06/09 – The Green & White announced the newest editions to the team at Jets Fest on Monday evening: the 2009 New York Jets Flight Crew. The Atlantic Health Training Center in Florham Park, N.J., was the venue for the unveiling of this year's cheerleading squad, which has expanded from 22 to 30 members to add to the excitement of gameday. “Fifteen are veterans from last year and 15 are rookies,” said Denise Garvey, the Flight Crew's director. “That was totally by accident. I didn’t plan that. But it’s split 50-50.” The girls were introduced by Joe Nolan, the “That’s a Jets ... first down!” announcer from the Meadowlands and traffic correspondent for a slew of New York media outlets. One by one, the ladies stepped to the front of the stage to introduce themselves, wearing Jets “09” jerseys with their first names on the backs. They said where they were from, what other jobs they had and why they were so excited to be a part of the Flight Crew. Although the public has only just gotten to meet the young women, they have been sweating through weeks of rehearsals and tryouts and are preparing for a long season of dancing, charity events and more. “You’re working,” said Mandisa, a third-year veteran of the Flight Crew. “Whether it seems that all we do is just dance and have fun, yeah, that’s what we do, but we really do work hard.”  As the Flight Crew’s roster count increases, so do expectations. “We’re starting to become an established team,” Mandisa said, “and that’s all we wanted from the start. So the more the merrier, that’s our attitude. Bring it on, you know?” “It is already a bigger presence at rehearsals,” said Garvey, whose own experience is seasoned by her stints as a New Jersey Nets and Dallas Cowboys cheerleader. “It just looks like a lot more girls, so I can only imagine on the field, when we break them up into groups for the games, the presence, I think, will be a lot bigger on gameday, too. So we’re really excited about the larger number.” The veterans on the team can testify for the rookies that all their hard work will indeed be worth it, and that they are in for a thrilling season of Jets football. “The best part is just performing,” said Mandisa. “Gosh, it’s just such a rush. Words can’t describe how awesome we feel when we go out on the field or when we’re sitting in the tunnel. We’re so excited to get out there and just show our routines, dance and have fun. We’re really just doing what we love.  "Just knowing that there are only a few girls who are doing this, it’s really an honor."

An Official Cheer for the 2009 Flight Crew

05/09 – After a day of dancing, cheerleading, competing and judging at Pacha NYC today, the New York Jets Flight Crew are inviting 30 young women to Flight Crew training camp this summer. "I am very happy with the new squad," said Denise Garvey, in her third year as director of the squad. "It was important to me for the Flight Crew to grow and develop as a stronger cheerleading squad right from the very beginning of the 2009 season and I believe we are doing just that. The look of the team has developed into a glamorous group of young women." Fifteen of the 30 finalists selected by Garvey and a celebrity panel of judges were on last year's Flight Crew. All 30 selected following the very competitive final round will be participating in Crew appearances and activities from now until the start of the camp June 1. Here are the 30 finalists who are on the 2009 New York Jets Flight Crew, listed alphabetically by first name:  Finalist  Hometown  Finalist  Hometown  Amanda C.  Dunellen, NJ  Laura V.  Wantagh, NY  Amanda P.  New York, NY  Lauren P.  Staten Island, NY  Anne-Marie A.  Smithtown, NY  Lauren Z.  Ridgefield, CT  Ashley G.  Clifton, NJ  Linda W.  Massapequa, NY  Christie A.  Fair Lawn, NJ  Mandisa N.  Jersey City, NJ  Danielle B.  Holbrook, NY  Meredith G.  Medford, NY  Danielle C.  Monroe, NJ  Michele R.  Glendale, NY  Gina G.  Kings Park, NY  Michelle L.  New York, NY  Jacqueline N.  Clifton, NJ  Mimi K.  New York, NY  Jasmine G.  Maplewood, NJ  Natalie F.  Aberdeen, NJ  Jennifer S.  Bellport, NY  Nicole P.  Saddle Brook, NJ  Jessica M.  New York, NY  Ryann M.  Massapequa, NY  Jessica S.  Iselin, NJ  Samantha C.  Staten Island, NY  Justine D.  Northport, NY  Samantha L.  Norwalk, CT  Laura D.  Bloomfield, NJ  Tia T.  Jackson, NJ "Today I was looking for attractive and talented entertainers — they must be fun to watch!" Garvey said. "I call the Meadowlands our 'theater in the round' and they need to be able to entertain on that stage. The audience is huge at 80,000 fans and so their presence must, in turn, also be huge." Assisting Garvey in the selection process were Jets safety Kerry Rhodes, singer Lilian Garcia, entertainer Donnie Klang, SNY Jets reporter Steve Overmyer, CBS Sports reporter Sam Ryan, and E! film critic Ben Lyons Overmyer will file a Radar entry on his day of judging the Flight Crew that will be on newyorkjets.com Sunday morning. "I am looking forward to taking the Flight Crew to new heights in 2009," Garvey said, "and it seems like we truly are ready for takeoff in year three."

