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I used to say I wanted to be a Rockette, but I’m way too short for that (laughs). It would be really cool to be able to dance professionally in Los Angeles or New York in a big market. I’ve always had big dreams and big hopes.

LaurenMemphis POM Squad

Age: 20

Hometown: Wartburg, TN

How long have you been dancing? I started studio dancing when I was three. But, my high school didn’t have an actual dance team, so I did cheerleading instead through middle and high school. I also did a lot of competitive dancing outside of school, so I decided to try out for the POM squad here at Memphis.

How did you get into dancing and cheering? All the older girls, when they were junior and seniors in high school would try out for a collegiate dance team. We had always watched Memphis on television and thought the team was so good at the UDA Nationals and knew that I wanted to try out. I ended up getting an academic scholarship to Memphis and tried out for the dance team once I got here. After that, everything just kind of fell into place.

Have you ever worked with Varsity? I’m a staff member with the Universal Dance Association (UDA), which is an extension of Varsity. Varsity is a big brand, and it has several different associations including the National Cheerleading Association (NCA), University Cheerleading Association (UCA) and others. I’ve been doing staff work for UDA by working as an instructor as dance camps in the summer. I’ve been working with UDA since I graduated from high school.

How many hours per week to you put into dance? It’s a big commitment. We practice from 1:15-4 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays,

and Fridays and 10-2 on Sundays. That doesn’t include actually dancing at sports events like the football games, so it ends up being at least 20 hours a week.

Is cheerleading a sport? Absolutely. Obviously, we don’t compete in sporting events like other athletes and we do cheer on the sidelines for other sports. However, just the number of hours and amount of preparation we put in makes it a sport. We prepare for our big national competition, which is in Orlando, Fla., which we won last year.

What does it feel like to be a national champion? It feels great. I knew Memphis had won nationals in the past and had watched them growing up, but I never really pictured myself actually winning a national championship. It’s truly a great feeling. I don’t want to lose this year either, so we have to make sure we keep the bar set high.

What’s the biggest difference between high school and college dancing? I guess it would just be who’s watching you. Yes, in high school, you’re at the games cheering on your teams. But, in college, you’re really into all the games. We are with athletics sometimes, so there are just so many people watching you. It’s a very different audience. We’re asked to do a lot of appearances and charity events, so there’s a lot more work outside of cheering at games in college.

Do you plan on continuing with cheering and dancing after college? Well, I’ve de� nitely thought about it, maybe with the NBA or NFL. I used to say I wanted to be a Rockette, but I’m way too short for that (laughs). It would be really cool to be able to dance professionally in Los Angeles or New York in a big market. I’ve always had big dreams and big hopes.

Written by Preston McClellan

VA R S I T Y S P I R I T Go. Fight. Win.

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The Intelligence TeamVarsity’s It Girls get a leg ip in the workplace

When it comes to cheerleading, someone has to be the ring leader, and that’s exactly why Varsity Brand, Inc. introduced its “It” Girl concept.

“This program is very special to us at Varsity. The Intelligence Team, or It Girls, have given us a chance to have an even closer relationship with the girls who wear our uniforms and attend our camps and competitions. They’re more than just a focus group - they’re an important part of Varsity’s product and program development team,” Nicole Lauchaire, Vice President of Corporate Marketing & Communications said.

Lauchaire explained the team is geared toward junior and seniors in high school with a background in cheerleading and a desire to start earning experience in a marketing-related � eld. 150 interns from Orlando, FL, Memphis, TN, Dallas, TX, Bridgewater, NJ and Anaheim, CA will be selected from a pool of 1,200 applicants.

Intelligence Team members will be required to meet once a month in cities across the United States to share their thoughts on new programs, products and ideas.

Those that are selected will be responsible for a variety of tasks including product testing, viral marketing contribution, Varsity TV content generation, and merchandise design and development. IT Girls will also receive training and mentoring that will be helpful for their future professional lives. By the end of the program, Lauchaire says the interns will have a better understanding of the workplace.

Founded in 1948, Varsity is an institution when it comes to all things cheerleading. Varsity sponsors education camps, clinics and competition as well as uniforms for many squads around the country. Varsity’s online video system provides access to cheerleading video of all kind which has become popular among fans and coaches alike. The company is based in Memphis and employs over 5,000 workers nationally.

For more information about Varsity or the It Girls program visit varsity.com or contact Ashley Cowan, the It Girl Director, acowan@varsityspirit.com.

Written by Preston McClellan