2006-07 Washington Redskins Cheerleaders Squad Includes Bay Area Residents

On any given Sunday in the Fall and Winter, most of us will spend the day watching professional football and in this area, most of us will watch the Washington Redskins.  Now most of us know the players, and coaches, but many do not know that the entertainment on the sidelines, the Washington Redskins Cheerleaders, are also athletes in their own right. This past Saturday at Tysons Corner Mall, the finals of the auditions for the 2006-07 squad were held. This was the second year that the finals were open to the public.

The beauty phase of the competition, and yes, believe me, it is a competition, was held earlier in the week.  Saturday’s finals included a walk through by the final 59 contestants, a 4-girl routine and a 6-girl sideline routine where the judges, most of whom were former Redskins Cheerleaders judged them on poise, skill in performing the routines and I presume, that certain something that will keep the fans entertained on Sundays.  The squad was pared down to the final 39 ladies.  And by the way, they are billed as the “First Ladies of Football,” which is fitting because this years  squad is the 44th edition. This year they will embark on their 21st tour overseas to entertain the troops, performing routines and a variety show that includes singing and skits.  And the lucky 39 finalists are set to travel to the Dominican Republic next month to shoot the 2006-07 Swimsuit Calender.  They also have a junior cheerleader squad and dance team that provides young girls with positive  role models and prepares young girls for cheerleading opportunities of their own.

Many of the ladies are former pageant contestants, gymnasts, dancers or cheerleaders. They combine all of these elements in their routines under the watchful eye of Redskins Cheerleaders Director-Choreographer Stephanie Jojokian. Stephanie cuts the ladies no slack when it comes to putting the best show on the field, but she is also a friend and mentor, especially to the younger ladies on the squad.  Melanie Treanor, Events and Marketing Coordinator handles the task of scheduling the ladies for their many appearances for corporate outings and charities.  This writer has the pleasure of knowing Ms. Treanor since she herself was a cheerleader and visited Solomons Island for the annual Children’s Hospital Benefit hosted by Hogette Dave Spigler.  And now she handles their bookings, so they even promote the ladies to positions as well. And all of this is kept together by Donald Wells, Director of Cheerleaders and Entertainment.

Christine, of Bowie, in a 4-girl dance routine

This year’s squad includes several ladies who either reside here or are natives of the area:  Christine, an administrative assistant from Bowie is in her 6th year; Crystal, a makeup artist from Annapolis is in her 3nd year; Katie, a student from Waldorf is in her 6th year; Kelley, an aesthetician from Waldorf is in her 7th year; Tiffani, from Chaptico, a 1996 graduate of Chopticon and currently a Redskins Premium Club Coordinator is in her 7th year and Tonya, originally from Arizona, but here with her husband who is stationed at Pax River is in her 3rd year.  Tonya is a relocation specialist for a real estate firm and she’s a licensed  massage therapist.

What these ladies do is remarkable.  They have their own busy lives, some raising families, they have careers and they still have to practice several times a week and give up most of their free time, including those very same Sundays when we’re enjoying the best in professional football. These ladies are truly “The First Ladies of Football” and they are your 2006-07 Washington Redskins Cheerleaders!

A slideshow of photographs is available here.