Over the next 12 months, they will learn and perform dozens of intricate dance routines, make countless appearances in the Bay area community and perform at numerous important team functions.

Most importantly, they will – as their name suggests – lead hundreds of thousands of Buccaneer fans in cheering for the home team.

On Friday, the 2012-13 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleaders were revealed, officially ending the two-month tryout process and begin what is sure to be a rewarding year for 34 very talented women.

The newest Buccaneers cheerleading squad was painstakingly chosen from a field of several hundred candidates and includes exactly 17 newcomers and 17 returning veterans.  (Scroll down to see the entire list.)  Buccaneers Cheerleading Coordinator Cathy Boyd conducted the auditions and was once again impressed with the overall strength of the candidates.  That led to the formation of what Boyd believes will be the team's finest cheerleading squad yet.

"Choosing 34 women out of all those who try out just gets more difficult every year," said Boyd.  "Of course, that's an indication of how sought-after these spots on the team are, and how hard all these women are willing to work to follow their dreams.  That's why I want to thank every single person who tried out this year – there was so much enthusiasm and so many deserving and talented women.  In the end, we believe we've made the right choices to form the best possible squad."

Buccaneers Cheerleaders devote countless hours to practice, performances, charitable appearances and team functions, and in some years even take part in worldwide military support tours.  These hardworking women balance those responsibilities with schoolwork and/or full-time careers.  Second-year veteran Rebecca is a nurse, for instance, as is newcomer Manouchcar.  Several are teachers by trade, from high school social studies (Jessica J.) to middle school science (Monica) to kindergarten (Kendell).  Many, of course, have performance backgrounds and/or occupations, such as Busch Gardens show performer Katrice.

All 34 of the selected cheerleaders are already finding ways to divide their time between rehearsals, schoolwork and office responsibilities.  The official announcement came on Friday but the new cheerleaders have spent a week coming together as a team.

"The ladies were informed last Friday," said Boyd.  "We've begun team meetings and are already working hard to get ready for our first performance of the new season."

THE 2012-13 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS CHEERLEADERS

This year's tryout process began in February with several weeks of optional classes and workouts in various locations around the Bay area.  These classes were designed to help cheerleading candidates prepare for the audition process.  Class attendees were given an overview of dance techniques and NFL-style choreography so they could have a better idea of what to expect when auditions began. 

After those voluntary classes, the formal auditions began on March 17 and were held exclusively at team headquarters.  Callbacks came a week later, on March 24, and that was followed by a two-day training camp on the evenings of March 27th and 28th.  The final auditions took place the following day in the form of a final dance audition.  During the three-day process, candidates were assessed on the basis of personal interviews, fitness, choreography and a kick line.

From the original field of new candidates, 100 women were tabbed for callbacks, at which point they were joined by returning veterans and those who had received a pass to that round by attending pre-audition classes.  From there, the group was again narrowed down to 55 finalists.  Paring those 55 down to 34 was a tough process, as it is every year.

"We didn't have a set number when we began, but we eventually went with a 34-person squad just because it was so hard to narrow it down even that far," said Boyd.  "Over the course of several weeks, you find out a lot about these women who are trying out and see talents and strengths that you know could help the team as a whole.  It was a very difficult decision, and there were some women who weren't chosen that were extremely close.  I hope we will see them again next year at the tryouts."