Yorktown senior tries out for Colts cheerleaders

Kasey Ashley has already made it through the first few rounds of auditions for a spot on the squad.

By Jeri Reichanadter
The Star Press
April 15, 2010

YORKTOWN — Kasey Ashley, 18, had only about 30 minutes to learn the new dance before she was put to the test. Her number, 247, was called first to go before the judges along with four other women. This was it, make it or break it.

It was both nerve-wracking and exciting for the Yorktown High School senior. She was performing in front of judges who scrutinized everything from her dance moves to her hair, make-up and, yes, the darkness of her tan.

Ashley, along with 299 other women, were trying out to be an Indianapolis Colts cheerleader. The final squad contains only 32 women, and everyone has to try out, so Kasey was going up against women who had performed at the Super Bowl.

She did well, and made the cut, one of only 100 women who advanced. The next rounds of tryouts continue this week.

Her mom Lisa was waiting in the car for her when she got a text from her daughter that she’d advanced.

“I just sobbed,” she said. “Good sobs. We’re very proud of her, she’s got a great head on her shoulders.”

Lisa said that she and her husband, Mike, support their children in all they do. Jake, their high school sophomore is a football player, and Mikala their seventh-grader, also is a cheerleader.

“We try to make it to all of their events,” she said.

But would they be able to make it to all those Colts home games?

“You can count on it,” she said with a big smile.

Having spent her entire high school career on the cheerleading squad, Kasey Ashley doesn’t want to say good-bye to the sport when she graduates. Plus she sees being a Colts cheerleader as an opportunity to help her learn to be a better coach in years to come. She hopes to eventually teach elementary school and coach her own squad.

In her spare time, Ashley likes to hang out with her family and friends — not that she has a lot of spare time. She’s the senior class president and the student council secretary, participates in the annual dance marathon to benefit Riley Hospital for Children, has played softball and participated in Kick-off Mentoring.

She’ll be performing in Colts cheerleader tryouts again tonight (April 15) and hopes to make the cut again. Those who make it through this round of the audition process will go on to compete at a Runway Show on May 5, where the final selections will be made.

Voting is open online at www.colts.com for the public’s favorite cheerleader. As of Tuesday morning, Ashley was in fifth place on the leaderboard. To vote for Kasey Ashley, look for number 247. And maybe the next time you watch a Colts came you’ll be able to see her on the field.