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Writing Assignment 2
With summer training camp well underway, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (DCC) are turning up the heat at The Star in Frisco as they prepare for an electrifying return to AT&T Stadium. On Aug. 16, the Dallas Cowboys will take on the Baltimore Ravens in their first home preseason game of the 2025 season. It’s the first real chance for fans to see how the Cowboys are shaping up as the regular season gets closer.
Known worldwide for their elite athleticism, iconic style and electric game-day presence, the DCC are entering this season with renewed energy and a fresh class of rookies ready to perform under the bright lights. The photo to the left is from the official DCC website and showcases the 2024-2025 Dallas Cowboys Cheerleading team (https://www.dallascowboyscheerleaders.com/).
Summer training camp is in full swing with the team using this time to perfect routines, welcome new talent and build momentum for what looks to be another exceptional season. Under the guidance of their experienced leadership team, Director Kelli Finglass and Head Choreographer Judy Trammell, the DCC are perfecting their iconic pre-game “Thunderstruck” routine. The photo below is from Season 2 of America’s Sweethearts, a series on Netflix based on the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. In the photo, Kelli and Judy oversee rehearsals (https://www.netflix.com/title/81685878 ).
The current DCC squad consists of 12 new rookie cheerleaders joined by 24 returning veterans. Each team member was selected not only for her performance ability, but also for her character and commitment to serving the community, whether through youth events, military outreach or media appearances.
The photo to the right was taken from the official DCC Instagram page and shows veteran member Jada Mclean teaching young girls in Germany during a recent USO tour (https://www.instagram.com/p/DKdaoUouFl6/ ).
With kickoff just weeks away, excitement is building across Cowboys Nation. The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders are ready to bring unmatched energy and entertainment to fans both at the stadium and watching at home. This game provides fans with their first real look at the 2025 Cowboys lineup, featuring some exciting new draft picks and familiar faces returning to the field. With both the football and cheerleading teams using the preseason games to build chemistry and test their depth, it’s a great preview of what’s to come this season. Don’t miss your chance to be part of the action on Aug. 16 at 6:00 p.m. CT.
See you in August, How ‘Bout Them Cowboys!
Writing Assignment 1
Honesty Huston never imagined she would sign up for a half-marathon. As someone who has never had a gym membership and loves late-night snacks, she had never seriously trained or worked out. But when her best friend, a certified personal trainer, suggested they train for the 13.1-mile race together, Honesty said yes without hesitation.
“Well, I figured if I was going to do it, I might as well do it while I’m young and with someone I trust,” Honesty said.
The two began training in early fall, going out to Depot Park to train three to four times a week. Honesty said she struggled at first, barely able to finish a mile without stopping to catch her breath. However, her best friend was patient, by helping her stay motivated and build effective training plans.
To give Honesty a sense of what it is like during a race, her friend suggested signing up for a 5k called the Gator Gallop, a local race on the University of Florida’s campus.
After only a month of training, Honesty anxiously stood at the starting line, unsure if she would be able to finish the race, but she said she surprised herself.
“I wasn’t worried about my time, I just wanted to cross the finish line,” she said. “And I felt very accomplished when I did.”
That small victory was a turning point for Honesty and her mentality as she continued to train. The Gator Gallop gave her the confidence to keep going. From that point on, Honesty began taking her half-marathon training more seriously, she said. She was running up to five miles at a time, eating healthier, and changing her schedule to fit in time to run.
“I wanted to prove that I could follow through with something that I set my mind to,” she said.
With just two weeks to go before the big race, Jane and her best friend decided to go to a concert to see the country singer Rodney Atkins. However, that night ended in a way that neither of them thought it would. While walking through the crowd, Honesty unevenly stepped into a pothole and sprained her ankle. After going to the emergency room that night and consulting an orthopedic doctor the next day, it was determined that Honesty would be unable to run the half marathon.
“At first, I was very upset,” she said. “All that hard work that I thought was going to pay off, and then it just felt like I had failed.”
In the coming weeks, as her ankle healed, Honesty realized that she hadn’t failed at all.
Although she may not have crossed the finish line, she still learned how to be disciplined and take care of her body, she said.
Now that her ankle is fully healed, Honesty continues to run and is thinking about signing up for another race. Maybe another 5k or go for the half marathon again. Honesty’s story is a reminder that it is not all about the destination, but the journey it takes to get there.
Allie Martin 