Maysville home to Bengals cheerleader
As football season quickly approaches, Maysville resident Tina Rigdon prepares to begin her second year as a member of the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengal’s cheerleading squad.
Rigdon, who has been a dancer since the age of 3, was last a member of the team in 2005. Seven years later, she decided to make a comeback.
It wasn’t easy. Rigdon said she competed against about 200 other girls for a spot on the 34-member team. Rigdon trained prior to tryouts, brushing up on turns, leaps and jumps required of team members.
Though the Bengal’s season hasn’t started yet, Rigdon and other cheerleaders have been busy preparing for game-day. Summer practices are held three to four days a week. Cheerleaders are also required to make appearances and attend charity events.
“They want us to be role models,” Rigdon said.
Being a member of the team isn’t the only thing filling Rigdon’s time. She is mother to an 8-year-old son, and she works full-time as fitness director at the Limestone Family YMCA.
“I’m very grateful that I have such a supporting job,” Rigdon said. She added that working as fitness director played hand-in-hand with being a Bengals cheerleader — its a good way to stay in shape.
Rigdon said her son was one of her main reasons for returning to the team. He loves football, and will now have tickets to all of the games.
However, Rigdon remains a busy individual. Every hour of her day is scheduled — from the moment she gets out of the bed in the morning, to the time she goes to bed each night.
“It’s an adjustment, but I’m a person of structure,” Rigdon said.
Rigdon said that for the most part, the cheerleading program is very similar now to what it was seven years ago. However, she said for her personally, she is seven years older, and though she can still meet the demands of the team, she often finds herself more tired, and in need of longer recovery time.
Along with the other cheerleaders, Rigdon must fight each week for a spot in the performance. Only 24 cheerleaders take the field out of the 34 members of the team.
“You have to constantly be on your game,” she said.
Rigdon said that even with this competition, the team was really a sisterhood, all members supporting one another.
With all the hard work that comes with being a member of the team, Rigdon said there is nothing like being on the field at Paul Brown Stadium, in front of 64,000 people, as the Bengals take the field to “Welcome to the Jungle.”
“It’s a rush,” she said.
