Samantha Poole, of Zachary, is a new member of the New Orleans Saintsations Cheerleading squad. (PHOTO/Stacy Gill)
Poole is the daughter of Ben and Karmen Poole and is a graduate of Zachary High School.
Poole excelled in three areas of competition to win a coveted spot on the prestigious Saintsation Cheerleading team. In addition to advanced dance and technical skills, applicants were judged by area professionals in one-on-one interviews and tested on football fundamentals.
The final round of competition, which included on-the-spot question and answer and public speaking skills, was judged by a diverse panel of judges including area business professionals, Saints fans and fitness and dance experts.
Poole is a first year member of the Saintsations but danced for the Bronco Belles all four years at ZHS.
Poole is currently attending Baton Rouge Community College where she is pursuing a degree in Liberal Arts. She is also a student worker for the state of Louisiana.
In addition to performing at NFL Saints home football games, the Saintsations have traveled to Iraq and Afghanistan to visit our military troops and were recognized for their community service efforts by the Louisiana Legislature.
The team has appeared on The Today Show, the Dr. Phil show and Comic Relief Live, a national television show starring Whoopi Goldberg, Robin Williams and Billy Crystal. Additionally, the team performed at Super Bowl XLIV and appeared on TV shows such as Fox and Friends, CBS's The Early Show and the Bill O’Reilly show.
They have also appeared in Sports Illustrated, Maxim Magazine, FHM Magazine and several national commercials, including the recent commercial which was shot in New York City's Time Square for EA Madden ’11 featuring Drew Brees. Team members have competed in the NFL's nationally televised Cheerleading championship, appeared in events surrounding the NFL Super Bowl and competed against other NFL cheerleading teams at the Super Bowl Beach Challenge. The entire team was featured at the Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio, as well as the London regular season game in October. During the trip, the team performed and promoted the Saints and the State of Louisiana at various public and private events.
The Saintsations support community projects through the “Saintsations Inspiration Program.” The primary focus of the 2011 program is to promote positive initiatives geared toward women and children. They have worked hand-in-hand with Angel’s Place in New Orleans, a non-profit organization that provides care and comfort for terminally ill children.
The Saintsations are one of the premier dance teams in the NFL. Incorporating high-energy routines with professionalism, this elite group has earned the reputation of being one of the most versatile and entertaining squads in the league. Their annual New Orleans Saintsation Swimsuit Calendar and the “behind-the-scenes” television shows about the making of the calendar have made the team regional celebrities.
In essence, this highly recognized and respected group of women serve as goodwill ambassadors for the NFL and the Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints organization.
Team members perform at many exciting events and make numerous public speaking appearances throughout the world.
"The Saintsations are influential role models for the youth in our communities, and the judges felt that Samantha could live up to the expectations the fans have come to expect from these young ladies," said Lesslee Fitzmorris, team manager. "We look for young women who are committed to leading a healthy, productive lifestyle both on and off the field. Samantha is a true representative of the youth and talent in the New Orleans area. We are proud to have her as a member of the 2011-2012 team.”
For more information, please contact Sarah Sadler at saintsations2@gmail.com.
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