Carolina Panthers Cheerleaders Explained

The NFL Carolina Panthers Cheerleaders are known as the TopCats.^[1] They were founded in 1996 by Leslie Stephenson Matz,^{[2] [3]} they revealed their inaugural squad of 35 members, their original logo and their name on July 10, 1996 at Ericsson Stadium in Charlotte, NC.^[4] The original choreographer was Kimberly Pixton Horner, and the Cheer Assistant was Leigh Christi Smith.

The 1996–1997 TopCats Cheerleaders Inaugural Squad

• Tina Adamczak^[5]
• Tara Ballard
• Tammy Baqui
• Regina Beasley
• Anne-Marie Bozzacco
• Pam Burks
• Jewel Butler
• Amy Coleman
• Lenee' Cook
• Julie Cox
• Tracy Day
• Michele Dearing^[6]
• Tina Dietrich (Becker)^[7]
• Jennifer Ellis
• Denis Graham
• Felicia Grant^[8]
• Shelley Graves^[9]
• Stephanie Hilton
• Allison Hustad
• Lori Knox
• Ella Lee
• Melissa Morrison
• Regina Polk
• Nicole Price
• Janelle Rayford
• Julie Roberts
• Melanie Rogers
• Leigh Ann Spence
• Joetta Talford
• Vicki Tharrington
• Arinn Walters
• Ellen Watson
• Lisa Weekly
• Cyndi Wells

History

Over 400 women auditioned for the Carolina Panthers Cheerleading squad in 1996 at Winthrop Coliseum in Rock Hill, SC. The after the initial cuts, the final 64 auditioned on April 2, 1996 in Charlotte, NC at the Carillon Tower in Charlotte, NC, the site of the original administrative offices of the Carolina Panthers football team.^[10]

1996–1997 Calendar

The Carolina Panthers wanted their first year's calendar to be rated "PG," according to Director of Special Events & Cheerleading, Leslie Matz. They chose to showcase the cheerleaders in the stadium in their uniforms, in suits and without any bathing suits. Tina Adamczak, a former Buffalo Bills cheerleader, graced the cover of the calendar wearing the team's uniform, while sitting in the center of the practice field.

Notes and References

1. Web site: TopCats Cheerleaders Home . September 26, 2024 . www.panthers.com . en-US.
2. News: April 3, 1996 . TopCats Finals: Cheering the easy part: Pop-quiz puts Panthers candidates on the spot . September 26, 2024 . The Charlotte Observer . 25.
3. News: April 3, 1996 . Panthers squad will begin practice tonight Leslie Matz . September 26, 2024 . The Charlotte Observer . 32.
4. Web site: This Day in Panthers History . September 26, 2024 . www.panthers.com . en-US.
5. News: September 11, 1996 . TopCats Calendar Strictly PG Rated . September 26, 2024 . The Charlotte Observer . 20.
6. News: December 3, 1996 . 3 Cheers for "Topcat' from Durham: Michele Dearing . September 26, 2024 . The Herald-Sun . 24.
7. News: January 14, 2018 . Tina Becker: From Top Cats to running the Carolina Panthers . September 28, 2024 . The Charlotte Observer . A21.
8. News: July 11, 1996 . Winthrop Alumni Felicia Grant & Joetta Talford Make The Carolina Panthers TopCats Squad . September 26, 2024 . The Herald . 13.
9. News: August 4, 1996 . Skybox fans eat, drink and stay nice and cool TopCat Shelly Graves mingles in Suites . September 26, 2024 . The Charlotte Observer . 13.
10. News: April 2, 1996 . Panthers Notebook: Leslie Matz feels confident the club will field an outstanding cheerleading squad . September 26, 2024 . The Charlotte Observer . 15.