2008 Buffalo Jills Congratulatory Party

While the NFL's Buffalo Bills were conducting their annual player draft and the NLL's Buffalo Bandits were wrapping up their regular season, Club Paradise in Blasdell played host to the 2008 Buffalo Jills Congratulatory Party, an event that packed the new official home for the Buffalo Jills events. All but a handful of the squad's 48 members were in attendance for the event which included a trivia contest for a half dozen of the squad's 23 rookies to compete in as well as raffle prizes and a sexy dance performance put on by not only some of the vets, but some of the rookies as well. Included here are a large number of photos of the Buffalo Jills on hand, both veterans and rookies (although we are still learning rookie names here so be sure to check back on occasion as the word rookie in the album gets replaced by actual names) as well as a pair of rough videos of the dance performances put on by the Jills.

http://s15.photobucket.com/albums/a375/buffalojills2005/2008/Congratulatory%20Party/?albumview=slideshow

special note: My apologies to the rookies whose names weren't included in the pics...still learning your names and I wanted to be sure I posted the correct names for the photos

Coming up next for the Jills is the Buffalo Men's Show at the Agri-Center at the Hamburg Fairgrounds, details of which can be found at http://buffalomensshow.com/ but the basics are this. It runs from 11-8 on Saturday, May 3rd and includes, among other things, a hot dance performance by members of the 2008-09 Buffalo Jills, a bikini fashion show, and appearances by Chris "Shooter McGavin" McDonald of Happy Gilmore, May 2007 Playboy Playmate Shannon James, Bills players like Trent Edwards, Terrence McGee and Gibran Hamden, Sabres Alumni Rob Ray and Matt Barnaby, Ruben Brown, the CW23's Lydia and a whole lot more. Tickets are available at tickets.com for $5 in advance as well as available at the door for $7.

Lumberjax game pics

On April 26th, while a good chunk of Buffalo was paying attention to who the Bills were drafting in the NFL draft, the Bandits attracted a near-sellout crowd of 18,325 to HSBC Arena for their regular season finale against the Portland Lumberjax. After allowing Portland to score first, the Bandits jumped out to a 4-1 lead midway through the first. Portland made it close again, however, until all-time NLL scoring leader Johnny Tavares led a charge late in the 3rd to help the Bandits pull out a 14-10 win to finish off the regular season.
Also finishing off their regular season was the beautiful and talented Bandits dance team, the Bandettes. They started off the evening signing autographs and taking pictures with the fans and then proceeded to keep the crowd going all night long as their dance routines kept things going during breaks in the action. Their 1st intermission routine was put together by a collaborative effort of Erin Y and Amanda H to the tune of 80's You Give Love A Bad Name by Bon Jovi .
Next up for the Bandettes and Bandits is a trip to the playoffs. However, thanks in part to the Minnesota Swarm coming out on top in their matchup Saturday night, the road to the NLL Champions Cup goes through Buffalo, NY as the Bandits have earned home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Round 1 features their longtime rivals, the Philadelphia Wings, making the trek to Buffalo for a matchup on Friday, May 2 at 7:30 at HSBC Arena. This gives us, at least, one more chance to see the Bandettes in action as they cheer on the Bandits on their way to the NLL Title.

http://s17.photobucket.com/albums/b87/bandettes/2008/Lumberjax/

Bandette of The Week Justina

Justina is one of the true rookies on the Bandettes and her future includes being the school counselor that guys will actually want to go see. It's probably fitting that the degree she's pursuing is in the field of psychology as she says she has a tendency to overanalyze everything. That just means she's thorough. But beyond that, she's enjoying her time with the Bandettes so far, just the latest group she's danced with. Before this, she spent some time performing with the Pittsburgh Ballet. You can read more about Justina at http://www.bandits.com/bandette-08_justina.cfm

