Conference tournaments are about basketball but also so much more: the fans, parents, bands, cheerleaders, etc. The CAA Tournament tips off this week in Washington, DC, and we could not be more excited to be there in person! HoopsHD will be covering all the angles so you can look forward to an abundance of articles in the week ahead. Jon Teitel continues our coverage with an interview of Towson cheerleader Vanessa Williams.
You are from Vineland, NJ: how did you choose Towson? Being from a small city, not a lot of people end up leaving and going away to a 4-year college/university. Ever since my freshman year of high school I knew that I wanted to explore out of my comfort zone and not follow in the tracks of what my city was stereotyped for. I ultimately chose Towson because it reminded me of a home away from home and allowed me to be independent while also staying close to my roots.
You are a Pre-Nursing major: why did you choose that subject? I chose Pre-Nursing as my major because of my aunt. Her hard-work, grit, and determination that she showed me growing up while also being a nurse and raising two children inspired me and made me want to do the same. She is still one of my biggest supporters when it comes to the major.
Your post-graduation plan is to become an RN and eventually a perinatal nurse: do you think the hardest part of being a nurse is helping a woman during pregnancy/birth/post-partum? I do not think the hardest part about being a nurse is helping another woman give birth or everything that comes with post-partum, but I do believe that it takes a different kind of person to work in that field, especially if you want to be or are a mother while working. A lot of things hit home and the news you must give your patients may not always be positive. I would not say it is the hardest thing about nursing, but it takes the hardest kind of person knowing what to expect.
You are on the cheer team: has it been hard to balance your work on the team with your work in the classroom as a freshman? My first semester was a shock to me about how important it is to find a balance between class and cheer. Our fall semester was packed and there were countless nights where I was up until midnight doing homework or studying. Managing it all was a struggle, but it was a learning experience and now I know what to do and what not do for my next fall semester.
1 of your teammates is your twin sister Jada, who was also your high school swim teammate: how close are you 2, and who is the best athlete in the family?! My sister and I are each other’s best friends: we have lived together our whole lives, and still are (as college roommates). I would not want anyone else by my side through every up and down. I do not think there is a best athlete in the family…unless you want to count my dad! Jada and I have opposite strengths/weaknesses so we excel at different things, but I would not say that one of us is better than the other.
The Tigers have had several freshmen play large roles on the court this year including Mekhi Lowery/Tyler Tejada/Dylan Williamson: how well do you know any of your fellow freshmen? I am friends with a couple of them, and we see them around campus a lot and are cordial with them, but other than that we are just freshmen cheering on freshmen. It is cool to see how good the incoming classes are and how much talent they are providing to the team.
What has been the highlight of your season: beating UMass at home, beating Charleston on the road, Senior Night, other? I would say my highlight of the season so far was the Northeastern game last month. It was an important game, not only at the time (because we had not lost a home game all season), but also because we lost to them on the road in January. It was an intense game: we were down by 7 PTS at halftime but came back for an electric second half and ended up winning the game by 7 PTS. It was a game to remember.
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? Being an athlete during this time means we cheer on both the men’s and women’s basketball teams, as well as doing fundraising for our own program. Coach Britt picks the athletes who have the strongest game-day presence and who embody what it means to be a Tiger. Being able to be a part of that and watch my fellow teammates means a lot and shows that our hard-work and dedication to these sports means something.
Does your squad have anything extra-special planned for next week? I will not say too much…but you may or may not be seeing a Tiger during our timeout dance.
Any predictions for the conference tourney? The CAA is an exciting conference and I truly believe that each team in the top-5 of the standings has a chance at winning it all. I think Towson has a good shot and we obviously want the best outcome for our Tigers. I think it is going to be an exciting tourney…hopefully with the Tigers ending up on top!