Conference tournaments are about basketball but also so much more: the fans, bands, cheerleaders, etc. The CAA Tournament is taking place in Washington, DC this weekend and we could not be more excited to be there in person! HoopsHD will be covering all of the angles so you can look forward to a cascade of coverage in the days ahead. Jon Teitel’s next interview subject is Towson cheerleader Cassidy Lapierre, who talked about winning a bronze medal and today’s game vs. Northeastern.
You grew up in New Jersey: what made you choose Towson? I had a high school coach who led me here and spoke very highly about the university.
You have been cheering for almost a decade: how did you 1st get into it, and what is the best part? I got into it when I was very little, then stopped for awhile before rejoining in high school. The best part has been bonding with my teammates.
What do you think the role of a college cheerleader is today, and how has it changed over time? Our role is to support all of the teams but also achieve our own goals during competition season. It has become more physical over time and requires more endurance now.
You won a bronze medal at the UCA College Nationals: where does that rank among the highlights of your career? It is probably the best thing that has happened to me: since it is at the college level it is a big accomplishment.
This summer you will be a UCA staff member: what are your responsibilities in such a role? I will have to teach kids of all years and keep them safe: it will be a great opportunity.
You are a sociology/anthropology major with a concentration in criminal justice: why did you pick those subjects, and what do you hope to do after graduating? I grew up watching movies/TV shows about serial killers. Once I saw that I could have a career stopping those kinds of people I wanted to pursue it, so I hope to join the FBI and become a criminal profiler.
What is the atmosphere like on campus this week now that the conference tournament is here (especially since the Tigers are the #1 seed)? We take precautions with COVID but still like to celebrate our team. Everyone on campus is so supportive and it is such a warm community.
How does your 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 all volunteer for games so it depends on our position. Being here is huge/exciting/a great honor.
Does your squad have anything extra-special planned for the CAA Tournament this weekend? Not specifically: just some stunts here and there.
Any predictions for today’s game vs. Northeastern? I predict that we will win since we already beat them in January…but we lost to them in February so I will not jinx it!