Qualifications All contestants must be at least 21 years old by March 18, 2006. All contestants must have a high school diploma or equivalent. Formal dance instruction is not a prerequisite, but strong dance skills and physical fitness are required. Those selected as squad members must be available to practice Monday and Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings, beginning in April for a period of one year. In addition to rehearsals and performing at home games, cheerleaders are required to do corporate and charitable appearances. Please note this is a part-time position that cheerleaders hold in addition to their regular work or college schedules.Audition Attire Contestants should wear a two-piece leotard, skin-tone tights and sneakers suitable for dance. Bring a warm-up or other casual clothing to wear over dance attire. Restrooms will be available; however, there will be no formal changing facilities.What To Bring Concession stands will not be open. Contestants should bring food and beverages with them.Special Considerations Auditions are CLOSED to the public. Only contestants will be allowed inside the stadium. No video cameras are permitted.Frequently Asked Questions Question: What does it take to become a TopCat? Answer:Enthusiasm and energy Showmanship and poise Physical fitness Dance technique Dedication Question: Is being a Carolina Panthers cheerleader a full-time job? Answer: No. TopCats work part-time for the Panthers. Most squad members hold other full-time jobs or attend college. Being a stay-at-home mom is considered a full-time job.Question: Do I have to relocate to the Charlotte area if selected as a TopCat? Answer: No. We are proud to have TopCats living in North and South Carolina. Question: Are there any height and weight requirements? Answer: There are no height or weight requirements, but cheerleaders should be physically fit.Question: Are there any age requirements? Answer: Yes, all contestants must meet the minimum age requirement, which is 21 years old by March 18, 2006. There is no maximum age limit.Question: How should I wear my make-up and hair? Answer: Wear make-up in colors that flatter your skin tone. A natural but polished look is recommended. Wear a hairstyle that complements your features but does not hide your face. Question: What type of audition attire is recommended? Answer: Wear an audition outfit suitable for dance in a style and colors that best complement your skin tone and figure.Question: Is the audition class mandatory? Answer: The audition class is not mandatory but provides excellent preparation for the audition.Question: Is there a cost to audition? Answer: While there is a non-refundable cost associated with the March 4 audition clinic, there is no fee to audition for the squad on March 18.Question: If I make the squad, what type of time commitment is required? Answer: From April through June, the TopCats rehearse twice weekly with practices alternating between Monday/Wednesday evenings and Wednesday evenings/Saturday mornings. Beginning each July, rehearsals are held weekly on Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings through the end of the Panthers season. The TopCats cheer at all Panthers home games and also make corporate and charity appearances throughout the course of the season.
When you are an offensive lineman in the NFL, it never seems to get any easier. With so many athletes on defenses these days, each week presents another daunting challenge. But this week seems tougher than usual.The Carolina Panthers will take on the second ranked defense in the NFL Sunday when they face the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Guard Mike Wahle said watching film this week has been an eye-opening experience.“They’re very tough,†he said. “They have great players across the board, and then on top of that their schemes are difficult to pick up. They run a lot of stunts at you. They blitz from everywhere. You really have to do your homework.“You can’t take it for granted who is playing middle linebacker or strongside linebacker, because it could be different players at different times of the game. In addition to that, they’re going to show looks that you may not have seen at this point in the season. It’s a difficult defense to play against.â€Lining up across from Wahle will be defensive tackles Kelly Gregg, who made 102 tackles last season, and rookie Haloti Ngata, the team’s first round draft choice from Oregon.“They are very, very good players,†said Wahle of the pair. “They’re stout, but they move very well and are really strong. They open up the playmaking for the linebackers behind them. And at defensive end, they have a multitude of guys they can run through there, including Ngata.â€One of those playmakers is, of course, middle linebacker Ray Lewis, one of the top players at his position over the last decade. Lewis typically makes a statement upon his arrival on the field, with his own signature dance that fires up both the home crowd and his teammates.“He brings a lot of emotion to the field and those guys play off of that a lot,†said Wahle. “I know that he’s a lot happier now that he has guys in front of him who can free him up to make more plays. We’re going to have to work hard just to get to him. He’s one of those linebackers who will flash one side, then come back and make the play on the other. So you can’t get off of your block to early.â€With so much to think about, is there a danger of thinking too much? Wahle thinks so.“I think you just have to go in there on an even keel,†he said. “You have to realize that everything isn’t going to go perfectly against this kind of defense. They’re going to make some plays on you. But you have to stay the course, and capitalize on the opportunities when you get them. You don’t know how many you’re going to get.The Panthers offense has shown steady improvement since the season-opening loss to Atlanta. It will be a challenge to maintain that progression this Sunday, though.“I think our confidence has grown week in and week out,†said Wahle. “This is going to be another huge test for us, because this is one of the best defenses in the League.“You’re going into a hostile environment. It gets loud there. There is a rich tradition of them having a top defense. They’re very, very proud of it, and we know all of that going in. So it’s knowing your assignments, and executing them to the best of your abilities.â€