Buffalo Jill of The Week Joy

This week, we take a look at one of the Jills Ambassadors from the 2007 squad. Joy is actually part of a set of twins on the squad, with Jill R. Unlike the 2006 set of twins, Joy and Jill are rather easy to tell apart. With the Ambassador Jills, some girls choose that route because of they're not experienced dancers but still want to contribute. More often than not, however, they choose the Ambassador Squad because of things like time constraints. Dancers have more practices they have to attend than Ambassadors. Joy was not an inexperienced dancer as she spent 9 years in competitive cheerleading and 6 years in gymnastics. Sadly, for the fans, she chose not to return in 2008 but we can hope she'll still make it to a lot of events this year to support her sister and former squadmates. You can read more about Joy at http://www.buffalojills.net/bios/joy.html

Vote For Kristen

103.3 The Edge and Bayou Nightclub are putting together a calendar withsome of the most beautiful women in Buffalo and they're taking votes tohelp select some finalists

http://www.wedg.com/Article.asp?id=635719&spid=22409

Kristen M (2006 Buffalo Jills) is one of the contestants. Let's seewhat we can do to help her out.

Shamrox Game pics

After a putrid performance on the road in Rochester last week, the Bandits returned home to the friendly confines of HSBC Arena looking to get back to their winning ways. The game started off much the same as that road loss, however, until Mike Accursi, in his 2nd stint with Buffalo, put in the 1st of his 4 goals on the night with less than a minute remaining in the 1st quarter. That lit the spark as the Bandits erased a 3-0 deficit and were up 11-5 by the end of the 3rd. Fan favorite Mark Steenhuis also pitched in 4 goals after his worst performance of the season the previous week and the hometown Bandits sent 13,633 fans home happy with a 13-9 win. The win, combined with a Calgary win over Toronto, which knocked the Rock out of the playoff hunt, clinched a spot in the playoffs for the Bandits.

It was a big night in other ways for a few dozen girls aged 7-17. All season long, the Buffalo Bandettes dance team have been preparing the Jr. Bandettes for this very night. The Jr. Bandettes got to watch the Bandettes perform up close in the tunnel during the 1st and 2nd quarters and joined them on the field for pregame and halftime performances. The Jr. Bandettes program, like the Jr. Jills program, is designed to broaden the horizons of girls who might want to pursue cheerleading and dancing on a scholastic, collegiate, or professional level by letting them learn from the pros as well as experience what its like to perform in front of thousands of fans.

http://s17.photobucket.com/albums/b87/bandettes/2008/Shamrox/

Coming up next for the Bandettes is the Bandits regular season finale on April 26th against the Portland Lumberjax. Show up early and meet and get autographed posters of the Bandettes at the top of the east bank of escalators from 6-7 before the Bandettes take the field for pregame.

The Bandettes and Jr Bandettes pregame performance

Check out this video of the Bandettes and Jr Bandettes halftime performance.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6117713026268809453

Bandette of The Week Casey

There was a trio of former Bandettes who came back to the squad this year after a few years off and Casey is the final one we're taking a look at as our Bandette of The Week. She loves the camera as well as the fans of Buffalo, no matter the sport. She spent a couple of years with the Buffalo Bombshells, cheering on the Destroyers before they left. She then spent a few years with the Bandettes before leaving following the 2005 season. Realizing she missed cheering and dancing, she joined up with the short-lived Rush squad headed up by her Bombshells director Missy. After that squad folded, the fans of Buffalo were deprived of her smile until she decided to return to the Bandettes for this season's squad. You can read more about Casey at http://www.bandits.com/bandette-08_casey.cfm and check out this pic of her as a Bombshell

Also, when Kimberly was our Bandette of The Week, we showed a couple signature images created of her by the folks at the NLL message boards but there's one more. This one features Kimberly, Casey, and Lindsey (who was on the squad with them back in 2005).

