I’m thinking, ‘Well, wait a minute, I might have a chance.’ So I felt bad, the girl I drove with didn’t make it, so she had to wait for me all day.” I said, ‘I am not going to make it, so we’ll just go here and have fun,’ and I kept making through the cuts. But I thought I will go and try out, my friends talked me into it. (I thought), ‘I am not going to make it, look at all of these women!’ I had been with the Charlotte Rage, Arena Football, and I had fun with that, but that’s not (major league) professional. Janelle remembers, “It was like 400 girls, and I just went to have fun. Janelle, who is a project manager who also dabbles in real estate, tried out as a whim originally. A lot of people think, ‘Oh, cheerleaders,’ but the Panthers run a class A organization.” Janelle told me, “The organization is just phenomenal, it was a great start for a great career for me. She was a TopCat on the inaugural squad in 1996, and after cheering, she has been helping the TopCats every year on game days. When I visited the TopCats last October, I met Janelle Rayford. In addition to rehearsals and performing at all home games, cheerleaders make charitable and corporate appearances.Ĭongratulations to the 2012 TopCats! They are in for an exciting season and a world of memories.Īnd they just have to ask one of the original TopCats to learn the impact the experience can have on them. Qualifications for being a Panther cheerleader include being 21 a high school diploma or equivalent and pass a pre-employment and periodic drug screen as well as satisfactorily complete a criminal and civil background check, including driving history.įormal dance instruction is not a prerequisite, but strong dance skills and physical fitness are required. “When evaluating contestants, we are looking for showmanship, enthusiasm, dance ability and good physical fitness,” said Ms. There are four rounds of auditions before final selections are made. Cass.Īuditions for the Topcats are held at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.
I was a part of this as a little girl and look where I am today… where my mentors once stood,” said Ms. “Girls check out the Panthers’ website for a great opportunity. She encourages young girls to look into the Junior Topcats. Topcats is more than a squad we are truly a sisterhood,” said Ms. We have already connected as a family and they are like my sisters. Cass has bonded with the other cheerleaders. I am so excited about what this year is going to bring,” said Ms. Watching a game there is so passionate and we have such amazing fans who cheer no matter what. She will be cheering at every home game and is thrilled with the thought.
#Topcat cheerleader professional
“I mean this is professional and the actual NFL so it’s one of those things, you have to go big or go home. Cass said the tryouts were everything she had expected. It was one of those things that during the whole entire month you never knew if that would be your last time ever dancing,” said Ms. They challenged me physically, emotionally, and mentally. “They were a month long and were very tough. “Auditions were probably the most intense process I have ever been though,” said Ms.
Cass’ years of dance and cheering, the auditions were indeed tough. “They had to learn different routines from scratch on three consecutive nights before taking the weekend to prepare for the final audition,” said Richelle Grant, cheerleader choreographer/coordinator.ĭespite Ms. She worked as an assistant dance instructor for Tonya’s Academy as well.Īccording to a news release from the Carolina Panthers, the 40 finalists were pushed harder than ever this year. Cass also graduated from Tonya’s Academy of Dance in 2009 after 15 years of dance training. “And I’ve cheered since third grade, including four years as a varsity cheerleader at East Wilkes and all the way up to college at Liberty.” Cass was part of the Junior Topcats’ program for girls, ages 7-14. Much of her life has been surrounded by cheerleading and attending football games. I’m just so blessed and excited to be able to have this amazing opportunity and be a part of a great organization,” said Ms. I have had this goal my whole life and it’s truly a dream come true. “Oh my goodness… I’m still kind of in shock a little.
Cass was thrilled when she learned she had made the Panther squad. She is a rising senior at Liberty University and will graduate May 2013. Cass is the daughter of Mark and Michele Cass of Ronda. Tryouts were held May 5-May 30 and the cheerleading squad was announced May 31. She is one of 24 women selected for the Carolina Panthers football team, based in Charlotte. Laken Cass, a 2009 graduate of East Wilkes High School, will be cheering for the Carolina Panthers as a TopCat Cheerleader for the 2012 season.
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