NORTHWEST MISSOURIAN
Contract to not be renewed for head coach Rich Wright
OLIVIA WALLACE Sports Reporter | @_oliviawallace_
Following a 23-7 loss against Pittsburg State to end the regular season, Northwest is not renewing Head coach Rich Wright’s contract effective Dec. 31. Wright finished the regular season 6-5 and 5-4 in MIAA play, which is the worst season since 1995. This season also caps Wright’s lowest performing season as head football coach he has produced while in the position. Wright finished his 7-year head coaching career 65-22, with three MIAA championships and five NCAA playoff appearances.
Wright has been on the coaching staff for 21 seasons, and has helped lead the Bearcats to four titles as defensive coordinator from 2011-2016.
Wright was hired internally following the departure of former Head coach Adam Dorrel. Dorrel left the program for Abilene Christian University following the Bearcats’ undefeated season in 2016. This is the first time the school has let a coach go since the 1993 season.
Director of Athletics Andy Peterson said a national search will begin for the next head coach for Bearcat football. Co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Chad Bostwick has agreed to serve as the interim head coach until a new coach is selected, Northwest Athletics said in a press release Nov. 19.
Bostwick joined the coaching staff in 2011 and is also the brother of former Head coach Scott Bostwick.
The search begins now for the school’s 21st head football coach.
Concerns of potential mold voiced by students on campus
ANNA BAILEY Asst. News Editor | @AmBailey1
Multiple students from different residence halls across campus have found what they believe to be mold in their rooms, allegedly causing sickness or forcing them to inconveniently move rooms.
There have not been any confirmed cases of mold in any residential buildings at Northwest.
First-year student at Omaha Metropolitan Community College, Hannah Wooldridge, attended Northwest as a freshman in the 2023-2024 school year. During her time at Northwest, Wooldridge said she lived on the bottom floor of Hudson Hall. She claimed mold was everywhere.
“It was in our ceiling above my roommate’s bed,” Wooldridge said. “Some of it was even coming up into the floor, and it was visible in the carpet, like what look(ed) to be a stain was actually mold, and then a lot of it was in our closets and under our bed as well.”
Wooldridge said she typically gets sick during winter months, but living in her Hudson Hall room, she was constantly sick. She said it started in September and described her sickness as being similar to a typical cold.
During these sick months, Wooldridge said she tried to convince herself the sickness was due to stress, but when it did not go away and the medicines she was taking did not work, she changed her mindset.
“As the semester got into September, and then even right before we left, I was always congested, my nose was always running and I couldn’t breathe clearly. And it just really felt like I was backed up when I should have been OK,” Wooldridge said.
Eventually, Wooldridge and her roommate reported the alleged mold to the hall’s resident director, Daniel Stigall.
Once the resident director saw the state of their room, he immediately provided them with a different room to move into.
Outbreaks, contaminations affect local businesses
OSWALT News Editor | @doswalt_NWMSRN
Missouri residents might have noticed a temporary menu change at local McDonald’s locations. The absence of the Quarter Pounder may be found in any of the 14 states affected by the McDonald’s E. coli outbreak of 2024.
At least 104 cases of E. coli — a bacteria that can cause foodborne illness — have been reported across the involved states since Oct. 22. The true number of infected people is likely higher, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Missouri accounts for eight of these reported cases. Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska are also on the list.
A recall, 34 hospitalizations and one death later, a CDC investigation determined the slivered onion served on the sandwiches was likely the source of the outbreak. Affected onions have been recalled since Nov. 13, and the CDC believes the risk to the public is low.
Jack Hunsucker is an environmental public health specialist with the Nodaway County Health Department. He checked up on the McDonald’s restaurant in
Maryville, as well as the one in Rock Port, Missouri, in which both menus were impacted by the outbreak.
“I do know that their corporate office,
they quit doing the Quarter Pounders because that was the one that actually had those diced onions on them,” Hunsucker said. “They’d already quit serving those items well in advance, once they knew they had an issue.”
Hunsucker said when the state of Missouri issues a recall, it will come with a rating. He said ratings vary from low priority to high priority, and the Nodaway County Health Department alerts restaurants and stores differently based on this.
Sometimes the department will send emails to the affected facilities, urging them to keep an eye out for recalled foods. Other times, Hunsucker said the department goes to the store in person to make sure the items in question had been pulled off the shelf.
“Generally, if we get a recall, they will give us a distribution list, so I would know if it went to Walmart or if it went to Dollar General, et cetera,” Hunsucker said.
Former Northwest football coach Rich Wright motions to high five a player during the Bearcats’ spring joint practice April 13.
AARON HARE PHOTO EDITOR
Nodaway County Health Department Environmental Public Health Specialist Jack Hunsucker performs an inspection in the Bearcat Commons Nov. 14.
DAKOTA OSWALT NEWS EDITOR
DAKOTA
Former Northwest football coach Rich Wright celebrates an interception during a Nov. 11, 2023 game.
AARON HARE PHOTO EDITOR
‘OLD HABITS DIE HARD’
Students talk family values as tobacco crop sees success
ANNA
BAILEY Asst. News Editor | @AmBailey1
The Shouse family farm has been passed down on the same land in Weston, Missouri, since 1843. Northwest junior Grant Shouse has no plan to be the outlier of this tradition.
Growing up, Grant Shouse baled hay, harvested corn and eventually brought a new crop to his family’s farm. Grant Shouse has worked with his sister, Northwest senior Emma Shouse, and dad to grow tobacco since he was 16 years old.
The tobacco crop now solely belongs to Grant Shouse and Emma Shouse, they use the profit to pay for their education.
“Actually, it was kind of our dad’s crazy idea,” Grant Shouse said. “He raised it (for) a couple years, and he thought it was a kind of, ‘Old habits die hard.’ So he kind of thought it’d be a good idea to let us get the experience.”
Along with Grant Shouse, Emma Shouse has also grown up and spent her entire life working on the family farm. Emma Shouse said she has continued this line of work because she holds the tradition in high regard.
thing that’s important to me.”
Emma Shouse said working with her brother is not always enjoyable, but it’s good for both of them.
Working with family can cause many different emotions, Grant Shouse said. With the work they do, it can be difficult, so it causes some stress. Overall, he said he feels lucky to work with them all.
“It gets rough sometimes, because family sometimes doesn’t get along, and especially since it’s pretty high-stress situations, they can sometimes be yelling, getting mad at each other; but you all love each other at the end of the day,” Grant Shouse said.
“But (at the) same time, a lot of people don’t get that opportunity to work with their family, whether that’s good or bad.”
The process of growing, harvesting and selling tobacco is described as being a 13-month process, Grant Shouse said. By the time the crop has been fully harvested and is being shipped to sell, the next season to plant has already begun.
stick and you put it (the plant) on the stick; and then you spear like five plants, and you go through the row, and then after that you kind of let it sit there and wilt because the leaves are super brittle.”
Grant Shouse said it’s crucial to finish this process within the right time in the season because of the type of tobacco grown on his farm — Connecticut Broadleaf.
When the tobacco plant tissue turns brown and eventually dies because of the summer heat, it is called a sunburn, according to Ephytia.
Once all the tobacco plants are cut, a tractor pulling a wagon goes through the field and the stocks are manually loaded onto it.
The operation ends by hanging the tobacco plants in a barn, where they will be left until the fall. This is done so all excess moisture can exit the plant, according to the University of Kentucky-School of Agriculture.
Grant Shouse said the process of taking the tobacco down and stripping it is happening during this semester.
But seeing four or five, six trucks full of tobacco with you and your sister’s crop on it, it’s really cool. Kind of makes you feel proud.”
GRANT SHOUSE
JUNIOR “
“It’s something I’ve valued a lot,” Emma Shouse said. “I go home very often, because it’s just something I enjoy, and I like being with my family members, and I like contributing to something that’s tradition and some-
On the Shouse farm, the tobacco plant begins its growth journey in a greenhouse. Tobacco seeds are planted indoors between March 15 and April 1, according to Bonnie Plants. Grant Shouse said the majority of the cultivating and harvesting of tobacco plants is done by hand. The first step in the harvesting process is called “topping tobacco”.
While walking through the tobacco field, the person topping the tobacco will break off the top flower of the plant, as well as a few of the leaves. Grant Shouse said doing this allows the plant to grow larger.
“They get bigger, so you get more weight, and then (that) brings more money,” Grant Shouse said.
The plants are left to grow a new flower for a few weeks before the rest of the harvesting operation continues.
To begin the next step, Grant Shouse said Emma Shouse will walk through the field multiple times with large sticks on her shoulder and spread the plants out. After this, the rest of the team goes through the field using a large knife to cut off the bottoms of the plant to collect them.
“What we do is we go through with the cruise, and we have what’s called a tobacco knife, and it looks like a hatchet,” Grant Shouse said. “You cut a plant at the bottom, and then you have a spear that goes on top of your
“We call it ‘Coming in the case’… Once you get the right amount of moisture into the leaves, once it’s the right color, you bring it down,” Grant Shouse said. “And then we have tarps that we lay on the bottom (of the barn), and we slip it off the stick and we make bulk piles. Then when the weather gets dry, you can, we call it ‘stripping tobacco’. Then you take each individual plant, and you individually grade the leaves.”
Grant Shouse said the bottom leaves of the plant will be put into a bail because they are not used and the rest of the leaves are put into boxes and shipped to Tennessee, where the Shouse tobacco is sold.
Grant Shouse said the work they do at the farm is not necessarily fun, but they do it because they find moments of joy in the process.
“No one enjoys any second of it, but it’s kind of just, I do enjoy it, it brings me back,” Grant Shouse said. “But I think what I enjoy the most is seeing on the way to the barn. That’s like a break you get between cutting before you have to go up in the barn. But seeing four or five, six trucks full of tobacco with you and your sister’s crop on it, it’s really cool. Kind of makes you feel proud.”
