Earlier this month St. John’s beat UConn 72-52 in the Big East tourney title game to earn an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. The Red Storm have now made the NCAA tourney for the 2nd year in a row, and after a buzzer-beating 67-65 win over Kansas last Sunday, they will face #1 seed Duke in DC tonight with the winner going to the Elite 8. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with St. John’s cheerleader Kolbey Nastri about making the Sweet 16 and facing Duke.
You are from East Haven, CT: what made you choose St. John’s? Coming from East Haven, I wanted a school that still felt close to home but also pushed me outside my comfort zone. Saint John’s really stood out because of its strong sense of community, its reputation in both academics and athletics, and the energy around campus. Once I visited, it just felt like the right fit: the campus, the cheer team, as well as the coaching staff were so welcoming, and I knew I had to be a part of this community. I would not change the experiences I am making here for the world: it is truly so rewarding to be part of this school and this cheerleading program.
You are majoring in psychology: how did you choose that subject? I have always been passionate about helping others, and psychology really stood out to me because it offers a wide range of graduate programs and many career paths that are focused on making a positive impact in people’s lives.
You are a freshman: do you have a post-graduation plan yet? Upon graduation, I intend to pursue an occupational therapy program to get my doctorate in OT.
You are on the cheer team: how long have you been cheering for? I have been involved in cheerleading for six years.
You were a captain on your high school cheer team: what is the key to being a good leader? In high school, I was a two-year captain, and one key aspect of being a good leader is supporting your team. Whether in high school or college, cheerleading always involves working hard toward a shared goal. It is essential to listen to others, stay positive, and motivate everyone to work towards that common goal.
St. John’s started this season 9-5, but have won 21 of their past 22 games: has it reached a point where the fans just expect them to win every time that they step onto the court? The fans definitely do not expect us to win every game, but with each victory, both the fanbase/cheerleaders gain more confidence in our team’s abilities, making every game exciting.
Last weekend Dylan Darling made the game-winning layup at the buzzer in a 2-PT win over Kansas (www.reddit.com/r/CollegeBasketball/comments/1s111cs/dylan_darling_takes_it_straight_to_the_cup_and_st): what was the reaction like on campus when he made that sensational shot? The reaction on campus and beyond was truly amazing and something very rare. Everyone from future students to current students and even alumni were beyond thrilled when Dylan made that shot. His game-winning layup caused genuine excitement throughout the Saint John’s community, and everyone shared the same emotions of happiness and celebration.
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? Our school bases its selections on seniority, so as a freshman I never expected to get this incredible opportunity…but since my stunt partner is a senior, we pushed ourselves hard all year long, and that dedication really shows when it is time to be chosen. Seeing my group on national TV is especially meaningful because I get to share this unforgettable experience with so many amazing people who truly deserve this moment more than anything.
Does your squad have anything extra-special planned for DC? The cheer team just wanted to walk around, explore DC, and try some of the local food. But honestly, the main thing was just being in the moment, taking everything in, and really enjoying the experience as it happened.
Any predictions for the Red Storm tonight vs. Duke? We are going to do great. I really believe in this team and know we can pull off a huge upset. We have beaten #2 seed UConn before, so this feels like just another chance to show out and show how we play: let’s go RED STORM!!
