Jill-O-Ween 2005-revisited

Some of the Jills posing for the cameras

One event that the Jills had once upon a time was the Jill-O-Ween party, in which members of the Jills put on costumes and celebrated Halloween with friends and fans. Held at the "O" Restaurant and Lounge on Sheridan Drive, most of the Jills in attendance had fun with costumes supplied by George and Company. The fun actually started before the party as, after the Comedy Show a week before, Kelly was pretty excited to let me know how she was dressing up...as a witch, not a scary witch but a funny witch. Korinne also let me know ahead of time what she was wearing as did Carrie. The night of the event, Nichole ran things and I recall a conversation with her discussing something that she said she never planned on doing that she changed her mind on....getting married. A pair of her rookie squadmates had gotten married a few weeks before and she said she had no interest in doing that with everything she had to deal with. Thankfully, she changed her mind on that after she met the right guy and she and Joe have just had their 2nd child.

Kelly the witch, Shana the French Maid, and Korinne as Marilyn Monroe

Officer Jena

In addition to hanging out with fans and friends while wearing costumes, the Jills put on a few dance performances and costume fashion shows, showing off the outfits they were wearing. Some of them were cute like Carrie's Easter Bunny outfit or Rachael as Little Red Riding Hood while others were sexy like Melissa's referee outfit and Jena's police officer costume. The best part was how they played off one another at times for poses for the camera. Rachael and Autumn have been the best of friends and regularly did appearances together. Totally without provocation, Autumn, dressed as a bee, "stung" her pal Rachael. Then there were others like Aimee the vampire going after fairy princess Amanda W.

Rachael and Autumn

It wasn't just the girls playing off each other though as Brittany, dressed as an angel, and Elena, dressed as a devil, posed for a photo with a fan dressed as a priest.

Brittany and Elena with a fan dressed as a priest

With one exception, the Jills didn't disguise their identities completely when in costume and I actually spent a chunk of the evening trying to figure out who the one exception really was. Eventually, I just gave up and asked Kelley T who it was. Unfortunately, Kelley also told this girl I didn't realize who she was and I spent the rest of the evening kissing up to Meg, dressed up extremely well as the Corpse Bride.

Aimee and Meg

See all the pics from Jill-O-Ween at https://buffaloprocheerbuffalojills.shutterfly.com/pictures/11141

The Jills at the 2005 Buffalo Jills Adult Comedy Show-revisited

Kaitlin, Allison, Rhiannon, Meg, and Dominica

We continue our look back at photo sets from the past with the 2005 Buffalo Jills Adult Comedy Show. Held in October of 2005 at Witz End Comedy Club, the Comedy Show, which used to be a staple of the Buffalo Jills, featured Rob Lederman of 97Rock, Tom Tran of 103.3 The Edge, and was headlined by B.T., a comedian who's still working hard and making people laugh. You can follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/funnyman6869

Amanda P and Adrienne

Upon arrival, I was greeted at the door by the Jill who sold me the ticket, a rookie Ambassador by the name of Adrienne. She made a point of bragging to her director that she had made the sale at the game the previous weekend...of course everyone knew it wasn't a hard sale. The girls took turns working the door, selling raffle tickets, and keeping an eye on the Chinese auction items. One of the most memorable parts of the night actually involved a conversation with Adrienne. Born of Sicilian heritage, Adrienne had perhaps the most amazing abs I've ever seen on a cheerleader. Only Ayeshia (2007-09) and Natalie (2010-11 Jills and now with the GCC) have come close.

Rachael, Carrie, and Autumn

After the show, Ashlee A, a rookie Ambassador in 2005, invited a bunch of us to come down the street a few doors to hear her sing. A former contestant on American Idol, Ashlee is a talented singer who's still singing to this day, traveling with the Scintas for the last year and a half. At the time, she was the lead singer for the Studio 54 Dance Band, which is still performing today with only 2 of its original members. http://www.studio54band.com/ Myself, I spent some time talking with Korinne and a few of her friends before departing. On the way out to the parking lot, I heard Ashlee's singing voice coming from Flappy's and went in to watch and listen, where Kelly and Eileen were already enjoying the show.

Kelly and Ashlee

It's funny as I look back on that night as I've probably spent as much time with the band as I have with just about anyone else outside of tailgating. Had Ashlee not invited us all over, there's a lot of people I might never have met and become friends with, including State Senator Grisanti.

See the rest of the pics at http://buffaloprocheerbuffalojills.shutterfly.com/pictures/11116

From the Bandettes comes a photo from the Bandits season finale against the Knighthawks. Just prior to heading out for their 3rd intermission performance, the Bandettes captains posed for a quick photo together. Shown posing are LB and Kirsten.

LB and Kirsten posing for the camera

Don't forget to visit the main page of the Buffalo Pro Cheer Blog to donate to Jenn, Tammy, Julie, Kim or Maria...all are Jills alumni participating in the 5th Annual Blondes Vs Brunettes football game!

2005 Buffalo Jills Calendar Release Party revisited

Continuing our look back at photo sets of the past, we come to the 2005 Buffalo Jills Calendar Release Party, held at Quote Nightclub, where The Purple Monkey Tropical Pub stands today.

Tammy, Adrienne, Ashley D, and Nicole P

Upon arriving, I received two things, a VIP pass from the Jills director and a drink from her husband along with the request for lots and lots of pics. Unlike the FHM release party, I felt a lot more in my element and had, after a few games into the season, built a rapport with several of the Jills. Eileen even made a point of introducing me to her family. Over the years since then, I probably talked to her mother more than I did Eileen.

Eileen's mother and sisters posing with Eileen

In addition to a dance performance, the Jills put on a swimsuit fashion show, showing off the suits they wore in the 2005-06 Buffalo Jills Swimsuit Calendar. They started off with September 2005 and the incredibly fit Adrienne, a rookie Ambassador with exotic looks and amazing abs and finished up with Shana, the blonde bombshell of a covergirl who spent her year with the Jills as an Ambassador.

Rachael, Lisa, and Krystalore

Meg, Kristine, and Omarlla

Korinne, Kaitlin, and Danielle

There were a few extra special guests at this event. Sam Barclay, Executive Editor of FHM's US edition, was on-hand supporting his favorite NFL cheerleading squad and Marissa D, who spent 6 seasons on the sidelines of the Ralph, was there supporting her former squadmates. Going into 2005, Nichole and Kelly H were the only girls still on the squad who knew me very well at all. Marissa was one of those who knew me before 2005, though, having met a few times at games as well as at a bikini fashion show that members of the Jills were part of in 2003. At the end of the evening, I was talking with Marissa and her boyfriend on the way out to the parking lot. I made sure to advise him not to let her get away because she was, and still is, one of the greatest gals ever to put on the Jills uniform. He definitely listened because, as I found out from Marissa a few months later when she was on the Bandettes, he popped the question soon thereafter.

Nichole and Marissa

See the rest of the photos at http://buffaloprocheerbuffalojills.shutterfly.com/pictures/10892

Congrats to Ashley and Gabrielle, the Buffalo Jills Calendar Covergirls!

For Buffalo Jill Ashley, becoming a calendar cover girl has always been a dream she hoped to achieve.

“It’s a goal I never imagined would come true,” said Ashley, this year’s 2013-2014 Jills Cheerleader Swimsuit Calendar Cover girl. “With the guidance and support from Stephanie, the Director of the Jills, Fisher Creative Image photography and my fellow teammates coaching me along the way, they really know how to make you feel beautiful.”
Read the rest of Hannah Buehler's article at http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-1/Buffalo-Jill-Ashley-excited-for-calendar-cover-opportunity/a618f0e7-3126-4484-be9a-6d863005db25

This year’s back cover is Gabrielle- who had her photo taken in Siesta Key, Florida during the team’s trip to the Sunshine State.

