Fall fashion touches down

By Jill Radsken
Boston Herald
September 18, 2011

For years, New England Patriots [team stats] Hall of Famer Andre Tippett commanded the field in Foxboro. Today his daughter does the same — but without all the padding of a linebacker.

Patriots cheerleader Asia Barnes, who’ll be whipping up the crowd for today’s game against the San Diego Chargers, works her magic on the sidelines. “It was on my own I tried out to cheer, but he was supportive when he found out,” said the recent University of Massachusetts at Amherst grad, who plans to apply to medical school this winter.

Patriots cheerleading coach Tracy Sormonti said the 22-year-old beauty is the complete package.

“I always know I’m going to get the best from her,” said Sormonti.

“The camaraderie is the most rewarding part,” said Barnes, who juggles a part-time job at a North Shore investment company with practice and games. “It’s just so hard juggling it with family life and school and the girls understand it. I’m still friends with girls I met my rookie year.”

Barnes spends a lot of time doing high-intensity workouts and learning scores of routines. But she also makes dozens of appearances across New England.

Sormonti called Barnes a “classic overachiever” — which isn’t that surprising given her dad’s tremendous talent as a player.

“It’s interesting to be cheering on the same field that your dad, an all-time football great, performed on,” Sormonti said.

But she added, “She’s not a name-dropper. She wouldn’t say, ‘My dad’s Andre Tippett.’ That makes her pretty unique.”

Barnes’ second part-time job also makes her stand out — she’s a model with Maggie Inc. in Boston, and has appeared in the Herald’s fashion pages. Check out Barnes in the winning looks of the season: