Each year the crowd just gets bigger and bigger. And what crowd is that? Those trying out to become the next San Diego Charger Girls.
More than 300 young women made their pitch recently during the annual tryouts at the University of San Diego. When all was said and done, 28 women were chosen to don the white, blue and gold next season. The 2007 edition comprises 18 veterans and 10 rookies.
While no women from the immediate area made the squad, a number of locals were there for the tryouts and to put their best foot forward.
“We have women here trying out from other NFL teams, the East Coast, et cetera,” Charger Girls director Lisa Simmons noted. “The whole tryout process is a lot of work, but it is worth every second.”
Among the locals trying out were Pacific Beach residents Marisa Spinella, Carley Fields and Cara Silverman.
Spinella, who works in La Jolla, was making her first attempt at the squad.
“It is a very good experience,” Spinella said. “My goal is to make it to the final round.”
Fields, who also works in La Jolla, was trying out for the third time and had reached the final round of cuts twice before. “Having been here before makes it somewhat easier in that I know what is going on,” Fields said.
Both Spinella and Fields have cheered and danced on the San Diego Shockwave indoor football squad, the Lady Shakers.
For Silverman, this was her first time trying out, and she admitted to being a bit nervous.
“I love cheerleading and did it in high school,” Silverman said. “It would be an awesome experience if I made the team. But either way, I’m really excited to be here.”
Excitement was definitely in the eyes of the many women who gave it their best on this day.
Simmons, in her third year as director of the squad and a former Charger Girl herself, noted that the volume of women trying out is a tribute to the squad and image of the Charger Girls.
“The team is an elite group, and so many women want to be a part of it,” Simmons said. “It is very flattering to see this kind of turnout.”
While the majority will have to wait again until next spring to give it a try, the experience they gained on this day was definitely a score in their favor.