Northwest Missourian

RISING RATES

BY MAKAYLA POLAK EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Students to see increase in tuition, fees for the fall

Northwest Board of Regents approved the 2023-24 academic rate schedule, which includes an increase in tuition and fees and a decrease in dining plan prices.

Vice President of Finance and Administration Stacy Carrick said the increase in tuition and fees for undergraduate students is based on an inflation rate of 7.1%. With the rising costs of operation, Missouri is now sending less money to institutions across the state every year.

“You can see the challenges of trying to maintain that affordability when you look at both the state funding that we receive as well as our rates,” Carrick said.

For Missouri-resident undergraduate students,

Community supports recovering student with fundraiser

Sigma Tau Gamma - Theta Chapter and Blake Ommen’s family have raised almost $40,000 for Ommen’s medical bills and other recovery expenses.

On the way home for spring break March 4, Sigma Tau Gamma - Theta Chapter member Blake Ommen got in a severe car crash. Ommen is now suffering from a severe brain injury and is on a road to recovery.

Ommen was in a work zone on Interstate 29 when a car failed to brake and rear ended him. The driver of that car did not have insurance, so two GoFundMes were created to support Ommen and his family.

Sigma Tau Gamma - Theta Chapter Vice President Tyler Brockhoff and member Jake Coddington have both been involved throughout the process. Coddington said Ommen has been flown to a rehabilitation center to continue his recovery process from the University of Kansas Medical Center.

“Slowly but surely, Blake is making steps to get better,” Brockhoff said.

Coddington said Ommen is blinking and trying to talk, though it’s more mumbling and even walking a little.

tuition will be increasing by $17.79 per credit hour. For a student taking 30 credit hours a year, they can expect to see an increase of over $500 for the next academic year before any financial aid. For nonresident undergraduate students, tuition will be increasing by $33.43 per credit hour. For a student enrolled in 30 credit hours a year, there will be over a $1,000 increase in their tuition before financial aid. Graduate students’ tuition will increase anywhere from 7.1% to 8.1% depending on the program the student is enrolled in. There will be a $25.10 per credit hour increase for business students and a $28.20 increase for computer science and information systems students and a $21.40 per credit hour increase for other on-campus graduate programs.

Young entrepreneurs attend pop-up market

The Children’s Business Fair was held March 18 at the First Baptist Church hosted by the Maryville Public Library. It included crafts, foods and toys being sold by children of ages 8-16.

At the fair, 38 booths were set up with different businesses, making it one of the largest turnouts since the event was first held five years ago. All the businesses there had signed up to be a part of this event. There were also judges invited by the library to give feedback to the businesses.

One of the businesses was Karina’s Greenhouse. It was selling plants and donated some of the profits to the New Nodaway Humane Society. Business owner Karina Wall, 11, said she loves plants and decided to donate because she loves cats and dogs.

“Dogs and cats need homes, so donating will help them find

homes,” Wall said. Wall plans on continuing her business and giving back to the community when she can attend other events like this, such as Junk for Jesus, an event for peo-

ple to sell things at a local church. She wants people to be able to build a good garden, and her business can be their first step.

A lot of work is put into these businesses, most of them being

handmade crafts. Another business owner at the fair was Mary Davis. She said she works anywhere from two to eight hours on her crochet animals and chapstick holders.

Davis said her favorite part of the event was going around to the other booths and talking to people to see what they are selling. She plans on continuing this business because it is one of her favorite hobbies.

Judge Jill Heddinger said they look at different aspects to come up with a score for each business. They look at marketing, financial strategy and overall presentation.

“My favorite part of judging has been talking with each business owner,” Heddinger said. “We have a lot of very financially sound, creative entrepreneurs coming up through the ranks. It’s been exciting to hear their ideas and their business plans.”

With around 600 donations together as of March 21, the GoFundMes have been helpful in raising money for Ommen — the highest donation being $2,000. The fundraisers were created March 7 and 8, one by Ommen’s family and one by Sigma Tau Gamma - Theta Chapter. There are going to be more fundraisers hosted by different organizations on campus.

Sigma Tau Gamma - Theta Chapter had its executive meeting, and its normal spring philanthropy event will have half of the proceeds going to Ommen’s family and the other half going to Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Coddington has had direct contact with Ommen’s family throughout this. The family has stayed positive throughout the recovery process. Coddington said he and a group of friends went to visit Ommen on the day of the accident, and Ommen’s mother is doing better.

“His mom has been texting me, just giving me updates, and she has been really optimistic through the whole thing,” Coddington said.

Brockhoff said some of the other fraternities and sororities are also going to be holding fundraisers for Ommen in the next few weeks.

“Go support and keep praying for Blake,” Brockhoff said.

Ommen still has a long road of recovery ahead of him due to the extent of his injuries. Coddington said Ommen’s family really appreciate the support being shown from everybody.

Both the community and campus are showing support for Ommen with donations, other fundraisers being made, cards and other words of support for him. Sororities have reached out, and alumni of the fraternity are also showing their support. Some of the alumni are doing jersey auctions to raise even more money.

“(The support) has been really helpful,” Coddington said. “I know his family really appreciates that.”

Missouri’s oldest and largest independently-owned and operated bank.

During the 2023 Children’s Business Fair, owner of Rainbow Lane Crochet

Mary Davis talks to customer Camille Siegrist about her products. The event allowed young entrepreneurs to market their business to the community.

ILLUSTRATION

Student Senate Treasurer Jillian McNamara presented a solution to add more money to the work finance budget used to help fund on-campus organizations. The movement was passed, and $5,000 from the Senate’s rollover budget was added, allowing the Senate to help more organizations moving forward.

of money and had to turn down all organizations that came to Senate for appropriations.

The Organizational Finance Committee in Student Senate is running out of its allocated budget for the year. To combat this, Senate voted to transition some of the rollover budget to Organizational Finance at the March 21 meeting.

The current rollover budget is around $30,000, most of this money came from COVID years because organizations were not traveling as much or hosting events. Treasurer Jillian McNamara gave a short presentation on what Senate could do to give Organizational Finance more money and President Elizabeth Motazedi also offered input.

“My idea is to move $5,000 from our rollover budget,” McNamara said. “... We’re kind of just moving it back into organizations this semester.”

Internal Affairs gave $500 to Organizational Finance and Governmental Affairs gave $750, which were the last of those organizations budgets. Senate voted to move the $5,000 to Organizational Finance. Without the rollover money going to Organizational Finance, it would have run out

“This will at least cover people for tonight,” Motazedi said.

to revisit this to keep making appropriations throughout the rest of the year. Motazedi said to be careful with moving money over, though.

The National Association for Music Education came to Senate to request $1,200 for the Missouri Music Educator Association convention. It also will be hosting two events the money will be going into. The first event being professional development, so students can ask professionals any questions they have. It also pays for judges for the Junior High Contest, where junior high students can perform and receive feedback from a judge.

Governmental Affairs Representative Elisha Westover proposed to raise the amount appropriated to $1,500, but Organizational Finance Representative Brayden Major advised against that.

tion in Seattle. The convention would allow the members to network and receive advice about going into physical education. It has already raised $300 for this convention and one of the members received a scholarship to put towards costs. Senate voted to appropriate the full amount.

Bearcat Golf Club requested $1,500 for the National Collegiate Club Golf Association. It has done some fundraising and plans on doing more throughout the year. The money would be going towards entry fees and hotel costs. Senate appropriated the full amount.

Other Senate Business:

• Duane Harvard from the alumni association came to tell Senate about a scholarship opportunity and Thank a Donor Day April 4.

Isabelle Talkington, Northwest’s new wellness educator, is mainly focused on the Engage Violence Prevention Training, but is also working on preparations for future events and awareness months.