“I’m so excited to have been selected for the back cover this year,” said second year veteran Gabrielle. “I couldn’t believe it when I found out. I'm so happy. It's a dream come true!”

Pics from the BvB Beer Blast and a look at the Jills Alumni at the Bisons game

Some of the BvB players posing for a group pic

Anyone who's paid any attention to the weather in the Northeastern US, knows that it's been pretty hot, making beaches a pretty popular destination. This year, the Blondes Vs Brunettes organization of Buffalo chose to utilize one of Western NY's most popular beaches for their annual Beer Blast fundraiser but a storm the evening before cooled the weather down so that even though it turned out to be a beautiful day, the crowds weren't as strong as they had been the last week. Those who did make the trek down to Sunset Bay had a fantastic time with raffles, games, and lots of great food and drinks.

Jills Alum Tammy with teammate Marissa in full beach mode

At the moment, there are 4 Jills alumni signed up to play in the 5th Annual Blondes vs Brunettes game with 3 brunettes and 1 blonde. As luck would have it though, one of the beautiful rookie blondes on the team, Becky, is close friends with 2012 Jills alum Alyssa U and Becky, Alyssa, and their friend Christina made an appearance at the event. After I had a nice conversation with the owner of one of the prettiest smiles on the 2012 Jills, Jenn tried talking her into playing this year.

Jills alum Alyssa U with friends Becky and Christina

See all the pics at https://buffaloprocheerbuffalojills.shutterfly.com/pictures/32718
The BvB Beer Blast wasn't all that happened yesterday in Buffalo by any means. The Buffalo Bisons, the AAA affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, turned the park pink in support of local breast cancer survivors. Fans were encouraged to wear pink to the game and proceeds will benefit the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer. Prior to the game, 2 dozen Buffalo Jills alumni performed on the field and Roman Polyachenko Photography grabbed plenty of photos.

There's a lot of familiar faces, including 2003-04 Jills Swimsuit Calendar covergirl Kristen. See some of the photos at https://www.facebook.com/RomanPolyachenkoPhotography All the high resolution images will be available at http://www.romanpolyachenko.com/galleries

The Buffalo Jills at the 2005 FHM Release Party-revisited

When I started up the site in 2001, I didn't have high expectations or goals for it. I just wanted to improve the positive online exposure for the Buffalo Jills and all of Buffalo's professional cheerleading squads which, at that time, including the Jills and the Buffalo Bombshells, cheering on the Arena Football League's Buffalo Destroyers. The Buffalo Bandettes started up in 2001 as well, put together and, at the time, comprised of members of the Buffalo Jills. Over the years, I built up a few working relationships with the Bombshells director and with some of the Jills. Obviously no one sticks around for good and when the 2005 preseason rolled around, and I saw the new Jills roster, back when there was a lot more effort to keep the site up-to-date, there were very few very familiar faces. In fact, then-captain and current Jills coordinator Nichole and then-Ambassador Squad captain Kelly H were the only 2 left that actually knew me left on the squad.

In 2005, FHM Magazine, when they were still printing a US edition, included with their football preview a set of NFL Cheerleader photos with some info and 2nd year vet Ambassador Ashley D represented the Jills in that issue. To celebrate Ashley's accomplishment, the Jills held an FHM release party at Macaroon's in Cheektowaga complete with the whole squad and the executive editor and the editor-in-chief of FHM Magazine in attendance.

Jillian, Jamie, and Aimee

When I showed up, I saw a few familiar faces in the form of some established veterans like Aimee G, Jamie R, and Jillian as well as former Bombshells Korinne and Keiyonna and before long got a chance to talk to Nichole some before the evening really kicked off. Over the course of the evening, I met several more of the Jills, rookies and veterans alike. As a part of the evening, the Jills not only put on a few dance performances but a leather fashion show with outfits from one of the sponsors of the event. With Kelly, Lisa, Allison, Krystalore, and Rhiannon taking the stage to model outfits, that sponsor's business had to have improved immensely.

