Seattle Sea Gal returns home: Q&A With a Chamorro NFL cheerleader

Stephanie Godlewski
Pika Magazine
3/1/2010

Chamorrita and Sea Gal Pia Gillan returned to Guam with her squad last month. The group wowed military audiences during the Super Bowl.

Pika caught up with Guam’s favorite Sea Gal and learned a lot about life as a cheerleader in the National Football League. Here’s what she had to say:

Pika: What have you been up to since becoming a Sea Gal?

PG: I don’t know where to start. It’s been a crazy year. (she shakes her head in the tropical breeze and her hair blows across her face. She extracts the stray strands from her mouth, smiles brightly and continues) A few months before I graduated I made the team. I made the team in April then I graduated in June. As soon as we made the team the next week it was practice, practice, practice. All throughout the summer every weekend once throughout the week. It was just hectic and the season didn’t actually start until August. We were practicing for that and games every Sunday. Appearances left and right, which I love, that’s probably my favorite part about being a Sea Gal, then this tour.

Pika: Next year are you planning to re-audition? Do you re-audition or just get picked up?

PG: Everyone has to go through auditions again, but the nice thing is we just go to finals automatically. We don’t have to go through the three-step process.

Pika: So you want to do another year?

PG: I hope so! (She says with an excited shrug) I’m going to try. I’ll definitely try.

Pika: During the season you had two practices a week then games on Sunday?

PG: We practice Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30 until whenever she lets us go, usually it’s about four hours long. That’s twice a week. Then we have games on Sunday and we’re there for about nine hours, so that’s our whole Sunday.

Pika: Is it all dancing or is there other training too? Are you guys lifting weights and running?

PG: Oh no, we start dancing right away. It’s a lot of working out. We work out at practice like stretching and cardio, but mostly dancing. I don’t know if you saw the kick line (she gestures back to the performance area) but that’s a work out on its own.

Pika: Did you have a favorite game this year?

PG: Probably the first one. (She pauses to look off to one side pondering) My first and last game. The first game because I didn’t know what to expect. I’m usually a nervous person. I was in SKIP and I was always nervous before performing. But going out there in front of 65,000 people I was totally fine. It was great.

Pika: What was it like to walk out there that first time?

PG: I can’t really describe it. Everyone is cheering down on you. (she says motioning with her flashing pom-poms) It’s one of the loudest stadiums in the NFL so it’s so loud you can’t help but bring back the energy and bounce it off of them. It’s an amazing experience.

Pika: What about the Seahawks fans, are they good fans?

PG: The best fans ever, except for my local fans. They’re just so loud. I don’t even know how to explain it. If the team is not doing well, which you know, I don’t want to go there, (she motions with her hand as if brushing something off. Too bad the Seahawks can’t brush off their poor performance the same way.) but the fans don’t stop. They’re there 100 percent for everyone.

Pika: Who are you rooting for in the Superbowl?

PG: I don’t have a preference but I’m going to go with the Saints because I feel like they deserve it. It’s their first time to the Super Bowl. I feel like, why not? Go for the Saints.

Pika: Do you hope to be at the Super Bowl one day?

PG: Oh yes. (she says getting visibly excited) I was just talking about that today because we were at the kick off and all the girls were saying, ‘How cool would it be to go to the Super Bowl?’ We have three girls who went to the Super Bowl with the Seahawks a few years ago and they loved it, so hopefully one day.

Pika: What’s your favorite junk food?

PG: Salt and vinegar chips are my favorite. (she says with a big smile)

Pika: Do you get much fiesta food out in Seattle?

PG: Not really. I try to cook on my own but I’m not very good.

Pika: Has your family been supportive of your cheering?

PG: Oh yeah. They’re so excited. My mom is like my biggest fan in my family. She’s so excited. I came home for Christmas break and everything was blue and green Seahawks colors for our party.

Pika: What do you hope to do with your criminal justice degree?

PG: I’m trying to study for the LSATs this year, taking a break then trying to go to law school next year, 2011.

Pika: Once you become a lawyer do you hope to come back to Guam?

PG: Yes I hope to raise my family here.

Pika: What do you miss most?

PG: My family first and foremost. I have two younger siblings and it’s so hard to be away from them. Sometimes I can’t even call them because it gets me so emotional just hearing their voices. And the food, of course. (She turns around to look at the view off Nimitz Hill) Then the beautiful scenery.

Pika: Do you have a boyfriend?

PG: Yes

Pika: Is he a Seahawks fan?

PG: Yes. (she giggles) Mostly a Sea Gals fan though.

Pika: What’s your idea of a perfect date with your boyfriend?

PG: I don’t know. We love to go out and try new restaurants. I love just doing that, eating.

Pika: So how do you stay in shape?

PG: Practice, working out.

Pika: Did you watch a lot of football before you joined the Sea Gals?

PG: I did. I wouldn’t watch it as religiously as I do now. It’s so much more exciting now because I see it firsthand. I would watch with my dad growing up.

Pika: Do you watch the other squads?

PG: Oh yeah. It’s funny because I went to my first Seahawks game when I first started college and I was just watching the cheerleaders. Now here I am.

Pika: There are some people who don’t consider cheerleading a sport. What would you say to them?

PG: It’s a sport. (she says slightly taken aback by the question and takes a moment to collect her thoughts before continuing.) It’s definitely a sport. Dance is a sport. We basically dance that’s all we do pretty much and root on our team. It’s definitely a sport.

Pika: Anything you want to tell the people of Guam?

PG: I miss you all. (she says leaning forward as if she wanted to say it to everyone directly) I love home. I got off the plane and was like, ‘Why am I living in Seattle. I want to be back here.’ But this is such an amazing experience and it’s only making me a stronger person and building character. But I will be back.

Pika: Anything you want to add?

PG: I was just going to say to any aspiring cheerleaders or dancers or anyone on the island, (she says taking a serious tone) if you have a chance to go off and try something, just do it you never know what’s going to happen. I did it on a whim and even if you don’t make it you tried. Just go out there and have fun with it!