NORTHWESTMISSOURIAN
REACH FOR THE S TA RS STARS
Advocacy center hosts annual fundraiser
Domestic violence affects millions every year, with 12 million people affected by intimate partner violence alone, according to the National Domestic Violence Hotline. One Maryville organization is looking to support those survivors.
ering victims of domestic and sexual violence while trying to influence a culture change,” Mattson said. “We just try to take away any barrier that keeps them in an unsafe place.”
she appreciated the larger space of the Agricultural Learning Center compared to the Rose Hill Acres Event Center to accommodate the growing attendance. Mattson said these growing numbers propel North Star Advocacy Center’s name in the community. Because of this, it received donations for the auctions used to raise funds. ASTRE SCHLAISS News Reporter | @AstreWords
She said the majority of the money raised at the fundraiser went to victim expenses. The funds helped victims receive necessary items, such as medication or car insurance, to get back on their feet.
Flags to fl y at half-staff to honor life of former NW president
Former Northwest President Dean L. Hubbard died Sunday evening, according to an email sent by Northwest News to students, faculty and staff March 24. Hubbard was the University’s longest-serving president, performing from 1984 to 2009. The email said Hubbard, who was 85 years old and battling with kidney disease, died at his home surrounded by family.
To honor Hubbard’s life, University President Lance Tatum ordered U.S. and Missouri flags on campus be flown at half-sta ff from sunrise March 25 to sunset April 4.
Linda Mattson, North Star Advocacy Center executive director, said she wanted to help those affected by domestic and sexual violence. This year, North Star Advocacy Center hosted its third-annual fundraiser 5 p.m. March 20 at Northwest’s Agricultural Learning Center.
North Star Advocacy Center provides confidential services to anyone affected by sexual assault or domestic violence. It has a shelter for victims, their children and their pets.
“Our mission statement is empow-
Smithville, Missouri, resident Linda Evans attended the fundraiser to support her sister Krista VonBehren, who worked as a social worker for North Star. Evans said it is important the event brings awareness and funds to North Star Advocacy Center.
“I’m not here for the food or anything, but I like seeing what people have donated and the stories that they share,” Evans said.
Evans has attended the event all three years it’s existed, noting its growth since the beginning. She said
MORE INFORMATION
The Letter’s From Project will be featured in the April 9 and 23 issues. The Missourian is partnered with North Star Advocacy Center to allow anyone affected by sexual assault to share their stories.
Letters should be emailed to advocate1@northstarac.org by April 20.
Maurices stores nationwide welcome donations to support women in need
Throughout March — Women’s History Month — Maurices stores across the country have been accepting donations for I Support the Girls.
We’ll also accept regular clothing that we can take to North Star just to help those women in need.”
ISTG is a nonprofi t organization that collects donations of new and unused bras and underwear, as well as packages of feminine hygiene products like tampons and maxi pads. These supplies are distributed to women experiencing homelessness. The Maryville Maurices will take donations until March 30, and will take them to North Star Advocacy Center.
Maurices Maryville Sales Manager Kyndall Porter said 16 donations had been made by March 20. She said the store will accept almost any kind of donation.
“I mean, we’ll gladly take them, whether it’s the bras…we’ll also accept regular clothing that we can take to North Star just to help those women in need,” Porter said.
ISTG was founded by human rights advocate Dana Marlowe. The nonprofit began in 2015 after Marlowe spoke to a saleswoman who said, “Homeless women need bras,” and a lightbulb moment went
off, according to ISTG.
Since then, ISTG has helped nearly 6 million people, having collected and distributed over 37 million products worldwide, according to ISTG.
Porter said the donation event not only helps women experiencing homelessness but also those in need of support due to other circumstances.
“I think that it just brings awareness to our local women’s shelters that help support women that are going through domestic abuse, sexual abuse, trafficking, everything like that,” Porter said.
Andrea Marsh, who was visiting Maryville and Maryville resident Sally Duff said they have not donated to ISTG but would consider it.
Marsh said she believes clothing donation events typically fail to think about the need for
dergarments, unlike ISTG.
122,544
“Jill and I extend our deepest sympathy to Aleta and the Hubbard family on the passing of Dr. Dean Hubbard, Northwest’s ninth president,” Tatum said in the email. “His 25 years of dedicated service to this institution were extraordinary, and his contributions to Northwest set the foundation for many of today’s accomplishments.” Hubbard’s time leading Northwest saw much growth and success, according to the news release included in the email. During his presidency, the University gained national recognition for its “Culture of Quality” and was also the recipient of the Missouri Quality Award four times under Hubbard. This makes Northwest the only educational institution in the state to accomplish that.
The news release includes a full list of accomplishments.
BAILEY
NATHAN NODA ASST. PHOTO EDITOR
School resource officer talks serving students
A typical day at the Maryville R-II School District features students walking the halls and smiling with peers — they are also greeted daily by the friendly face of the district’s school resource officer, Ian Myers.
Myers is employed by the Maryville Police Department and
works through a memorandum of understanding between the city of Maryville and the district. Since stepping into the position in 2017, Myers said building relationships with students is the most rewarding aspect of the job.
“You get to know these kids here, then they’ll graduate and then you’ll see them out and about at Walmart a year or two down the road, or whenever,” Myers said.
“They’ll remember you, and you pick up a conversation with them like you never skipped a beat.”
A school resource officer is an officer who is specially trained for school-based law enforcement and crisis response, according to the National Association of School Resource Officers. For Myers, the multifaceted nature of his job makes it hard for him to define.
Myers feels his primary job is to serve as an educator, as he often informs students about Drug Abuse Resistance Education or leads presentations on law in classrooms.
Maryville R-II School District Assistant Superintendent Philip Pohren said he has worked in other districts with SROs, but Myers stands out. He said many important aspects of Myers’ job may go unseen, which is why some school districts have multiple SROs.
“Chillicothe is where I was at most recently,” Pohren said. “It’s a little bit bigger district by maybe a couple hundred students, but they are fortunate enough to have three SROs: one for the elementary, one for the middle and one for the high school. That’s a goal that we’re working toward, is getting more SRO support.”
One thing Pohren said Myers would never admit to is how busy he is. Not only does Myers typically travel between all three buildings each day, but he also handles issues such as mental health, vaping and even traffic.
“There’s lots of those things that pop up on (the) regular that require his attention, and he just does an exceptional job at being available when we need him,” Pohren said.
While Myers finds his job rewarding, he said handling abuse and neglect cases is always a hard pill to swallow.
Myers said seeing deep issues take place in a school setting is burdensome.
“The hardest part about that is that these are kids that we’re talking about,” Myers said. “That kind of hits like a ton of bricks when you’re dealing with that age population. In addition to helping kiddos cope when they’ve had some kind of tragedy unfold
in their own lives or some kind of trauma, you’re going to find good ways to cope yourself too.”
Myers said separating his work from his home life can take time, but said he’s fortunate to have a great family at home who supports him. Myers said he feels supported by the school district and his coworkers at MPD.
When students in the Maryville R-II School District make mistakes, Myers said he uses it as a teaching experience before taking it to the next step, depending on the severity of the issue.
Pohren said Myers is not only a school resource officer but also a prevention officer. He said it’s better for students who make mistakes to end up in a principal’s office receiving education than to become adults and end up in a police station.
