Eagles 2011: Delco Women Cheer on the Birds

By Frank Otto
Delaware County Times

All four agreed. The first time they charged out of the tunnel at Lincoln Financial Field to the roar of 70,000 fans, they knew they were part of something big.

“I feel like, for all rookies, your first time coming out of the tunnel and just seeing the crowd…” said

one. “You just stop and look at it and it’s just an amazing feeling for anyone.”

“Not only seeing our fans, but knowing that there are cameras everywhere,” said another. “It hits you all of a sudden.”

“There are really not words to

describe walking out,” another said, smiling. “It almost makes you want to cry.”

These aren’t the Philadelphia Eagles. These are four of their cheerleaders, all Delaware

County natives: sisters Paige and Danni-Lynn Bell of Media, Jessica Gonzalez of Ridley and Jaqueline Ranieri of Glen Mills.

The Bells, Gonzalez and Ranieri find themselves on national television many Sundays every year and are part of a high profile organization. Despite that, they don’t think they’re particularly famous.

“I feel like I don’t really see myself that way,” said Paige, one of the squad’s captains. “I don’t really notice it when I’m doing it.”

Paige said that her relative fame only hits her when she’s recognized outside of the games.

“We don’t really recognize (our popularity) until somebody notices it,” said Gonzalez.

Certainly, none of the women were groomed for the spotlight like someone from glitzy towns like Los Angeles or New York City. Most just had backgrounds in dancing or cheering in Delaware County and carried that to their current level.

Cheerleading is a family affair with the Bells. They’re veterans, each with four years on the squad. Their older sister joined the squad five years ago and they said that, after seeing the different opportunities she had, they decided that they wanted to be a part of it.

“We kind of got a little bit jealous,” said Dann-Lynn, smiling.

Paige, 21, just graduated from West Chester University. Danni-Lynn, 24, works at the Per Lei Boutique in Media, where she does buying and styling.

Gonzalez, 26, is in her third year of cheering for the Eagles. She said she’s been a cheerleader since she was five years old. She continued through college, when she cheered as part of an all-star squad, the Thunder Elite All-Stars in Delaware County.

“After college, it just seemed like I was ready for the NFL,” she laughed.

Gonzalez currently works as the assistant to a spine surgeon at the Rothman Institute.

Ranieri, 26, is in her sophomore season with the Eagles. She did a mix of dancing and cheerleading when she was younger and one of the reasons she became an Eagles cheerleader was that she missed dancing.

Ranieri is an elementary health and physical education teacher in Downingtown.

Eagles cheerleaders practice long hours, starting around 7 p.m. Rehearsals go over three hours many times during their two-practice-a-week schedule.

However, traditions that date back to their childhoods might help them soldier on.

“Our dad always had parties in our house,” Paige said. “Football was a really big part of our lives and our family.”

“Same here. My whole family was really into football ever since I was young,” said Gonzalez. “I’ve always been an Eagles fan so it just sort of worked out.”

“I think that being from this area, being local to the Eagles and so close (as) to come down to the game, you’re just always around it,” Ranieri said. “It’s just a nice way to incorporate it a lot more into your life.”

The four Delco natives met different celebrities and participated in igh-profile events during their respective tenures.

Paige was even in 16-year-old internet lip-syncing sensation Keenan Cahill’s video for Katy Perry’s “Last Friday Night,” filmed in Philadelphia. Cahill previously filmed lip-synchs with San Francisco Giants Brian Wilson and Cody Ross and also rapper 50 Cent, among others.

“He does these videos with so many famous people,” said Paige. “For me to be in a video with him, I just felt extra, extra special that day.”

Celebrity perks aside, Danni-Lynn said that one of their favorite parts of cheering was working with the other women.

“This is the only time, away from college, that you can be around all different girls your age with all the same interests,” she said. “You get to know some really good girls and stay friends with them for a while.”

Ranieri also said that the attention from fans and young girls looking up them and aspiring to be cheerleaders impacts them.

“It really makes us take a step back and realize the opportunity we have,” she said.

The four know that they can’t cheer forever, but none seemed able to imagine life after cheering, since so much of their time is taken up doing it.

“It’s such a big part of your life,” said Gonzalez. “Not just practice, but things outside (of that).”

“You think about what you’d do in your free time, but to really have it all again?” said Ranieri. “I don’t know what I’d do.”

“I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like,” said Paige. “When else do you have the chance to perform in front of 70,000 people?”

“We’ll figure something out,” said Danni-Lynn.

In the meantime, they’re gearing up for this season. Although the lockout hung over their heads, they did everything they could to prepare themselves and tried to “stay positive.”

With games definitely on their slate now, the cheerleaders are as ready to go as anyone.

“We’re really excited, and I think the fans are excited, to get back to football again,” said Ranieri.

[Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleaders]