Ever since she first put on dancing shoes at the age of three, Sara Robbins of Becker knew that her repertoire of movements would someday take her someplace.

 

That place is TCO Performance Center in Eagan — as a member of the Minnesota Vikings cheerleading squad!

 

Robbins, 23, found out she was selected by the Vikings to don purple and gold April 23 after toiling in tryouts the day prior. She originally went to prep classes with the organization in February to find out if her dancing background was good enough to be considered for a job as a professional cheerleader.

 

“I knew after that first day that this is what I wanted,” She said. “They asked a lot of questions and gave us a history book on the Vikings we needed to learn.”

 

“Did she know some or a lot of Vikings history prior to that?” she was asked.

 

“Nothing at all,” she laughed.

 

Robbins attended Becker schools from second grade to ninth before transferring to St. Cloud Tech in 2011. She graduated from there in 2014 and attended St. Cloud State University to study anthropology, criminal justice and forensics.

 

“I’m intrigued with the criminal justice system and was hoping to become a forensic anthropologist,” she said. “The problem is, there is only one such person in the whole state.”

 

While at SCSU, Sara met and became friends with a girl named Andrea, who also had a passion for dance and cheerleading. They both tried out and made the SCSU cheerleading squad and helped lead the Huskies to a national title in 2016 at the College Cheerleading and Dance National Championships in Florida.  It was later on after graduation that Andrea convinced Sara to try out for the Vikings cheerleading squad.

 

“I kinda wanted to take some time off from dancing and cheering after graduation, but I really started to miss it,” Sara said. “So I considered trying out and then decided to go for it.”

 

At the training camps in April, Sara had to learn some new dance routines for the final auditions that were held at the Mall of America. The judges were looking for “the total package, which included personal appearance, dance ability, showmanship, personality, enthusiasm and confidence.  

 

It is said the judges are  looking for potential, not necessarily perfection.

 

Following the tryout, Sara just crossed her fingers and hung by the phone the next day to see if they’d call. Which they did.

 

“The finals judges were people from some of the Vikings sponsors like Lifetime Fitness, Spalon Montage and New Era, along with some Viking alumni,” said Robbins. “after finding out I was in, I had to immediately report to TCO to practice and get ready for the draft party the next day (April 25).”

 

Robbins said she was never really nervous about the tryouts — just really excited.

 

“It definitely helped that I had an extensive dance and cheer background,” she said. “Typically, that’s what they are looking for along with some modeling and gymnastics experience.”

 

This year’s squad will be practicing three times a week at TCO year ‘round and are required to appear at events accumulating 20 hours or more. They all get two months off after the regular season and playoffs, but then are expected to stay in shape and represent the team throughout the year.

 

NFL cheerleaders don’t make a lot of money — getting paid per game and per appearance (Typically $150 a game and $50 each appearance) — so all of the girls have to juggle practices and appearances while working other jobs. Sara is in the process of trying to find a good paying job near TCO but for now, she is living at home with mom and dad and making the long commute.

 

“My mom (Robin) is a huge Vikings fan, so she is really excited I made the team,” Sara said. “The best part so far is getting to know all the girls and all of the perks.”

 

The “perks”  Robbins refers to is every member of the cheerleading squad gets a pair of season tickets along with free membership at Life Time Fitness and free hair and tanning at Spalon Montage.

 

“The hardest part so far is everything is so different from college cheer,” Robbins said. “We have to go to practices in full hair and makeup and learning new choreography is challenging.”

 

Robbins and her teammates get three signature uniforms from the Vikings to wear at games and events. All returning veteran team members still go through the audition process – except for the very first round at open auditions.

 

The first women to cheer the Vikings were a squad called the "St. Louis Parkettes." Five NFL championships and four Superbowls later, the Vikings decided they should make it official and auditions for the first Vikings cheerleaders began in 1984. Over 600 women auditioned that year and 36 were chosen to be on the team. Ever since then the Minnesota Vikings cheerleaders have become an integral part of the team and the fans' experience.

 

This year’s squad entertains with 33 girls. And one of them is named Sara Robbins.

 

Sara is the daughter of Robin and Scott Robbins of Becker. She has one brother, Alec.