Nicole P, Jills choreographer Kelli Wagner, Jamie R, Eileen, and Hayley

Krystalore, Kelly, Rhiannon, and Lisa onstage at the end of the fashion show

The funniest part of the evening, for me at least, was a conversation I was holding with Eileen. People I work with know I have Bills season tickets yet some would still ask me if I was going to the game. My reaction has generally been a mock look of incredulity with the response "What kind of a question is that?" Well, Eileen asked me that question that evening, referring to the 1st preseason game the following week. On instinct, I gave her the look but before I could say anything, Kelly H showed up and delivered the very same line I always did.
Overall, the night was about the Jills, Ashley, and FHM, but it was also the night of the Bills preseason opener in Indianapolis and no one paid more attention to the game that was playing on the big screen than Keiyonna, a 2nd year vet who also spent some time as a Buffalo Bombshell. See all the pics at http://buffaloprocheerbuffalojills.shutterfly.com/pictures/4512

From the Bandettes comes a photo from the January game against the Philadelphia Wings. LB's line was greeting fans as they came up the escalators to the 100 level as well as posing for photos. Shown posing for this photo are LB, MaKenzie, and Alicia.

LB, MaKenzie, and Alicia

Don't forget to visit the main page of the Buffalo Pro Cheer Blog to donate to Jenn, Tammy, Julie, or Kim...all are Jills alumni participating in the 5th Annual Blondes Vs Brunettes football game!

Throwback Thursday: Jills History and Memories

When the Buffalo Bills franchise was in its infancy, playing at the old Rock Pile, there were no Buffalo Jills. The cheerleaders from Buffalo State College cheered from the sidelines instead. Joanne Gaulin saw the opportunity, and went straight to the top to get the Bills a set of cheerleaders of their own.

“Joanne went to Mr. Wilson and said, ‘Can I put together a team of women that would be the Buffalo Jills cheerleaders?” said Jills alumni president Lori Mammoliti. “Mr. Wilson said, yes, but he said they had to be married.”

And so in 1967 the Buffalo Jills were born through Gaulin’s persistence, beginning a rich history to accompany the action on the field. The ‘marriage’ rule would change during the 70s, but the Jills have stayed a sideline staple since their start at the Rock Pile.
Read the rest at http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-1/Throwback-Thursday-Jills-History-and-Memories/7b4a3e39-3e6d-45d8-ac24-5a92e7615984

Buffalo Jill of The Week Alyssa B

This week, we finish up the 2012-13 Buffalo Jill of The Week series with the Calendar Covergirl Alyssa B. Retiring after the 2012 season, Alyssa joined the squad alongside two of her closest friends, Nicole and Kristen, from college and they all made a significant impact on the Ambassador Squad their rookie year as the Three Musketeers. After a season, Kristen and Nicole switched to dance but Alyssa stayed with the Ambassador Squad not because she lacked dancing ability but because she felt her biggest strength was how well she got along with people. Truth be told, that's a strength a lot of people have seen in her as well. As an ambassador, they're expected to be able to hold conversations with fans on a variety of topics, but Alyssa went one better during much of her career. She was not only receptive to talking with fans, she regularly went out of her way to do so and generally has a personality that anyone can gravitate toward. Even when a pair of squadmates couldn't get along themselves, Alyssa got along great with each of them and she was always one of those I always found the easiest to talk to as well. Her willingness to help others landed her in Laura's webseries about dating last year. But besides her sweet and helpful side, she has a goofy side as well and one of her former squadmates even compiled a list of some of the goofy things she's done or said. You can read more about Alyssa in the files section of the webgroup. Alyssa's secondary photo comes from last year's 1st cuts when girls were still coming in to register and get headshots taken. Shown posing for the camera are Alyssa and Courteney. While Alyssa's closest bonds were with Nicole and Kristen when 1st joining the Jills, she spent more time with Courteney, a fellow 2009 rookie classmate who also spent all 4 of her seasons on the Ambassador Squad.

