By Nisqually Valley News staff
Months ahead of the Seattle Seahawks’ Super Bowl LX qualifying run, the NFL team, along with their cheerleading and dance program, reached a milestone and celebrated 50-years of franchise history with a pre-game performance at Lumen Field.
During the 50th season celebration on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025, eight Yelm alumni joined over 200 Seahawks cheerleading and dancing alumni to celebrate the semicentennial celebration of the Seattle-based NFL team. The event brought former and current Seahawks cheerleaders and dancers together to celebrate their contributions to the franchise throughout its storied 50-year history.
A total of 14 Yelm representatives were included on the Seahawks’ cheerleading and dancing roster, including: Nisha Thompson, Darby Hayes, Amy Harold Butler, Amanda Macdonald, Jacki MacAuley, Bianca Baze, Brittany Corley, Melisa Suarez, Kammie Lisenby, Kylee Win’E, Chantale Farino, Krystle Kampling, Shannon Ross and Angela Collins.
“I was blessed to be mentored by Angela (Sea Gal in 1986), my dance teacher since third grade, Amanda, my high school jazzline coach (Sea Gal in 2001). These women built programs that emphasized talent and dance technique — never critiqued for our body type,” Lisenby said in a media release. “Appearance, sexuality or body image were never part of the conversation. We were accepted for who we were and challenged to be exceptional dancers.”
The semicentennial celebration not only honored NFL cheerleading’s rich history, but it also highlighted the leadership, athleticism and dedication that organization alumni have embodied.
“When I made the Sea Gals in 2006, I carried that foundation with me. Though the NFL era brought challenges — including moments of trauma and physical scrutiny — the love of dance planted in those studios never left me,” Lisenby said. “It’s been a journey to reclaim that joy, but I’m endlessly grateful to my teachers, mentors, and teammates who made the dance studio a true home. Proud doesn’t even begin to describe how it feels to stand with these women — proof that a little hometown with a big heart can create generations of women who dream big and shine on the NFL stage.”
