THE UNIVERSITY of Southern California men's and women's basketball team danced their way into the 2023 NCAA March Madness tournament.
Standing on the sidelines cheering them on are the USC cheerleaders, and now fans want to know more about the squad.
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Who are the USC cheerleaders?
The USC cheerleaders include:
- Gracie, a communications major from Valencia, California
- Angela, a civil engineering major from Los Angeles, California
- Kristina, a health and human sciences major from San Jose, California
- Molly, a business major from Ventura, California
- Kayla, a business administration major from San Jose, California
- Nicole, a business and environmental studies major from La Crescenta, California
- Sabina
- Evelin
- Catherine
The names of the other USC squad members are unclear at the time.
The team is coached by Brigette Deneault.
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When does USC play in 2023 March Madness?
The USC men's basketball team was ranked 10th heading into the 2023 tournament.
Their first game will be against No. 7 Michigan State on Friday, March 17, 2023. The game will begin at 12pm EST and can be watched live on CBS.
The USC women's team had a similar ranking, coming in as the No. 8 seed in the Seattle I Region for their first NCAA March Madness appearance since 2014.
The Trojans will also face off on March 17 against No. 9 South Dakota State. The game will begin at 8pm EST and can be watched on ESPNEWS.
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“We’re trying to build something special for USC,” forward Kadi Sissoko said about her team's appearance, via the Los Angeles Times.
“It’s been a minute since they actually won anything or been to March Madness so it’s very exciting and we’re all trying to come together and prove something.”
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How can I become a USC cheerleader?
Being a part of a cheerleading squad can be one of the most difficult, but rewarding things in college.
The team's mission statement reads: "USC Cheer takes cheerleading to the competitive world. Our primary goal is to represent the University of Southern California at competitions across the country.
"As a team representing USC, we focus on maintaining a strong work ethic, sense of dedication, and the traditions of our university in an environment that is fun and inspiring. We push our own boundaries and continue to set new goals as our team grows."
Like most teams, cheer prospects will have to try out in order to claim a spot.
More information about USC cheerleader tryouts can be found here.
