'DCC: Making the Team': Melissa Rycroft-Strickland Says It Would be "Cool" to See Daughter in a Unif

Melissa Rycroft-Strickland dished on what fans can be expecting to see from 'DCC: Making the Team' Season 16, and why the squad is "unmatched" in skill.

While many viewers were first presented to Melissa Rycroft-Strickland when she received Season Thirteen of The Bachelor or when she competed on two seasons of Dancing with the Stars, her first stint on reality TV was as certainly one of the hopefuls on Season 1 of Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team.

The Dallas native used to be a member on the squad from 2006 till 2008, and he or she's showing on Season Sixteen of the CMT truth collection as a mentor.

Melissa is joining longtime Director Kelli Finglass and Head Choreographer Judy Trammell, who had been additionally on the crew themselves. Though those involved are thrilled to be back on the field after spending the earlier season in a COVID-19 bubble, the stakes are even higher for finalizing the 36-member team.

The former Bachelor Pad host and mother of three spoke completely with Distractify about what fans can be expecting to see from the remainder of Season 16, why Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders are the "best of the best," and the way she would really feel if her daughter, Ava Grace Strickland, sought after to try out down the line.

Melissa Rycroft teased that there are "heartbreaking" cuts forward on Season 16 of 'Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team.'

While training camp isn't simple for the girls who're auditioning, and for those who are involved in making the cuts, Season Sixteen posed new demanding situations.

Because of the ongoing pandemic, dancers submitted audition tapes online. This supposed that there were many extra applicants to make a choice from to invite to training camp to fight it out for a spot on the 36-person squad. Once the 25 freshmen arrived at the AT&T Stadium, the cuts only got more difficult.

"You find yourself with less time, because it's a condensed training camp due to COVID. You have more girls to cut," Melissa stated about the challenges of running on Season 16. "It gets a little overwhelming, to be honest."

Melissa mentioned that making the ones tricky calls is "heartbreaking," because she recognizes that almost all of the hopefuls had been dancing for his or her complete lives. Some fight with the drive, whilst others are simply outperformed.

"There's no bigger stage than this. Cut deliberations are never easy ..." she added. "It's not something that is ever taken lightly. It's probably my absolute least favorite part of the whole thing."

Melissa famous that the finish result is a terrific ultimate staff. "It definitely is the most talented team we've ever had," she added.

The former DCC member dished on why even the veterans have to try out every year.

Another reason the skill is "unmatched" and why the workforce is held in such high esteem is because all the dancers are required to try out again each season.

Even fourth-year veterans must earn their place back on the crew, which Melissa believes is integral in making certain that everyone is at the most sensible of their sport.

"[The DCC] are the best of the best because everybody always has to continue to fight for their position ..." she said. "Every year, we see a few veterans who are not as strong as some of the incoming rookies, and they technically don't earn their spot back. It's a great way to keep everybody in shape year round, to keep them mentally motivated, and to keep everybody on an even playing field during tryouts."

As anyone who has been on the squad herself extra not too long ago, Melissa has a unique point of view as a mentor. She acknowledges how a lot the crew has evolved since her time as a result of the acclaim for the collection.

"The talent level is a million times higher than when I was cheering, because of the exposure that the show has brought," Melissa explained. "The talent that comes on this team is unmatched."

Would Melissa let her daughter try out for the DCC workforce?

The dancer stocks three youngsters along with her husband, Tye Strickland — and she or he's no longer adverse to seeing her 10-year-old daughter on the squad in the long term.

Melissa shared that her daughter, Ava, is already involved in dance, and that it would be "super cool" to see her dressed in the DCC uniform one day.

"I'll always be supportive of what she wants to do," Melissa shared, prior to adding that kids now have the benefit of observing the audition and tryout process on the show. "She's in a different space because she's growing up with it around her, and she has the show to watch ... She gets to see how hard it is. When I tried out, I had no clue what training camp was like."

If her daughter does make her means to the AT&T Stadium down the line, Melissa would possibly want to tackle a different function on the CMT series.

"Hopefully I'm not still judging then, because I'm not sure how that would even work," Melissa joked. "I individually suppose it would be tremendous cool to see her in the uniform in a few years.

Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team Season 16 airs on Fridays at Nine p.m. EST on CMT.

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