“That’s where I think the real value of what he does (is),” Pohren said. “A lot of times people see him coming and he’s got a badge, and it’s like, ‘I’m immediately in trouble.’ I don’t think kids typically walk out feeling that way. They feel like they had an opportunity to fix something that needs to be fixed before it becomes trouble.”
When it comes to the community, Myers said there can be some division about SRO presence in schools. He said some parents may think an SRO’s job consists
The hardest part about that is that these are kids that we’re talking about. That kind of hits like a ton of bricks when you’re dealing with that age population.”
of swinging on the swings at recess with the children, while others may think the officer is present to harass students.
“I just want to offer some reassurance — things like that simply don’t happen,” Myers said. “We work really, really hard at the education piece. My job is not to come out here and see how many kids I can get in trouble… Just like they’re learning math or biology or whatever in the building, it’s also important for them to know how to function as citizens and what the rules and the laws are of society.”
DAKOTA OSWALT
SRO Ian Myers discusses his career March 21. Meyers is employed by the Maryville Police Department and has worked as an SRO since 2017.
NATHAN VANDRUFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Former Nodaway County Sheriff Randy Strong honors the life of Karen Hawkins during an educational session about sexual assault March 24. Hawkins was a Northwest student and sorority member who was murdered nearly 30 years ago.
Hawkins was sexually assaulted and killed in April 1995 by 24-year-old Dennis Lee Jones. Hawkins, 22 years old at the time of her death, was a Maryville native.
Strong was presented with an award for speaking annually at the Karen Hawkins memorial presentation. Strong was the full-time investigator in Hawkins’ case.
Sigma Sigma Sigma-Alpha Epsilon Chapter members attend the presentation wearing sweatshirts bearing Hawkins’ name in remembrance of their sorority sister.
4/34/3
5:30 P.M.
“St. Joseph School District Board Candidates’ Forum” 100 S. 10th St., St. Joseph
- Open to the public.
- Sponsored by League of Women Voters of Northwest Missouri.
- Contact LWV President Jenna Sanders (jsanders@sjpl.lib.mo.us) for info.
5 P.M. “Blue Missouri/ Blue Tennessee Zoom meeting” Zoom Meeting
- Speaker Tristan Snell: MSNBC & NPR Commentator, Podcaster and author of “Taking Down Trump.” - Speaker Jess Piper: executive director of Blue Missouri
4/54/10
11 A.M.
“National Day of Action Walk: Hands OFF” Belt and Frederick intersection, St. Joseph - Open to the public.
- Sponsored by Citizens Supporting Persisterhood.Contact Persisterhood Co-facilitator Kelly Lacina (lacina6@aol.com) for information.
10 A.M.
“Interfaith Alliance for Immigrants” Interserv Board Room, 5400 King Hill Ave., St. Joseph - IAI offers programs and support for Immigrant families.
- Open to the public.
- Contact Diane Waddell (forglobalhealth@gmail.co m) for information.
Local activism group holds meeting for congressman
DAKOTA OSWALT News Editor | @doswalt_NWMSRN
“Missouri is in ‘Graves’ danger” — this was a chant led by Persisterhood of St. Joseph, Missouri’s, President Jane Frick before the group’s “Empty Chair Town Hall Meeting” 6 p.m. March 24 in the Rolling Hills Library in St. Joseph.
The town hall was held for Missouri’s Sixth District Congressman Sam Graves. Frick said Graves has not held an in-person town hall since 2012, and declined invitation to the event.
The Persisterhood of St. Joseph, Missouri, came about after President Donald Trump was elected in 2016. Frick was encouraged to create a group for women in her area.
“From there, we decided that we needed to work actively too for social justice, equality, to make the world a better place — specifically here in northwest Missouri and St. Joseph — and our group just kind of took off from there,” Frick said.
Frick said the group’s Facebook page is now 650 members strong and has seen rapid growth as a result of Trump's reelection.
One of these includes establishing an executive office called the Department of Government Efficiency, led by an unelected Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX.
Missouri has its own DOGE portal, where users are urged to report government inefficiencies or disorganization, according to Fox 2. This is because some of DOGE’s goals include maximizing governmental efficiency, cutting wasteful expenditures and restructuring federal agencies, according to Britannica. Musk said he hopes DOGE cuts $2 trillion from the federal budget.
Frick said residents of the sixth district expressed desires for Graves to exercise his congressional authority and stop what she called a “cruel and blatantly illegal Trump-Musk coup underway.” She said this started with the freezing of already legally funded U.S. Agency for International Development monies and illegal firing of its staff
“Children throughout the world who rely on USAID for food and medicine are suffering right now and dying,” Frick said in the meeting. “That's because of DOGE, that's because of Musk and that's because congressmen like Sam Graves don't stop him.”
The meeting included testimonials from many individuals over a wide array of topics Pam Petersen, a veteran’s rights activist and advocate, detailed the impact war has had on her family members — from physical wounds, cancers and posttraumatic stress disorder.
Maryville team to compete in robotics world championship
Zhao and John Little, and junior TJ Kain.
Out of 26 total teams, the final two teams to compete for a spot at the VEX Robotics World Championship were from the same robotics club.
Maryville’s A Team is known as “( ʖ ),” while the B Team is “[Team Name Here]”, and competed against each other during the final round at the VEX V5 Robotics Competition High School State Championship. The competition was the qualifier for world championships, and was held south of St. Louis at Mineral Area College. In the end, the A Team rose victorious. It will advance to the VEX Robotics World Championship in Dallas May 6, and the B Team will attend the trip alongside.
Philip Stone, the robotics club’s faculty adviser, said this was his first year with two competitive teams in the state competition.
“It comes down to the final match, it's my two teams against each other,” Stone said. “And you know, just the reaction of either winning or losing is a testament to how dedicated they are, whether or not it was absolute.”
The A Team consists of seniors Raymond
In 2022, Maryville High School’s robotics team qualified for the world championship, but it did not place outside its bracket. Stone said the teams this year have improved significantly since 2022.
Zhao is the A Team’s coder. He said compared to the competition in 2022, he feels more assured his team will place higher and perhaps even win.
“I'm hoping that we can be at least an average team, hopefully above average,” Zhao said. “I went three years ago and we were totally unprepared at that time, we had no idea what it was like...I think there's a lot to learn from the best teams in the world that are going to be there.”
Sophomore Shuv Goswami is the coder for the B Team. He said Zhao’s code is smooth and has great quality.
Goswami said he was nervous and stressed when competing against his friends in the finals but has high hopes the A Team will have a chance in the upcoming competition with what they are creating.
Stone said he never stressed about getting students engaged with robotics, oftentimes needing to kick them out of the
Petersen said her husband receives 100% disability funding from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs this past winter. This came as a result of former President Joe Biden’s 2020 passage of the PACT Act, which provides benefits to veterans who were exposed to burn pits and Agent Orange, among other toxic substances.
“The VA is and was understaffed (for) as long as I can remember…and now DOGE is laying off or firing thousands of employees, some of which are veterans,” Petersen said. “(It) seems very unproductive and inefficient. We need more qualified VA employees, not less.”
Petersen said Graves has repeatedly voted “no” to policies in support of veterans. She said Graves’ constituents need more from him, and they want to ensure veterans receive the benefits and treatments they deserve.
Another speaker, Dakota Allen, is an LGBTQ+ activist who also happens to be proudly queer.
As a child, Allen said he had big dreams of being involved in politics. However, Allen said policies put forth by Trump and Graves turned his career into one of defending his own rights, as well as the rights of those around him.
