The NCAA tournament is about basketball but also so much more: the fans, bands, cheerleaders, etc. The East Regional is taking place in Washington, DC this weekend and we could not be more excited to be there in person! HoopsHD is all over it and covering all of the angles so you can look forward to a cascade of coverage in the days ahead. Jon Teitel continues our coverage by chatting with Duke cheerleading social media coordinator Taylor Lipsich about the Duke-UNC rivalry and her prediction for Friday night.
What is the atmosphere like at Duke this week now that you are in the Sweet 16? The atmosphere surrounding Duke basketball is always incredible. Our students have the most amazing energy and commitment to our team, especially during March Madness. Currently everyone is really excited about the Sweet 16 and groups on campus are planning watch parties for the game on Friday night. I was even told that there was a lot of screaming in the library last Sunday night for the UCF game!
How did you get into cheerleading, and what is the best part? I have been cheering competitively since I was in kindergarten and continued to cheer until my senior year of high school. One of my favorite parts of being a cheerleader is meeting all of our incredible fans and taking pictures with young boys and girls who want to be a college cheerleader someday. It reminds me of what I was like in elementary school and my excitement when I met a college cheerleader.
What do you think the role of a college cheerleader is today, and how has it changed over time? I think that the role of a college cheerleader is to represent the school and be a role model for young athletes. I think that with today’s emphasis on social media it is important to be a role model at all times whether you are in uniform or not.
Will we see your group doing anything extra-special for the NCAA tourney this weekend? Our team is really excited about going to DC for the Sweet 16. There has been talk about visiting some museums, memorials, and government buildings. I know we have a lot of cheerleaders excited about Georgetown Cupcakes.
How does the school decide who gets to go to DC, and what does it mean to you to see your group doing their thing in front of a national TV audience? We have two cheerleading teams: a blue squad and a white squad: The blue squad is made up of 12 girls who travel for both football and men’s basketball. We work really hard and are always excited to be a part of the Duke athletics experience.
What has been your favorite moment so far this season: sweeping Virginia, beating UNC in the ACC tourney, Senior Night, other? My favorite moment this season was beating UNC at the ACC tournament. I know that the fans at home were excited about that moment too. The rivalry is so intense that we could not let them win another game and I am so glad I was there for that win. It was an exciting victory to bring home!
How do you explain the Duke-UNC rivalry to someone who has never seen it in person, and will the schools just shut down for the day if they end up meeting in the title game on 4/8? The Duke-UNC rivalry is the biggest rivalry in all of sports. We compete with UNC at everything, especially basketball. Our biggest tradition is that after we beat UNC, students gather around West Campus and burn one of the dorm’s benches. If we meet up in the Final on 4/8 I cannot imagine what the state of North Carolina or both college campuses would look like.
Any predictions for Friday night? I think that I can speak for the rest of my team when I say that we will always be in support of Duke and we are expecting a win! Either way we will always be supporting our team!