Today’s “Student Shout-Out” goes to first year Communication Studies major Alisha Alvarez and the USF Spirit Squad! Many of you have seen the Spirit Squad cheering throughout basketball season at all of the home games. Alisha and the Spirit Squad also just travelled to Las Vegas to cheer on the men’s and women’s basketball teams as they took part in the WCC Tournament. I think that many people do not realize how much time is involved in being on the Spirit Squad and how much training these women bring to the team. So, I asked Alisha to fill us in!
The USF Spirit Squad
Alisha, like all of the women on the Spirit Squad, brings a lot of experience to the team. She has been cheering for eight years and dancing for two years. They choreograph all of their own routines, which range from hip hop to lyrical dance. They practice three nights each week and perform at the games two nights each week. The Spirit Squad supports not only the basketball program, but they also cheer at volleyball, baseball, soccer, and tennis games. They also excel in the classroom, holding the highest cumulative GPA of any team in the Athletics program.
What is also impressive is that they also engage in community service as a team. According to Alisha, “Just this past week in Vegas, we cheered for kids from the Vegas community and danced with them and did crafts with them. It was a great time!”
Members of the USF Spirit Squad with kids in Vegas
I asked Alisha what she enjoys about being on the Spirit Squad: “Spirit Squad is very time consuming, but it’s so worth it! I am so in awe of the program and of the amount of work we put in. I enjoy dancing and performing, but most of all I enjoy the relationships I have made.”
Communication Studies major and Spirit Squad member Alisha on the road in Vegas (yum!)
I personally usually look to the Spirit Squad members to determine when I should cheer, especially about fouls about the basketball games (still confusing to me…), because they know the game! Congratulations to Alisha and the other members of the USF Spirit Squad for all of their hard work!
