Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Pro Bowlers By the Numbers

Congratulations to Jennifer Kathryne (pictured above) for her selection to the 2017 Pro Bowl (2016 season).  Reading about Jennifer’s accomplishment got me to thinking about all of the DCCs before her who were also honored to represent the squad in the NFL’s version of an All-Star game.  Since the league started inviting cheerleaders to the game (one from each team selected by her peers) in 1993, the Cowboys have been represented every year.  Here is a history of DCCs in the Pro Bowl by the numbers.  Since most of them were surely Group Leaders as well as Show Group Members, we will look at several other categories, some trivial, some based on merit.

This info is based on data I’ve collected and is by no means completely foolproof.  If anyone sees an error or an omission, please contact me at weeklydcc@live.com.

DCC Pro Bowlers By the Numbers

1  Two-time DCC Pro Bowler (Dorie Braddy)
1  Pro Bowler for 2 different teams (Jackie Bob – Cowboys and 49ers)
1  Latina (Melissa Gutierrez)
1  Native American descent (Shelly Boston Bramhall)
3  Became Assistant Choreographer (Shelley Boston Bramhall, Megan Fox, Jackie Bob)
4  Red heads (Megan Willsey, Cindi Alsobrook, Brandi Nace Redmond, Jennifer Kathryne [sort of])
4 Brunettes (Megan Fox, Misty Duncan, Justine Phillips, Nicole Bulcher)
4  African Americans (Regina Tucker, Nicole Hamilton, Ally Traylor, Jackie Bob)
5 Point of the Triangle [Lead Dancer] (Nicole Hamilton, Brittany Evans, Whitney Isleib, Holly Arielle, Jennifer Kathryne)
8 Cover Girls [Calendar or Magazine] (Dorie Braddy, Tandra Cromer, Regina Tucker, Pennie Booker, Megan Willsey,    Brandi Nace Redmond, Lynlee Allen, Holly Arielle)
8 All Stars (Pennie Booker, Megan Fox, Nicole Hamilton, Brittany Evans, Ally Traylor, Whitney Isleib, Jackie Bob,         Nicole Bulcher, )
10 Blondes (Dorie Braddy, Tandra Cromer, Stephanie Strunc Reese, Pennie Booker, Shannon Gulbis, Kelly Stus,               Lynlee Allen, Brittany Evans, Whitney Isleib, Holly Arielle)
18 Five Year Club (Dorie Braddy, Tandra Cromer, Regina Tucker, Pennie Booker, Megan Willsey, Cindi Alsobrook,           Melissa Gutierrez, Shannon Gulbis, Brandi Nace Redmond, Lynlee Allen, Megan Fox, Nicole Hamilton, Justine           Phillips, Ally Traylor, Whitney Isleib, Jackie Bob, Nicole Bulcher, Holly Arielle)
23 Total DCC Pro Bowlers (Dorie Braddy was selected twice)

Nicole Hamilton 2009

DCC Pro Bowlers By the Year

1993 Dorie Braddy
1994 Tandra Cromer
1995 Dorie Braddy
1996 Regina Tucker
1997 Shelly Boston Bramhall
1998 Stephanie Strunc Reese
1999 Pennie Booker
2000 Megan Willsey
2001 Cindi Alsobrook
2002 Melissa Gutierrez
2003 Shannon Gulbis
2004 Kelly Stus
2005 Brandi Nace Redmond
2006 Lynlee Allen
2007 Megan Fox
2008 Misty Duncan
2009 Nicole Hamilton
2010 Justine Phillips
2011 Brittany Evans
2012 Ally Traylor
2013 Whitney Isleib
2014 Jackie Bob
2015 Nicole Bulcher
2016 Holly Arielle
2017 Jennifer Kathryne

And there you have it.  A list of top DCCs as voted by their peers, by the year and by the numbers.

Dorie Braddy 1993 & 1995

Shout out to ultimatecheerleaders.com for some of the information and photos.

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.