The Indianapolis Colts Cheerleaders are the official cheerleading squad of the Indianapolis Colts. The cheerleaders perform various dances at the Colts stadium Lucas Oil Stadium, and also performed at Super Bowl XLI and Super Bowl XLIV at Sun Life Stadium. The 2012 squad currently has 32 members.[1] The squad is the first cheerleading squad in the NFL, being formed in the same year as the team's inception (1954) by two women. The squad originally consisted of ten girls with white boots, crew-neck sweaters, blue scarves and a blue skirt with grey kick-pleats as uniforms. The squad had a horse as a mascot, and often marched with the Baltimore Colts Marching Band, which was left behind in 1984 when the Colts moved to Indianapolis.[2][3] The squad's annual auditions feature hundreds of women, with the group's "Audition Showcase" taking place at Decatur Central High School.[4] The squad also has a show troupe, which travels to various cities to entertain fans.[5] The Colts Cheerleaders also releases an annual swimsuit calendar.[6][7] The team has a "Junior Cheerleaders" program, in which a team of 300 girls aged 7 to 14 perform at Lucas Oil Stadium and various appearances.[8]
The Colts cheerleading squad achieved greater fame when several of them shaved their heads bald in 2012 in tribute to coach Chuck Pagano and his successful battle with leukemia.[9]
Notable members[]
Mindy Winkler (1998–2000), show personality of radio program, The Smiley Morning Show
