BAILEY BASKS IN SUPER BOWL LX GLORY

By Patrick Lujan

Bailey Concepcion has joined an elite group of Chamorritas to win the Super Bowl after her Seattle Seahawks comfortably beat the New England Patriots over the weekend in Super Bowl LX in San Francisco.

Concepcion joins Pia Gillan (2014) as the 2nd Seahawks cheerleader to win the big game and the 2nd from Guam in as many years after Hanna Sahagon won last year with the Philadelphia Eagles.

“We were so, so, so, excited and couldn’t believe it. Some of us were crying,” Concepcion recalled as the clock hit 0:00. “I remember looking up to the confetti in the sky and seeing ‘Super Bowl Champions’ on the screen at Levi’s (Stadium) and getting emotional. I’m getting emotional right now because, when are you ever going to get a chance to be on the field for the freaking Super Bowl, especially as a cheerleader from the tiny island of Guam? Just realizing that I’ve never imagined experiencing this. We live on an island that the Super Bowl is something we see on TV, not something working for or being there or just watching (live).”

In her third season dancing with the Seahawks, Bailey was fortunate to enjoy the championship journey which included hosting two playoff games at Lumen Field for the first time since 2021.

POST NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

After the city of Seattle (and the state of Washington) stamped their place in the big game, it was time to get ready to make the 834-mile trek south to San Francisco.

The extra week to get ready did wonders.

“Being ready for anything and everything was the biggest part about the preparation. But we were lucky that we had that extra week to prepare. That gave us an extra week to learn our dances. We had no idea how game day would work at Levi’s (Stadium) as compared to Lumen (Stadium). Because the game is at the end of the season, it’s a little easier because we’ve done a whole set of games already. We didn’t know how it was going to go until about two days before the game, so that was pretty crazy in itself.”

NFL cheerleaders normally don’t travel with the team for away games. The Super Bowl, however, is a different story. The entire organization goes.

One of the cool things for Bailey and the Seahawks dancers was appearing on the Today Show in San Francisco just days before.

WHEN DID IT HIT?

‘Probably the day we left (Seattle to San Francisco). Leaving with 20 other people in our uniforms, that’s when it really hit me and most exciting. I was like, ‘Wow, I’m leaving here for a reason and seeing people at the airport recognize us was kind of crazy. I even ran into a lady from Guam who ran up to our team and asked, ‘who’s the girl from Guam?’ Turns out she’s from Santa Rita. I took a photo with her and a selfie because I know how much this means to our island. That being said, just seeing the outpour of love from people back home and all over the U.S. share their love and support for me, it really allowed me to take in the moment.”

GAME DAY

On a cool 67-degrees at kickoff in Santa Clara, the game itself was no different for Bailey in terms of the processes and execution. What was different was the environment – it’s the Super Bowl!!!!

“It was nice that game day felt the same, in a way. It was different in that I was trying to take it all in at the same time I was doing my job while working the Super Bowl. Just looking out into the crowd.”

Just like the players on the field, the cheerleaders had a near-flawless performance. The only hiccup was a pom pom malfunction in the 2nd quarter. Other than that, the night went as planned.

CELEBRATION

In the 4th quarter and the Seahawks comfortably ahead, the feeling of victory arrived earlier than a late-game nail-biter. But once the game ended, Bailey and the Seahawks finally released the emotions of the super victory.

“I made sure that I lived in that moment and did my best to remember every part of that experience. I got to take home some confetti, which ended up being a bunch of mini Lombardi trophies.

“We did after-parties for the Seahawks and they ended up being absolutely insane. Ludacris and T-Pain were the performers of the night. The entire weekend was filled with new experiences. Everything came and went so fast with our schedules being so busy. I haven’t processed everything yet because it’s come and gone so fast.

“Now looking back I’m just so so grateful and amazed by everything I’ve been able to experience.”

The Super Bowl celebration continued this week with the City Parade along downtown Seattle on Wednesday.

NOTE: Bailey was able to meet up with fellow Guamanian Hallie Wigsten, who works for the 49ers and Levi’s Stadium.

“It was like full circle. Here’s a girl also working the event from Guam. It was fun to share that moment with each other. There was someone from the stage crew that said ‘Hafa Adai‘ but I didn’t get his name. It was really cool to be surrounded by people from Guam at a crazy event like the Super Bowl.”