Despite being at almost every home basketball game with their instruments, the Pep Band is not a well-known organization on campus. Many may see them at games but think nothing of the hard work and dedication these students continuously bring to Trask.
Zoe Rudolph is one of the Pep Band’s student directors. As one of three, Rudolph and her fellow student directors take charge of leading rehearsal and take turns leading during the games. As a music major, Rudolph has benefited from the opportunities at Pep Band: “I’ve been a leadership-oriented person, it was something I was interested in and wanted to do. Pep Band allowed me to grow in the area of music with it being my career goal.”
As fans pack Trask Coliseum to watch games, they are welcomed by the Pep Band. UNCW’s Pep Band brings spirit and entertainment to Trask as they lead the student section with their instruments. Rudolph and her fellow members prioritize fun and entertaining the crowd. “I feel like there are a lot of members who get really into it with dancing, cheer and spirit,” said Rudolph. “There’s always an eye on us and a lot of my members embody the spirit of having fun. – we’re there for fun.”
While the men’s basketball team has received higher attendance numbers, the Pep Band holds a special place in their hearts for the women’s team. Holly Hickman has been a member of the Pep Band for three years playing the tuba, and she wishes more people would attend the women’s games. “There’s always less people at the women’s game which just sucks in general, especially this year they’ve been really, really good,” Hickman said. Despite smaller than desirable crowds, the Pep Band continues to cheer at full volume. “In the women’s games, we’re in the stands, at one of the goals. We’re really close to them. It’s just a lot of fun, like cheering them on so directly.”
To keep the excitement up, the Pep Band has created traditions. Hickman, who is in charge of holding the cardboard cutout of Coach Woods , uses traditions to get the crowd excited. “We have our own little traditions and things that we do in reaction to things. For example, whenever there’s an air ball, we have a reaction we do as soon as they do it. We take pride in making it that we all do it at the same time. This one’s a little bit newer, but when the enemy team is doing free throws, we have the cardboard brick that we hold up.” While the Pep Band encourages the audience to join in during the games, low attendance at women’s games makes their jobs a little harder. Despite this, the Pep Band continues to show up and encourage people to be excited about cheering the Seahawks on. “If we’re not there, it’d be kind of boring since the crowd doesn’t usually want to do it themselves. So, we’re like, ‘we’re going to do it because we love you,’” Hickman continued.
Every year the CAA tournament is held in Washington D.C. and this year the Pep Band had an especially delightful trip. The Pep Band accompanied the men’s basketball team throughout their success in the tournament, putting their own hard work to use. Rudolph reflects on how thankful the Pep Band was to support the Seahawks as they became CAA Champions. “The pep band as a whole felt honored to go. And privileged to support the basketball team. We got to connect and know each other really well and make relationships in D.C.,” she said.
After supporting the men from the bleachers for three years, Hickman was emotional to see them make it all the way. “Two minutes before the game officially ended, I looked over at one of my friends and I’m like ‘we’re going to the NCAA, we’re going to the NCAA!’ I was about to cry, it was just so much emotion.” After the win the Pep Band made a rare appearance on UNCW’s basketball team Instagram as they welcomed the players back to the hotel.
“Oh my God, are we going to Kansas?” was Hickman’s first response after the game ended. The Pep Band did in fact get the opportunity to go to Kansas. The game in Wichita, Kan., was special for Rudolph as she got to be the student director leading the team, “I had the opportunity to be the student director for the NCAA game. It was really cool to conduct and lead the band at a March Madness game. It was something I will never forget.”
Not many student organizations get the opportunity to travel to a March Madness Game on such short notice. Rudolph and the Pep Band will always be grateful for the opportunities gifted to them, “We are just super thankful for everyone who made these trips happen to let us go to Wichita and D.C. Thank you to everyone who made it possible,” Rudolph said. Hickman needed time to comprehend how amazing it was to be at a March Madness game. “I took pictures because it’s hard to articulate how that stadium was, especially since for the first time ever, we were not any kind of angle or leverage, in relation to the court.” Standing on the floor so close to the player was a new angle for the group. “It was amazing being in that environment, but it was kind of overwhelming, too, because it’s like everything is bearing down on you. We just did what we always do, we bring it.”
As the Pep Band cheers on the basketball teams, you can cheer on the pep band. Hickman appreciates any time someone in front of the crowd gives the Pep Band encouraging messages, “It would just be nice for people to come up and be like, ‘hey, you played well,’ because it always feels nice. We do try really hard. We do practice a lot, and it is a lot of work to get where we are, even though we are having a lot of fun. We want to sound good to you.” Without the Pep Band, basketball games would be notably less exciting and missing a key part of Teal Nation’s spirit. “I think the pep band brings so much spirit to the games that they lead the spirit,” Rudolph said.
Next season, make a point to tell the Pep Band good job.
For those interested in joining the Pep Band, reach out to [email protected] for more information on joining the class. “We are always excited to grow our numbers. So yes, please join if you are interested,” says Rudolph.
