Spirit Squad Spotlight: Cheer Team Seniors
10/24/2014 12:00:00 AM | Spirit Department
The Michigan spirit squads are loaded with students who are committed to wearing the block M with pride. They represent the Wolverines on the sidelines at Michigan Stadium, courtside at Crisler Center, and in their own annual national competitions. They dedicate long hours at practice and are always there to support their fellow student-athletes.
Leading up to Senior Day on Nov. 22 when football hosts Maryland, MGoBlue.com will be profiling the seniors who selflessly perform for the Maize and Blue. In this series, you will meet the dedicated student-athletes who will graduate soon and go on to truly embody what it means to be the leaders and best.
Hometown: Hastings, Mich.
Major: Psychology
Hobbies: Water skiing, snow skiing, tennis, TV and movies.
How did you first get involved with cheer?
I got involved with cheerleading in high school because of my background in gymnastics.
Why did you join the Michigan cheer team?
I tried out for the Michigan cheer team because I wanted to be a part of the rich tradition of athletics at the University. Being able to cheer on the field of the biggest college football stadium in the country is such an amazing honor.
Who is your role model?
My mom is the strongest, most organized, kindest, smartest woman I know and I strive to emulate her in everything I do!
What is your dream job?
I would love to be a sports or celebrity agent.
What celebrity would you like to be Facebook friends with?
Jimmy Fallon because he is the most entertaining man in the world.
What is your hidden talent?
I know every line of "Ice, Ice, Baby"
Favorites
» Class: My favorite class at U-M has been Cognitive Psychology. Thad Polk is an amazing instructor and there are so many incredible studies that illustrate the complexity of the human mind.
» Building on campus: I love 1324 East Hall lecture room. It is random, but most of my favorite classes have been in that room.
» Sport: I love the fast-paced nature of basketball
» Food: Feta bread from Pizza House
» TV Show: Arrested Development
» Athlete: Andy Roddick
» Book: To Kill a Mockingbird --- a classic
» Place to visit: Every year my family vacations in Siesta Key, Fla. It is the most beautiful and relaxing place with breathtaking beaches.
» U-M Memory: Traveling to Atlanta for the Final Four in 2013. It was such an incredible atmosphere and I was so lucky to share it with my friends and the U-M community.
Hometown: Grand Forks, N.D.
Major: Industrial and operations engineering
Hobbies: In the last few years I have gotten into running more and that has led me to compete in a couple of Tough Mudders, which I thoroughly enjoy.
How did you first get involved with cheer?
I had been thinking about becoming involved in cheer since my sophomore year but never really knew much about what it entailed. A friend of mine was on the cheer team and I started asking her about the specifics and next thing I knew I was going to open practices.
Why did you join the Michigan cheer team?
Throughout my life, I had always been a guy who enjoyed being active through sports and other competitive means. When I came to college, some of that was lost and I was looking for a reason to stay strong and in good shape. For me, cheer was a chance to do that while also getting to experience sporting events from a perspective other than the stands.
Who is your role model?
My dad is my role model. You always take your parents for granted until you are older, and as I've grown up I've learned to appreciate the type of man he is and all my dad has done for me and my family.
Who is in your Twitter avatar with you?
Desmond Howard from when he visited the Big House for a Make-A-Wish appearance.
What celebrity would you like to be Facebook friends with?
Robert Downey Jr. The man has a great real-life personality and is amazing as Iron Man.
What is one quirk people don't know about you?
Probably 50-60 percent of the meals I eat consist of grilled chicken and noodles and I have a very specific way of eating them.
What is your hidden talent?
I've been told that I'm extraordinarily good at planning things no matter how long in advance it is with little to no information about the event. I just hear something and run with it. Weird talent.
Favorites
» Study Spot: The basement of the UGLi. The UGLi basement is pretty much the engineering floor, and with its long tables, it is a great place to do group work while also having room for individual work. I like that I can go down there to study and when I walk around, I always see other engineers that I know.
» Class: IOE 461 -- Quality Engineering Principles and Analysis: This course is all about the data-driven methods and ways that industrial engineers can go about process improvement. This is the area of IOE that interests me, so I really enjoy this class and all of the data-filled analytics that it has to offer.
» Food: T-bone steak, medium rare. Because it's steak.
» TV Show: Game of Thrones. What's not to love?
» Book: The Harry Potter Series (7th was my favorite). My dad started reading me the first Harry Potter book when I was in kindergarten, and I've loved the series ever since.
» Song to karaoke: I've never sang karaoke, but I'm sure I'd be able to handle a majority of the available songs.
» U-M Memory: My freshman year of college it was the Saturday of the first football game of the year against Western Michigan (the rainout game) and I remember walking down State Street and soaking up the atmosphere and the excitement that was everywhere. It was my first taste of D1 football, and to this day I say that there is no other place like Ann Arbor on football Saturdays.
Previous Spotlights
• Oct. 21, 2014 (Brandon Kittle, Carlin Delisi)
• Oct. 13, 2014 (Chris Fraga, Cassandra Gelov)
