Taylor Taliaferro was living a dream Dec. 19 as she walked onto the field at Cowboys stadium.
The 12-year-old Chickasaw student earned a spot in a line-up of 100 young ladies to perform at the opening of the Dallas Cowboys game with the Washington Redskins.
From the field of the largest domed stadium in the world, Taylor performed a five-minute routine for thousands of football fans.
More than 700 hopefuls from Oklahoma, Texas and surrounding states auditioned for a spot during a Nov. 7 Dallas cheer clinic.
Cheerleaders performed a dance they learned during the cheer clinic. The top 100 were selected by members of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders for the pre-game show.
"It was kind of nerve-wracking to audition for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, but it was fun to meet them," said the Davis (Okla.) seventh grader.
When asked about cheering in front of thousands of fans, she said she was a bit nervous, but had dreamed about it since she was a little girl.
During the six-weeks between selection and game day performance, Taylor practiced her dance routine repeatedly.
She has been competitively cheering for five years and currently cheers with award- winning Cheer Connection Thunder in Ardmore. Her coach is Ashton Adams-Widhelm.
Like having pride in her cheer team, Taylor is also proud to be a Chickasaw citizen.
"It makes me proud to tell people I am Chickasaw."
When she is not cheering, Taylor can be found with her friends at the soda fountain of the Davis Drug Store and at church. She also cares for a pig she intends to show in the spring county live stock show.
Her future plans include attending college and becoming a veterinarian.
Taylor's family include: parents Brian and Brandy Taliaferro, brother Toby and grandparents, Terry and Wanda Crumb, Phyllis Crumb, Ross and Vicki Reeder and Jack and Yvonne Taliaferro.
