Franklin College senior scores opportunity to cheer for Indianapolis Colts - The Franklin News

April 21, 2019 at 07:47AM

By Hope Shrum
hope.shrum@franklincollege.edu

The venue is dark, except for the spotlights that shine on 26 women. Their white pompoms glow. The 2019-20 Colts cheerleader sare ready to perform their first routine as a new team.

Among these 26 women, who come from all across the country, stands a Franklin College Grizzly. And in just four short weeks, senior Megan Laugle will trade her textbooks and Grizzly gear for pompoms and the Indianapolis Colts horseshoe.

Laugle promised her cousin she would attend one of the Colts cheerleading prep classes, just to see what it was all about. One turned into two, which turned into all five classes and a master clinic. Laugle's talent, combined with her spirit, earned her a spot on the roster.

Laugle, of Whiteland, auditioned for a position on March 16. The Colts started with about 70 women, and by the end of the day, judges narrowed it down to 47 finalists.

The next week was intense for the finalists with daily four-hour practices and lots of test-taking, including fitness, dance technique, and – yes – football knowledge. Midterms made the week even more stressful for Laugle, but she said she works best when she's busy.

"Being a student and being able to live out my dream is definitely a huge accomplishment," Laugle said.

The final showcase took place the following Sunday, March 24, and was open to the public. The women showed in groups of three and performed routines they learned. Following the group performance, each finalist had to dance their own choreography individually.

After the performances were complete, the cheer coach read off the number of each woman who made the team, including No. 14 Megan Laugle. After the team was announced, the new cheerleaders rushed to another room to change into their uniforms and perform for the first time together as an official team.

Throughout the entire process, only a handful of people knew Laugle was chasing this opportunity, including her family and junior Jenna Spini.

Spini said she kept Laugle motivated through the auditions and made sure she didn't feel alone. It also meant a lot to Spini that Laugle chose to only tell her.

"It really kind of showed how much our friendship actually means to each other that she could trust me with something so big like this," Spini said.

Laugle kept her journey a secret because she didn't want to constantly answer questions about how the process was going, especially if she didn't make the cut. She said she was able to truly focus on herself and her work since she kept her school life separate from the tryouts.

Growing up, Laugle played several sports, but her heart was always on the dance floor. She said dance was an escape for her.

"If I was feeling angry or upset or anything, dance was my way to go," Laugle said.

Her passion for the art even led her to help create a dance team at Whiteland Community High School.

After high school, the National Dance Alliance hired Laugle to be an instructor at various dance camps across the country. She spent her first year of college at Miami University in Miami, Ohio, but she had to have surgery on her ankle that year, bringing her closer to home.

When she moved home and started classes at Franklin her sophomore year, Laugle also coached the Clark Pleasant Middle School dance team. After coaching for the last three years, Laugle said she's ready to be a performer again.

"[One of the best things] is being able to … put the smiles back on other people's faces, rather than giving a team the opportunity to do that," Laugle said.

But what Laugle said she loves most about being a member of the 2019-20 Colts Cheerleading team is the new chapter. She said the program is about who the women are not only on the team, but also outside of the team.

Although they are called cheerleaders, Laugle said the Colts cheerleaders are more like dancers.

"The whole idea is showing that there is more behind the uniform and the glitter," Laugle said. "We are more athletic performers than we are just cheerleaders."