Ultimate Cheerleaders

New team photos of the Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders have been posted on the Vikings website. Click here to check them out. They also have a couple of larger wallpaper versions here.


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2009-10 MVC captains Ellie, Pamela, Sarah, Kara, Kristina, and Krisan.

Click here to see photos of the Cleveland Cavalier Girls in action on SI.com!

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Nonprofit Supports Military Organizations, Raises Money For Troops
News4Jax.com
November 20, 2009
[Photos]

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jaguars fans are used to seeing the Roar cheerleaders on the sidelines dancing for the team.

But on Friday, the women and other NFL and NBA cheerleaders used their dance skills to sweeten the lives of troops stationed overseas. The cheerleaders are part a unique nonprofit group called Sweethearts for Soldiers.

“They can go to care packages that we send to troops overseas,” cheerleader Jill Cottingham said. “You know, just the little things. Just a little piece of home.”

All 28 sweethearts are former professional cheerleaders who could use a break from dancing.

“Sweethearts doesn’t have quite the commitment that cheering for an NFL team does,” cheerleader Cheryl O’Brien said.

The women team up with other military support organizations to raise money for the soldiers, and they even make appearances stateside and overseas to boost morale.

“We saw the sacrifice that these troops put in,” O’Brien said.

O’Brien, whose husband is in the military, traveled to Qatar as a sweetheart and put on a full-on variety show. The most amazing part, she said, was hearing the troops’ stories.

“It was completely rewarding what we did, and we came back with more passion to serve and give to these people who’ve given so much to us,” O’Brien said.

The sweethearts put out a calendar every year.

“We’re all going to be featured in a World War II pin-up theme,” cheerleader Melissa George said.

You could say it’s eye candy for a cause, but it raises money, and it’s a sweet way for some soldiers keep track of the date.

The 18-month 2010-2011 calendar will come out in June.

Seven of 28 sweethearts are homegrown. They’re former Roar cheerleaders and do a lot of work with local military support organizations like the Wounded Warrior Project.

You can visit their Web site at www.sweatheartsforsoldiers.com to learn more and get a copy of the calendar.

Go behind the scenes at the shoot for the team’s 2009-10 Swimsuit calendar. The release party is on December 5th. Click here for details.

2009-bengals-action_laura5smJulie 0’Neill
the Kentucky Post
November 19,2009

CINCINNATI — She was a sweet, unassuming, single mom from Springboro who had a dream to become a Ben-Gal cheerleader.

Not only did she make that dream come true – she’s made history.

9News anchor Julie 0’Neill was at her hair salon, complaining about the pain in her knees, when she heard about a Ben-Gal cheerleader who’s “her” age.

She had to learn more about this “old” cheerleader – although she says that’s not the word that comes to mind when you meet her.

Foxy, fit, fabulous – may be the words instead.

At 41, she’s the oldest Ben-Gal ever – “shakin’ it” with “hotties” about half her age.

“I was at a time in my life (being 41) I wanted to challenge myself and I thought what do I really love to do and I really love music and dancing,” said Laura Vikmanus. “So, I went to a couple of games and I was watching the cheerleaders and I thought, “Wow, that would be really really fun to do!”

Laura missed the cut the first time out – but she came back.

“I usually have between 15 and 17 judges,” said Charlotte Jacobs, Ben-Gal director. “And the comments came in – perfect body, great smile, perfect dance – it was a unanimous decision.”

“I work as a dietitian in a doctor’s office doing a weight-loss program, so I counsel patients and try to teach them a healthy lifestyle with the working out. So, it’s all kind of melded together,” said Vikmanus.

“And she just really ‘kicks butt’ to really work out, she eats awesome food and she always actually is a role model to all the other girls on our squad that maybe have trouble with the food and the working out aspect of it,” said Ben-Gal cheerleader Andrea Kaiser.

“They make me feel like I’m 20 again,” said Vikmanus, “and they’re very supportive and we all encourage each other.”

Interestingly, Vikmanus says she has a harder time keeping up mentally than physically.

“I can tell I learn dances a little slower than them, but once I get ’em, I get ’em – and I can keep up, yeah, pretty well.”

Don’t ask her to hang with her daughters though.

“One’s 11 and one’s 13 and they’re both in cheerleading – competitive cheerleading – so, they do a lot of the tumbling,” said Vikmanus. “So, a lot of their friends ask me, ‘Do you tumble, too?’ No, I don’t tumble.”

Okay, she has some limits – but remember this Ben-Gal as the one still cheering regardless of what the clock says.

“Age does not matter. If you want something, you have to go and get it,” said Vikmanus. “Yeah, and you can get it – you work hard enough you’ll get it.”

Vikmanus says she had lots of friends who were skeptical when she first tried out. Now, they’re inspired to go try something new themselves.

The 2009-10 Minnesota Timberwolves Dancers are now on line. Click here to learn about the team!

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(Click photo to view bigger version)

The NFL gallery on SI.com this week includes the Charger Girls, Colts Cheerleaders, Dolphins Cheerleaders, Jets Flight Crew, Raiderettes, Redskins Cheerleaders, and Titans Cheerleaders. Click here to go there now.

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Individual uniform photos of the 2009-10 Pacemates are online. Go there now.

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New profiles and bio photos are online for this year’s edition of the Detroit Pistons Automotion dance team. Click here to read up on the dancers.

This week’s featured NBA dance team is the Luvabulls. Click here to see the action!

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