“I became a totally different type of civil rights activist than I expected, redefining my own relationship with my family because my existence had become politicized,” Allen said. “I hide parts of myself still today to keep myself safe. I never wanted to be in this position, but I'm here today for the people growing up in communities like I did with monsters like Sam Graves who make them feel alone, and to them I say you’re not alone.”
The meeting was also held via Zoom, in which Frick said it would be recorded and sent to Graves’ office. A message sent by the Zoom meeting’s host at the end of the meeting read, “Graves was here but would not come in.”
In a message to the Missourian, Allen said he looked toward the door during the town hall meeting and saw a man in a gray sweatshirt wearing a mask and glasses.
“I grew up in the same county as Sam (Graves), my Pawpaw flew planes out of the same airport,” Allen said in the message. “When I saw this guy, I was 90% sure it was Sam Graves. He looked like he does at the Tarkio Airshow on a cold morning, sweatshirt, glasses, thinning gray hair.”
Allen, however, did not take photos, but he said others at the meeting echoed his suspicion that Graves was in attendance.
The Missourian reached out to Graves’ office for comment but received no response at the time of this publication.
classroom because they are so focused.
“I love how motivated they are to be part of that,” Stone said. “These kids are going to go on to either engineering pro-
grams in college or computer science…I think they get more out of being on a robotics team than maybe sometimes they get in a classroom.”
Maryville High School robotics club sophomore Dylan Taylor prepares for the VEX Robotics World Championship March 21. The Spoofhounds’ are progressing to the Championship round.
NATHAN VANDRUFF PHOTOGRAPHER
RAIEA
INFOGRAPHIC BY JULIANNA LAWRENCE DESIGN EDITOR
Board of Regents enters transition
OSWALT News Editor | @doswalt_NWMSRN
The Northwest Board of Regents meeting ended swiftly after brief reports were made by University leadership at 1 p.m. March 20 in the J.W. Jones Student Union Boardroom. A closed session followed adjournment.
Provost Jamie Hooyman brought forth two new online master’s degree programs for the Board’s approval.
“The first one is a master’s of public administration out of the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences,” Hooyman said. “This is something that has high potential for student growth, and we’re very excited to be able to start that program.”
The second program is one already offered: a Master of Science in therapeutic recreation. Hooyman said it was an option in another program, but due to a certification, it has to be offered as a stand-alone degree. The Board approved both programs.
In University President Lance Tatum’s report, he said the Board of Regents is entering a transitional period in terms of its members. He said appointments are likely to be made in the next 30 days.
Tatum said Stephen Coppinger, vice chair of the Board, told Tatum about an opportunity his son had on a college visit to take a class with the university president. Tatum said over the past fall, he worked with Hooyman to develop something off this.
Tatum said a program is being developed
specifically for Presidential Scholars — the eight Northwest freshmen who have exemplified outstanding academic effort. The program, Tatum said, will be a seminar experience lasting roughly seven weeks, and he will be the main instructor for it.
class on occasion, with first lady Jill Tatum expected to offer a dinner etiquette series toward the end to teach the students the nuances of what business and formal dinners look like.
Also in his report, Tatum shared news of continued engagement in Northwest’s freshman class this year.
This group really kind of signifies the beginning of a rebirth of that freshman collegiate experience.”
LANCETATUM
UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT “
“We’ll talk about leadership, we’ll talk about accountability and responsibility, we’ll talk about the transition from being a high schooler to a collegiate student to being an adult,” Tatum said. “We’re going to add in field trips for these students — we would love to take them to Kansas City and beyond so that they can meet our alumni and meet our donor base, and give them a chance to be exposed to Bearcats who have been successful in life.” Guest speakers and alumni will also join the
Sports betting to launch fall 2025, emergency rules denied
ANNA BAILEY Asst. News Editor | @AmBailey16
The Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins rejected the Missouri Gaming Commission proposed emergency rules to allow the expedition of wagering. Sports betting will now go live in the Fall of 2025, rather than Summer.
Hoskins said the rules were
not an emergency. For an order to be considered for emergency, it must affect the well-being of Missouri or its citizens, so he said sports betting does not qualify under this law.
“I don’t think there was any emergency requirement, or there’s any scenario that would have been considered (an) emergency requirement to have sports bet go live quicker,” Hoskins said.
Regardless of the rules’ rejection, the state is required to launch online sports wagering by Dec. 1, according to the MGC.
The sports betting initiative on the November ballot, Amendment Two, states 10% of funds earned from sports wagering will go toward Missouri education.
Hoskins said during the campaign, it was advertised that $35-50 million would be earned from sports betting and used for education purposes. Hoskins said in a later meeting the amount of funds expected to be earned and given to Missouri education was considerably smaller, estimating it will instead be closer to $1 million.
Northwest sophomore Alex Wells said he was not surprised to hear the date to launch sports betting was pushed back since he knows the licensing process can take significant time. Wells said once sports wagering is allowed and he turns 21 years old, he plans to participate in the activity.
“You can make a lot of money from it,” Wells said. “Maybe sometimes it’s a sport you enjoy just because you made money watching it, but sometimes you also do just find something new that you like.”
Missouri will impose a 10% tax on earned winnings from sports betting. This is the same amount as Kansas, however, other surrounding states have higher rates: Iowa taxes 10.8%
“I think through the COVID period, we really experienced a period of time where students coming into college were really very comfortable with staying isolated and staying in their room,” Tatum said. “This group really kind of signifies the beginning of a rebirth of that freshman collegiate experience.”
One place Tatum said this has become most evident is in Residential Life, as the freshmen residence communities have been highly involved.
Tatum said he thinks the engagement and connection will carry into the class of 2028’s sophomore year as well.
However, Tatum said the international population is in a volatile position. During the Academic Affairs meeting Aug. 21, 2024, it was made known the international population enrollment showed a decrease compared to previous years.
Tatum said the administration will continue to make strategic decisions on how it can combat this.
In addition to the concise reports, the Board approved two police officer appointments for the University Police Department, as well as two adjunct faculty appointments.
and Illinois taxes 24%, according to the Tax Foundation. Hoskins said he is concerned a lower tax rate than surrounding states may cause compulsive gambling problems.
“I do have some concerns that problem and compulsive gambling will increase in the state like it has in every other state that has legalized sportsbook,” Hoskins said. “But unfortunately…casinos and professional sports teams did not
put in enough money to help combat that here in the state of Missouri.” Hoskins said Missouri needs at least $10 million to combat the possible gambling problems. Hoskins said he expects Missouri citizens to be able to place bets by September or October.
The MGC intends to make license applications available by May 15, and the licensing rules are scheduled to be effective by Aug. 30, according to MGC.
DAKOTA
Northwest Missouri State University President Lance Tatum and Executive Assistant to the President Jacob Wood converse after the Board of Regents meeting March 20. Tatum discusses his plans to lead a seven-week seminar in the fall for Northwest’s Presidential Scholars students, focusing on leadership and accountability.
ALLY JEFFRIES PHOTOGRAPHER
CRIME LOG
for the week of March 27
Maryville Department of Public Safety
March 25
There was a summons issued to Brandon S. Manville, 46, for driving while suspended and passing on the right on the 29,000 block of U.S. Highway 136.
March 24
There was a summons issued to Wendy L. Coffelt, 55, for driving while suspended and improper display of license plates on the 1700 block of South Main Street.
