NORTHWESTMISSOURIAN
STATE EDUCATION BILLS
SOURCE: MISSOURI HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
NW education students discuss political climate EVERCHANGING
Many individuals choose to pursue a career based on what they enjoy. For prospecting teachers, they also might consider the ever changing political discussions regarding education.
There are over 40 bills circulating in the Missouri House of Representatives regarding education.
Northwest has been preparing students to become teachers since 1905, when it opened as a school for teacher education. The field of education has never stopped adapting, and along with it is the preparation education majors receive prior to entering the field.
Speech and Theater Education student Madi Richter said bills are talked about in the classroom, and less discussed among students.
“I know I’ve talked to other speech and theater ed. people… and we’re just kind of like, ‘These (bills) existed?’” Richter said. “As much as they try to prepare us for the future, sometimes they kind of dismiss the hardships and kind of the real world stuff until we actually get to the point where we need to know it.”
Middle School Education major Cole Findling said bills are discussed within six Professional Learning Community courses.
“Whether you’re a teacher or not, you are probably going to be affected by the school system,” Findling said. “I think it’s important to always stay on top of what your state is doing, and especially what your state’s doing that affects the education of your kid.”
School of Education Associate Professor Travis Dimmitt teaches PLC classes four and five. He said as a professor in higher education, he sees it as part of his job to teach education students about what is occurring in the political world.
“I think that one of the responsibilities that I have as a professor of education is to just kind of
show you what’s going on outside in the world, because it does have an impact on you,” Dimmitt said.
Speech and Theater Education major Bridget Hopkins said there is a lot of focus on student needs within legislation, and less focus on teacher needs.
There are multiple circulating bills concerning teacher needs. One of these is Missouri House Bill 2913, which will provide provisions for teachers to defend themselves against acts of violence in the classroom. This bill passed in the House March 11.
“
I think it’s important to always stay on top of what your state is doing, and especially what your state’s doing that affects the education of your kid.”
COLEFINDLING
MIDDLE SCHOOL EDUCATION MAJOR
Hopkins said this bill hit her close to home. She said her mom has a close friend who worked with children with special needs, some of whom would act violently toward Hopkins’ friend.
“She would come home getting beat, like, legit bruises, scratches,” Hopkins said. “She would get sent home mid-day and have to cancel our practices, being like, ‘Hey, I got beat up in class today. I gotta go to the hospital.’”
Hopkins said this friend could not do anything to defend herself until another adult came to help her. These experiences would leave her with severe injuries. Hopkins said she is happy there is finally legislation that allows teachers to protect themselves.
Another piece of legislation that could have an impact is
Missouri House Bill 2580. This bill “Prohibits public school staff members from encouraging students in their social transition to being perceived as a member of the opposite biological sex,” according to the House website.
Hopkins said this bill upsets her, because there is typically a higher concentration of queer students involved in the arts. Hopkins said she is hoping to teach theater at a high school or, at a higher-education level. She said she is saddened by the thought that she may not be able to show support toward her students.
“This one hurts,” Hopkins said. “To know there’s a place within my own job I could be prohibited from supporting a student when they don’t feel comfortable in their own skin anymore, it makes — it genuinely makes me sick to my stomach to think that I might have to hide pride flags in my room if I want to support students, especially being a theater teacher.”
Findling and Richter also said they do not support this bill. Findling said, while in high school, he had a friend who was transitioning; this person dealt with a lot of backlash from students and staff
“A janitor called my friend a slur, and we reported that, and after months of being like… ‘Why is he still around students? This is a safe place. We should all be encouraged to grow how we see fit,’” Findling said. “The most that ever happened is they moved that janitor from high school to primary school.”
He said this action did not feel right to himself or his peers. Findling said after reading through this bill, he sees a lot of holes. For example, he said not all the language used is clear. He said it should be defined what “facilitating a student’s transition” is and what “supporting a student from a social and emotional standpoint” is.
FULL STORY ONLINE: NWMISSOURINEWS.COM
ANNA BAILEY News Editor | @AmBailey16
INFOGRAPHIC BY ANNA CASE DESIGNER
Sales tax rollback to be on April ballot
HANNAH CLAYWELL
Editor-in-Chief | @Hannah_9504
Another voting season is here, and Maryville residents will have the opportunity to vote for or against Proposition Spoofhound April 7.
Proposition Spoofhound would grant the district a full waiver of the Proposition C Sales Tax Rollback. Proposition C is not new to Missouri; it was first approved statewide in 1982. Maryville R-II School District Superintendent Philip Pohren said enacting this proposition would generate around $875,000 for the district and result in an increase of $0.3149.
Maryville R-II School District’s starting salary is for teachers.
$40,750
“As your tax base grows, that one-cent sales tax, you get lesser and lesser of it,” Pohren said. “It’s kind of an equalizer, if you will.” He said the money generated would be used for salaries and benefits, operational costs and student programming.
Pohren said he wanted to be clear that this tax levy is not associated with Proposition Jump — which supported facility renovations — that was recently passed, but instead is a separate thing.
“I would want our voters to know that, yes, this will have an anticipated tax levy increase, but most importantly, we will define very clearly where every one of those dollars is going,” Pohren said.
In Missouri, around 91% of school districts have voted to retain the full local levy, and if passed, Maryville would join that list.
Maryville’s starting teacher salary is at $40,750, compared to some communi-
ties with similar sized districts, like Savannah, Missouri, which has a starting salary of $44,300, according to the 2025-26 data. Pohren said supporting Proposition Spoofhound would help make the salaries in Maryville competitive with surrounding areas to help attract and keep teachers and other professionals.
“It will just be an opportunity for us to either capture some new monies or to dig a little deeper to figure out where we can continue to support our salary schedules for all teachers, custodial, etcetera,” Pohren said. “We want to be able to impact everyone positively with what we can do with our salary schedules.”
As far as the tax increase, Maryville tax rates sit at $4.9729, which is lower than surrounding areas, like Stanberry, Missouri, sitting at $5.3436. Pohren said Proposition Spoofhound is a guaranteed revenue source through local dollars if passed.
Pohren said there is a lot of information out about how the state funding formula is expected to change in the next four to five years, and the district is paying attention to those changes.
“(We’re) concerned with what that could look like, how that could impact Maryville R-II, so we just feel like this is the right time to ask voters for those additional tax dollars,” Pohren said.
The district has posted a flyer on various social media accounts with more information for voters and attended the community forum held on Tuesday.
Pohren said the community must stay informed, and transparency from the district is important while voting. If the proposition is passed, he said the district will phase in changes over time, and salaries won’t change overnight. There would be a plan to increase at a rate that would outpace previous years.
