By: Merran Decker

Like many people over Thanksgiving break this year, I visited my hometown to catch up with family, enjoy some much-needed rest and enjoy delicious home-cooked meals. However, my hometown, Frisco, Texas, is not only THE destination for smoking fajita platters but also the home of the Dallas Cowboys World Headquarters, more affectionately known as “The Star” by locals.

Before coming to High Point University, I grew up seeing how Frisco had dramatically transformed within
the past 20 years, specifically from sprawling flat grasslands and swaths of real estate to a thriving hub for professional and elite competitive sports.

To put it simply, I love visiting home for the holidays. There’s always something happening around town, whether it’s a spontaneous fireworks show, football at the Toyota Center, or even elaborate holiday parades on Main hosted by the city’s mayor.

The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, more commonly known as the “DCC,” have also found a home in Frisco due to the construction of The Star back in 2016. Yet, the annual Cowboys Christmas Extravaganza starring the DCC was a holiday tradition I had yet to experience in my hometown.

So I made it my mission to finally see it for myself.

My family and I arrived at The Star around 4 p.m. on a frigid November evening. The crisp winter sun had just begun to dip over the metallic dome of the arena facing the practice field and stage. The annual Cowboys Christmas Extravaganza was free to the public, and anyone was welcome to watch.

Still, there was one catch: the inevitable never-ending sea of people vying for the perfect spot to enjoy the show.

I held down the fort, hands shivering in my coat pockets as I quickly took my place by the security-guarded barricade two hours before the event. I was surrounded by cinematographers, security, and jumbotron operators, anxiously anticipating the show ahead.

However, experiencing the extravaganza front row was well worth the wait. The iconic field entrance lines of the Cowboys Cheerleaders quickly followed runners carrying flaming torches atop sequin-studded cowboy flags. My spot behind the barricade was mere feet away from the stars of Netflix’s “Americas Sweethearts”, including but not limited to Reece, Anna Kate, Charly, and Kleine. Simply put, I was star-struck.

My jaw was on the ground at several points in the show, and for good reason. I had seen the DCC live many times in person at Cowboys games in Arlington, but never this close, let alone the stars of the hit Netflix show I had on repeat this past summer.

As a result of growing up in north Texas, I have always appreciated the hard work and unrivaled artistry in pom, kick, and precision dance that the Cowboys Cheerleaders have become so synonymous with. When I was around 5 years old, I even took dance classes for fun with a retired DCC named Anna. So, even though I’m not a dancer, this team has a sentimental place in my heart.

And in case you were wondering, YES. The DCC are even more beautiful in person.

These women genuinely shine from the inside out, especially Reece, whose joy and spunk are beyond contagious! I couldn’t believe the new videos I had captured on my phone as I boarded the plane back to campus from Texas.

What I wasn’t expecting, however, were the notifications as my plane landed.

I quickly learned that Netflix’s “America’s Sweethearts” was in production for their second season, and I had unknowingly just attended a filming session for the big screen.

In conclusion, the passion, precision, and work ethic that the DCC women have for their craft is nothing short of inspiring.

My recommendation: if you’re planning on visiting North Texas in the future, be sure to add Frisco to your list. It’s not a town you’ll want to miss.