Conference tournaments are about basketball but also so much more: the fans, parents, bands, cheerleaders, etc. The CAA Tournament tips off this weekend 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 Hofstra cheerleader Emma Koehler.
You grew up in Levittown, NY: what made you choose Hofstra? I actually transferred there while I was an undergrad because it was close to home and is a great school.
You majored in Psychology and are now pursuing a Masters’ in School Counseling within the Counseling and Mental Health Professions program: how did you choose those subjects? I always wanted to help people and felt that psychology was a good field to do that. As far as counseling, it is just something I love and allows me to connect with students.
What is the post-graduation plan? Hopefully to become a school counselor at any level.
You are on the cheerleading team: how long have you been cheering for? Since I was 5 years old.
You were named to the Dean’s List last spring: how do you balance your work on the cheer squad with your work in the classroom? Time management skills: since I also have 2 jobs I need a plan so that I can stay organized.
The Pride had a losing record last year but have won 22 games this year: is it easier to cheer for the team when they are doing well on the court? It is defintely eaiser: there is so much more fun energy in the arena so it makes things a lot better.
What has been the highlight of your season so far: beating Pitt/Syracuse in December, Senior Night, other? The Stony Brook game at the end of February was fun. We had a youth clinic before the game and got to have the little girls cheer with us, plus we got to perform our own skills (which is something we rarely do).
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? We get to pick whether we want to come, so the people who are basketball fans usually say yes. It is amazing to cheer the team on and showcase what we can do.
Hofstra has not played in the NCAA tourney since 2001: how big a deal would it be to finally get there 25 years later? It would be very special, and is a great opportunity for our team/school.
Any predictions for the Pride this week? We are going to win!