Emma Shouse agreed saying work is difficult, as well as the rest of the work the entire family does on the farm. However hard the work is, she, along with Grant Shouse, still plans on staying and working with their family as long as it is possible.
“I plan on being there probably for a while,” Emma Shouse said. “Farm is something that is near and dear to my heart, so I plan to stick around and even if my job carries me somewhere else, like, I really want to be close to home.”
HANNAH CLAYWELL Managing Editor | @Hannah_9504
Northwest students, faculty and staff all received the same message around 2:30 p.m. Nov. 13. There was a reported gas leak in the Lamkin Activity Center area, according to a Bearcat Alert.
Freshman Adra Stretch was on the scene when the report came in working out in the Foster Fitness Center. She said she was on the indoor track in the Student Recreation Center when she started to smell something similar to rotten eggs.
Maryville Fire Department arrived on the scene. Several firefighters went into the Lamkin Activity Center with members of UPD.
“Hopefully we’ll come to find out it isn’t anything, but we always like to remain on the safe side,” Cullin said.
Everyone in the area had to evacuate immediately from Lamkin Activity Center, Martindale Hall, the Student Recreation Center and Robert and Virginia Foster Fitness Center.
University Police Chief Amanda Cullin said there was a report of a natural gas odor.
“Protocol is we’re going to evacuate until we can identify the location and actually identify the smell,” Cullin said. “We bring in the natural gas company, and, of course, our facilities teams, and our UP (University Police) team respond.”
“I got told by one of the staff members that there was a possible natural gas leak, but they couldn’t technically kick me out,” Stretch said.
She finished her workout in the Foster Fitness Center, but was told everyone had to evacuate around 30 to 40 minutes later. She said she had never experienced anything like this before, which made it nerve-wracking, but she has not had any negative symptoms at this time.
“It was kind of scary when I got told the last time, they were like, ‘It was for sure a gas leak,’” Stretch said. A little after 3 p.m., the
If there was a gas leak, Cullin said the next step is to keep the location offline or closed until the UPD can verify and air out the building. Another Bearcat Alert would then be sent out to inform the campus the building is open again. Around 4:10 p.m., a Bearcat Alert confirmed the gas leak report had been resolved and reopened all of the previously closed buildings.
“This is operational day-to-day stuff,” Cullin said. “Just takes a lot of people working together…We just get it all figured out.”
Northwest junior Grant Shouse catches his breath as he hangs broadleaf tobacco in his family’s barn. Shouse has worked with tobacco since he was 16 years old.
SUBMITTED
Broadleaf tobacco sticks are loaded onto a rail wagon after the crop is harvested. The Shouse family farm has been passed down for generations since 1843.
Broadleaf tobacco leaves sit on laths, ready to be transported to a tobacco barn for curing. Tobacco harvesting occurs in the summer.
Christmas Craft and Vendor Fair hosts small businesses
largest space available is the gym.
As the weather changes, for some this marks the beginning of the Christmas shopping season, and buying handmade gifts can be a way to give loved ones something unique. At a craft fair, shoppers can often find these items.
A Christmas Craft and Vendor Fair was held 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 9 at the Maryville Community Center. Items for sale included baked goods, stuffed animals, jewelry, clothes and plant arrays.
The Marketing and Events Manager of Maryville Parks and Recreation Elizabeth Lyle said the packed gym of the community center hosted 65 vendor tables. Each table had unique handmade items for the Christmas-themed event.
In order to organize so many vendors, Lyle said she had businesses sign up for a spot in August. She allowed businesses who had come in previous years to sign up first, contacting them two weeks prior to posting the event online.
In only two weeks after posting the sign-up, a waitlist started piling for vendors to take the space of those who could not make it. While Lyle wishes the community center could host more, the
She said she saw a variety of businesses taking open spots. This includes businesses seen at the local Sunday markets, as well as people who traveled hours to attend.
“We've got clothes, we've got crafts, we've got ornaments, decor, art — we have a lot of everything,” Lyle said.
Some items, such as the macaroons from Sylvia Chloupek Desserts, sell out fast, Lyle said. Other vendors came in with a Christmas theme, such as Joyce’s Cookies, Mama Marsha’s Quilts and Five Sisters Bakery.
Dave’s Woodshop, owned by David Hamilton and Jacki Steffen, was another business at the craft fair. The pair had a table mostly filled with wooden coin banks shaped like animals with a window to see the collected coins.
Hamilton and Steffen’s space also had a shelf with dozens of letter banks. Letter banks are blocks of wood with the center carved out to the other side in the shape of a letter and a clear panel on either side. This is illuminated with fairy lights strung through the letter and a slot for change on the top.
Hamilton said the original design was a cat-shaped bank requested by a friend. Soon he began coming up with more shapes for his creations.
He starts the process of mak-
ing these banks by doing the woodworking. Along with his banks, he has many other woodworking designs.
“A turkey for your centerpiece, and that design was originally made by my grandpa, and so I had his original one, and I copied it,” Hamilton said.
Steffen is the second person involved in the designs, hand painting every piece. She said she likes to talk to people at the craft fair and get new ideas.
“I like the animal banks because I do the personalities on them, and it gives me an outlet to use,” Steffen said. “I was an art teacher for a few years…it kind of gives me an outlet for all of my art ideas and creativity.”
Stephen said the two had been going to craft fairs for five years, having been hosted at the Christmas Craft and Vendor Fair the previous year. The two drove an hour from Staunton, Iowa, to participate in the community fun.
Lyle said the main theme of the craft fair is to get holiday shopping done early. She said it is a great place for the community to gather and get one-of-a-kind gifts.
“I think that this is a really fun event, and I would encourage people to come out and join us by shopping and maybe look into being a vendor here next year,” Lyle said.
The GOAT ink tattoo shop celebrates successful
year, owner talks support
The GOAT ink recently celebrated one year of business in the Maryville community. The shop opened not long after its owner, Devian Perkins, was present during a shooting at her previous place of work, Inque Jester Tattoo.
The GOAT ink opened in November 2023, providing tattooing services at 106 S. Main St.
Perkins said she always wanted to become a tattoo artist, but instead of pursuing the art, she became a nurse after studying at Northwest. She stopped nursing for a few years to stay at home with her children, which is when she decided to start tattooing.
“It was exciting…I was nervous because I had never done anything like this before, but it was very exciting and very rewarding,” Perkins said. “I meet a lot of clients that we can connect with, and we have a good time in here, so that's always nice.”
Perkins worked at Inque Jester Tattoo along with The GOAT ink employee Tristen McCampbell. Both were working when a shooting occurred at their former place of work Oct. 18, 2023.
Perkins had decided she wanted to start her own tattoo business, and when the owner of Inque Jester Tattoo found out, Perkins said he yelled at her. She went outside to call her husband.
The probable cause statement said the owner of Inque Jester Tattoo pulled a gun on McCampbell and his wife, threatening to shoot McCampbell if he didn’t leave. He fired a shot that went past McCampbell’s head and through the business’s front window, near where Perkins was standing.
“The bullet came out through the window towards Main Street, above my head and a little to the left, and I hung up from my husband to call 911,” Perkins said. “I took off. ‘I’m not dying today, I’m nobody’s hero. (I’ve) got babies at home.’ I was absolutely terrified, frantic breathing.”
The owner faced two felony charges of third-degree assault, a felony charge for second-degree assault and a felony charge for unlawful use of a weapon in the Nodaway County Court, according to Northwest Missouri Info. All but the last charge was dropped. McCampbell's earlobe was injured.
Following the incident, Perkins said life almost felt unreal.
“If it was just inches, we wouldn't be doing this right now… If it was inches, we'd be doing a funeral instead,” Perkins said. She said sleepless nights ensued, as she lived in constant fear. McCampbell said he tries to move past it, but it’s always on his mind.
“No matter what, it's still going to gnaw at the back of your head,” McCampbell said. “I think about her (Perkins), and then my wife the same way, where it's just like, I worry to death about them more than anything else, and it sucks to be stuck in that rut, and you know you can get out of it, but at the same time, as soon as you do, you’re just waiting for the other shoe to drop.”
I meet a lot of clients that we can connect with, and we have a good time in here, so that's always nice."
DEVIAN PERKINS
Despite everything, Perkins still started The GOAT ink a month later. The amount of support the shop has received amazed Perkins. She said she has hundreds of clients messaging her a month, with many calls and walk-ins each week. Perkins said the business keeps growing every day.
“I was very nervous when I first started,” Perkins said. “I was afraid that some people might not hear my side or take other sides, but I think it is just better than what I ever expected.”
McCampbell said the support from clients truly makes the shop the greatest of all time, making the name of the business possible. Perkins agrees.
“Thank you to all you guys who come and support me,” Perkins said. “The college is great, and I think that word-of-mouth (within) the college (has) just blown up. We get so many people, and a lot of it's just from you guys, and I appreciate that.”
Maryville community member Tina Collins looks through a t-shirt rack from Rustic Roots Boutique during the Maryville Parks and Recreation Christmas Craft and Vendor Fair Nov. 9.
LILLY HALLMON MISSOURIAN PHOTOGRAPHER
The GOAT ink owner Devian Perkins works on the outline of a cross on a client’s tricep at her shop loctaed at 106 S. Main St. Nov. 2.
NATHAN NODA PHOTOGRAPHER
CRIME LOG
for the week of Nov. 21
Northwest Missouri State University Police Department
Nov. 10
There is an open investigation for harassment in Franken Hall.
Nov. 9
There is a closed investigation for a fire alarm in Roberta Hall.
There is a closed investigation for a fire alarm in Tower Suites West.
There is an open investigation for property damage in Tower Suites West.
Nov. 8
There is an open investigation for harassment in the J.W. Jones Student Union.
Nov. 7
There is a closed investigation for an accident with Brian Prosser, 19, at Forest Village Apartments-Sycamore.
There is a closed investigation for a fire alarm in Forest Village ApartmentSycamore.
There is a closed investigation for a fire alarm in South Complex.
There is a closed investigation for a fire alarm in South Complex.
Nov. 6
There is an open investigation for stealing online.
There is a closed investigation for an accident with Alex Hill, 19, on Memorial Drive.
Nov. 5
There is an open investigation for trespassing at Mozingo Outdoor Education and Recreation Area.
Maryville Department of Public Safety
Nov. 13
There was an accident with Joshua R. Olson, 26, on the 2600 block of South Main Street.
There was an accident between Grant C. Williams 19, and Jashwanth R. Baddam, 20, on the 500 block of North Main Street.
Nov. 11
There is an ongoing investigation for larceny on the 1600 block of South Main Street.
Nov. 10
There was an accident between Marshall T. Coffelt , 33, and Christian B. Chastain , 19, on East Seventh Street and North Davis Street. Chastain was charged with failure to yield.
There was a summons issued to Christian J. Towne, 21, for driving while intoxicated, speeding and failure to maintain financial responsibility on the 600 block of North Fillmore Street.
Nov. 9
There was a summons issued to Eden Willard, 19, for minor in possession and possession of a fake ID on the 500 block of North Mulberry.
Some people may see recalls listed on the news, but Hunsucker said the Nodaway County Health Department doesn’t always receive a recall notice for everything. The department only gets them when there is confirmation the item has been in the state and in the area.
A recall is defined as “a firm’s voluntary action to remove adulterated or misbranded products from commerce,” according to the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service. The FSIS coordinates recall actions with establishments to identify and remove the products from commerce. It also alerts the public through press releases. The FSIS will then place one of three hazard classifications on recalled products. A Class III hazard is a situation where there would be no consequences to using the product, while a Class II hazard is deemed to have an unlikely probability of adverse
Month highlights men’s mental health
During the month of November, many men around the world grow out their mustaches and try to raise awareness about men’s health. This has been deemed Movember, the M standing for men, and mustache.
Assistant Professor in the School of Health Science and Wellness Kyle Ryan said men’s mental health is something that should be focused on. He said it’s important to look at every aspect of health; physical, intellectual, financial, occupational, social and emotional.
He said that men tend to feel like they are expected to be stable. He said men tend to want to date someone who is either parallel with them when it comes to income and education level, or has less than them. This, he said, contrasts the fact that colleges are around 60% female and 40% male.
“After they graduate college, it’s kind of the traditional gender norms where a man’s going to go out on his own and he’s going to make a living and be a provider and all this other stuff,” Ryan said.
Ryan said faculty at the School of Health and Wellness want to end the stigma around mental health. He said it’s important for men to talk to each other about mental health and have meaningful conversations with each other. He wants people to feel like they can talk more freely about their feelings.
Jacob Tengelsen, assistant professor of psychology, agrees with Ryan. He said men should show affection and use words of
“The resident director…he never really confirmed or not what our suspicion was, but he definitely looked like it was not good,” Wooldridge said. “And so he was like, ‘We have a room upstairs that’s open anyways, we’ll just go ahead and move you guys.’”
Once moved into her new dorm room, Wooldridge said she could instantly feel a difference. She said when she would walk into her old room, it felt damp and sauna-like, while the new room felt a lot dryer. It was never confirmed if there was mold in the room Wooldride originally lived in.
Wooldridge said while she was moving into her new residential room, she questioned what was supposed to happen over the summer to prevent mold in the residential buildings.
Benjamin Rogers, the environmental health and safety coordinator at Northwest, said because the HVAC systems are being upgraded, it is possible this could cause mold in a residence hall if there are unreported problems.
“Facility Services has also found instances when there was an HVAC issue in the room for a prolonged period and it wasn’t reported, causing an increase in mold,” Rogers said in an email to the Missourian.
An HVAC system should be
health issues. A Class I hazard is when a product could cause serious health consequences or death, which is what most instances of E. coli are considered.
The Nodaway County Health Department has a similar system of ranking hazards. It conducts regular inspections of local food service establishments — including Bearcat Dining. Hunsucker said the process involves making sure the facility is clean and checking the temperatures of refrigeration units and foods.
He also observes employee practices and checks for handwashing, wearing gloves when needed and other violations. Most of these would be classified as critical violations, but less serious technical violations exist.
“There’s lots of noncriticals — the place can have a dirty floor and it gets written up because they had (a) dirty floor, but it’s not critical because you don’t eat off the floor, you don’t put things on the floor and start eating, et cetera,” Hunsucker said.
Michelle Allen is the lab coordinator in Northwest’s Department of Natural Sciences. Stu-
MEN’S MENTAL HEALTH STATISTICS
affirmation with each other more.
“There is often an expectation for men to be stoic and to be firm and steadfast and well,” Tengelsen said. “To tough it out and to shrug it off and to ignore things that would be considered impedances in what society determines or values is a functional way of existing.”
Tengelsen said college-aged men deal with many issues, but some are more common than others: anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, substance misuse and body dysmorphic disorder.
He said the term “toxic masculinity” is common in these conversations, but it is important to deconstruct the term and look at it. Masculinity isn’t inherently
toxic, Tengelsen said, but is rather a social construct with some positive and negative aspects.
