Dallas, TX — Dallas showed up, and the blueprint is clear: big skills, bigger integrity, and a format built to make fans out of first-timers.

Team manager Brad Habermel says the league’s timing is perfect. “We’ve been a niche sport, but this is a way to reach the masses and build a broader fan base. We want athletes who are skilled in at least one area and, more importantly, good humans the fans fall in love with.”

Because Pro Cheer League matches will score height and precision in new ways, Dallas engineered tryouts to measure both. Team manager Jody Melton reworked the flow: side-angle video to assess tumbling airtime, front-angle baskets to read peak height, even a floor bull’s-eye to grade landings. “Pro cheer is a different animal. Strategy and roster makeup matter as much as trick count.”

The sessions weren’t just about polished résumés. Habermel lit up over one comeback story: an athlete who hadn’t tumbled in three years started retraining last weekend - and still impressed. “That’s the kind of spark this league is creating.”

Coaches emphasized what’s at stake. Katie Garcia, Dallas coach, said, “It’s fresh. After college you usually hang up your shoes. This is a chance to keep doing what you love - and get paid.” She also highlighted how athletes already mentored one another during the tryout: “Mindset matters as much as skills. That’s the standard.”

Fellow manager Angela Rogers underlined the people-first mission: “We want top talent, yes - but great people first. We’ve spent 30 years building great people through cheer. That’s still the bar.”

Varsity executive Justin Carrier, who helped oversee the league’s rollout, stressed the bigger picture: “Year one, I want recognition. Celebrate these athletes as professionals. And think beyond the arena - casual fans should tune in and say, ‘That’s cool. I want my kid to do that.’”

The Dallas Drive staff know the pressure is real. “These first four teams set the tone,” Habermel said. “And I believe we’ll deliver a great product.”

With competitions beginning in January, Dallas is preparing to showcase what professional cheerleading can look like - altitude, precision, and personality, with Texas pride at the core.