Megan PellegrinoBasketball season is officially underway as the annual Cavalier Tip-off took place on Friday, Oct. 30.
Students flocked to the Dixon Center decked out in Cabrini gear to bring in the 2008-09 basketball season.
Both the cheerleading and dance team cheered at the front door while the crowd marched in.
Giveaways such as t-shirts, red bull and thunder sticks were handed out to each fan.
“It was great to see a lively crowd,” Liz Scopelliti, freshman communication major, said. “I especially liked the free stuff, though.”
“The event was well attended by upperclassmen, which I haven’t seen in years,” Christina Cimmino, senior English and communication major and president of Student Government Association, said.
To the surprise of many, including the players, the men’s and women’s teams did not scrimmage each other this year. Instead, each team scrimmaged themselves.
“This year was worse than last year,” men’s basketball player and sophomore undecided major Dom Farrello said. “We should have scrimmaged the girls; fans would have been more into it.”
However, Genicka Voltaire, director of alternative events on the Campus Activities Planning Board, deemed the event a success.
“Tip-off was very successful. We had a good turn out, looks like more people this year than last,” Voltaire, senior psychology and political science major, said.
Crowd participation was evident as different contests and games were set up to keep the fans involved.
The best-dressed fans were awarded gift certificates, as well as the winners of each game that was played.
The first place winners were dressed up like Cavaliers and looked like pirates.
The second place winner painted his body blue and wore
superman boxers.
“Students looked like they had fun with the contests they took part in. They won tons of gifts and prizes,” assistant basketball coach Saleem Brown said.
The Cabrini cheerleaders and dance team both performed and kept the crowd alive.
Before the cheerleaders performed, the official nominees for the Mr. and Miss Cabrini pageant were announced.
The nominees are Nicole Hearn, Mary Kate Korp, Colleen Lefevre, Marina Isaac, John Fokwin, Robbie Cunningham, Yarcelly Jimenez, Meredith Rowe, Shannon Santangelo and Lauren Fulginetti.
“I left when they started playing basketball. The dance team was really good though,” freshman communication major Jamie Santoro said.
“Hopefully it can be more successful next year, with the attendance of more kids on campus,” Brown said.
“It was a great opportunity to show school spirit. As a senior, it was bittersweet to attend the last one,” Cimmino said.
The men’s team will officially begin their season on Nov. 16 against the US Merchant Marine Army at the Palestra in Philadelphia, Pa.
The lady Cavs will begin their season at the Dickinson Tournament, on Nov. 22 against the University of Scranton.