March 22
There is an ongoing investigation for a lost/stolen license plate on the 100 block of North Vine Street. There is an ongoing investigation for leaving the scene on the 500 block of North Vine Street.
There was a summons issued to Tristan R. Trimble, 21, for driving while intoxicated, open container in a motor vehicle and failure to register a motor vehicle on the 100 block of North Vine Street.
March 21
There was a summons issued to Trevor M. Weir, 20, for driving while intoxicated, minor in possession, open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle, driving while suspended, failure to register a motor vehicle and possession of a fake ID on the 300 block of East Second Street.
There was a summons issued to Brooke R. Hittle, 22, for driving while intoxicated and failure to register a motor vehicle on the 200 block of North Main Street.
March 20
There was an accident between Colton C. Loucks 17, Abigail R. Mason, 18, and Travis A. Cronk, 37, on the 400 block of South Main Street. Loucks was charged with failure to register a motor vehicle and careless and imprudent driving.
March 19
There is an ongoing investigation for leaving the scene on the 500 block of West Fourth Street.
There was a summons issued to Kolton R. Smith, 20, for driving while suspended and minor in possession on the 1800 block of East First Street.
Council hears public outreach campaign
HANNAH CLAYWELL Managing Editor | @Hannah_9504
The Maryville City Council was met with a report from the Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Governments — one of 19 Regional Planning Commissions in Missouri — at its meeting March 24.
Community Planner Alex Dandy came to Council to discuss the new public outreach campaign it plans to start in the jurisdictions the NWMO RCOG covers. These are Atchison, Nodaway, Holt, Worth and Gentry counties.
“We cover a lot of different things, helping all the county and city governments with projects, planning, grant administrations (and) things like that,” Dandy said. “Not a lot of people know what we do and know all of our services, so we want to get out and talk to everybody and let them know what we are here for.”
Dandy said the major topic he wanted to talk about at the Council meeting was the grant intake form. This is a form for anyone in the community to fill out if they see improvements they deem necessary for the community.
“Anybody in the community can do it, not just council members,” Dandy said. “You’re more than welcome to go to our website,
contact us, fill out the grant intake form with any information you have on it.”
NWMO RCOG covers five main service areas: transportation planning, hazard mitigation planning, economic development, community development and the solid waste management district.
Dandy said through this, the Regional Planning Commission for northwest Missouri holds grant cycles and similar programs to benefit as many community members as possible.
Some upcoming opportunities, Dandy said, include a solid waste management cycle to help any solid waste movement throughout the city and the community development block grant. The CDBG is through the Missouri Department of Economic Development and will focus on critical infrastructure improvements and other community facility projects.
Other City Council Business:
• Council approved a hay lease agreement with Michael Vest for the purpose of harvesting hay on cityowned property.
• Council approved a contract with ACCO Unlimited Corporation for fil-
tration and chemical controller at the Thomas Splash ‘N’ Play Park.
• Council approved a contract with Kimley-Horn & Associates, Inc. for professional engineering services on the Beal Park Pickleball Courts. Director of Parks and Recreation Jeff Stubblefield said the design can include up to nine courts and would ideally be finished by fall 2025.
• Council approved a contract with TriState Ford Lincoln to purchase a 2025 Ford police utility AWD Vehicle.
• Council approved a subrecipient agreement with St. Francis Hospital Foundation in support of an enhanced women’s health access and assistance program. This agreement will provide the St. Francis Hospital Foundation an additional $10,000 to the amount raised at the St. Francis Gala.
• Council approved the nominations for the Airport Advisory Board appointments.
• Council approved the nomination for the Mozingo Advisory Board appointment.
ability it took to speak on her experience.
Melanie’s last name was not shared by North Star Advocacy Center for privacy reasons.
Mattson said one of the biggest challenges of planning the event was finding someone to be the survivor speaker. She said she wanted to make sure they were in the right headspace to be speaking about their experience publicly.
This year’s survivor speaker, Melanie, had eight people at the event supporting her. Mattson said she was proud of her and hoped the audience appreciated the vulner-
“I had a couple different people come up to me and just tell me how touched they were by the survivor and just with the whole event,” Mattson said. “It makes them feel proud to be in a community that supports victims.”
She said many people forget healing is not linear for victims. Many experience ups and downs, and many victims come to North Star Advocacy Center with a survival mindset.
A survival mindset focuses on doing
what is needed to survive. This means they provide for their basic needs and are often thinking defensively.
Mattson said North Star Advocacy Center is working to buy a house to serve as a transitional home for victims. She also plans on placing a shed in the backyard so it has a singular place to store spare furniture for those who need it.
“I hope that it’s (North Star Advocacy Center) given victims a place where they can feel safe and feel believed and heard and validated and helped,” Mattson said.
NORTHWESTMISSOURIAN
DONATIONS
CONTINUED FROM A1
“I think undergarments are always overlooked as far as donations and those kinds of things,” Marsh said. “People are always donating shirts and pants and typical clothes, but not the undergarments.”
Duff agreed with this statement, saying she can understand why clothing donations are helpful to those who are unable to buy needed items themselves.
“For those low-income residents that don’t have the means to purchase outfits for interviews, this really helps them so they can come and look their best when they’re trying to be their best,” Duff said.
Maurices is not the only business that participates in ISTG; nationwide, there are over 900 other corporations, businesses and organizations also in partnership with the nonprofit.
Along with dropping them off at Maurices, donations can also be shipped to the ISTG P.O. box in Silver Spring, Maryland, or an individual can find their local ISTG affiliate. Porter said she is proud to help support the nonprofit.
“I love being able to participate because it helps our community, be aware of it, and it also helps the people that they are helping as well,” Porter said.
Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Governments’ Community Planner Alex Dandy approaches the Council about a new NWMO RCOG outreach campaign during the City Council meeting March 24. NWMO RCOG helps county and city governments with projects, planning and grant administrations.
ALLY JEFFRIES PHOTOGRAPHER
North Star Fundraiser attendee Jan Corley wins dog gift basket in paddle-auction March 19. This was one of the many items auctioned off for the fundraiser.
NATHAN NODA ASST. PHOTO EDITOR
Women in journalism need fair treatment
Being a woman in sports is straining, being a Hispanic-mixed woman in sports is frustrating — but asking for the same respect as men in sports is asking for too much?
My bad, I’ll go back to the kitchen where society tells me I belong.
Ever since high school, I have been overlooked for my skills, and what I can do because I am a woman. Often, I would get the ‘Oh, you’re a female in sports? Have fun!’ Actually, I am a woman in a male-dominated field — and it’s not because I’m a ‘pick me’ but because I genuinely enjoy covering football.
I grew up watching football — every Sunday, Monday and Thursday — but because I am a woman I can’t enjoy a sport only men play. That’s what I have been told multiple times, and it’s draining; and quite frankly, I am tired of hearing it.
I thought the gender gap would disappear when I came to college, but I was wrong. I don’t think I am asking for too much, it’s just the men in this generation.
Women of Hispanic or Latino descent only make up 13.3% and women in sports as a whole make up 20.9%, according to Zippia. That’s sad because I know women I work with want to go out for bigger jobs in sports, but feel looked down upon because of who they share the field with.
Women can do the same kind of work and have the same amount of talent as men — but because of gender, they get shut down. I can do the same work as a man, but it just seems like there is a wall between me and the respect that comes with the work.
Take Erin Andrews, a veteran sports reporter for the NFL and one of my role models in the sports world. She’s a woman, but that doesn’t stop her from interviewing the big names in the game.