“So when I use the word toxic, which means poisonous, like it’s going to kill you,” Tengelsen said. “Then I pair that with a concept like masculinity, which by itself is not necessarily a harmful concept.”
He said someone can recognize if they may need help by going through the four Ds: dangerous, dysfunctional, distressing and deviant. He said men should apply these to the ABCs of psychology: affect, behavior and cognition. To show support for men’s health awareness, during Movember men will grow out their mus-
routinely checked to prevent the spread of mold through the ventilation system in the building where it is located, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
Rogers also said it is imperative to remember that mold is a naturally occurring substance that could be found anywhere.
“It is important to understand that mold is found everywhere, in nature and inside buildings. There isn’t a time when mold sampling has taken place and mold has not been found at some
dents in her microbiology lab course are learning about food contamination in November.
Allen said bacteria is ubiquitous, meaning it’s everywhere, and therefore food is easily contaminable. The microbiology lab allows students to learn how food contamination works by testing small amounts of food, placing it on a different environmental medium and watching the bacteria colonies grow.
“The students get to bring in a food sample of their choosing, and they learn how to sample food and learn how to read the different types of media to tell them what they’re growing,” Allen said.
The plates used in the lab detect E. coli. Allen said she doesn’t know exactly what the Food and Drug Administration does when testing for the bacteria, but she said it would be a similar process to what her lab does.
Allen said multiple samples would need to be taken to verify if the entire product is or is not contaminated. She said a lot of food manufacturers take samples throughout the production process to check for contaminants.
Bacteria are also found in a per-
level on the campus,” Rogers said. Freshman Marti Warrior lives in Tower Suites West. During her first week living in her residential room, Warrior and her roommate found what they believed was mold on their sink faucet.
“It kind of just grew more and more as the week progressed, and we used our faucet more, and it kind of just wouldn’t stop growing until we got rid of it,” Warrior said. “We used a Clorox wipe to wipe it off, and it came out green.”
If mold is growing indoors it is likely because mold spores
taches. This symbolizes fostering healthier men and a healthier world, according to Movember.
Reaching out for help when someone notices something is wrong can be hard, but is also important, Tenglesen said.
He said people should reach out to friends who have others’ best interests at heart.
Tenglesen said if someone is in a headspace where they see themselves as unsuccessful, it’s important they remember their value.
“My advice would be to, one, see yourself with the kind of eyes that people who love you see you,” Tenglesen said. “Because there are times where you can’t see yourself that way.”
were brought in from outside and they proceeded to land on a wet surface, which allowed it to reproduce and spread. Mold can not grow without the presence of water or moisture.
Rogers said any alleged mold found in campus buildings would have been introduced by the outside environment. He said the level of mold growth indoors is related to outdoor spore growth, and the amount of moisture in the air.
“There is a direct correlation between outside humidity percentage and total outside mold spore count,” Rogers said. “The highest outdoor mold counts on an annual basis are found in the months of March, April, September and October.”
Though there have been no University confirmed cases of mold in students’ rooms, or any other campus buildings, Rogers said in cases of mold concerns, the first step is speaking to the building’s resident assistants or resident director.
Once a concern is reported, a service order will be put into place and Facility Services will respond to said order within 24 hours of receiving it.
“On rare occasions, in less than 1% of samples taken, mold concerns in residential buildings have shown levels that necessitated action,” Rogers said. “These occasions have never been widespread but always isolated.”
son’s body, some naturally occurring, and Allen said it is good for people to have so they can build their immune systems. However, she said too much bacteria can potentially lead to illness.
“A couple bacteria is not going to hurt you, so, it can be present, but if you get a whole bunch, then that’s when you get your food poisoning, because your immune system can’t overcome the
numbers of bacteria,” Allen said. “They (immune systems) kind of get overwhelmed, and so the bacteria take out the residence and make you sick.”
Since the McDonald’s E. coli outbreak started, there have been 10 separate food and drug recalls affecting Missouri. A full list of these alerts can be found on the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services website.
INFOGRAPHIC BY JULIANNA LAWRENCE DESIGN EDITOR
INFOGRAPHIC BY NICOLE BOWMAN DESIGNER
Northwest Lab Coordinator Michelle Allen inspects a petri dish containing broccoli bacteria colonies Nov. 14.
AARON HARE PHOTO EDITOR
Climate anxiety
won’t fi x the issue
KAITLYN LISKO Sports Editor @kaitlynmlisko
I often find myself mindlessly scrolling on TikTok late at night, when suddenly I come across a panic-inducing video surrounding a very panic-inducing topic — climate change.
The specific video I stumbled on a few nights ago talked about how the world reached 1.4 degrees Celsius of warming in 2023, and that it was the warmest year on record.
Obviously, this was very alarming news to me. So, as one does, I followed this rabbit hole until I successfully catapulted myself into an existential crisis and started questioning the meaning of life at 3 a.m.. I know many people can relate, but that kind of climate anxiety isn’t productive.
We need to stop blaming each other for climate change as a whole. The world is not going to burst in flames because you used a plastic straw once or own a gas car. The bigger effects of climate change come from large companies and the greenhouse gasses they emit by burning oil, coal and natural gas. This is not something that everyday people can have an effect on.
The most direct impact we can have on this is voting for people who will hold these companies accountable for the harm they’re causing, and that care about the climate in general. Placing blame out of fear isn’t helping anybody and only perpetuates the anxieties carried by some people. Although it often seems like it, not everybody is ignoring climate change. I would venture to say that many people are painfully aware of it. It’s hard to ignore when it’s 80 degrees Fahrenheit in October and raining in November.
Some of these unusual weather patterns do have actual meteorological explanations. According to Vox, the warmer Octobers might be due to a phenomenon known as “heat dome,” where a high-pressure system traps heat closer to Earth’s surface. Climate change might be exacerbating this, but it’s not the sole cause.
It’s hard not to assume the worst when you see a random person on TikTok saying the world is ending, but it isn’t true most of the time.
In a piece of encouraging news, the Australian climate minister said at the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference that the Paris Climate Agreement brought the world back from the edge of catastrophic warming. The United Kingdom also announced that they’re aiming to cut emissions by 81% by 2035. Progress is being made, even though it’s not always obvious.
I’ve found that talking with friends and family about climate change and my worries helps ease them.
Climate anxiety does nothing for climate change itself, and being worried about it won’t fix the problem. It’s not out of our control, but it’s not up to us as individuals to fix it.
Although it is extremely easy to get caught up in the doomsday of it all, it’s important to remember to take breaks from social media and get your daily dose of good news.
OUR VIEW:
New head basketball coach deserves grace, patience
Throughout his 15-season run with the Bearcats, former Northwest men’s basketball coach Ben McCollum built a legacy. Saying that his successor, Matt Keeley, has big shoes to fill is an understatement. While watching the Bearcats struggle early this season, it’s important to show Keeley and his players grace and understanding. Keeley is settling into his first season at Northwest and the players are adjusting to a new coaching staff McCollum left Northwest after the 2023-2024 season to coach for Drake University with a career record of 394-91. He brought the Cats to four NCAA Division II national championships, 12 MIAA regular season titles and eight MIAA Tournament championships. He is a five-time National Association of Basketball Coaches Division II National Coach of the Year and a seven-time MIAA Coach of the Year. He took the Bearcats to a level they had never seen before.
On the flip side, Keeley served seven seasons as the coach of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics-level Division III Ottawa University Arizona men’s basketball team, where he posted a career coaching mark of 113-89. Keeley led the Ottawa Spir-
YOUR VIEW:
How do you feel about the expectations placed on new men’s basketball coach Matt Keeley?
THE STROLLER:
AALIYAH RILEY Freshman Sports Media
it to their first two Golden State Athletic Conference Tournament titles and NAIA National Championship Tournament appearances in program history.
In Keeley’s first season with the Bearcats, it’s important to remember he is not McCollum. McCollum didn’t achieve success straight out of the gate, and Keeley will not either. Few coaches ever do.
McCollum took three years to bring the Bearcats ahead in the standings and to the playoffs. Give Keeley the opportunity to do the same over his next few seasons as he works to pull the Bearcats ahead. Bringing a team to success is a long and grueling process, one that deserves patience and understanding from fans. Although Keeley found success in Division III Ottawa University Arizona basketball, it took him three years to bring them ahead in the standings, and four years to take them to the playoffs.
Keeley has had to piece together a complete roster for this season. Upon McCollum’s departure from Northwest, the team’s starting lineup also departed. Former Northwest guards Isaiah Jackson, Bennett Stirtz and Mitch Mascari and forward Daniel
“I think the sky’s the limit. There are really high expectations that need to be succeeded. And so far, I think he’s done a great job. Watching his team, they’re a good team to watch. So whatever he has planned I expect it to be done, and I expect him to have a lot of success this year.”
JORDAN PIGRAM Sophomore Sports Medicine
Abreu followed McCollum to Drake and the fifth former starter, forward Wes Dreamer, graduated. Keeley came to Northwest inheriting nine returning players, but zero of McCollum’s main five starters. The nine pre-existing Northwest players had much less in-game play time. On top of this, Keeley brought in eight new players. The roster largely consists of a group of men who haven’t played together before. It will take time for the players to learn to work and play together, especially as they progress through the season.
Please remember that while sports create jobs and provide opportunities for student-athletes, at the end of the day they are for entertainment. The Bearcats will have good and bad seasons that come with the ups and downs. The first few seasons with a new coach will come with low points, but it should not drive a mass amount of hate on a new coach and their players. Whether comments are made in the stands during games or on the depths of the internet, Keeley should not be receiving hate comments.
While Keeley settles in for his first season with the Bearcats, show him grace.
“My expectations are real high, you’ve got a whole new team coming in. And I feel like, some people say different is bad, but I think this difference is going to be good and it’s definitely something new for Maryville and the basketball team. But I think they’re going to go a long way.”
