Leading cheers for the Dallas Cowboys football team and starring in a Netflix TV series based on the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, “America’s Sweethearts,” is something former Millard West dance team member Kelcey Wetterberg thought to be only a fantasy. Released on June 20, the show emphasizes the hard work and dedication Wetterberg and the rest of the team endured throughout the year.
After starting her career dancing for Millard West, Wetterberg went on to be a part of many other dance studios and the University of Nebraska Scarlets dance team before trying out for the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders. After she made the team she spent five years dancing and cheering for the Cowboys. Her last year on the team was filmed to show viewers the life of DCCs and what the audition process is like for new and returning members.
“I wasn’t quite ready for my dance career to be over after college,” Wetterberg said. “DCC was always an organization that I had dreamed of being a part of, but I honestly never thought I could reach it until one of my coaches convinced me to give it a try. I loved how much they focused on philanthropy—using my gifts to give back was something that was really important to me in pursuing a professional dance career. The DCCs USO tours and children’s hospital visits really sparked my interest.”
Not only was the DCC something she wanted because of its great reputation, but also because of its love of people. In the documentary, they showed some of the ways the team gives back. They showed up for their bus driver after his stroke and went to events to take pictures with Cowboys supporters.
“I have been a fan of the show since its first season in 2006,” former Millard West dance coach Shan Stavropoulos said. “Clearly, the series has grown and now is revamped and on Netflix – which adds a whole other level of exposure. I had such a sense of pride because she was so genuine and true to who she is as a person. She is obviously very beautiful from the inside out and is extremely talented, but what people didn’t see is that she is a huge goofball and is very funny.”
The original series focussed more on the competition between the girls to see who would be on the team or who was the best dancer. However, the new series gives more perspective on the girls’ lives and how they balance the DCC with everyday activities and jobs. For Wetterberg, balancing her jobs as a registered nurse and DCC cheerleader was challenging, but with her love for both of her jobs, she continued to perform her best in both positions. The series also had a main focus on the love of the team and the bond the members all had with one another.
“Time management was a top priority for me, I had to be very organized and use my rest time for rest,” Wetterberg said. “I didn’t have a lot of free time to spare during the season. With that being said, I 100% believe that the only thing that allowed me to do it for so long was the genuine love that I had for both of my careers. While it was exhausting, it didn’t feel like a chore because I enjoyed it so much.”
With Wetterberg being so involved with her jobs and her family being across the country in Nebraska, it was hard for them to see her often. However, they still got together on breaks and holidays to spend quality time as a family. Her family couldn’t watch every one of her performances in person, but they supported her the best they could from back home.
“I never got to see Kelcey perform in person in Dallas because I go to school in Omaha,” Wetterberg’s cousin Makaela Foley said. “We would watch her performances online and support her from back home though. I think my favorite part of her being on the team was having a connection to a program that uplifts women. I loved being able to watch her grow into her leadership role on the team. It was cool to have a connection to the DCC organization and have someone you know perform and do something they love. It was nice to have someone to look up to and be inspired by.”
Both the Millard West Dance Team and the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders made a big impact on Wetterberg’s character as a teammate, leader, and person, which lets her feel proud of herself and her accomplishments. The series did a great job of depicting the person Wetterberg is and lets watchers see some of her greatest strengths.
