When you have plans to watch a football game, you go to watch what happens on the field. However, there is much more entertainment provided to you that contributes to the success of the football team. You may hear the Pride of Arizona Marching Band or see the Arizona Pom line. These other forms of entertainment and athletic ability often get overlooked, but gameday is just as important to these individuals. They also spend all week practicing and preparing for the big game.

University of Arizona Pom line member, Cailynn Cooper wears many hats here at the UA. Not only is she on pom line, but she also is a member of the Alpha Phi sorority. Even though she is only a sophomore, she has aspirations to dance for a professional sports team, as well as go into real estate after graduating. 

Arizona Pom line has produced many dancers who have gone on to dance professionally, especially for NBA and NFL teams. 

“I would prefer dancing with an NFL team, but the NBA would also be amazing. Any opportunity to dance professionally would be such a dream come true.” Cooper said. 

All this sounds pretty amazing; however, Cooper did not get to this point overnight, she has been dancing and working towards this point for over 15 years. Cooper began dancing when she was 3-years-old and loved it so much she gravitated towards competing at 5-years-old. Upon entering high school, she tried out for her high school’s online team. She made the team and started dancing at all her high school’s sporting events.

After a few years on the high school team, she became interested in pursuing the pom line in college. Having grown up here in Tucson, she always loved the Wildcats, and how the whole town cheers for them. 

“In Phoenix there are professional sports teams, but in Tucson we only have the UA. So, when there is a game happening, everyone knows about it and gets excited for it,” Cooper said. 

Other colleges recruit dancers, but Arizona is different. Since the pom line organization at Arizona has had so many members go on to be professional dancers, it views themselves as a launchpad for dancers. Instead of recruiting, the team holds tryouts. 

Cooper was a junior in high school when she attended a mock tryout. Because of her age, the coaches gave her feedback, and she worked towards doing better the next year. Once senior year rolled around she did the same tryout. 

Despite it being only four days before her senior prom, she kept all the distractions away and danced well enough to make the team.

Arriving in her freshman year, Cooper quickly became acclimated to college life and the practice schedule and the team. Cooper and her fellow pom line members meet Monday and Wednesday from 6 to 8 a.m., then practice in the afternoon alongside the marching band on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 3 to 6 p.m. The team ends the week with a Saturday morning practice from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 

The schedule seems daunting, however, Cooper is skillfully able to balance her duties with the team and a social life. 

“What really helps me is making a daily to-do list, as well as looking ahead. If I know I am going to have a busy weekend, I always make sure to get my schoolwork done before the weekend starts, so I don’t have to worry about it.” Cooper said. 

She mentioned how it helps staying in the Alpha Phi sorority house, which she believes helps her with what can sometimes be a stressful load of school and extracurriculars. 

“It is so nice to have a group of girls to lean on and come home to after a long day,” Cooper said.

The stress of having a busy schedule comes with an upside: unforgettable memories. Cooper’s most memorable moment of being on pom line came in her first football game of her freshman year. 

“Walking out of the tunnel and seeing the huge stadium and all the fans cheering, it made it feel like all my hard work to get to that point had paid off.” she mentioned. 

Her favorite sport to cheer at is football, because it is not just the game, it is a full day of activities. From tailgates to post-game film review, Cooper’s gameday is very busy. Before the game, Cooper and her fellow pom line dancers walk around and perform at various events throughout the day leading up to the game. When it comes time after performances wrap up from the game, the work does not stop there. 

The dancers watch film of themselves, analyzing their choreography to adjust and make improvements. Awards are also given out to pom line and the Pride of Arizona to specific members who demonstrated the values of PRIDE (Performance, Respect, Integrity, Discipline, and Excellence), since pom line is under the umbrella of The Pride of Arizona Marching Band.

Looking forward to her next few years of college, Cooper is excited about the Wildcats going to a bowl game this year. She is also excited about becoming an upper classman next year, which means she will be able to travel to various tournaments around the country, such as March Madness.

Cooper remains a great example of one of the many unsung heroes here at Arizona. It is important to recognize the quiet champions involved on campus, they too are practicing and preparing all week to perform their best under the bright lights.

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