“I think we’re ready for almost any question someone wants to throw at us,” Pohren said. “If the community says this is not the time for us to pass Proposition Spoofhound, then we go back to the drawing board and come up with a way that we can continue to increase salaries.”
Important voting information, tips for Missouri residents
HANNAH CLAYWELL
Editor-in-Chief | @Hannah_9504
There are a few pieces of necessary information for Missouri voters, including acceptable forms of ID, voting with a paper ballot, voting with election machines, absentee voting and accessible voting.
In Missouri, polling places are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on election day — April 7.
Acceptable forms of ID
There are four IDs accepted: a nonexpired driver’s license or a non-driver’s license, a nonexpired military ID — including a veteran’s ID — a nonexpired U.S. passport or another nonexpired ID issued by either the U.S. or the voters’ state they are registered to vote in.
Voting with a paper ballot
On past paper ballots, there has been the opportunity for straight-ballot voting, which is voting for every candidate affiliated with the voters’ party. Missouri no longer accepts this form of voting, and each candidate must be marked individually.
Voting with election
machines
Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins said to research how to use the voting equipment on his website.
There is second-chance voting. If a voter accidentally overmarks their ballot, there is an opportunity to correct it.
Absentee voting
Someone voting absentee has to provide one of the acceptable reasons prior to the second Tuesday before an election. Those reasons are being absent from the jurisdiction in which they are registered to vote, inability to vote inperson due to illness or physical disability, religious beliefs or practices, employment as an election authority or by an election authority at an alternate location than their own, incarceration or certification in the address
confidentiality program.
To request an absentee ballot, the voter can reach out to their local election authority in person, by mail, by fax or by email. A copy of personal identification is required when submitting a mail ballot.
Accessible voting Curbside voting is available to those who have limited mobility.
Voters need to ask a poll worker to bring a ballot out to them.
If the voter is assigned an in-
accessible polling place, they may request a different assignment.
All polling destinations are required to have an accessible voting system for voters with disabilities, including audiovisual accessibility.
If a person has a permanent disability, they can request to be on a permanent absentee voting list to automatically receive an absentee ballot before each election.
Voters not residing in Missouri can find information on their respective secretary of state’s websites.
INFOGRAPHIC BY ANNA CASE DESIGNER
SOURCE: MARYVILLE R-II SCHOOL DISTRICT
STORIES
BY ANNA BAILEY
PHOTOS BY NATHAN NODA
In the upcoming Maryville General Municipal Election April 7, multiple Maryville R-II School Board candidates will be on the ballot. There are five candidates running for three open positions.
School boards are responsible for establishing the visions and goals for their respective public school districts, according to the National School Boards Association. Its members collaborate to set the standards for the performance of their schools' students, faculty and staff. They are elected by people within their communities with the expectation that they communicate between the district and the public.
Both Isaiah Korthanke and Dale Baker are running for reelection, while Tamara Lynn, Amy Ziegler and DeAnn Davison are first-time candidates.
The contenders all attended a candidate forum March 24. This event allowed each candidate time to introduce themselves and discuss their opinions on three questions posed by the two panelists: former publisher and owner of the Nodaway News Leader Kay Wilson and Maryville Daily Forum Managing Editor Jon Dykstra.
For more information on what the April 7 ballot will look like, visit the Nodaway County Clerk's Office website at nodawaycountymo.us.
Scan the QR code to watch the latest shows on KNWT-TV. FULL CANDIDATE BIOGRAPHIES ONLINE: NWMISSOURINEWS.COM
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DeAnn Davison
Longtime councilman hopes for 2-year term
DAKOTA OSWALT Managing Editor |
Elections are a couple of weeks away on April 7, and Maryville residents must choose between four City Council candidates to fill three seats.
While three people vie for the two open three-year positions, incumbent Benjamin Lipiec is the sole candidate running for the two-year term. This term is shorter because it is the remainder of former Councilman Tye Parsons’ term. Parsons stepped down from Council last summer, a few months after being reelected in the April 8, 2025, election.
Lipiec was born and raised in Maryville. He graduated from Northwest and works as the Inside Sales Manager at NucorLMP. He has served on Council since April 2016, making him the longest-serving candidate in this year’s race.
Since Council members rotate through the mayoral position every few years, Lipiec had the opportunity to serve as mayor of Maryville from June 2020 to April 2022 — notably during the COVID pandemic — adding to his experience in city government and leadership.
Lipiec said he and other city officials are always trying to make Maryville grow.
“I like the people, I like the community aspect of it, the, kind of, always-give-a-helping-hand kind of…feeling, and I like that it’s continually growing, that we’re continually trying to make things better and just move with the times, not stay stagnant,” Lipiec said.
Since joining Council nine years ago, Lipiec has been a part of many successful initiatives put forth by the city. These include multiple street renovations across town to maximize traffic and aesthetics, collaborations with the University to provide better engineering and design improvements where the city
meets campus, and upkeep of Maryville’s notable recreational spots, such as Mozingo Lake Recreation Park and various parks and trails around the area.
Lipiec said his favorite part about serving has been the opportunity to gain a better understanding of the work behind all of those projects, as well as learning what goes into the city’s day-to-day operations. He said each decision the Council and city staff make involves a lot of research, time and effort.
“I’ve also been impressed with the amount of grants that we’ve gotten to be able to do some of these projects, so that it doesn’t cost the city as much money,” Lipiec said. “It helps to better the community.”
Towns the size of Maryville don’t often receive many grants, but it has been able to do so through its detailed comprehensive planning.
Lipiec said he decided to run for reelection because he does not want to be done serving yet, and he would like to see the new water treatment plant project finish.
Funding for the new water treatment plant was authorized by voters Feb. 4, 2025, as the current plant has exceeded its lifespan and is unable to combat the algal blooms that grow in Mozingo Lake, the city’s water source. Construction is estimated to be completed by late 2027.
Aside from his main focus on the plant, Lipiec said he wants to continue helping Maryville expand and bring in new activities and businesses, whether it’s restaurants or hotels or anything else that inspires growth in the area.
Lipiec said the people in his life think he is crazy for running for reelection, but that he is also supported and encouraged by them.
“People don’t realize it’s a thankless job,” Lipiec said. “By no means are you doing this to get rich or anything like that… It’s not your average everyday
thing to do.” He said he serves on Council to make the community a better place for the future; for his children, his grandchildren and ev-
eryone else who resides in the city. Lipiec encourages people to vote for him because of his experience with the Council.
“I’m known in this town,” Li-
piec said. “I’ve been doing this for nine years, and I have had a lot of support…in the past…I’ll continue to give that dedication and effort for your support.”
Incumbent seeks reelection for 3-year term
DAKOTA
OSWALT Managing Editor | @doswalt_NWMSRN
Councilman Bryan Williams is one of three candidates running for a three-year term in the upcoming election.
Williams, who has lived in Maryville since 2007, has served on Council since August 2022. He said he has always wanted to serve in an elected position.
“What made me actually choose to run was I saw what I felt was a need for my perspective, because on the Council, of the five of us, I’m the only bluecollar worker — all the rest of them are some sort of management position or business owner, so I think I bring a unique perspective,” Williams said.
Williams works full-time as a firefighter in St. Joseph and part-time for the Nodaway County Ambulance District. He also volunteers with the Maryville Fire Department.
He said the city’s relationship with the University is one of his favorite parts about the community. Since serving on Council, Williams said he enjoys seeing the inner workings of how the city runs.
“I was a city employee before I was on the Council, but now I can see how things are actually working from the top looking down,” Williams said. “That perspective is pretty awesome… I like being able to influence and make change whenever I see an issue in the community.”
When a resident comes up to Williams with a complaint or suggestion, he said it’s nice to be able to take it to the city manager and help people that way.
If elected to the term, Williams has three goals he hopes to see carried out: the completion of the new water treatment plant, the advancement of inspection programs and the possible implementation of an emergency manager.
Williams said the water treatment plant project is important to the city, and he looks forward
to seeing the project develop over the next couple of years. Additionally, he said he would like to see building inspection programs brought
about and improved upon in the coming years. He said these are not inspections of a house’s siding or paint, but rather of its overall safety, ensuring sprin-
kler systems are working and exits are safe. In his work as a paramedic, Williams said he has gotten to see unique construction types
in buildings, some of which can cause various dangers that many people might not realize.
“For example, when we get a home that is remodeled into a multifamily dwelling, (an) apartment building, that creates hazards and conditions that could put people in harm’s way,” Williams said. “I think having (an) inspection program in place, that allows the city to go in and inspect for life safety (issues).”
As for his third hope, Williams said he wants the city to have an emergency manager position so there’s a dedicated person to help plan for natural disasters. He said some examples could include constructing more storm shelters around town and at Mozingo Lake Recreation Park, and creating more evacuation plans.
He said the person in this role could also aid in recovering from various natural or manmade disasters, creating a more resilient community.
“We are very, very blessed to have Christy Forney — she’s the Nodaway County emergency manager, but she also assists with some city stuff too — she does an awesome job,” Williams said. “But I feel like our community is unique enough and large enough that we can justify having an emergency manager…to help prepare enough for emergencies.”
Aside from putting his campaign signs in their yards, Williams said one of the biggest ways people can support his run is to provide alternative perspectives.
Aside from his blue-collar experience, he said a strength of his is his willingness to listen to residents’ concerns and ideas about the city.
“I feel like I’m pretty downto-Earth and pretty approachable,” Williams said. “I’m more than happy to listen to people and take their input and then use that input to make my decisions as a Council member.”
Maryville City Councilman Bryan Williams points at the presentation while asking a question during a Council meeting March 9. Williams has served on Council since August 2022 and is running for a three-year term.
NATHAN NODA PHOTO EDITOR
Incumbent Benjamin Lipiec looks up at a speaker during a Maryville City Council meeting March 9. Maryville residents must choose between four Council candidates to fill three seats on April 7.
NATHAN NODA PHOTO EDITOR
Newest representative running for full term
DAKOTA OSWALT Managing Editor |
After being appointed to the seat vacated by former City Councilman Tye Parsons last August, Councilwoman Erin Allen is hoping to be elected to a three-year term in the upcoming Maryville City Council race.
Allen was born and raised in Maryville. She attended Northwest, where she received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration. Professionally, Allen works for a large water utility that serves customers around the nation.
“I work directly with cities, with community engagement and supply contracts, and I’ve been doing consulting for municipalities and water and sewer and stormwater for about 15 years, so I’ve worked with a lot of city councils and city management professionals in about 14 states across the country,” Allen said.
Through growing up in and raising her children in Maryville, Allen said she loves the tightknit, neighborly feel of the community. She said it’s nice to see neighbors at sporting events and in church.
While she said she would not have seen herself running for Council 10 years ago, her perspective has changed. As a consultant for cities, she said she has seen successes, as well as a handful of failures that have ended in financial stress and regulatory crises. She said she does not want the latter for Maryville.
Allen said she had first considered running as a candidate not too long ago, since her children have gotten older. However, it did not fit within her lifestyle until she had a recent job change. After Parsons stepped down from Council, she said she thought serving on it would be a good way to get involved within the community.
“I think, with my background in asset management and condition assessment, one of the challenges that I see — that I’m hope-
ful to be supportive of our city staff on — is we’ve had the ability to do a lot of infrastructure projects, a lot of beautification proj-
ects, because of matching grant programs, and those are great, but now we have to budget for maintaining and the upkeep on
those,” Allen said.
A project Allen hopes to focus on if elected is the new water treatment plant and the rate increases that can come from that. She said it is important to Maryville’s residents and businesses that the city allocates each dollar efficiently and effectively.
Since joining Council, Allen has described herself as a fairly tough critic. She said she is very inquisitive, especially because many of the Council members have worked on the water treatment plant project since the beginning, and she has only just joined.
“They’ve all been wonderful to work with and to bring me up to speed…I do not believe that because we’ve always done it that (a certain) way, that that is the best reason,” Allen said. “I’m happy to challenge the status quo of what and how we’re doing it, so that we can find the best strategy overall; so I would say that’s a strength I bring to it, is that I like to push on things and challenge our staff and help develop leaders and find new ways of solving problems.”
Along with this, Allen said she has appreciated learning more about other aspects that make a city work. This includes public safety and the improvements for emergency dispatch upgrades.
Going forward, Allen said she is invested in the city’s growth and feels she has the extra time to give back to the community by serving on Council.
“I’m very invested in what Maryville is now and what Maryville is in the future for citizens that move here and the children that we’re raising,” Allen said. “I would say… my grandmother, many years ago, made the comment that, ‘Sometimes you can’t give what you want to give now; you need to remember that later, because it’s gonna be your turn to give.’”
Businesswoman enters first candidate race
Managing Editor | @doswalt_NWMSRN
After living in Maryville since 2015, business owner Stephanie Campbell has decided to run for one of the three-year terms on the City Council.
Campbell opened Blue Willow Boutique shortly after moving to town. After a couple of rebrands over the years, the store is now known as Haven Coffee and Goods.
