Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team

Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team is an American reality television series that premiered in 2006 on Country Music Television.^[2] The series follows the auditioning process and the making of the annual Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders squad. The series features DCC director Kelli McGonagill Finglass and choreographer Judy Trammell (both of whom are former DCCs from the 1980s), and former Army drill sergeant Jay Johnson (who is the founder of "Boot Camp Fitness" and is responsible for the conditioning drills each girl must perform for testing).^[2] Hundreds of young women audition each year and are put through the DCC "training camp" system before being cut down to the final 36 squad members for the first home football game of the Dallas Cowboys' preseason.

Show style

The show tracks the progression each candidate must follow in order to make the final roster and premiere on opening day at Texas Stadium (Seasons 1-3) and going forward to AT&T Stadium (formerly Cowboys Stadium); first the open audition "cattle call", then the 5-person audition "cut-down", then the personal interviews, uniform fittings, BMI testing, physical fitness testing, etiquette training, mock media interviews, and calendar shoots. Successful candidates must also complete a knowledge test on various subjects; including, but not limited to: the Dallas Cowboys and their history, NFL Football in general and the rules of the game, general history, government, and current events. There is also the grueling elite dance choreography that tests each girl's capacity to grasp dance combinations and perform the trademark kick-line/jump-split routine for which the DCC is known. Girls are judged by a hand-picked panel of experts and scoring is based on physical appearance, physical fitness, dance style, poise, grace, intelligence, and showmanship.

Once DCC training camp opens, the girls are put through a program of elite dance training and physical conditioning that is comparable to some professional sports training programs. If a girl is struggling, she is called into Finglass' office to discuss the nature of her difficulty and is generally given an opportunity to correct the shortcoming(s) to avoid being dismissed (cut) from the squad. However, some girls do have to be cut for several reasons. Common reasons for being cut include failure to correctly perform mandatory dance routines, failure to display an elite level of dance skill, a lack of physical fitness and/or failing to meet body fat requirements, and to reduce the squad roster down to the traditional number of 36 girls. Candidates have also been cut due to past legal problems, morality issues, domestic distractions (family issues), lack of preparedness, and poor time management skills. And rookie candidates haven't been the only ones who have been cut; even veterans have been cut due to some of the above-mentioned reasons.

Seasons

The series returned for a second season in 2007, and with the success of the program, the series returned for a third season on October 4, 2008. The fourth season started on October 10, 2009. The fifth season began airing on October 15, 2010. Season 6 began airing on October 20, 2011. Season 7 premiered on September 7, 2012. Season 8 premiered on September 6, 2013. Season 9 premiered on August 1, 2014. Season 10 premiered on August 6, 2015.^[3] Season 11 premiered on August 25, 2016.^[4]

2016 season

2016 - 2017 Squad

Veterans: Amy Trader, Amy Leonall, Chantel Jones, Claire Brown, Danielle Barhold, Elizabeth Voegtle, Erica Wilkins, Holly Powell, Jaclyn Tisdale, Jenna Jackson, Jennifer Amburn, Jessica Purdy, Jinelle Davidson, KaShara Garrett, Lacey Munoz, Megan Carcioppolo, Melissa Wallace, Raylee Sterman, Robin Richardson, Simone Culwell, and Stephanie Larson.

Rookies: Allie Droste, Cersten Lynese, Heather Hamilton, Heather O'Connor, Jessika Palmer, Kelli Quinn, Kelsey Lowrance, Khalyn Cole, Madeline Massingill, Maggie Rouse, Mandy Voecks, Milan Brahney, Selina Flores, Tasha Cruz, Tess Guidry, and Yuko Kawata.

2015 season

2015 - 2016 Squad

Veterans: Angela Nicotera, Ashley Holland, Caila Sims, Danielle Barhold, Erica Wilkins, Holly Hubbard, Jacie Scott, Jenna Jackson, Jennifer Amburn, Jessica Purdy, Jinelle Davidson, Kelsey Bond, Kinize Rusco, Lacey Munoz, Loren Roeder, Mary Dill, Melissa Wallace, Paige Cavalieri, Rachel Lunsford, and Victoria Carriere.

