Conference tournaments are about basketball but also so much more: the fans, parents, bands, cheerleaders, etc. The A-10 Tournament is taking place this week in Washington, DC, and we could not be more excited to be there in person! HoopsHD is covering all the angles so you can look forward to an abundance of access in the days ahead. Jon Teitel continues our coverage from DC with an interview of St. Louis cheerleader Courtney Olson about being a captain and how she thinks the Billikens will do tomorrow.
You are from Normal, IL: what made you choose St. Louis? I chose to come to STL for college for a couple reasons: my program, and the fact that my sister lives in St. Louis. St. Louis has so many fun things to do and SLU has a great reputation: the campus is really what won me over. I did not come into college thinking I would be a cheerleader but decided to try out for cheer at the end of my freshman year. I missed being involved in a sport and felt like I was missing a part of me. Joining the cheer team transformed my life and gave me friends that will last a lifetime.
You are majoring in Speech-language and Hearing Sciences: how did you choose those subjects? The reason why I chose my major is because I love how the field has so many opportunities for the future, and there are multiple ways that I can transform someone’s life. Being a speech pathologist would allow me to continue being a leader: providing care, working with people of all ages, and being in a field that I love.
You are co-captain of the team: what is the key to being a good leader? I love being a leader/captain. It has given me so many opportunities and allowed me to grow my skills of leadership/responsibility/organization. I think that the key to being a good leader is leading by example. You are someone that everyone can look up to, rely on, and talk to about anything. A leader is someone who displays the qualities needed for success. I want everyone on the team to feel valued: that is my goal as a captain.
You are a senior: what is the post-graduation plan? After graduation, I will be furthering my education at SLU by getting my master’s in speech pathology. I am so excited to stay at SLU, where I will be able to support athletics and get one step closer to my dream job as a speech pathologist.
Any work-out recommendations for our readers who want to get in better shape? My biggest recommendation is consistency and asking for help if you do not know how to do something or need advice on what to eat or what supplements to take. No workout is going to be the same for every person because workouts should be specific to your goals or simply what you enjoy doing. For example, I love going to workout classes because I am motivated by the people around me as well as the structure of someone telling me what to do. I love Pilates, yoga, and boxing classes.
Last year your basketball team lost 20 games with Coach Travis Ford, but this year they are 18-13 with new coach Josh Schertz: is it more fun to support the team this year now that they are doing better? Even though last season was challenging, our job as cheerleaders is to be supportive and bring the energy to every game no matter the score. The atmosphere this season at Chaifetz Arena has been amazing. The opportunity to be at every game (for both the good and the bad) is so rewarding. Cheering in college is a privilege and it is so incredibly fun to be with some of my best friends cheering on the best team.
What has been the highlight of your season so far: beating VCU in January, beating Duquesne in OT on Senior Night, other? I would have to say that beating Duquesne in OT on Senior Night has been the highlight of my season. The crowd was electric and knowing that this was my last game at home made that win so much better. Watching the basketball team grow throughout the season and then win their final home game made it even more special. I love being a cheerleader and helping the crowd get fired up so seeing the basketball team light it up is a great feeling.
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? Traveling for tournaments is a privilege and is decided by our coaches. The main factor in deciding which 6 people are selected to travel is seniority on the team, in addition to performance/involvement in the program. Being selected to go to DC is a super-amazing opportunity and something that everyone on the team wants to do.
Does your squad have anything extra-special planned for this week? While in DC for the tournament, our cheer team is planning on exploring the city! It is such a great city with so many fun things to do. We are going to try new restaurants, visit key tourist spots, and cheer at lots of basketball games. Plus, we will take lots of pictures to post on our social media of what we are up to and all the places we are going.
Any predictions for your game on Thursday vs. Davidson? For our first game on Thursday, the basketball team needs to work together, play hard, and communicate to have the best outcome. Being in neutral territory and away from home, they will need the support/encouragement from the cheerleaders/dance team. I hope that we will win …and I know that we can.
