Two Eagles cheerleaders share audition stories

By Bob Shryock
South Jersey Times
March 02, 2014

Eagles — has been a dream come true for Deonna Baquero and Malia Makaila.

Malia Makaila (left) Deonna Baquero (second from left) and other cheerleaders pose with a little fan at an Eagles game.

But both girls have different stories on how they got there.

Makaila made the team after just one try. And Baquero, who auditioned several years ago, decided to gain more experience before trying out again last year.

A high school cheerleader from Cherokee High School in Marlton, Baquero never gave up. She learned a lot about being a cheerleader by cheering on a small football team in North Jersey and then joined the squad for the arena football team Philadelphia Soul.

“It was the perfect stepping stone,” she said of cheering for the Soul. “I did that for two years.”

So last year, she retired her spot on that Philadelphia team and decided it was time to give her old dream of cheering for the Eagles another shot. She went to the mock audition workshop — where she got all kinds of advice and training — then the dance prep workshop — where she learned the dance routine — and finally the open call auditions which led her to the final auditions.

Deonna Baquero waits for the team to be introduced during a game.

“The workshops were extremely helpful,” she said. “You learn the choreography beforehand and can ask questions to see what they’re looking for.”

For Makaila, a freshman in college, who is athletic and a dancer, her first audition proved to be a success. She found out about the audition process and thought, “Why not?”

“Attending both pre-auditions definitely helped,” she said. “My biggest challenge was to stay calm. I didn’t want to raise my hopes too much.”

A final audition, held at the Kimmel Center, narrows down the hopefuls to just 38 squad members.

The list of women who make the squad appears on the Eagles’ website the next day.

“I was hysterically crying when I found out I made the squad,” said Baquero. “My emotions overcame me. It was just surreal.”

“I was so shocked and so excited,” said Makaila, of Philadelphia.

And both women said their first year as an Eagles cheerleader was amazing.

“I grew up watching the Eagles and going to all the games. And now I was on the sidelines of my favorite football team,” said Makaila.

Baquero has this advice for anyone who wants to audition.

“I highly suggest going to the workshops,” she said. “It’s really crucial in helping to prepare. And I strongly encourage everyone to come back out to try out again. If that’s your goal, never give up.”

Mock Audition Workshop
Tuesday, March 4
6 to 10 p.m.
NovaCare Complex (One NovaCare Way, Philadelphia PA 19145)

Dance Prep Workshop
Tuesday, March 11
7 to 10 p.m.
NovaCare Complex (One NovaCare Way, Philadelphia PA 19145)

Open Call Auditions
Saturday, March 22
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
NovaCare Complex (One NovaCare Way, Philadelphia PA 19145)

Final auditions will be held on May 5.