Last Thursday USC lost to ASU 77-72 in the Pac-12 tourney quarterfinals but was still able to clinch an at-large bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Trojans have now had 4 straight seasons with at least 22 wins and claimed the school’s 3rd straight NCAA tourney appearance. 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 USC Song Girl Hannah about the USC-UCLA rivalry.
What made you choose USC? It just has it all: rigorous academics, spirit, any club you can think of, any sport would want to watch, etc. Los Angeles is a great place to live and when I took a tour of the campus it just felt like home. It also has a strong alumni connection: my dad went here as well.
How long have you been cheering for, and what is the best part? I have been dancing since age 3 and joined a competitive team during high school. The best part is being part of a team and getting to dance with your best friends. It is a sisterhood that we are all passionate about.
You are majoring in Psychology with a Pre-Med emphasis: why did you choose those subjects? Psychology has always been really interesting to me: how the mind works, how mental illness forms, etc. Knowing how the human body works and how we process information is just fascinating.
You were recently accepted into the Master’s program for Global Medicine at Keck Medicine: what is the long-term career plan? I would love to be a doctor someday. I love kids so maybe a pediatrics, but I also love sports so maybe orthopedics.
What was your favorite moment this season: going to the Bahamas, beating UCLA on January 26th, Senior Night, other? There were lots of great moments but beating UCLA at home is always great. Even attending our weekly practices is so fun.
What is the USC-UCLA rivalry like for people who have never seen it in person? It is crazy and very intense. We were on a flight to the Pac-12 tourney last week and the pilot was a USC fan so he gave us a shout-out…followed by some UCLA fans in their seats singing the Bruins fight song. They are a great competitor and we both have passionate fans.
Last Thursday in the Pac-12 tourney quarterfinals your team had a 5-PT loss to ASU: how nervous was everyone on Selection Sunday, and what was the reaction like when you heard the Trojans name called? I always believed in the Trojans and were confident that they would make it. I am so excited to be here with the team and our band!
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? It is based on seniority but we also look at who has the most availability and who has been to the most games during the season. We love any opportunity to perform and are going to kill it!
Does your team have anything extra-special planned for Columbus? We have been walking around and it is a very beautiful city: it has been nice to get a change in the weather. I am sure that we will have something special planned in addition to our performance for some middle school students. We get to do special gigs and share our Trojan spirit with people around the world.
Any predictions for the Trojans on Friday afternoon vs. Michigan State? I am very confident in our athletes/coaches and think that we will win. I am sure they will go far and I am very excited.