Rookies: Amy Trader, Amy Leonall, Chantel Jones, Claire Brown, Elizabeth Voegtle, Holly Powell, KaShara Garrett, Kat Rogers, Jaclyn Tisdale, Megan Carcioppolo, Raylee Stearman, Robin Richardson, Simone Culwell, and Stephanie Larson.

2014 season

2014 - 2015 Squad^[5]

Veterans: Abby Bertrand, Angela Nicotera, Ashley Ferrel, Ashley Holland, Brittney Schram, Danielle Barhold, Emma Dutton, Holly Hubbard, Jacie Scott, Jasmine Goode, Jenna Jackson, Jennifer Colvin, Jennifer Amburn, Jessica Purdy, Jessica Kalil, Jinelle Davidson, Jordan Daigle, Katy Fink, Kelsey Bond, Kinzie Rusco, Nicole Bulcher, Paige Cavalieri, Rachel Lunsford, Samantha Clark, Sydney Durso, and Veronica Lind.

Rookies: Ashley Prochazka, Breelan Statham, Caila Sims, Courtney Russ, Erica Wilkins, Lacey Munoz, Loren Roeder, Mary Dill, Melissa Wallace, and Victoria Carriere.

2013 season

2013 - 2014 Squad^[6]

Veterans: Alex Hermes, Amelia Smith, Angela Nicotera, Ashley Ferrel, Brittney Schram, Carisa McMillan, Danielle Barhold, Emma Dutton, Holly Hubbard, Jacie Scott, Jacqueline Bob, Jasmine Goode, Jenna Jackson, Jennifer Colvin, Jessica Purdy, Jordan Daigle, Katy Fink, Kelsey Bond, Kim Tong, Kinzie Rusco, Lauren Williams, Mackenzie Weeks, Mia Greenhouse, Nicole Bulcher, Olivia Sharber, Sydney Durso, and Veronica Lind.

Rookies: Abby Bertrand, Ashley Holland, Courtni Shae, Hannah West, Jennifer Amburn, Jessica Kalil, Jinelle Davidson, Kaitlyn Phillips, Morgan Jordan, Paige Cavalieri, Rachel Lunsford, and Samantha Clark.

2012 season

2012 - 2013 Squad

Veterans: Alexandra Gandara, Amelia Smith, Angela Nicotera, Brittney Schram, Cassie Trammell, Colleen Brent, Courtney Cook, Emma Dutton, Holly Hubbard, Jackie Bob, Katy Fink, Lauren Williams, Mackenzie Weeks, Meagan McVay, Melissa Kellerman, Mia Greenhouse, Nicole Bulcher, Sydney Durso, Whitney Isleib, and Veronica Lind.

Rookies: Alex Hermes, Ashley Ferrel, Carisa McMillan, Chelsea Chaney, Collin Sarvis, Danielle Barhold, Emily Claire, Jacie Scott, Jasmine Goode, Jenna Jackson, Jennifer Colvin, Jessica Purdy, Jordan Daigle, Kali Drake, Kelsey Bond, Kim Tong, Kinzie Rusco, Olivia Sharber, and Teri George.

2011 season

2011 - 2012 Squad

Veterans: Ally Traylor, Whitney Isleib, Kelsi Reich, Melissa Kellerman, Brittany Evans, Cassie Trammell, Kaitlin Ilseng, Sydney Durso, Mia Greenhouse, Ashton Torres, Ann Lux, Lauren Williams, Meagan McVay, Sunni Cranfill, Sasha Agent, Jackie Bob, and Nicole Bulcher.

Rookies: Colleen Brent, Cassie Dyson, Emma Dutton, Holly Hubbard, Kamilah Todd, Amelia Smith, Meghan Phillips, Brittney Schram, Amber Lea, Courtney Cook, Alexandra Gandara, Jenna Brooks, Angela Nicotera, Mackenzie Weeks, Katy Fink, Alyssa Torres, and Veronica Lind.

