Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader Ava Lahey Shares How She's Juggling Wedding Planning with Demands of Training Camp (Exclusive)
Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader Ava Lahey Shares How She's Juggling Wedding Planning with Demands of Training Camp (Exclusive)
Tabitha ParentThu, June 25, 2026 at 2:18 PM UTC
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Ava Lahey.Credit: Ava Lahey/Instagram -
Ava Lahey is a third-year Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader, which comes with new levels of responsibility as a leader for the team
As the hit Netflix docuseries America's Sweethearts has shown, the women of the cheer squad lead a variety of different lives during their time outside the team – balancing full-time jobs, relationships and now, social media demands with their squad duties
Lahey is also gearing up for a 2027 wedding, adding another layer of things to balance, as the DCC returns once more to participate in training camp
As it has in the past, the release of season 3 of America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaderscoincided with the start of training camp for returning members of the team and rookies trying out for the squad.And, for third-year veteran Ava Lahey, this year's training camp arrived in direct crossover with her wedding planning. The cheerleader has become a beloved member of the cast of America's Sweethearts, making a splash during her rookie year when she became the only woman on the team to wear her hair straight on the field — a departure from the signature blowouts that the women of the team are known for.She admits that she is a pretty "type B bride" when it comes to planning and that she should probably be "more in the thick of it" when it comes to prepping for her nuptials.
Ava Lahey and Tyger Vaniter.Credit: Ava Lahey/Instagram
"It's a lot to balance for sure," she says, but she wouldn't be a DCC if it weren't for her incredible time management skills."Anyone who makes this team wouldn't make it if they weren't so good at time management and stuff like that," she explains. "That is one of the number one qualities you have to have to be on this team, is time management."She adds that it probably helps that she's "not too particular" about most things."Having teammates that have already been married and have recently gotten married, so I can ask anyone for advice or help on how they navigated this all, too," has been a huge help, she says.
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One of the perks of being a DCC is that the sisterhood of the team is for life, which includes some specific wedding-related traditions. A common choice for DCC brides is to join together with fellow DCC attendees and perform the team's iconic "Thunderstruck" dance.Lahey says this tradition will "absolutely" make its way into her own wedding to MMA fighter Tyger Vaniter.She's also reflecting on how she plans to stay in touch with the host of veterans who graduated from the team this year."It's definitely a hard transition," she says. "Not that I've done it, but just seeing my friends go through that. So, it is being intentional about still seeing them, hanging out with them, being there for them. Some girls do choose to be All Stars, so we will see them around still in uniform." She also says that the girls make time for coffee dates with each other and some even attend Bible study together."They understand that, because they were in it, [that's] how busy and chaotic this life can be," she adds. "So, just being understanding of each other's too and each other's schedule is number one priority as well."
Ava Lahey and Tyger Vaniter.Credit: Ava Lahey/Instagram
As she heads into wedding preparation, she's also gearing up to take on "more responsibility" as it relates to her new role as an upper-year veteran of the team. Lahey tells PEOPLE that she first decided she wanted to be a professional dancer when she was about ten years old, though she started competing competitively at the age of two."I remember in high school, I thought I wasn't going to go to college. I was immediately going to try and go be a professional dancer," she shares. "And I did end up going to college and dancing there. But DCC in general, I really fell in love with in high school."After getting to high school, the dancer fell in love with the "team environment" of her school's squad, as well as the pom style of dance."My mom was watching Making the Team. So, I would watch that with her," she says, reflecting on the precursor show to America's Sweethearts that followed the lives of rookies as they tried out for the elite NFL team."I never thought of any other team besides the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders," she adds. Now, going into her third year, Lahey feels more confident in her abilities than ever before. However, she certainly isn't taking anything for granted."Second year, you're coasting by, feeling a little bit more comfortable," she says. "And now, in my third year, I'm just really ready to pour into everyone else on my team, to start leading in a way that I feel comfortable and can. And helping everyone else out, especially the new rookies coming in, is what I really, really love to hone in on."She's ready to continue to "pour into" her other teammates as she continues to grow into her role on the team."We're never too comfortable, never safe — I'm still working hard for my spot," she adds.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
