Last Tuesday St. Francis beat CCSU 46-43 in the NEC tourney title game to earn an automatic bid to next week’s NCAA tournament. The Red Flash had losing seasons each of the past 4 years but won each of their final 6 games to claim the school’s 1st NCAA tourney bid since 1991. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with St. Francis dancer Zoey Dunkle about the historic win earlier this week and making the NCAA tourney.
You are from Altoona, PA: what made you choose St. Francis? My brother came up here for basketball camps every year when he was younger. To see the school at such a young age made me want to be around that environment.
You are double-majoring in marketing/management with a minor in sports management: how did you choose those subjects? I just switched over to those majors this year. I really want to work in athletics: hopefully something in pro sports. I love marketing, and management just goes along with that.
You are the choreographer for the dance team: what does that involve? I create our halftime dances as well as the routine we are taking to nationals. I teach the dances at practices and then correct/clean them up.
You are a sophomore: do you have a post-graduation plan yet? I hope to work in marketing and would like to stay local, but I am willing to work for any athletic team.
How did you 1st get into dancing, and what is the best part? I was diagnosed with arthritis when I was 2 and my doctor said that dancing would help treat that by allowing me to keep moving. It is so rewarding to go out and showcase what we can do: it is very relaxing.
Your team was 10-17 in mid-February: what was the mood like inside DeGol Arena last month, and how has it changed since then? The environment at our games has remained the same. It was obviously more exciting when we won the conference tourney, but our band brings the best energy every single time. Coach Rob Krimmel and the band/cheer/dance teams support each other like a little family, so it is exciting whether we win or lose.
Last Tuesday in the NEC tourney title game your team had a 3-PT win at CCSU: what was the reaction like after the final buzzer went off, and how excited is everyone on campus this week? Everyone is so excited: it is truly historic because it had been so long since we won a title. It is amazing to be a part of it.
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 are allowed to take 12 people combined from cheer/dance, and the dance team bases it on seniority/leadership. I am so excited to see what the environment is like, and I know that our team will do an amazing job.
Does your squad have anything extra-special planned for next week? We plan on doing sideline routines and will most likely do a halftime routine. The girls who cannot travel with us as part of our official 12-person roster can still show up and perform with us during halftime.
Any predictions for next week? I think we are going to win because I have the most confidence in my team. I am not even “hopeful”: I know that we are going to win!
