Archbishop Wood grad Moffa fulfills dream as Eagles Cheerleader

Archbishop Wood grad Moffa fulfills dream as Eagles cheerleader
By Stuart London Staff Writer
Phillyburbs.com
August 3, 2013

 

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Growing up, Mandi Moffa loved going to Philadelphia Eagles games.

Now, fans will be going to the games and watching her.

Moffa, a Pipersville native and a 2008 Archbishop Wood High School graduate, is one of the few newcomers to make the 2013-14 Eagles cheerleading squad.

She made it in time to go down to the Jersey Shore for this year’s Eagles cheerleader calendar shoot in Wildwood. The calendar is now on sale.

“I still get the chills thinking about it,” said Moffa, 23. “It’s my ultimate dream.”

Moffa makes her debut on the sidelines of Lincoln Financial Field Friday, when the Eagles host the New England Patriots in a preseason game.

Like in football, it’s hard to break into the cheerleaders’ lineup. Out of 38 members, 31 are returnees — leaving little room for rookies.

Moffa made the final audition last year, but did not get selected. This year, she believed she was more prepared.

“I tried out in 2012 and made it to finals, which was awesome, and this year, I am so happy to make it all the way,” she said. “Going through the process last year, I knew what to improve on, and … I think, personally, a year to mature and grow up (helped).

“That night (at final tryout) … I kind of knew whatever happened, everything I had (I had) given ….”

Moffa was at home getting ready for class at West Chester University when she got the word she had made the squad.

“Part of me doesn’t even remember it,” she said. “I was home with my parents before school started and was in my room. There is a special hotline number you call to see if you made it. I called in my room and then I ran into my parents’ room and we’re all just screaming. We were so excited.”

Moffa is one of three cheerleaders named Amanda on the team, so she’s officially going by Mandi, her nickname.

She graduated from West Chester in May with a degree in elementary education and a 3.96 GPA.

The Moffa family has a long connection with the Eagles, football and cheerleading.

Her mother, Denise, and her aunt were both cheerleaders for Wood and her mother was her cheerleading coach at Our Lady of Mount Carmel and also the junior varsity coach when Moffa was at Wood.

Her father, Al, was a coach with the Romans’ CYO football program and her brother, Michael, played football at Wood.

The family has had Eagles season tickets for more than 20 years. Who gets to go to what games is definitely a hot topic of conversation.

“I’ve been taking the train with everyone — cousins and uncles — and going down to the game,” said Moffa, “I remember Reggie White and Randall Cunningham. They definitely made some deals growing up (to see who got to attend games).

“I am out of the ticket pool now, definitely a positive of all this. But now, tickets are in even higher demand because all the extended family wants to see me.”

There was little down time for Moffa once she made the squad. She was sent to Wildwood for her part in the calendar shoot, a town she’s very familiar with.

“The calendar shoot was amazing,” said Moffa, who is from Our Lady of Guadalupe parish. “I grew up spending summers in Wildwood with my cousins and my grandma has a bay house in (Wildwood) Crest.

“My shoot was at Morey’s Pier. You could feel the strength of the people there. To actually be at the pier where I had so many memories and shooting there and knowing it’s going to help people down there was awesome.

“Being a cheerleader allowed me to give back in a way I would not otherwise be able to.”

All proceeds from the calendar go to the Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund, according to Moffa.

She already has made a slew of personal appearances, and is busy with rehearsals and getting ready to run out on the field and fulfill a dream.

“l love the fans — they have such a connection to the Eagles,” she said. “It is so weird to think about me being on the field. I am excited for that. … At games, when something big happens and people are cheering and screaming, I think about that thrill and to be on field representing the fans.

“We are considered part-time employees of the organization, but stepping back and seeing all we do — not only for fans but in the community — I think (this opportunity) is priceless … something you can’t put a price tag on.”