Cheer squad kicks into gear

They won’t have any sidelines to perform their splits. And their uniforms will be more collegiate-looking than those worn by the Sea Gals.

But the Everett Hawks Indoor Football Cheer Squad will certainly have the rah-rah and community spirit to usher in Everett’s newest expansion team during its inaugural season.

The Hawks, who will play arena football at the Everett Events Center, held open tryouts for six hours on Saturday. Final members of the cheer squad will be named in February.

Technically speaking, Saturday’s tryouts weren’t entirely open. Applicants had to pay a $35 tryout fee. Applicants also had to be at least 18. And participants had to fill out a form. The questions addressed whether applicants were willing to donate their time to charity work. And applicants were warned they could be turned away if they were deemed lacking in character or integrity.

The 11 women who showed up, though, seemed ready for any challenge.

“Any anxiety I had was gone as soon as I heard the music,” said Lauren Walter, 20, of Redmond, who was chosen for the squad.

Blasting hip-hop beats from the aerobics room at Bally Total Fitness on Evergreen Way in Everett, the women from around Western Washington put on their best faces and put their best feet forward before a panel of four judges.

The group, most of whom had prior cheerleading or dance experience, performed two choreographed pieces that were introduced at 8 a.m. by Hawks cheer program director Ronda Thomas.

“It’s a different type of intensity,” Thomas said. “In high school, it’s life or death. When you get to this level, it’s more about fun. They’re not stressing out.”

The members of the squad will begin practicing immediately, and leading up to the March-June football season, they will be busy promoting the team’s image throughout the community.

With no sidelines in the events center, the cheerleaders will have a more active role in the aisles and corridors during games, Thomas said. The squad will perform on the field only at halftime and during timeouts.

They will practice twice a week for Friday games. Off the field, Thomas said the squad will take on volunteer roles in addition to community appearances.

Still, the squad will have the requisite cheerleader uniforms. In the final stages of design, the uniforms will be “a more collegiate-looking outfit, with a skirt and a halter top,” Thomas said.

The three women who didn’t make the squad will continue to practice with the team as alternates until a second tryout in February.

Listeners of KRKO 1380-AM’s “3 to 6 with the Fish” program will vote on a final cheerleader, the diamond in the rough.

Lisa Balmes, vice president of operations for the Hawks, said the team plans on “reaching out to north Snohomish County and beyond.”

“Places where Seattle is a little too far, we want to be their home team,” she said.

Daron Fiala, 19, of Bellevue said she tried out simply for the experience.

“I’m really excited,” Fiala said after making the team. “I think the Hawks will be great for Everett.”

Photojournalist Michael Martina: 425-339-3462 or mmartina@heraldnet.com

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