When Lana Vogler isn’t swinging pompoms and doing the splits on Gillette Stadium’s turf, she’s likely typing away on assignments in the back hallways of the arena. The fourth-year behavioral neuroscience and philosophy combined major is no stranger to the commuter rail journey from Ruggles to Foxborough since joining the New England Patriots cheer squad in her second year at Northeastern in 2024.

Originally from the Bay Area in California, Vogler grew up with immigrant parents who didn’t watch football in the house. Instead, she was introduced to the concept of NFL cheerleaders by her dance teachers, who inspired her to take the leap when she heard about the audition process.

“It’s hard because pro dance is very different from other types of dance,” Vogler said. “I grew up training, but you still have to learn a completely new style. So, I was kind of thankful that I had taken some classes in high school, that I had teachers who urged me to try out for a pro team.”

Now, Vogler will travel to her hometown to perform in the Super Bowl, a moment she’s sure will live with her forever. Before her trip to one of the biggest events in sports, she sat down with The Huntington News to discuss her journey to becoming a cheerleader, how she manages her time and what it’s like being a superhero in red, white and blue.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

HN: How did you initially try out for the Patriots cheer squad? Did you join other dance clubs at Northeastern?

Vogler: I was NU Bound, [so] I spent [my first year] in London. So I kind of took a break from dance for a year, trying to figure out what I wanted to do, what I was interested in, especially with all the electives I was taking. 

But then, when I came back to Boston, I really missed dance and realized that I wanted to keep doing it.

I knew NUDanco was fun, but I think I had even decided before joining NUDanco that I wanted to try out for the [Patriots cheerleading] team. So, that fall, my first fall in Boston, I was in NUDanco, and in mid-October, I started traveling to the stadium for their prep classes. You’re basically just taking class with a lot of other people who are interested in trying out, and you’re taught by members of the team. So you get to meet people who are on the team and ask questions, which is really fun. And so I would take the train there after class.

HN: Tell me more about that experience. What is the process like to become a NFL cheerleader?

Vogler: I literally had no idea where the Patriots were. I remember watching them in the Super Bowl and then I realized that they were near me. I had never been to the East Coast before coming here. But to get myself even more prepared [for the audition], I was doing online training. I was living in a sublet in Roxbury my first summer, and I was interning at Brigham [and] Women’s in a lab. When I wasn’t there, I would be learning dances and performing dances for myself in my room. I bought a pair of pompoms and was learning that.

When October hit, I would take the train from Ruggles to Foxborough, take class and then come back. And a lot of times, the train would come back so late, so I would have to make friends in classes who could drive me to a different train station or drop me off in Boston.

It was kind of fun. I met a lot of people. It was definitely a learning experience that was fun. 

HN: Are there other students on the team?

Vogler: I think there were like in those classes, especially since they start so early, you do get students who just want to be there and take class.

But I would say for the most part, people who are auditioning are in their last year of college. A lot of them are on their school dance teams, and so they’ll audition right after that. 

I am the youngest on the team, and I think I’m the only one who’s still an undergrad. 

HN: How do people in your life react when you tell them that in addition to being a full-time student, you’re also a cheerleader?

Vogler: It’s crazy because, personally, I’m just like, “Oh, this is the next step in my dance journey,” because I never really grew up watching football. Obviously, I’m a Patriots fan now, but no one in my immediate family watched football religiously or knew anything about the NFL cheerleaders.

One of my teammates, who’s our dance trainer, always said, “When you’re in uniform, in front of little kids and even fans, you’re like a superhero, and even in real life you have to carry that with you.” It just means so much to be a face and representative of this organization, especially on a community level. They do so much good in the community. And it’s one thing to just be a dancer, but it’s also so important and so fun and so meaningful to do more than that, not just locally, but also globally.

HN: Do you feel like the weight of that responsibility to be a superhero? 

Vogler: We have a junior clinic every summer where little kids come and we teach them a dance. We talk to them, and we’re in our uniforms and they think we’re the coolest people in the world. And that’s just awesome. It’s incredible to be an inspiration for those young girls, who look up to us, and that’s so fun that maybe one day they’ll be standing where we are right now.

HN: You don’t necessarily come from a big football background, but have you gotten into football now because of it? 

Vogler: For sure, I’m keeping up with every game. And my parents have actually become Patriots fans, even though we’re from the [San Francisco Bay Area]. We never watch the [San Francisco] Niners. I’ll be on FaceTime with them and my dad will be talking about how the players play. My whole extended family loves the Pats too. They’ve all got merch. 

HN: How do you manage your time? What does your typical week look like?

Vogler: I’d be lying if I said it was really easy.

It’s hard to find the time to dedicate to everything. Since I’m so busy, I have to manage every hour of my day, down to when I’m walking to my car to when I’m eating breakfast. Because if I don’t put it there, it’s likely not going to happen.

Any time I can do homework, if I’m in between classes and I have 30 minutes, or I’m at the cheer building early, I’ll pop open my laptop and write something. There’s never a dedicated study time — there’s always pockets of time where, instead of scrolling or hanging out with someone, I’m doing work. 

HN: What do you think is the hardest part of this double life? 

Vogler: I think the hardest part is not being able to be a full student and not have the student experience. I’ve never been to a frat party, I’ve never been to a house party — I don’t really have time to do that. And when I do have time, I end up needing to do homework. 

I don’t necessarily feel too involved on campus like a lot of my other friends at other universities or even at Northeastern, because I just don’t have time to commit myself to a club. But I do find myself being more of an introvert, so I prefer having that alone time or spending time with a few people I’m close with.

HN: What keeps you a cheerleader versus just dedicating to being a regular student? What makes it worth it?

Vogler: Being an NFL cheerleader is so cool. I never thought that I would be dancing at such a high caliber after high school, and to be a professional dancer, there’s not really more you can do. In the next week, we’re going to be dancing on the biggest stage in the world. That’s insane to think about. I love dance so much. I love the family I have with this team.

And the experiences I get to experience are so cool. Who else gets to say for their job that they get to go on a resort trip to Mexico to shoot their calendar? Or go and teach little kids in Brazil at a cheer camp? These are just such unique experiences that you don’t even get on a different cheer team.

HN: The Super Bowl is at Levi’s Stadium, the 49ers home turf. How does it feel to be going home with the Patriots?

Vogler: It’s so full circle that I get to travel back home with my team and dance on this field I grew up seeing and being around. I’m really excited for that. It’s so incredible. I’m just so grateful for everything.