Winthrop students and faculty piled into Richardson ballroom
yesterday for the pep rally hosted by the Council of Student Leaders. The pep rally was intended to get the student
body excited about the upcoming Winthrop Coastal rivalry game on Jan. 30.
The festive atmosphere of the event was filled with music,
cheers from the Winthrop Eaglettes and cheer squad and rousing speeches. The vibrant energy was contagious. Soon the entire room was in high
spirits. “I have never been to a
Winthrop game,” said sophomore Claire Wyse, “but I may have to go to this one
tomorrow.”
Men’s basketball head coach, Pat Kelsey, and players like
Reggie King began to move the crowd with buzzing excitement.
King spoke of the hard work that the team has done this
season and that he looks forward to continuing the pattern during the Coastal
game. “My pep talk turned into a pep
rally,” King stated once he realized that he had captured the attention of the
room.
Activities like “Minute to Win It” where contestants were to
complete the lyrics of a song once the track stopped and wing-eating contests
sparked interaction between players and crowd members.
Midway through the event the mood became somber and serious. “Winthrop has rich basketball traditions and
history, and we want to make sure that everyone is aware of it,” Michelle
Slaughter said.
Slaughter explained the tradition of students holding their
hands palm side up during free throws as a tribute to De’Andre Adams, a former
Winthrop basketball player, who was involved in a fatal car crash in 2007.
Students not only left the pep rally with good spirits and
knowledge, but a new relationship as well.
On a high ending not from head coach Pat Kelsey he informed the crowd
his door is open and “you have a personal relationship with the head coach;
you’re important to me and the team.”
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