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Tender Skittles — Dynastic UCLA Dance Team and Cheer Squad return 17 kickass girls, and replace 5 departees with 6 new spirited beauties

Well, it appears that the UCLA Spirit Squad Selection Committee operates just fine without me.  For the last two years, I was honored to be a member of the Judges’ Panel for the prestigious UCLA Cheerleader Auditions, and was thoroughly proud of the results that we brought forth.  Unfortunately, this year I was not part of the process, but that didn’t hinder the Committee from hitting another home run with their selections.

I was in attendance for both the Cheer and Dance sessions, and I can assure you that the process has yielded the finest, smartest, prettiest, most talented groups of student-cheerleaders as you will find anywhere in the Nation.  All 17 veterans who tried out deservedly survived the day, and the 6 new additions definitely passed the eye test as well.  There were plenty of excellent performers who didn’t quite make the cut — hopefully they will come back next year for another chance.

With 6 new girls, of course I fell in love 6 times — because they are now part of the iconic Bruin Spirit Squad — including 1 with whom it was love at first site, and I am SO glad she made it onto the team.  Don’t ask me which one, because I will never tell.  You’ll just have to wonder as you view the pics.  But they are all super-hot, so it really could have been any of them.  I’m sure each one of you will have a different new favorite.

Speaking of favorites, my all-time favorite Cheerleader Katie (Wee) Keefe returned this year to be a first-time Judge.  And of course, she still looks phenomenal.  Sorry, no pic — she was intensely focused on the job at hand, and I thought it would have been tacky to sneak a photo or ask her to pose for one.  So you’ll just have to take my word for it, or catch her in one of her frequent appearances on TV as a successful young actress.

Speaking of successful, my experience at the event was enriched dramatically by 3 people who have reached the pinnacle of success in raising great daughters.  I’m talking about Kelly’s Mom, and McKenna’s parents, who were all a sincere pleasure to sit next to while watching their offspring kill it in the try-outs.

And now, WITH further ado, here are 86 more photos from the auditions.  The further ado is this:  I think 87 is the most pics I’ve ever posted at once, but I wanted to include everyone;  Also, the lighting in the Student Activity Center is not strong enough for my non-professional camera to get crisp shots… at least not with me, a non-professional photographer, at the controls.  Maybe there’s a way to change the settings to capture enough light without making the (handheld, no-tripod) shots grainy, but I doubt it.  Anyway, I apologize for the poor quality, but I think they are still worth posting.  At least you can get an idea of what the new additions look like.  Just be assured that they will look even better when I get them out in sunshine.  🙂