Cheerleaders informed of who made cut

Finals week is over. Candidates for the 2010 Tampa Bay Buccaneers cheerleading squad spent two weeks mastering intricate dance routines and conducting interviews in front of a panel of judges. The women know their every move was dissected throughout the audition process.

The 100 finalists endured three days of intense scrutiny.

The candidates spent two consecutive nights in training camp. New dance routines and kick sequences were introduced. Then, one by one, veteran Bucs cheerleaders and newcomers got on stage and performed their hidden talents.

"I'm tapping," rookie cheerleader Nina Stauffer said. "I'm doing a street, Irish tap-type thing. It's very different."

During the week, the finalists were grilled by the judges during an interview session.

The interviewers peppered the candidates about their personal experiences, community service involvement, and Bucs football knowledge.

"I did some research beforehand as far as the football team," rookie candidate Amber Rehman said. "I like football. I like watching it, but I need to do more homework about all the rules."

Bucs cheerleading manager Catherine Boyd stressed the importance of the community appearances.

"We're not looking for someone that can just dance," Boyd said. "We're looking for someone we can send out into the community. The cheerleaders are only on the field for a few games during the year. The rest of the time, they're out representing the Buccaneers."

Each captain of the cheerleading squad selects a charity that her dance line will focus on during the season.

During her interview, Faith Decker informed the judging panel about the charity she would like to become involved with if she was selected as a Bucs cheerleader.

"My mom suffered through quite a few problems during pregnancy. I was a twin. My twin was lost. So they told my mom that it probably would not be a very good idea to have me. But she insisted of course. I think that if my mom had something like Children's Miracle Network behind her to help her along the way. It would have made things a lot easier."

The final audition test concluded Thursday afternoon at One Buccaneer Place.

Groups of 10 candidates arrived for the last audition.

It was eerily silent in the room as the candidates stretched and practiced the dance routines before their name was called.

Rehman was the first finalist selected to dance before the judges.

"I practiced," Rehman said after her routine. "I felt prepared. I enjoyed performing going out there and trying my hardest."

All of the cheerleader finalists were informed Friday of the decision.

Rehman did not make the final cut but she said she will not be discouraged.

"It's okay," she said Friday evening. "There's always next year."

Newcomer Faith Decker and veteran Nina Stauffer were selected for the 2010 Bucs Cheerleader squad.

The final results will be made public Wednesday on the team's Web site.