It has been quite a month for Auburn: almost upsetting Alabama in OT on March 1, beating Tennessee on Senior Night on March 4, having an amazing comeback vs. Arkansas in the SEC tourney that came up just short on March 9, beating Iowa in the 1st round of the NCAA tourney last Thursday, and holding a 10-PT halftime lead over Houston before losing in the 2nd round last Saturday. 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 Auburn Tiger Paw Evie Ann Owen about a wild weekend in Birmingham.
You were born/raised in Georgia but moved to Auburn in the 10th grade: what made you choose Auburn for college? I was really reluctant at 1st because I was worried that I already knew everybody. I took a tour with my dad and the excitement both he/I had really pulled me toward Auburn. I fell in love with it and after Tiger Paw auditions it was just set in stone. Now that I am here I barely see anyone I know!
How long have you been dancing for, and what is the best part? I have been dancing since age 3. I was on a dance team in middle school/high school and always loved performing on stage. We did solos for competitive dance and it was just not my thing: I preferred being part of a team. I did not want to stop in college so I tried out for Tiger Paws and made it. My favorite part is the team aspect: we had a 2-week camp before the fall semester started so to have 19 other girls who I could rely on and become close with was great. We are always supportive of each other.
Your parents moved to Germany the summer before you started college: how difficult was it to be away from them for an entire year? It was a very big change. The time zone difference was the hardest if we wanted to talk while we were both awake. I got to go to Germany for a month during Christmas break, which was awesome. I remember being on the beach when COVID happened and international travel got shut down: my mom was actually in the air heading from the US to Germany so after spending about 12 hours in Germany she was finally able to catch a flight back. We do tailgates before football games and my team was always there for me.
You are majoring in Nutrition-Wellness: why did you choose that subject? I was planning on going to medical school but I was told about the nutrition program and how it might set me apart. I have always been interested in nutrition and it felt perfect. The new plan is to head to PA school so hopefully I can blend what I know about nutrition into that.
You graduate in a few months: what is the post-graduation plan? I am planning on working for 2 years, hopefully as a medical assistant. I need to get 1000 hours of patient care to be competitive when I apply, and it is hard to get those hours while I am in college, so I will apply for PA school next summer.
What is the Iron Bowl like for those of us who have never experienced it in person? It is great and 1 of the best experiences of my life! The energy leading up to it is insane. We come in several hours early and the crowd for Tiger Walk is just crazy. It is so fun seeing everyone getting ready for the game and once you look up and see a packed stadium: there is nothing really like it. Anything can happen at Jordan-Hare: we won when I was a freshman and everyone rushed the field but my junior year we lost in OT. Even though we lost I was on the edge of my seat the whole game and was so proud of our players.
You are in a sorority: what is Greek life like at Auburn? I have loved being in a sorority. It is difficult to manage your time between school/Tiger Paws but all of my roommates are in my sorority. Greek life here is very cohesive so I can be best friends with girls from other sororities. I cannot make it to every event but my roommates understand what is going on and keep me updated.
What was your favorite moment from this season: starting 16-3, beating Tennessee on Senior Night, almost beating Alabama in OT on March 1st, other? I love watching our basketball team. Going to Birmingham and just seeing the players around town: they are so kind. It brings it into perspective that they are college students just like me but they have so much more pressure on them. It is always a fun watch: I like a game that has 2 teams fighting to the very end. Everyone was so hyped up for the Tennessee game. Having the opportunity to sit on the baseline and hear everything going on is an opportunity that I will never get again…unless someone gives me front-row seats! In Birmingham we were right next to the team and feeding off their energy.
How did your school decide who gets to go to the NCAA tourney, and what did it mean to you to see your group doing its thing in front of a national TV audience? I am 1 of 4 seniors and we were allowed to take 4 people so it worked out perfectly based on seniority. I have anticipated this weekend for awhile after seeing seniors from the past go to the NCAA tourney so the 4 of us just had an amazing time and were so pumped.
Last weekend you beat Iowa and lost to Houston in Birmingham: how was it? It was really great! I love being able to cheer for those guys because they really did a great job against Iowa. At halftime against Houston we were so hyped up and at the end I was sad because it was our last basketball game as seniors. They pushed through the odds and really held their own. We kept the energy up and it was 2 fun games that I really enjoyed.