Last Saturday Villanova beat Houston 50-44 in the Elite 8 to advance to the Final 4 this Saturday in New Orleans. There were a lot of good Wildcats in this year’s NCAA tourney but only the 1 from Pennsylvania is still alive. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Villanova band members Jessica Hogan and Shekinah Yanes about being in the band and heading to Louisiana.
What made you choose Villanova? Jessica: It was a tough choice. I grew up in Jacksonville, FL, and was trying to figure out whether to stay close to home or go farther away. I wanted a school with a great sports program. I am also in the business school so that is a factor as well. Shekinah: I grew up in Havertown, PA, and wanted to stay close to home: Villanova is only 15 minutes away. They also have a diversity program called CASA (Center of Access, Success, & Achievement).
How did you 1st get into music, and what is the best part? J: I started music when playing the piano in kindergarten. My dad taught both me and my sister how to play the trumpet when we were young. Music has always been a part of my life and I always enjoyed it. I also did band camp at Villanova and loved it. S: My family is also very musical. I did violin/piano in kindergarten and then started doing flute around 4th grade. Everyone here is so nice and loves hanging out together.
What exactly does the band do during the season? J: We attend football/basketball games and play both before/after the game. We play our alma mater as well as a special song if we win. We also play during timeouts and bring energy to the game by yelling and having fun. A lot of our friends are in the band so it is a great way to make memories. S: We also play a lot of school-sponsored programs like the Special Olympics or fundraising events.
What are you majoring in, and what is the post-graduation plan? J: I am majoring in accounting and business analytics. From the time I got here I knew that I wanted to go into business: my dad is also an accountant and my sister went through an accounting program at a different school. Business analytics is a really great co-major, which sets me up for a lot of success. I did an internship earlier this year with 1 of the Big 4 accounting firms and am awaiting a job offer. I am really thrilled to be in this field and plan to do a 1-year Masters’ in accounting. S: I am majoring in biology. I have always been a science/math person and knew for a long time that I wanted to be a doctor. I had a great AP Biology class/professor in high school and will eventually be applying to med school.
You have helped out the band in multiple leadership positions: what sort of responsibilities have you had in these roles? J: As band manager we make sure the right instruments get from point A to point B. We drive the truck to events and help incorporate the freshman into the band so they know what to do…such as unload the instruments! As treasurer we write thank-you notes after receiving donations and keep track of our shirt sales. I make sure things are running smoothly and that everyone knows where/when to show up. S: As publicity chair we run all of the social media accounts and make sure we get out any announcements for any events we are playing at. As tour director we plan all the logistics for our big service-based trip to places such as schools/nursing homes.
Your band was supposed to play in the NCAA tourney 2 years ago before everything was canceled due to COVID: how frustrating has it been to be in a band for a great basketball team during a pandemic? J: I remember being in the band room with all of our luggage ready to get onto the bus when we got the call. It was pretty devastating and everyone was crying after having so much built-up anticipation due to hearing stories about traveling to NCAA tourneys in the past. Last year we got to be on campus and still had rehearsals and played at some game-watches, which gave us a sense of community that we had missed for so long. All of that pales compared to what is happening now: we have come so far. S: Everyone looks forward to traveling/supporting the team so it makes this current experience that much better.
You have made the Dean’s List multiple times in the past few years: how do you balance your work in the band with your work in the classroom? J: I plan my day out and allot time for work when I turn off my electronics, while having separate time for band or for catching up on things. I always stay organized and talk to my professors so they know what I am doing. You need to have a plan and stick to it: a lot of the professors are really understanding because they have traveled to NCAA tourney games themselves in the past. I work hard at school but also make sure to have a life outside of school: rock climbing, business societies, etc.
Your dad has spent many years as a pastor/missionary: how important is religion in your life? S: Faith is a really important part of my life on campus: I lead a Bible study group. Villanova has so many opportunities for people to explore their faith.
Last Saturday the Wildcats had a 6-PT win over Houston in the Elite 8: what was the reaction like when you got back to campus, and how excited is everyone to play Kansas? J: It was really exciting even before we got back to campus. We have to send out a tentative travel plan even before we play the game. We had a send-off for the team and it was jam-packed with a line of people around the corner. There is a lot of anticipation: Villanova knows what works because they have had success in the past. There are quite a few students who will come here to New Orleans and some professors have even canceled classes tomorrow! S: There was a game-watch at the student center with a DJ/food trucks and there will be another game-watch this weekend at our arena.
How does your school decide who gets to go to the Final 4, and does your group have anything extra-special planned for this weekend? J: The outgoing board plays a large role: it is their last major duty. It depends on attendance/seniority and there is a formula that assigns points to everyone. We have a student “pep director” who calls the songs, which is really special. It is a little heavier on brass than woodwinds but we try to take the whole band.
Any predictions? J: 1 game at a time. S: We have to stay loyal so Villanova all the way!