Future projects that Talkington will be involved in include Domestic Violence

The $5,000 that was transferred to Organizational Finance was enough to cover the three organizations that came to Senate for appropriations at the meeting. Motazedi said Senate will most likely have

Awareness Month, Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the clothesline project, take back the night and more. Education and intersectionality are vital factors to this program.

Talkington said that her position and the Engage program wants to teach about campus violence. The Engage program also highly focuses on how substances, bias, discrimination, mental well-being and interper-

“I would recommend against giving them $1,500,” Major said. “... Our budget’s burning low.” Senate ended up voting against raising the appropriation and appropriated the original $1,200.

The Physical Education Club requested $800 for a conven-

sonal violence intersect.

Generation Z is a huge source of excitement for Talkington in taking over this position. Talkington attended a webinar about Gen Z, and this gave her a positive outlook on her generation.

“We are gonna stand up for the things that we care about,” Talkington said. “We’re not gonna sit by and let things happen. Students want to see changes happen. They want to see our society continue to improve, and that’s really encouraging for me throughout this role.”

Talkington referenced 2021’s Missouri Assessment of College Health Behaviors. This survey allows Missouri college students to express their thoughts on how mental health problems, substances and personal violence by those in power affect their well-being. This survey further proved Talkington’s belief in Gen Z’s crave for change.

“Around 92% of students say that they would want someone to do something if they thought that they were gonna be harmed by another person,” Talkington said. “And 86% of students strongly agree or agree that they have a responsibility to the safety of others. I mean, that’s really promising. And so I think that’s been very encouraging about this job.”

After an optional online introductory module, Engage has overview training. This overview training gives the trainee example scenarios of the four

• Senate was invited to the Third Floor Martindale Hall Ribbon Cutting because of the $50,000 donation under its name.

• Senate voted on the Homecoming theme Under the Sea.

• Senate swore in associate members and Freshman Representative.

sections: interpersonal violence, bias and discrimination, alcohol and other drugs and mental well-being. With each example scenario, the training gives the trainee the basic information for each section. The fall 2023 semester will have more in-depth trainings for each section.

The C.A.R.E.S. acronym, which stands for: create a distraction, act directly, refer to a helpful resource, enlist others or stop and act later, can be used to help prevent violence in everyday life.

Other than C.A.R.E.S., Talkington said that one can be aware, trust their gut when it says to let someone know that something happened or to be vocal about something. She said other simple things one can do to prevent violence include stopping someone else’s argument by breaking the tension, stopping any bigoted jokes

or making sure everyone is OK in a different room if you hear a ton of yelling. Students may also contact Talkington to learn how to become a facilitator and bring change to campus.

“Be the person that you want others to be in this community,” Talkington said. “What do you need to feel safe? And how can you do that for other students?”

Talkington said the Engage program also focuses on not shaming people, but rather educating people on how to be a more active preventer in the future. Someone’s own safety is also important to keep in mind when preventing violence.

“But of course, make sure you’re safe,” Talkington said. “If you haven’t acted in the past, that’s definitely OK. You need to (know) how we can be better in the future. You have to do what is comfortable for you and what’s safe for you.”

Ryan Talkington, academic adviser and success coach, led the Engage Violence Prevention Training March 20. Isabelle Talkington has recently taken over the wellness educator position and will be preparing events.

HUNTER DOSS

Reporter | @HunterDoss2003

KAYLA ALLISON MISSOURIAN PHOTOGRAPHER

HANNAH CLAYWELL Asst. News Editor | @Hannah_9504

“

“I would reccomend against giving them $1,500, our budget’s burning low.”

-BRAYDEN MAJOR ORGANIZATIONAL FINANCE REPRESNETATIVE

Northwest training program gets new educator, connects with Generation Z

Lettuce Dream promotes inclusivity in jobs

Lettuce Dream coaches people with disabilities to build confidence by discovering their strengths and overcoming their weaknesses. They learn how to work as greenhouse assistants, harvesting and packing lettuce, learning job responsibilities and are given the right preparations to receive a job in the community.

It's a nonprofit organization aiming to provide career education and opportunities to disabled people. The organization works to promote inclusiveness and debunk common misunderstandings about disabilities while also assisting people in furthering their education and locating employment in the community.

Diane Francis is the president of the Board of Directors of Lettuce Dream and is behind the creation of it. Francis and her friend both had children with disabilities. They wanted a way for the kids to have a chance to have real, adult lives.

When Francis's friend passed, she said that's when she really got to work, making their dream a reality. Their dream was that one day their children would expand

their education past high school and move past the limitations society sets on them.

“We really wanted to see inclusion into our community because we could see how they thrived when they were included,” Francis said.

Lettuce Dream planted its first seed in 2016, growing butterhead, green oakleaf, romaine, basil, microgreens and cilantro. It harvests year-round on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings with the help of community volunteers, greenhouse assistance and Northwest work-study students.

Not only does it give people with disabilities an opportunity to gain career skills, but others as well. Last year, Lettuce Dream had 1,603 hours volunteered, which is open to the community. Executive Director Jennie Moore said it relies a lot on community volunteers to help get the job done.

Moore said Lettuce Dreams' biggest misconception is that it just pays people with disabilities to harvest, and they just go home. She said that's not the case at all. Lettuce Dream doesn’t pay them, the greenhouse is used as an assessment site to get to know them and their skills. The goal is to find them employment in the community.

“I just love seeing the impact that can be made on the people with disabilities when they get a job,” Moore said.

In 2022,17 individuals with disabilities received employment. It partners with businesses in town like The Hangar and Pizza Ranch, where it will hire workers that came from Lettuce Dream.

Lettuce Dream also offers internship opportunities for students over the summer. Offering a six-week work program for college students in their final two years, the interns are paid and learn basic skills like multitasking and teamwork.

Alex Chang is the greenhouse manager and has been working at Lettuce Dream for three years. He runs the operations of the hydroponic growing system the greenhouse runs on.

“I just like how everything is open and (how) friendly everybody is here,” Chang said. “There is no judgment of anything.”

Lettuce Dream currently has two greenhouses that are 6,300 square feet. It harvests about 600 to 800 pounds of lettuce each week, which is given out to 13 local businesses such as Hy-Vee, Simply Siam, The Hangar and Clear Creek.

The nonprofit operates on 30% donat-

ed funds and 40% sales. Recently, Lettuce Dream received a donation from Maryville Knights of Columbus of $967. Moore said these donations really help Lettuce Dream with its general operations. Since it is a nonprofit organization, it relies on donations to keep its mission going.

“It warms my heart whenever anybody walks in and wanna donate or just wanna walk in because they’ve been driving by and wanna hear about us,” Moore said. “It’s great to know that people actually care and want to come in.”

For the new year, Moore hopes to get more referrals and for the community to learn more about Lettuce Dreams' goals. Moore said local businesses are on board with its purpose, and Lettuce Dream receives calls asking if it has anyone to fill their open positions. Moore is hoping for more outreach to Lettuce Dream to send more people to these businesses.

“The whole reason we started was we wanted the community to come in and see that people with disabilities are the same as you and I,” Moore said. “We all have stuff we aren’t good at, we all have our quirks, we all have specific interests and talents.”

ALYNA THIBAULT News Reporter | @alynamorgan_

Lettuce Dream Greenhouse Manager Alex Chang stands next to heads of lettuce in the second stage of growing. Lettuce Dream works to provide skills to people with disabilities that will help them obtain jobs in the future and make connections throughout the community with partnerships.

SIDNEY LOWRY MANAGING EDITOR

‘Dr. Tatum, are you ready to be a university

Only a month after he visited Northwest for the frst time, Lance Tatum returned, this time as Northwest’s 11th president.

Lance Tatum, hailing from Troy, Alabama, is making his way 13 hours north to move into the Thomas L. Gaunt House and start his new position June 1.

