| Going to the Top with Your Team | |
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ALBANY, NY -So much work and preparation goes into cheerleading. Camps in 'off-season' practices during the week, pre-game preparations are all part of the scenario. Teams work hard on improving their techniques to perform at their optimum level. Often, we can almost lose sight of the fun involved. To cheer for a team that is enjoying a great deal of success and getting recognition is truly special. Relatively few players get to play in a Sweet 16 game, same with the cheerleaders, the few that get to follow their teams that far are fortunate.
Covering the NCAA Men's Eastern Regionals in Albany, NY afforded me the opportunity to meet with several members from each school, Auburn, Butler, Oklahoma and Syracuse, and get their reactions about being an integral part of March Madness.
Auburn University
Name - Mikael Gran
Hometown - Fayetteville, Georgia
Year - Junior
Cheering in the Sweet 16: "It is the most exciting. It's great haven't
gotten here and showed people (who questioned whether Auburn should have received
an NCAA bid)."
Name - Tamara
Hill
Hometown - Triusville, Alabama
Year - Junior
Cheering in the Sweet 16: "It's very exciting. It has been a while
since our basketball team was in the Sweet 16 and they gave a good effort."
Butler
University
Name - Adrienne
Wuertz
Hometown - Evansville, Ind.
Year - Sophomore
Cheering in the Sweet 16: "I cannot describe it. This is such a
big deal at school with us being here, it's just a lifetime opportunity."
Name - Amber
Albert
Hometown - Peru, Ind.
Year - Senior
Cheering in the Sweet 16: "This is very big. I'm a senior and am
close with a few members of the team. It would be great to see them win."
Oklahoma
University (Dance Team)
Name - Jennifer Bastin
Hometown - Plano, Texas
Year - Senior
Performing in the Sweet 16: "The last year is very special. This
experience I'll always remember and tell my kids. Not everyone gets to do it
(Cheer in Sweet 16)."
Name - Lindsey
Nashert
Hometown - Oklahoma City, Ok.
Year - Senior
Performing in the Sweet 16: 'It's extremely special. We were in the Sweet
16 last year and just to be part of a wonderful university and athletic department
is great."
Name - Amanda
Robison
Hometown - Tulsa, Ok.
Year - Junior
Performing in the Sweet 16: 'It's very exciting and it's an honor to
be with a great (basketball) team. It's been an exciting opportunity during
a very busy school year. And it has been fun getting to come to New York."
Oklahoma
(Cheerleading)
Name - Lauren Falkman
Hometown - Garland, Texas
Year - Senior
Cheering in the Sweet 16: "So awesome. Nothing like being in front
of a big crowd like this, it's awesome. The other side (opposition) is just
as tough, it (the game) can be nerve wracking."
Syracuse
University
Name - Ashley M. Streeter
Hometown - Syracuse, NY
Year - Sophomore
Cheering in the Sweet 16: 'This is my first time cheering in the NCAA.
I've been following Syracuse since I was little. After a rough football season
it is just an amazing feeling to be in the Sweet 16."
Name - Autumn
Miller
Hometown - Medina, Ohio
Year - Senior
Cheering in the Sweet 16: "I can't explain, I've waited four years
for this. My Freshman year we played Michigan State they had a number of fans
so you saw green throughout the crowd. We were up 17 but lost, it was so upsetting.
Now this is the total opposite." (Note : Autumn was interviewed at half-time
of the regional final as Syracuse was en route to a 63-47 win over Oklahoma).
About Ray Floriani: Ray Floriani has been writing college basketball for over twenty years. He is a columnist with Eastern Basketball magazine, Basketball Times and College Hoops Insider. In 1998 he was cited by the Gazelle Group for his work in covering the Coaches vs. Cancer events and was chosen 1999 NIT Media Man of the Year. Contact Ray Floriani.