When will it be enough? When will women finally get the recognition they deserve in a field that ‘isn’t for them’? When can I go cover a football game and not get looked down upon? All of these questions I want answered, and I want them answered now.
Women are changing the game — a game men thought they owned. A game that needs more women more than ever.
We are photographers, reporters, personal trainers and commentators. We are empowered by each other because if we aren’t there for one another, who will be? The men? They couldn’t care less. So the next time you see one of us in the field covering the sports we love, tip your hat, give us a wave — because we are blazing our own trail, and we are just getting started.
Women’s sports deserve support; progress is vital
For years, women’s sports have been compared side-by-side with men’s in a predominantly negative light. While it’s right to raise concerns about the inequalities between them, we have to keep in mind they’re at two different places in their respective journeys.
These past few years have seen exponential growth for women’s sports as a whole, from the rise of University of Iowa standout Caitlin Clark to the establishment of professional volleyball leagues across the country. Despite this, resources and pay for women’s sports have remained stagnant.
The differences in salaries become especially evident in professional basketball. The WNBA’s top players, including Clark, earn a fraction of what their NBA counterparts do. According to Forbes, the average WNBA salary is $150,000, while the average for the NBA is $10 million. However, the argument isn’t about revenue alone — it’s about valuing female athletes and ensuring they have the resources to thrive.
These issues are also present at
the collegiate level. According to a 2022 USA Today analysis, Division I basketball teams spent $93 million more on their men’s teams than they did on women’s. This disparity in funding is something that is seen consistently at the college level. To change this, we as the public have to show we care about women’s sports to get institutions to care equally as much.
At Northwest specifically, women’s sports have been a highlight of the athletics department. The women’s basketball team made it to the MIAA Tournament this season with a 15-15 record, while the men’s team finished its season 6-22.
A key component of the inequalities is also the lack of female sports journalists in major media outlets. While progress has been made, women covering sports still face significant challenges, from sexist criticism to fewer opportunities in managerial roles. A study by Wasserman showed women’s sports accounted for just 15% of all sports coverage. More representation in sports media would help bring necessary coverage to women’s athletics.
Although it is important to point out inequalities, it’s also vital to remember women’s sports are newer in professional and college circuits. For example, the WNBA was only founded 29 years ago in 1996, while the NBA was founded in 1946. Comparing the two’s revenue or viewership would be unfair, considering the 50 extra years the NBA has had to develop.
Women’s volleyball has also recently made huge strides, with celebrities like singer Jason Derulo and NFL Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow investing in professional leagues. With continued donations and support, women’s sports will get there — we just need to give it time.
Ultimately, men’s and women’s sports don’t need to be pitted against each other. Each stands on its own merits, requiring skill, dedication and hard work. To support and popularize women’s sports, we have to show up to events, increase funding and make sure women have the tools to succeed.
How do you support women in sports?
THE STROLLER:
AVERY YOSTEN Freshman Biochemistry
“I am a woman in sports... Just being able to participate in playing basketball here with my best friends is super empowering.”
MARTINA GUERRA Freshman Psychology
YOUR VIEW: TRE MANUEL Senior Exercise Science
“If I can’t go out to games and show out, it is important to congratulate them and continue to show support in other ways.”
“I feel like women should be paid the same and treated the same because they’re putting in the same amount of work as men do. So I just don’t see the big difference.”
Your Bearcat is deep in senior slump
Well, it’s official — your Bearcat has hit the senior slump wall headfirst. I hit it while going about 30 miles over the speed limit.
For the past few years, I’ve been nose to the grind making myself career-ready, and frankly, I don’t know how much more I can take of applying for “entry-level” jobs that want 10 years of real-world experience. I’m ready to graduate. My willpower to start assignments is dying faster than the battery of
my two-year-old iPhone. Don’t even get me started on actually finishing the homework once I do start it. This Stroller took me a week to finish, and I actually looked forward to writing it.
My to-do list is taller than the Memorial Bell Tower, and I’ve avoided everything on it the way everyone avoids the Colden Hall stairs, but does my selfdiscipline care? Absolutely not.
The old tactics of encouragement — a sweet little treat, a new outfit or even a tattoo —
aren’t strong enough to drag me out of bed anymore. I know I have class in an hour, but I’ve been forcing myself to go to class for 17 years, and I am sick and tired of it. The only thing keeping me going is that I’m a chronic people pleaser — and cream soda Dr Pepper. If I don’t turn in my assignments on time and meet the imaginary expectations placed upon me by my professors, peers and coworkers, I have nothing. So don’t wor-
NORTHWESTMISSOURIAN
ry folks, anxiety can be your friend in desperate times. Right now, I’m attempting to have a “get s**t done” show to put on in the background while I work — at this moment, it goes back and forth between The Middle and Twisters. I’ll keep you updated if it works. All I have to say is get me across that stage, like, yesterday.
has been a tradition since 1918 and does not reflect the views of the
OUR VIEW:
ANNA CASE CARTOONIST
The Stroller
Northwest Missourian.
OLIVIA WALLACE Sports Reporter
@_oliviawallace_
Women’s sports are equally as important
Everyone Watches Women’s Sports — a phrase sometimes used to mock hardworking women, but hey, at least they’re watching.
In the past weeks, we’ve seen the beginning of March Madness for both women and men. We saw Paige Bueckers’ last home game for University of Connecticut in front of a sold-out crowd and are anticipating the 2025 WNBA Draft.
It’s a huge month for women’s sports, and people out there — mostly men who have never played a collegiate sport, but people nonetheless — are out here putting down these hardworking, killer women. They are doing it in the name of “being worried for women” and “men are just better”. I think it has more to do with something called fragile masculinity — but what do I know?
Women are absolutely demolishing the game right now and are being met with straight-up misogyny. I get it. I’m jealous when women do better than me too, but I, like normal people, eat some cookies and get over it. I don’t sit there and say horrific things about 18 to 24-yearold women. Because let’s be honest for a minute — this is a safe place. You aren’t mad about women’s sports, you are upset that you don’t have the talent to be one of them, playing highly competitive and rewarding collegiate sports. You are upset that women are doing better than you, and you believe in a world where women should be bowing down and subservient to you. That’s OK, but let’s call it like it is.
I’ve never been so sick watching sports and checking social media after seeing all the hate these people are getting. But I’ll say it: you don’t hate the sport — you hate women. It has nothing to do with sports; nothing to do with how many points Caitlin Clark made or the gold medals Simone Biles brought home. It has nothing to do with Megan Rapinoe. Because those women are all different. The only common denominator is the fact they are all women. We live in a world where hating women is easy. The 2023 Barbie movie said it best: “Everyone hates women. Men hate women, and women hate women. It’s the one thing we can agree on.”
I wish it were simple enough to say, stop doing that. But we live in a world where misogyny is normalized. Everything wrong is blamed on women. It’s always our fault. March is Women’s History Month. However, I’ve seen heaps of people complaining about everything related to women. All the hate boils down to the fact that women are the problem; and the hate is directed to women who are loud, outspoken, fighting and breaking barriers put in place by hundreds of years of men.
So, I’ll reiterate. Women are strong. Women are independent. Women are allowed to break barriers. Women are allowed to not drop everything for men. Women in no way, shape or form are obligated to sleep with you. Let women play sports. Let women win. Because everyone watches women’s sports — whether you are a fan or a hater, you’re still watching — and that’s all that matters.
