By Tom Rohrer
Amongst the chaos at one of the loudest athletic venues in the world, three highly skilled and scrutinized teams must execute despite the constant distractions around them.
While two of those teams compete against each other for a higher score, the other provides consistent entertainment for the attentive fans throughout the contest and has over time, acquired a similar sized fan base to the organization they represent.
One of the most popular and talented professional dance squads in the Pacific Northwest, the Sea Gals are the official cheerleading team for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League.
Along with performing before, during and after every Seahawks home game at CenturyLink Field, the Sea Gals make appearances at events across the state and abroad while performing countless hours of community service throughout the year.
Four of the 32 Sea Gals hail from the Thurston County area and are graduates of local high schools. Sea Gal Stephanie is a graduate of Timberline High School, and her three years on the squad makes her the longest tenured of the Thurston County quad. The 2012 season marked the second year for Sea Gal Karissa, while fellow Tumwater alumni Bianca and Allie are rookies on the squad.
Being a member of the Sea Gals remains a surreal and exciting experience for the Thurston County women.
“Every day I think to myself how cool it is that I have this opportunity and how exciting of a ride it’s been,” said Stephanie. “It’s a privilege and it combines so many fun, exciting and rewarding things into one great experience.”
“When I first made the team, it was like a dream, just a crazy experience,” Karissa said. “But I still have that feeling, that excitement. You cannot replace it.”
In order to make the squad, the performers must make it through an annual tryout each May. The highly competitive tryouts have multiple rounds that feature complex routines, performances and a question answer section for new applicants. However, the Thurston County Sea Gals were able to maintain their cool amongst the pressure and fulfill their well-earned goal.
“I was the very last number called when they announced the team after finals, so up until that point, I thought I hadn’t made it,” said Bianca. “But then I heard it and that was so amazing and just a lot of excitement went through me.”
“It’s a long process when first trying out. When you show up for open call, I didn’t know anyone, and went alone. I liked it better that way,” Stephanie said. “I told myself I was doing something for me, a goal that I had set. I showed up nervous but confident.
“Driving up to finals, I was so nervous,” Stephanie continued. ”Then something clicked – the performer in me stepped on stage and with 100,000 people viewing online, I was still very comfortable when it was time to perform. I walked away thinking I did the best I could’ve done. I had to look down at a number when they called me. Paused, looked down, grabbed the Sea Gals’ poms and just had look of shock on my face.”
While the women accomplished the task of making the team, they entered into a demanding position, one that requires countless rehearsal hours and the ability to perform on the drop of the hat.
“The week of game day is intense,” Stephanie said. “We have over 40 routines and go through every song, routine, situation. (We) have to know what we’re doing if the team is winning, if we’re losing, or winning big. We have to catch on to the music at first beat. I play the 40 songs over and over at work, and then I can practice in my head my cues and jump on it.”
All that preparation and practice comes in handy when the squad performs in front of the CenturyLink Field fans, considered to be the loudest in the NFL. The energy from this raucous crowd fuels the Sea Gals.
“Honestly, the noise helps me,” Bianca said. “When it’s so loud in there and the crowd is pumped up, I feed off their energy. I feel like I could dance forever because I have so much adrenaline.”
“It’s like taking ten shots of cappuccino,” Stephanie said of performing at CenturyLink Field. “The energy is crazy. I can see how we have such a high home field advantage. It’s ten times louder on the field then in the stands. When you look and see everyone going crazy, there’s nothing else like it and it’s so amazing to experience. (The fans) are doing their part so you want to do yours.”
The Sea Gals help others off the field as well. As a member of the Sea Gals “Show Squad,” Stephanie has traveled on a military morale tour, visiting deployed military personnel in Germany, United Kingdom, Kosovo, Bahrain, Djibouti, Somalia and France. “Talking to soldiers, hearing their stories, and just being around them was like nothing I’ve ever done before,” Stephanie said. “It was such a rewarding experience and something I’ll never forget.”
Both Karissa and Bianca have had opportunities of their own. “Visiting the University of Washington Medical Center and Children’s Hospital was my most memorable promotion,” Karissa said. “It was an all-day affair, and it was awesome to see the kids and put a smile on their faces.”
“Our Sea Gals auction was a great experience,” Bianca said. “We received donations from different organizations and auctioned them off for money. Then, we all got assigned a mom or child and bought Christmas presents for them. It’s just a great feeling to give back and help others.”
Along with their Sea Gals obligations, the four squad members maintain a busy and rewarding personal schedule. Stephanie received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington in 2011, while Bianca and Allie are both students at universities in the state.
Karissa helps coach the very dance team she used to be a member of at Tumwater High School. She has led the Tumwater dance team to nationals, which will be held in Florida in late January. “It’s really awesome and super rewarding to help them,” Karissa said. “I was there once and it’s cool to mentor them.”
That hasn’t been the only mentoring provided by Karissa. Bianca says having Karissa and Allie on the squad helped her acclimate to the Sea Gals lifestyle. “I joined (the Tumwater High) dance team as sophomore and Allie and Karissa were officers,” Bianca said. “It’s crazy that we were together in high school and now. That’s been really nice. They’ve been really helpful to me and it’s fun to continue to perform with them.”
For women entertaining the idea of one day performing with the Sea Gals, the squad members say go for it.
“I encourage everyone, no matter where you live, that you can make it happen,” Karissa said. “Everyone assumes you have to live in or be from Seattle. We’re not and we did it.”
“There are not many professions that allow you to do what you love and help others while you do it,” Stephanie said. “It’s an honor and I feel fortunate enough to represent my community in a positive way.”
Visit the Sea Gals website for more information about the squad.
