Reno’s Other 49er is a Gold Rush Cheerleader
By Jim Krajewski
Reno Gazette-Journal
Reno has more than one link to the San Francisco 49ers.
In addition to former Nevada quarterback Colin Kaepernick now starting for the 49ers, Reno’s Antonia Nunez is a four-year member of the Gold Rush, the 49ers cheerleading outfit.
Nunez, 27, has lived in Reno for the past three years. She was born in the Bay Area, where she was on the dance team in high school, and is a graduate of Chico State. She got involved with choreography at Chico.
She is an account executive for Reno’s Fox affiliate, KRXI Channel 11.
Nunez was selected to represent the 49ers at this year’s Pro Bowl in Hawaii on Jan. 27. Only one cheerleader from each team is chosen to go to the Pro Bowl.
She recently answered a few questions for the Reno Gazette-Journal.
RGJ: How did you become a 49ers cheerleader?
AN: Anyone can try out, as long as you’re 18. You don’t have to have any experience to try out. You could have more of a background in gymnastics or cheerleading or ballroom dance. One of the girls on the team is from Russia, and she was a ballroom dancer. It’s an opportunity for anyone as long as you’re passionate about performing and about football. I’ve always loved to perform, since I was 4.
RGJ: How did you end up in Reno?
AN: It’s kind of a love story. My now-husband works for Granite Construction. We met in Chico, and he got a job here at the Reno branch. I’ve made a home for myself here. I love it. Some people don’t understand why I love living in Reno. A lot of people in the Bay Area like being an hour away from the city and three hours away from Tahoe. But I am 100 percent happier being only one hour away from the lake and the mountains. I much prefer the opposite. I love the outdoors.
RGJ: How much time is involved in being a 49ers cheerleader?
AN: We practice every Saturday, and game days we’re there all day. I think the 49ers are a special organization; I know a lot of other teams practice three or four times a week. We’re unusual in that we only practice once a week because it allows people to live outside of town and to have full-time jobs.
RGJ: So is cheerleading a hobby for most?
AN: I wouldn’t ever call it a part-time job. It’s a part-time hobby with a full-time commitment. Even though we only practice once a week, I practice on my own up here, at the gym when no one is watching, or at my house.
RGJ: So the better the team does, the more work you have to do?
AN: One can only hope. I love the 49ers. I loved football since I was a kid. I have the best seats in the house.
RGJ: Are the playoffs any different?
AN: The energy of the crowd is totally different. It’s crazy exciting. It’s almost electric during the playoffs. The energy is totally palpable. People are not just cheering on third-and-two for the defense, they’re cheering on first downs, all game. This year it’s been that way the whole way because of how successful the team was last year.
RGJ: What’s a typical game day like?
AN: We’re there six hours prior to the game. We have a full-blown practice and then we do appearances after that. We practice for three hours, then we put our uniforms on and go throughout the stadium and visit the tailgate areas and make appearances. Then it’s game time and it’s just a total whirlwind, the most exciting thing. For somebody who loves football and loves to perform, it doesn’t get any better than that.
RGJ: Does any one thing stand out over your four seasons?
AN: The Steeler game last year when the lights went out, that was pretty different. It was the Monday night game (Dec. 19). Something blew up. It went out right before our pre-game performance, and I remember thinking, ‘Maybe this is a surprise.’ There’s going to be fireworks going off. I thought it was part of game day. It was crazy.
RGJ: Are you exhausted at the end of the day?AN: There’s so much adrenaline, it doesn’t hit you until you get home. The whole car ride home, you’re just super excited, especially when you won. When you get homen you feel it, especially dancing in heels, something that took a lot of getting used to.
RGJ: Do you interact with the players?AN: It’s definitely a separate organization. There’s no interacting with the players. I feel like I’m a fan, and they’re not a colleague of mine. They work for the 49ers, and I work for the 49ers production company. I’m awestruck when I see players because I think of them as heroes too, because I’m a fan.
