For the win… and its GOOD!!! March Madness is the biggest college basketball tournament that has been going on since 1939. The tournament has people on the edges of their seats, making brackets, traveling to watch games. Teachers and students from Cascade High School (CHS) are not immune to the excitement and enjoy watching the tournament as well.
“I have a strategy every year and it seems to play out but, it didn’t this year. We had the Fakers (Paul and Todd Fraker CHS teachers), Mr. Stubs (CHS Biology teacher) and Mr. Spiegel (PD 2nd grade teacher) who won it all,” explained Mr. Haberberger.
March Madness is the play offs for both men and woman's basketball in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The 2024 men’s NCAA champions were the University of Connecticut (UConn). UConn went head-to-head with Purdue on April 8th, at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Many of these athletes left it all on the court and put up a tough battle to come out with the win, leaving that score to be 75-60. Even though the championship game was not on during school hours, it was still highly discussed the next day.
“UConn was by far the best team; they played together like a team. They didn’t have one star it felt like everyone on that team could score, and scored when they needed too, and played good defense,” stated Mr. Haberberger.
Not only was the men’s NCAA tournament intense, but the women’s college teams also came to play. 2023-2024 women’s basketball has expanded all over the world. Women’s college basketball had some of the largest crowds in the past two years that they ever have. Many people, including CHS students, watched women’s basketball for the intense rivalries, amazing athletes and the overall energy that was brought to the court. On April 7th, South Carolina met Iowa on the court, and came out with the win, with the ending score 87-75.
“It was an interesting outcome because Catlin Clark (NCAA women’s Iowa player) was hyped up so it was a surprise to me that Iowa lost especially because I didn’t hear much about SC (South Carolina) in the leading up to the tournament,” claimed Evelyn Sohn (9).
Iowa has the best college woman 3-point shooter on their team, so multiple students, teachers, and fans were shocked when they lost.
Overall, March Madness had everyone entertained from watching at home, watching at school during lunch, and for some in attendance at the major arenas. With the CHS teachers competing with one another with their brackets, students watching the games March Madness had a positive impact on CHS. The March Madness season brought everyone together.