Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader Rachel

This article is a couple of years old. I must’ve missed it when it first went on line. Nevertheless, a great article about veteran Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader Rachel L. ~Sasha

The Making Of An American Sweetheart
Caitlin Giddens
BSceneMag.com
September 2013

Rachel Lunsford, one of this year’s rookie Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, breezed into the lobby fitting the image of an “American Sweetheart.” Lunsford’s auburn hair was perfectly imperfect, curled but not stiff. Her smile, which hardly ever left her face, looked sincere and natural. She’s beautiful, but in an approachable way that makes her more likeable – and possibly more stunning. When the BSCENE crew met Lunsford at the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Training Studio in Valley Ranch, the grounds for CMT’s “Making The Team” reality show, she held her blue and white uniform beside her. “Any excuse to try this on again,” Lunsford said with a laugh.

Before donning the iconic Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (DCC) uniform, Lunsford was an East Texas darling. She graduated from Whitehouse High School, where she served as first lieutenant of the First Ladies Drill Team in 2008. Then, she attended Kilgore College to lead as “right middle officer” for the world- renowned Rangerettes. “I’m just a small town girl,” Lunsford said with a shrug of her petite soldiers. With her humble attitude, soft voice and constant smile, Lunsford puts others at ease. For a moment, the BSCENE crew almost forgot we were spending the afternoon at The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Training Studio.

After finishing two years at Kilgore College, Lunsford transferred to the University of North Texas, where she performed on the school’s dance team. North Texas Dancers Director Jennifer Cloutier, a former Cowboys Cheerleader, encouraged Lunsford to look into auditions. With Lunsford’s dance background, it only made sense that she would try out for “America’s Team,” as it’s lovingly called. She had already performed with the Rangerettes, the first and most prestigious college drill team. As a Rangerette, Lunsford learned the importance of poise, etiquette and gratitude. And with the (Dallas Cowboys) Cheerleaders, Lunsford saw more than dancing opportunities. She recognized the character development that the Rangerettes also taught.

“As performers, the Cheerleaders are amazing because they’re performing in front of hundreds of thousands of people,” Lunsford said. “But I also looked at the way the way the Cheerleaders portray themselves and the way they are involved with charities and soldiers overseas. It’s amazing how poised they are. That’s where their beauty comes from, for me. It’s not just about the dancing. Hopefully I can carry that on.”

In 2012, Lunsford auditioned for DCC and made it to training camp. Any fan of CMT’s hit show “Making The Team” can attest for how impressive it is to make it past the fi rst three rounds of auditions. Judges look at more than dance technique; they account for performance skills, overall appearance, facial projections and learning ability. At training camp, Lunsford experienced a dancer’s nightmare: a sudden knee injury. While warming up before practice, Lunsford threw her fi nal kick in a progression. Then she felt her knee pop. Lunsford’s stomach dropped when she realized what an injury would jeopardize, but she told herself she had just popped her knee out of place. Later, the doctor confirmed she had torn her ACL and medial and lateral meniscus.

“I went to the doctor and he told me I had completely blown out my knee,” Lunsford said, her voice softening as she retold the painful story. “I remember crying a lot when it happened. I wasn’t crying because of the pain. I was crying because I was so sad that I had hurt myself and possibly couldn’t go on.”

Lunsford ended up leaving the team and the TV show to undergo knee surgery. The doctor told her this was a common injury, but a very difficult recovery. Throughout the next eight months, Lunsford worked with Dallas Cowboys surgeon Dr. Cooper and physical therapist Alan Thompson. In addition to recovering her knee, she worked to heal her heart and overcome the disappointment of being forced to leave the team.

“I injured myself while I was kicking, although in the Rangerettes we kicked all the time,” Lunsford said. She shook her head, her curled hair loosening as she spoke. “Kicking was something that was second nature to me. After that, I almost became scared of dancing – something that I love so much and something that I grew up doing. So I had to reteach myself to not be scared of something I love.”