Campbell said she and her husband have redeveloped many buildings in Maryville, including some short-term rentals. She said her education — a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s degree in public administration — has led her to have vast career experience.
Running for Council is something Campbell said she always considered. She said her children were involved in many sports and activities, but now that they’re older, she thought the time was right to run.
“When I saw the posting this time come up…it felt like there weren’t a lot of candidates running,” Campbell said. “I just also firmly believe that people should be involved in service, especially at a local level…I just really decided that this was a good time to roll up my sleeves and serve the community a little bit more deeply.”
Along with running businesses in Downtown Maryville for many years, Campbell has also served on its Tourism Board and the Chamber Board. Due to this, Campbell said Council would be a natural progression for her, and local government is something she has always found interesting.
While it is her first time running for a government position, Campbell said her family has been a big support along the way, and she’s using the opportunity to set an example for her children about the importance
of service.
“We’ve tried to teach them; leaving Maryville a little bit better than we found it each day, and even leaving everything in your life a little bit better than you found it, just is a really nice way to try to live,” Campbell said.
Campbell said she feels like Maryville is working to complete multiple amazing initiatives right now, and she is excited with the amount of reconstruction, redevelopment and investment in the community.
Whether she is elected to Council or not, Campbell said supporting Downtown Maryville will always be something she pursues.
“Obviously, I am a fi rm believer in a strong downtown,” Campbell said. “I believe that the downtown is the heart of any community, and much like the body, when the heart is strong, the body is strong, and when the heart of the community is strong, the community is strong, too.”
As a small business owner and local entrepreneur, Campbell said she will double down on Council’s progress in the Downtown Maryville area if elected.
While the town’s population is declining and not increasing, Campbell said she feels like Maryville has several assets that could provide many opportunities.
Though she would like to gain enough votes to join Council, Campbell said it is more important for her that residents of Maryville vote in general.
“Having choice of candidates is really, really important, and I think that we really need to ensure that our area is represented, and so regardless of whether folks vote for me or not, my first message is to just vote,” Campbell said. “Get out and raise your hand in a civic election, smaller election, make sure that your voice is heard — it’s important.”
years in Maryville have been magical; I’ve watched it change
decade brings,” Campbell said.
DAKOTA OSWALT
Haven Coffee and Goods owner Stephanie Campbell prepares a drink for a customer in her shop March 19. Campbell is running for one of two open three-year terms on City Council, with hopes to focus on Downtown Maryville.
ALLY JEFFRIES PHOTOGRAPHER
Maryville City Councilwoman Erin Allen laughs during a Council meeting Feb. 23. Allen was appointed to her role in August 2025 to complete former Councilman Tye Parsons’ term, and she is now running for election for a full term.
HANNAH CLAYWELL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
BRACKETBRACKET
Duke (32-2)
Siena (23-11)
Ohio St. (21-12)
TCU (22-11)
St. John’s (28-6)
Northern Iowa (23-12)
Kansas (23-10)
Cal Baptist (25-8)
Louisville (23-10)
South Florida (25-8)
Michigan St. (25-7)
North Dakota St. (27-7)
UCLA (23-11)
UCF (21-11)
UConn (29-5)
Furman (22-12)
Florida (26-7)
(24-10)
(21-12)
(26-8)
McNeese (28-5)
Nebraska (26-6)
Troy (22-11)
North Carolina (24-8)
VCU (27-7)
Illinois (24-8)
Penn (18-11)
Saint Mary’s (27-5)
Texas A&M (21-11)
Houston (28-6)
Idaho (21-14)
Arizona (32-2)
Long Island (24-10)
Villanova (24-8)
Utah St. (28-6)
Wisconsin (24-10)
High Point (30-4)
Arkansas (26-8)
Hawaii (24-8)
(27-8)
The SAVE America
Act is doing the opposite
U.S. President Donald Trump is once again somehow acting for and against the American people at the same time. Trump’s ineptitude to put his ego aside will surely lead to Republicans being swept in the midterms.
The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act is based on bringing an honest voting system to elections. The bill explicitly claims that, before being allowed to vote, an individual needs to provide documentary proof.
This would essentially eliminate mail-in ballots, which have been behind election-day controversies in the past. Although this bill — which has already been passed through the House of Representatives and is currently waiting for approval in the Senate — poses some serious civil and ethical issues.
With the limitations put on mail-in ballots, many Americans would fundamentally lose their right to vote, which is unacceptable. United States citizens who voted by mail made up 31% of the popular vote.
Losing a large chunk of the vote would be impactful to both parties come that fateful Tuesday, a little over two years away. If this bill makes it all the way through Congress, then the lives of millions of Americans would be affected. This bill would potentially affect 21 million Americans estimated to not have easy access to their personal documents required by this new bill.
Not only would this bill remove millions of Americans’ right to vote, no matter circumstances, but it is also behind the blocking of other bills that are waiting to be passed.
Trump wrote on Truth Social earlier this year that this bill “Supersedes everything else,” and that he “will not sign any other bills until this is passed.”
With midterms right around the corner, Republicans not being able to get this bill through cleanly will leave yet another stain on their terms.
Another issue that has been brought up to defer the bill from being passed deals with how this bill affects married women.
Due to the bill requiring a birth certificate or a passport to be able to vote, it is believed that married women would be unable to vote due to their name change. Personally, this felt more like a fear-mongering tactic when it first came out. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt spoke about people’s concerns and basically confirmed it to be left-wing propaganda.
Then she went on to slam the democrats for pushing this narrative. Leavitt said that the “greatest way to disenfranchise American citizens” is by letting illegal aliens vote. While Leavitt may not be the most agreeable person in a room, I feel that, you should be behind that statement.
Under no circumstances should anyone who is not a legal U.S. citizen be voting in any U.S. election. While the SAVE America Act has a good premise, it will not only inevitably be challenged and countered in Congress until it’s a shell of its original form. It just feels like another ploy to mess up the already overstimulating election season.
Residents must do research on all candidates, initiatives
As we enter another election period, it’s important to remember to research before you vote on anything. It’s easy to go to the polls without knowing what you’re voting on, but it’s not helping anyone.
It’s common for initiatives and ballot measures we’re voting on to be worded weirdly or in a confusing way — this is exactly why we all need to research before going in.
April elections are commonly full of local issues and city leadership positions that need to be filled; this means there isn’t as much coverage on them. That is not an excuse to be in the dark on the issues.
On April 7, Maryville residents will be voting on Proposition Spoofhound, which is a tax increase aiming to benefit the school district. The school district has released plenty of information for anyone voting to do real research on what the proposition would do.