Buffalo Jill of The Week Keisha

Tall, dark, and beautiful is how most people see Keisha but that's only the physical. As a member of the Jills Ambassador Squad, a young lady needs to be able to be at ease talking with anyone and Keisha more than excels at that. She's not only at ease talking with others, she's able to make anyone she's talking to at ease as well. Friendly and out-going, if talking with her doesn't make you smile, check yourself for a pulse. These strong qualities helped ensure that she'll be back this fall with the Jills for her second season. We can be thankful that she's a determined young lady as well. She went out for the squad in 2004 but rather than get discouraged and give up when she didn't land a spot on the squad that year, she took some time away and came back and landed a spot last season. Had she been a quitter and given up, we might have been deprived of getting to know her. You can read more about Keisha at http://buffalojills.net/bios/keisha.html

2008 Junior Bandettes Team

The 2008 Junior Buffalo Bandettes will make their official debut April 19, as the Bandits face off against the Chicago Shamrox.
The Junior Bandettes have waited all season to perform in front of thousands of fans at HSBC Arena after being recruited in February and trained throughout the season.

http://www.bandits.com/newsarchive.cfm?id=669

NFL Schedule is out

The NFL Schedule is out and you can make your plans to see the Buffalo Jills this fall
Pre-Season
Date Opponent Time TV
Aug. 9th at Washington 7:00pm Local TV
Thu. Aug. 14th PITTSBURGH* 7:30pm Local TV
Sun. Aug. 24th at Indianapolis 8:00pm NFL Network
Thu. Aug. 28th DETROIT 6:30pm Local TV

* - Home game played in Toronto.

Regular Season
Date Opponent Time TV
Sun. Sept. 7 SEATTLE 1:00pm FOX
Sun. Sept. 14 at Jacksonville 1:00pm CBS
Sun. Sept. 21 OAKLAND 1:00pm CBS
Sun. Sept. 28 at St. Louis 4:05pm CBS
Sun. Oct. 5 at Arizona 4:15pm CBS
Sun. Oct. 12 BYE
Sun. Oct. 19 SAN DIEGO 1:00pm CBS
Sun. Oct. 26 at Miami 1:00pm CBS
Sun. Nov. 2 NY JETS 1:00pm CBS
Sun. Nov. 9 at New England 1:00pm CBS
Mon. Nov. 17 CLEVELAND 8:30pm NBC
Sun. Nov. 23 at Kansas City 1:00pm CBS
Sun. Nov. 30 SAN FRANCISCO 1:00pm FOX
Sun. Dec. 7 MIAMI* 4:05pm CBS
Sun. Dec. 14 at NY Jets 1:00pm CBS
Sun. Dec. 21 at Denver 4:05pm CBS
Sun. Dec. 28 NEW ENGLAND 1:00pm CBS

* - Home game played in Toronto.

CW23 has another video up

http://www.cw23.com/Global/story.asp?S=8042252&nav=menu584_5_1
This final video is from Sunday's final day of cuts and it gives a look at the final board of what numbers made the squad. In all, 29 dancers and 11 Ambassadors join the extablished veterans on the squad. It follows with a brief interview with Stephanie Mateczun and then it's Lydia's turn to get interviewed...by Kelli, Nicole, Eileen, Jamie, and Katie K...kinda like the interviews that the prospective Jills go through during the tryout process. Then Kelli worked Lydia through the routine before Lydia tried on a uniform...maybe gave us a preview of what she's gonna look like next year if she tries out.

Cheering for the Bills

Go Steelers — er, Go Bills.

Lifelong Pittsburgh Steelers fan Anna better get used to cheering for the right team.

The St. Catharines teen just made the cut for this year’s Buffalo Jills — the cheerleading squad egging on the likes of Buffalo Bills players Trent Edwards and Lee Evans on the gridiron.

“I was just so shocked,” Anna said of winning a spot on the squad. “It took a while to hit me....

‘Wow, I just made the team.’ It’s slowly sinking in.”

