YHS grad selected for Omaha Nighthawks cheer squad

By Candace Blomendahl
York News-Times
July 13, 2010

OMAHA — Janelle DeBoer, a 2004 York High School graduate, was recently selected as one of the 32 new Omaha Nighthawks cheerleaders.

The squad will be cheering for the new Omaha Nighthawks UFL football team this fall at Rosenblatt Stadium.

Seventy-five women took part in the first round of cheer squad auditions on June 12. After round one narrowed the group down to 45, the remaining hopefuls performed for the public in the second round of auditions. The final squad of 32 women was chosen based on technical skill, stage presence and personality. The cheer team will be ambassadors to the UFL while also serving as representatives for the Omaha Nighthawks team.

As one of the final 32, DeBoer has extensive experience with cheer and dance. DeBoer was a YHS cheerleader her freshman and sophomore years of high school. During her junior and senior years, she was part of the YHS Dukettes Dance Team. She was also involved in the YHS Dukes and Duchesses Song and Dance Group all four years of high school.

DeBoer has eight years of dance school experience under her belt and has studied tap, jazz, ballet and clogging. In 2000, she was named a national champion clogger in Florida. From 2001 to 2004, she participated in gymnastics. DeBoer also served as a 4-H club dance leader from 1999 to 2004 and choreographed and instructed the group.

DeBoer received a Bachelors degree in Graphic Design and Illustration from the Creative Center in 2007. She was certified as a Zumba instructor in 2008. In 2009, DeBoer obtained a Masters of Arts degree in Leadership from Bellevue University.