Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Five Year Club

Although the weeklydcc.net and blackdcc.net websites are gone, the Five Year Club lives on.  For those who don’t know, the Five Year Club is that exclusive group of Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders who cheer for at least five seasons.  Every year the club gets new members and this season is no exception.

2016 brings a new trio to the mix.  Danielle Marie, Jenna Lene and Jessica Marie are the senior members of this year’s squad.  It is so difficult to make the DCC team, but making it five times?  That deserves a tribute.  So the following is a salute to each deserving lady.

DANIELLE MARIE

From the rookie with the big, beautiful eyes to respected veteran, that’s how Danielle’s DCC career has blossomed.  The Jersey Girl had over 20 years dance experience before moving to the Dallas area to try out for the Sweethearts.  She went from being heavily criticized by DCC Technical Coach Kitty Carter to being one of the elder stateswomen on the squad, looked up to by the newer members of the team.  Her star has risen so high that she was the cover girl of the 2015 Dallas Cowboys Star Mag Swimsuit Edition.  To top if off, she is a now a Group Leader, the highest honor for a DCC (other than the Pro Bowl).  Here’s to a great 2016-17 season, Danielle.

Danielle’s Twitter Account

 

JENNA LENE 

Every year the DCC travel overseas to entertain the troops.  One of the most popular spots is South Korea where Jenna Lene’s family was stationed five years ago when the DCC made their annual Christmas trip.  The “military brat” was a cheerleader who attended a Camp DCC.  She was so mesmerized by the ladies in blue stars and crystals that she made the trip back to the U.S. to audition for the world renowned squad. The California native made the team her rookie year, propelled herself to Second Group Leader in her fourth season and is now Group Leader in her fifth.  She is also a member of the vaunted Show Group which means she now makes those trips to Korea (and many other places) where she can hopefully inspire another girl to live her dreams as the DCC once did for her.  Jenna’s story is a great one.  May year five be as sweet as the rest.

Jenna’s Twitter Account

JESSICA MARIE

Several women try out for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders after cheering for other pro teams.  Jessica is no exception.  She was a dancer for the NBA’s Indiana Pacers before auditioning her way into the coveted DCC boots.  The accountant and graduate of Indiana State University made the team and hasn’t looked back since.  Now in her fifth season, she is one of the most prominent members on the team, a Show Group member and a Group Leader.  Kudos to the Iowa native and may the 2016-17 season be a cheerful one.

Jessica’s Twitter Account

CHEERS!!!

Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Who Cheered For Other NFL Teams

While watching a rerun of CMT’s DCC Making The Team (DCC MTT), I noticed rookie DCC Elizabeth who cheered for the Oakland Raiders last year before deciding to bring her talents to the Sweethearts for 2015.  This inspired me to blog about DCCs who cheered for other NFL teams before auditioning for the famous Cowboys squad.  Let’s start with Elizabeth who pursued her dream to be a DCC and now graces the sidelines at AT&T stadium.

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Carrie Stilwell is another former Raiderette who tried her hand at being a DCC.  Carrie was a DCC during the 2006-07 season after cheering in Oakland from 2004-2006.

         

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Way back in the 90s, Monica Cates was a Miami Dolphins cheerleader who became a prominent member of the DCC, making appearances and being featured in the squad’s swimsuit calendar video.

                   

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One former DCC who went on to have a successful career as a scout for the LA Lakers is Bonnie-Jill Laflin who cheered for the San Francisco 49ers before flying to Dallas to join the world renowned cheerleading squad in what she labeled as “a career move.”  I think it worked out for her.  See her with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and as a Lakers scout below.

                   

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Jackie Bob is another Bay Area cheerleader who fulfilled the goal of becoming a DCC.  Jackie was a Pro Bowl cheerleader for the 49ers Gold Rush.  After a stellar career as a DCC (Show Group and Group Leader) she represented the DCC in the Pro Bowl as well.  She is now a member of the DCC All Stars and still makes appearances on behalf of the organization.  Jackie is one of the highest regarded women in DCC history.