Not only are there initiatives, but there are people who are going to represent you and your town. Many cities are voting on city council or school board repre-
sentatives this April — Maryville included. This is a chance for you to have an input in the voices of your community. It’s not helpful to complain if you don’t use your own volition to go and vote.
People campaigning for publicfacing positions are often willing to talk to the residents in the area where they are running. Taking the time out of your day to ask them a question or see where they stand on specific issues will do nothing but help you. Who you vote for on a local level matters — it will directly impact you.
Being in college, away from where you are registered to vote, is no excuse; there are tons of options for absentee voting. We all have to take this into our own hands — no one can make you vote, except for yourself.
Even though the April elections might not seem as important, they are. This is also a great way to get experience in voting before the upcoming midterm elections in November. These midterms are probably going to bring a lot of changes, so educating ourselves has to start now.
CHANSE SUMMERS
Our political climate has been tense — we can all admit that — so we have to do our part in making a change. The Editorial Board doesn’t care about who you vote for; we’re just encouraging you to go out and actually do it. It’s our right to go and vote — take advantage of that, but don’t go in uninformed.
It may take some time out of your day, but you’ll have the background to confidently vote on something and not try to make an educated guess. Encourage those around you to educate themselves as well. We all have to work together to make a difference, and that truly means all of us.
This election season, take a minute to think about what’s important to you and see if you can vote on it. Being uneducated is, honestly, problematic, but you can change that.
If you are voting in Maryville, we recommend you take the time to read the stories in this week’s news section, so you can make an informed decision.
How much do you research before you vote? Why?
THE STROLLER:
“I...do a fair amount of research depending on what I’m voting on...(you) kind of base things on a morality standpoint on how you stand on some things, and that’s how I base what I vote on.”
YOUR VIEW: CADEN INGRAHAM Freshman Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
“Not very much, because I feel like I’m not educated enough to vote, so I try not to, because I feel like I would make the wrong decision either way.”
“I wouldn’t just vote blindly. I feel you should be educated about what you’re voting for; you shouldn’t just pick the name that sounds the best.”
Your Bearcat loves fake apology videos
There is nothing quite like waking up after a celebrity is canceled and finding an apology video. Thankfully, I am living in a technologyheavy period, so I’m getting a front row seat to it all.
I think it’s hilarious how inauthentic these apology videos are. You would think they would pretend better, but no, they never do.
I would make a great apology video, for a few reasons: first, I wouldn’t play
the ukulele — we all know who I am talking about — second, I wouldn’t obviously pretend to cry and lastly, I wouldn’t get super defensive and make the problem worse.
It’s just so funny to me that these people are becoming famous and then ruining it when all you have to do is be a decent person. It’s simply embarrassing.
I have to go back to the ukulele apology, I’m sorry. In what world is singing about
being canceled and how you don’t agree with it a good idea? It’s not, but now I have something to laugh at.
It’s almost better not to apologize. People would move on eventually, but now there are compilations full of these horrible apology videos. It will haunt these people forever. If I ever get famous — not likely — and then canceled — more likely — please, do everything in your power to stop me from making an
apology video. I say keep them coming, though; or maybe I should be wanting people to stop doing cancelable things. I don’t know, I know I want the entertainment. Tonight, I will be watching compilations to soothe myself to sleep, knowing I will never be playing the ukulele on YouTube — apology video or not.
OUR VIEW:
CADEN WILLMANN CARTOONIST
The Stroller has been a tradition since 1918 and does not reflect the views of the Northwest Missourian.
RYAN KING Missourian Columnist
@TheMissourian
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Maryville baseball falls to rivals, readies for back-to-back games
Plackemeier said. “You can’t let adversity get the best of you.”
5
@ St. Joseph-Lafayette
5 p.m. March
St. Joseph-Lafayette High School
The Maryville High School Spoofhounds (0-2) are striving to rebound against the Maysville High School Wolverines (3-1) 4:30 p.m. March 26 at Maysville High School, after two losses to open the 2026 season.
In the season opener, the Spoofhounds traveled to Mid-Buchanan High School (1-1) to take on the Dragons, but ultimately conceded the game 5-3 and extended Mid-Buchanan’s winning streak over Maryville to three. Maryville faced the Smithville High School Warriors (1-2) the following day in Smithville, Missouri. However, the Spoofhounds allowed a 7-run bottom of the sixth inning, which led to a 10-0 Warrior win.
The ’Hounds were a couple swings away from a win after a close game with Mid-Buchanan, but sixth-year head coach Hans Plackemeier said he can’t let his team read too much into losses early in the season.
“The first game, it was a tough loss, both teams played good games, we had a couple things not go our way, but that’s the game,”
For many athletes, the absence of a locker room has changed their daily routines.
Sophomore women’s track and field runner Kennedi Cline said her experience with Northwest has been a huge jump from what she is used to.
“In high school, we had locker rooms for every sport,” Cline said. “We would go there after school, change and then go out to practice. Now, it’s a little more complicated.”
Cline said she has to make time to change for practice after her classes, but her teammates can’t always do the same.
She said many of her teammates change in the bathroom stalls of Hughes Fieldhouse and carry around their equipment.
“We just keep everything in our backpacks,” Cline said. “We’re given a teamissued backpack, and you either fit everything in there or bring multiple bags. Then, we keep them in the bleachers and go back and forth when we need to change shoes.”
For Cline, the absence of a locker room goes beyond the issue of convenience.
“It’s a little frustrating,” Cline said. “There is a locker room in Hughes, but we don’t have access to it. It just makes some of us feel not as appreciated, that we don’t have a space where we can hang out before practice or store our things.”
While the need for locker rooms is clear, funding new facilities remains the biggest obstacle.
Peterson said the athletic department has submitted multiple capital project requests over the years, including baseball and softball complexes that would include locker rooms, restrooms and other amenities. However, those projects come with a high price tag and must compete with other campus needs.
“I can’t really expect campus just to shell out six or seven million dollars to build locker rooms,” Peterson said. “There’s so many other needs around campus that impact all students in much bigger ways.”
With recent construction on campus, Peterson said his requests fall through the cracks when it comes to funding from the University.
Instead, most athletic facility upgrades at Northwest are expected to be funded through private donations. Peterson said all of the department’s recent requests —
The Wolverines started their season 3-1 with wins against the East Buchanan High School Bulldogs (0-2) and the Northland Christian High School Trailblazers (1-1). Offensively, the Wolverines surged for 50 runs in the team’s first three games despite a 16-11 loss to the North Platte High School Panthers (21) in the middle game. Maysville took its third win, 7-3, against Mid-Buchanan.