NW employee releases new album
DAKOTA OSWALT News Editor | @doswalt_NWMSRN
ANNA BAILEY Asst. News Editor | @AmBailey16N
Christian Dixon might not be a name heard on the Top 40, but he is well-known around campus. The graduate student works as Northwest’s annual giving specialist, but he also releases his own music. Inspired by alternative, indie and popfolk artists such as Matt Maeson and Noah Kahan, Dixon’s music offers a similar style with a more rugged, acoustic sound. Overall, it’s a solid set of songs with a beautiful sound.
By beginning the song “Genetics” with a quiet countdown followed by a repeated guitar chord that grows in volume, the listener may notice this continued acoustic strum throughout the song. The guitar being the only audible instrument in the song allows for the slow and mellow lyrics to shine. As country music fans, this song speaks directly to our tastes.
The lyrics introspectively detail Dixon’s family history of illness and death, where the namesake “Genetics” likely stems from.
Each verse allows for a new story to be told from his family, focusing on different members within the three verses. This is followed by Dixon’s reaction or emotions brought by the shared part of his family’s history. He uses the third verse to sum up how he processes time spent without communicating with his family.
The chorus offers a broader perspective of the state of the world and its impact on his life, finishing it off with the overall message that everything will eventually turn out all right.
In a nutshell, the lyrics in this song strongly remind us of the nature versus nurture debate. On one hand, Dixon wonders whether or not he will be negatively impacted by inheriting the same genetic discrepancies his ancestors possessed. On the other hand, he questions if the world’s seemingly constant state of chaos and disarray may be what affects him most. The lyrics seem to analyze these two perspectives.
Similarly, “Shoulders” offers a more upbeat tempo, but the lyrics reveal another heavy sentiment. The lyrics talk about the pressures of everyday life and how they affect Dixon on a personal level.
The first verse explains the struggles he battles against himself on a daily basis. These lyrics are relatable, as it is often said our own mind is our biggest enemy. Further verses also explore his struggles regarding family members and the church, which also hits close to home, as family and religion are major influences in our lives.
The overall theme of the song is about feeling the weight of the world on your shoulders at such a young age and how he copes with not knowing all of the answers yet. This felt like it was speaking directly to us. So many adults in our lives keep telling us to wait until I enter “the real world,” without taking into consideration all the pressure they — along with our professors and peers — place on us every day.
Some of Dixon’s songs focus more on failed romances, something almost anyone can relate to. For a lighter acoustic sound, “How This Ends” details a heartache-filled breakup.
The verses are a conversation between himself and a partner, often starting with the line, “Can we just skip to the part —” noting the point in relationships where troubles seem to arise.
In the chorus, Dixon said he and the partner both know their relationship is doomed from the start, but neither of them necessarily wanted it to end. Like this, the narrative song “deer on the highway” recounts a feeling of heartache while he begs a partner to stay. He sings about how this relationship’s end caused him immense feelings of sadness that were completely out of his control. He contrasts lyrics telling how the partner eventually got the perfect cowboy ending she always wanted with his own feelings of feeling left alone. In the chorus, Dixon relates these feelings to that of a deer that was hit and left on a highway; forgotten and lonely. We thought this was an extremely artistic perspective — one we’ve never heard before in a song. While this specific concept was unfamiliar, we knew exactly what he was describing.
For a more unique sound, “no, no, no” provides an introspective look on life.
Dixon sings of all the struggles and long nights he’s faced in life, and while feeling like there’s nothing left, he chooses to make the most out of his life as there’s still much he wants to do, see and say. As a young adult, this song seemed to read our minds. There’s also a nice break without lyrics in the song, where only the strum of a guitar can be heard. It’s nice to have a section of the song that isn’t word-heavy, especially when the lyrics themselves are heavy. The album as a whole brings to surface a perspective on life Dixon seems to feel heavily. His lyrics and the instrumentalism within the songs express deep feelings drawn from throughout Dixon’s life. Overall, we believe this album reflected on life’s nature to provide challenges and Dixon’s perspective on how to cope with such.
BROOKLYN FARNAN Missourian Columnist @TheMissourian
Northwest graduate student Christian Dixon sings at the 2024 Homecoming Variety show Oct. 17, 2024. Dixon is inspired by alternative, indie and pop-folk artists.
NATHAN NODA ASST. PHOTO EDITOR
JULIANNA LAWRENCE DESIGN EDITOR
NEXT WEEK IN SPORTS
NW BB vs. Rogers State
3 p.m. March 29
2 p.m. March 29
1 p.m. March 30
Bearcat Baseball Field
vs. Central Missouri
3 p.m. April 1
Warrensburg, Missouri
NW SB
vs. Central Oklahoma
2 p.m. March 28
Bearcat Softball Field
vs. Newman
12 p.m. March 29
Bearcat Softball Field
NW T&F @ ESU Relays
TBA March 27-29
Leavenworth, Kansas
NW M TEN
vs. Southern Arkansas
11 a.m. March 27
MHS baseball faces rocky start
vs. Nebraska-Kearney
1 p.m. March 29
Frank Grube Courts
NW W TEN
vs. Southern Arkansas
11 a.m. March 27
Frank Grube Courts
Frank Grube Courts vs. Fort Hays State
3 p.m. March 28
Frank Grube Courts
vs. Nebraska-Kearney
1 p.m. March 29
Frank Grube Courts
MHS BB vs. Maysville
4:30 p.m. March 27
Maryville High School
vs. Northeast Nodaway
4:30 p.m. March 28
Maryville High School
vs. Kirksville
10 a.m. March 29
Kirksville High School
vs. St. Joseph-Benton
4:30 p.m. March 31 Hyde Park
Missourian Reporter | @NWMSports
With a rocky start behind them, Maryville baseball is eyeing a fresh start, eager to show its true potential with three key starters back in action — bringing hope for a successful season ahead.
Due to the three key starters missing for the ’Hounds in their first two games, they turned to their younger group, starting three freshmen and three sophomores. Maryville dropped its home opener to Mid-Buchanan (2-0) 7-4, followed by a 20-1 defeat to Smithville (2-1) to start the season.
The pivotal players sidelined — due to not participating in enough practices — were seniors infielder Canon Creason, outfielder Grant Smail and junior infielder Grant Diggs. Head coach Hans Plackemeier said he is excited to see what his complete roster looks like in the upcoming matchups.
“It’s very important for us to bounce back and see what we actually have and can do,” Plackemeier said. “We saw a little bit of it in the jamboree, but then again, we were moving guys around because we needed to see different people at different positions. But when we have our main lineup together, it’s going to be a fun year.”
After the Maryville R-II Board of Education approved a sports turf base installation
COMPETE CONTINUED FROM A12
It’s very important for us to bounce back and see what we actually have and can do.”
HANS PLACKEMEIER
MHS BASEBALL HEAD COACH
for Maryville High School in the first week of April, the bond issue passed added a full turf baseball and softball complex. The Spoofhounds (0-2) opened their first two games of the season at home against the Dragons March 21 and the Warriors March 22 on their brand new turf baseball field.
Switching from real grass and dirt to a full turf field, Plackemeier said the transition has been smooth and is grateful to be a part of a community that provides for its high school athletic programs.
“It is awesome playing on our new field because now you don’t have to worry about
ALIVE CONTINUED FROM A12
The ’Cats ended with 18 hits, which Jandron said was helped by the windy game day.