“It’s been incredible,” he said. “... Even now, people ask me, you know, ‘how does it feel?’ Well, sometimes it feels incredibly energizing. Sometimes it feels a little overwhelming. Sometimes it feels a little numb, you know?”

He said despite the mix of emotions when it sinks in that he is now heading an institution, this has been an aspiration of his for the last 15 years. During his first visit to campus, he spoke many times of how teachers and education has changed his life. For him, giving back to students and ensuring their success is everything. In this position, he said he is able to more broadly impact students.

When he frst heard that Northwest was looking for a new president, Tatum said one of the frst things he did was call people with ties to the University. As he started dialing numbers, he said there was an overwhelming feeling of family — a common theme with every new phone call he made. As conversations continued, his decision to go through with applying for the position became more frm.

He said the Thursday after his first visit to Northwest, he had gotten home from work like any other day, just this time hoping for a phone call naming him as Northwest’s new president. After coming in from walking his dog, his phone had a new voicemail from Michael Ballew from Anthem Executive saying that he ‘had some good news.’

“So I called him and his frst sentence was really a question to me,” Lance Tatum said. “He said ‘Dr. Tatum, are you ready to be a university president?’ and I said ‘absolutely.’ I have been working for a long time for this moment.”

“We were just extremely grateful,” Jill Tatum said about when her husband got the phone call. “We just knew that it was our time, and we felt really blessed.”

She said despite this being a big decision for them, it wasn’t complicated.

“Making the decision was really easy for us because we’ve prayed over this, and we knew we were in the right place,” Jill Tatum said. “It just felt right. Whenever it’s right, there comes a sense of peacefulness, and we have just felt so peaceful and have felt really confdent in the fact that you guys chose us, and we’re very honored to be here.”

Lance Tatum visited Northwest March 16 for a conference and introduction. Board of Regents Chair John Moore started the welcoming by saying that Lance Tatum’s qualities are exactly what Northwest was looking for in its next president.

“No. 1, that he is authentic,” Moore said. “What you see and what you hear from him, you get. And No. 2, he is a servant leader. It is not about him, it’s about the organization. My own observation is that he is a highly competent, can-do person with a big dose of humility blended in.”

Lance Tatum said he and the Northwest Leadership Team is working on creating a transition team for when he arrives on campus. He said this team will help him learn the structure of the University as well as what is important to people at Northwest.

He said he has already started looking at the calendar for his arrival in June by scheduling meetings with stakeholders and other campus fgures.

“I think everybody is interested in trying to meet me and to fnd out who I am, and who Jill is, and what we stand for,” Lance Tatum said. “What’s important to us. So I think a big part of that 100 days is really trying to fnd ways to connect to the broader university community, to the students and faculty, the staf, the alumni, the Foundation Board.”

As for when he starts his tenure at Northwest, Lance Tatum said he wants to start with working on enrollment, infrastructure and facilities and other challenges he learns of when he arrives on campus.

“For someone who is drawn to opportunities to serve others and to help individuals succeed, it was impossible to resist the invitation to join this great University,” Lance Tatum said. “In short, I cannot imagine a greater privilege than helping individuals of Northwest improve the lives of the people of this great state. Thank you again for your support.”

president talks June arrival, integration during frst 100 days

SIDNEY LOWRY Managing Editor | @sidney_lowry

Northwest’s 11th

“

“

For someone who is drawn to opportunities to serve others and to help individuals succeed, it was impossible to resist the invitation to join this great University.

-LANCE TATUM

PHOTOS BY: DAKOTA WEAVER PHOTO EDITOR

Top: Lance Tatum smiles as he walks away from the tables at the March 16 introduction ceremony. Tatum said he has been working toward a job like this for the last 15 years and is set to start the position June 1.

Bottom: Lance Tatum talks with Provost Jamie Hooyman at the March 16 introduction ceremony. Tatum comes from Troy University in Troy, Alabama, and was named as Northwest’s 11th president March 2.

Professors talk adjusting for younger generation

Assistant Professor Tamara Lynn and Assistant Professor Shantel Farnan ran a presentation made to help Northwest faculty meet the needs of adult learners in a part two of their Faculty Professional Development Day workshop March 17.

The presentation guided professors through many ways they can make their classes more conscious of the needs of adult learners.

“Being a higher-ed instructor, I think we are artists and scientists,” Lynn said. “So, we do have to perfect our craft. And part of that is the teaching component, so that’s what we’re just hoping to enhance by doing this presentation for some of our colleagues.”

Farnan and Lynn said crafting a program that is more genuine and related to teaching what is needed for their potential future jobs is vital. One way that professors can do this is by utilizing job descriptions for jobs their students might go for in the future. Instructors can mold their program around the skills and knowledge presented as necessary by the job descriptions to better prepare students for the jobs they will be going into.

There were multiple ways presented that could help teachers find their way in making classes better for adult learners. The first tip was causing students to criti-

CRIME LOG

for the week of March 23

Northwest Missouri State University Police Department

March 18

There is a closed investigation for an alcohol violation in Dieterich Hall.

There is a closed investigation for four alcohol violations and trespassing in Tower Suites West.

March 16

There was an accident between Jordan Green, 19, and Marissa Ziemba, 19, on College Avenue.

March 13

There is an open investigation for a hate crime in Lamkin Gymnasium.

Maryville Department of Public Safety

March 20

There is an ongoing investigation for property damage on the 200 block of North Main Street.

There was an accident between Helen M. Burkey, 72, and Samuel M. Humphrey, 24, on North Buchanan Street and West Sixth Street. Burkey was issued a citation for failure to yield.

March 17

A summons was issued to Jace T. Davidson, 22, for driving while intoxicated and failure to maintain the right half of the roadway on the 700 block of South Main Street.

March 14

A summons was issued to Carly A. Prusia, 18, for driving without a valid driver’s license on the 1600 block of South Main Street.

A summons was issued to James C. Hull, 73, for driving while suspended on the 300 block of North Market Street.

A summons was issued to Carl D. Colville, 62, for driving while suspended on U.S. Highway 71 and Jet Road.

March 13

There is an ongoing investigation for forgery on the 100 block of North Vine Street.

March 12

A summons was issued to Mikki A. Owens, 29, for littering on the 1000 block of East Thompson Street.

A summons was issued to Francis J. Jaime, 29, for driving while suspended and careless and imprudent driving on the 500 block of West Lincoln Street.

March 11

A summons was issued to Autumn L. Wagner, 22, for driving while suspended and careless and imprudent driving on the 3000 block of South Main Street.

March 10

There was an accident between Madylene S. Vore, 18, and Karla L. Ostrander 55, on the 700 block of South Main Street.

cally think more in class. The importance of critical thinking in classes has risen because of how much people can rely on their phones to gather information.

“Well now the knowledge is at our fingertips,” Farnan said. “So, now we need to spend our time (figuring out) how do

TUITION

CONTINUED FROM A1

For Online Professional students, there will be a $21 per credit hour increase for undergraduate tuition and can range from $25 to $28 per credit hour for graduate students.

When it comes to fee increases, Vice President of Student Affairs Matt Baker and Carrick presented those to the Student Senate and a Fees Committee within the organization. With the approval from Senate, designated fees will go up by $10.50 per credit hour.

The Safe Ride Home fee will be going up a dollar to $2.75 per credit hour, the Student Activity Fee will be raised from $3 to $4 per credit hour, Campus recreation fees will go up by $3.50 and the Campus Master Plan Fee will be raised $5 per credit hour.

Regent Jason Klindt, who is also a part of the finance committee, had reservations about passing the raising prices. He said Northwest needs to not only look at other Missouri universities, but other institutions within the region to keep the University in competition with those schools.