Still, Anna has wanted to be an NFL cheerleader since she was 15, when she started cheerleading in high school because of her love of football.

http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=985323

A little bit of news from tryouts

We should have a pic coming soon but for now, we do have this information to share. No vets who tried out missed the cut, first of all. There are some Canadians who made the squad as well...so they'll be able to help out with the Toronto games.
The 2008 Jills Congratulatory Party will be held at Club Paradise in Blasdell from 9pm-midnight on Saturday, April 26th, the first day of the NFL Draft. Don't miss it!
Finally, the 2008-09 calendar will feature pictures of the Jills taken in...the western Caribbean in late May.


edit: We have a pic

Picture courtesy the Buffalo Jills and Fisher Creative Image Photography

A former Jill cheering as a Knightingale

This time of year, with Jills tryouts for the 2008 squad finishing up, we're reminded that many of the faces that we've seen on the sidelines move on after a time. Some, sadly, miss the cut as expectations and standards are raised every year. Most move on by choice, though, mostly due to a lack of time to commit to the Jills or the Bandettes. We already know that Aimee, Amanda P, Autumn, Natale, Melissa, Kaitlin B, Joy, and Kaitlin V chose to leave the sidelines of the Jills for 2008 for various reasons. There are also a number of other girls who didn't make the workshop who may have also decided to move on....or they may have decided to try out. The contributions that all those who have moved on were valued and they will be missed even as we have new girls filling their spots and our hearts, each year.
When these young women move on, we wish them well but, for obvious reasons, their future endeavours are not going to be reported on in respect for their privacy. There is one exception to that rule, however. Some of these beauties, when they move on, choose to dance elsewhere, usually due to relocation. Tawnya (2000-02 Jills as well as a few years with the Bandettes) spent the 2006 and 2007 seasons with the Eagles cheerleaders. Sarita (2004 Jills) spent a few years with the Ravens cheerleaders and Hayley (2005 Jills) went to the NBA's Cavalier Girls for the 2006-07 season. The Rochester Knightingales have boasted a few former Jills in their ranks over the past few years. Hysha (2001-02 Jills) was there for a few years and Dianna (2003-04 Jills) only left their ranks a few weeks ago. Another former Jill joined their ranks this season.
Allison spent 4 years(2002-2005) as a Buffalo Jill and is displaying the same beauty, personality, and talent this season as a Knightingale as she did for those 4 seasons on the sidelines of Ralph Wilson Stadium. http://www.knighthawks.net/knightingales_bio.aspx?cheerleader_id=66
The game itself, was nothing to write home about. The Knighthawks are treating every game as a playoff game as they have to win out (and get a lot of help)in order to even make the playoffs. The visiting Bandits, however, didn't have as much to lose and it showed, especially in the offensive zones, as they were trounced 11-6 by their Thruway rivals, disappointing the few thousand Bandits fans who made the trek an hour east to cheer on their team. Even the presence of a trio of the beautiful and talented Bandettes in the stands wasn't enough to inspire the team. While it's well-known that dance and cheer teams aren't required to travel with the sports teams, the ladies of the Bandettes and Knightingales have been known to visit the other city for games from time to time before and, as demonstrated by Sarah, Meghan, and Melissa, these dancers are more than just pretty faces with great dancing ability. They're diehard sports fans as well.
Here are some pics of Allison and her Knightingales squadmates as well as a pic of our own beautiful Bandettes. http://s17.photobucket.com/albums/b87/bandettes/2008/KnighthawksRoad/

