Northwest students, members of Sigma Tau Gamma-Theta Chapter and others, such as University President Lance Tatum, gathered 8 p.m. April 17 around the Memorial Bell Tower to honor former student Joe Miller. Miller, 19, died April 11 due to a brain tumor. Sophomore Parker Heller was a friend and brother to Miller in Sig Tau. He said his death was sudden.
“It was really unexpected, because we were going to go see him Friday,” Heller said. “We found out he wasn’t doing the best…there was, I think, 20 of us, we were going to go see him, and then we get the call that morning that we can’t come see him because he’s gone.”
Heller said he felt broken at that moment.
Miller’s lifelong friend, freshman Avery Hanafan, said she found out Miller was not doing well April 9. She and Bryson Jensen, another of Miller’s longtime friends and his roommate, drove home from the University to see him that evening.
Rumors about tunnels
Whether it’s heating the sidewalks or a walkway between classes, many rumors float around Northwest about the tunnels under campus.
A series of tunnels runs under Northwest, mainly to provide heat and cooling to the different buildings. MEP Senior Supervisor Troy Brady works within the tunnels and provides tours when requested.
“We use our tunnels on this campus to convey our water, our gas, our electricity, our steam, our chilled water, all of the utilities that we use to keep this place running on a day-to-day basis,” Brady said.
The main walking tour of the tunnel goes from the John C. Redden Jr. Power Plant to Franken Hall or the B.D. Owens Library — depending on the end goal. A popular misconception on campus is the sidewalks are heated; this is not entirely true. Some parts of the sidewalks will melt ice and snow during the winter, but Brady said the steam lines can’t keep all the heat inside the steam jacket, and the melting is just a side effect.
A large part of the power plant was built in the late 1970s and early 80s. Northwest utilized wood pellets from different storms and similar situations, and tree trimmers would bring byproducts to the campus. Brady said eventually, vendors realized wood pellets had value as a renewable resource, and Northwest had to move away from that woodstock. Now that part of the plant is decommissioned, and other parts will be as well as Northwest decentralizes its plant.
“If you’re not aware of it, we’re actually decentralizing — breaking this plant apart because it is more efficient to actually have smaller plants out amongst the buildings,” Brady said.
To fund improvements, fee increases have been applied before. Facility Services has gone to stu-
dent groups, including Student Senate, to discuss these fee increases. The current designated/general fee for undergraduate students is $131.90.
“I understand the fact that things cost money, and you’re not oblivious to the fact that they cost money either,” Brady said. “But I think there is a stewardship that Northwest does a pretty decent job at not spending your money recklessly.”
Brady said the natural gas fire boilers are used to push steam out to campus. Once in the tunnels, there are a series of pipes along one wall, one of which can climb over 300 degrees.
“My mom had called me, and she had said that he (Miller) had gone into the ER Tuesday night, and that they found more masses on him, and that he had 10ish days, maybe,” Hanafan said. “It was in the brain, so kind of aggressive. You don’t ever really know what’s gonna happen.” Hanafan said they both had a chance to talk to Miller one last time before April 11.
She said when she received the call that he had died, it felt like an ‘Is it real?’ situation.
Hanafan said she and Miller knew each other their entire lives. Growing up, both of their dads were coaches at Lewis Central High School in Council Bluffs, Iowa. She said the two families would go on vacations together and hang out at basketball and football games. Hanafan said they felt like each other’s family.
“(My) earliest memory would probably be…kindergarten, first grade, when we started going to the lake together,” Hanafan said.
“Our families would take a week and we’d go to the lake, and you would always catch me and Joe (Miller) being down at the dock with each other, with our fishing poles away from everybody else.”
Hanafan said Miller’s liver cancer was first discovered during his sophomore year of high school. She said she knew he had not been at school and assumed he was sick. Later, Miller texted her to inform her he was going into surgery.
“We watched him go through 40-plus surgeries, a lot of rounds of chemo…he lost a lot of weight, and he lost his hair and everything,” Hanafan said.
“Even through all of that, you still knew who Joe (Miller) was. He wasn’t a different kid. He wasn’t shameful of his sickness.”
She said one memorable aspect of Miller was his mentality on life. Hanafan said he believed life is only a piece of time, while going up to Heaven is an eternity.
During the on-campus memorial service, Sigma Tau Gamma-Theta Chapter President Quinn Palmer said Miller was not afraid of death.
Northwest MEP Senior Supervisor Troy Brady points to different utilities that run through the tunnels running under Northwest’s campus.
AARON HARE PHOTO EDITOR
University alum to give mental health speech
Carson Huggins said college students can experience difficult times, so he encourages his peers to attend the event.
Mental Health Empowerment Night — an inspirational experience for some students, a full circle moment for one graduate.
Foster Huggins graduated from Northwest in spring 2023 with a degree in physical education. He taught for a year before diving headfirst into his mental health-based podcast and clothing brand, “UNDERWATER FLYZONE.” His Instagram page has amassed over 10,000 followers since. His presentation is 6:30 p.m. April 24 at Bearcat Arena — inside of Lamkin Activity Center.
“I decided that it was at a point where I can step away from teaching and go all in trying to make the impact that our brands have been trying to make, which is just spreading the message that ‘Your life is worth living,’” Foster Huggins said.
Foster Huggins has presented at multiple universities in Missouri, but coming back to Northwest to speak will be a dream come true for him.
His interactive presentation will begin with a testimony of his personal experience. Foster Huggins said he lost his best friend to suicide in April 2017.
“It’ll be eight years since the worst day of my life, and this night will be eight years later, hopefully this will be one of the best nights of my life,” Foster Huggins said. “These situations put you in such a dark tunnel, but it is so true that if you walk through the tunnel and heal properly, you’re going to see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
Foster Huggins said accepting his situation as reality was the first step in healing. His presentation will emphasize the importance of allowing oneself to feel emotions.
Some of Foster Huggins’ biggest supporters are his brother, Northwest senior Carson Huggins, and his wife Mayci Huggins, Northwest spring 2024 graduate.
Foster Huggins said Carson Huggins does everything from creating videos to running some behind-the-scenes technology work at his events. Without his brother, Foster Huggins said these events would not be possible.
From the beginning, Carson Huggins said he has wanted to do anything he could to support the brand. He said he got involved because he has a genuine connection to the mental health cause.
“Even though there’s no way to make that a better situation…keep pushing forward and keep having a positive outlook on life, and always know that regardless of what happened, your life is worth living,” Carson Huggins said.
“What Foster and what we’re going to come up here and share this event is real life-changing stuff,” Carson Huggins said. “I believe that some of the things Foster has said...have changed my life and gave me a different outlook on certain situations.”
Even though there’s no way to make that a better situation…keep pushing forward and keep having a positive outlook on life, and always know that regardless of what happened, your life is worth living.” CARSON HUGGINS
As for his wife, Foster Huggins said she is there to encourage him in all moments. Mayci Huggins said she supports Foster Huggins by being there for him, through every aspect of his career.
“I’m just always…motivated to help him to reach his goals,” Mayci Huggins said. “The merch drops that he does — he has a lot of amazing ideas and creativity, so just making sure that he knows how well he’s doing.”
Mayci Huggins said her favorite part of supporting Foster Huggins is seeing how much he loves what he does. She said God is working through him, and she’s proud to be his wife and encourage him.
One thing Foster Huggins keeps in mind as he takes the stage during these talks is to be himself. He said this work is what he’s called to do, so there’s no need to be nervous.
The goal for this event — and each one he does — is to empower the audience.
“I want everyone that attends the event to leave knowing the value of their life and to know how true the statement, ‘Your life is worth living,’ truly is,” Foster Huggins said.
Smithsonian Institution exhibit open through June 4
The Smithsonian Institution’s Museum on Main Street program aims to draw attention to rural areas and engage small-town audiences.
Maryville was chosen as one of six Missouri communities to host its latest exhibit.
“Voices and Votes: Democracy in America” is based on the Smithsonian Institution’s
“American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith,” an exhibit de-
signed to spark discussion on American democracy. It is set to display from April 23 to June 4 in The Rose Theatre.
Four local organizations are partnering to bring the exhibit to town: the Nodaway Community Theater Company, Make It Maryville, the Nodaway County Historical Society and the Maryville Public Library. Missouri Humanities is responsible for hosting the special tour.
Holly Cronk is the president of Make It Maryville and one of the exhibit’s coordinators. She said her goal with Make It Maryville is to enhance the city’s presence as a tourist destination, which the exhibit aligns perfectly with.
“Maryville…it depicts a huge slice of what Americana is nowadays, and I want to keep that in our town,” Cronk said. “I want to keep the closeness and the community and the families…but (at) the same time, I want to attract those dollars that are so vital to our survival. We want people to come to Maryville, we want them to spend the night, spend a week, be at the campground, blow all their dough and then go home broke.”
Nina Dewhirst, Nodaway Community Theater Company co-founder, is the exhibit’s other coordinator. When she first heard the Smithsonian Institution was searching for six small Missouri communities for the exhibit, she quickly realized Maryville was the perfect place.
“Because I have a background in theater, and because I’m so very interested in history…because this building was built in 1869 or 1870 — I thought that that would be a perfect venue to incorporate ‘Voices and Votes: Democracy in America,’” Dewhirst said.
Dewhirst said the exhibit will highlight the people of Nodaway County who shared their voices
to the world. It is expected to be open on Fridays from 5-8 p.m., Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and by special arrangement for groups of 10 or more.
Additionally, the Nodaway County Historical Society will feature a separate display showcasing women in American democracy.
Dewhirst said the main exhibit is meant to showcase American history and rights, as well as a citizen’s responsibility to vote. She emphasized everyone has something they want to fight for, no matter what they believe in.
Both Cronk and Dewhirst noted their strong friendship despite their own differences in political opinion. Cronk said speaking to those with different opinions helps people grow, expands their knowledge and promotes unity, which is what she hopes this program brings.
“I think we’re exhibiting — and it’s not by force, it’s genuine…that human decency, re-
spect, are things that are not politically driven, they’re just the way we should be treating each other,” Cronk said. “Just because we don’t agree on political beliefs does not mean that we can’t come together.”
For Cronk, she said this type of respect is something she hopes people who attend take home with them. She said even the tiniest of voices can bring about great change, but it doesn’t always have to be global — it can be in any community.
Dewhirst hopes the exhibit inspires pride, but not a boastful kind. She said many people in this country sacrificed a lot for people to have the right to vote, and she wants this experience to encourage people to value and use that right.
“Maybe it’s pride in being who we are, where we are, the fact that we are in this community and the fact that we are American citizens, many of us,” Dewhirst said.
Maryville community members browse Foster Huggins’ pop-up merchandise shop at the Spring Craft & Vendor Fair April 5. Huggins said coming back to speak after graduating in 2023 is a dream come true.
Smithsonian representative Robbie Davis teaches Grain Valley Historical Society representative Marica Napier how to put a display together April 17.
LILLY HALLMON PHOTOGRAPHER
DAKOTA OSWALT News Editor | @doswalt_NWMSRN
DAKOTA OSWALT News Editor | @doswalt_NWMSRN
Evergy awards grants to local projects
RAIEA SALERNO
Contributing Writer | @Raiea_S
Funding can be a major hurdle when finalizing various community projects. Evergy’s Hometown Grant program can help nonprofit organizations bring such plans to fruition.
For 2025, $10,000 grants will be awarded to seven community projects. To qualify, agencies must be a 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6) nonprofit agency that resides within one of Evergy’s service areas in Kansas and Missouri. Organizations must read the rules and apply on Evergy’s page by 5 p.m. May 2.
Director of Corporate Social Impact at Evergy Elizabeth Danforth said Evergy’s Hometown Grant program began in 2016. Originally called “Energize Your Environment,” the program started with the purpose of funding various environmental projects.
“Environmental leadership is one of our two focus areas,” Danforth said. “We wanted to encourage groups to think about some of their environmental projects and how we might be able to help them.”
Around 60 organizations — whether environmentally focused or not — applied for the grant when it opened this year. Projects can span from meditation gardens to educational facilities.
For example, Safehome was awarded a grant in 2022 to develop shelters for women and children escaping domestic violence in Johnson County, Kansas. Danforth said the project had a large impact on its community.
“That’s a great example of something where the group isn’t necessarily environmental, but the project is,” Danforth said. “That was a project that they weren’t going to be able to do without the grant.”
The Blue Rapids Community Action Team was awarded a grant through the program in 2023. The grant funded a new community playground in Blue
Rapids, Kansas. Laura Musil, a volunteer for the Blue Rapids Community Action Team, helps communities in Blue Rapids thrive through acts like spring cleanups and local business promotions.
She said without the grant, it would have been much harder to help her community.
“We want people to want to live here and grow their families and keep the community thriving,” Musil said. “It’s a great blessing. I haven’t felt like we should apply again since we did receive one, but it was really helpful.”
Musil said The Blue Rapids Community Action Team takes on hard labor when the city will not. Musil said before the team’s debut in 2018, she noticed when the city failed to fully empower the community. She later helped form the team to work with the city to give back to the people who needed it.
$10,000
in grants will be awarded to community projects.
Evergy’s grant started with a similar purpose. Danforth said she has been with Evergy for 20 years, and through all of those years, Evergy has always been the company to give back to communities.
“Prior to coming to Evergy, I actually worked for nonprofits and did fundraising,” Danforth said. “I was very well aware that Evergy had that commitment. I think companies, big and small, should always be focused on giving back to their communities.”
GRANT APPLICATION GUIDELINES
SOURCE: EVERGY
Asian American, Pacific Islander Heritage month celebrated
ASTRE SCHLAISS News Reporter | @AstreWords
Northwest’s student body includes a variety of backgrounds, three of which are East Asian, Asian American and Pacific Islander students.
May is used to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage. For students like Jin Fitzmaurice, treasure of the East Asia Organization, they celebrate East Asian culture year-round.
He said Northwest has given him a space to learn more about his and others’ heritage, as well as notice his peers do the same. He said there are many programs and professors who remind him that he does not have to fit the stereotypes of his Asian roots.
“I always get so self conscious, because I feel like I have to fit all of the stereotypes, where it’s like, smart, or like, even though I’m in the States, I have to be very in touch with my culture,” Fitzmaurice said. “Truth is, I was adopted, and so I don’t know any of that.” Fitzmaurice said the East Asia Organization has trouble getting the word out there for its events. Many people assume it’s only for those who are East Asian, or enjoy things like Kpop or Anime, but he said the organization is open to anyone interested in learning.
Ash Bollhoefer, president of the East Asia Organization, said because their organization is more niche, it may be overlooked. They said if someone is nervous about taking that step to join, that person can go into online communities to feel more comfortable.
Many Asian American and
Pacific Islander cultures exist, but the heritage month in May hopes to celebrate all types.
“I think it would be really cool if we could have more of those (Asian American Pacific Islander) cultures represented through like events,” Bollhoefer said. “Get to know someone and their culture through like a blog
or something that Northwest highlights and promotes that reaches more than just their usual audience.”
Bollhoefer said many people assume most Asian countries are underdeveloped. In reality, there are some larger cities like Beijing in China that are more technologically advanced than
some major American cities. They said they have heard many harmful stereotypes, such as eating pets or being bad drivers, some being more outlandish than others. They said modern day life in East Asia is quite similar to modern day life in the Midwest.
“I know a Japanese transfer student in East Asia Organization came to America, and he’s had a pretty easy time adjusting,” Bollhoefer said.
Bollhoefer said Northwest has limited representation when it comes to East Asian transfer students. They said they have noticed increased representation and events, but Northwest still has work to do.
Fitzmaurice said one of the ways the University could do this is by helping smaller and culture-based organizations promote its events. By supporting these events and helping to make them bigger, more students will have the opportunity to find these organizations.
“I think big events like that is what I love seeing from different cultural or different diversity clubs, because I feel like that’s how you get people excited, and that’s bringing your food or your clothing or your art to one big space where people can see that,” Fitzmaurice said.
Northwest sophomore East Asia Organization Treasurer Jin Fitzmaurice tests the size of a bracelet on junior Mason Moore at the East Asia Organization meeting April 18.
NATHAN NODA ASST. PHOTO EDITOR
CRIME LOG
for the week of April 24
Northwest Missouri State University Police Department
April 21
There is an open investigation for property damage in Parking Lot 27.
April 16
There is a closed investigation for a fire alarm in Forest Village Apartments-Hawthorne.
There is a closed investigation for a fire alarm in Tower Suites West.
April 15
There was a closed investigation for a fire alarm in Franken Hall.
Maryville Department of Public Safety
April 16
There is an ongoing investigation for larceny on the 500 block of North Laura Street.
There was a summons issued to Jameson T. Shackleford, 37, for assault, driving while intoxicated, open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle and failure to register a motor vehicle on the 2300 block of South Main Street.
April 14
There was an accident between Megan E. Boteler, 18, and Coltin Dorrell, 26, on West First Street and North Munn Street. Boteler was charged with failure to yield.
April 13
There was a summons issued to Kolten R. Smith , 20, for minor in possession, resisting arrest and littering on the 500 block of North Fillmore Street. There was a summons issued to Ashton C. Erickson, 21, for interfering with an arrest on the 500 block of North Fillmore Street.
April 12
There is an ongoing investigation for a stolen motor vehicle on the 200 block of East Third Street.
Forum held for sole dean candidate
As the 2025-26 school year nears, along with the first year of Northwest President Lance Tatum’s academic restructuring, a dean for the College of Agricultural and Natural Sciences must be hired.
Those holding a dean position for Northwest will serve as the leading academic and administrative officer for their specific college. They will be charged with ensuring progress is being made in each department under said college, and they will take on a role to lead external communication on behalf of the college. There will be four colleges each with its own dean.
Rod Barr, senior instructor and director of the School of Agricultural Sciences, is running uncontested for the position of dean for the College of Agricultural and Natural Sciences. An open forum was held for Barr 3 p.m. April 15 in Meeting Room D at the Student Union. Here Barr was able to express his plans for the position. The forum was open to all Northwest employees, who were able to ask Barr questions, according to an email from the Provost’s Office to all employees.
During the open forum, Barr spoke to all who came on three specific topics: his background and how he got to where he is today, his leadership philosophy and the future of the College of Agricultural and Natural Sciences.
“Thank you for being here,” Barr said. “It’s a great opportunity, and I think that anytime opportunities present themselves, we tell our students, ‘Take those opportunities,’ and this is one that’s an opportunity for me to move in this direction.”
Barr said he began his higher education journey as a student at Northwest. As he developed his career, he said he went through multiple positions and at many points believed that is where he would
“He lived his life with courage, humor and a heart wide open,” Palmer said. “With a short time here at Northwest, he was able to form many lifelong friendships and make many great memories.”
Palmer and Heller both said their favorite memory of Miller followed Bid Day 2024. Once all the new and active members of Sigma Tau Gamma-Theta Chapter got back to the Chapter’s house, Miller stood in the middle of the crowd and began to rap “Yeah Glo!” Palmer said Miller knew the entire song word-for-word and did not miss a single beat.
“I also miss the day we spent driving around Maryville looking for his keys together, because he had lost them the night before,” Palmer said. “I would do anything to go back.”
Heller said he went through childhood in the same friend group as Miller; they grew up playing sports together and hanging out almost every weekend.
Heller said one day, during Miller’s senior year of high school, the two talked about Northwest.
“Because obviously when I came here as a freshman, our group kind of had to split up…and I can only say so much to make a kid want to come here,” Heller said. “I tried to push it on him, and when he came here, it was amazing.”
During his life, Miller spoke on behalf of two organizations that support families who have a child with cancer, Sunshine Kids and Angels Among Us.
Heller said Miller lived life to the fullest and acted as if it were his last day every day.
“If you knew Joe, Joe would be kind of your most outgoing kind of guy, su-
stay. However, he continued to take opportunities which eventually led him back to Northwest.
Barr then moved into talking about his leadership philosophy. He said as a leader, he focuses on team leadership, situational leadership and recognizing the strengths of individuals. He said he’s learned it’s important to use a multi-frame approach when solving problems.
“I don’t have all the answers, but somebody does, and you go find out who that somebody is, and put them on that opportunity,” Barr said.
Barr said in higher education today, it is a challenge to know what the future will look like.
“We know what we’re doing today,” Barr said. “We kind of have an idea where we’re going,
but we have no idea what that end result is, and that’s a little scary, but it’s also an opportunity as we go through.”
One issue Barr spoke about has been an ongoing concern — enrollment in the physics department. Sanjay Prabhakar, assistant professor of physics, attended the event and asked Barr how he can specifically help improve this.
Barr said sharing the opportunities and productive work the physics department is doing with people outside of Northwest can help enroll people who are interested in the program.
Prabhakar said he expects the dean to work on both the enrollment issue and others.
per high energy, always positive energy,” Heller said. “He used to go to other universities and speak about his journey with cancer. I would say he was kind of an impactful person, very bold, too. He said what he wanted to say. He was fun.”
Hanafan, sharing a similar sentiment, said Joe kept up his positivity through his entire cancer journey.
“He was the kid that, he didn’t care if you were from middle of nowhere to someone who didn’t have a lot of friends or if you were the popular kid in school, he treated you the same, and he loved everybody, treated everybody like they were family,” Hanafan said. “He taught you a lot of different things in life. For me, I was able to learn genuine friendship.”
Miller died during Northwest’s annu-
al Greek Week. One of the many competitions during the event is a weeklong race for each chapter to donate the most money.
The winning chapter of this competition is able to hand that money to any organization, cause or philanthropy of its choosing.
This year’s winner, Alpha Sigma Alpha-Phi Phi Chapter, donated the total winnings to Miller’s family.
Alpha Sigma Alpha-Phi Phi Chapter President Willa Waelder said this was not a debated-upon or difficult decision.
“They stress that Greek (Life) is such a community, and even if you didn’t, most everyone knew Joe, even if you didn’t, you knew of him usually,” Waelder said. “Greek Life is this whole one big community. So it’s nice to give back, actually, express that it is a community.”
Over the last year, many have noticed construction happening around campus. Brady said when fixing the pipes and working on the decentralization, the crew will remove the tops of the tunnels — of certain sidewalks — instead of moving underground. Brady said the metal entryways around campus are all used to get pipes into the tunnel. Each section is around 20 feet long and can weigh up to 4,000 pounds, so it would not be logistically possible to carry them underground.
When working in a tunnel, Brady said, the group has a “Top Watch” to ensure students don’t inadvertently fall in.
Brady said Northwest does a great job of conserving energy.
“I will tell you this — Northwest stu-
“Northwest is home,” Barr said. “Northwest is a very special place to me, to my family…I absolutely love what I do with my School of Agricultural Sciences team, but I know that they will continue to be in great hands moving forward.”
Tim Wall, professor, dean of the School of Education and director of teacher education, is a solo candidate up for dean of the College of Education, Health and Human Services. An open forum for Wall was held 10 a.m. April 17 in Meeting Room D at the J.W. Jones Student Union.
“Try to take care of the faculty,” Prabhakar said. “I also want (the) dean (to) be supportive for the results that I usually do in physics.” Following more questions, Prabhakar said he cannot yet tell if Barr will fit into the position. In continuation of the question portion of the open forum, Barr said he cannot see himself ever leaving Northwest.
AVERY HANAFAN NORTHWEST FRESHMAN “
He taught you a lot of different things in life. For me, I was able to learn genuine friendship.”
Waelder said everyone needs to remember to keep their friends close.
“I just want to stress — especially the time that it all happened with Greek Week and everything being so competitive — that it’s a moment where you’re like, hug your friends close to you,” Waelder said.
“Something can always happen.”
Pi Kappa Alpha-Mu Phi Chapter will also give its recently-collected donations to the Miller family. These funds were gathered through its Cycle For Life event and are normally allocated to Blood Cancer research. It was, however, decided the Miller family would be a more appropriate recipient for the donations this year.
Heller said nobody should take their life for granted, like Miller believed.
“I just want to thank everyone on campus who only met him for a semester, the short amount of time, for all their support and all the love they’ve given us and to his family and all of his friends,” Heller said.
dents do an amazing job, whether it’s by design and intent or it’s just because of accident, we do actually do a pretty good job of conserving electricity,” Brady said.
After going through a tour of the tunnels, the attendees end up in the basement of the B.D. Owens Library and emerge via the elevator. Brady said he spent time as a child in the tunnels, and it used to be easy to get into them — that is not the case anymore.
This past year, Brady has given around seven tours of the tunnels, and one of the first groups he gave a tour to included University President Lance Tatum.
“The purpose of the tours is it’s obviously an entertainment thing, but it’s also, there’s a lot that goes on here at Northwest and a lot of folks don’t see or they don’t realize,” Brady said. “I think it’s nice when students show an interest in these other parts.”
Candidate for Dean of Northwest College of Agricultural and Natural Sciences Rod Barr expresses his ideas for the program at an Open Forum April 15. Northwest students, faculty and staff were invited to sit in on this meeting.
NATHAN NODA ASST. PHOTO EDITOR
Sigma Tau Gamma-Theta Chapter members sophomore Ronald Brown and senior Brodie Wallace light a candle to celebrate the life of former Northwest freshman Joe Miller April 17.
AARON HARE PHOTO EDITOR
NATHAN VANDRUFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Survivors are more than their trauma
Each month of the year is associated with awareness for at least one topic. April is the awareness month of two specific prevention and awareness months.
Sexual assault is one of the subjects of April. A heartbreaking issue that affects approximately 463,634 victims — ages 12 and older — of sexual violence each year. An issue that haunts countless people around the globe. The other subject is child abuse. More than 550,000 children are known by U.S. authorities to be abused every year.
Now I could sit here and talk about how horrific those are — and they are the worst things — however, you’ve heard those stories. You’ve heard how those traumas occur. You’ve heard that it was a young boy’s father or a college girl who went to a party, both of whom are completely innocent and not at fault for the atrocities that they endured.
I could talk about that, but I’m not going to. Because every single person should be very aware of how those things are horrible and should not be happening to people around the world, I’m also aware my column won’t help that problem.
I do want to talk about how those things affect people, because we don’t talk about it nearly enough, and how being forced to talk about this every year is an awful tradition. Being qualified to talk about how these things stick with you is something I wouldn’t wish upon anyone, but here we are.
Both of my traumas happened nearly a decade ago, ten whole years a total of 3650 days I’ve lived with this.
The misconception most people have is that the trauma leaves you. That’s not what happens. I — a survivor of child abuse — will wake up in a full cold sweat to this day. I — someone who has lived ten Aprils since the beginning of the darkest point of my life — will find myself locking up at a small resemblance of the abuser. I — a human being who went through trauma — am still being forced to talk about what happened to me as if it’s a personality trait, not a horrific act inflicted by someone else.
So yes, the prevention months and awareness need to happen. Every survivor deserves to be able to breathe without our worst days being brought up. I applaud those who stand up and talk about what happened to them, but we need to respect that some survivors want to live without their past being brought up. Both are valid. Both are ways of surviving past trauma. This is not the life anyone should be living, but it is the life I and nearly 500,000 other people are living. April is not just an awareness month. It’s a 30-day period of constant reminders. A total of 720 hours of people talking about the worst parts of your life as if they are a story time, not a truth.
I am a survivor, however I am so much more than that too. I am a college student. I am a dancer. I am a pet-lover. I am a dreamer, a reader and so much more — now please start treating me as such.
OUR VIEW:
We need to hold politicians accountable; we have power
We’re only four months into this year, and a lot has happened. The U.S. has become a more politically charged country than most of us have ever seen.
While most of us feel this is a period of crisis, it’s time to hold politicians accountable — all of them, not just one side. We may have voted these politicians in, but that doesn’t mean they’re always accurately representing our wishes.
There have been a lot of messes made by politicians in the last several months, and there’s been a lack of rectification.
Let’s start with the group chat made by government officials detailing war plans on an insecure platform. While some might say this is old news, we can’t move past large mistakes like this quickly. Essentially, nothing has come out of this; people complained about it for a week, then moved on.
Meanwhile, we have our president frequently joking about running for a third term — a clear violation of the 22nd Amendment. If we the people don’t hold politicians accountable, no one will. We can’t just sit around and post TikTok
YOUR VIEW:
How politically involved are you?
THE STROLLER:
videos hating what’s happening with our government — get out and do something. Join a protest, sign a petition or call your local officials — stand up for your country.
The “Hands Off 2025!” movement has been a start to protests and rallies around the country. Many rallies also host information sessions before the protest, so people can get educated about the issues.
This does not fall only on us — politicians who openly complain about our current administration need to take action. New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker had a good start with his record-breaking speech on the Senate floor. He did his part — it’s time for other politicians to follow suit. However, many protests have formed at various House and Senate meetings across the country — some by government officials and some by citizens, but none of them are having the same impact.
However, we as citizens do need to make sure we’re doing more than just sulking and moving on with our day — people’s lives are at stake.
Even at Northwest, 43 students had their visas revoked as a result of federal changes to immigration policy. This is happening all over the
ANDREW STEWART Freshman Agricultural Business
“I would like to say I am politically involved. I vote, I keep up to date with what is happening in politics and I stay current in the news.”
AMANDA SEGGERMAN Junior Elementary Education
country; we’re a small community also being affected by a large problem. Yes politicians made that call, but in a country that claims to be by the people and for the people, we must also take accountability.
As many of our political Our Views say, research is one of the most important aspects of politics — local and national. You have to research candidates and propositions before voting for or against them. It’s time to abandon political party loyalty — not everything is black and white. Politics are getting more complex, and sticking to one side won’t support all of your values anymore.
As the political state of this country will continue to change, we need to keep raising our voices higher. Whether you think so or not, this affects every single one of us. We cannot sit back and watch our country become the laughing stock — or terror — of the world.
Remember, just because you don’t think they’re coming after your rights now, doesn’t mean they won’t ever. If you don’t start fighting now, there will be no one left to fight with you when you’re under attack.
“I am very involved, I voted in the presidential election. I don’t read physical newspapers but I read news online and stay up to date with everything that is happening.”
HAILEY LANCASTER Sophomore Early Childhood Education
“I would say moderately involved. I like to keep myself informed on everything that is going on. I vote in every election, especially the ones in my county that are really important to me as an education major.”
Your Bearcat knows walking etiquette
Common courtesy and the rules of a civilized community include walking on the right side of the sidewalk. I don’t think it’s a hard concept to comprehend, come on Bearcats. Even walking with friends, some groups on campus know how to walk properly, but others make me want to rip my hair out. There is no reason I should have to move from my route just because you don’t know how to walk like a normal person.
Walking in groups is also a big problem — do not just group up while walking, learn how to walk and talk. I think it’s easy to do two things at once; texting and walking is something students do all the time. Now, just learn how to walk on the right side of the sidewalk.
I get it’s almost finals week, but I don’t think it’s hard to get through your head — being a decent human doesn’t cost that much.
My biggest pet peeve is see-
ing people grouped up and not moving from their spot so I can continue walking — or when I say excuse me and they give me a dirty look. It’s not my fault the entire sidewalk is being used because your group doesn’t want to move.
It’s simple — walk like you drive. You don’t ignore the road signs just because you want to — and if you do, you should have your license revoked. Walk — preferably on the right side of the sidewalk
NORTHWEST MISSOURIAN
— on over to the Wellness Center and get checked out. You know there are tunnels under campus — the square metal manhole covers on the sidewalks — yeah, those lead to the tunnels. If you don’t learn how to walk on the sidewalks like a normal person, Bobby the Bearcat will come up from those tunnels and grab you by the legs — or maybe it will be me.
ANNA CASE CARTOONIST
The Stroller has been a tradition since 1918 and does not reflect the views of the Northwest Missourian.
Senior shortstop Canon Creason led the way for the ’Hounds at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a walk while the team finished with four hits, two runs, 10 strikeouts, eight runners left-on-base and three errors in the field.
Maryville then found itself in a rematch against East Buchanan (4-13) April 19 at Hyde Park in St. Joseph, winning the previous matchup 9-7 April 7 at home. The Spoofhounds earned their ninth win of the season after a 3-2 victory due to a complete game from junior right-handed pitcher Grant Diggs.
The ’Hounds faced off against the Centralia Panthers (11-8) in Game 2 of doubleheader action, resulting in a 4-1 loss at Missouri Western State University. Sophomore right fielder Carson Hageman tallied two hits in the loss, while the team combined with four hits, seven runners left-on-base and six errors.
Hageman said he could feel
Bearcat Steppers take home NDA title
CONTINUED FROM A8
Senior designated player Grace Lubben ended the game with a two-RBI double, securing the 8-0 run rule victory to end her last game at Bearcat Softball Field.
Hand-in-hand, the Bearcat Steppers gathered on the National Dance Alliance stage, hearts pounded while the dancers waited for the final results — the culmination of everything they have worked so hard for.
Then it was announced — the Bearcat Steppers were named the Division II Pom National Champions for the first time since 2018.
What began as a season of uncertainty turned into a remarkable success. After gaining a new head coach, a team full of rookies and a season full of changes, the team pulled together. In addition to its first-place finish in pom, the Steppers secured second place in Division II Jazz at the NDA competition which took place April 9-13 in Daytona Beach, Florida. Head coach Taylor Merrill said she was proud to see their hard work pay off
“When we heard second place, we all knew that Northwest had won,” said Merrill. “Just sitting there in silence and excitement — it was exhilarating to watch the girls shaking and celebrating quietly with their teammates.”
Merrill took over as head coach just two weeks before the school year began, leading the team all the way to the top. Merrill said coming into the first week of practice, she didn’t get to hand-pick her team, and the girls felt they were at a disadvantage due to their lack of experience.
Despite the doubts, the dancers still persevered.
“It felt incredible,” Merrill
Senior center fielder Lillie Filger also showed out in her last home doubleheader, going 4-8 at the plate. Filger said that although she was emotional, she walked away with no regrets.
the difference in his swing with a wood bat compared to a metal one, which was a significant change to get used to.
“The ball definitely did not come off the wood bat as hard as the metal bat, which was killing a lot of power that was there,” Hageman said. “I felt that I was still hitting the ball hard, but just not to the right spots.”
Now, the ’Hounds prepare for back-to-back tournaments with the annual Pony Express Tournament April 21-26 in St. Joseph next. Maryville completed its first game of the tournament against Kearney (10-7) April 21, falling 12-2 in five innings due to the Bulldogs putting up eight runs in the bottom of the fifth to walk it off
The Spoofhounds finished with two runs, three hits, eight strikeouts, five runners left stranded and two errors in the field.
Hageman said, despite the tough schedule with two tournaments back-to-back, having eight games in nine days will only help himself and the team down the road for the district tournament.
“I love this community, and I love this field, this field feels like home to me,” Filger said. “So leaving it in, but I feel like I left it on the field.”
Filger’s final play pulled everything together — a full-extension dive to secure the out and end her last home game with the same heart and hustle she’s known for. Filger said the catch isn’t even the best part, it’s her teammates being there to cheer her on.
“
This team makes me want to play to the best of my ability, and we all enjoy playing baseball together.”
CARSON HAGEMAN
SOPHOMORE RIGHT FIELDER
“I think playing this many games in a short span can benefit a team as someone can really get out of a slump by seeing a lot of pitches and having a lot of at-bats,” Hageman said. “As we prepare for this next tournament, there will be some fatigue for me until I get around my teammates. This team makes me want to play
said. “It was unreal that, as a first-year coach with that many rookies on our team, we were able to accomplish that. It’s just really exciting — for the girls, for myself and for the team.”
The dancers’ confidence grew during their Nationals Send Off April 5, when they performed their routines in front of an audience for the first time.
Merrill said the energy shifted from doubt to belief.
“We had a showcase at Northwest, and for the first time, the girls had an audience,” Merrill said. “We watched the video back, and they were just so impressed with themselves. That was the first time we all realized — hey, it’s not impossible to win this.”
Merrill praised senior captain Aleah Jakobe for her hard work and dedication throughout the season. She said Jakobe has been an important part of the Steppers’ success this season, being the only senior to travel to the NDA competition.
The win has also brought the team newfound recognition. While the Steppers have supported other sports and celebrated the community.
“It’s really special because they feel seen by the people in our community right now for all of their hard work,” Merrill said. “I think that’s helping motivate them. They don’t always feel that support, but now people are seeing how hard they’re working, and they don’t want to disappoint.”
The last in-season doubleheader for the ’Cats will be played noon and 2 p.m. April 26 at Missouri Western (30-19, MIAA 1111). The team needs to secure both wins for a chance to make it into the MIAA Tournament April 30-May 4.
“We get to go down to MO West on Saturday (April 26), and it’s an interesting environment down there,” Tellez said. “I think we’re ready. We’re gonna go compete to the best of our ability and hopefully pull out two wins.”
to the best of my ability, and we all enjoy playing baseball together.”
After the loss, Maryville fell to the loser’s bracket and faced off against Savannah for its second game of the Pony Express Tournament and third matchup this season.
The Spoofhounds fell to the Savages 11-4 April 22 in St. Joseph. Now, the ’Hounds matchup with the Lincoln College Preparatory Academy (8-5) in the final game of the Pony Express Tournament April 24 at Hyde Park in St. Joseph.
Maryville baseball senior infielder Gus McCollough attempts to tag out a Lathrop runner during the Spoofhounds’ loss April 14.
AARON HARE PHOTO EDITOR
LEAH COX Sports Reporter | @byleahcox
Bearcat Steppers freshman Keira Bret and senior Aleah Jakobe hit the final pose of their pom routine during halftime of the Feb. 15 men’s basketball game.
ALLI DUARTE COPY EDITOR
MHS
Athletics talks decline in game attendance
At Northwest, the roar of the crowd once filled the air and was a symbol of school pride with a prominent athletic tradition, drawing a sea of passionate fans.
Today, those stands sit eerily quiet, with home attendance in football and men’s and women’s basketball games dwindling. Beyond the statistics lies a crucial reality — those fans are not just spectators; they are the beacon of school spirit, team morale and, ultimately, the success of athletic programs.
For a university where school spirit and community pride are integral, the absence of fans could have lasting effects.
Andy Peterson, director of athletics at Northwest, said this year has seen a different outcome with the University’s success in athletic programs since he took the position July 24, 2018.
“I think we’ve kind of went through the perfect storm of, especially this year, the output that we’ve had has not been as high as it’s been in the past,” Peterson said. “We’ve been spoiled the last 20-plus years with our main revenue generated from sports with football and basketball, and so, to have the down year that we’ve had this year has been a little more telling.”
Peterson said finding ways to bring people to attend home games has been an ongoing challenge.
“We continue to try to reach out and connect with kids, and connect with high schools and find out what is passionate to them,” Peterson said.
Football Following a 23-7 loss against No. 13-ranked Pittsburg State Nov. 16, 2024, to end the regular season in football, Northwest decided to not renew then-head coach Rich Wright’s contract, effective Dec. 31, 2024. Wright finished the regular season 6-5 (5-4 MIAA), which is the worst season since 1995. Peterson began searching for the school’s 21st head football coach and appointed John McMenamin, a Bearcat alum, as the program’s new head football coach Dec. 5, 2024.
Over the past four football seasons, Northwest’s home games have seen a troubling trend: attendance numbers steadily dropping, with the once-packed stands now growing emptier each year. Although the Bearcat football team is coming off its worst season from a win-loss standpoint, McMenamin is excited to pave the way to earn more wins in his first year as head coach, with hopes of filling the stands in Bearcat Stadium next fall.
The total and average attendance at Northwest home football games last season was the lowest it has been in at least nine
seasons, and has been cut from 8,227 (2018) to 3,808 (2024).
The biggest decline of average home game attendance came between the 2018 and 2019 seasons, going from an average of 8,227 with a record of 10-3 (9-2 MIAA), to an average of 5,612 when the Bearcats finished 12-2 (10-1 MIAA) in 2019.
“The two things that I really hope to do is put a great offense out there to score some points and keep the excitement levels high, and then also win games,” McMenamin said. “I mean, that’s by far the number one thing; if you win, they will come. If you’re not winning, they are going to go away, they’re going to lose interest. So, as a coach in the program, it’s just ways to create interest.”
In the world of college football, the fan atmosphere and home crowds can turn a game in an instant. The roar of the crowd, the variety of chants and school colors can give players an extra boost when the game is on the line. As attendance continues to dwindle, the question arises: does the absence of fans at home games impact the team’s ability to win?
“I think without a doubt, the better the fan base, the better the program, and that goes the other way, the better the program, the better the fan base,” McMenamin said.
Men’s Basketball
This season, Northwest’s men’s basketball team faced a tough stretch, with a series of losses on the court and a noticeable drop in home game attendance. While the men’s basketball team has always been a source of pride on campus, this year’s struggles have seen the home stands grow emptier compared to the previous decade. Many point to the departure of the previous Head coach Ben McCollum, who moved to a Division I program, as the turning point of it all.
Men’s basketball game attendance dropped from
Average attendance at Northwest football games has dropped from 17,700 to 8,038 in the 2024-25 season.
head coach at Drake University following the 2023-
8,227 to 3,808 since 2018.
24 season at Northwest.
Now, as the team navigates a rebuilding stage with first-year head coach Matt Keeley, times have been tough with a 6-22 (415 MIAA) record in his first season as head coach (2024-25). Northwest’s home record this men’s basketball season was 0-10 — the program has not had fewer than two home wins in a season since 2012-13.
Keeley said handling the difficulty this basketball season has been a test in his first year as head coach at Northwest.
“There’s certainly been some adversity to our group, and that we’re not winning as much as Northwest is used to, but whether you are winning or losing, you continue to give a vision of optimism and hope,” Keeley said.
Northwest men’s basketball has faced a noticeable dip in home attendance this season. The range of average attendance at home basketball games over the last decade has been between 1,223 (2017-18) and 1,661 (2022-2023). This season, 2024-25, has seen its total attendance drop by over half — 17,700 to 8,038 — and average attendance decrease exponentially compared to previous seasons.
Now, questions loom about how the team will regain its winning ways and reenergize the home fan base. The challenges the first-year head coach faced and the strategies he plans to implement moving forward to fill more people in the stands rely on one thing — winning.
“The better products you put out, the more people want to come and watch,” Keeley said. “The Bearcats have proved that when you’re in the national hunt and you’re in the hunt for conference titles in the MIAA, they show up.”
Women’s Basketball
Despite consistently strong performances on the court over the last four seasons, the Northwest women’s basketball team, led by head coach Austin Meyer, has seen a troubling decline in home game attendance. With the history of competitive play and a loyal fan base, the dip this season has raised concerns about what might be behind the shift.
For Bearcat women’s basketball, the program has been to four-straight MIAA Conference Tournaments, dating back to the 2021-22 season when it finished 17-12 (12-10 MIAA). Meyer has now taken the Bearcats to the MIAA Championships five out of seven seasons in his tenure as head coach.
Despite the recent success, the total home attendance in the 2024-25 Northwest women’s basketball season marked its lowest total over the last nine seasons with 6,752, and its second-lowest average attendance of 675 since the 2021-22 season (640). Meyer said the rise of social media has played a major factor in attendance at sporting events in general.
“Obviously, the top 10 teams that are winning every game have the atmosphere, but in general, I don’t feel like you see the same engagement as you did seven to 10 years ago,” Meyer said.
Regardless of consistently strong performances on the court over the past four seasons, Northwest women’s basketball has seen the second-lowest average home attendance over the last nine seasons. With a track record of competitive play and impressive talent, the drop in fan support has raised questions about what might be driving students, alumni and local fans away from the stands.
Plan for the Future As attendance at home football and basketball games at Northwest takes a hit, the University faces an important ques-
tion: how can it reignite the fan atmosphere and bring the energy back to the stands? With a rich athletic tradition and dedicated student-athletes, the potential is there.
“If you can create connectivity and make the athletes more accessible to people through digital media, or however they consume their information, the better off you’re going to be,” Peterson said. “The best strategy that we can have here, especially at an institution of this level, is making sure student-athletes are acting like human beings.”
Moving forward, the plan focuses on student engagement, enhancing game-day experience using digital marketing and social media correctly, and strengthening the ties between the athletic teams and the local community. The University aims to partner with local business and alumni to build a more unified fan base.
“It’s about having the camaraderie and the collegiality of, ‘Hey, this is a sporting event and we’re all here together,’” Peterson said.
McCollum, architect to the most successful men’s college basketball dynasty of the last decade, was named the men’s basketball
TREY HOUCHIN Missourian Reporter | @NWMSports
INFOGRAPHICS BY TREY HOUCHIN MISSOURIAN REPORTER
L A S T C H A N C LAST CHANC E NW
track and field prepares for nationals
“We’re looking for that last little tune-up to be ready.”
WICK CUNNINGHAM
DISTANCE COACH
Northwest track and field is approaching the final outdoor meet of the regular season. Preparations have begun for the Kip Janvrin Open April 24-25 in Indianola, Iowa.
After weeks of standout performances, the Bearcats are gearing up to finish the season strong, aiming to break more records and reach new milestones. Their focus and determination will be on full display, especially among the seniors — who are pushing for personal bests and hoping to secure spots at the conference meet and upcoming second-chance competitions to prolong the season and make it a memorable end.
Head coach Brandon Masters said it is a meet for runners to finish off strong without much added duress; it is a special meet for him personally because Kip Janvrin is a mentor for him.
“He was actually a coach at Central Missouri for a long time,” Masters said. “(He’s) just a real legend. He’s awesome. He is at K-State (Kansas State University) now, and he has been one of my mentors. It is kind of a relaxed meet, it’s a chance for a lot of our kids to do an event without pressure. It’s a chance for a lot of our kids that are trying to make the conference meet to kind of tune up and go. It’s a great meet for us. We enjoy it.”
Distance coach Wick Cunningham touched on the meet more in depth, stating the importance of a certain number of runners to get a time or finish they want to be ready for confer-
ence. With a select group heading to Iowa, Cunningham said it’s always been a strong and successful meet for the Bearcats.
“We’re going up there — it’s kind of our last little tune-up before the conference meet,” Cunningham said. “We won’t run everybody at that meet, but Kip has always been a really great meet to us. They usually have good competition as well. The weather can be hit and miss there occasionally, but this year looks fantastic. We’re looking for that last little tune-up to be ready.”
Even though some runners have not yet qualified for nationals, there are second chance meets for a reason. Bearcat runners whose times aren’t where they want to be will compete in the Concordia Twilight May 9 in Seward, Nebraska, and the Loper Twilight May 10 in Kearney, Nebraska. Cunningham emphasized the value of last chance meets, noting how crucial they can be for athletes still chasing qualifying marks for nationals.
“After the conference championship, we have our last chance meets,” Cunningham said. “What we look at for those are people who maybe have a chance to qualify for the National meet that aren’t yet qualified. Those are kind of the people we look at for those meets. We were really fortunate last year. We got on the distance side, at least we got three athletes qualified during that meet. But even on the sprint side, I know we have many more. So it’s like those meets have been really great to us.”
Softball splits series, looks to get into MIAA tournament
After a tense, scoreless battle through seven innings, the Northwest softball team (21-26, MIAA 8-14) dropped a 5-1 heartbreaker in nine innings to Wayne State College (29-20) in Game 1 of its doubleheader, before coming back with an 8-0 run rule win in Game 2 April 22. Both teams broke through with a run in the eighth, but the Wildcats pulled away in the ninth, erupting for four runs. Bearcat Head coach Naomi Tellez said the team couldn’t pull everything together when they had opportunities to.
“We hit well, we just couldn’t capitalize with runners in scoring position,” Tellez said. “That has been our issue all stinking season long, but the best thing is that we were able to bounce back in Game 2.” Northwest junior third baseman Riahn Pinkerton singled to bring in the first
run of the game in the bottom of the second inning to take the lead 1-0. She later scored on an error by the Wildcat defense, raising the lead 2-0.
The ’Cats offense broke through in the fourth inning, putting up four runs after junior left fielder Omara Love drove in two runs with a two-RBI single, doubling the lead 4-0. Senior first baseman Skylar Pieper and freshman second baseman Malia Cuevas both drove in a run, to bring the score to 6-0.
Tellez said the offensive burst was about staying loose and playing free.
“We had timely hits, we stayed within ourselves, we did what we needed to do,” Tellez said. “But for us, we can’t play too tight. We don’t ever play well tight. So, just being able to play freely and be able to capitalize is what we needed to do.”
TREY HOUCHIN Missourian Reporter | @NWMSports
The diamond never rests — and neither does Maryville baseball. In a jam-packed schedule, the Spoofhounds are staring down eight games in nine days, testing not only their stamina but their depth and determination as the regular season heats up.
The ’Hounds (9-11, 3-3 MEC) split their two Midland Empire Conference matchups after their Senior Night 10-6 loss to the Lathrop Mules (10-6) April 14 at Maryville High School. Maryville earned its eighth win of the season after an 11-5 victory over Savannah (12-8) April
15, getting its revenge from the 15-2 defeat April 8 at Savannah High School in the first Highway 71 rivalry duel of the season. The Spoofhounds faced off against the St. Joseph-Lafayette Fighting Irish (5-12) April 16 at home which ended in a 7-3 defeat despite a 12-hit outing. The ’Hounds left nine runners stranded, with seven strikeouts and two errors in the field. Head coach Hans Plackemeier said finding consistency in his team’s offense has been a struggle as of late, with three consecutive games and zero practices. “We need to execute sacrifice bunts and put the ball in
play when we have runners in scoring position,” Plackemeier said. “You can not go down looking at strikes over the heart of the plate. We are striking out way too much, and we need to fix that.”
After three consecutive games, Maryville was gifted with one off-day before starting the Walkoff Wood Bat Tournament April 18-19, which consisted of three games with two in one day. The Spoofhounds competed with the California Pintos (12-5) in the first matchup, resulting in a 6-2 loss April 18 at Mid-Buchanan High School.
LANDON CLOUSE Missourian Reporter | @NWMSports
Northwest men’s track and field junior Riley Witt warms up for the mile at the Coach Richard Alsup Open Jan. 18.
CLEVI JOHNSON SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER
Northwest softball sophomore pitcher Olivia Moyer starts her pitching motion from the wind-up during the first game of its doubleheader April 12.
NATHAN VANDRUFF PHOTOGRAPHER
LEAH COX Sports Reporter | @byleahcox
Maryville baseball sophomore pitcher Jackson Wilmes lobs the ball during the Spoofhounds’ Senior Night loss against Lathrop April 14.
