Last week Xavier lost to Marquette 89-87 in the Big East tourney but still earned an at-large bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Musketeers had a losing record last year but are back in the NCAA tourney for the 2nd time in the past 3 years. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Xavier cheerleader Shailee Patel about being a good leader and seeing the big win over Texas on Wednesday.
You are from Richmond, VA: what made you choose Xavier? Xavier has a great nursing program and I love the small class sizes. Also, the chance to be a part of the cheer team really attracted me.
You are majoring in nursing: how did you choose that subject? I have always been interested in healthcare and knew that nursing would allow me to make a direct impact on people’s lives.
You are a senior: what is the post-graduation plan? I will be moving to Nashville, TN, and working as a nurse in the ICU at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
You are co-captain of the cheer team: what is the key to being a good leader? I think a good leader is supportive, communicative and approachable. I try to set a positive example for my teammates and help everyone stay motivated whether it is during a game/practice.
Your team only won 16 games last year: is it more fun to cheer for them this year now that they are winning more games? Of course we love to see our team win! However, the energy at our home court (the Cintas Center) is always amazing, so win or lose it is a great feeling knowing that we can support our team and hype up the crowd!
What has been the highlight of the season so far: starting 6-0, beating UConn in January, Senior Night, other? Beating UConn last January was a highlight…and since that game the team has not lost a single home game! With each game you could feel the momentum growing. The Creighton game earlier this month was a must-win game, and the team and crowd did not disappoint: it was electric! After ending the regular season on a 7-game winning streak, the energy was at a high going into the postseason!
Last week the Musketeers lost to Marquette in the Big East tourney but still earned an at-large bid to the NCAA tourney: how exciting was it to hear your team’s name called on Selection Sunday? After the loss to Marquette we knew the odds were not the highest. I was with the other seniors when Xavier’s name was called: we were ecstatic! Not only would the basketball team have the chance to compete in the Big Dance: it also meant that we still had a few more games to cheer at.
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? The decision is based on choosing the best girls from our squad to represent the university. Each girl can tumble and excels at their stunting position, and the cheer and dances we do on the sidelines. It is also important that everyone demonstrates a good attitude and is a team player. This year our team is incredibly talented: it is an honor to be a part of that group and we’re ready to show off our best skills!
Does your squad have anything extra-special planned for this week? We make sure to attend the pep rallies with fans and the band right before the game because we really want to pump up the crowd. It is amazing to see all the people who have traveled to support Xavier.
How was the win vs. Texas on Wednesday? It was incredible: one of my favorite games I have ever cheered at! The energy was off the charts: it felt like a home game and the chants from the crowd were deafening. It felt amazing to be on the sidelines as the team made a comeback to secure the big win!
