by Madison Rutherford | Photography by Angelina Aragon
Kyler Murray and Marvin Harrison Jr. might receive a lot of airtime, but they’re not the only athletes on the football field. The Arizona Cardinals Cheerleaders also undergo physically demanding training and gameday schedules – all while maintaining day jobs. Hope Vickery, a registered dietitian at Mayo Clinic, trades scrubs for a cheer uniform three times a week. “I see a lot during the day. Sometimes it’s not always the happiest stuff, but I get to come [to practice] and there’s 30 girls that love you,” she says. “It’s a nice way to destress.” Vickery leverages her expertise to ensure the team remains nourished and hydrated. “Being an athlete requires a lot of endurance, and you’re doing it all with your hair perfectly in place and smiling.” She let us browse through her custom Pillar Athletics duffel.
- Permanent markers are essential for quick autographs, Vickery says. Her uniform’s lack of pockets prompted her to get creative: “We have white, tall boots… There’s a perfect little place to put the Sharpie cap,” she says. “I always have a backup in my bag and one in my boot.”
- Tights are an integral part of her official uniform. “Your legs might not always be as tan as they need to be, and it just makes everything look so smooth,” Vickery says. She carries backup boxes of Peavey Hosiery’s high-gloss tights in case of a snag.
- Although the boots are an iconic symbol of the Cardinals Cheerleaders, Vickery admits, “they’re [not] necessarily built for comfort.” Pregame foot regimens include wearing tape to prevent blisters and compression socks for added support.
- These pristine, Cardinals-crimson pom-poms are reserved for games. “We have separate poms for practice where we can get them nice and grungy,” Vickery explains. She keeps them gameday-ready by hanging them from clamp hangers in her home closet.
- When it comes to keeping her crisp white uniform safe from grass, lipstick or dirt during games and appearances, Vickery swears by Shout Wipe & Go stain-removing cloths. “They work wonders, so I always have one in my bag.”
