Last week St. Mary’s lost to Gonzaga 77-51 in the WCC tourney title game but was still able to clinch an at-large bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Gaels have now had a winning record for 20 years in a row and claimed the school’s 2nd straight NCAA tourney bid. 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. Yesterday HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with St. Mary’s Spirit Team Captain Giuliana Sorbi about the rivalry with Gonzaga.
You are from El Cerrito, CA, and went to Saint Mary’s College High School: were you just destined to attend St. Mary’s College?! They are both part of the Catholic tradition and they appreciate the importance of community so I have found that here as well.
You are a captain on the Spirit Team: what is the key to being a good leader? Being a good listener as well as a kind/open-minded person. Everyone has a different talent they bring to the table so I try to be a positive person and have good school spirit.
You are studying Justice, Community, and Leadership on the Special Education track and are also a Dance minor: why did you choose those subjects? I have always been interested in helping students with special needs. I originally wanted to be a teacher but now I want to become a school psychologist. I can use my own experience while growing up to help others.
How long have you been dancing for, and what is the best part? I have been dancing since I was 3 years old so it will allow me to continue my skills after graduating if I want to. The best part of being a dancer at St. Mary’s is that I get a chance to represent my school each and every day. Not only am I a student but I am recognized for my dance ability. I have learned technique/stamina as well as skills to become a better person: work ethic, communication, and how to pursue your dreams.
You are a student ambassador at SMC in the admissions office: what does that entail? I have been a student ambassador since my sophomore year. I give campus tours, talk with prospective students, work at the front desk, and attend all of our admission events where I talk about my own experience. I remember it being intimidating when I was looking at schools so I try to put them at ease.
Last Tuesday in the WCC tourney title game you lost to Gonzaga: how do you explain the rivalry with the Zags to someone who has never experienced it in person? It is always a dynamic environment no matter where we play them, but when we have a home game our fans step it up even more than usual. They are invested from the beginning of the day through the end of the game. The turnout is always different but it is really fun for everyone. A lot of alumni (players/dancers/staff) come back to watch it as well.
What is the mood like on campus now that the NCAA tourney is finally here? Everyone is super-excited about it. I had to explain to my professors that I would be traveling for it and they just responded, “Go Gaels!” The whole city of Moraga is really excited. A lot of people showed up on Selection Sunday so everyone is grateful for this opportunity.
How does your school decide who gets to go to the NCAA tourney, and what will it mean to you to see your group doing its thing in front of a national TV audience? We bring all of our dancers and have a rotation system where the rookies trade off but everyone gets to dance at least once/day. It is based off of seniority so all of the seniors will get to dance. We are all thrilled to be on national TV and show everyone what we have been working on. People thing Moraga is a small/isolated city but we have a lot going for us and will represent our passion through our dancing.
Does your squad have anything extra-special planned for Albany? We have 1 routine that we performed for the 1st time at the WCC tourney so we are excited to do that 1 again, as well as a brand-new 1 that we were just working on last night.
Any predictions for the Gaels on Friday afternoon vs. VCU? The Gaels always give it all that they have so I am crossing my fingers that we can pull out a win. We are passionate about what they do and we will give it whatever we can so it will be fun to watch and definitely memorable.