Last Sunday Michigan earned an at-large bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Wolverines started this year 18-1 and have not missed an NCAA tourney since 2015. In addition to shining a light on the players who got the job done on the court, it is also important to recognize the spirited students who have worked just as hard on the sidelines, such as band members/cheerleaders/dancers. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Brendan Ryan/Pilar Burgess about being a captain and not being able to join the basketball team in Indianapolis this week.
What made you choose Michigan?
B: I lived about 1 hour away so Michigan was always this impossible dream while growing up. I was on my high school dance team and got recruited so I visited campus to see the dancers in the Big House. From that point on everything just fell into place perfectly.
P: I have a lot of family who have gone here in the past: my parents actually met here. It is in my blood and before I even came here I was a Wolverine. I was in the Summer Bridge Class of 2017 and they have a great alumni network here, as well as the best of both worlds with academics/athletics.
How long have you been dancing/cheering, and what is your favorite part of performing?
B: I got a late start compared to most of my teammates since I am a male dancer. I started around 8th grade but did not take it seriously until my junior year of high school. My favorite part is getting to represent the university while doing something I love. I am a dance major and am proud to wear the Block M.
P: I also had a late start after being a gymnast for 10 years. I was looking for something in college after doing dance for fun in high school. I tried out for the cheer team, trained for it, and things kind of fell into place. It was an opportunity that I could not give up and it felt really natural. I went to a small school back home and when you are at a big campus it is good to find a small family. It unites everyone so the community has kept me so involved while I learn everything as I go.
You are captain of your team: what is the key to being a good leader?
B: It has been such an honor to lead under unique circumstances. Everyone was dreaming of a perfect senior year, but it honestly means more to bring everyone together during a difficult year. We are practicing for our nationals but there is so much going on in the world so I try to make the room a better place, which in turns brings the team closer together.
P: Patience is really big, especially during the ups and downs of this whirlwind year. You need flexibility with both yourself and your teammates and you have to be empathetic during everyone’s trials/tribulations. During those hard times we have to make hard decisions and hold people accountable while reinforcing the family dynamic.
What is your major, and what is your post-graduation plan?
B: I am a dance major. Obviously the entertainment world is not booming right now but as the 1st male dancer to make the team here I am still pinching myself. I would like to make it a step further and perhaps become the 1st male Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader!
P: I am a business major and enjoy the intersection of tech/marketing. This year I will start a job in Minnesota with Ecolab.
What does your team do at basketball games during a normal year?
B: Our coaches work so hard to put together Excel spreadsheets of everyone’s schedule based on classes/exams: everything is figured out down to a science. We go to tourneys based on seniority but are so lucky: the fans do not realize how much cheering/dancing our teams actually do. We perform on the sideline during games and do routines on the court during timeouts/halftime. I cannot tell you how much we all miss it.
P: Basketball season is pretty crazy with going to the games while working on our nationals’ routines. We get the crowd involved but only travel with the team during the postseason based on who has been on the team the longest. We go to both the men’s and women’s games. The hardest part of this year has been not having those special moments.
What it like being part of a co-ed spirit squad?
B: My wildest dreams came true after coming here and having this amazing opportunity. I think about the younger boys who will see me as an example of representing the best university in the world. Not only young men but also minorities and women who are trying other sports: it gives me a great sense of purpose.
P: Cheer is half-and-half so being on a co-ed team is great. The men are so strong and we put all of our trust in them: the flyers and bases have a bond and everyone brings so much value to the team. I heard about Brendan before I even met him and have so much appreciation for his ability to change the narrative. He is unreal and everyone talks about him: it is cool that he has changed the perception of a college dance team.
How do you like basketball, and is that your favorite sport?
B: I cannot begin to explain the energy at Crisler Center and the sense of community, as well as at the Big House. It is so magical and there is nothing like it: it is an honor because 1 day we will get back to that when we return here as fans.
P: It is my favorite sport for sure. My dad was a football player here so he might not be as excited as I am, but a lot of my male/female friends are on the basketball teams and it is a really fun team sport. I appreciate both John Beilein/Juwan Howard and have only good things to say about both of them. Having gone through almost the entire 4 years I can understand why the alumni are so intense: the feeling is so infectious.
Last Sunday the Wolverines made the NCAA tourney as an at-large team: how excited was the student body to get its 1st NCAA tourney appearance under Coach Juwan Howard?
B: It means the absolute world that in a season like this we can still have this sense of community. The pride in our school is always there but things like this really bring us together: I cannot count all of the Instagram stories I have seen.
P: Everyone is really excited: even though we cannot all watch the games together there is still plenty of energy via social media. Juwan was part of the family from Day 1 and I think you can see how much the players enjoy him via the success they have had. It is really exciting and has been a successful year regardless of what happens the rest of the year.
Due to COVID your team has been unable to participate this season and you will not be traveling with the team to Indianapolis this week: how frustrating is it to be a performer for a great basketball team during a pandemic?
B: It is frustrating but we are still so proud of them and it makes our existing memories that much more special. It would have been fun to cheer them on in new spaces but we still have a good connection.
P: To see how well they are doing from home has been fun: I want to see something super-exciting and am really glad about it. I am proud of how the school has handled the entire experience and am glad that we still have nationals because they are important to our season. Even during COVID we continue on with our own season and do what we love to do.
You are playing Texas Southern on Saturday: any predictions?
B: We feel our dynamic is so special and I think it is the same for the basketball team to see all of their hard work pay off.
P: I always say Go Blue and will bleed blue until I die. The team is awesome and I have only good things to say about them.