Patriots Cheerleader, Killingworth Woman, Rides Wave of Super Bowl Win
By Sarah Page Kyrcz
NHReigster.com
Camille Kostek was still riding the winning wave the morning after the New England Patriots won Super Bowl XLIX. With front row seats to the big game, the Killingworth resident and Patriot’s cheerleader reveled in her team’s victory over the Seattle Seahawks, 28-24.
“I am completely exhausted,” said a very hoarse Kostek, via phone from her hotel in Phoenix. “It was an indescribable feeling. It left me speechless. I wish I could live in that moment for a lifetime.”
Together with her team of 27 other cheerleaders, Kostek, 22, says the game day routine is exhilarating, yet physically exhausting. She is one of 18 who make up the dance squad.
“During a dance routine, it’s like doing cardio for a long time. But, you’re just so lost in the moment and focusing on the choreography and perfecting every move and putting on a show for the whole crowd that you get, you really just truly get lost in the workout,” she explained.
Referred to as a “game day hangover,” by Kostek and her fellow dance team members, “you feel like you danced your body off and we all are waking up today (Monday) so sore and achy. Muscles are hurting that we never knew existed.”
Having their moment of fame to perform in front of the entire stadium during the first half of the game was exciting and exhilarating as the group showed off what they had been practicing. And then there’s the 100 million viewers who might catch them on bouncing on the sidelines in a quick television shot.
“It was just us performing and then in the second half the Seahawks had an opportunity to do their one minute end zone routine,” she explained. “We did the one (routine) that kind of showed off a lot of things that highlight our team. We did jumps, splits and high kicks and a kick line and our dance routine just shows a lot of high energy.”
As a communications major at Eastern Connecticut State University, Kostek is often called upon to represent the team in interviews. “It’s great for me to speak on behalf of the team and do things that I went to school for.”
Since the cheerleading job is part time, she works part time at Madison’s Ciao Bella boutique. Their Instagram account, shopciaobella, highlighted her trip to the Super Bowl with the message, “Good luck to our girl Camille tonight at #SUPER BOWLXLIX love from your #ciaobellamadison #family!”
Back in Phoenix, the celebration went on into the wee hours of Monday morning and Kostek was a part of it all.
“We were fortunate enough to be the team that got to stay there (stadium) until not only the end of the game, but the COMPLETE end of the game, until everybody was cleared out of the stadium — just in awe and celebration,” Kostek said.
She said that being on the winning team was extra special, but that just getting to the Super Bowl was celebration worthy.
“Either way, after the game, we were going to celebrate just making it this far,” she said. “We knew that in order to truly enjoy ever last moment of being in Phoenix that we had to win and we did!”
While Kostek’s family did not travel to Phoenix and watched the game from Gillette Stadium, she said she has a special bond with her fellow cheerleaders that makes it feel like she was with family at the game.
“I call them my NEPC sisters,” she says. “NEPC stands for New England Patriots Cheerleaders. So we’re all NEPC sisters.”
As for her relationship with the players, there is a “no fraternization” rule and therefore any connection to them is limited to public or charitable appearances on behalf of the team.
On the sidelines, cheering the players on is hard work and physically exhausting, yet Kostek said she and her teammates “get front row seats to the game, essentially.”
“We turn around and face the crowd between plays and during time out and between quarters, two minute warnings to perform.”
And perform they do.
“Although a lot of our dancing feet were so tired from like dancing the entire game and practicing all week and very little sleep, being up for every appearance that we were asked of,” said Kostek. “None of us even wanted to sleep, because who wants to sleep when you’re in Phoenix for the Super Bowl week!”