Maryville senior outfielder Connor Moore has played both baseball and soccer throughout his time as a Spoofhound. Moore committed to play soccer at Kansas Wesleyan University in November 2025.
Containing the Wolverines on the base paths will be a challenge, but Moore said he holds confidence in the ’Hounds to keep themselves in the game.
“They’re (Wolverines) a very quick team, all of their lineup, one through nine,” Moore said. “They’re very fast, so they’re going to be active on the base paths; we’re going to need to get the ball moved around very efficiently to keep them from scoring.
We played them in the jamboree, and they beat us, but we beat them last year 2-0, and I think it’s going to be another great game this year.”
After the match against Maysville, the Spoofhounds will be left with one game against the Northeast Nodaway High School Bluejays (0-2) 4:30 p.m. March 27 at Northeast Nodaway High School before the beginning of a five-game homestand.
As spring inches toward summer and seniors prepare to graduate, many high school and collegiate athletes will compete in their last competitive sporting events of their lives. Although Moore will go on to play a collegiate sport, he said he is not taking anything about his final season as a Spoofhound for granted.
“You just got to take it all in — it was the same way with soccer,” Moore said. “Just don’t take anything for granted, enjoy it with the boys and just go out there and have fun because that’s really what it’s about. Obviously, the goal is to go to State and everything like that, but just have fun while doing it.”
adding to around $51 million total — have been submitted with the understanding that they would need to be fully donated.
“It’s got to be fundraised — that’s the way it needs to go,” Peterson said.
Head softball coach Naomi Tellez said there are upsides and downsides to the players’ situation.
“I think there’s pros and there’s cons to it,” Tellez said. “They don’t know what they don’t know, which is kind of OK. However, from a recruiting standpoint, a lot of these high schools have locker rooms, and so in some opinions it’s downgrading.”
Peterson said facility limitations can also affect athletes beyond competition, including missed class time when games must be scheduled earlier in the day due to the absence of lights.
The Bearcat baseball team had a game delayed due to darkness Feb. 19 — a direct impact of the lack of lighting on the field.
“If we could play later, our kids could go to class all day, then compete,” Peter-
son said. “Those are the kinds of things that make a difference.”
Despite the challenges, both Peterson and Tellez said improvements are possible — but will take time and support.
The athletic department has developed conceptual plans for new facilities, including upgraded spaces for almost every sport. However, Peterson said those projects remain dependent on fundraising and long-term planning.
“We’ve got all kinds of plans and schematics,” Peterson said. “It just boils down to getting the right people involved.”
An opportunity to generate support is through Northwest’s annual Bearcat Day of Green, which will take place April 7-8. It is a fundraising campaign that brings together alumni, students and supporters to give to specific programs — including athletics.
Peterson said efforts like Bearcat Day of Green are key to building long-term relationships with donors and increasing awareness of facility needs.
“It’s really about getting people reconnected and letting them see what’s going on,” Peterson said. “Then when they’re ready, they can give back in a way that’s meaningful to them.”
Tellez said fundraising efforts are essential for turning plans into reality, especially for programs like softball.
“The biggest thing for us is fundraising — understanding what that looks like and being able to say, ‘OK, this is what we want to use it for,’” Tellez said. “I know we’ve had drawings in the works of a new field, and I know they want to go all in at one time.” Until larger projects move forward, athletes and coaches will continue as they have been. Regardless, Tellez said she believes the program is moving in the right direction.
“I think for us, we’re getting to where we need to be,” Tellez said. “Spring sports in general, our facilities aren’t great, so getting that improvement would be huge.”
Maryville baseball senior outfielder Connor Moore works on his throwing during practice March 23. After starting the season 0-2, the Spoofhounds travel to face Maysville High School 4:30 p.m. March 26 at Maysville High School. FLETCHER
KEATON SMITH Sports Reporter | @keatonsmedia
Northwest women’s track and field sophomore sprinter Kennedi Cline attempts to grab a handoff from senior Lydia McGlocklin during their firstplace finish of the distance medley event at
NATHAN NODA PHOTO EDITOR
Spoofhound track and field builds record-breaking roster
OLIVIA WALLACE Sports Editor | @_oliviawallace_
Maryville track and field has already seen record numbers this season — before the team has even stepped foot on the track. It’s the biggest group of runners in the last eight to 10 years on both sides of the team.
Head coach Rodney Bade said in his years of coaching the team, there is a good combination of returners and newcomers, the team shares the same mindset — bringing home hardware at the end of the season instead of every meet.
“As a team, we don’t worry too much about exactly where we finish as a team every meet,” Bade said. “We don’t target regularseason meets.”
On the boys side, the team has been on a hot streak in the last eight to nine years, winning the conference championship.
On the girls side, they have won the conference the last three years.
Bade said that he believes they can take it again.
With each meet comes big spikes to fill; the coaching staff has an idea of where each player will be for the next meets.
Bade said the senior class has been the biggest motivator for the newcomers.
“You always lose a couple that have ran or competed for the first two to three years of their high school career,” Bade said.
The Spoofhounds’ next meet is one Bade said he is excited for. Not only will Maryville host, but the team will get a chance at new
times and marks.
Girls track and field senior Brylee Acklin said she this meet as one dedicated to growth and being there for her teammates.
“We had a super good start to the season,” Acklin said. “The Northwest indoor meet was a great start as a whole for everybody. I’m super excited for the team we have this season.”
Both teams placed fourth at the Northwest Missouri - Indoor High School Kick-Off meet March 21. Bade said is a good place to start.
The Spoofhounds’ next meet is 4 p.m. March 25 at the Hound Pound, where they will host Bishop LeBlond High School, Cameron High School, St. Joseph-Lafayette High School, Savannah High School and Benton High School.
Local dance company claims regional titles, builds close-knit bonds
On Sundays, the Maryville Dance Academy is at its busiest. Dancers scurry between rehearsal rooms and instructors fine-tune routines; tap-shoe sounds and music fill the air as students of all ages prepare for competition season.
As MDA approaches its 20th year, it has grown into a cornerstone of the local dance community. Director and owner Cammi Zimmerman said the dancer’s mentality is what sets its dancers apart from others in Maryville.
“We work them hard, but we also love them, and they take that really well,” Zimmerman said. “We do this to win, but we also do it to teach them to love dance when they leave — and I love when they come back after they’ve graduated.”
When the studio her daughters danced at closed, Zimmerman decided to open her own, converting a building into a rehearsal space and hiring college students as instructors. What started small has steadily expanded into a program for dancers ages three to 18.
The academy offers both recreational and competitive teams, allowing students to participate at various levels of commitment while remaining part of the dance community.
