Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader Trisha Trevino
By Scott Boyter, Editor
The Sports Page Weekly
Trisha Trevino, a native of San Benito, TX, has been a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader for three years. She took some time from a hectic schedule to tell us a little bit about life as one of America's Sweethearts.
Were you intimidated when you first tried out for the Cowboy cheerleading squad?
There were a thousand applications first off, and then when we arrived at Texas Stadium for auditions, it was intimidating. There were so many girls who were talented and beautiful.
We went through preliminaries and semifinals, and then the finals are where we tried out with the veterans. I was feeling intimidated, but I had to block it out in order to do well. If not, you can't show what you can do.
Part of the audition was a small dance that we learned, then we did kick lines, then did some freestyle dancing. For the finals, we had to do a solo and take tests on football and current events, then had an interview. In the finals it was intimidating all over again, because the veterans were amazing.
It was a wonderful experience, and a lot of fun, but I was definitely nervous.
What kind of turnover is there from year to year on the squad? For every new girl who makes it, does someone have to go?
It kind of depends. We have turnover every year; some veterans don't come back to try out because they're either getting married, moving on in another direction with their careers, or going back to school. And some veterans do get cut.
This year, we have 20 returning veterans out of a squad of 36, and we're still in our training camp. We have 39 girls, so three will get cut.
The majority of the time there are probably about 10 veterans that don't come back or don't make it, but again, it varies. But a veteran will get cut if she doesn't bring it to auditions.
Is cheerleader camp in a way like an NFL training camp in that there are no guaranteed spots? Even if you're a four-year veteran, if you don't perform up to standard during camp are you at risk of being cut?
Definitely. If you go to auditions and you don't like a veteran you can be let go. The bar is set higher for veterans. You've had a whole year of practicing and performing so you should look better than new ones coming in. If you don't, if you have a new person come in and they look better, than yeah you can get cut. You can't just rest on your laurels. You're never safe, no matter how long you've been part of the squad?
What's life like for you away from the squad? Are you in school or have a job?
I just graduated from UT-Arlington in May with a bachelor's in marketing. This summer I've been involved in our Camp DCC, which is a day camp for girls ages 5 through 14. We've had those every week. But in August I start my new job as a marketing coordinator for a local company.
Have you talked to veterans about how being a Cowboy cheerleader helped them after their cheerleading days were over?
Being a cheerleader helps you in so many ways. You grow in confidence, your ability to present yourself, and you learn to take criticism lightly. You don't wear your feelings on your sleeve. I've definitely become a stronger person.
I have friends who have been on the squad and aren't anymore for whatever reason. But all of them feel that being a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader has helped them in a lot of ways.
What kind of traveling have you done with the squad?
We have a show group that goes overseas and travels around the U.S. I just got back from San Antonio and training camp. In April we went to the Country Music Television awards, where we performed on the red carpet.
We get to do some pretty amazing things. The only thing we don't do is go to away games.
This is a cheesy question but I'm going to ask it anyway. Are there any sort of rivalries among NFL cheerleading squads? Do you compete in any way among yourselves?
There definitely aren't any rivalries; we're all NFL cheerleaders, even though we root for individual teams. We don't usually get to interact with other cheerleaders unless we're at an appearance, or we get to be the team's representative to go to the Pro Bowl.
But I always say that we were the first NFL cheerleaders. If another squad does one of our routines, I take it as a compliment.
How long do you plan on being a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader?
I definitely want to be a cheerleader, I'm just taking it year by year. I'd like to be on the squad as long as I can keep making it back. I wish I could do if for the rest of my life.
The Trevino File
NAME: Trisha Marie Trevino
AGE:21
BIRTHPLACE: San Benito, TX
OCCUPATION: Student
MARITAL STATUS: Single
HOBBIES: Dancing, performing, working out, shopping, and spending time with my family, friends and boyfriend, Shane
The Sports Page Weekly
Trisha Trevino, a native of San Benito, TX, has been a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader for three years. She took some time from a hectic schedule to tell us a little bit about life as one of America's Sweethearts.
Were you intimidated when you first tried out for the Cowboy cheerleading squad?
There were a thousand applications first off, and then when we arrived at Texas Stadium for auditions, it was intimidating. There were so many girls who were talented and beautiful.
We went through preliminaries and semifinals, and then the finals are where we tried out with the veterans. I was feeling intimidated, but I had to block it out in order to do well. If not, you can't show what you can do.
Part of the audition was a small dance that we learned, then we did kick lines, then did some freestyle dancing. For the finals, we had to do a solo and take tests on football and current events, then had an interview. In the finals it was intimidating all over again, because the veterans were amazing.
It was a wonderful experience, and a lot of fun, but I was definitely nervous.
What kind of turnover is there from year to year on the squad? For every new girl who makes it, does someone have to go?
It kind of depends. We have turnover every year; some veterans don't come back to try out because they're either getting married, moving on in another direction with their careers, or going back to school. And some veterans do get cut.
This year, we have 20 returning veterans out of a squad of 36, and we're still in our training camp. We have 39 girls, so three will get cut.
The majority of the time there are probably about 10 veterans that don't come back or don't make it, but again, it varies. But a veteran will get cut if she doesn't bring it to auditions.
Is cheerleader camp in a way like an NFL training camp in that there are no guaranteed spots? Even if you're a four-year veteran, if you don't perform up to standard during camp are you at risk of being cut?
Definitely. If you go to auditions and you don't like a veteran you can be let go. The bar is set higher for veterans. You've had a whole year of practicing and performing so you should look better than new ones coming in. If you don't, if you have a new person come in and they look better, than yeah you can get cut. You can't just rest on your laurels. You're never safe, no matter how long you've been part of the squad?
What's life like for you away from the squad? Are you in school or have a job?
I just graduated from UT-Arlington in May with a bachelor's in marketing. This summer I've been involved in our Camp DCC, which is a day camp for girls ages 5 through 14. We've had those every week. But in August I start my new job as a marketing coordinator for a local company.
Have you talked to veterans about how being a Cowboy cheerleader helped them after their cheerleading days were over?
Being a cheerleader helps you in so many ways. You grow in confidence, your ability to present yourself, and you learn to take criticism lightly. You don't wear your feelings on your sleeve. I've definitely become a stronger person.
I have friends who have been on the squad and aren't anymore for whatever reason. But all of them feel that being a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader has helped them in a lot of ways.
What kind of traveling have you done with the squad?
We have a show group that goes overseas and travels around the U.S. I just got back from San Antonio and training camp. In April we went to the Country Music Television awards, where we performed on the red carpet.
We get to do some pretty amazing things. The only thing we don't do is go to away games.
This is a cheesy question but I'm going to ask it anyway. Are there any sort of rivalries among NFL cheerleading squads? Do you compete in any way among yourselves?
There definitely aren't any rivalries; we're all NFL cheerleaders, even though we root for individual teams. We don't usually get to interact with other cheerleaders unless we're at an appearance, or we get to be the team's representative to go to the Pro Bowl.
But I always say that we were the first NFL cheerleaders. If another squad does one of our routines, I take it as a compliment.
How long do you plan on being a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader?
I definitely want to be a cheerleader, I'm just taking it year by year. I'd like to be on the squad as long as I can keep making it back. I wish I could do if for the rest of my life.
The Trevino File
NAME: Trisha Marie Trevino
AGE:21
BIRTHPLACE: San Benito, TX
OCCUPATION: Student
MARITAL STATUS: Single
HOBBIES: Dancing, performing, working out, shopping, and spending time with my family, friends and boyfriend, Shane
posted by The Gryphon at 9:46 PM
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