JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jaguars are celebrating the franchise’s 30th season, and this Sunday, the cheerleaders will be recognized. During the game against the New York Jets, the ROAR will be honored with a special performance featuring both current and former cheerleaders.
“We always say ‘the ROAR always wins’,” Jaguars cheerleader Anjelica Jones said. “So, it doesn’t matter how the Jags are doing on the field. It’s so much fun being a cheerleader because you’re proud after every game of the performance you put out on the field.”
The performance will be extra special for rookies like Jones and Kiya Domingo, who will be cheering alongside their mothers, Paige Jones and Mandy Domingo, both former members of the ROAR.
“I always knew that I wanted to dance after high school because dance is such a passion of mine,” Kiya Domingo said. “Definitely seeing all the pictures and all the stories that she’s told me made me convince me even more in wanting to do it.”
“It’s so cool,” Anjelica said. “I mean, I grew up looking at photos of my mom in uniform every single day. To be part of something that we get to share and experience unlike anything other is just so cool.”
Both families have deep roots in Jacksonville, where they grew up competitively dancing, just like their mothers.
Mandy cheered for the ROAR in 2001 and 2002. Her family’s passion for dance evolved into opening her own local dance studio, No Limits where Kiya is also a teacher.
“I’ve always encouraged [trying out for the ROAR], but I never wanted her to feel like she had to follow everything that I did as well,” Mandy said.
Paige cheered for the ROAR in the franchise’s first two seasons in 1995 and 1996.
“I mean, the city was insanely excited about having [the team] come,” Paige said. “Then to be a part of it, it was really cool.”
Jones also opened her own local dance studio, Scott Jones School of Dance, once her time cheering for the Jaguars ended. The school has produced 50 Jaguars cheerleaders.
Bother Mandy and Paige attend Jaguars games, but truth be told, they’re not watching the game on the field — they’re proudly watching their daughters cheering on the sideline.
“Looking at her on the field just reminds me so much of myself,” Mandy said. “We look very much alike and dance very similar, but she has a lot of strength and power in her dancing.”
Now, Kiya and Anjelica are getting to create the same memories that still bring joy to their mothers.
“It’s been crazy and just the most amazing times ever,” Kiya said. “I love coming to practices because we get to learn so many new things and I’m surrounded by so many amazing people that I can now consider like family like a second family to me.”
They’re living their childhood goal of being members of the ROAR.
“Life just led me in a place where I was able to be in law school and be on the ROAR,” Anjelica said. “I’m so thankful. It’s just funny how life works out. Not only how special it is to do those things, but it being an anniversary year and honor my mom 30 years later from the inaugural year and me being on it, so it is really so special how things work out.”