2010 season

2010 - 2011 Squad

Veterans: Brooke Sorenson, Trisha Trevino, Tobie Percival, Tia Williams, Meagan Sharp, Meredith Oden, Ally Traylor, Jordan Baum, Michelle Keys, Crystal Trevino, Kaitlin Ilseng, Brittany Evans, Jordan Chanley, Sydney Durso, Cassie Trammell, Kelsi Reich, Melissa Kellerman, Whitney Isleib, Carey DePasquale, Joannah Liad, Meagan McVay, Jackie Bob, Ashton Torres, Evan Anderson, Mia Greenhouse, and Sunni Cranfill.

Rookies: Kaitlin LeGrand, Stephanie Heymann, Sasha Agent, Ann Lux, Alyssa Sarasani, Olivia Stevanovski, Lauren Williams, and Nicole Bulcher.

2009 season

2009 - 2010 Squad

Veterans: Sarah Gourley, Nicole Hamilton, Justine Phillips-Orf, Trisha Trevino, Tobie Percival, Brooke Sorenson, Kristen Gauthier, Abigail Klein, Meredith Oden, Meagan Sharp, Ally Traylor, Tia Williams, Jordan Baum, Jordan Chanley, Sydney Durso, Brittany Evans, Kaitlin Ilseng, Whitney Isleib, Melissa Kellerman, Michelle Keys, Amy Reese, Kelsi Reich, Cassie Trammell, and Crystal Trevino.

Rookies: Evan Anderson, Jacqueline Bob, Sunni Cranfill, Carey DePasquale, Mia Greenhouse, Vanessa Jenkins, Brandi Kilby, Joannah Liad, Meagan McVay, Malia Morales, and Ashton Torres.

2008 season

2008 - 2009 Squad

Veterans: Sarah Clay, Deryn Derbigny, Kristen Gauthier, Sarah Gourley, Nicole Hamilton, Kandi Harris, Julie Jacobs, Erica Jenkins, Abigail Klein, Dara McFarlane, Meredith Oden, Tobie Percival, Justine Phillips-Orf, Ryan Ray, Meagan Sharp, Brooke Sorenson, Makenzi Swicegood, Ally Traylor, Trisha Trevino, and Tia Williams.

Rookies: Jordan Baum, Lauren Castillo, Jordan Chanley, Sydney Durso, Brittany Evans, Kaitlin Ilseng, Whitney Isleib, Melissa Kellerman, Jordyn Ketchum, Michelle Keys, Jennifer McMahon, Stefani Peterson, Amy Reese, Kelsi Reich, Cassandra Trammell, and Crystal Trevino.

2007 season

2007 - 2008 Squad

Veterans: Erica Perry, Julie Jacobs, Tobie Percival, Kandi Harris, Leah Mullinax, Brooke Sorenson, Misty Duncan, Christina Parker, Andrea Rogers, Andrea Richards, Sarah Gourley, Starr Spangler, Carmen Butler, Justine Philips, Jennifer Nix, Nicole Hamilton, Makenzi Swicegood, Deryn Derbigny, Trisha Trevino, Megan Fox, and Melissa Rycroft.

Rookies: Gina Becchetti, Kelly Jo Stauffacher, Natalie Woods, Dara McFarlane, Michelle Mozek, Sarah Clay, Ryan Ray, Kristen Gauthier, Meredith Oden, Sarah Shelton, Christina Murphy, Candice Carr, Tia Williams, Meagan Sharp, Ally Traylor, Erica Jenkins, Abigail Klein, and Loni Lindsey.

2006 season

2006 - 2007 Squad

Veterans: Sarah Gourley, Makenzi Swicegood, Cori Robinson Brown, Megan Fox, Whitney Ott, Leah Wilkins, Misty Duncan, Justine Phillips, Lynlee Allen, Elizabeth Davis, Starr Spangler, Trisha Trevino, Erica Perry, Monica Moore, Nicole Hamilton, Becca Gambel, Christina Parker, Emma Dawson, Lisa Henslin, and Carmen Butler.

Rookies: Deryn Derbigny, Tobie Percival, Andrea Rogers, Leah Mullinax, Kristin Hager, Yoshiko Danjo, Dulce Rosales, Brooke Sorenson, Julie Jacobs, Kandi Harris, Carrie Stilwell, Andrea Richards, and Melissa Rycroft

References

External links

• Official site at CMT.com
• Official MySpace