Super Bowl Win Expected To Draw Hundreds More To Ravens Cheerleader Tryouts
BALTIMORE (WJZ)—You watch them perform at every Ravens home game. This weekend you'll have a chance to see if you've got what it takes to become a Baltimore Ravens cheerleader.
Ron Matz reports a larger than usual crowd is expected because the Ravens are now Super Bowl champions.
There's nothing like winning the Super Bowl. Just ask Angel, one of the Ravens cheerleaders who was in New Orleans.
"The Super Bowl was the culmination of everything the organization, the cheerleaders and, of course, the players have worked up to. It was the ultimate payoff. The energy there, the fans from Baltimore, it was crazy," said Angel, a 7-year-member of the squad.
"Words can't describe the feeling of the Super Bowl. It was a lot of work. Just to be there with my Ravens family to see what our gentlemen have done to bring us there. It was amazing and a true blessing," said Adrian, 9-year-member of the squad.
On Saturday hundreds of women and men will come to the Merritt Athletic Club downtown, trying to win one of just 60 spots on the Ravens cheerleading squad.
"I remember my first time coming to tryouts. It was definitely nerve wracking, but you gotta come in here with confidence. You know that you have special qualities you want to bring to the organization," Angel said.
Even veterans like Adrian must audition.
"Saturday is our free pass as veterans. Everyone who makes it to the second round on Sunday starts competing again. It's a couple week process," Adrian explained.
The Ravens have the only co-ed cheer squad in the NFL.
Angel is retiring, but for her and her teammates, they'll always have Super Bowl XLVII.
"When you run out of that tunnel with 70,000 fans cheering, it's an indescribable feeling. It's pride. It's excitement. It's something you know that not many people get to experience," Angel said.
Some 350 men and women auditioned last year.
"It's going to be a huge day. We expect a full house, probably close to 500," Henry said.
Saturday's crowd is expected to be bigger now that the Ravens are Super Bowl champions.
"The turnout is going to be huge," Adrian said. "I remember when I first tried out. We had over 300 people. We didn't see a turnout like that until last year, and I anticipate more this year. We are world champs."
Registration for the tryouts begins at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the Merritt Athletic Club downtown.
"Males and females, fill out the application, bring two head shots and a full body shot, sign your waivers, and bring $50 cash," Henry said.
For more information on eligibility and what you need to bring, click here.
