Tessa Christine

9 - Semifinalist

(9.1) - Not invited to finals

* She is from Indiana. She’s currently living with Jessica Marie, who is, right now, on her second year of becoming a DCC veteran. They’re looking at a new apartment today because they wanted to have a new environment to live in and be closer to some of the other girls and just have a whole new experience. [*She is shown picking rooms with Jessica*] Tessa says how Jessica is going to help her. [*They practice sexy hips together*] It’s finally starting to sink in that she’s in training camp for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, something that is such a dream of hers. Training camp is such a full-time commitment that she’s going to have to adjust her life and schedule. This is something I wants to give her all to, and doesn’t want to do anything wrong.

## **Confessionals**

Total: 31

Season 8: 22 (T3rd most)

Season 9: 9 (T14th most)

### **Season 8**

**(8.1)**

* We were sitting in the stands, and it was so exciting I could feel my heart pounding out of my chest.
* That was such an amazing experience to go to the Super Bowl. The Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader is just the best in the league. [*Photos of her posing with current DCC’s are shown*] I was really good friends with some of the girls that did make the team, and I just want to be a part of that.
* [With Jessica Marie] They just brought the board out with all of the numbers, and my number was on the board!
* I love the feeling of walking out onto the field because you’re like, “Oh, my gosh, I’m like a DCC right now.”
* [Learning semifinals routine] It was a very fun combination and then they turn on the music, and it was super-duper fast. So, if you get off-beat, it’s kind of hard to get back on.
* Kickline, I think, is hard. I’ve never been on a drill team. I’ve never really done kicklines a lot in my life. It’s scary.
* I tried to make really good eye contact with Kelli and Charlotte and Judy, just because they’re right there in the middle and staring at you.
* I’m very upset with myself. I didn’t do my best in the dance. I’m hoping that they saw potential.
* [Waiting for semifinals results] Everybody here was this position on the team so badly, and you’re putting everything into it, physically and emotionally.

**(8.2)**

* We are all in agony, just waiting to find out what our future is.

**(8.3)**

* Walking into the training camp meeting for the first time is very intimidating. I feel like my heart is just pounding out of my chest.
* At the beginning, I started off having a few issues with kicks and getting called out on that. When they started teaching the choreography, I just wanted to kill it, so that there wasn’t any other things they could call me out on.
* Biography

**(8.4)**

* This is the second week of training camp. I don’t know why, but I am just extra nervous walking in today. We’ve kind of had this first week to settle in and learn stuff. And now you know that they’re really going to be judging us and making cuts soon.
* The thing about training camp is that you never know what’s going to happen.
* [After office] Kelli and Judy were definitely very frank about the situation and what needed to happen. I feel pretty optimistic that I can work through my injury. If I can just get my kicks where they need to be, I can be what they want.
* I’m here at Valley Ranch today for my uniform fitting. And we’ll get to talk with Kelli and have a little one-on-one, and I’m not going to lie. I’m nervous.
* There is definitely not a lot of material here, so I don’t know that my dad would be very happy, but…
* I definitely don’t want to take this off. I want this to stay on me for the rest of my life. I think maybe I could just sneak out the door with it and nobody’ll ever notice. Hopefully.
* Tonight is actually the last night of the second week of training camp, and I’m sure we’re going to be performing for Judy and Kelli tonight because we’ve learned a lot of choreography this week and I’m sure they’re expecting to see a lot of us tonight.

**(8.5)**

* The other night, when I went to do the very last dance, my knee just buckled out from under me. So, I literally got a call on the way here from the Cowboys’ doctor. I have to go inside and let Judy and Kelli know the news and see what they have to say.
* [Forced to leave training camp to due injury] It definitely stinks just having to leave, but this is the most confidence I’ve had, I think, this whole process, just hearing from them that they do want me to come back next year. So, I just have to be confident that it’s all going to work out next year.