“We can offer something for every single level — beginner, intermediate, advanced,” Zimmerman said. “We average about 100 students, and we’re really big on the team atmosphere.”
Each year, dancers commit to a 10-month season that includes choreographing sessions beginning in August, performances throughout the year, and competitions in the spring and summer.
Zimmerman said the team took 130 numbers to the Platinum Performance Plus dance competition March 6-8 in Lawrence, Kansas. Of the 130 numbers, 112 earned platinum — the competition’s second-highest award section. The studio also had 14 double-platinum dances and 10 regional champions.
Co-Director Darby Rope said the results reflect the amount of effort coaches put into routines.
“It’s not a one-person thing at all,” Rope said. “We make sure not only our own numbers are ready, but everyone else’s too. We step in for each other, and we just make sure the kids are ready as a full team.”
Competition weekends can stretch from early morning to late at night, with dancers performing multiple routines and supporting teammates across age groups. Despite the long hours, the instructors said the experience builds confidence and resilience.
For dancers, the performances are the reward for months of work and preparation, even after long competition weekends. Maryville High School sophomore Mollie Webb said dance is an outlet for her, even when the stress of competing in 23 routines hits.
Maryville dancer Mollie Webb rehearses a routine at Maryville Dance Academy March 22. MDA has been a part of the community for the last 20 years.
EMILIA RAMANAUSKAS PHOTOGRAPHER
LEAH COX Asst. Sports Editor | @byleahcox
Maryville track and field senior Brylee Acklin finishes her warmup of three 100-meter dashes to start practice March 23.
NATHAN NODA PHOTO EDITOR
Feature twirler, world champion makes mark
LEAH COX Asst. Sports Editor | @byleahcox
For generations, women’s athletics have pushed boundaries of sports that often go unnoticed. At Northwest, senior feature twirler Kendall Parker — a world champion baton twirler — is continuing that legacy.
Baton twirling is a small but highly competitive sport that blends elements of dance and gymnastics. Athletes train to perform routines that require controlled tosses, turns and choreography. Parker performs as the University’s sole twirler during football and basketball games alongside the Bearcat Marching Band.
“It’s really special being the only twirler here,” Parker said. “Having that support system back home and that team back home is definitely a different dynamic.”
Parker followed in the footsteps of her sister and started twirling at age 10 after dancing for seven years. She eventually joined the Sue’s Stepper-ettes International Team in Omaha, Nebraska — where she has competed for over a decade.
At one point, Parker briefly retired for a few months after years of competition. She said she ultimately decided to return for her senior season after an opportunity arose to compete with the Stepper-ettes internationally at the World Baton Championships in Paris, France, in August 2026.
The Stepper-ettes earned a bid to the International World Technical Baton Twirling Championship in August 2025, where Parker competed on the Senior Exhibition Corps team — winning gold at the championships in Torino, Italy.
“When we got to take the stage, I remember it so vividly,” Parker said. “The first time we went to Worlds, I was so scared. I don’t remember anything. I like, blanked out the entire time, but when we went to Italy, I remember everything. I remember the audience reactions to some of the tricks that we did. I remember looking at a judge and her winking at me.”
Parker said the coaches she has worked with through the Stepper-ettes have played a major role in helping her reach a high level of competition. She said one coach, Rachel Foeh-
linger, has supported her through years of training and international performances.
While Parker competes with the Stepper-ettes internationally, her role at Northwest is different. Instead of performing alongside a team, she performs solo during football and basketball games as part of the Bearcat Marching Band.
Kathryn Strickland, the director of bands, said Parker brings both technical skill and creativity to the band’s performances.
“She adds a tremendous visual element to everything we do,” Strickland said. “She’s not just a baton twirler — she’s very, very good.”
“
If you look at our social media pages, they’re covered in pictures of Kendall. She has had a great presence.”
KATHRYN STRICKLAND DIRECTOR OF BANDS
Pregame and halftime performances place Parker at the front of the band, where she performs routines in front of hundreds of fans. Much of the choreography she performs on the field is created independently and practiced outside of scheduled rehearsals.
Strickland said Parker’s ability to choreograph and perform independently has made her a standout within the program.
“She understands the impact piece of it really well,” Strickland said. “She knows how to place herself on the field in ways that give the most impact.”
Over the course of her four years at Northwest, Parker said she has focused on challenging herself by adding new tricks and routines; one of those additions included introducing a fire baton during halftime performances.
The process required approval from the band program and Maryville fire officials to en-
sure the performance met safety guidelines before it could be included in shows. Through it all, Parker said Strickland has fought hard for her.
“I had emailed Dr. Strickland, and I was like, ‘Dr. Strickland, this is something I really want to do. How can we make it happen? What do I need to do to make it happen?’’’ Parker said. “So, she emailed fire and safety to figure out what exactly needed to get done in order for this to get approved.”
Beyond performing, Parker has also worked to share the sport with younger athletes. She coaches teams and individual twirlers in Omaha and helped organize Twirler for a Day events at Northwest. Parker’s initiative in organizing the event is one thing that Strickland said shows her dedication, not only to the program, but also to the sport.
“She doesn’t just show up, spin a baton and leave,” Strickland said. “She’s really bought into everything we do.”
The Twirler for a Day event allows young athletes to learn baton skills and perform alongside the BMB during a football game — an opportunity Parker said can help introduce the sport to people who may not have seen it before.
“It’s just been so exciting to share the love of the sport and somewhere that hasn’t seen it as often,” Parker said.
As Parker prepares to graduate, Strickland said she will be missed by the program. She said Parker is a wonderful person and tremendous contributor to everything the band does.
Strickland said Parker has also become a valuable part of promoting the band and the University.
“If you look at our social media pages, they’re covered in pictures of Kendall,” Strickland said. “She has had a great presence, and the fire baton pictures — I mean, good grief — that’s great advertising.”
Parker said she plans to remain involved in baton twirling through competing, coaching and mentoring younger athletes, continuing to pass along the support and guidance she received throughout her own career.
“I just want people to watch and be entertained — I want to make people proud,” Parker said.
Northwest senior feature twirler Kendall Parker strikes a pose during a performance at a Bearcat basketball game Jan. 15.
ALLI DUARTE COPY EDITOR
Northwest senior feature twirler Kendall Parker leads the Bearcat Marching Band in the Homecoming Parade Oct. 25, 2025. Parker was the only twirler for Northwest this year and is graduating at the end of the semester.
MITCHELL HARVEY CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
Small pitching staff shows out
Bearcat softball (22-7, 2-2 MIAA) is rocking with its smallest pitching staff in three years, but is staying dominant on the mound.
