Eastport native turns professional cheerleader

Haley Schmich is an Eastport native and Eastport-South Manor 2017 alumna. Schmich attended Adelphi for undergrad then Hofstra to receive her master’s. 

She was a member of the dance team for two seasons for the professional lacrosse team at the Nassau Coliseum, the New York Riptide, and currently is in her first season in Foxborough as a cheerleader for the six-time Super Bowl champions, the New England Patriots.

Tide: Talk about working for the New England Patriots. Obviously, there’s been so much recent success the past two decades and there’s a demand for nothing but success. Talk about what it’s like to be a part of such a storied franchise with so many traditions and such.

Schmich: Yeah, of course. Working for the organization and under the Kraft group has been really incredible. It’s unlike anything I could have ever imagined. They really take the time to get to know everybody who’s working for them, and I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience so far. Like you said, it is so historic. Even the game we had where Tom Brady came back, we had a ‘Thank you Tom’ game. That was incredible! You feel the history around you when you you’re here in Gillette, and there’s really nothing like the Patriots organization and the fans, and being a cheerleader for the organization is just such a privilege because you are really the connection that the fans have to what’s happening on the field. You’re the one performing, and you get to look at them and you get to see their faces, and it’s just a one-of-a-kind experience. They really take great care of everyone. It’s almost more personal than I would expect, if that makes sense, because you never know what experience you’re going to have, but it’s truthfully been so amazing.

Tide: How do you like living in Boston? Obviously, there’s so much to do and see there.

Schmich: Yeah, it’s great. It’s a very lively area that I live in, which I love. I’m more in the South End of Boston, so I’m not too far into the city, which is nice because I do avoid a good amount of the traffic into Boston, but it’s great so far. I’ve done a lot of touristy type things. I’ve gone on a scenic cruise to see the skyline. I’m planning on going to Salem and do some things, typical Massachusetts touristy kind of things.

Tide: What would you say you’re most proud of from all you’ve accomplished thus far?

Schmich: I would say this whole experience has really challenged me to step outside of my comfort zone dance-wise. I think it’s really pushed me in the months that I’ve been on this team. I feel like every single practice I attend, I’m walking into the headspace that I want to leave better than when I came in, and I think it’s easy to get complacent and sort of plateau within your sport, especially if you do make it to the professional level. It’s easy for people to look at you and say, oh they made it! But our coach really instills in us that you have to come back better and bigger and dance harder, and I think everyone on the team really does embody that, and I’m just proud to be a part of that.