Local women vie to be Patriots cheerleaders
By Matt Tota
Wicked Local
March 3, 2012
FOXBOROUGH — The gloomy weather outside the Dana-Farber Field House yesterday was in stark contrast to the more than 200 wide-eyed and smiling women inside, all vying to become New England Patriots cheerleaders.
“Work, work, work,” said Tracy Sormanti, head coach of the Patriots cheering squad, addressing the sea of women sitting on the turf, “don’t give up, do your very, very best.”
“Don’t be scared,” she said.
The auditions included two rounds that whittled the field down to 65 hopefuls. They will return for a final round of tryouts and interviews on March 17. The final squad will consist of 24 women.
Current Patriots cheerleaders, voted the NFL’s best by CNBC, were on hand to give the women guidance and take part in the rapid-fire routines.
A group stretching session led the auditions off. After, the women watched closely as choreographer Heidi Sullivan-Laroche went through the first routine, which was comprised of leg kicks, knee twirls, jazz glides and hair whips.
Competing in the auditions for her first time, Kristie Grace, 18, of Mendon, was bubbling with emotion and, bobbing to the music, could barely hide her excitement. “My nervousness level is all the way up,” she said.
Grace, a cheerleader at Johnson & Wales University, where she studies business, said that, though she certainly wants to become a Patriots cheerleader, simply being a part of the auditions is fulfilling.
“It’s just about the experience and meeting people,” she said.
At last year’s auditions, Nicole Luis, 29, of Hopkinton, was ousted in the first round, so she knows not to let her ambitions eclipse her focus. “I am taking this year with a grain of salt,” she said.
Luis’ background is in dance, not cheering. In fact, she said, she hasn’t cheered a day in her life. But she is a huge Patriots fan. “I’m obsessed with the Patriots,” she said.
Luis said she hoped to at least make it into the second round this year.
For her, dancing is a profession and cheering is a tiny hurdle to leap.
“It’s a challenge,” she said of being a cheerleader. “At my age, you want to try as many different things that you love as possible.”
To see an updated list of which women made the cut and to watch audition video, go to patriots.com/cheerleaders.
