Conference tournaments are about basketball but also so much more: the fans, bands, cheerleaders, etc. The CAA Tournament is taking place this weekend in Washington, DC, and we could not be more excited to be there in person! HoopsHD will be covering all of the action so you can look forward to a cascade of coverage in the days ahead. Jon Teitel starts things off with Towson cheerleader Alex Simpler, who talked about being a captain and her prediction for the Tigers.
You grew up in Maryland: what made you choose Towson? Being from Maryland, Towson was my back-up option. However, once I toured the campus and looked more into their nursing program I knew that it was the right school for me. Being so close to home, I also knew of a lot of people that went here, which made the transition fairly easy. Towson also gave me the luxury of having the independence of a college freshman without ever feeling homesick; if I ever wanted to see my family it was a quick drive home. I came to Towson solely for academics but realized very quickly that I missed the competitive atmosphere cheer gave me. I decided to try out for the team my sophomore year, which just confirmed that I had made the right choice.
You have been a cheerleader for most of your life: how did you 1st get into it, and what is the best part? I started cheerleading after my parents let me watch the movie Bring It On, but I would have never expected a movie to bring me where I am today. My parents did not know much about cheer and skipped the sideline aspect of it by putting me right into Allstar. The moment I stepped on the blue 9-panel mat I knew that it was home. I had a natural passion for this sport that never went away. Over the years I have completely submerged myself into what it means to be a cheerleader and have loved watching the industry grow and become more recognized. My favorite part about cheer is the connections you make with your teammates. It is a bond like nothing else I have ever experienced. You see your teammates at their lowest and their highest. To be able to accomplish all of your goals after you all worked so hard together is one of the best feelings.
What do you think the role of a college cheerleader is today, and how has it changed over time? The role of a college cheerleader has changed in so many ways. It is not just waving around pom-poms and screaming a corny cheer for the football team. The scope of college cheerleading requires much more work. At Towson, we cheer at every home football game and some select away games, all men’s and women’s home basketball games and CAA championship, the volleyball CAA championship, and all home gymnastics meets. We also do a lot of community events to promote the school like our uptown rally, prostate walk, autism walk, and spring festival. We also make appearances throughout the year at events like the president’s dinner, when they introduce the new football coach, or just working with other cheer gyms in our area. To be a college cheerleader you have to be completely dedicated and make a lot of sacrifices to stay on top of everything. It is not waving poms-poms anymore: it is routines, crowd interaction, and non-stop jumping around to keep everyone engaged for the duration of the game.
You are captain of the team: what is the key to being a good leader? Something that I have found that makes a good leader is the ability to separate friends from teammates. You create a bunch of friendships, especially when you are on the team with most of these people for a couple of years. It can be hard at times when someone you are close with outside of practice is slacking. You do not want them to think you are calling them out to be rude, but as a leader you have to know that it is not personal and your true friends will understand that it is just for the betterment of the team.
You are a nursing major: why did you choose that subject? I knew from a young age that I wanted to be a nurse. My mom is a nurse and she always told stories about what happened at work that day which always fascinated me. I have a younger sister as well so I have always had a caring heart. I just want to look out for others and make sure they are the best version of themselves.
You are graduating in a couple of months: what is the post-college plan? After I graduate in May I will officially become Towson Cheer’s biggest fan! I did not cheer during my freshman year so most of my rookie class (who are some of my best friends) are going to be seniors next year. I will definitely be visiting throughout next year to support them in their final year as Towson Cheerleaders. As for academics, I plan to move back home to continue studying and take the NCLEX (nursing licensure exam) to transition into a new grad nursing position. The goal is to go back to school after working to become a nurse anesthetist.
Your basketball team only won 4 games in 2021 but has now had back-to-back 20-win seasons: what is the atmosphere like on campus now that the conference tournament is finally here? The students have been great at the games this year, which makes it so much more fun to cheer at! Having SECU Arena filled for almost every home game has created such an electric atmosphere, making the arrival of the championship something to look forward to!
How does your school decide who gets to go to DC, and what will it mean to you to see your group doing its thing in front of a national TV audience? For the most part we volunteer for the games we cheer at but for championships our coach has the final say. She bases it on our performance at games throughout the year, if our schedule allows us to go, and if academics permit. To see Towson on national TV is such a surreal feeling. You think of schools like Kentucky and Alabama on national TV but not your own. We are a smaller school compared to most but are making a name for ourselves and it just makes the experience that much better.
Does your squad have anything extra-special planned for this weekend? Not only is this weekend the championship tourney but it is also our senior game. In years past the cheerleaders were usually announced at the football senior game, but this year we will be announced at the women’s basketball senior game on Saturday before we play in DC.
Any predictions for your 1st game on Sunday night? As far as predictions go…I hope that Towson gets to play Delaware in the quarterfinals. The Delaware-Towson games are my favorite to cheer at: it is always a high-energy game that is impossible to take your eyes off of!