Last week Illinois lost to Wisconsin 91-88 in OT in the Big 10 tourney quarterfinals but still earned an at-large bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Illini have now made the NCAA tourney 6 times in a row, and after a dominant 105-70 win over Penn on Thursday, they will face #11 seed VCU in Greenville on Saturday evening with the winner going to the Sweet 16. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Illinois cheerleader Ellie Slaughter about being a good leader and making the NCAA tourney.
You are from Bloomington, IL: what made you choose Illinois for college? I chose Illinois because I have always wanted to stay somewhat close to home, and growing up as an Illini fan made the decision a lot easier! I love the school pride, and the university provides opportunities both academically and through athletics.
You are majoring in Political Science with a minor in Legal Studies: how did you choose those subjects? After graduating high school, like most kids, I was a little unsure of what I wanted to do in my future. Political Science offers a broad number of classes and opportunities post-grad. After taking a few PS classes, I quickly grew an interest in understanding the systems of the law, which led me to apply for a Legal Studies minor.
You are a junior: do you have a post-graduation plan yet? I am currently studying for the LSAT, plan to take it this summer, and then will apply to law schools in the fall!
You are on the cheer team: how long have you been cheering for? I did competitive gymnastics for about 15 years of my life, so that took up the majority of my time, but I participated in junior high and high school cheerleading. With the help of gymnastics, I was able to use my skill-set and try out for the Illinois Cheer Team! This is my third year on the team.
You are a captain this year: what is the key to being a good leader? I think the key to being a good leader is to lead by example while also being someone that teammates can trust and rely on. I have learned that being a captain does not always mean you must have the loudest voice. However, you are the connection between the team and the coaches, so it is important to ensure that everyone feels valued and is on the same page.
What has been the highlight of your season so far: beating Texas Tech last November, the team’s 12-game winning streak from December-February, Senior Night, other? The highlight of the regular season was the 12-game winning streak. The energy during that stretch of time from December-February was absolutely unreal, and it was so exciting to be part of that momentum and see how much it brought everyone together. I have also loved getting to travel to Greenville, SC!
The Big 10 had 9 teams make the NCAA tourney: what is it like to be part of 1 of the best basketball conferences in the country? The Big Ten is a super-competitive conference, so being a part of it feels incredible. Each game feels even bigger and more important than the last, so being on the sidelines for it is so special to me!
How does your school decide who gets to attend the NCAA tourney, and what will it mean to you to see your group doing its thing in front of a national TV audience? Our coaches select 12 cheerleaders (per NCAA cheerleading rules) based on seniority, consistency, and who they feel best represents the team. Having the opportunity to perform in front of such a large crowd is something I have always dreamed of, so I feel incredibly lucky!
Does your squad have anything extra-special planned for Greenville? We are always looking to perfect our stunts and make sure we perform to the best of our ability on gamedays. Outside of cheerleading, we love doing things as a team, like finding local coffee shops or fun dinner spots!
Any predictions for the Illini this month? Based on the team’s energy and momentum, I definitely see them making a strong run…I mean, it is March, so anything can happen!!
