Ashley
Veteran
Whether in a small group or in front of a crowd of thousands, a Raiderette must be able to stand out. She must be able to capture the attention of the audience and also be able to push herself outside of her comfort zone.
Fourth-year Raiderette Ashley, is the epitome of just that.
"For whatever event you need her for, she's ready and on point," said Jeanette Thompson, Director of the Raiderettes. "She really handles any situation with an even keel. I don't think there are too many situations that she couldn't handle."
Originally from San Diego, Ashley moved to the Bay Area in 2011 to pursue a career in interior design, and upon her arrival in Oakland, she auditioned and made the Raiderettes.
"I like to do artsy things, being an interior design major and doing that as my job," Ashley said. "I just bought some new dining chairs that I'm going to re-upholster myself. I'm really trying to just do things myself and just be resourceful."
Entering her fourth season as one of Football's Fabulous Females, Ashley was named a line captain in 2014, and she has shone in her new leadership role.
"It has been awesome to be someone that the girls look up to," she said. "I feel like every year I feel a little bit closer to everyone. I remember being a rookie and thinking, 'oh my gosh, how are these captains doing this? How are they thinking off the top of their head?' As the years go by, you're a little more confident and it becomes natural."
Although Ashley describes herself as quiet, her leadership position on the team has helped her to break out of her comfort zone.
"I've always been known as more of a quiet person," she said. "I feel like being a captain definitely helps me coming out of my shell, and just show who I really am and that I can have a leadership position as well."
In her spare time, the San Diego native enjoys hiking and running, and for the past three years she has participated in the Wharf to Wharf Race in Santa Cruz with her family and friends.
Although she grew up in Southern California, since moving north in 2011, Ashley has really embraced her new life and home in Oakland.
"It is so diverse," she said when talking about what she loves most about her new city. "I work in San Francisco which is fine, but I love living in Oakland, because you do have a little bit of the city life if you want to go downtown, but you also have the suburbs. It's pretty cool to live in the city that I'm representing."
There are other perks too, she says laughing, like the fact that the Raiderettes hold practice close to her home on Saturday.
"On Saturday mornings we practice five minutes away from where I live so that works out nice for 7:30 am practice."
Over the past four seasons Ashley has grown as a person, and her time cheering on the Silver and Black is something that she will forever cherish.
"Looking back on it, it's going to be special handful of years that I've done it and just a really awesome part of my life," she said. "It's definitely something I'm always going to hold near and dear to my heart."