“I’ve been on this board now for five years, and this is just a yearly vote that we kind of seem to walk through, and I’m concerned about the ease with which we do it,” Klindt said. “I get concerned when Student Senate is unanimously passing on fees.”

Despite Klindt’s concerns, the Regents passed the rates in a 5-1 vote. Carrick said more fees would be brought to the Board of Regents in May.

Other Board of Regents

Business:

• The Board of Regents approved the ratification of a contract with Sodexo Operations LLC for dining hall services. The contract will begin May 15.

• The Regents approved an agreement with TouchNet Information Systems for subscription program services for the next five years.

BUSINESS

CONTINUED FROM A1

we use that knowledge in a productive way. So, as the world has changed, that’s how we need to change at the higher-ed level. We don’t need to necessarily teach as much regurgitated content because that’s at our fingertips all the time.”

Lynn said with careers coming in the

future that do not exist now, students knowing how to find solutions to problems via technology is important.

The two also presented several assignment ideas that can be utilized to increase engagement, such as students having to make infographics from information that is appropriate to their field.

Farnan said engagement is important because it reveals the practicality of the information being shown in class to students, as they can see how it’s applicable to their futures, and that this application makes students more engaged.

The current generation of students presents newfound challenges to university staff. Farnan and Lynn said that there are goals professors can utilize to adhere to this new generation of students, such as being culturally responsive, allowing their students to better know them through authenticity, caring for their students’ wellness and more.

Cooperative learning strategies provide flexibility in the classroom to atone to different types of students. Introverted students can be assisted through different classroom discussion, such as using groups compared to bigger groups so that the introvert may still participate without being overwhelmed.

“We do it because we enjoy it,” Lynn said. “We want to share what we know to help to make our Northwest students’ experiences better.”

Many of the children had support systems, including parents and other adult figures helping them out. Cody Peters was there to support his friend’s daughter who was selling baked goods.

“They have to do everything themselves, they can’t have help,” Peters said. “You can give them pointers, but learning the business aspect of it and having to pay taxes and everything after it, I think it’s awesome.”

The children involved in this event were given the opportunity to work on their business skills and receive feedback from others to help them grow and be successful. Many of the kids said they would be continuing their businesses at similar events.

Heddinger said this was a good opportunity for the children participating in the fair. She said the community has been very supportive with a large turnout. Holly Cronk from Make it Maryville said the fair was a huge success.

The fair is also called a pop-up market and is an annual event that the library will continue to host for opportunities in the years to come.

“This was a great opportunity to build entrepreneurs in our community,” Heddinger said.

Shantel Farnan conducted a critical thinking presentation about teaching adult students to Northwest faculty March 16. Farnan presented alongside Tamara Lynn as a part of their Faculty Professional Development Day workshop.

GRACE ROTHWEILER MISSOURIAN PHOTOGRAPHER

GRAPHIC BY SAVANNAH ATHY-SEDBROOK ASST. DESIGN EDITOR

Owner of Karina’s Greenhouse Karina Wall talks to customers about her business selling plants. Several of the businesses were donating parts of the profits to the New Nodaway Humane Society and other organizations.

Sexual violence prevention starts here

MAKAYLA POLAK Editor-in-Chief @kaypolak

As a sexual assault survivor myself, there are a few things I wish I knew before I became the unwanted owner of this title. There are preventative measures that no one told me about. There are things I could have done, had I known them, that could have saved me years of pain and distress.

Although we have all heard the phrase “no means no,” unfortunately, it doesn’t always work. So, here I am, giving you the preventative measures that I learned too late, in hopes it can save at least one person from having to feel the pain us survivors face every day.

Always trust your gut. There will come a time that you may feel unsure about a situation. You don’t know if you want to go through with it and don’t know if you should stop someone from making passes. If you are questioning it, you probably don’t want to be in the situation.

You have every right to stop someone. If you are not 100% wanting to go through with it, know that you don’t have to. Never blame yourself for it either. Telling a person that you misled or misread them is a lot easier than it seems, especially in comparison to its counterpart.

Say it a million times. Say it 70 different ways. Say it until your voice gives out. No truly does mean no. Like I said, they may not respect it, but you have to try. You can’t give in, laugh it off or just pull away, you have to say it.

Scream it at the top of your lungs. Let everyone in a onemile radius hear your voice if the person violating you can’t. Not only will you draw attention towards you, but you may just scare this person off They don’t want the attention drawn to them. Deep down, they know what they are doing is wrong, and they don’t want to get caught.

Sexual assault has assault in the name for a reason. You are being assaulted, and if your words or screaming does not do enough, understand that you have every right to fight back. Though it might seem easier to give in, let it happen and avoid something worse happening, you are wrong. This is the worst. I gave in, and I can’t forgive myself for it.

You truly have to do everything in your power to fight back. I mean it. This, unfortunately, can be a life or death situation, and you want to live, no matter what you may be feeling at that moment.

Physically responding may seem scary. You might be afraid of retaliation or being hurt further. I will not lie to you and tell you that it won’t happen, but you have to try. Push, kick, scratch and punch if you have to. Do what you need to get out of it.

I know that everything I just told you seems self-explanatory, but when you are in the situation, a lot of this escapes your mind and the only thing you can think of is doing what you have to do to let it be over as soon as possible. Never cave in, fight for yourself.

Your Bearcat loves finding pet peeves THE STROLLER:

As I continue my journey on dating apps, and occasionally following through and actually going on dates, I have found myself thinking more about icks than ever.

TikTok is fueling the fire because now I’m thinking of every ick I have ever scrolled past when I think about the guys I am talking to. This also isn’t helping my already-horrific response times. How am I supposed to text a guy back when all I can think about is

him wearing water shoes to a water park, chasing a ping pong ball or him having pasta sauce around his mouth?

Thinking about these things makes me actually shudder. It’s not like these are far-fetched situations that rarely happen, it’s something that can happen when I’m on a date with someone.

Though it is irrational to be nervous about small habits like these, it is very real. What if after seven years of dating we decide

to go on vacation and I learn he claps when the plane lands? That is something I simply can’t pretend like I didn’t see.

Though I have been saying that icks are causing the destruction of my dating life, they aren’t always a downside. They can be incredibly helpful in the right situation. The cure to a broken heart? Imagine him plugging his nose while jumping in a pool. Get cheated on? Imagine him dancing to a song and jumping when

he thinks the beat drops and it doesn’t. This won’t fix all your problems, but it definitely helps in the moment. I worry that if I keep going down the path I am on, I will end up alone, but that is something I will sacrifice if it means not dating someone who doesn’t wear socks with their shoes.

OUR VIEW:

Gender equality needs to be present in every workplace

For centuries, women have statistically been given less opportunities than men. Specifically, in the workplace, women are not given the same playing field as men. In the last 20 years, the pay gap has barely changed as women earn 82 cents per man’s dollar. Black women earn around 63 cents, and Hispanic or Latina women earn around 58 cents. This is unacceptable.

Every woman deserves to be treated as much as their worth is, and that is as much as a man. This is more than asking for respect; women are asking for basic equality and the opportunity to be as successful as their male counterparts.

Professional Sports

In this field, women make 95 cents per man’s dollar. While men’s sports have money thrown at them, female athletes play in run-down facilities, are given less desirable times for games and in general, are not discussed as much. This discrimination includes athletes, management, trainers and media.

Entertainment

Women make 85 cents per man’s dollar in this industry. This can lead to a difference of millions of dollars for coworkers starring in the same productions. In fact, of the top 100 highest paid celebrities only 14 are women, according to Forbes.

YOUR VIEW:

Have you experienced gender bias in the workplace?

While Scarlett Johansson is currently the highest paid actress, she still made $199 million less than the highest paid actor, George Clooney. Even worse, the combined earnings for the 10 highest paid actresses in 2018 was $186 million compared to the combined $748.5 million from men.