          

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If you’ve ever heard of the Purrfect Angelz you’ve heard of the traveling group of performers founded by former DCC Lisa Ligon who cheered for the hated Washington Redskins before coming to her senses and trying out for America’s Sweethearts.  Lisa is another one who became quite prominent and a fan favorite, even gracing the cover of the swimsuit calendar in the photo centered below.

       

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Another former Redskins cheerleader who did the right thing is Jennifer Franklin who left the nation’s capital for Texas in her successful attempt to wear the blue stars and crystals.   Jennifer cheered for the Cowboys in the late 90s.

                   

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In 2007 Gina Bechetti took a trek from Minnesota where she cheered for the Vikings to audition for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.  Gina made the team and cheered for one season before becoming homesick and moving back north where she went back to the Vikings squad.  But at least she won’t have to look back and say she didn’t live her dream.

         

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[RETRACTION:  The young lady formerly pictured here was Tomoko Mita who cheered for the Cowboys in the 1998 and 2000 seasons.  Credit to Sasha Williams of Ultimate Cheerleaders for the correction.]

One former DCC who also cheered for the Indianapolis Colts originated from Japan.  Her name was Yoshiko Danjo and her excitement at becoming a DCC was captured by the cameras on DCC MTT when she called home to Japan to spread the good news.

         

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Everybody remembers the heartfelt story of Deryn Derbigny whose family was displaced to Dallas by Hurricane Katrina.  Deryn made lemonade out of lemons by trying out for DCC after having spent several seasons on the Superdome sidelines with the New Orleans Saints where she was a Pro Bowl cheerleader in 2005.  Deryn adjusted to Dallas quite well, cheering for the Cowboys for 4 years and becoming a Show Group member.  She currently lives back in New Orleans, is a successful business woman, mother of an adorable little girl and will soon release a book about her experiences as a pro cheerleader.

           

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Deryn isn’t the only former New Orleans Saintsation to make the move to the DCC.  During the same era, Monica Cravinas uprooted herself from the Bayou State to North Texas to fulfill her aspiration to wear the short shorts and cowboy boots.  Monica also cheered in Dallas for several years and made the Show Group.  After her DCC days, she moved back to New Orleans, got married and she and Deryn remain friends for life.

          

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Carey DePasquale was an Atlanta Falcons Cheerleader for seven years.  Apparently she got the seven year itch because she decided to continue her dance career in Big D.  She was a Pro Bowl cheerleader for the Falcons before trying her hand at the most recognizable dance squad in sports.

         

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One former DCC cheered for the in-state rival team before moving up north to America’s Sweethearts.  Vanessa Jenkins was a Houston Texans cheerleader before trading in her red and blue uniform for the blue and silver.  She cheered with the DCC during the inaugural season of AT&T Stadium then known as Cowboys Stadium.

         

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The next two have to be mentioned together because until this season they were inseparable.  Danielle Marie and Jasmine Raphaella both cheered for the New York Jets under the tutelage of former DCC Denise Garvey.  They came to the DCC together and both made the squad four years ago.  For three seasons they lived their dream together until this season when Danielle made the squad but Jasmine did not.  Danielle is enjoying her 4th season as a DCC and was featured prominently in the Star Magazine swimsuit edition this year.  Jasmine rebounded well and is now a dancer for the world champion NBA Golden State Warriors.

         

         

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Last season Courtney got a job in the Dallas area just to try out for the DCC.  Prior to that she had been a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers cheerleaders.  DCC MTT chronicled her struggles as she had to quit her job because it was too stressful.  Her story had a happy ending as she became a member of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders for the 2014 season.

If there was ever any doubt, the above stories prove that the DCC are considered the pinnacle of the pro cheerleading world.  Many sports dancers don’t feel complete until they have at least tried to make it as a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader.

CHEERS.