Alyssa and Courteney

From the Bandettes comes a photo from the Bandits-Wings game back in January. Prior to going out for their halftime performance, a few of the girls posed for photos. Shown posing for this photo are LB and MaKenzie.

LB and MaKenzie

Don't forget to visit the main page of the Buffalo Pro Cheer Blog to donate to one of the Jills alumni participating in the 5th Annual Blondes Vs Brunettes football game!

Max and Katie on Winging It!

This week, Winging It! Buffalo Style is doing a celebrity co-host week and today, Amazing Race's Max and Katie were the co-hosts They talk about what they've been doing since finishing the race, did some cooking, some dancing, and tried out some summer drinks.

Amazing hosts from 'The Amazing Race!'

See more clips from the show at http://www.cw23.com/subindex/winging_it

Summer format change

In past years, we've followed up the Jill of The Week series with a look at the rookies for the Jills that we'll be seeing on the sidelines in the Fall. Unfortunately, starting last year, the Jills organization has made that impossible with fewer appearances and a lack of public events for unknown reasons. Last summer, we took a look back at some notable Jills alumni from the past few years. This summer, we'll be looking at some old photo sets....some games, some events, and some appearances on a semi-weekly basis as well as do our best to cover Buffalo's pro cheer community as best we can til the 2013-14 Jill of The Week series kicks off in September.

Buffalo Jill of The Week Omarlla

This week's Jill of The Week should need no introduction as she spent more time as a Buffalo Jill, or as an NFL Cheerleader for that matter, than anyone ever has. Omarlla's 13 seasons are not only impressive and remarkable, but not something she had planned on when she first tried out in the spring of 2000 alongside current Jills coordinator Nichole. Truth be told, she and Eileen, who put in 11 seasons from 2000-2010 alongside Omarlla, took it all year by year and the biggest reason she kept coming back for all those seasons, besides the obvious fact that she could do it and do it well, was because she enjoyed it...getting to cheer on the Bills from the sidelines, getting to meet hundreds of new people, including new squadmates, every year, and all the new experiences. To say "O" had a remarkable career would be an understatement as she was named to the Pro Bowl after her 4th season and represented the Jills in the NFL Cheerleader Playoffs in the summer of 2006. At the start of that summer, she wasn't much of a swimmer at all but with her teammate Aimee's coaching, held her own in a water-based event as part of a 1st rd sweep of events for the pair.  Cheerleading captains are expected to lead their lines but Omarlla took that a step further. Without meaning anything negative towards other captains, Omarlla bred a special kind of loyalty from her linemates because she treated her linemates not as subordinates, but as her younger sisters. At 2006 tryouts, when one of the girls who had been on her line the previous fall was upset about the results, Omarlla came out to help console her. When Brianne, who had spent 2005-07 on Omarlla's line, came back to the Jills in 2010 after a couple years away, she was pretty excited to tell me she was back on Omarlla's line. You can read more about Omarlla at http://buffalojills.com/profile.php?PID=73 Omarlla's secondary photo comes from last year's 1st cuts where she posed with a pair of former squadmates. Shown posing for the camera are Keisha, Omarlla, and Lisa. As a special bonus for Omarlla's retirement after 13 seasons comes a photo from the season finale. In a photo taken from the scoreboard, Omarlla is shown receiving a customized jersey from the Bills posing with Jills Coordinator Nichole, the only one who's been with the Jills as long as Omarlla.

Keisha(2007-11), Omarlla, and Lisa (2003-06)

Nichole and Omarlla

From the Bandettes comes a photo taken at the 2nd game vs the Philadelphia Wings. Prior to the game, some of the girls posed for photos. Shown posing for a photo are rookies Kelsey and MaKenzie.

Kelsey and MaKenzie

Don't forget to visit the main page of the Buffalo Pro Cheer Blog to donate to one of the Jills alumni participating in the 5th Annual Blondes Vs Brunettes football game!