Lufkin native a finalist for Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders squad

KTRE.com | Lufkin and Nacogdoches, Texas

By Jeff Awtrey
KTRE.com
May 06, 2015

A Lufkin woman who was the first black captain of the high school dance team is seeing her dream to become a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader take another step.

Khalyn Cole is a finalist in the competition to attend the squad’s training camp.

The public can vote for one finalist to receive an automatic bid to go to training camp by voting here.

Cole graduated from Lufkin High in 2012 and is finishing up her third year as a dancer at North Texas.

However, a young Khalyn Cole wasn’t sure if dance was for her.

“She didn’t want to to dance,” said mother Melinda Cole. “She would go to the classes and just cry.”

On Wednesday, Melinda Cole anxiously awaited her daughter’s fate in the final rounds of the elite Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader auditions.

“The young lady that receives the most fan votes, they automatically go to the next level,” Melinda Cole said.

We were able to Facetime with the very excited UNT junior, who says she is counting her blessings.

“It’s very fortunate to have made it this far,” said Khalyn Cole. “We started with somewhere between 200 to 250 girls on the first day of auditions and now its gotten down to around 50 to 60 girls.”

The former Lufkin Panther Pride captain admits her East Texas dance training has guided her to this point

“I’m really looking forward to showing my solo to the judges and also the veterans, who are also current Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders now,” said Khalyn Cole. “So I’m really just excited to meet them and dance with them as well.”

With another huge audition in front of her, one would think that she is nervous.

“No, I’m not scared,” said Khalyn Cole. “I really love to perform, so I’m just really excited to show my personality through my solo to the judges, so that they can get to know me better.”