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“Go Redblacks go!”

To that deafening mantra, more than 100 young women — and a few young men — were put through their paces over the weekend during the Ottawa Redblacks cheerleading and dance auditions at the Delta Ottawa City Centre.

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The hopefuls flashed wide smiles, excited to show off their stunting, cheering and tumbling skills as they vied to be among the 50 chosen for the squad.

“I woke up super early ’cause I was super excited,” said Monika Tremblay, adding that she’s been waiting a whole year to audition.

Tremblay, a second-year neuroscience student at Carleton University, said being a part of Carleton’s cheer team has helped her prepare for the audition.

“I really, really wanted to be on a CFL team so bad, so I felt like taking the year just to prepare with a bit of a smaller team, but doing the same kind of stuff, would give me more experience to try something at this level.”

Lisa Aucoin, director of the Ottawa Redblacks cheerleading and dance program, said she is looking for personality more than anything.