Top Cat Captain Courtney’s Path From Disney Magic to Planning a Magical Day

If TopCat Courtney didn’t have such quick footwork, she may have become the least popular girl on campus. And changed Super Bowl and NFL history as we know it, at that. One day, back during Courtney’s freshman year at Ole Miss, before she was one of the captains for the dance team that cheers on the Carolina Panthers, she was driving around campus. As Courtney explains, “I was driving around the square (this is where all the restaurants, bars, and shops are located in Oxford, MS) in my Wrangler, blasting music, and window shopping from the car. Probably not the best idea at the time. As I was admiring an amazing dress in one of the windows, perfect to wear to an Ole Miss football game, I noticed three shadows in my peripheral vision. As I turned my head forward, I had to screech to an immediate halt. There were three guys walking right in front of me across the crosswalk. As I began to realize what had happened, and thank my brakes for stopping, I recognized one of them. It was Eli Manning. He gave me a look like, ‘really?’ Wow, imagine if I hadn’t stopped; I probably would have been kicked out of school.” Plus Courtney, beware of Patriots fans asking you if you are interested in time travel, trying to re-do the ending of “Ms. Courtney’s Wild Ride.”

But Courtney’s reactions and her brakes made everything fine, and Eli continued to star for Ole Miss and on into the NFL. Courtney would be a refreshing subject for her own reality TV show compared to the yelling, screaming, and short marriages that we have been subject to recently. Courtney is fun, “Rebel”-lious in her own way, believes in Magic (Disney-style), and is planning her wedding, including a trip to Atlanta’s “Bridals by Lori,” the location for “Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta.” Courtney shared with UltimateCheerleaders the reality of her journey to the sidelines of Bank of America Field, via Atlanta, Ole Miss, Italy, and the magical WDW.

Courtney’s life began actually just a bit southwest of Charlotte. “I was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia,” explains Courtney. “My dad and his family have been in Atlanta since, well, forever, and my mom’s family is actually from Charlotte. I have so many childhood memories, but being able to go skiing out in Park City, Utah, every year with my family has to be one of my favorites. It has been almost like a tradition for us. We look forward to it every year and it has almost become a second home. We have our favorite restaurants and shops. We have a ton of inside jokes about different things that have happened, and amazing pictures that remind us how lucky we are to be such a close family.”

Dance was always a big part of Courtney’s life, and performances during the holiday season created some of her best memories. “I was the biggest ham ever in front of the camera!” remembers Courtney. “I was never shy and always wanted to be in the spotlight. I remember every weekend; I would get my brother and sister together on a Saturday morning. We would go up to my sister’s room, because it was the biggest, and I would choreograph performances that we would later perform for my parents. Costumes and all! We would have them videotape the whole thing so we could watch it back over and over. I was not the kid who would go to the community pool on the weekends. I was the kid who would dance. I had my start with the Tolbert Yilmaz School of Dance. We had recitals every year and competed in countless dance competitions. I have such fond memories of performing the Nutcracker right around Christmas time. I was a Candy Cane about 20 times. Throughout Elementary and Middle school, my teacher Ms. Aimee really inspired me! She was such an amazing jazz dancer. I remember saying to myself, ‘I want to dance like her someday.’ Later on in high school, I became a little more serious about ballet and joined the Metropolitan Ballet Theater as a pre-professional dancer. I learned amazing technique from this school.”

After high school, Courtney was a bit of a “Rebel” in her college choice. “I lived in Atlanta until I was eighteen and then moved to Oxford, Mississippi to attend Ole Miss,” Courtney says. “My entire family lives and breathes the Georgia Bulldogs. My grandparents even give an athletic scholarship there, but I decided to be a REBEL, literally. I knew I wanted to get out on my own and gain some independence. My grandmother told me about the campus at Ole Miss and how she thought that it would be a perfect fit for me. I remember the day I set foot on that campus. The Grove, the Square, the Greek Life, I knew this was it for me: I was going to be an Ole Miss Rebel! I would not change one thing about my college experience. Ole Miss is such a magical school built by southern tradition, charm, and deep roots! I totally bleed red, white and blue. I was a member of Pi Beta Phi and I met some of my closest friends through that organization.

During Courtney’s time at Ole Miss, she started on her way to dancing in front of huge football loving crowds. “I was fortunate enough to audition and be chosen to be a part of the Ole Miss Rebelette Dance Team during the reign of Eli Manning,” Courtney explains. “I will never forget my sophomore year. It was the Ole Miss versus LSU game, and we were playing for the Western Division title. The whole game was so emotional. It was neck and neck the whole way through, and we were dancing our hearts out the whole time, praying for a victory. ‘Can we do this? Can we actually control the West and go on to the SEC Championship?’ That question was answered in the fourth quarter. We missed a field goal to lose the game. My passion for football got the best of me and tears just started streaming down my face. At the end of the game, whether we win or lose, the Rebelettes link arm in arm and sway back and forth to our school song. Of course, a photographer decides to snap a picture of me bawling my eyes out and it ends up in the Memphis paper. Classic. Even though we didn’t win that game, we did go on to play in the Cotton Bowl. This passion I developed for football and the experience performing in front of 70,000 fans in Cowboy Stadium that year really gave me a taste of the NFL and prepped me for what was to come.”

