2004 Riptide Dance Team Ready to Go
February 24, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
San Diego Riptide News Release
SAN DIEGO â After a grueling but exciting tryout on Saturday, the San Diego Riptide are pleased to announce the final roster for the 2004 Riptide Dance Team has been set.
As anyone who's been to a Riptide game at the Sports Arena will tell you, the players aren't the only ones providing exciting on-field action. The Riptide Dance Team helps maintain the high level of energy and excitement among the Riptide faithful, even when the players aren't on the carpet, and this year's team looks to be the best yet.
"This year's team is made up of 12 dynamic young women who will be wonderful ambassadors to the Riptide organization," said Johanna Blevins, the team's director. "The dance team is a valuable part of the organization, playing an integral role in game day operations and key promotional and charitable events throughout the community."
More than 30 girls tried out for 12 spots at an all-day audition on Saturday at the Pure Fitness Bonita Athletic Center in Chula Vista. Blevins supervised the tryout, which consisted of a warm-up session, followed by several dance segments and a brief interview.
The group was taught a short routine that they then performed in front of a five-person panel of judges. After an initial round of cuts narrowed the field slightly, the girls then performed once more and sat down for a brief roundtable interview session.
"All the girls were great," said Riptide Public Relations Director David Hale, one of the judges. "They are all very talented. Narrowing the field was an extremely difficult task."
The judges' final scoring was tabulated after the tryouts ended with Blevins making the final decisions later in the evening.
The team includes three returning members from last season: Melinda Forest, Cassandra Evans and Vanessa Barragan. Newcomers to the squad include two current Gulls' Girls, Giselle Pineda and Kati Schwantes, and a former cheerleader for the NFL's Carolina Panthers, Monica Littlejohn. Other members are Lala Bonilla, Marisa Domantay, Jamie Alexander, Alexis Rodriguez, Angela Rodriguez and Tiffany Loui.
The girls won't have much time to celebrate with their first practice being held Tuesday night. They will practice every Tuesday and Thursday throughout the season and will be making regular community appearances as well.
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