Mrs. Pelz’s View on March Madness

Director of Campus Ministry shares why she loves March Madness

Mrs. Pelz watching Men’s Elite 8 highlights during lunch. Photo courtesy of Caitlin Kujawski. 

By Caitlin Kujawski
March 31, 2025

Toledo, OH- Mrs. Liz Pelz, Director of Campus Ministry at St. Ursula Academy, has been a basketball fan for as long as she can remember. She was born into a basketball family where they all played the sport, and March Madness was a big deal. 

“My family has always been super into basketball,” said Pelz. The entire family would fill out a bracket and hang them on the wall in the dining room to keep track of everyone’s bracket. 

Mrs. Pelz grew up watching all kinds of different teams and leagues play. “It’s always been something I love and look forward to,” said Pelz.

One of her favorite parts of March Madness are the stories behind the players and coaches. Many of these stories would be unknown to most of the nation if their teams did not reach the NCAA’s largest tournament. 

She also loves spending time watching the games with her husband. They both commit themselves to taking a personal day off of work so they can watch the games and chaos unfold. 

“March Madness is like a holiday for us,” said Pelz.

When creating her bracket she usually picks based off of records, or if she saw one of the team’s games earlier in the season. 

Pelz has Michigan, Memphis, Duke and Tennessee in the men’s finals, with Duke taking the trophy home. 

While Mrs. Pelz has never been to a March Madness game, it is on her and her husband’s bucket list to make it to one.

She also looks forward to the upsets during the tournament.

“I love a good upset,” said Mrs. Pelz. “Give me a good Cinderella Story.”