Bandette of The Week Erin Y

This week, we take a look at one of the Bandettes captains in 5-year vet Erin Y. Quiet and a fan of the cameras, this cutie hasn't restricted herself to the Bandettes. Following her rookie season on the squad, she spent a season cheering on the Buffalo Destroyers of the Arena Football League before we lost that team to Columbus. It's probably not surprising that she spent time on two squads like that as she's been dancing for over 20 years now. She even teaches hip-hop classes when she's not busy with work, the Bandettes, or her community service endeavours. She's spent time as a Goodwill Ambassador at the Buffalo Niagara Airport helping travelers with information about entertainment and restaurants in the region and has worked with charities such as Special Olympics and the United Way. Erin was also selected by the National Lacrosse League as a Girl of The Week earlier this season. http://www.nll.com/article.php?id=3372 You can read a little more about Erin at http://www.bandits.com/bandette-08_eriny.cfm and here's a flashback photo of her as a Buffalo Bombshell

Buffalo Jill of The Week Katherine

Katherine, or Katie as she's known to her friends, was one of the first rookies to make a splash in a public appearance this past season as she and the other Katie K dropped the puck for a Sabres Alumni Game in Jamestown last year. This country music lover spent the season on the Ambassador Squad and is known as a very determined young lady. It's fitting that she's a Jill of The Week around tryouts because of her determination. A number of current and past Buffalo Jills have made the squad after missing the cut in previous tries and Katie was part of the group in 2006 trying out but was, thankfully for her and for us, persistant and came back in 2007 and nailed a spot on the final roster. You can read more about Katie at http://buffalojills.net/bios/katherinek.html

Another video up from CW23

http://www.cw23.com/Global/story.asp?S=8042252&nav=menu584_5_1

Day 4 covers Tuesday's round of tryouts. In it you can see the captains, including Katie K and Nicole, leading the hopefuls through a routine. An interview with a prospective ambassador squad membertakes place with Lydia. Parts of some interviews with Steph, Kelli, Nicole, Kelly, and Danielle are shown.
Check it out!

Another video from 97Rock is up

This one shows them learning a routine and they have Motley Crue's Girls, Girls, Girls playing over the course of the video. You get a look at some prospective rookies as well as Valerie, Katie C, Stephanie B, Jenica, Christina, Lisa, Angelina, Amanda K, Nicole, Kelli, and the CW23's Lydia. Check it out

More videos up from CW23

Shoot over to http://www.cw23.com/Global/story.asp?S=8042252&nav=menu584_5_1 and check out a pair of new videos posted by Lydia with views from Jills tryouts. Day 1 was the Open Workshop already posted. Day 2 is a look at the optional workshop held last Thursday night and includes an interview with Jills director Stephanie M as well as interviews with a pair of prospective rookies.
Day 3 is the first day of cuts with an interview with Stephanie again as well as a look at the actual dance tryouts and interviews with some prospective rookies. Also included is an interview with judge Jon Corto, a Bills safety, one with Omarlla, judging this year, as well as an interview with Jenica and Katie C before finishing up with a quick interview with DJ Jickster.
Check them out!

97Rock's video of Day 1 of tryouts is up

Jickster from 97Rock has a video up on YouTube with some views of the first cut of Jills tryouts. It gives a good view of the routine as performed by several prospective rookies as well as some vets looking to return to the sidelines this fall, including Stephanie B and Jess L. Check it out.



Good luck to everyone trying out!

Correction to a news story

On WGRZ-TV's Daybreak edition, an error was made in reporting on Jills
tryouts. The tryout process is not open to the public to come watch as
erroneously reported. There are some squads that do have their tryouts
in front of audiences but the Jills do not. The reasons being are
primarily to eliminate distractions. While it can be entertaining and
interesting to watch, these young ladies worked really hard to learn a
routine in a week's time and any distraction (even someone in the
audience coughing) that could throw them off would hurt their chances
of making the squad.
However, the Jills are doing a bit more to publicize what goes on in
tryouts. 97Rock and CW23 are covering the tryouts and we'll be seeing
videos over the next few weeks of the process.
Thank you for your attention in this matter.