“It was a friendly hitter’s day with the wind blowing out,” Jandron said. “With days like today, hitters are confident and our guys were confident and even though we struggled the first five innings, they stayed the course and they believed and we got some hits to fall and it was contagious.”
OUTDOOR
CONTINUED FROM A12
Women’s track and field freshman Marissa Roberts brought home a victory for the Bearcats, winning the 3000-meter Steeplechase as Northwest kicked off their outdoor season at the Spire Distance Carnival March 21 in Leavenworth, Kansas.
As for the team as a whole, there were respectable performances all around at the Spire Distance Carnival. In the men’s 800-meter, junior Bret Beard took third (1:55.94), with freshman Bentley St. John close behind in sixth (1:57.84). Freshman John Langill then led the Bearcats in the 1500-meter, finishing 27th (4:08.84).
rocks and bad hops, and just other bad conditions that we had to play with previously,” Plackemeier said. “We have been on the field more this year than we were last year already. And we have been able to work on all kinds of different situations that we have not been able to in the previous years.”
Despite a tough 2024 season from a winloss standpoint, finishing with an overall record of 7-16, Creason said he is excited for his first outing of the season and is ready to develop into the senior leader his team needs him to be.
“I’m excited to take over more as a leader this year — play with energy and get the guys to play with that energy as well,” Creason said. “There is even more motivation this year due to all the people doubting this team. There are a lot of returning guys and new guys on varsity that have improved a lot during the offseason, so I am just ready to get going.”
With two seniors out for the first two games, Maryville relied on its other pair of senior leaders to help provide a spark for its team — infielder Gus McCollough and catcher Gavin McAtee.
Now accompanied by the other senior duo in Creason and Smail, the Spoofhounds will take on the Maysville Warriors (2-1) March 27 and the Northeast Nodaway with Worth County Bluejays (0-2) March 28 at full strength. Opening pitch for both games will be 4:30 p.m. at Maryville High School.
Game 2 and 3 were both successes as the ’Cats took both games Saturday, March 22 and Sunday, March 23 with scores of 5-2 and 16-6, respectively.
The Bearcats’ upcoming week is a busy one, with two midweek games and a three-game series over the weekend. William Jewell (13-12, 5-7 MIAA) comes to Bearcat Baseball Field March 25, and the ’Cats will travel, March 26 to St. Joseph to play Missouri Western (6-20, 4-12 MIAA). They will finish off with a three-game series against Rogers State (17-9, 7-7 MIAA) March 28- 30.
The ’Cats will then play Newman (6-26, 1-7 MIAA) noon and 2 p.m. “I hope we don’t have an easy task in front of us against Central Oklahoma, but we’re going to go out there,” Tellez said. “And more than anything, I just want us to compete — compete at the level that I know we can.”
Looking ahead, Streigle and the rest of the team are gearing up for a challenging weekend with a pair of doubleheaders at home. They will face No. 6 Central Oklahoma (26-5, 7-1 MIAA) 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. March 28. At their last meeting March 23, 2024, the Broncos claimed both wins in the doubleheader, beating the Bearcats 4-0 in Game 1 and 11-6 in Game 2.
Freshman Olivia Bakker placed fourth in the women’s 1500-meter (4:46.66), with two teammates in the top ten. In the men’s 3000-meter Steeplechase, freshman Elijah Dix finished fourth (10:08.07), and freshman Nick Kilonzo placed sixth (10:31.06).
Masters said there were several young athletes who participated in events they hadn’t done before, such as the steeplechase, and the meet served as a great opener for these athletes.
“We had a lot of young kids out there running and doing events they haven’t done before,” Mas-
ters said. “It was a great opener for some of those kids that hadn’t, hadn’t run since conference, or maybe even before. So it’s a good opportunity to go out there and try
so it’s
and it’s an exciting event, and we had some good things happen.”
that steeplechase, most don’t do it in high school,
a new event for everybody,
Maryville baseball sophomore infielder/pitcher Jackson Wilmes attempts to tag out a runner during the Spoofhounds’ 20-1 loss to Smithville March 22.
AARON HARE PHOTO EDITOR
Northwest men’s track and field senior Moses Koroma prepares to run before the pistol goes off at the Coach Richard Alsup Open Jan. 18.
CLEVI JOHNSON SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER
TREY HOUCHIN
Northwest freshman infielder Curstin Todd points at her catcher after picking down a runner trying to steal in the ’Cats loss to Northeastern State March 15.
NATHAN NODA ASST. PHOTO EDITOR
NW coaches break barriers, inspire athletes
Northwest assistant track and field coach Nikki Segrest walked into the U.S. Track and Field Cross Country Coaches Association convention for the first time 11 years ago — where she was surprised about the difference in the amount of women and men that were in attendance.
She recalled only around 75 of the 1,000 coaches gath-
ered from across the country were women. Two years ago, the last time she attended the conference, the women’s forum had grown to include over 250 attendees. For Segrest, this shift wasn’t just about numbers — it was about the community and support that women in coaching were beginning to build.
“I have seen an increase in women’s coaching, at least in track and field, which is really
exciting,” Segrest said. “I know us track coaches try to stick together and encourage more women to get involved and promote women in certain positions, so it has been exciting to see the growth. I just hope we continue to see it increase.”
Segrest is part of a growing community of women in coaching at Northwest, alongside Head softball coach Naomi Tellez and Head volleyball coach Amy Woerth. Together, Segrest, Tellez and Woerth are helping pave the way for more women to step into leadership roles in sports.
“Hopefully, by us being the strong, confident women that we are, and bringing success to the program, they can look to hire more women because we are just as capable as our other male counterparts,” Segrest said.
Softball
Tellez constantly reminds her players to stay grounded by remembering their ‘why.’ Having a rough day? Remember your ‘why.’ Feeling like quitting? Remember your ‘why.’
For Tellez, the ‘why’ is to leave a lasting impact on her athletes and to prepare them for life beyond the game.
“It’s the impact that I can make on young women at the most vulnerable state of being 18 to 22 (years old), being away from home, getting them in a different environment, challenging them in ways maybe they’ve never been challenged before, and seeing their growth is really, really, really rewarding,” Tellez said.
Tellez believes part of the reason she can connect with her athletes is, as a woman, she is relatable. Her athletes see someone who goes through some of the same struggles they do and confide in her.
“There’s so much going on in everybody’s lives and outside of sports, that just being able to be somebody that somebody can confide in, can talk to, can look at and say, no matter what is going on, they show up every day with a smile on their face trying to be the best they can be,” Tellez said.
Tellez emphasizes the importance of removing biases and ensuring people get what the recognition they deserve and have earned, and recognizes that it is starting to get better in the realm of women in sports.
“I do think the tides are slowly starting to shift,” Tellez said. “We are pushing boundaries, we are testing limits. Hopefully, that’ll continue to happen.”
Track and Field
For Segrest, coaching is more than a job — it’s a way to empower others and push her ath-
letes to the fullest.
As a track and field athlete at Emporia State, Segrest found inspiration in the mentorship of Steven and Erin Blocker, whose guidance not only shaped her athletic career, but also sparked a passion for coaching.
“Their guidance inspired me to want to do the same thing for other athletes,” Segrest said. “They were kind of my family away from family, and that’s one thing I aspire to be to my athletes — a home away from home.”
She said having open conversations and expressing herself is important — especially with the unique perspective Segrest brings as a woman. It allows her to connect with athletes in ways that may differ from her male colleagues.
