Galloping Gaels to Dancing Gaels
MORAGA, Calif. — March Madness has descended upon Moraga.
Amidst the hills and the cherry blossoms surrounding Saint Mary’s College on this spring afternoon, the scene was punctuated by the cheers of students, alums, and fans. These fans flocked to the McKeon Pavilion to find out who the SMC Gaels would be facing in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
With the Gaels’ recent West Coast Conference Championship win where they beat the No. 1 seed Gonzaga Bulldogs (30–3) still fresh in memory, the fans came to the McKeon Pavilion to support the team. It has been two years since these fans saw their team in the NCAA and nine years since the Gaels made it to the Sweet Sixteen.
“I am super excited that we’re in March Madness,” said Gael Force Men’s Basketball Commissioner Julia Racioppo. “The fact that we beat Gonzaga was unreal. It’s unbelievable, nobody saw it coming.”
Indeed, rival Gonzaga Bulldogs were heavily favored to win the WCC championship in Las Vegas. But the Gaels controlled the tempo of that game and pulled off a 60–47 upset, winning the championship and securing their spot in the NCAA tournament.
On Selection Sunday, the Gaels (22–11) were ranked 11th seed in the South Region. They will be facing sixth seed and reigning NCAA champions Villanova Wildcats (25–9) for the first game of the tournament which will be held in Hartford, CT. The announcement was met with cheers by the team and fans.
“All I can say is that I’m excited,” forward Malik Fitts said. “They won the championship two times out of the past three years. It’s gonna be a good journey with these guys and I just can’t wait to get going with it.”
The fans shared the team’s excitement. That the Gaels are going dancing is inspiring school pride.
“This all feels very surreal!,” Saint Mary’s College student Emily Terada said via text message. “The team definitely deserves their spot and I’m excited that we will be playing Villanova. This amazing energy makes me very proud to be a Gael! Gaels gone wild!”
To the Gaels and their fans, the 2019 NCAA tournament is a chance to soothe the sting of last year’s snub and a chance for the upstart team to seize on the possibility of making it all the way to the championship.
The first round game between the Gaels and the Wildcats will be on Thursday, March 21. It will be aired on TBS at 4:20 PM PST.