Northwest has four pitchers on the team — senior starter Jadyn Streilge, junior closer Olivia Moyer, sophomore closer Erika Gore and sophomore starter Rien Moore — the smallest since the 2022 season, which also housed four.
The ’Cats have previously staffed six pitchers for each of the last three seasons, so adapting to a smaller amount is a new challenge.
Head coach Naomi Tellez said starters Streigle and Moore have grown into confident and complete pitchers this season.
“They are competitors,” Tellez said. “They get in a ballgame, and they will compete to the best of their ability. Last weekend, I told Rien, ‘Give us everything you have and throw your butt off,’ and she did just that.”
A softball pitcher averages 84.1 innings pitched per season. Just over halfway through
the 2026 season, Streigle has already pitched 75 innings and Rien 65.2. Both pitchers rank No. 10 and No. 11 for innings pitched in the MIAA. Despite the high number of innings pitched, Streigle ranks No. 5 and Moore No. 20 in the conference for ERA.
Tellez said one way she helps her pitchers is in managing the volume of pitches during practice, to keep the players fresh for games.
“Jadyn and Rien are our hot arms right now, keeping us in ballgames and offenses limited,” Tellez said. “Just being able to monitor what we do during the week will help us on the weekends.”
The ’Cats began conference play March 20 down in Claremore, Oklahoma, with a doubleheader against the Rogers State University Hillcats (20-10, 4-4 MIAA). Northwest split the pair, winning 4-2 in Game 1 before dropping Game 2 in 6 innings, 8-0. The loss to the Hillcats ends the program-record 13game win streak.
The ’Cats continued the Oklahoma road trip March 21 with a journey to Tahlequah, Oklahoma, to face off with the Northeastern State
University RiverHawks (18-11, 5-3 MIAA) for the second doubleheader of the weekend. Northwest split the header again, falling 3-2 in Game 1, before bouncing back for an 11-3 win in Game 2. Tellez said the team played tight on the road trip.
“We won as many games because of the way we play,” Tellez said. “Going into Day 2… it wasn’t until the last game that we kind of felt back to normal. Conference is where we want to succeed, but at the end of the day, the one thing we are really good at is having fun.”
The ’Cats open MIAA home play with a doubleheader against the Fort Hays State University Tigers (15-16, 3-5 MIAA). Game 1 against the Tigers will be 1 p.m., with Game 2 slated for 3 p.m., both March 27.
Sophomore catcher Kaylee Cords said she is excited to come play conference games in front of a home crowd.
“It’ll be fun to have a lot of our parents and some of our home fans come and support us,” Cords said. “I like how we are doing a lot of themes…like ‘Bark in the Park’ will be fun to see everyone’s dogs.”
Maryville girls soccer secures comeback victory in opener
The Highway 71 rivalry runs deep with the Maryville High School Spoofhounds (1-0) and Savannah High School Savages (1-1) — but for 90 minutes in the Hound Pound March 24, the ’Hounds held the Savages stagnant.
In the team’s season-opener, the nerves were high, and the coaching staff knew the one thing to calm the nerves: take it one pass at a time.
Second-year assistant head coach Mario Castaneda said being down by one at halftime showed the coaching staff they needed to go back to the drawing board.
“I just sort of have to be mean, you can’t hold anything back,” Castaneda said. “Especially ’cause these are rival teams. It’s more looking at your mistakes and accepting them.”
The first period for the Spoofhounds was what head coach Stephanie Ingram said she hopes the team can flush for upcoming games. She said she knows the team’s full potential and told the team to lean on each other.
Ingram said relying on the senior class can help the team during moments where they are down. With five of the team’s seniors being starters, the group has grown to be leaders on the field.
“We spoke at half — it takes one person to determine
Northwest spring sports navigate operation without locker rooms
sports have never had a dedicated space before.”
At Northwest, backpacks often double as lockers, car trunks become storage and coaches’ offices become makeshift team spaces, because athletes lack one of the basic parts of an organized sport — a locker room.
For decades, only a handful of programs — primarily football and basketball — have had consistent access to dedicated locker room facilities. Other programs, including all spring sports, have operated without permanent spaces to change, shower or gather as a team. Athletic Director Andy Peterson said this is how it’s always been.
“We just don’t have it — we never had,” Peterson said. “The rest of our
Historically, athletes relied on shared, general-use locker areas in Martindale Hall, located next to Lamkin Arena. Those areas were not assigned to specific teams and were often shared with staff and faculty; however, the construction on Martindale has left many athletes with no place to go.
At the Carl and Cheryl Hughes Fieldhouse, two locker rooms exist, but they are used on a temporary basis. Peterson said women’s soccer occupies one, leaving other programs without access for much of the year. He also said they can’t be called locker spaces, because there aren’t
in them.
the energy of the game,” Ingram said. “So, whether that be negative or positive, we just kind of talked about, ‘How do we want this game to end?’ I feel like their energy is what won this game.”
Coming out of the half, the ’Hounds were down one and needed something to break through. With the clock winding down, the team was hustling down the field for any potential goal.
In the second half of the game, the Spoofhounds went on a 4-0 goal run. One goal was scored from a corner kick by sophomore Jade Price, and another from junior Miah Stoecklein to the corner of the goal post.
“Corner kicks, I would say, have never been our strong suit, but this game, they seem to be,” Ingram said. “I mean, we’ve practiced them in practice, but it’s always hard to score off of a corner kick in an actual game.” Everything seemed to come together in the last 20 minutes of the game for the ’Hounds; they were keeping the ball away from the Savages and passing the ball downfield in scoring range.
The Spoofhounds are back in action 5 p.m. March 30 at Mid-Buchanan High School. The team is set to face the Mid-Buchanan Lady Dragons (2-0).
“It’s great to come out with a win, but I think we need to learn to settle,” Ingram said. “Especially if we got scored on first. Once again, just set the tone of the game. Don’t panic.”
Northwest softball sophomore pitcher Rien Moore warms up her arm before pitching practice March 24. The Bearcats only have four pitchers on the roster. FLETCHER
Northwest football wide receiver Sam Niesen walks out of the locker room to go to morning workouts March 24. Only a handful of
NATHAN NODA PHOTO EDITOR
lockers
LEAH COX Asst. Sports Editor | @byleahcox
Maryville girls soccer sophomore Jade Price goes up for a header in the ’Hounds’ 4-2 win over Savannah High School March 24.
NATHAN NODA PHOTO EDITOR
OLIVIA WALLACE Sports Editor | @_oliviawallace_
HANNAH TATE Missourian Reporter | @NWMSports