Carolina TopCats Website
 
CHARLOTTE – UNC Pembroke's student-athletes continued to make their mark in professional sports on Thursday when Dasja Johnson, a former member of the UNCP Spirit Squad, earned a spot on the 2017-18 Carolina TopCats roster – the official cheerleading squad for the NFL's Carolina Panthers.
 
Johnson, a native of Harrells, earned the spirit squad member of the year award at the 4^th Annual Golden Braves on April 24. She has been a member of the squad for each of the past two athletic seasons. She earned her bachelor's degree in physical education from UNCP on Saturday.
 
Johnson was taken through a four-round qualifying process with the TopCats beginng on April 8. Tryouts began with nearly 100 prospects and were held inside Bank of America Stadium. The first two rounds consisted of TopCats-choreographed routines, while the third and fourth rounds were preceded by an interview phase.
 
Per the TopCats website, "The Carolina Panthers Cheerleaders - the TopCats - help cheer the Panthers to victory and entertain fans at every home game at Bank of America Stadium in addition to being visible throughout the Carolinas at corporate and charitable events.
 
"A group of 28 women, the TopCats represent all regions of the Carolinas and range in age from 21 to 40 years old. They hold careers in a variety of distinguished professions, including nursing, event planning, marketing and teaching. Auditions for the TopCats are a comprehensive and intense process. The final squad members are selected based on their personalities, showmanship, dance skills, professionalism and physical fitness."