### **Season 9**

**(9.1)**

* There are just curling irons everywhere, there’s make-up, there’s tension. You can feel the tension and I feel like I could just pee my pants right now.
* They’re yelling for us to come. I have to go.
* Last year, I made it into training camp. [*Flashback*] I was doing a routine in front of Judy and Kelli. Unfortunately, I tore my ACL. Had to go through surgery and recovery, and now I’m back. I came back because I was so close last year and I want to prove that I’m ready to be on the team this year.
* It’s so exciting to see your number on the board and know that you at least impressed them enough to make it through today.
* Feels really good to be kicking on the field. I’ve obviously had a lot of nerves about it because it’s something that I personally struggle with.
* I’m looking forward to dancing in front of all the judges, especially Kelli and Judy, and just showing them that I am here to shine and just not let my nerves get to me.
* [Three names left] They’ve chosen me for training camp once, so I feel like I have a lot invested in this so far. I mean, I’ve literally given blood, sweat, tears, and ligaments.
* [Not invited to finals] I was hoping that I would at least get through to finals to get another week, but everything happens for a reason. It’s heartbreaking right now but I still believe it.
* I thought if I didn’t make it, I’d probably be done. It’s probably a sign, but we’ll see.

## **Commentary**

### **Season 8**

**(8.1)**

* I know she’s going to do awesome. – Jessica Marie
* [Preliminaries judging] Oh, she’s cute./ Very cute. Check, check on her technique./ She was an average dancer. – J/ Yeah. Yeah. – Charlotte
* She’s got great showmanship. – K
* [Semifinals deliberation] She was really fun to watch./ Her kicks were worse than bad./ She’s not going to learn to kick in two weeks. – K

**(8.2)**

* [Pre-finals session] Okay, way back. Come on, work… thank you. My God, where was that? You’ve got one shot; do you realize that? – Kitty Carter
* Some Beyoncé moves in there.

**(8.3)**

* Low. Tessa’s low. – K
* Tessa, work really hard on pointing your toes the whole way. Brush from the floor with a pointed foot. – J
* Tessa’s going to start having to show us strength in kick. She has a nice dance style, and she’s pretty to look at. But she’s got to show us that she can kick at our level. – K
* Tessa, you really need to work with Emma and Amelia on your flexibility. You’re rolling up on your toes so much trying to get it higher. – J
* I like Tessa’s look… that was pretty. – K

**(8.4)**

* [Kickline] Tessa’s are bad. – J/ Yeah, they are. – K
* Your left is lower. – J
* Tessa is not as flexible as the other candidates. It’s just not going well for her in the kickline. – J
* I think you have a fun style. You’re not convincing me that you can do a whole game’s worth of our routines, but you have a fun style. – K
* Paige and Tessa are picking up the Jordan [Johnson] style nicely. – K
* I’d rather watch Tessa than Abby. – K [*Tessa blows out her knee immediately afterwards*]
* We were doing our routine, and Tessa went down hard on her knee. You could tell she was really trying to do what we’ve asked her to do, which was bring more power, more power, and she did two moves that were in a really low plié, and then she did a pivot, and she did that, and she just hit the floor. I didn’t see that one coming.
* We’ve already called the doctor. We’ll see what damage she’s done. – K/ Knee injuries are very serious. Kind of praying for the best./ I hope it’s not a long-term injury.
* Our thoughts are with Tessa, and we’ve decided to end rehearsal. – K

**(8.5)**

* [Confessional during office visit about injury] It’s the worst news we could have. There is no chance that Tessa can dance this season. – K

### **Season 9**

**(9.1)**

* [Preliminaries judging] With us in training camp last year. Made it through, and then got injury. – K/ I gave her a yes for today. – J/ I did, too./ I’m afraid with her history of injuries, we may just be asking too much. – K
* I’m a fan of Tessa’s. We lost her in training camp last year to injury. And my concern is her kicks and her flexibility. – K
* Tessa’s kicks are not any better… I know, bad. – K
* [Semifinals judging] I want to like her. She didn’t have either of her splits and her kicks. – Melissa Rycroft/ She’s got a real flexibility problem, and she’s this sweet, adorable girl. – K/ She was the only one that had check marks under appearance and figure in that group.