“I can be mom, I can be big sis or crazy aunt,” Segrest said. “I can also have those more nurturing, emotional conversations with men and women that maybe some male coach-
es don’t feel comfortable having or expressing.”
Although winning and competing is important to Segrest, the results aren’t the end-all beall. She focuses not only on becoming better on the track but off as well, ensuring her athletes stay in the race for success in all aspects of life.
“We obviously want to have good athletes, right?” Segrest said. “Like, we’re coaches, that’s our job — to have a good sports team — but we also want to have good people who want to grow and challenge themselves.”
As Segrest continues to empower her athletes, she also encourages all women to believe in themselves beyond what they may think is possible.
“Why not, why not you?” Segrest said. “A lot of people, especially women, think, ‘Oh, I’m not qualified.’ Most of the time, you’re overqualified. You don’t know unless you advocate for yourself or put yourself in those rooms.”
Northwest Head softball coach Naomi Tellez holds open the batting cage during practice March 25. Tellez has produced nine all-MIAA selections.
Northwest women’s track and field freshman Mayson Hartley runs the women’s 3000-meter while assistant coach Nikki Segrest encourages her on.
HANNAH CLAYWELL MANAGING EDITOR
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY PARKER BENNETT MISSOURIAN DESIGNER
LEAH COX Sports Reporter | @byleahcox
Northwest baseball comes alive against Arkansas Fort Smith
Bearcat Baseball (13-13, 7-6 MIAA) came alive in an offensive surge to find a victory against Arkansas Fort Smith (9-18, 4-13 MIAA) 18-8 at Bearcat Baseball Field March 21, improving their home record this season to 6-1 (now 8-2).
After coming off a midweek win against Central Missouri (20-6, 11-3 MIAA), the Bearcats looked to keep the streak alive against Arkansas Fort Smith a team who just beat Northeastern State University (10-18, 7-7 MIAA) 12-2 March 18. Game 1 of the three-game series tipped off with lots of offense as senior left fielder Ryan Williams had a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning. Junior pitcher Ben Haug started the game off with four-straight scoreless innings with the ’Cats on defense and only allowed one hit. However, the Lions started off the top of the fifth inning with eight runs, giving them the lead 8-1 heading into the bottom of the fifth. This didn’t stop the ’Cats, as they fired back with three runs in the bottom of the inning, capped off by a two-run homer from graduate student center fielder Ashton Neuman, giving him six so far this season.
Head coach Tony Jandron was proud that his team kept their heads high and confident after going down on the scoreboard,
“We stayed the course and tried to go one by one, and I think we did that,” Jandron said. “And we can score a bunch in a hurry, and we did today with no sense of panic.”
Senior first baseman Kai Young then hit a sacrifice RBI that brought home Williams to cut the deficit, making the score 8-4 in favor of the Lions. The bullpen from the ’Cats then shut down the Lions as they did not score after the fifth inning.
The offense didn’t stop there —the ’Cats then erupted for nine runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, led by senior shortstop Dylan Hufft as he hit a two RBI single. Hufft also finished the inning with an RBI walk, giving the ’Cats a 13-8 lead after six innings.
The ’Cats finished the game off with five runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, led by sophomore right fielder Chester Brooks. Brooks hit a three-RBI double to left field, finishing the game 18-8 for the ’Cats in an offensive surge.
Brooks was a highlight player for the ’Cats with a 3-5 hitting at the plate, four RBI and two runs.
Track and field to participate in outdoor ESU relays
LANDON CLOUSE Missourian Reporter | @NWMSports
Northwest track and field is set to face off against elite competition at the ESU Relays March 27-29 in Emporia, Kansas, aiming to make a statement at Francis G. Welch Stadium.
Since the start of the outdoor season, relay runners who haven’t gotten any race time since conference will be ready to show what they can do in Emporia. Head coach Brandon Masters said it’s an exciting relay-type meet and is looking forward to opening the season on an impressive note.
“It’s an early season,” Masters said. “Certainly exciting for some of those that haven’t run in a little. And the most exciting part is we’ll be doing four by ones, four by twos and four by fours. You don’t get an opportunity to run four by twos very much in college.”
The transition from indoor to outdoor can be tough for some runners. The work to get acclimated to the practice and getting ready for these meets is a lot of maintaining fitness and energy. Masters touched on that difficulty, mentioning the need to limit volume and modify workouts.
“It can be tough, certainly after coming off of a peaked indoor season,” Masters said. “We limit the volume and change things. When we go back outdoors, we have to get back to work. The weights go up in the weight room, and there are lots of sore bodies right now, but that’s to be expected, so I think everybody’s excited to be outside. It looks like we’re going to have some good weather coming up. so everybody likes training outside versus being stuck in Hughes.”
Softball sees month with winless weekends, looks to up competition level
LEAH COX Sports Reporter | @byleahcox
The Northwest softball team (12-19, 2-8 MIAA) hasn’t had a winning weekend in a month, and with just 20 games left in the regular season, Head coach Naomi Tellez is searching for answers. Their last winning weekend came during the Washburn Invitational, where the team went 4-2 Feb. 23-25. Since then, the team has either lost or split every series. Most recently, the ’Cats played two doubleheaders March 22 and 23 against Nebraska-Kearney and Fort Hays State. They dropped the first March 22 Nebraska-Kearney game 4-3, but rebounded with a 9-0 win in Game 2. However, the team struggled against Fort Hays State March 23, falling 11-3 in five innings in the first game before losing 4-3 in the second.
“Going 1-3 this weekend was not easy,” Tellez said. “I think we look back and there were maybe three or four plays that change us from going 1-3 on the weekend to 3-1 on the weekend, which obviously would make us feel a lot better.”
Despite the tough losses over the last month, there have been strong performances from multiple players, from in-the-box to on-the-mound.
Senior outfielder Lillie Filger is a standout for the ’Cats, leading the team with a .407 batting average, 46 hits and 14 stolen bases. Her performance has her ranked No. 9 in the MIAA for overall hitting. Senior outfielder Grace Lubben has also been a strong hitter for the Bearcats, scoring seven RBI in the last seven games.
“Grace Lubben has stepped up really big for us in the last couple games,” Tellez said. “Her bat in the lineup is something that we need right now. She’s producing a lot of power for us and just being really, really, really consistent.”
More than anything, I just want us to compete — compete at the level that I know we can.”
NAOMI TELLEZ SOFTBALL HEAD COACH
In the circle, freshman pitcher Rien Moore leads the team with a 2.43 ERA with 31.2 innings pitched and is ranked No. 9 in the MIAA for overall pitching. Her consistency has made her a key asset for the team. Another star on the mound has been junior pitcher Jadyn Streigle. She leads the team with 57 innings pitched with a 3.81 ERA. “Jadyn has been with us going on three years now, and we rely on her,” Tellez said. “She’s shown up, which has been really fun to see, and she’s really carried our team in that sense.”
Northwest baseball sophomore infielder Chester Brooks evades a tag during the Bearcats’ 18-8 victory over Arkansas Fort Smith March 21. Brooks led the team in RBIs with four and recorded his fifth multi-hit game of the season.
NATHAN VANDRUFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Northwest men’s track and field freshman Jonathan Hedrick competes in long jump at the Coach Richard Alsup Open Jan. 18, where he placed 10th. The ’Cats compete in the ESU Relays March 27-29 in Emporia, Kansas.
CLEVI JOHNSON SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER
CLAYTON CULP Missourian Reporter | @NWMSports