Government

The United States government is male dominated with women making 85 cents per man’s dollar. The amendment giving women the right to vote is barely over 100 years old. Female politicians are still told they can’t make logical decisions without the influence of their hormones.

Education

Within this field, women make 89 cents per man’s dollar. Education is an occupation women are expected to be interested in, specifically elementary education. While this is a field with more female employees, men hold a majority of jobs in higher education. Only 36% of full-time professors are women, and men are still being paid more to teach at a higher level.

Healthcare

Women in healthcare make 87 cents per man’s dollar. This occupation reinforces the idea that females should be nurturing. People assume women will become nurses because doctors are typ-

ELYSSA FORD Humanities/Social Sciences Associate Professor

“This is my 12th year here, and the person who I replaced was the first female faculty member and was the only female faculty member in this department for a really, really long time.”

HEATHER JANUS Freshman Marine Biology

ically males, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. Just because a job requires more qualifications, doesn’t mean a woman can’t do it.

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

In this field, women make up to 92 cents per man’s dollar. Despite growth, there is still underrepresentation of women in STEM. Society encourages girls who express interest in math and science to pursue “feminine” careers. On top of this, women who actually make it into the field face discouragement from peers.

Manual Labor

This is a field with one of the biggest pay gaps with women making 81-90 cents per man’s dollar, simply because it’s viewed as an occupation a woman shouldn’t have. Heavy lifting, getting dirty and fixing machinery are all seen as jobs for men. These stereotypes encourage the idea that women shouldn’t be paid as much for the same job because they’re weaker.

No one deserves to walk into work every day only to be belittled, degraded or made to feel as though their work is less than that of their coworkers, simply because of their gender.

KAITLIN EPPERSON Assistant Animal Science Professor

“I actually work construction. By a couple of men I was viewed as weaker because I am a woman in a male dominated field, but I did the same exact job as they did.”

“I would say that have trouble perceiving your opinion, simply because it’s not coming from a male. In my experience, most of the time, people are very genuine and kind.”

The Stroller has been a tradition since 1918 and does not reflect the views of the Northwest Missourian.

Central is No. 1 in the MIAA standings, as well as No. 1 in the conference in team batting average (.335). Northwest is right below the Bronchos, with an average of .320.

Tellez said the plan is to slow Central down as much as possible defensively.

“I think it’s gonna take all our arms honestly, working ahead in counts and really pinpointing our location,” Tellez said. “Obviously, you know, being here at home sometimes the balls fly, so keeping things down in the zone and working ahead helps.”

Newman is last in the MIAA standings, No. 12 in batting average (.279), last in ERA (6.5) and No. 13 in fielding percentage (.954).

Tellez and Nolte said the key is to stay focused during that second day of softball for Northwest.

“Putting runs up on the board, so our pitchers can throw loose,” Tellez said about the plan against the Jets. “I think that game is really gonna be just taking a lot of solid defense and quality at-bats.”

“We’re hoping to take a clean sweep,” Nolte said. “We haven’t swept anybody yet, but we really think that we can get those two ‘dubs’ back-to-back, which would be great for our confidence and also for our record.”

BASEBALL CONTINUED FROM A12

“We’re headed down to their place, and it’s always tough to go on the road in the MIAA, but you need to be ready to play,” Spitzmiller said. “If we can take a series on the road in the MIAA, it’s a great thing, especially after we lost a home series this weekend.”

“In our win against Emporia State, we hit the ball, had quite a few hits, quite a

few

hard-hit balls, but we did have a few errors in the field, and our bullpen had a few too many walks,” Loe said. “We need to clean up some of those things, and I think we’ll be all right.”

After the three-game road trip, Northwest will come back home to face Washburn March 28. The Ichabods stunned the Bearcats 9-8 in walk-off fashion March 14 in Topeka, Kansas.

Since then, the Ichabods lost their se-

ries 1-2 against No. 11 Missouri Southern March 17-19 in Topeka, Kansas. Spitzmiller said the key to defeating the Ichabods is remaining focused.

“Obviously, you want to win every time you go out on the field, but I think our biggest thing is we just need to compete,” Spitzmiller said. “I think sometimes we start worrying about turf and worrying about too many other things when we just need to go out there and only focus on competing every pitch.”

Northwest prepares for start of outdoor track competition

WESLEY MILLER Sports Editor | @wesleymiller360

After claiming two national titles at the conclusion of the indoor season, Northwest track and field is set to transition to the outdoor season in the Emporia State University Relays March 23-25 in Emporia, Kansas and the Spank Blasing Invitational March 24-25 in Pueblo, Colorado.

Northwest sent a school-record 21 qualifiers across the men’s and women’s teams to the Division II Indoor Championships March 10-11. The men claimed seventh place, and the women took 10th. Northwest athletes earned 16 All-American honors for their performances at nationals. Coach Brandon Masters said it was the perfect way to cap off the indoor season and begin preparation for the outdoors.

“It’s confidence,” Masters said. “We weren’t expected to finish as high as we were, even though I knew we were pretty good. … I think confidence isn’t a problem with the ladies right now, but the men showing up at (nationals) really makes up a lot of difference for their outdoor season. It’s exciting to see what the boys can do.”

Between the men’s and women’s teams, Northwest has produced a national champion in back-to-back outdoor seasons.

In 2021, Hiba Mahgoub (201621) became Northwest’s first women’s outdoor track national champion in the women’s 200-meter dash. Last season, then-sophomore Reece Smith won the men’s 3000-meter steeplechase at nationals.

Junior Tiffany Hughey, who was part of the title-winning women’s 4x400-meter relay squad at the indoor championships, will be one of many ath-

Emporia State University Relays

March 23-25

Emporia, Kansas

letes aiming to make it threestraight seasons with a national champion in the outdoor season.

Masters said Hughey along with 20 other athletes who went to nationals won’t be starting their season in Emporia, but she said she’s ready to transition.

“I don’t think it’ll be too hard because we’re in a deep part of our training,” Hughey said.

“We’ve been training all year long for this. I feel like I’m fit enough and strong enough to go out and run well.”

The Bearcats were given more time to prepare after — what was meant to be the first meet of the outdoor season — the Emporia State University Invitational March 18 was canceled due to weather.

Even with the extra time, some of whom haven’t competed since Friday Night Lights - Last Chance Meet Feb. 17, Masters said he plans on focusing on preparation rather than results at Emporia.

“We’ll have some people perform well, but we’re in a deep segment of training right now, so we have a lot of sore bodies,” Masters said. “We’re just gonna go down and run. The beautiful thing about track and field is we do not have a win-loss record. We only have to be good when it counts, and, right now, it does not matter.”

In Missouri, high school does not split up for an indoor and outdoor season in track and field. With 31 athletes across the men’s and women’s side from Missouri, some athletes haven’t experienced two full seasons in a single academic year before.

Masters said the true challenge comes from getting athletes adapted to an indoor season rather than helping them transition from indoor to outdoor. He said the strategies in events change from one season to the other, and he said his coaching staff works hard to help relay that to the athletes.

Hughey said her experience with two seasons has helped her prepare for the outdoor season.

“In high school, we didn’t have an indoor-outdoor-typeof thing,” Hughey said. “I’ve been doing this for like four years now, so I’d say I’m pretty used to it. I’m just excited to get back out there again.”

Northwest track and field sophomore sprinter Enrico Cavagna practices for the upcoming outdoor season. He will have a chance to beat his personal-best of 6.83 in the 60-meter dash from the indoor season.

SIDDHARTH CHAUDHARY MISSOURIAN PHOTOGRAPHER

Freshman outfielder Evan Tocmo laughs with teammates while playing with a hacky sack in a circle before the 13-11 loss against Emporia State March 20. The Bearcats are 5-19 going into their three-game series with Northeastern State March 25-26 in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.