When Lunsford came home from surgery, she had received flowers from the team. This served as a reminder of the sisterhood, the sincerity and kindness that first drew Lunsford to the organization. “I remember saying, ‘I just want to be a part of the sisterhood and support,’” Lunsford recalled. “Take away the fact that this organization is so popular and you’re dancing for the Dallas Cowboys, America’s team. Take that away and you have the shell of it, the support and sisterhood. You have the way that they push each other to be better women.”

DCC Director Kelli McGonagill Finglass told Lunsford her year in recovery would pass quickly, then she would be back at auditions. Lunsford held on to Finglass’ encouragement, and this fueled her motivation when she felt like she couldn’t go on with recovery. “I was basically starting from scratch with my knee,” Lunsford said. “There were times that it hurt too bad or I couldn’t straighten my knee, but I had to remember this [making DCC] is a dream of mine. Now I think God is using me as an inspiration to others, showing that just because you have a physical limitation, that doesn’t hold you back from a dream.”

Perhaps Finglass invested in Lunsford and encouraged her return to the team because the DCC director is a fellow East Texas native. She passed through the BSCENE photo shoot with Lunsford, nodding at the rookie’s professional demeanor. Finglass’ acknowledgment lasted only a moment, but spoke to the motherly role the director plays in each Cheerleader’s life. The director has a reputation for demanding perfection among the Cowboys Cheerleaders and has often been portrayed as harsh on “Making The Team.” But Finglass also has a heart for East Texas women, like Lunsford and other former Cheerleaders, who epitomize small town values.

“Because Kelli is from Lindale, she has brought what she learned in East Texas here,” Lunsford explained. “It’s not the dancers that East Texas breeds. It’s teaching women how to be a lady and juggle different things at once … How to keep a smile in your face no matter what is going on.”

Finglass attended elementary school in Tyler, and then her family relocated to Hideaway Lake when she was in third grade. She went to Lindale High School, where she practiced dance twirl because drill team wasn’t available at the time. Although she wasn’t dancing at halftime, Finglass fell in love with the Friday night lights. “I had my eyes set on being a twirler and then going on to be a drum major. And that, probably, unconsciously prepared me for my job more than anything, which was precision-based football performance,” Finglass explained.

Finglass served as drum major until graduating from high school, and then attended Texas Christian University in Fort Worth. She was a dance major at TCU, which meant constant auditions. One day, while sitting in her dorm room listening to the radio, Finglass heard about upcoming DCC tryouts – an audition that would change her life.

“I certainly didn’t think I’d make it when I drove up and saw over a thousand people in the parking lot at Texas Stadium!” Finglass recalled. “But I was lucky. I was noticed, remembered and selected. I honestly didn’t have the extensive dance technique that would be required of a professional dancer … But I did have good showmanship, good projection, good rhythm, good musicality and the ability to learn very quickly. And, I guess that’s exactly what I did.”

Finglass relocated to Dallas and transferred to UNT, which shortened her commute to DCC rehearsals. In addition to practicing with the team every day, Finglass enrolled in dance classes to work on her technique. Finglass’ stint as a Cheerleader lasted longer than most: five years.“That’s a pretty long career,” Finglass said. “Average is two to three years. Five years is a long time.” For Finglass’ fifth year on the squad she was asked to return and the grueling audition process was waived for her. That had never happened before and hasn’t happened since.

After Finglass’s final year on the team, the Cheerleading Department for the Dallas Cowboys underwent some changes. Finglass stepped up to lead the organization she loved and became the assistant director in 1989 and director in 1991. Her degree in marketing, along with her proven devotion to dance, made her perfect for the job.

“The department was costing the Cowboys money at the time. So I tried to start businesses [within the department] that were aligned with our image and our mission,” she explained. “I knew I had this squad of great dancers, and many of which were great dance teachers. So I started camps for children, what we now call ‘Camp DCC.’”

This was Finglass’s first step in making DCC a brand and business. Finglass also worked to market the team as more than a group of performers. “I knew that the Cheerleaders were always in high demand for people to take pictures with, and give autographs, but we really didn’t have a ‘personal appearance department.’” Finglass continued. “So, I started personal appearance bookings for autograph seekers, retail grand openings and … performances. I basically tried to put a business plan to things we already did well, which was perform and create excitement at events.”

