Let’s go Pats!

By Judee Cosentino
The Sun Chronicle
March 20, 2011

FOXBORO – The breeze at Gillette Stadium was friendly but competitive on Saturday, as more than 200 women turned out for the New England Patriots cheerleader auditions for the upcoming football season.

Three hours before the registration time of 10 a.m., several women were already in line outside the Dana-Farber Field House, braving the whipping winds and trying to calm their nerves.

“I want to be a cheerleader really bad,” said Tiffany Sweeney, who traveled from Londonderry, N.H., to audition.

This year marked her third try for a coveted spot on the squad.

“It takes a lot of confidence and courage to come out here and try,” she said.

Joining Sweeney were friends Allie Smedley and Nicole Newman. All three women are part of the Plymouth State University dance team.

“It’s a really fulfilling feeling to leave and know that you tried,” Smedley said.

Saturday’s tryouts were held with the assumption that the current labor dispute between the players and the owners will be resolved in time to salvage the season.

The line of candidates quickly began winding around the Field House playing field, with many women still frantically filling out applications. Some contestants were chatting with new friends, while others were already stretching their bodies.

Many, if not all, of the candidates have a background in dance or cheerleading, and many dancers have spent weeks practicing their moves.

“The experience is a little nerve-wracking,” admitted Salisbury resident Crystal Gonzalez. “My first year here, I was a mess.”

“That’s how I feel right now,” agreed Melissa Labak of Worcester.

The registration process took slightly over an hour. Each contestant was given a number and a photo was taken of them for identification purposes. After their photos were taken, the women were given a chance to change into their routine costumes and stretch over to the side of the field.

Finally, it was showtime.

“You all look beautiful today, thank you for coming out!” cheerleading director Tracy Sormanti greeted the hopefuls. “Don’t judge yourself – let the judges do the judging today. And don’t you dare walk out that door thinking you can’t do the choreography. If you walk out that door, you will definitely not make the team.”

A current member of the Patriots’ cheerleaders led the crowd in a series of warm-up exercises, and took them briefly through the first choreographed routine. From there, the women performed the routine in groups of four before the panel of four judges.

“They’re not here to eliminate you, they’re here to choose you today,” Sormanti told the hopefuls.

However, that encouraging bit of advice was tempered by the fact that half the candidates were eliminated after the first round.

“The most difficult part is announcing eliminations,” Sormanti acknowledged. “I don’t like to do that at all. I wish I could give everyone the opportunity.”

The other rounds of choreography consisted of a 10-minute freestyle routine, which were performed in groups of three. There was also one final routine which the current cheerleaders showed the remaining candidates, and then the final eliminations.

By the end of the day, about 40 hopefuls remained. They will advance to the final round of auditions which will be held on April 2.