As Sea Gals, these gals got game
Megan Anderberg and Rebecca Anderson are shaking with excitement in their crystal-studded cheerleading outfits.
While more than 90 million Americans will tune into Super Bowl XL from their homes, the two women from Spokane County will view the action from the field.
Anderberg, a 2002 University High graduate, and Anderson, a 1999 Riverside High and Gonzaga University alumna, are members of the Seattle Seahawks Sea Gals cheerleading team. When they were hired in April, out-dancing and out-spiriting about 200 other women, they never imagined they’d be involved in this year’s big game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Pittsburgh Steelers in Detroit (3:25 p.m. ABC-TV) on Sunday.
“I don’t know what to expect,” Anderberg said from Seattle on Wednesday afternoon. “I can’t believe I’m actually going. I can’t picture being there.”
The 28 Sea Gals and their adviser were scheduled to leave this morning on one of the chartered planes Seahawks owner Paul Allen has arranged for his employees.
From the moment they arrive, their schedules will be packed with activities. Tonight, they’ll work a welcome reception for Seahawks personnel. Saturday night, they’ve been asked to work the Sports Illustrated party.
However, it’s not all bleached-white smiles and warm exchanges for the Gals from Seattle. Sunday is game day and a chance to execute championship-caliber moves. They’re the only cheerleading squad that will be on the sidelines. Neither the Steelers nor the host team Detroit Lions has a cheer squad.
The Sea Gals will have a few practices before the game, mostly to get used to different dance settings.
The Sea Gals are paid the minimum wage of $7.63 for games, practices and appearances. Game days can start as early as 9 a.m. at Touchdown City in the Seattle stadium. Practices are twice a week for four hours each. Dancers set their appearance schedules as much as possible, which works out well since many are students or have full-time jobs.
Dancers have little, if any, contact with the Seahawk players and are encouraged not to socialize with them, Anderberg said.
Dancers received two tickets to the home games at Qwest Field, but no such luck for Super Bowl XL, where the face value of a ticket is between $600 and $700.
Anderberg and Anderson learned ballet at young ages. Both danced at the Academy of Dance in Spokane Valley but didn’t know each other until making the Sea Gals team.
Anderberg was a cheerleader in high school and was the 2002 U-Hi Lilac Princess. She graduated from the University of Washington in December, with a dance minor and psychology major, and is applying for graduate school for a career in occupational therapy.
She said had it not been for her job with the Sea Gals, she would probably be back on the East Side working on her family’s farm near Fairfield.
She and high school boyfriend Kirk Jones are planning a July wedding in Spokane.
Anderson, a regular at Spokane’s Ballet Arts Academy, as well as the Valley academy, was captain of the dance team at Gonzaga, where she became accustomed to performing before large crowds.
She’s in her third year of law school at Seattle University and is working part-time as an intern. She plans to take the Washington bar exam during the summer.
Both women said they don’t know if they’ll be back on the squad next season; it all depends on where they are in their professional lives.
For now, Anderson said, “I’ve never done the red carpet thing before, but it’s going to be fun.”