DAKOTA WEAVER PHOTO EDITOR

“ I’m just excited to get back out there again.”

-TIFFANY HUGHEY JUNIOR SPRINTER, TRACK AND FIELD

Northwest track and field freshman sprinter Kennedi Cline practices March 21 for the upcoming outdoor season. The Bearcats’ first meet is March 23-25 at the Emporia State Relays.

SIDDHARTH CHAUDHARY MISSOURIAN PHOTOGRAPHER

Northwest golf to travel to St. Joseph

Northwest golf is headed to the Holiday Inn Classic March 27-28 at St. Joseph Country Club after placing sixth in the Midwest Intercollegiate Invite March 20-21 at Mules National Golf Club in Warrensburg, Missouri.

After the Bearcats placed 11th in its first spring meet of the year, the Diffee Ford Lincoln Invite March 6-7 at Lincoln Park Golf Club in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the ’Cats moved up five spots on the team leaderboard at the Midwest Intercollegiate Invite in their last outing.

Coach Andy Peterson said it is all about continuing to get comfortable competing as the spring season goes along.

“Take every shot, one shot at a time, one hole a time and just work through it that way,” Peterson said. “You really can’t get too high or too low right now, and it’s just continuing to get comfortable with your swing and comfortable with the conditions.”

Northwest took sixth place in Warrensburg with a score of 667, shooting 343 in the first round of the meet March 20 and finished the meet with a score of 324 March 21.

I T Z E N B E R G E R PITZENBERGER P I T Z E N B E R G E R PITZENBERGER

Sophomore Paige Hoffman played a vital role in the sixth place finish for Northwest, as she tied for sixth individually out of 81 golfers in the Midwest Intercollegiate Invite. Hoffman shot a score of 156 in the two days in Warrensburg, with a score of 80 during the first and 76 on the second.

Hoffman also had three birdies on the second day and four total in the meet. Hoffman finished with three more shots than the two leaders of the tournament, Augustana’s senior Molly Stevens and Central Missouri’s redshirt junior Hayley Jones.

Hoffman said even though the weather was not great in Warrensburg — with a twohour delay in the middle of the second day of the tournament due to rain — the team didn’t let that dictate how they were going to finish on a wet golf course.

“The whole meet was just kind of like a mental battle with yourself,” Hoffman said. “Just keeping yourself in it and going, more so than some tournaments are.”

Along with Hoffman’s performance, junior Elly Speece finished tied for 25th with a score of 82 in the fi rst round and 83 in the second.

Junior Taylor Sedivec improved from the first day to the second, as she jumped from a 93 in the first round to an 81 in the second. Her bounce back on the second day propelled her to tied for 49th place.

Sophomore Kylie Carey, senior Lauren Wood and freshman Kayla Moline all improved on the second day in Warrensburg, as they combined for an average of five less shots compared to the first day.

Hoffman and Peterson said it’s about consistent improvement from meet to meet, as the Bearcats prepare for a roughly 45-minute road trip to St. Joseph for their competition.

“I think our team wants to work on hitting more greens in regulation,” Hoffman said. “Just really getting our swings in tune. We haven’t had the opportunity to hit a lot of balls outside on the range. The range just opened up at Mozingo recently, so I know we are looking forward to seeing more balls fly outside.”

“We are still early in the spring,” Peterson said. “Conditions are not gonna be great probably, so you just gotta take what you can get and compete.”

Maryville boys tennis competes with Savannah in season opener

On a cold, 40-degree Tuesday afternoon, Maryville boys tennis team took a 6-3 loss against Savannah in the season-opener March 21.

The Spoofhounds went winless in doubles matches, going 0-3. To end the contest, the team went 3-3 in singles matches. Coach Nicole McGinness said it was a good experience for the whole team.

“We got a lot of new players this year, and we also have a few returning players that are helping their teammates out and showing the newcomers how to play,” McGinness said. “We have a few new guys that have made varsity already, so it is just getting everybody ready for the season.”

For any athlete in any sport, improvements are the main key to success. Sophomore Kristian Mendez, No. 1 in singles and doubles on the Spoofhounds roster, said he has his strategies in place to improve and maximize his style of play.

“I am mostly working on getting my serve in play and focusing on keeping the point in play so I have better results in the end,” Mendez said.

Maryville has only lost five games combined from the 2021 and 2022 seasons. The loss to the Savages marks the Spoofhounds’ third season-opening loss in four

seasons — the 2020 season was canceled due to COVID.

McGinness said the team has a reputation of taking losses as a learning experience.

“We really just hope that we can improve from last year in our doubles,” McGinness said. “And our singles are a major concern, but we hope that we can make a pretty good run into the postseason.”

Every player has postseason hopes throughout the season, and it is the same for 16 Maryville athletes, including Mendez.

He said the team can make huge strides so that his teammates can make the run alongside him.

“I feel like our team has a shot to make it past districts and to go

well into the regional tournaments as long as we keep practicing and having that ‘it’ factor to make everyone better and achieve their goals,” Mendez said.

Maryville will host Cameron at 4 p.m. March 28. The Spoofhounds host another Midland Empire Conference foe, Benton, at 4 p.m. March 29.

Northwest’s women’s golf junior Elly Speece tied for 18th place at the Midwest Intercollegiate Invite held March 20-21 in Warrensburg, Missouri. The Bearcats will head to the Holiday Inn Classic March 27-28 in St. Joseph.

TREY HOUCHIN Missourian Reporter | @NWMSports

CARSON BREMER Sports Reporter | @CBMissourian

Maryville boys tennis sophomore Kristian Mendez and freshman Willian Sheil shake hands with Savannah players after their doubles match March

Northwest tennis to match up with rival Washburn

No. 16 Northwest men’s tennis has played 11 matches, while the No. 27 women’s tennis team has played 13 matches this season, but both teams will share a common goal to defeat MIAA foe Washburn March 25 in Topeka, Kansas.

Coach Mark Rosewell said it’s going to be important matches for both teams, but playing the Ichabods makes them even more special.

“First of all, that’s a rivalry match, and they’re awfully good,” Rosewell said. “They beat our women last year, and we beat their men, but they were both close matches. Over there it’s probably going to be a close match again.”

The men’s team is 6-5 overall and 1-0 in conference play after losing a close match to No. 18 Southwest Baptist, 4-3, March 16. The Bearcats have been in six matches that were decided by one point, the ’Cats have won just two of those six matches.

Northwest senior and No. 2 singles player Fabien Calloud won his singles match against Southwest Baptist and is 6-5 in singles this season. He said playing tough teams helps the Bearcats get better.

“We’ve been playing great teams,” Calloud said. “It is frustrating, but it does help us for future matches just to kind of get back to practice and train even harder to win those matches. We’ve lost some, but we’ve also won some important ones. We’re not giving up anything. We’re just practicing even harder in our season as we head into conference matches now, so we’re excited and motivated to win.”

The men’s team has defeated the Ichabods the last three times they’ve clashed. This is just the second conference match of the season for Northwest.

Calloud said the key to beating Washburn is playing the Ichabods like they do every team.

Spoofhound track teams start season at Bearcat Indoor

After weeks of preparation, the track and field season has begun for Maryville High School. The season is young, with two meets already in the record books and 10 more competitions to come.

To kickoff the season with Bearcat Indoor March 18, the Spoofhounds had multiple top-five finishers in multiple events, including two secondplace finishes by senior Keaton Stone in the long jump and the triple jump. Stone said it was nice to get the first meet under his belt.

“It is the start of the season — just finished with basketball season — but I’m still trying to get in the groove with track,” Stone said. “I can’t complain too much because those numbers will go up as the season progresses.”

At the meet, the boys track team took fourth place out of 17 teams with 44 athletes on Maryville’s boys roster. On the girls’ side, the Spoofhounds claimed the No. 15 spot out of 20 teams with 29 athletes on the girls team. Savannah girls were the only other Midland Empire Conference squad to compete, and the Savages finished 16th.

On this year’s track and field team, coach Rodney Bade has 14 freshmen across the boys and girls teams. Even with the youth, he said he looks to get more conference championships and state qualifiers this year with the team he has at his fingertips. He said even with low placement on the girls side at the Bearcat Indoor, he expects good things to come.

“We pride ourselves on individual qualifiers and relay qualifiers,” Bade said. “We have a great hurler. We have a few girls who are returning from a (4x100-meter relay) that went to state last year, and we have a discus thrower that qualified for state. I would say that our strengths are hurdles, short sprints and throws.”

Being a senior this year, Stone has already committed

to Central Missouri to continue his track and field career, but he said he still has goals that he wants to achieve.

“I feel like the big goal is to win the state title,” Stone said. “I feel like the goal in every high school season is to get to the state track meet again and hopefully stand atop of the podium.”

For Bade, who took over the helm at Maryville in summer 2019, there is always room to improve in every event. Bade said there’s no time to take a break in a busy season, and without much depth on the boys and girls teams, there’s more focus on working hard to score more points.

He said the chemistry within the team is amazing, which makes it easier to win and easier to accept a loss.

“If we lose, we lose as a team, and if we win, we win as a team,” Calloud said. “That mentality is really helping us this season. We’re even more motivated because we’re playing at their place, so winning against them at their place would make this a huge win for us and kind of boost our confidence going into the later part of the season.”

The women’s team is 10-3 overall and 2-0 in conference play. The Bearcats have won four straight matches, including a 6-1 win over No. 22 NebraskaKearney March 9.

Northwest women’s No. 1 singles player junior Vera Alenicheva is ranked No. 21 nationally in singles. Alenicheva is 10-2 on the season in singles matches. Like her coach, Alenicheva said the matchup with Washburn will be a tough one.

“We’re probably going to play them again in regionals and conference tournaments, but, right now, the team is really good,” Alenicheva said. “We’re winning really good matches, and — looking at Washburn’s matches — we definitely have a chance, and it would just give us more confidence for the conference and regional tournaments then nationals.”

The ’Cats will have nine days

o

ff between their 5-2 win over Southwest Baptist March 16 and their match against Washburn. Alenicheva said the break could be very beneficial.

“It’ll be about a week off from playing matches, but I think that can help us because we’ve been playing a lot,” Alenicheva said. “But, definitely continuing our winning streak against Washburn would be amazing. We’re doing our best practicing right now to prepare for that.”

Girls soccer blows out Savannah at home to begin 2023 campaign

Maryville girls soccer opened the 2023 season at Bearcat Pitch against Savannah March 21. Even a day after the start of spring, the temperatures hovered roughly around 40 degrees with a light mist of rain in the second half of the match.

don’t score more than one goal the whole season so two goals a game felt good.”

“Our running events are really strong, and our throwing events are on the rise,” Bade said. “We have a couple seniors who score a lot of points for us, and we might have one kid who scores a lot of points in one event, and then we can’t score as many after that.”

The Maryville Time Trial March 22 is the last of two consecutive home meets for the Spoofhounds. Their next meet is the Lathrop Invitational March 28. There won’t be a competition in Maryville again until the Spoofhound Invitational April 27.

The weather didn’t slow down the Spoofhounds, though, Senior forward Kennedy Kurz received a pass from her sister, junior forward Payton Kurz, at the top of the penalty box and scored the first goal of the season for the Spoofhounds merely seven minutes into the match.

“It felt good to get that first goal of the season, especially getting the goal off an assist from my sister,” Kennedy Kurz said.

With 22:43 left in the first half, Kennedy Kurz scored another goal from the same spot to put the Spoofhounds up 2-0. Senior midfielder Katie Weiss added two goals to start her season — one with 16:26 left in the first half and the other coming with 6:36 until halftime.

“I honestly didn’t think I was going to make any of those goals,” Weiss said. “Normally, I

In the second half, with the Spoofhounds up 4-0, Kennedy Kurz continued her night coming out of halftime and scored another goal less than eight minutes into the half.

Nearly the rest of the match was a defensive battle, as senior goalkeeper Abby Swink denied a few shot attempts by the Savages.

The Spoofhounds added two more goals in the final five minutes, courtesy of sophomore forwards Ryesen Stiens and Jalea Price, who scored her first goal of the new campaign in the final seconds of the season-opener.

Assistant coach Courtney Kennedy coached her first game with the team and said that it was a fun environment.

“I am glad we came out with intensity in my first game with the girls,” Kennedy said. “There was a lot of communication during warmups and at halftime. We were having fun and laughing. It was fun and very heartwarming.”

Up next, the Spoofhounds

will play Lafayette-St. Joseph at 5 p.m. March 28 at Bearcat Pitch. Before the Spoofhounds’ second of six games this season, the Fighting Irish will play three straight matches to start the 2023 season.

Maryville is 28-1 against Lafayette since March 26, 2009. The Spoofhounds have shut out the Fighting Irish in every game since May 13, 2019. After the first match of the season, Kennedy said she wants to see the players have more calmness throughout the match, regardless of a big win or not.

“Going into the first game — winning 7-0 — they gave us so much space and room to do what we want,” Kennedy said. “Sometimes the girls panicked during the game today and made some mistakes, so confidence is the key going into next week.”

Northwest women’s tennis junior Angela per Moreno swings her racket during practice for the ongoing tennis season March 22. The Bearcats are 6-5 on the season and will face off against Washburn March 25 in Topeka, Kansas.

SIDDHARTH CHAUDHARY MISSOURIAN PHOTOGRAPHER

Maryville girls soccer junior midfielder Presley Ingram takes a header in the 7-0 win against Savannah March 21. The Spoofhounds have their next home game against Lafayette-St. Joseph March 28.

SIDDHARTH CHAUDHARY MISSOURIAN PHOTOGRAPHER

RIVER BOYD Sports Reporter | @RiverBoyd5

CARSON BREMER Sports Reporter | @CBMissourian

Bennett Stirtz is familiar with success. In four seasons with Liberty High School in Liberty, Missouri, he earned two Class 6 all-state selections, one Suburban Big 8 Gold Conference Player of the Year honor and two all-district awards.

At the conclusion of the freshman guard’s first season with Northwest men’s basketball, the success followed him into college. He led the MIAA in shooting with a 58.9% field goal percentage and assist/turnover ratio, with 2.1 assists for every turnover. He was also No. 3 in steals, averaging two per game. His performance helped him become just the seventh player in program history to win MIAA Freshman of the Year.

“Looking back on it, it was pretty special,” Bennett Stirtz said about winning the award. “I was confident in my game and that I could compete, but I honestly didn’t expect this. … Just to see my hard work actually pay off is special.”

Bennett Stirtz was part of a group of four freshmen that joined a program fresh off the only national title threepeat in Division II basketball history.

While some may not have expected much from the freshman in the beginning of the season, that changed when he earned his first collegiate start in Northwest’s 72-45 win over Missouri Southern Dec. 1. He never left the starting lineup in the Bearcats’ remaining 26 games.

Expectations aren’t unfamiliar to Bennett Stirtz, either, after he helped Liberty to a Class 5 District 15 title — the Blue Jays’ third district title in four seasons — during his sophomore year (2019-20).

Bennett Stirtz said he just tries to focus on himself. Coach Ben McCollum, who has coached five of Northwest’s seven MIAA Freshman of the Year winners, said it’s as if the pressure just rolls right off Bennett Stirtz.

“There’s a little bit of pressure, and there’s a lot of expectations — like people expect us to win — but I don’t try to be like any other players that came through,” Bennett Stirtz said. “I just try to be myself, try and play like myself and just try

and be the best version of myself.”

“I think because of the way we try to treat everybody in regards to, ‘process versus results,’ I think sometimes that alleviates some of that pressure,” McCollum said. “You know, he’s a kid that’s been good his whole life, so he’s probably dealt with it before.”

Before Bennett Stirtz’s first McCollum locker room speech, he was more familiar with who was giving the motivation. Bennett Stirtz’s dad, Roger Stirtz, coached Liberty for 23 years before stepping down in March 2022.

Bennett Stirtz said it took time to get used to playing under someone else other than his dad, but, even in college, Roger Stirtz was his support system.

“My dad was really supportive all year,” Bennett Stirtz said. “I mean, he helped me through the tough times and the good times, as well. … He gave me tips and pointers throughout the season, and we kept in touch a lot.”

“Basketball’s not who he is totally, he’s much more than that, but basketball is a huge part of his life and part of his DNA,” Roger Stirtz said. “It was amazing to watch from a different seat in the house.”

Among his personal achievements, Bennett Stirtz also helped the program to its 10th-consecutive MIAA regular season title and its seventh conference tournament championship in eight seasons.

Whether it’ll be through high-flying dunks, 3-pointers or nabbing steals on defense, Bennett Stirtz said he wants to make the most of his time in Maryville, and he said he hopes to help bring a national title back to Northwest after the Bearcats’ three-time defending title run came to an end against Southern Nazarene in the Central Region Semifinals March 12.

He also said the Northwest fans in his first season were incredible, and he said he’s blessed to have a community like Maryville to grow in.

“It was amazing,” Bennett Stirtz said about the Bearcats’ fandom. “They brought in a freshman from Kansas City, and they welcomed me with open arms. It’s an amazing family here in Maryville.”

Whether in need of help for yourself or to help someone else, you can find resources available and free to Northwest students at the link below. Together we can become Bearcat Better.

The past few years have not been easy. It is more important than ever to understand and prioritize your mental health and take the time to Be Kind to Your Mind.

Northwest men’s basketball freshman guard Bennett Stirtz cuts the net from the south rim inside Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri, after the Bearcats’ 61-53 win in the MIAA Tournament Championship March 5.

MAKAYLA POLAK EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Freshman guard Bennett Stirtz dunks the ball after a fast break, helping Northwest extend its lead to 45-31 against Missouri Western. Stirtz notched 10 assists and 6 points during the 65-52 win against the Griffons March 2.

DAKOTA WEAVER PHOTO EDITOR

‘Just try to be myself’: Stirtz talks about first season with Northwest men’s basketball

aim to surpass last season win total against visiting foes

Northwest softball is one win away from surpassing its season total from last season, after the Bearcats fi nished their 2022 campaign with a record of 15-36 and are 15-11 heading into their home doubleheader with Central Oklahoma March 24.

Coach Naomi Tellez said this team has taken a huge leap forward from last year.

“Now going into conference with a lot of confidence and growing from the year before is huge,” Tellez said.

Northwest won the first game of the doubleheader against Wayne State, 2-0, March 20, as freshman pitcher Jadyn Streigle pitched a complete-game shutout with eight strikeouts, while allowing one walk and seven hits through seven innings. The Bearcats dropped the second game against the Wildcats, 8-7, in extra innings.

Junior infielder Abby Nolte finished the doubleheader against Wayne State, going 4-for-7 with two home runs and three RBIs.

After the Bearcats (15-11, 1-3 MIAA) split the doubleheader against Wayne State (5-18) March 20 at Bearcat Softball Field, the ’Cats look ahead to their first home conference matchups against Central Oklahoma

Baseball goes to Oklahoma for series with Northeastern

Northwest baseball had a series of highs-and-lows against Emporia State March 19-20 at Bearcat Baseball Field. Despite earning a 10-9, walk-off win March 19, the Hornets outscored the Bearcats 30-23, en route to wins in the first and last games of the weekend.

The Bearcats will attempt to fix their mistakes going into their three-game series against Northeastern State March 2426 in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. That could be especially challenging for the ’Cats, since Northwest is 3-15 away from home this season. Coach Darin Loe said road games are challenging for every team.

“It’s awfully nice to play at home — everybody is good at home,” Loe said. “We feel like when we’re at home, we have those last at-bats and always have an opportunity to be successful. We just need to be a little sharper on the road. The good thing is we’ve been on the road a lot so we’re used to it by now.”

The last series the Bearcats (5-19, 3-10 MIAA) played in Tahlequah Feb. 26-28, 2021, resulted in a 2-1 series win for the RiverHawks (10-14, 4-9 MIAA). The last installment of the series was played in

UP NEXT

NW vs. Northeastern State

5 p.m. March 25

Tahlequah, Oklahoma

NW vs. Northeastern State

2 p.m. March 26

Tahlequah, Oklahoma

NW vs. Northeastern State

1 p.m. March 27

Tahlequah, Oklahoma

NW vs. Washburn

3 p.m. March 28

Bearcat Baseball Field

Maryville March 26-28, 2022, and the ’Cats won the three-game stint 2-1.

Senior pitcher Max Spitzmiller pitched in the first game of the doubleheader against Emporia State March 19. Spitzmiller threw for six innings had 11 strikeouts, and he allowed one run and two walks.

“I’m going to be honest, I think more than half the team is going to be new to going down to Tahlequah,” Spitzmiller said. “I think we’re just go-

UP NEXT

NW vs. Central Oklahoma

2 p.m. and 4 p.m. March 24 Bearcat Softball Field NW vs. Newman

2 p.m. and 4 p.m. March 25 Bearcat Softball Field NW vs. William Jewell

3 p.m. and 5 p.m. March 29 Liberty, Missouri

(20-3, 4-0 MIAA) and Newman (917, 0-2 MIAA) March 24-25.

Nolte said the last four non-conference home games have been a build up to the home-opening conference contests this weekend against the Bronchos and Jets.

“I think it builds our confidence playing at home,” Nolte said. “You want to win at home, and having some games that are non-conference under your belt can really drive a fire for the conference games.”

Northwest will face off against Central in a doubleheader at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. March 24. The Bearcats will matchup against Newman in another doubleheader at noon and 2 p.m. March 25. All games will be played at Bearcat Softball Field.

ing to work hard in practice and just try to be ready to play our best baseball. We have to put all three facets of baseball together — hitting, pitching and defense — but, after that, you gotta let the baseball play out.”

The RiverHawks were swept by Pittsburg State March 17-19, bringing their losing streak to five games. In the last five games,

the ’Cats are 1-4 and were outscored 44-35. After nine turnovers combined through the three contests with the Hornets, Spitzmiller and Loe said if the team is to earn its first series win of the season over Northeastern, the Bearcats need to play mistake-free baseball.

Sophomore infielder Skylar Pieper loads up in the batter’s box during the second game of a doubleheader with Augustana March 15. Pieper has 16 putouts over 26 games this season.

DAKOTA WEAVER PHOTO EDITOR

’Cats

TREY HOUCHIN Missourian Reporter | @NWMSports

RIVER BOYD Sports Reporter | @RiverBoyd5

Northwest baseball infielder Cole Slibowski is called for an interference as Emporia attempts to slide into second base on a double during the 13-11 loss March 20. The Bearcats are 3-7 against Emporia in the last 10 matchups and will face off against Northeastern State March 24.

DAKOTA WEAVER PHOTO EDITOR

Northwest softball coach Naomi Tellez and senior infielder Aubrey Griffith chat on third base in the 8-7 loss in the second game of a doubleheader with Wayne State March 20. The Bearcats are 15-11 on the season with another doubleheader against Central Oklahoma at 2 and 4 p.m. March 24.

DAKOTA WEAVER PHOTO EDITOR

DAKOTAWEAVER PHOTOEDITOR