Monday Morning Cheerleader: Tonya of the San Diego Charger Girls
By Steve Mazzucchi
Esquire
After San Diego’s 11th straight win — this time with backups! — second-year Charger Girl Tonya believes even Vegas is underestimating her team’s Super Bowl heat. Even if it does have to face the Patriots.
On a Sunday when seemingly every AFC game had potential playoff implications, one Week 17 matchup truly didn’t. The Chargers, already locked in as that conference’s No. 2 seed, rested several stars, and the Redskins, playing for pride (again), stuck with their starters. In a season so smiled-upon you could call them the Charmers, was it any surprise that second-string QB Billy Volek’s last-minute TD pass delivered a 23-20 San Diego victory?
Yet Coach Norv Turner, fired by Washington ten years ago, wasn’t the only ex-Redskin smiling. Thanks to a couple of cross-country moves, Charger Girls captain Tonya has also cheered for the Cardinals and ‘Skins. “I’ve been called a free agent,” she jokes. She has another team, too. A Navy surviving spouse, Tonya co-founded Sweethearts for Soldiers, a nonprofit group of former NFL Cheerleaders and NBA Dancers that performs morale-boosting shows all over the globe. “We go from the sidelines to the front lines to support our true heroes, the troops,” she explains. Now working on an MBA, this go-getting Web development company owner has equally ambitious goals for the 13-3 Bolts.
ESQUIRE: When San Diego lost at home to Denver to fall to 2-3 way back in October, did you have any notion the team would finish the season winning 11 straight?
TONYA: Wow. We try to be as optimistic as possible, but a winning season and playoffs were what we hoped for. Getting the offense to gel and getting the defense back up were the main things on our minds. The cheerleaders are really excited. That game against the Bengals a couple weeks ago was so loud it was incredible. I told the rookies on my line, “This is how a playoff game is.”
ESQ: With playoff position secured, you don’t want guys getting rusty, but you also don’t want them getting hurt — like the Pats losing Wes Welker to a knee injury. How’d you feel about Turner keeping stars like Shawne Merriman and Vincent Jackson off the field today?
T: Well, they actually have injuries that need to heal. Philip Rivers and LT played early, but we didn’t want them getting hurt either. So that was a great call. For team morale and momentum, this win really put us over the top. It’s nice to end on a high note, and go into the playoffs with the second seed and a bye.
ESQ: LT had his first sub-thousand-yard season. Merriman had just four sacks. What’s been the key to piling up wins with two of the team’s most visible stars struggling a bit?
T: Consistency on both sides of the ball. We are always there. Rivers and Jackson connect week after week. LT maybe held back a couple of times, but he’s healthy and he’ll be there for the playoffs. Norv Turner has made all the right calls this year, and the stars have aligned in our favor.
ESQ: Besides Pro Bowl snub Jackson, who else doesn’t get enough credit for one of the best seasons in Chargers history?
T: On defense, we’ve been incredible, from Stephen Cooper to Eric Weddle to Kevin Burnett. It’s hard to pick out one player because so many have contributed. Look at the game today — our second string steps up and we still pull off a win. That just shows how much heart and passion and drive and talent we’ve got. And that makes 18 straight wins in December for Rivers.
ESQ: Speaking of Rivers — great, or really, really great?
T: I would have to say amazing. Over-the-top fantastic MVP. Each year he gets better and better. This will be our fourth consecutive AFC West championship. And beating the Redskins, I guess you can give us an NFC East title as well — we beat all their teams this season. Just a great team leader who gets the job done above and beyond — knowing where he is, what call he needs to make, being patient in the pocket. He hit his career high in passing yards this year.
ESQ: Which playoff team keeps you up at night?
T: You don’t want to overlook the Colts, but for this team, I would have to say the Pats, just because of our history with them. They’ve knocked us out twice in the last three years. If we face them again, with Welker out, hopefully we can take advantage. We’ve had LT out in other years. Maybe it’s our turn.
ESQ: Vegas currently has the Chargers at 4-to-1 to win the Super Bowl, behind only the Colts and the Saints. Are the oddsmakers getting it right?
T: Four-to-1?! I believe this year is our year. We’ve got everyone healthy — LT, Jackson, Antonio Gates, Merriman. I feel really optimistic, and I hope that doesn’t jinx us. Look at the Saints, going in with three straight losses, and the Colts going in with two straight losses. We’re going in with an 11-game winning streak. As long as we keep our heads in the game and our emotions streamlined, we can go all the way.
ESQ: Last but not least, both you and fellow Charger Girl Casie have fantastic abs. What’s your secret?
T: It’s having to have a beach body all year round! With 365 days of sunshine, you can’t afford to put on winter weight. I was on the beach on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. They did a poll, and 10 percent of NFL players picked the Chargers as the team they’d want to play for. Of course it’s a great organization, but I think our geographical area factored in as well. We also have the hottest dance team in the NFL. And now we have the hottest team in the NFL. Both are living up to our weather.
