Patriots Cheerleader Amber Smith Begins 3rd Season With Squad

By Brad Cole
Wicked Local Norwood

Three years into her dream, Amber Smith is still ecstatic about being a New England Patriots Cheerleader.

“Being that it was my third year auditioning for the squad I went into this audition with way more confidence and knowledge of what to expect,” Smith said. “I knew what the judges were looking for and I went into this year’s audition as a third year veteran who was ready to claim her spot on the team.”

Smith, who was first named to the squad in 2011, said she was “beyond ecstatic” to staying on for another season.

“This is a very competitive team and to make it again for another year when there were so many beautiful and talented woman is truly an honor,” she said.

Smith, 22, is a Norwood High School graduate and attended Bridgewater State University to study corporate communications. Her cheerleading career goes back to the fifth grade.

As a coach, Amber and her sister Teshevana helped lead Norwood’s Pop Warner A-team cheerleaders to the 2012 National Championships in Florida, where the team placed second in the nation.

“I had been cheering in the fifth grade and a dancer ever since I learned how to walk,” Smith said. “It seemed only right to take my dance and cheer experience to the next level by becoming a New England Patriots Cheerleader.”

Smith first auditioned for the squad in 2011.

“I showed up at the Dana Farber field house early morning on audition day with a hand full of paperwork and a body full of nerves and excitement,” Smith said. “I made it round after round and after a long day, I advanced to finals.”

After a successful audition at the field house, Smith was sent to boot camp, a two-week course consisting of workouts, learning several routines and media training.

“At the end of the two weeks the team was announced via email with my name on the list,” Smith said, and she has been a Patriots Cheerleader ever since.

“I want to thank my coach, Tracy Sormanti, and all of this year’s judges for seeing something special in me,” Smith said. “I am extremely proud to be able to represent the New England Patriots in such an amazing way.”

In her two seasons with the team thus far, Smith has had a number of opportunities and unique experiences. One of her most treasured memories came in October 2012, when the Patriots went head-to-head with the St. Louis Rams in London.

“Four cheerleaders were selected to travel with the team to London for their away game against the Rams. While we were there we got the chance to tour the city and see all of the beautiful sites that most people only get to see on TV,” Smith said. “We danced for thousands of people and got to meet some amazing Patriots fans!”

Not all of Smith’s duties take place by the field. As a New England Patriots Cheerleader, she has filmed commercials, done a number of photo shoots and makes promotional appearances. Last June was a busy month in particular for Amber. First, she went to Jamaica for a calendar shoot, along with a number of other Patriots Cheerleaders. When she returned, she made the trip to Los Angeles, where she filmed an NFL Fantasy Football commercial.

Smith will be a part of the Patriots Cheerleaders 2014 calendar as well, as in June, she travels to the Coconuts Bay Resort in St. Lucia for the photo shoot.

“It’s one of my favorite parts of the year,” she said.

While there is some glamour to all the photo shoots and the calendars, there is more to being a cheerleader than that, Smith said.

“It’s important to know that the Patriots Cheerleaders are hard working, dedicated and committed women,” Smith said, and she hopes this season, the cheerleaders and the team they cheer end up victorious at Super Bowl XLVIII at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.