But before Courtney hit the sidelines for the TopCats, she had some dreams to live out. First, some travel, as Courtney says, “I majored in Hospitality Management and was lucky enough to attend the Apicious Culinary School in Florence, Italy, to further my education.”

After returning from Florence, it was time for Courtney to fulfill her biggest dreams. Some Disney dreams. Courtney has been a Disney fan her entire life. “When I was little, my mother would put in the movie Sleeping Beauty every day for me,” recalls Courtney. “I would watch the whole thing, and then yell ‘MOM, MOM.’ She would walk back into the room, rewind the movie, and I would watch it all over again. To say I am a Disney fan is a huge understatement. I dare someone to challenge me in Disney Trivia. I have all the Disney vault cartoons on DVD, petitioned quite a few years ago to keep Mr. Toads Wild Ride, and sing Disney show tunes on a regular basis. I have always wanted to work for Disney ever since I went there on vacation as a kid. It was such an unbelievable place and I knew one day I had to be a part making the magic.”

After returning home from Florence, Courtney’s carriage was awaiting to carry her away to be part of Disney magic. “I graduated college, moved back to Atlanta for a month, and told my parents that it was now or never, and that I was moving to Florida,” Courtney states. “I have always been a go-getter and have never held back when I wanted something. Being chosen as a Disney entertainer is such a magical job. Every day you get to make children’s dreams come true, and make adults feel like children again. You also get the opportunity to do ‘Make-A- Wish’ appearances with so many amazing kids. To see their faces light up when you meet them is like no other feeling. This is what makes this my dream job. I danced in a lot of parades there. My favorite was Disney’s Hollywood Studios Block Party Bash! I got to wear this awesome yellow petticoat and huge fur leg warmers. I was a bumble bee. It was awesome. The one adjustment for me was the weather. You have to be okay with dancing down Main Street in 100 degree weather wearing a seriously hot costume and, oh yeah, a wig that won’t let heat rise from your body. This really helped me prepare for TopCat Summer Bootcamp.”

From Florida, Courtney was onto NC, “The last leg of my journey brought me to Charlotte to be with my loving fiancé Drew.” And TopCats were to be part of Courtney’s journey, just not right away. “I moved to Charlotte in 2009, right after auditions for the TopCats had ended, recalls Courtney. “I was so bummed that I had just missed them, but I figured there was always next year. January came around, and a few of my friends kept asking me if I was really going to tryout this year. I was having major dance withdrawals after moving from Disney so I figured this could be the next chapter in my dancing story. I wasn’t too sure how NFL auditions worked. At first, I thought you had to be either a blonde bombshell or have some kind of connection to audition. After researching the TopCats website and attending a few dance classes and the audition clinic, I quickly discovered that this was not the case. Everyone with this organization was so welcoming, all the girls were so diverse and really wanted to get to know you and prep you for the upcoming audition.”

Courtney put her full effort to be part of the TopCats, including giving her “refresh key” a workout. “I remember working so hard on my solo every day in the gym because after meeting some of the veterans during the clinic,” Courtney says. “It really made me want to make the team that much more. The first audition day rolled around and I just remember telling myself be confident. On every day that there was a cut in the audition process, I would constantly hit the refresh button on the computer. As soon as the emails would come up, I would take a deep breath and double click on the title ‘TopCat Semi-Finalist’ or ‘TopCat Finalist.’ The day the team was to be announced, I was at work. I had my phone in my pocket on vibrate and awaited the acknowledgment that I had received an email. As I felt my phone moving, a certain anxiety came over me. What if I hadn’t made it, what if I wouldn’t be able to dance for a whole other year! I remember opening the email titled ‘2010 TopCats.’ There was my name! I screamed out loud and everyone at work started staring at me. There are really no words to describe how happy that moment was for me.”

In her second year with the TopCats, Courtney is enjoying the experience to the n’th degree. “There are so many memories that are so dear to me,” expresses Courtney. “One of the most exciting memories was when I first stepped out onto that field! I was standing on the 25 yard line, with my hand over my heart, listening to the beautiful sound of the National Anthem. All of a sudden, the fighter jets flew overhead bringing a tear to my eye. This was one of those moments that you will never forget.”

As expressed by the other TopCat captains in their interviews with UltimateCheerleaders, a recent Make-A-Wish with young Isabella Santos has been a special experience. As Courtney explains, “Another great memory happened just recently! My team and I had the pleasure of making a little girl’s dream come true. It was her Make-A-Wish to become a TopCat. We made a locker for her, warmed up to her favorite songs, and shared the field with pride, as she completed our team for the Tennessee Titans game. Seeing what joy we brought to her and her family was the best gift I could have asked for. I feel so fortunate to have met her.”

