DCC Lacey Reflects On Her Pro Bowl Experience
Courtney McKenna
Social Media Asst. Coordinator
Every year, the best players in the NFL are voted to the Pro Bowl. And every year, the best representative of each NFL cheerleading team is voted to the Pro Bowl by their teammates. This year, Lacey, a fifth-year veteran from Southlake, Texas, was voted by her teammates to represent the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.
"My team and their opinions mean the world to me, so for them to trust me to represent our organization, I was overwhelmed with gratitude and a sense of immense responsibility," Lacey said.
Being the DCC Pro Bowl representative is a huge honor, as only one girl each season gets chosen. Throughout the years, the DCC representatives have been standout cheerleaders leaving huge boots to fill.
"Throughout my DCC career, I have always seen the Pro Bowl cheerleaders as strong women who have created a legacy for themselves. These are women who have stayed on the right path, worked hard, and have shown what it truly takes to be a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader," Lacey said.
Lacey at the NFL Pro Bowl
Photos of Lacey, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Pro Bowl representative, throughout the week at the Pro Bowl in Orlando, FL.
Aaron M. Sprecher/AP
Matt Patterson/AP
"To now be a part of this elite and prestigious group of women is nearly unbelievable and unreal. It is such an honor to be on that list of cheerleaders who have gone to Pro Bowl and represented our team. I have had to pinch myself many times."
Prior to flying off to Orlando, Lacey had to get her mind right, and her nerves calmed, to fully enjoy the experience.
"I think what made me the most nervous going into Pro Bowl were the expectations I put on myself. This opportunity is such a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I wanted to do it right," Lacey said. "I wanted to make sure I represented well, I wanted to make sure I danced well, I wanted to make sure I spoke well. The list goes on and on.
"At the end of the day, I had to remind myself that I had been put in this position for a reason and I had to trust that I had what it took to, not only make a great impression and show how world class our team is, but also show how personable and relatable we are too."
The NFL Pro Bowl Cheerleaders have a strenuous week of rehearsals, appearances and events while the players have their week of practice leading up to the game.
"Throughout the week we did many appearances and performances. Although these were all fantastic, the moments that stick out to me the most were the bonding opportunities," Lacey said. "From PJ parties in hotel rooms to adventures at Disney World, the 26 of us were able to create memories that will last a lifetime."
The highlight of the NFL Pro Bowl is obviously the big game on Sunday. The weather in Orlando can be fickle, and this year was no exception. Cold temperatures and constant rain are definitely not ideal for a game, and nothing like the conditions Cowboys Nation is used to inside AT&T Stadium.
For a lot of us, it was our final game, so we were not about to let some nasty weather take that special day away from us. We laughed and shivered together and made some incredibly funny and unique memories," Lacey said. "At the end of the game, we all just held each other and took in all the surroundings and all the feelings (even though we could not even feel our toes and fingers anymore). It was such a sentimental day! It really made me reflect on my entire DCC journey leading up to that game. What a way to end it!"
The Pro Bowl proved to be a great learning experience for Lacey, and she is excited to take what she learned in Orlando back home to her teammates in Dallas.
"I learned just how important it is to use your platform to make a positive impact on others," Lacey said. "I was able to further see how the NFL strives to do this. I learned on a greater level how big Cowboys Nation really is and how you can find Cowboys fans anywhere! I learned a great amount about myself and where I am strong and where I need to grow.
"Most importantly, I learned more about how special it is to have teammates and how important it is to lift each other up. There are going to be stages in life that are so difficult and, in those moments, teammates can become family. I hope I can bring back all these experiences that filled me with such love and inspiration and spread it throughout my own team."
After five seasons as a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader, Lacey is planning on hanging up her boots and retiring. With Pro Bowl being one of the last major events for Lacey, she reflects on her time as a DCC and gives a special thank you to Cowboys Nation.
"I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the opportunity to go to Pro Bowl," she said. "The friendships, lessons, and memories I took away are priceless and treasured. The emotions and love I feel are inexplicable and I am forever grateful for these five years that led me to this point. Although my DCC journey as a cheerleader is coming to an end, I know that I will always be a part of the Cowboys family and the Cowboys family will always have a huge place in my heart. Go Cowboys!"
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