become a Jill to help make a difference in the community.
And finally there’s Kaitlin, a Grand Island resident who’s attempting to rejoin the team after a year off to deal with family tragedies.
“I remember as a little girl going to the Bills games,” Kaitlin said. “I didn’t care about the football, I was watching the cheerleaders. I knew right then and there that I wanted to be a Jill.”
She realized her dream two seasons ago, but the joy quickly turned to anguish. On the day Kaitlin found out she was chosen, her mother passed away. Ten months later, Kaitlin’s sister was killed in a car accident less than a mile from their home.
“I’m going in there to make my mom and my sister proud. I hope they’re going to be watching me. I’ll be doing this for them and myself,” said Kaitlin, who was a cheerleader with the Grand Island Junior Vikings, and continued on with the sport through high school.
“My mom got me started cheering when I was 5, and she always wanted me to do my best with it. That means being on the Jills,” Kaitlin said.
Except for the eight team captains, the previous season’s Jills must compete again for spots on either the 35-member dance team or 10-member group of ambassadors who appear at off- the-field events.
For newcomers like Rebecca and Jenna, making the Jills has been a longtime aspiration.
“In seventh grade, my dad was watching a football game and mentioned to me I could be a Buffalo Jill someday, so for the past 10 or so years that’s been my goal,” Rebecca said.
In typical Idol style, contestants went through three rounds of auditions. Kaitlin, Rebecca and Jenna were interviewed before and after their performances at the Ballroom.
“It was fun, but I’ve never been more nervous in my entire life,” Kaitlin said.
Jenna shared similar sentiments.
“It’s hard to know what my chances are going to be because there are so many girls and so many did so well,” Jenna said.
The best of the three in the Jills’ eyes was Kaitlin, who made the squad. Jenna and Rebecca were not so fortunate.
Even though she’s been there before, Kaitlin said being a Jill previously didn’t mean she had an advantage in this year’s competition.
“It’s a very difficult process,” she said. “I think it’s much more difficult for veterans because we have such high standards. I think you have to work much harder. You have to show people you deserve thats pot.”