Finglass was also the brains behind the team’s appearance alongside the Spartan Cheerleaders on “Saturday Night Live.” She made one call to SNL and the rest is history. Another dream, making a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader Barbie®, required 10 years of writing letters to Mattel and conducting demographic studies. Now on Finglass’ wall hangs the framed acceptance letter from Barbie®, signifying another accomplishment for Finglass and the entire organization.

While DCC has been around for 41 years and shifted into a business under Finglass’ leadership, the team has grown in popularity since CMT’s “Making The Team” aired in 2006. As team director and executive producer of the TV show, Finglass oversees both operations. Finglass received other TV show offers, but her high expectations crossed over when selecting the best outlet to promote the organization.

“We started getting a lot of requests for reality shows a few years ago, and I pretty much turned them all down … they wanted conflict. They wanted hot tub scenes. They wanted girl drama, and I just wasn’t interested because my primary focus was my team, you know, and not dismantling it,” Finglass explained. “But CMT approached us with a different treatment where they were interested in following the Cheerleaders. And I was always interested in something that showed people the audition process and how it showed people the squad and how impressive the ladies are as individuals and their backgrounds, [and] their backstories that come here.”

Each Cheerleader is encouraged to remain true to herself and show her personality through a personal Twitter account. Lunsford explained that the team is not full of cookie cutter women – they are encouraged to develop their own identities.

“Kelli has always told us to showcase who we are and never be ashamed of where we came from,” Lunsford said. “They’re not trying to change us, they’re helping us find who we are and where we fi t in this organization. Our fans can follow us on Twitter. Finglass pushes power in projection, but also through our character and who we are as women.”

“Making The Team” captures some “real” moments when women are cut from the team, sometimes right before the football season starts. Even though the entire audition process is recorded and aired, Finglass and Head Choreographer Judy Trammell refuse to lower their standards. Th ey don’t put on a show when the CMT cameras are rolling. “I just do what I do and let them [videographers] document it. … If Judy and I know this person is just not right for the team this year, it may seem [like we are being] short, but I try to get the [camera] shot over with,” Finglass said.

Fortunately for Lunsford, she was right for the team. During her recovery, Lunsford had the constant support of Finglass and the DCC organization “We were heartbroken last year [when she had to leave the team],” DCC Special Events Coordinator Katelyn Nichols said at the training studio. “Rachel is a perfect fit for us.” When Lunsford heard Nichol’s words of encouragement, she smiled softly. “That makes me really happy,” she whispered. “That makes me want to be a strong ambassador for this organization.”

After the BSCENE interview, Lunsford changed from her denim button-up blouse and pencil skirt into the iconic uniform. “There’s so much detail to this uniform,” Lunsford said fondly. “I can’t stop looking at it. The stones and fringe on it … it’s just so beautiful. It’s a tiny garment and doesn’t hide much, but it’s flattering and one of the most iconic uniforms in America.”

Lunsford has always dreamed of wearing the blue and white uniform and she was close to losing that dream, but now it’s a reality. After her injury last year, Lunsford tried on the uniform, but couldn’t perform with the Cheerleaders. Now the uniform is her own, a symbol of Lunsford’s story of perseverance.“This year, I made a joke of it [trying on the uniform again] and said I could actually twirl around like a little girl and not crutch around in it,” Lunsford said with a laugh. “Putting on this uniform and having it fit to me is something I’ll never forget.”

The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders have become synonymous with perfection and high standards, and East Texas has become a breeding ground for these dancers and future performers. At the core of the organization and at the heart of East Texas lies a common bond: “I was taught in East Texas, not just with dancing but with everything, that performing is about making people happy,” Lunsford said. “It’s about lending a hand and always remembering how fortunate you are.”

Fans can follow Lunsford through her personal Twitter account: @DCC_ Rachel. CMT will premiere “Making The Team” on September 6. Look for Lunsford and “The often imitated, never equaled, internationally acclaimed” Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders at the first regular season game on September 8 at the new AT&T Stadium.