## **Office Visits**

### **Season 8**

**(8.4)**

* [Mid episode, second of three] Kelli tells her that what they saw out on the field tonight was that her kicks are concerning. She seems very low in her left and tight. A big percentage of what they do is kickline, and that also ends with the split, so that’s a performance requirement. Kelli asks about her flexibility, and Tessa says she pulled her groin last year. They had a guest choreographer come for her last game with the Colts, and she had them do a kickline (which they normally don’t do), and she was injured then. Judy asks if she felt more flexible before she was injured. Tessa says before that, she was able to do splits and more. She says she’s working really hard, and there’s only so much you can do without hurting yourself. But she thinks it’s finally starting to heal. Kelli says they don’t have much time, but they’re willing to give a little as long they’re on the same page and she understands the expectations. [*Tessa leaves*] Kelli says she’s beautiful. Judy says she’s tired of the pretty girl that can’t kick, and asks if she’s going to be able to. Kelli isn’t sure, and says the injury is news to her.

**(8.5)**

* [Early episode before practice, update on injury] Tessa limps into the office, and Kelli remarks that she’s walking today. Tessa, on the verge of tears, tells them that she tore her ACL and meniscus. [*Tessa cries*] Kelli asks if that means surgery, and Tessa nods yes. Judy asks for the recovery, and Tessa says at least four months. She notes she asked if they were sure it couldn’t be any sooner. Kelli says she won’t sugarcoat it: it sucks and she’s sorry for her. She thinks Tessa was giving it a good run in training camp. Tessa thanks them and says at least she knows it isn’t that she shouldn’t come back. Kelli says if they were going to tell her that, they would just tell her that now.

## **End of Journey**

### **Season 7**

**(7.2)**

* Makes it to finals but is not invited to training camp

### **Season 8**

**(8.5)**

* Forced to leave training camp due to injury during week 3 (3rd of 8 to leave training camp, 44 left afterwards)

### **Season 9**

**(9.1)**

* Makes it to semifinals but is not invited to finals

## **Other**

### **Season 8**

**(8.1)**

* She’s dropped off to preliminaries by her roommate, Jessica Marie
* Introduces herself to the judges at preliminaries: she moved to Dallas last year after cheering for the Indianapolis Colts for five years
* Shown being invited to finals

**(8.2)**

* At panel interviews, she’s asked her favorite Cowboys: She answers Tony Romo
* She is introduced by name for her solo at finals
* Shown being invited to training camp

**(8.3)**

* Has a biography/slice of life hybrid segment of looking at an apartment with Jessica Marie, and then practicing together

**(8.4)**

* She badly injures her knee during the last rehearsal of week 2 of training camp, and sobs on the floor in the immediate aftermath (this is followed by one of the rare times the show does a hard cut to commercials)

**(8.5)**

* She reveals during her office visit that she tore her ACL and meniscus last episode, requiring an extensive recovery period
* Despite being cut before practice started, she sticks around outside until office visits end, and after Emily’s cut, Tessa tells her she’ll see her next year. Emily asks if she’s coming back too (Tessa confirms), and the two high five, saying “next year.”

### **Season 9**

**(9.1)**

* She’s shown introducing herself to the judges at preliminaries (with her first and middle name): she’s 27-years-old
* Kelli mentions being excited to see some of the girls back from training camp last year, and then there’s a segment on Ashley, Vivian, and Tessa
* While waiting for semifinals results, someone asks how she thought her dance went. She says she felt it was okay, probably not her best, but do-able.

### **Season 13**

**(13.7)**

* The show flashes back to her injuring herself and then crying on the floor as Melissa Rycroft introduces the injury prevention workshop.

## Misc.

* Former Indianapolis Colts Cheerleader
* Former Allen Americans Ice Angel