Local girl vies for Eagles cheer squad
By Rebecca Zemencik
CitizenStandard.com
April 2, 2015
VALLEY VIEW – She’s been involved in cheerleading from the time she was a little girl and now at age 19, Amanda Gerber of Valley View is embarking on one of the most thrilling, competitive cheerleading goals of her life.
On Saturday, March 21, at 10 a.m. Gerber traveled to Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia with her mother Ruthann Harner and her uncle Bruce Johnson to audition with over 400 girls competing for one of the few slots on the Philadelphia Eagles Football Cheerleading squad.
“This is something I have wanted to do for several years already, but I had to wait until I turned 18,” said Gerber. I have been watching for the open call audition dates to post on their website and this year I decided to go for it.”
Gerber, who is a student at Penn State Berks, majoring in communication sciences and disorders managed to find time in her schedule to travel to Philadelphia two times prior to the audition to participate in two workshops in order to meet last year’s squad and learn the dance for the audition.
Although her mother and uncle went with her, they weren’t permitted to go inside with Amanda on March 21. “It was overwhelming,” says Amanda. “I went inside to register and was given a number and had my picture taken with one of the current cheerleaders. All the girls auditioning had one hour to go over the dance and practice. The audition lasted from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.”
The auditions were done in groups of 10. Gerber said there were seven judges which included people on the board, the director and choreographer of the squad. Out of the group of 10, Gerber was the first girl in her group to enter the audition area.
“I was extremely nervous,” says Gerber. I had to lead the line of girls in and they had a specific way that we were to walk in. We each had to do two poses and then the girls with odd numbers had to come to the front of the line to perform the dance and then switch to the back line and perform again. I performed much better when I was in the back of the line.”
At 3 p.m. Gerber found out that she had been cut and was being sent home.
“I was upset, but not as upset as I thought I would be,” says Gerber. “I had a lot of fun and it was something that I never experienced before since it was my first time auditioning. The audition was more dancing than cheering and I was accustomed to that.”
Amanda received a surprise Monday, March 23. Amanda checked her email Monday to find a note from the director of the program asking her to please call as soon as possible in regards to the semi-finals.
“I thought this had to be a mistake,” recalls Amanda. “I was cut, and there was no way I was supposed to be in the semi-finals, but I called the number and said what’s going on?”
The director was impressed by Amanda and was sad to see that she wasn’t on the list for the semi-finals. She pulled some strings and got Amanda a slot on the semi-finals list and she wanted to know if she would be willing to come back.
On Tuesday, March 24, Amanda and her mom were back in Philly so Amanda could learn a new audition dance for the semi-finals auditions that took place Wednesday, April 1 in Philadelphia.
Amanda said there will only be 116 girls on Wednesday and they will be selecting 75 girls from that group to move on. If she makes it through this round she will then have to complete another dance routine in groups of three, model a swimsuit and answer a question on stage before the panel of judges. Amanda said 60 girls will be selected from the 75. Those 60 girls will then be interviewed and she is assuming 40 girls will be selected. She said there are currently 39 girls on the squad and they too have to audition each year.
Amanda said at this point it’s not too bad juggling the trips to Philadelphia and keeping up with her college studies. She says all her classes are in the morning allowing her free time at night.
If she makes the final round and is selected her schedule may get a little crazy. She would have to travel to Philadelphia three times a week for practice and make three appearances throughout the year. She said she believes the squad only participates in home football games.
“My family is so excited and very supportive of me,” says Amanda. “Regardless what happens, I had a lot of fun auditioning and am glad I had this experience that may open doors for me such as modeling or anything. I plan to remain a Penn State student and get my degree. She anticipates attending Main Campus next year. I will work my butt off and try again next year if it’s not meant to be this year.”
Amanda was on the boys basketball cheerleading squad at Penn State Berks this past season. She is the daughter of Ruthann and Chad Harner, Valley View and Gary Gerber. She is the granddaughter of Ruth Riley, Valley View, Penny and Bruce Johnson Sr., Grat and Janice and Kim Harner, Sacramento.