This year, Courtney is one of five line captains on the TopCats. As she says, “Being a Captain has been such an amazing experience. First of all, the four other Captains that I have been able to share this experience with are irreplaceable. They have been there to help me whenever I have needed it, and we have made such great memories together! I love being a Captain! I have such an amazing line, and I feel that my knowledge of football has given me a lot of confidence leading my girls on the field. The main piece of advice I gave to them at the beginning of the season was to take everything in! The season goes by so quickly, and in a blink of an eye it will all be over. Remember that first step onto the field, remember your first player tunnel, remember that first win, participate in outside activities with the team, and, most of all, remember that once you’re a Topcat, you will always be a Topcat! Being able to combine my passion for dance, with great friendships and my love for football all in one have made for an amazing two years!”

In addition, to her second year as a TopCat, and being a captain at that, Courtney is also planning her wedding. And, perchance, did Courtney go to “Bridals by Lori,” the location of TLC’s “Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta”? Was Lori there? Monte? Robin? Pinch me! Courtney says, “I actually went to Bridal’s By Lori to find my dress. They were filming ‘Say Yes to the Dress Bridesmaids’ while we were there. When my mom called to make the appointment, they asked it I would like to be on the show. Unfortunately, all my bridesmaids live in different states so we couldn’t make it happen, but we aren’t that dramatic anyways, so the show probably would have been pretty boring,” Courtney smiles.

And if you watch the “Say Yes” shows, you know that a small group of other people works best for gown shopping, and no “roosters in the hen house,” as Lori says about having the fiancé around. Courtney seemed to follow the rules, saying “I was so lucky to have my mother and best friend and bridesmaid Jennifer there with me to pick out my dress. My consultant asked what my wedding would be like, what style I was going for, et cetera. I let her know it was a very southern Georgia wedding at the Cloister on Sea Island. She had me go into all the rooms filled with dresses and pick out seven or eight that I wanted to try on. One room in particular was my favorite. I think I picked out like five of the seven I tried on from that room. I loved that designer! Funny enough, I chose the first one I tried on. It fit the venue and style I was going for, and it looked amazing. I truly felt like a Disney Princess. I tried on the rest but we kept going back to that first dress. I think the consultant secretly new that was the dress for me. The best moment was when I put back on the first dress and we added the veil. I saw my mom tear up and that is when I said, ‘Yes, this is the dress!’” Ah, yes, the veil placement reliably brings tears all of the time, and, FYI, if not the veil alone, adding an embellished belt will do the trick.

Courtney’s wedding sounds like it will be wonderful, as she details, “Our wedding will consist of Low Country Boil, Hydrangeas, lots of southern cooking, a beautiful fairytale chapel, a ton of candles, beach music, lots of Mint Juleps, my beautiful dress, and 100 of our closest family and friends. I cannot wait until August! I will finally get to marry my best friend.” And, paging TLC, sounds like an excellent candidate for “Four Weddings.” Think about it…

In learning about Charlotte, NC, and Queen Charlotte, for which the city named, it is obvious the Queen was a patron of the musicians and composers, supporting young talent like Mozart. Courtney, if you had royal powers and could have any musical artist perform a private concert for you and your friends, who would you choose? Courtney replies, “I would love to get all my friends together for the holidays, bring in some apple cider and yummy holiday dishes, and watch Trans-Siberian Orchestra. I saw them in concert last year, but would love to see them up close and personal. I love Christmas music and their take on it is so amazing! I love how they bring the electric guitar into play.”

So, the outlook for the Carolina Panthers is moving upward, as they wish upon their own star, rookie QB Cam Newton. Courtney has felt the rejuvenation of football positivity in Charlotte. “Even though we haven’t won too many games this year, there has been such great energy and excitement from the fans and the media,” Courtney says. “Last year, it seemed that all of our fans would leave beginning of fourth quarter, and only the very faithful would stay till the end. There is a man that sits in the Northwest corner of the stadium that I high five every game. He is a part of my game day rituals. This year, it seems that there is a lot of new energy in the stands and with the team as well. I remember watching the SEC Championship last year when Auburn played the Gamecocks. Cam Newton was such a beast. When he was announced as the first round draft pick for the Panthers, everyone was so hyped. This has been such a learning year for the team. I have a really good feeling about next season!”

So, excitement fills the air of Courtney’s world. Between the increasing football mania about the Panthers, her first year as a TopCats captain, and big wedding ahead of her, Courtney fills her days with special moments that someday will be her next great memories in the scrapbook of her life. Her life has had “something old” (Ole Miss), “something new” (being a first-year TopCat Captain), “something borrowed” (unique costumes at Disney World), and “something blue” (wearing Carolina Panther blue on the sidelines). There is no “sleeping” for this “beauty,” as Courtney’s go-getter spirit takes her forward. But for now, as Fauna said to Flora at the end of Sleeping Beauty, “Oh, I just love happy endings.”

We thank Courtney so much participating in this interview! We also thank thank thank Richelle Grant and Tina Becker of the TopCats organization for all of their invaluable assistance.

Here are some additional photos of Courtney from the Panthers October 30th home game. Left click on each photo once to see the entire photo, then left click on that image to see full size photos: