Issuu

CON V ERGING CA MPUS & COMMU NIT Y

NORTHWEST MISSOURIAN

THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 2026

MARYVILLE, MISSOURI

NWMISSOURINEWS.COM

VOL. 115, NO. 1

@THEMISSOURIAN

Maryville officials address meeting concerns DAKOTA OSWALT Editor-in-Chief | @doswalt_NWMSRN

“I’ve gotten to the point where…I know this is going to be a battle that we’re gonna have to keep fighting for a while until we can get, like, people who represent our state to start fighting for us and helping us out with this issue,” Strauch said. He said he doesn’t plan to give up on fighting for Nodaway County, even if a data center does come to fruition. Strauch hopes to get younger people interested in advocacy. He noticed that many people signed his petition, but some aren’t speaking out or showing up to protests. “There’s people from a bunch of different generations that don’t really have the courage to speak out against these issues, because they’re afraid that they’re going to lose their status in Nodaway County…I’ve had some people in my family tell me, ‘Oh, you probably should just let everybody else do this,’” Strauch said. “If people in my generation don’t start doing something, like, we’re gonna have a lot of issues in the future.”

Amid the chaos of a potential data center coming to Nodaway County, The Maryville Forum reported on the Maryville City Council’s closed meeting regarding the project. Since then, The Forum also reported on numerous closeddoor meetings held by Council in the past couple of years, which possibly violated meeting laws. After The Forum published this, Maryville officials released a response on the city’s page. The statement said the city takes its obligations under Missouri’s Sunshine Law seriously. Sunshine laws require government agencies to make their meetings, records and activities open to the public, according to Cornell Law School. The goal of these laws is to ensure the government stays transparent, corruption-free and ethical. Missouri’s Sunshine Law only allows closed meetings with strict exceptions. Despite The Forum’s reports, city officials said in their statement that they “respectfully disagree” with the notion that Council inappropriately abused closed meeting laws. The Missourian reached out to City Manager Ryan Heiland, Mayor John McBride and the city’s general counsel Taryn Henry for an interview. They opted to respond to interview questions in a collective written statement sent by Heiland. “First and foremost, our city government operates in an open and transparent manner, and we conduct the people’s business in accordance with state laws,” the statement to the Missourian said. “We fully and carefully consider those legal requirements in consultation with the city attorney before holding closed sessions. That’s why we strongly dispute any accusations to the contrary.” The statement said Council only holds closed sessions when allowed under the Missouri Sunshine Law or other applicable law. Since every situation varies, city officials say they seek legal opinion to understand their obligations.

SEE DATA CENTERS | A4

SEE MEETINGS | A4

MICAH STOLLEY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Protesters, including Northwest senior and local activist Carter Strauch (right), advocate against the development of local data centers during a Nodaway Says No protest Aug. 8. A total of three companies are eyeing the county’s land for data center projects.

Residents condemn data centers DAKOTA OSWALT Editor-in-Chief | @doswalt_NWMSRN

any Americans worried about the economy, local elections and foreign policy this summer, but a lot of Nodaway County residents have had a major issue on their minds — data centers. The White Cloud Acres project has seen its fair share of pushback, protests and petitions in the four months since news broke about Scale Microgrids’ plans. This has not stopped other companies from pursuing Nodaway County’s land to develop data centers. At the end of last month, Nodaway County Economic Development Executive Director Josh McKim announced on NCED’s Facebook page that two more companies are considering the county’s land for small-scale data center projects. He said both initiatives are in the preliminary evaluation stages, and more information will be released as it becomes available. “One of them — I’ve never met with the company — I responded to a request to fill out a survey on the community for them, and the other one I’ve met with one time

via Zoom, so I don’t have a lot of information on the company,” McKim said. “I’ve not been authorized to release the (companies’) names — I don’t even have the names for one of them…I don’t know exact locations yet.” He said NCED typically receives little information at first with any preliminary discussions, and most business names are withheld. After initial conversations, companies often share more specific details regarding how they want to invest in Nodaway County. “On this case, they gave us a little bit of scope and scale and that we can say it’s considerably smaller — all the projects are way smaller — than Scale Microgrids project, but other than that, there’s not a lot of detail yet,” McKim said. These two proposed projects are on the smaller side, but some Nodaway County residents — including many members of Nodaway Says No — are speaking against them. Local activist Carter Strauch, a Northwest senior who organized the online petition against the Scale Microgrids project, was upset when he heard about the new data center projects. However, he was not surprised, as he had already heard rumors about them.

Community warns Council against getting involved with local project DAKOTA OSWALT Editor-in-Chief | @doswalt_NWMSRN

Nodaway County residents once again flooded the Maryville City Council meeting Monday to express their worries about the proposed White Cloud Acres data center and joint natural gas energy plant project. Scott Wilson, a lifelong county resident, is running for Nodaway County Commissioner. The idea stemmed from his participation in Nodaway Says No — a group against local data center development. He is one person who addressed Maryville leadership at the meeting, expressing concerns about the city possibly contributing water to White Cloud Acres. “At the last meeting I attended, I gave you the reasons the feasibility study was flawed, even giving you the highlighted reports that should have been easy to follow,” Wilson said. “At the last meeting in June, Councilwoman (Erin) Allen suggested an impact study be performed to see what effects downstream could be. I believe this was agreed upon and was supposed to hap-

AN INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1914.

pen — I haven’t seen a response from this study. I would like to know where we are in this process.” A feasibility study is research that shows if it is possible for a certain project to move forward with development. Public Water Supply District No. 1 — which is where the data center would get its water if the project is approved — has already conducted a feasibility study reviewing options. However, Wilson is talking about an impact study, which would evaluate how exactly the project would affect the area. He brought up an item in the meeting’s agenda — an amendment to a previous agreement Council made with HDR Engineering. In the initial contract, approved in 2024, the city hired HDR Engineering for $156,879 for construction and planning of the new Water Treatment Plant. Due to concerns about the White Cloud Acres project, the city asked HDR Engineering to perform an impact study on how Maryville’s water would be affected by the data center and power plant. This comes with an additional cost of $9,780.

SEE WATER | A4

NATHAN NODA CO-PHOTO EDITOR

Maryville resident Scott Wilson voices his concerns about the proposed data centers to Council members during the Council meeting Aug. 24.

PLEASE

RECYCLE

Aug. 27, 2026 @TheMissourian

NEWS

NATHAN NODA CO-PHOTO EDITOR

Assistant Residence Director Lillibeth Sokolowski checks freshmen into Tower Suites West during move-in day Aug. 20. Due to the recent minimum wage increase, student employee hours were cut.

On-campus student jobs, hours decrease ANNA BAILEY Managing Editor | @AMBailey16

Multiple departments on campus are now unable to offer student employees the same number of hours than in previous semesters — some even cut positions. These adjustments are due to the on-campus minimum wage increase. Entering into the 2025 fall semester, Northwest paid students a minimum wage of $10.30. Students now earn $15 per hour. Vice President of Finance & Administration Stacy Carrick said the amount of allocated money to student employees in the University budget did not change with the minimum wage increase. “What we asked our leaders to do — because we did not budget for any of those increases — and so we said, ‘We need you to evaluate your student labor and

determine how to minimize as best you can,’ knowing that this wasn’t planned for,” Carrick said. “Then we said, ‘As we head into this next Fiscal Year ’27, we need you to right-size the hours with the budget.’” She said each department on campus may look different depending on how it decided to adjust its hours. Amid these changes,Carrick said the goal was to minimize the impact it will have on students. Ideally, a student employee will make the same amount of money while working less hours. The Office of University Advancement is one department that has had to adjust its student employee hours and positions. Director of Advancement Services Brenda Untiedt, who manages student employment in this office, said she had to cut two daytime student positions to fit the

budget — going from five to three. “I’m hoping it’ll cause us to be more efficient with how we handle our student-employee tasks, have more of a schedule for them that keeps them busy and not trying to find projects for them to do at the last minute, and to give them more hands-on experience in doing their work that helps tie to their major,” Untiedt said. Untiedt used to be a Northwest student employee in the School of Computer Science and Information Systems. She said she appreciated the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the department she studied in. However, with the changes made to student employee hours, Untiedt said more students may have to look off campus to find jobs. Carrick was also a student employee while studying at North-

west. She said her experience working in the President’s office allowed her to make connections across the campus community. She said campus employment can help students who may feel homesick, and it can be convenient for students who don’t have easy transportation off campus. She said it can also be a good way for students to earn extra money when they need it. “If you go look in your archives…when we went to an electronic campus — I think it was 1988, I want to say — we had the governor on campus, and we had a big demo where we pulled a switch and turned on the electronic campus, and I was the student who got to do the demo for Governor (Josh) Ashcroft at the time,” Carrick said. Sophomore Student Ambassador and Admissions Social

Media Intern Ella Grandgenett said she did not personally experience any changes. However, she does know other students who had decreased hours. “I think that having that kind of student perspective in some places is really, really good to have,” Grandgenett said. “So, kind of losing that student perspective, I don’t really know exactly what offices have cut students out, but I do know...that might affect some things just with prospective students, parents, all that good stuff.” Untiedt has supervised student employees for 26 years. She said students keep every office running on campus. “If it wasn’t for our student employees, we would all have so much more work to do and be working more hours, after hours and on weekends than we already do,” Untiedt said.

Northwest launches improved employee payment system ANNA BAILEY Managing Editor | @AMBailey16

Northwest is in the depths of implementing its new enterprise system, Workday. It first launched July 1, beginning an ongoing learning process for campus. Previously, the University used Ellucian Banner to manage all human resources, finances, and student and employee information. Workday is in the process of replacing Banner as the main system. This change affects all faculty, staff and students on campus. Vice President of Culture Krista Barcus is on Northwest’s Workday steering team. She said phase one of the implementation is referred to as Workday Platform, which includes human capital management, finance and payroll systems. Students who have jobs on campus are the only students who

are affected by Workday Platform. “Their (employee) benefits can now be done in Workday, where before, they used paper to elect their benefits, and they can go in and make address changes, phone number changes, they can see organizational charts for departments — it’s just the information is real time.” Barcus said. Barcus referred to Workday as a one-stop shop for employees to find all the information they need. “What I like about it right now is that there’s no paper, so things cannot get lost,” Barcus said. “You can track the process and see where everything is at. It ensures that the data is accurate.” Because Workday is eliminating the need for paper-based processes, she said manual labor across campus is minimized. Phase two of the Workday implementation will introduce the new system to students. It will go

live for students February 2028. Vice President of Finance & Administration Stacy Carrick, who heads the Workday project, said — from a student perspective — Workday will make finding information easier. She said multiple platforms are used by students processes, but with Workday, everything can be found in one area. Carrick said a benefit to Workday is its mobile access. Northwest Student employee Ella Grandgenett is a student ambassador and an admissions social media intern. She worked over the summer as Workday launched. “I feel like, especially for someone who is going straight from class to work, from work to…another activity, just because with the old system we had to log into our laptops...and it was just a very long process, and sometimes you forget to do it, so Workday is just easier,” Grandgenett said.

27, 2026 NEWS Aug. @TheMissourian

IMPACTS TO UNIVERSITY BUDGET

ANNA CASE DESIGNER

State appropriations remain flat for NW DAKOTA OSWALT Editor-in-Chief | @doswalt_NWMSRN

Last year, Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe vetoed $14 million in funds for four-year universities, resulting in Northwest losing out on more than half a million dollars in core funding. This year, the appropriations given to Northwest remained the same — no increase, no decrease — leaving the institution with roughly $38.3 million in funds. University President Lance Tatum said Missouri is projecting a budget revenue deficit. This means the money the state collects from taxes will likely be less than the money it plans to spend. Expenses in Missouri are estimated to cost nearly $2 billion more than the revenue it makes in Fiscal Year 2027, according to the Office of Missouri State Auditor. Due to this, Tatum said budget discussions have been ramped up lately, and Missouri legislators expect next year’s state budget to bear most of the impact. “As a way to preempt a little bit of the anticipation, they (lawmakers) went very conservative this year,” Tatum said. He said early projections of what the Missouri House Budget Committee might do regarding higher education budgeting created a lot of talk. State Rep. Dirk Deaton proposed a redistribution of existing higher education funds throughout the state’s universities. Historically, the funding given to each public university was tied to its previous allocations. Deaton wants the money to follow the students, meaning, the higher the enrollment a college has, the more funding it would receive. Under this model, Northwest would have gained a 26% boost in funding; however, other colleges would have seen the opposite. For example, Missouri Western State University would have seen a 24% cut, according to the Missouri Independent.

paying our employees.” The biggest hit to the budget over his time at Northwest, Tatum said, has come from the Missouri State Employee’s Retirement System’s mandated increases. MOSERS offers retirement benefits to state employees, and since Northwest employs public educators, it must contribute to its employee’s retirement benefits. Tatum said the amount the University pays for MOSERS must increase by 3% each year. “Since I’ve been here, we’re at a 9% total increase over a threeyear period,” Tatum said. “That flat (budget) does not account for that. We have to generate revenue in order to cover that cost, all those costs.” Just like last year, Northwest administrators built multiple budgets based on anticipated scenarios of state appropriations. This way, they could get a sense of how each potential funding situation could directly impact the University. As for major capital improvements, such as the Energy Infrastructure Modernization Project, Tatum said the funds for it have already been committed in previous University budgets. Therefore, it will not be impacted by this year’s stagnant appropriations. Smaller projects, on the other hand, will be delayed a few years until more state funds are allocated. These include minor sidewalk repairs, carpet replacements and pavement resurfacing. As Northwest’s leaders built this year’s budget, Tatum said they kept affordability in mind. “We did increase tuition,” Tatum said. “We announced that in the summer, of a 3% increase. Three percent is not nothing, but I was really proud of how we worked through that budget process, because our peers actually are going to have tuition increases that extend well above 3%, and so I felt like we were being as mindful as we could for students and their parents, given the fact that we still have to cover our costs.”

“

It’s exactly the same as it was last June — not $1 more and not $1 less — it’s exactly the same. Now...that’s not horrible for us, but the cost of doing business increases year over year, and so that 0% increase doesn’t help us with the inflationary cost that comes with...paying our utility bills or paying our employees.”

LANCE TATUM PRESIDENT

NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY

While Deaton’s proposal passed in the Missouri House, it failed in the Senate. Tatum said the Senate thought the overhaul was too much too soon, as it could have affected some universities’ abilities to exist. Despite other proposals from the House and Senate, Tatum said Kehoe ultimately allowed the Higher Education and Workforce Development budget to stay flat this year. “It’s exactly the same as it was last June — not $1 more and not $1 less — it’s exactly the same,” Tatum said. “Now… that’s not horrible for us, but the cost of doing business increases year over year, and so that 0% increase doesn’t help us with the inflationary cost that comes with…paying our utility bills or

Another way he said the University has cut back on expenses is by adjusting staffing. Tatum said no one lost their job during this process. Instead, when a vacant position popped up, leaders carefully determined whether the role needed to be filled by a full-time employee. If not, adjunct professors — who typically receive lesser benefits and pay — are often brought in to fill those roles in a more cost-efficient manner. Tatum said more than 60% of Northwest’s institutional budget is people, so the administration tries to be mindful about making adjustments to save on funds. “(I’m) happy to say that leading into this next academic year…we weren’t required to cancel programs, eliminate aca-

NATHAN NODA CO-PHOTO EDITOR

University President Lance Tatum speaks during a Board of Regents meeting March 12, 2025. The state’s funding for higher education remains flat this year.

demic majors (or) reduce staffing of existing people,” Tatum said. As for next year’s budget, many factors are still up in the air. Lawmakers will likely propose a larger variety of higher education funding frameworks soon. “My sense is that they’re going to try to create a model that is fair and equitable to the universities in the state, but I completely believe there are going to be some that win and some that lose,” Tatum said. “I just don’t know what that’s going to be.” Once a recommended model begins going through the state budget process, Tatum said the conversation shifts to how Northwest can advocate for itself and protect its position. He said this looks like talking to senators and representatives about Northwest’s value and contributions to the state. “My hope is that Northwest is seen in a positive light, and that the state and those who are closely tied with education see the value that we provide to this part of the state and see the history that we’ve been able to build for our enrollment sustainability, our good stewardship, and that we see some favor of that, but… we have to wait,” Tatum said. Next year’s budget deficit will have impacts on the state’s entire appropriations, not just higher education. This means everything from transportation to healthcare to public safety will experience some stress. Tatum said his philosophy is never to get too excited or too concerned, because decisions like these can sometimes change hour-to-hour. Former Legislative Budget Director Alex Tuttle is a lobbyist. He said his job involves developing priorities and strategic plans with University leadership, including Tatum. Once these objectives are established, lobbyists work with lawmakers to influence policy and budget requests in favor of these goals. “You get a bill filed, make sure the governor and his team are aware of the bill, work with local legislators to get it into the legislative process and work with the total general assembly to make the bill move through the process and work on any issues if they

come up and get it passed, that’s a very high level,” Tuttle said. He said strategic goals for the upcoming legislative session have not been defined yet, but there are some funding requests relating to Northwest’s rural health center project. The University is building this facility to accommodate the growing need for accessible healthcare in Missouri. There are many paths lobbyists may take to secure adequate appropriations for this initiative, but Tuttle said it’s still in the early stages. While the budget revenue deficit may alarm some people, Tuttle said budget cuts must happen to ensure that the spending matches the revenue earned. “We’re coming off of several good years where revenues were at record-highs, so revenues have now flattened out, and we’ve been spending off of fund balance for those several years,” Tuttle said. “The…spending is gonna have to come down and match our revenues because the fund balance is starting to get down, and Missouri…we’re constitutionally obligated to pass a balanced budget.” The record-high revenue numbers over the past few years were a result of the COVID pandemic, according to the Missouri Budget Project. Tatum said the University has undergone a lot of change, not because Northwest was in crisis, but because leaders were looking to the future, preparing for anything. An example of this is the Energy Infrastructure Modernization Project. He said going forward with the project now would provide a greater advantage rather than trying to do it in a tight budget environment. “We restructured academics in that way, we instituted a new platform with Workday because of that philosophy and I really believe we’re in a position of strength to be able to weather whatever is going to come at us,” Tatum said. “This is going to be a quick, hard-hitting type of situation, and if you’re positioned well, which we are, that gives you a greater chance of being able to come through this, remaining healthy.”

Aug. 27, 2026 @TheMissourian

CRIME LOG for the week of Sept. 3

Maryville Department of Public Safety

Aug. 22 There is an ongoing investigation for stealing by deceit on the 300 block of East Summit Drive. A summons was issued to Kole B. Zarbano, 20, for minor in possession and possession of a fake ID on the 800 block of South Buchanan Street. A summons was issued to Daeden E. Hankins, 18, for minor in possession and an open container in a motor vehicle on the 300 block of North Main Street. A summons was issued to Chase A. Dresen, 18, for minor in possession and possession of a fake ID on the 300 block of North Main Street.

Provost speaks about retention amid fall enrollment decrease LEAH COX News Editor | @byleahcox

Aug. 21 There was an accident between Brianna I. King, 21, and Courtney Faustlin, 20, on the intersection of West Seventh Street and North Walnut Street. Faustlin was issued a citation for failure to yield. Aug. 20 There is a warrant out for the arrest of Joanna L. Page, 41, for failure to appear in court. There is an ongoing investigation for a stolen motor vehicle on the 300 block of Larry Lane. Aug. 19 There was an accident between Dustin Allen, 39, and an unknown driver on U.S. Highway 71 and U.S. Highway 136. There was a wallet recovered on the 100 block of North Vine Street. A summons was issued to Mattie G. Rhoades, 23, for a dog at large. Aug. 18 There is an ongoing investigation for leaving the scene on the 1600 block of South Main Street.

NEWS

NATHAN NODA CO-PHOTO EDITOR

Northwest Provost Rose Marie Ward points at a member in the crowd sharing their concerns during the Academic Affairs Meeting Aug. 19.

DATA CENTERS CONTINUED FROM A1

Aside from this, he wants people to remember their voice matters, and they need to do their civic duty and vote. No matter what political stance individuals have, Strauch said it’s important that Missourians vote for people — at all levels of the government — who will accurately carry out the will of the people. “We as American people, regardless of our beliefs, need to start coming together and agreeing on things and advocating for change, because if we don’t come to-

MEETINGS

CONTINUED FROM A1 In reference to the closed session Council had regarding the data center project, the statement from Heiland said it was held in accordance with the Revised Statutes of Missouri section 610.021(1). This clause allows for closed meetings to be held when the discussion involves “Legal actions, causes of action or litigation involving a public governmental body and any confidential or privileged communications between a public governmental body or its representatives and its attorneys.” Heiland’s statement said in this instance, the proposed data center could potentially use water from Public Water Supply District No. 1. The city has no authority over the project and has not negotiated agreements with it, but Council met in closed session to discuss the water supply contract with PWSD No. 1, which currently allows the district to purchase up to 1 million gallons of water per day from the city. The statement said city staff needed to understand existing legal obligations under that contract, which was discussed in that closed session. The statement also said city officials understand frustrations when information on important issues isn’t fully open, and sessions are never closed to avoid public scrutiny. Lastly, it said the city’s elected officials and employees value public participation and engagement, and they encourage people to attend Council meetings to voice their concerns. Maryville resident John Gallaher did not think

WATER

CONTINUED FROM A1 Council approved this contract amendment later on during Monday’s meeting, but Wilson said it isn’t what it seems. “On tonight’s agenda is another feasibility study,” Wilson said. “It is referred to as an impact study, but it doesn’t mention anything about the potential consequences for anyone downstream. This study reads more like another feasibility study. It…will not provide the answers that Councilwoman Allen was asking for.” He said the feasibility study that has already been conducted was a flawed document. Wilson said the wastewater source

Northwest is placing a renewed focus on student retention as the University faces several declining numbers in oncampus enrollment categories for the fall 2026 semester. During the Academic Affairs meeting Aug. 19, Provost Rose Marie Ward spoke about retention and persistence, asking faculty and staff to consider how their daily interactions with students influence whether they stay at Northwest and complete their degrees. “One faculty member can change the lives of 40 students and retain 40 students,” Ward said. This discussion came along as Associate Provost of Enrollment Management and Student Success Allison Hoffmann announced Northwest is estimated to tally 8,000 students enrolled for this semester, compared to 8,747 students in fall 2025 and a record 10,083 students enrolled in 2023. Exact numbers for enrollment are expected to come mid-September. Along with the drop in student enrollment, Hoffmann said on-campus first-time freshman numbers, on-campus transfer numbers and on-campus graduate student numbers are projected to decline. She said the challenges facing Northwest are also affecting other colleges. “This is not a Northwest-only issue or concern,” Hoffmann said. “We are continuing to think about things we need to change, how we need to innovate and what we need to do to really stay relevant for today’s students.” However, nationally, enrollment at public four-year universities increased by 1.4% in fall 2025, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. Ward said enrollment stability is not the responsibility of one de-

gether…things are only going to get worse,” Strauch said. He said he hopes the Nodaway County Commission extends the six-month moratorium it placed on data centers. McKim said residents concerned about the data centers have done a good job engaging within the community, and he urges them to keep voicing their opinions and learning as much as they can. “Nodaway County Economic Development has not taken an official position one way or the other on data centers, but I think it is important that folks, whether they’re opposed or they’re in support of data center development, make their voices heard,” McKim said. “There’s

partment or group of employees. “When we think about our teaching, our classroom, that is part of retention and persistence,” Ward said. “When we think about the events that we have that we bring students together, that is retention.” During the meeting, Hoffmann provided several samples on what students’ financial aid packages look like. She did this so faculty could better understand the costs students face even after receiving scholarships and grants. Hoffmann said sharing scenarios, even if fictional, shows employees what students face. “Keep in mind what students are going through in order to be in the classroom every single day,” Hoffmann said. She said more than 50% of Northwest students take out loans to help pay for their education. However, Hoffmann also said students and families are more reluctant to borrow money in order to afford higher education. With the concerns about retention and student reluctance, Ward said the University needs to hone in on making Northwest a place to stay. “We have to take this year differently — every single one of us,” Ward said. “When we say, ‘Every student, every day,’ it’s every Bearcat every day.” The meeting overviewed the University’s transition to Workday, which launched to students July 1. The University aims to implement the finalized student and faculty portion of the platform by fall 2028. Ward said the transition affects academic systems and encourages faculty and staff to provide feedback as the system continues to develop.

been a lot of different forums that give them opportunities…I know a lot of our public officials have been reached out to quite a bit, we have been reached out to quite a bit, and I just encourage people to continue to do that.” He said public input is considered in any project NCED is involved in, whether its data centers or otherwise. McKim also said NCED will answer all questions it can when possible. “As our statement says, as soon as we have information that can be made public… that would add to the public discourse, we’ll share that,” McKim said. “But we’re not there yet on either one of these.”

“

Everybody must support local journalism, or else things like this will just be more and more…prevalent, and no one will be there to ask our questions that we need asked.”

JOHN GALLAHER MARYVILLE RESIDENT

The Forum’s article was a hit piece against Council, but was actually proper journalism. “When a person in power is called to explain themselves...and the person in power — rather than take them seriously and speak to them legitimately — pulled the old kind of, you know, ‘Be quiet, the adults are talking,’ or ‘We know what’s best,’ or ‘Just trust us,’ that for me is the biggest red flag, because if you’re trustworthy, we see it in your actions, not just your words,” Gallaher said. He said he felt gaslit by the city’s response to The Forum’s article, and he said it felt too defensive. Gallaher said he is not accusing Council of doing anything bad; he said he is accusing city officials of poor communication. Up to this point, he said Council functioned without realizing it should be called to account.

that is the biggest and closest to the proposed White Cloud Acres site was purposefully less studied than other water sources. Due to his thoughts on this, Wilson said the study was intentionally conducted in favor of Scale Microgrids, the company behind White Cloud Acres. He also said he heard information that City Manager Ryan Heiland was the one who initiated the city’s involvement in the data center project. “If this is not the case, you need to take this opportunity to make that known,” Wilson said to Heiland. Although multiple people addressed city officials directly, Council does not use the public comment portion of its meet-

NATHAN NODA CO-PHOTO EDITOR

City Manager Ryan Heiland speaks about the city’s water at the Maryville City Council meeting Aug. 24. Council had multiple closed-door meetings.

ings to engage in dialogue with residents. During the Council discussion about amending the agreement with HDR Engineering, Councilwoman Erin Allen said she does not recall asking for a downstream impact study. “I will acknowledge that my use of the word study was probably impulsive, and now I’m being judged on that,” Allen said. “That’s fair…My goal out of this was to have someone evaluate the good, the bad and the ugly of the city of Maryville’s participation in what is definitely not an economic benefit of money in the bank by selling wastewater, should we decide to do that.” She said she wants to know if the city can prevent water from coming out of

Mozingo Lake, the main water source in Maryville and rural Nodaway County. She also said she has spoken with Heiland multiple times in his office to discuss this. “I would like to commend him for keeping our engineering partners in check in terms of what their vision was for charging the city of Maryville on this, given how much work they’ve already done for us on water,” Allen said. Allen said neither Heiland — nor any city official — had a role to play in the city’s involvement in White Cloud Acres. She said Council simply wants more information before members can consider supplying water to the project.

Aug. 27, 2026 OPINION @TheMissourian

College is supposed to shape you, let it happen DAKOTA OSWALT Editor-in-Chief @doswalt_NWMSRN

The college experience — a few events typically come to my mind: parties, residence halls, stressful study sessions at the library, etc. While these are all accurate depictions, my college experience has been so much more than what’s seen in movies. College is meant to stretch you. So much has changed between the 17-year-old me and the 21-year-old me — but there are some things I still need to work on as I learn how to adult. As I begin my senior year, I’m realizing how I have completely transformed as a person, and I’ve discovered that growth is one of many purposes of college, along with earning degrees. Now that you’re in college, you’re free to become who you want to be. Growing up in a small town, my classmates became built-in friends. I had known most of my high school graduating class — which consisted of less than 100 people — since before kindergarten. We saw each other grow through every phase of life — the good, the bad and the ugly. While it was nice to share my childhood with the same people, college gave me the opportunity to start fresh. When I arrived on campus, nobody knew my lore, and that gave me peace. I was freed from the expectations my hometown placed on me. The viewpoints I’ve gained in college have made me more aware, empathetic and driven. I know I have become a different and — hopefully — better person, but these newly found character traits don’t necessarily stay with me when I go home. Reverse culture shock is when a person readapts to their native environment, according to the U.S. Department of State. Don’t get me wrong — I love my family, and I love being home. However, after learning to thrive in my own routine and rhythm, it can be difficult to readjust to my family’s lifestyle. Some young adults may experience holiday regression, which is a psychological defense mechanism that results from coming back home, according to PrairieCare. This means that, when visiting family, some may find that they are easily irritated, acting like young teenagers again. I’m guilty of reverting back to my teenage self during summer break: I’ve caught myself complaining when my parents ask me to do the dishes or drive my little brother places. This makes me feel like I’ve taken one step forward and three steps back, like all the maturity I’ve gained throughout college was all for nothing. However, talking to others my age, I’m realizing that this feeling is perfectly normal. It’s OK to want to take comfort in your old life: adulthood is scary. But it’s also good to take a step back, become more independent and recognize that change can be good. For me, this looks like establishing boundaries and going home a little less. Growth can mean saying “yes” to every opportunity, even if it means doing something uncomfortable. It might seem intimidating, but it could also be exactly what you need. Don’t let your unchanging hometown hold you back from what’s waiting for you.

EDITORIAL BOARD Dakota Oswalt Anna Bailey Leah Cox Olivia Wallace Nathan Noda Fletcher Proctor Madysen Thompson Lilly Hallmon

Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor News Editor Sports Editor Co-Photo Editor Co-Photo Editor Copy Editor Digital Media Editor

(660) 562-1635 nwmadv@nwmissouri.edu

CADEN WILLMANN CARTOONIST

NW students are responsible for making Maryville home OUR VIEW:

For many Northwest students, Maryville is just one stop on our life journeys. We move in, earn our degrees and go away to start careers. Most of us are only here for around four years, but we can’t use that as an excuse to avoid getting involved in the Maryville community. We have a responsibility to care about this city, even if it’s just a temporary address. In the time the Editorial Board has been at Northwest, the city of Maryville has undergone many changes, such as improving infrastructure, gaining new leadership and welcoming multiple businesses. Some may not realize it, but we college students have a lot of influence on all of these aspects. Last year, a 10-year-old Maryville boy named Jacob Walter was diagnosed with a heart condition, requiring a heart transplant. The town rallied behind the family, but the University also honored him. Northwest helped raise significant funds for his cause by inviting a shop to sell T-shirts at a basketball game, with all proceeds going to his family. We hope students continue to unite to advocate for Maryville residents in need. Community response isn’t limited to situations like this. Volunteering in

town and supporting small businesses are other ways to help Maryville thrive. The city pours a lot of investment and pride into the University — it’s only fair that students reciprocate that. Northwest would not be what it is right now without the city’s support. Some University graduates have gone on to create businesses in town. Northwest alum Bailey Harms opened Plot Twist Café last year. The shop has since been met with apparent success. Mental health advocate Foster Huggins, based out of the Kansas City area, graduated from Northwest in 2023. He now travels giving inspirational speeches to schools and promoting his brands — and all of it started at Northwest. He often returns to Maryville to sell his merchandise. He has made a lasting impact on this community. Involvement doesn’t end with the feel-good stories. Students also play a role in holding local politicians accountable and participating in initiatives. All students — particularly those living off-campus — may consider attending Maryville City Council meetings to keep up with ordinances that may affect them. These meetings take place biweekly on Mondays at 5:30 p.m. at

Maryville Public Safety. The Nodaway County Commission typically hosts meetings on Tuesdays and Thursdays. These entities are in charge of local policies that impact the University. A recent example regards the artificial intelligence data center discussion. Residents voiced concerns about data centers possibly being built in the area. That’s when county residents — many of whom are Northwest students or alumni — banded together in opposition and formed Nodaway Says No. Carter Strauch, a senior at the University, created the online petition against the data centers. Because of his and Nodaway Says No’s efforts, multiple protests and educational pop-ups about data centers took place over the summer. A data center could have potentially negative consequences on the community and University. The data center is just one example of issues that impact Northwest. College students should absolutely get involved in all types of initiatives, even if they don’t plan on staying in the city forever. Maryville is just as much our home as it is for lifelong residents, and Northwest students have the unique responsibility to get involved in this city.

YOUR VIEW:

How do you engage with important issues in the Maryville community?

GRACE WALDEIER Senior Public Health

COOPER BERRY Senior Agricultural Business

JENNA HEAFNER Junior Early Childhood Education

“I’ve seen a lot of the protest signs around, so I usually do my own research, and then I use that research to then inform my voting.”

“I’m involved with four student organizations...so we volunteer in the community and participate in all sorts of different community events...we do a trunk or treat on campus, volunteering in town and fundraisers.”

“I just kind of ignore it…I don’t think that it’s relevant to me. I don’t plan on staying in Maryville, so if a data center happens, it happens.”

THE STROLLER:

Your Bearcat doesn’t get the e-bike hype I don’t know when electric bikes became the official transportation method of all teenagers, but I’d like to submit a formal complaint. Just last week, I was walking out of work when three pre-teens flew past me like they were auditioning to be the next Ricky Bobby. I’m talking full speed, on the sidewalk and having absolutely no concern for the fact other people are, you know, trying to exist.

NEWS STAFF Demitri Oliver Alex Pennington Ryan King Hannah Tate Anna Case Caden Willmann

Designer Designer News Reporter Sports Reporter Cartoonist/Designer Cartoonist

One second, I’m daydreaming about my dinner, the next, I’m nearly clipped by a teen on a lime-green machine. I understand teenagers have always found questionable ways to entertain themselves — I mean, I did in fact eat a spoonful of cinnamon because the internet told me it was funny. But when did we collectively decide that giving a group of teenagers motorized bicycles capable of going faster than their attention span was a good idea?

At least with regular bikes, there is some effort involved. You have to pedal and earn your speed. That hill? You have to conquer it — or at least walk your bike up it wheezing, with the crushing feeling of defeat. Now, apparently you can just twist a handle, ignore everyone around you and pretend you’re in the final lap of the Daytona 500. To be clear, I don’t want anyone to get hurt; but flying down a crowded sidewalk should come with consequences, like a

CONVERGING CAMPUS & COMMUNITY

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gentle flip over the handlebars into a bush, or getting screamed at by an old lady. Maybe I’m unc, but I would like to walk around without having to perform a defensive maneuver because a 14-yearold on a pedelec has decided the sidewalk belongs to them. Pedestrians should have a fighting chance.

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

800 University Drive, Wells Hall Maryville, MO, 64468 DIRECTOR Steven Chappell Madalyn Mosbauer

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Aug. 27, 2026 @NWMSports

UPCOMING GAMES

MHS volleyball brings in new coach HANNAH TATE Sports Reporter | @ht_playbook

NW FB @ Texas A&M-Kingsville 7 p.m. Aug. 29 Kingsville, Texas

NW VB vs. Maryville 5 p.m. Aug. 27 Labanon, Illinois vs. Ouachita Baptist 2 p.m. Aug. 28 Labanon, Illinois vs. McKendree 7 p.m. Aug. 28 Labanon, Illinois vs. Harding 2 p.m. Aug. 29 Labanon, Illinois

MHS FB @ Blair Oaks 5:30 p.m. Aug. 28 Jefferson City, Missouri

MHS VB vs. Oak Grove 6 p.m. Aug. 28 vs. Notre Dame de Sion 8:30 p.m. Aug. 28 vs. Hannibal 3:15 p.m. Aug. 29 vs. Belton 4:30 p.m. Aug. 29 @ State Volleyball High School Volleyball Preview Classic

SPORTS

NATHAN NODA CO-PHOTO EDITOR

Maryville volleyball then-sophomore, current junior Julia Branner celebrates after scoring a point during a game Sept. 29, 2025.

Maryville High School volleyball is welcoming new coaching staff and hoping to build a new culture from the success of the previous season. MHS volleyball brought Hailey Sandfort on as head coach of the Spoofhounds for the 2026 season. Her promotion to head coach comes after Maryville had its best season since 2020, going 26-10 under Meghan Duhlhauser before her departure. Sandfort said her coaching philosophy involves creating a one-team mindset — blurring the lines of varsity, junior varsity and freshman to create cohesion with everyone. “If we (players) want to be on the court, we have to give 100 percent effort every single play,” Sandfort said. “We are building strong young women, so we want to make sure that they always have a positive attitude, no matter what.” Maryville enters the year with a younger team, only three seniors and three juniors competing on the 11-women roster. Getting experience at the highest level of high school athletics can be challenging at the beginning. Sandfort said everyone worked during the spring and summer open gyms to be ready to dive head first into the upcoming season. “We’re not going back to the elementary basics 24/7,” Sandfort said. “We’re getting full force into drills. I’m doing a lot of team skills, as well as positionals, making sure that we’re building every aspect of the game.” Maryville’s class of 2026

COHESIVE

CONTINUED FROM A8 During the 2025-26 football season, he said the conference had the fewest targeting calls. With that, the NCAA Rules Committee decided on five new unsportsmanlike conduct rules that will be called on every occurrence. These include; penalties against any hand motion mimicking gun violence after the ball is dead; slashing of an opponent’s throat or a nose wipe; a player removing their helmet after the ball is dead, with the exception of a timeout or equipment adjustment; pushing or shoving an opponent that is not a part of the game action; and pulling an opponent off the pile after a tackle or using force. Each coach will receive two challenges during the duration of a game. If they are correct on one, they will get a third, which is new for this season. In the preseason polls, the media members had the Bearcats ending the season in first place in the MIAA, and the coaches of the conference had the ’Cats ending second behind conference rival Pittsburg State University.

saw the departure of four seniors who made up the core of the offensive weapon, allowing roster spots to open for younger players to thrive at the varsity level. Junior outside hitter Sofia Lynn is one player getting a chance to show her abilities this year. Lynn said replicating the energy the ’Hounds played with last year is essential to continuing the success into the new season. “I think it’s energy and when we’re losing a point, we shouldn’t get down,” Lynn said. “We need to keep going, keep pushing hard and pressuring… I feel like I want them to think that this team just beat us by a mile.” Volleyball can be exhausting on the body and mind without proper training. Getting in shape before practices and games begin allows players to focus on technique and strategy during the season without a consistent need for breaks. Sandfort said one of her goals for Maryville in the upcoming season is to be one of the most conditioned teams in the state. “We have been conditioning the heck out of these girls,” Sandfort said. “It’s not just straight running…We’re doing lateral quickness, agility, vertical training, things like that…We don’t want to get to a five-set game and not be able to do it.” The ’Hounds start their season with a triangular against the Oak Grove High School Panthers and the Notre Dame de Sion High School Storm Aug. 28 at St. Joseph Civic Arena in St. Joseph. Maryville starts the night off facing the Panthers at 6 p.m. for Game 1 before battling the Storm for Game 2 at 8:30 p.m.

All around, the Bearcats want to keep last season’s success in the record books and not dwell on mistakes — not allowing the rankings get in their heads. A particular player who had a standout season is sophomore running back Quincy Torry — who played in 12 games last season and has been a consistent leader for the Bearcats. “I think me, personally, I’m just more excited to have more confidence,” Torry said at MIAA Football Media Days. “Last year, not playing a ton at the beginning of the season, but kind of picking up more reps at the end, it kind of took a little bit for me to build confidence, and I think in all sports — really, in all aspects of life — confidence is huge. Also, being in more of a leadership role, that’s a gold mine. A bigger goal for me is (to) be more of a leader — even bigger than any type of physical attributes like playing wise, I just want to be more vocal.” Kickoff against the Javelinas is 7 p.m. Aug. 29 at Javelina Stadium in Kingsville, Texas, where the Bearcats look to take another victory against the team.

27, 2026 SPORTS Aug. @NWMSports

’Cats open season, bring fresh faces OLIVIA WALLACE Sports Editor | @_oliviawallace_

Coming into the preseason polls at No. 9 compared to last season’s No. 11, the Bearcat volleyball squad is using the jump in the rankings as motivation for its upcoming season. Comparing last season’s finish of 9-16 and 3-13 MIAA, head coach Amy Woerth said she bases her coaching style on the preseason polls for the new season. “I think how I go about doing that with our team is really controlling our side of the court as much as possible,” Woerth said. “I’m a very competitive person, I know from the standpoint of me being calm on the sidelines — it doesn’t look like it, but inside I’m not calm — but it fires you up, and for those who can handle it, I will talk to them about it, but I don’t think the whole team can handle that theory of where we are and what we need to do.” This year’s Bearcat team has two returning seniors — twin sisters right side hitter Gabrielle Gartner and outside hitter Sophia Gartner, who have played on the same team since they were young children; and setter Mya Karrick from Morgan State University, who is new to the program. With the age differences on the team, Sophia Gartner said the newcomers still feel seen and connected with the rest of the players. “We’re almost one age group,” Sophia Gartner said. “I don’t think there’s really a separation between freshman and seniors, and so I think it’s super fun. It’s just a very close group, and that leads to trust on the court, having fun, being silly and not taking everything so seriously. It’s just a good year with great teammates, good family and I’m excited to just win and compete against

other teams with this group that we have.” Woerth said the four freshmen bring a lot to the Bearcat program. “This is a very, very talented freshman group, and they have slid in very well when it comes to the mesh that they bring with their personality, but also their play, so I wouldn’t be surprised if at some point, they have some playing time this season, because they’re that talented,” Woerth said. The Bearcats open their season on the road in Lebanon, Illinois, at the McKendree Invitational — two teams the ’Cats will face are former opponents from last season. Woerth said no matter the opponent on the other side of the net, the Bearcats need to control their side. Looking at the Invitational, Northwest faces Maryville University — who took the Bearcats by their tails in three sets last season. The next foe the ’Cats will see on the court is Ouachita Baptist University — a team they have not faced since the 2018 season. The last two opponents for the ’Cats have previously matched up with them. Tournament host McKendree University swept the Bearcats back in 2017, and the last opponent, Harding University, went four sets with the team and won. Gabrielle Gartner said she is excited to prove the MIAA wrong in her last season as a Bearcat. “I want to have a big bounce back from last season,” Gabrielle Gartner said. “It wasn’t what we were most proud of, and I think it’s not an accurate representation of our program. I’m excited to see what we can do this year — and play alongside my twin sister.” First serve for the Invitational is 5 p.m. Aug. 27 at the Melvin Price Convocation Center in Lebanon, Illinois.

FLETCHER PROCTOR CO-PHOTO EDITOR

Northwest senior Gabriell Gartner swings for a spike during practice Aug. 25. The Bearcats begin their season at the McKendree Invitational Aug. 27 in Lebanon, Illinois.

’Hounds prepare for annual match against Falcons HANNAH TATE Sports Reporter | @ht_playbook

Maryville High School football starts the season as reigning district champions and seniors look to go 1-0 as the Spoofhounds begin its campaign against a familiar foe. MHS finished its 2025 campaign going 9-3 (4-1 MEC), claiming the Class 3 District 8 title and advancing to the state quarterfinals. Led by a senior class of 29 athletes, the Spoofhounds went to back-to-back state quarterfinals and their third in the last five years. Looking back at last season’s success, senior quarterback Jackson Dredge said accountability and trusting teammates were key factors in becoming district champions. “Understanding that your teammates around you always have your back and knowing that we’ll stick up for each other and show up every day and be able to push through those rough 95-degree practices and be able to work together to get through tough times,” Dredge said. “We all picked up traits from the seniors last year and… just knowing what you’re good at and knowing how to lead is a really big thing.” The Maryville class of 2027 houses 14 seniors, many of them having varsity experience before their senior year. Dredge has led the ‘Hounds since his sophomore year, growing his skills every season. Head coach Matt Webb said Dredge has grown into his leadership and starting position but is learning the importance of his role as QB1. “All he has to do is his eleventh,” Webb said. “The quarterback position no matter what team you’re on is not any more important than the right guard position. He’s got

“

Watch how the Maryville ’Hounds love one another and they play football together the right way. They are physical, fast, athletic and excited. They love playing the game and they love playing for each other.”

MATT WEBB MHS FOOTBALL HEAD COACH

to get the ball to the right spot, but he’s got to do a job every snap and that’s all we expect him to do.” Class 3 in Missouri high school football often notices athletes seeing time offensively and defensively in the same game. Most Maryville football players are trained in the defensive position that directly rivals the offensive role, providing leverage to master both sides of the ball. Senior tackle and guard Kade Watkins said playing both sides of the ball allows him to realize both the flaws in offense and defense. “It helps a lot in that (knowledge) aspect, but I think it’s a mindset,” Watkins said. “I can go out there and play a full game on both sides of the ball, and it’s about having a better mindset of the guy

NATHAN NODA CO-PHOTO EDITOR

Maryville football then-junior, current senior Jackson Dredge makes a move on a defender in their 51-0 win over St. Joseph Lafayette High School Oct. 24, 2025. Maryville has lost to Blair Oaks for the past 10 games.

across from you.” Maryville opens the 2026 season against the same time it started with last season — the Blair Oaks High School Falcons. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Aug. 28 in Jefferson City, Missouri. After every game, Webb said he hopes opponents look at MHS and see a squad full of players who love each other and are great teammates. “Watch how the Maryville ’Hounds love one another and they play football together the right way,” Webb said. “They are physical, fast, athletic and excited. They love playing the game and they love playing for each other.” Blair Oaks stadium is 245 miles away from Maryville. This creates a four-hour bus drive the ’Hounds have to endure before stepping into rival territory and putting maximum effort onto the field. Senior linebacker Will McCollough said the first step to warming up for the Falcons will start by beating the drive. “We’re going to get out (of the bus),” McCollough said. “We’re going to take breaks. We’re going to exercise during the drive so we stay nice and loose, like a well-oiled machine because we don’t want to get stiff at all.” Maryville has lost to Blair Oaks for the past 10 games, recently losing to the Falcons 4214 Aug. 29, 2025.

New culture Maryville volleyball welcomes new coach ahead of season. see A6

SPORTS August 27, 2026

Comeback Bearcat volleyball aims to recover from last season’s finish in MIAA. see A7

@NWMSports

OLIVIA WALLACE SPORTS EDITOR

Northwest football head coach John McMenamin greets his players before practice Aug. 23. The Bearcats’ first game is 7 p.m. Aug. 29 against Texas A&M University - Kingsville at Javelina Stadium in Kingsville, Texas. Northwest leads the series against TAMUK 4-1.

Football opens season on road OLIVIA WALLACE Sports Editor | @_oliviawallace_

any football teams in the MIAA reflect on previous seasons to learn and scout from. However, the Northwest Bearcat football team is a new team with new players and new skills. At the MIAA Football Media Day, July 27 in Topeka, Kansas, junior defensive back Holden Zigmant said the new team is a close-knit squad. “I think since I’ve been here, this is the closest team by far, off the field wise, so that really translates on the field,” Zigmant said. “I think we’re all super close together, even though we lost a lot of seniors. I think it’s cool to see guys kind of stepping into different roles.” Being cohesive is one thing that both Zigmant and junior offensive lineman Kaleb McCullough said will help the team take down opponents.

This season, the Bearcats have less than 10 seniors — many veterans stepped into leadership roles to help build confidence and support other players — just as the seniors did during the 2025-26 season. “Confidence has been a big thing for us up front and just anywhere on defense, talking to Holden (Zigmant), one of our defensive safeties, how those young guys can lean on those older guys too — they know we’re in it together,” McCullough said. “That was something I feel like the seniors last year did a really good job with us — pushing us, not getting down on ourselves.” The ’Cats open the season on the road against the Texas A&M-Kingsville Javelinas — a team the Bearcats took down 49-20 in the 2025 season. Northwest led the series against TAMUK 4-1. It’s been months since the ’Cats faced an opponent, and during fall camp it can be redundant to face one’s own teammates. Head coach John McMenamin said the

team has 11 chances this season to prove themselves again. “Kids kind of have been working their tails off for a long time and football is one of those sports that you only have 11 games, but you’re practicing year around and working out year ’round for those chances — and this is the first one,” McMenamin said. “So these kids are really excited, I’m really excited. It’s fun for myself, our coaching staff — everybody’s back to have a sense of familiarity with schedule routine.” Something that may be unfamiliar to the Bearcats is the new MIAA rule changes for football, which was announced during the Media Days. The conference’s Supervisor of Officials Phil Laurie spoke about a few changes that will not only affect the ’Cats, but the whole MIAA.

SEE COHESIVE | A6

Northwest soccer brings new philosophies ahead of year HANNAH TATE Sports Reporter | @ht_playbook

FLETCHER PROCTOR CO-PHOTO EDITOR

Northwest soccer senior midfielder Ximena Arnau attempts a shot during the 5-0 scrimmage win against William Jewell University Aug 22.

The sophomore class brings Northwest soccer a new look this year, with a dynamic approach as head coach shares philosophy from years of experience. The Bearcats finished last season 10-6-2 (7-41 MIAA), led by then-senior goalkeeper Lily Ellis, whose name paints the Northwest record books. Leading goal scorer senior forward Makenna West returns to the ’Cats lineup for her senior year. Head coach Marc Gordon said this year’s squad differs from last season’s, transitioning from a defense-heavy team to being a more dynamic, attacking team with more weapons on the offensive side. “Through our exhibitions, we’ve shown some different capabilities with the growth of that sophomore group, some exciting new freshmen, and the things that they’re doing,” Gordon said. “I don’t think teams can just focus on Makenna (West). We have some depth, and I think we’re a pretty dynamic attacking team this year.” Entering his ninth year as Northwest head coach, Gordon has developed coaching philosophies that promote growth on and off the field. Gordon said the ’Cats always want to be a quality team against everyone they play despite the outcome. “That’s kind of my philosophy of us getting better,” Gordon said. “A good match has come out of it, and their players have grown from the experience in a positive way and we have grown in a positive way.” The 2025 ’Cats had 16 athletes see their names on the MIAA Academic Award Recipients list, in-

cluding junior forward Lillie Shaw. To get on the list, players must have a GPA of 3.00 or higher. Shaw said Gordan sets the precedent early on in one’s college career that academics matter just as much as effort on the field. “Your first semester on campus, everything kind of hits you at once with soccer, school, all the new things,” Shaw said. “He makes the freshman group do a study hall together…so it just forces you to learn how to be a good student, essentially, and then that starts you out strong, and you carry it throughout the rest of your college experience.” This year’s Northwest squad features nine freshman and 11 sophomores, showing that almost two-thirds of the 29-women roster is underclassmen. All of the sophomores spent their first year of collegiate soccer for the ’Cats. West said building on last season’s progress with the underclassmen will provide helpful experience for this season. “We had a lot of freshmen (last year), and somehow we were able to all come together and work really well together,” West said. “This year, all of those girls now have a year of experience, and then we have a class coming in that is really good and they’re adapting well, so I feel like we have a good space to build off of last year.” Northwest starts its 2026 campaign off against the Northern State University Wolves at noon Aug. 28 in Aberdeen, South Dakota. Aberdeen is over 450 miles away from Maryville, which combines to a seven-hour drive. While the drive is long, West said the time allows everyone to relax and prepare for the game.