Racer girls perform at a men’s basketball home game during the 2014-15 season.
There are 12 women that accompany the sidelines of several Racer games. They can be seen spinning in Roy Stewart Stadium or on the court of the CFSB Center with dresses embellished with gold and blue.
Racer Girls, who are trained and skilled in dancing that ranges from double and triple quad turns to fouettes, splits and calypsos, go through a three-part process to earn a spot on the team.
The first part is a two-day physical tryout that will be held this year from 5:30 to 9:30 May 1 and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 2.
Since the team is only able to take 12 women, junior Ellie LeBeau said interest in the club is growing and that makes the tryouts even more intense.
After the first cut is made there will be an interview portion of the tryouts and the women that make it through will be invited to a summer camp where the last part of the tryout will take place.
The potential members will be taught all 16 sidelines that the Racer Girls preform.
Sophomore Hallie Beard, who will be a co-captain of the team next year, said the week of camp can be so intense that the team jokingly refers to it as “hell week.”
Beard said at the end of the week the captain will turn on the music and yell out the sidelines and this is where the last cut is made.
The new members will be expected to be able to perform all 16 sidelines without hesitation.
“What we go through that week is really challenging, but it brings us closer as a team,” Beard said.
Once the semester beings, they are required to practice three days a week and are expected to keep up with their own cardio as an official member of Racer Girls.
LeBeau said one of her favorite memories of being a part of the Racer Girls is being able to be identified along with successful Murray State teams.
She said during her Spring Break, people noticed her Murray State shirt and told her “Racers Deserve a Bid.”
However, outside of their training and regular dancing, the Racer Girls host an annual dance camp where they invite children up to fifth grade to attend.
Racer Girls teach the children a dance and they get to preform it at a home game.
They also participate in Racer Mania and Fan Jam.
“For me and for every girl who danced in high school, it’s a good way to keep dancing since there’s no longer a dance program at Murray,” Beard said. “We love being on the team because it’s fun being a part of Racer Athletics. It’s more than just the dancing.”
Story by Da’Sha Tuck, Staff writer, and Mary Bradley, Editor-in-Chief