Jets Announce 2009 Cheerleading Squad

05/13 – Jets cheerleaders will be featured in the first-ever Flight Crew swimsuit calendar, the team announced today. The 16-month calendar will showcase 2009 Flight Crew members on beaches in New York and New Jersey and will be available at all Jets Shop outlets in August. Photos of all 30 members of the 2009 squad selected this past weekend can be found at newyorkjets.com. "I am very happy with the new squad," said Denise Garvey, in her third year as Flight Crew director. "It is important that the Flight Crew becomes a stronger cheerleading squad each year and we have done just that. The look of the team has developed into a glamorous group of young women." Fifteen of the 30 members selected by Garvey and a celebrity panel of judges were on last year's Flight Crew. Assisting Garvey in the selection process were Jets safety Kerry Rhodes, WWE Diva Lilian Garcia, Bad Boy recording artist Donnie Klang, SNY Jets reporter Steve Overmyer, CBS Sports reporter Sam Ryan, and E! film critic Ben Lyons. “I was impressed with the competitiveness and professionalism of all of the finalists,” said Jets safety Kerry Rhodes. “I believe we decided on a great team.” "We are looking forward to taking the Flight Crew to new heights in 2009," Garvey said, "The swimsuit calendar is just the beginning." Here are the 30 members of the 2009 New York Jets Flight Crew members (photos are on the Flight Crew home page at newyorkjets.com) divided into returning and first-year members and listed alphabetically by first name:  Returnees  Hometown  Rookies  Hometown  Anne-Marie A.  Smithtown, NY  Amanda C.  Dunellen, NJ  Danielle B.  Holbrook, NY  Amanda P.  New York, NY  Gina G.  Kings Park, NY  Ashley G.  Clifton, NJ  Jennifer S.  Bellport, NY  Christie A.  Fair Lawn, NJ  Jessica S.  Iselin, NJ  Danielle C.  Monroe, NJ  Justine D.  Northport, NY  Jacqueline N.  Clifton, NJ  Laura D.  Bloomfield, NJ  Jasmine G.  Maplewood, NJ  Laura V.  Wantagh, NY  Jessica M.  New York, NY  Lauren P.  Staten Island, NY  Lauren Z.  Ridgefield, CT  Linda W.  Massapequa, NY  Michele R.  Glendale, NY  Mandisa N.  Jersey City, NJ  Mimi K.  New York, NY  Meredith G.  Medford, NY  Nicole P.  Saddle Brook, NJ  Michelle L.  New York, NY  Samantha C.  Staten Island, NY  Natalie F.  Aberdeen, NJ  Samantha L.  Norwalk, CT  Ryann M.  Massapequa, NY  Tia T.  Jackson, NJ   About the Flight Crew: The New York Jets Flight Crew was created in 2007 to enhance the overall fan experience by infusing additional energy and enthusiasm into each home game. Members of the multi-talented, multipurpose entertainment team are dancers, athletes and active participants in the Jets community. Whether they are performing a choreographed dance routine or appearing at New York Jets charity events, every member of the New York Jets Flight Crew is committed to excellence and serving as role models for Jets fans across the globe.

Crew's Next Timely Project: Swimsuit Calendar