Green Bay Packers cheerleaders
![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/62/UWGB_Packers_Cheerleaders_%2706-%2707.jpg/220px-UWGB_Packers_Cheerleaders_%2706-%2707.jpg) |
Formation
| 1950
; 74 years ago
(
1950
)
|
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Affiliations
| Green Bay Packers
|
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Website
| Info on Packers.com
|
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Formerly called
|
- Packerettes (1950)
- Golden Girls (1961?1972)
- Packerettes (1973?1977)
- Sideliners (1977?1986)
- College Cheerleaders
(1988?2020)
|
---|
2007
Green Bay Packers
cheerleaders during a playoff game
Several
Green Bay Packers cheerleading squads
have performed in
Green Bay Packers
' history. The Packers became one of the first professional football teams to have a
cheerleading
squad, having first used cheerleaders in
1931
. The squad performed for 57 years under three separate names. In
1988
, it was decided that the team would cease having a professional squad cheer for them. Since 1988, the team uses
collegiate
squads in a limited role to cheer during home games.
Role
[
edit
]
The cheerleaders squads have cheered for the
National Football League
team at home games in
Green Bay
and
Milwaukee
,
Wisconsin
.
[1]
They occasionally represent the team at various functions, although since 1988 they have had a limited role compared to other professional cheer squads in the
National Football League
History
[
edit
]
The Packers became one of the first professional football teams to have cheerleaders in 1931 when they used the
Green Bay East
and
West
high schools
' squads on the sidelines for several games.
[2]
Packers coach
Vince Lombardi
notified Mary Jane Sorgel that he wanted her to organize a professional cheerleading squad.
[3]
Lombardi wasn't clear about exactly what he wanted, but he was clear about what he didn't want. "We weren't the Dallas Cowgirls," said Sorgel. "We were wholesome Midwest girls, because Vince Lombardi did not like real short skirts. He liked the girls to be more modest, so that's the way we were."
[3]
The first professional squad was named the Green Bay Packerettes. They were later renamed the Golden Girls, renamed back to the Packerettes, and later the Green Bay Sideliners.
[4]
The Packers last had professional cheerleaders in 1988.
[2]
Green Bay television station
WFRV
did a poll and found that approximately 50% of fans wanted cheerleaders and 50% did not.
[5]
Packers Vice President
Bob Harlan
issued a press release, stating "In general terms, the poll disclosed there were as many fans who expressed opposition to the return of the cheerleaders as there were those in favor of restoring them. On that basis, we felt the appropriate decision at this time would be to continue without them."
[5]
College cheerleaders now cheer on the sidelines for the team.
Green Bay Packerettes
[
edit
]
The Green Bay Packers cheer squad was first named the Green Bay Packerettes and was organized by Bernie Matzke. She formed a squad of baton twirlers at the request of Wilbur Burke who ran Green Bay Packers Lumberjack band.
[6]
The squad under this name was active in the 1950s while the Packers played at
City Stadium
.
[3]
[6]
Golden Girls
[
edit
]
The team took their name from
Paul Hornung
's nickname "The Golden Boy."
[
citation needed
]
They were founded in 1961 by national champion
baton
twirler Mary Jane Sorgel and they lasted until she got engaged in 1972.
[2]
[7]
The first squad consisted of sixteen students from Sorgel's dance studios around northeast
Wisconsin
doing routines designed by her.
[3]
"The girls I had on the field did more than just cheering," Sorgel said. "They did tumbling, I had some national baton twirling champions and dancers, and of course the pom girls. We were very colorful."
[3]
1970 squad member Anne Maedke described their routine, "The Golden Girls did skits, dance routines ? twirling and tumbling and acrobatic type things ? in one-piece sequined swimsuits and high-heeled boots during breaks."
[4]
The Golden Girls cheered during the
Ice Bowl
.
[7]
The Golden Girls were honored by the team with a permanent installation at the
Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame
in May 2007.
[4]
Green Bay Packerettes return
[
edit
]
In 1973, the Green Bay Packers changed the name of the squad back to the Green Bay Packerettes and recruited Matzke back as their leader.
[6]
The Packerettes performed at other events such as nursing homes, parades, and a show with
Bob Hope
at the
Resch Center
.
[6]
The squad was active under this name until 1977.
[8]
[9]
Green Bay Sideliners
[
edit
]
In 1977, the squad was again renamed to the Green Bay Sideliners. They were an attempt to have a contemporary, dance-oriented cheer squad, choreographed by local dance studio owner Shirley Van. They were disbanded in 1988.
[10]
Collegiate cheerleaders
[
edit
]
The Packers had the
University of Wisconsin?Green Bay
(UWGB) cheerleaders cheer after they no longer had professional cheerleaders. The team currently uses college cheerleading squads, with the UWGB squad (coed) and
St. Norbert's
(all woman) cheering at each home game.
[2]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
"Community Snapshots South: Jan. 3, 2008"
.
Green Bay Press Gazette
. 2008-01-03. Archived from
the original
on 2013-01-25
. Retrieved
2008-04-16
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
Popkey, Aaron (2008-05-18).
"Golden Girls and Fans Enjoy Evening in Packers Hall of Fame"
.
Green Bay Packers
. Archived from
the original
on July 9, 2008
. Retrieved
2008-04-17
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
Spofford, Mike (2007-05-11).
"
'Golden Girls' Event Slated For Wednesday"
.
Green Bay Packers
. Archived from
the original
on September 15, 2007
. Retrieved
2008-04-17
.
- ^
a
b
c
Snyder Edler, Molly (2008-01-21).
"Local mom was Packers cheerleader, first female to letter in football"
. On Wisconsin
. Retrieved
2008-04-16
.
- ^
a
b
"You Asked. Packers.com Answers"
.
Green Bay Packers
. 2003-03-14. Archived from
the original
on August 26, 2005
. Retrieved
2008-04-17
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
Srubas, Paul (January 13, 2015). "Founder of Packerettes cheerleadings squad dies".
The Post-Crescent
. p. A4.
- ^
a
b
Bradley, Brooke (September 12, 1997).
"Golden Girls Reunion"
.
WLUK This Morning, Flashback Segment
.
Green Bay, Wisconsin
. Event occurs at 06:58?07:00.
WLUK-TV
. Retrieved
September 12,
2014
.
- ^
Green Bay Packerettes
[
permanent dead link
]
,
Green Bay Press-Gazette
, Retrieved September 21, 2007
- ^
Ex-Packers cheerleader writes winning slogan for fence
Archived
2007-11-07 at the
Wayback Machine
, September 9, 2007, Retrieved September 21, 2007
- ^
Legends on Parade to highlight Packers' Glory Years
Archived
2007-11-07 at the
Wayback Machine
,
Green Bay Press-Gazette
, August 24, 2007, Retrieved September 21, 2007
External links
[
edit
]
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†
does not include
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or
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NFL championships
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