The Utah State cheerleader who became an internet meme after her tearful reaction during the 2023 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament was a good sport about it.
Ashlyn Whimpey, a senior Aggies cheerleader, took to social media to mock herself after TNT cameras caught her crying before Utah State’s 76-65 first-round loss to Missouri on Thursday.
Whimpey took to TikTok to share the viral video, which featured multiple headlines about the emotional moment, and wrote, “That one time when I was sad to cheer at my last game.”
She added in her caption: “And now I’m a meme.”
Senior Aggies guard Sean Bairstow, who reposted the viral video on his Instagram Story, backed Whimpey up.
“As supportive as they come, congrats on such a successful 20 years of cheer @ashwhimp,” Bairstow wrote.
Whimpey reposted the message and said, “The best season cheering for my boy! So proud of you @seanbairstow2.”
The student-athletes are in a relationship together, according to The Sun.
Cam Bairstow, Bairstow’s older brother, was an all-conference player at New Mexico from 2011 to 2014 before being selected 49th overall by the Chicago Bulls in the 2014 NBA Draft.
Bairstow, the elder, announced his retirement in August 2022.
Whimpey captioned her TikTok video, “Going out with a bang #marchsadness,” on Instagram.
Some people criticised TNT for allowing its cameras to highlight the sombre moment, but the cheerleader handled it much differently.
This Utah State cheerleader was going through it 😅 pic.twitter.com/Rqhpz3zBaZ
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 16, 2023
“Bruh why does TNT keep showing the crying Utah State cheerleader?? Chill,” one Twitter user remarked, while another said, “Seriously, TNT? Highlighting a crying cheerleader?”
Whimpey attended Utah State’s 86-73 victory over Boise State in her final home game for the Aggies men’s basketball team on March 4.
Utah State finished second in the Mountain West Conference this season with a record of 26-9 prior to Thursday’s loss.
Missouri will face No. 15 Princeton in the Round of 32 on Saturday.
