Zig Zagging to the Top
Zig Zagging to the Top
by: Natalie Weryk ’11
Gonzaga is my Cinderella story. Growing up in Lakewood, Colorado, I never imagined going to school in Washington state. When it came time to start applying to colleges, Gonzaga was actually not even on my original list. I knew I wanted to go out of state for college, but the Pacific Northwest was not really on my radar. To be totally honest, I applied to appease my high school guidance counselor, who would not stop raving about it. So, I figured why not?
Then I got accepted with an academic scholarship, and it’s true what they say: money talks. So, I decided that I had to consider a school that wanted me. I had narrowed down my search to three schools, and a couple weeks before I had to decide, my dad and I went on a spontaneous trip to Gonzaga University for the weekend.
The moment I stepped on campus, it was love at first sight: the campus, the community, the spirit – I felt it all right away. Even now, emotions overwhelm me with excitement and I cannot stop smiling upon reflection of this day. It was extraordinary – beyond words. Imagine: a sunny, cloudless day walking through the GU campus in spring.
My dad and I looked at each other, and I think we both knew instantly that this was the place for me. Up until we visited Gonzaga, my dad really wanted me to stay near home. He kept trying to convince me to choose a Colorado school. Suddenly, Gonzaga was the only option that made sense. I tried on the shoe – Gonzaga – and it fit perfectly!
The other day at work, upon seeing my Gonzaga mug and realizing I am an alum, one of our directors said to me, “I’ve noticed that everyone I know who went to Gonzaga or has a son or daughter attending Gonzaga is so passionate about it. It’s so great to have that kind of excitement for your school, but can you tell me – explain to me – what is it about Gonzaga that makes people light up?” I started by telling him simply, that even today, two years after graduating from Gonzaga University, I still consider it to be the best decision I ever made. I tried to convey what is to be a Zag in words – describing the community, the basketball frenzy, the relationships, the academic standards, the compassion, and the feeling of home – but I realized (frustratingly, having been an English major) that the feeling and experience cannot be defined. It’s like trying to tell someone why and how your parents are so wonderful; even after telling countless stories and talking for hours, you still don’t feel like you’ve fully expressed the magnitude of that bond.
The only thing that makes me sad is that I am not a student at Gonzaga right now. “This is the year” is the chant, the marketing slogan. Yes I, along with all Bulldogs fans everywhere, do hope that this is the year we win it all. But that’s not the only intent of the phrase. It means this is year we show you who we are, beyond the introduction. The good news: many sports analysts finally know how to say GONE-ZAG (as in “bag” or zig-ZAG)-UH correctly.
Many sports analysts have commented this year that we are no longer a “Cinderella story.” I agree and disagree. Most of the country expects to see Gonzaga on their March Madness bracket each year and if the Bulldogs lose to an unranked team, we get a lashing by the critics. However, some would say that we are the Cinderella of number one seeds this year. With so many great teams, it is understandable that there is disagreement over who the top teams should be, but Gonzaga seems to be the most contentious selection of the group this year – and I live in Washington state! I would assume, falsely I guess, that there would be some support for a school located in the state you live in, but this does not seem to be the case. So boys, it looks like you need to try on that glass slipper once again and show the nation it fits!
This is the year.
This is the year we show the country we can be ranked #1.
This is the year we show the country we deserve a #1 seed in the bracket.
And that’s just a list of the things we have already accomplished this year. I believe it’s just the beginning.
Being a Cinderella team means proving people wrong, rising up against adversity, and overcoming obstacles. In Zag-cabulary, that means: teaching the nation the proper way to say “Gonzaga,” painting the kennel red, and Zag Up!