Mammoth Game pics

In HSBC Arena Saturday night, the Buffalo Bandits played host to the team that upset them in the 2006 Champions Cup Final, the Colorado Mammoth. After the Bandits' last game, a home loss against Toronto, they needed some help and got it in the form of Kevin Dostie, back after missing 6 games with a high ankle sprain as well as Mike Accursi, a former Bandit from the 2000-2004 seasons reacquired at the trade deadline in a trade for asst. captain Dan Teat. Even with the help, it was a hard-fought game that the Bandits, with the help of finally-healthy goalie Mike Thompson, came out on top in with a score of 12-11.
The game wasn't all that was tight as the dance performances turned in all night by the Bandettes were solid as a rock. They started off the evening signing autographs for the fans from 6-7 and then proceeded to entertain the fans and stir up the crowd of 16,900 as seen in these pics and videos from the game. http://s17.photobucket.com/albums/b87/bandettes/2008/Mammoth/
Coming up next, the Bandettes will have help cheering on the Bandits against the Chicago Shamrox on March 19th in the form of the Jr. Bandettes squad they've been working with all season long. With the Jr. Bandettes to work with, there won't be an autograph signing prior to the game but they'll still be putting on rousing dance performances all evening long. They'll be back signing autographs before the regular season finale on April 26th.

More from CW23

As we already reported, Lydia from the CW23 was on hand for the Open Workshop last week doing a lot of filming as well as interviews. Well, the video is now up on CW23's site at http://www.cw23.com/Global/story.asp?S=8042252&nav=menu584_5_1
It includes looks at the routine that the girls had to learn as well as interviews with Eileen, Danielle, Steph, Katherine, Jill R, Keisha, Amanda K, Brianne, Kelli, Amanda F, and Vincenza.
Check it out!

Bandette of The Week Meghan

Third-year vet Meghan came into the 2008 season just hoping to continue her dancing while getting to spend time with a group of girls she's become quite close friends with the past few years. However, she got more than she expected when she was named Erin Y's co-captain, a totally new position, before the season started. Meghan's a young lady who's always on the go as she balances a pair of jobs, the Bandettes, and being a wife and mother as well. Despite all that, it's hard to imagine her slowing down anytime soon. She's always been a go-getter and her experiences with the Bandettes have only helped her in one of her jobs, as a ballet teacher, sharing her love of dance with the next generation.
She also contributes to the squad in ways other than leadership, dancing, and choreography (something most of the Bandettes help out with). Ever since she joined the squad, she's been a key reason that the fans get up-to-date info on the happenings of the Bandettes squad. Her contributions, behind the scenes, to this site have been valuable in having fans show up to appearances in the past as well as letting the fans know when posters will be available for signing. You can read more about Meghan at
http://www.bandits.com/bandette-08_meghan.cfm

Buffalo Jill of The Week Brianne

If there's one phrase that could be used to accurately describe our latest Jill of The Week, it's All-American. Brianne, having just finished her 3rd season on the squad as a dancer on Omarlla's line between Emily and Eileen, is easily a more well-rounded young woman at the age of 23 than most women her age. Growing up in a small town with strong values and having the unconditional support of her fiance are only a part of the reason why. She's been dancing since the age of 4 and cheering since the age of 8 and that's helped her learn how to put her all into everything she does. Besides cheering and dancing, she's also an avid golfer and has been known to golf a couple times a week, even while she was going to college classes, working, and attending Jills practices. After balancing all that, being a college graduate must seem a breeze for her these days. You can read more about Brianne at http://www.buffalojills.net/bios/brianne.html

Men's Show

Here's a little something to look forward to. The US Army and Citadel Radio will be sponsoring an event called the Men's Show on Saturday, May 3rd at the Agri Center in Hamburg, NY. Tickets are $5 presale and $7 at the door. Featured as part of this show are appearances by players from the Buffalo Bills, Playboy's Miss May 2007, Shannon James, Chris "Shooter McGavin" McDonald, a bikini fashion show and members of the Buffalo Jills 2008 squad. Stay tuned for more details as they become available from http://www.wedg.com/goout.asp?u=http://buffalomensshow.com/