CARTER OLESEN Senior Accounting and Finance
“I feel like there will be a lot of pressure on him, just with coach McCollum leaving and all the success that he’s had. But from what I’ve seen, he’s a super energetic, positive guy, and looks like he’s going to be a great leader for the team.”
Your Bearcat wants to know the truth
I could have been studying, hanging out with friends or doing anything else, but no. Instead, I canceled my Friday plans to watch a former Disney Channel actor beat the crap out of legendary Mike Tyson.
It’s an event no one ever saw coming; Dirk from “Bizaardvark” vs. Iron Mike — 2016 me wouldn’t even be able to fathom the idea of it.
To say the least, I was very disappointed when I went to
sleep that night.
First of all, the women’s fight beforehand was better than Paul and Tyson’s. Shoutout to women’s sports and all, but that’s not the main reason hundreds of millions of people tuned into Netflix that day — although it turned into the best reason.
Speaking of Netflix, it was so difficult to see the fighters on screen. Maybe Netflix is not ready to livestream major sports events in the future.
One thing that keeps nagging at the back of my mind — was it really a sports event? Or was it all scripted? Yes, Tyson is nearing 60 years old, but there is absolutely no way he should have been unable to beat Paul. It was clearly rigged — at least it’s clear to me. If money weren’t part of the equation, Tyson would have snapped Paul in half within seconds.
That’s the kind of thing I
NORTHWEST MISSOURIAN
needed that night. It’s what we were all expecting. I lost hope in everything after that. All I’m saying is, if there’s ever a rematch I will not waste my time again.
Just to make myself clear, however, I still stand with Mike Tyson. He’s more acclaimed, he’s stronger and, maybe now, he’s a little bit richer.
The Stroller has been a tradition since 1918 and does not reflect the views of the Northwest Missourian.
ANNA CASE CARTOONIST
NW MBB
@ Peacock Classic Nov. 23-24 Fayette, Iowa
vs. Missouri Western
7:30 p.m. Dec. 3 Bearcat Arena
@ Emporia State
7:30 p.m. Dec. 5 Emporia, Kansas
Men’s cross country runs to nationals
TREY HOUCHIN Missourian Reporter | @NWMSports
Northwest men’s cross country will compete on the biggest stage in collegiate competition for its final race of the season — the NCAA National Championships Nov. 23 in Sacramento, California.
The Bearcat men’s cross country team earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships, due to a runnerup finish in the Central Regional event Nov. 9 — tying their highest finish in the meet since 2019 and their program’s 14th appearance in the national event.
Head coach Wick Cunningham said for the men’s team to earn an opportunity to compete in the final meet of the year shows an enormous amount of dedication to the program.
@ William Jewell
1 p.m. Nov. 23 Liberty, Missouri
vs. Mission
2 p.m. Nov. 30 Bearcat Arena
vs. Missouri Western
5:30 p.m. Dec. 3 Bearcat Arena NW WBB
@ Emporia State
5:30 p.m. Dec. 5 Emporia, Kansas
XC
12 p.m. Nov. 23 Sacramento, California
Washburn MIAA Tournament
7:30 p.m. Nov. 21 St. Joseph, Missouri
vs. Odessa
1 p.m. Nov. 23 TBD
Varsity Jamboree
5 p.m. Nov. 21 Maryville High School
Varsity Tournament Dec. 2-3 Savannah High School
“It has been a target for us all year, something the guys have been really working hard for, and it’s nice to really see it come full circle now,” Cunningham said. “The work that we put in throughout the year really came together and we were able to reach this goal, which is very exciting, and just an honor to be able to participate.”
Senior Grant Bradley led the way for the ‘Cats in the Central Regional with a second-place individual finish, while juniors Nate Mueller and Drew Atkins finished in third and seventh. Junior Tyler Blay (25th), senior Brandon Mundorf (39th) and sophomores Riley Witt (58th) and Sam Shipp (69th), also contributed to the Bearcats’ strong 76-point performance.
Six members of the Northwest men’s and women’s cross country teams were honored with the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-Region accolade for their performances in the Central Regional race. Atkins, Blay, Bradley, Mueller, and two Bearcat women’s cross country runners — senior Alyna Thibault and junior Lydia McGlocklin — were recognized for posting top-25 finishes in the central region to earn all-region honors.
Mueller said posting an All-Region outing in his junior season means all the hard work he has been putting in is starting to pay off
“It took a lot of perseverance and I’ve had a lot of, you know, not only struggles in the sport, but also outside of the sport,” Mueller said. “So, to really come back and persevere, and improve my day-to-day life and show up for my team is something that I’m really proud of.”
Cunningham was recently named the USTFCCCA Men’s Central Region Coach of the Year after leading the Northwest men’s team to a runner-up finish in the 2024 Central Region Championships. Cunningham also notched the program’s highest week-by-week national ranking since the 2019 season, sitting at No. 11 in the 2024 USTFCCCA Week 7 National Rankings.
Mueller said Cunningham is the heart and soul of the team, and the cross country program puts an immense amount of trust into what he believes in.
“He’s just an amazing coach and it’s really easy to want to run fast for him,” Mueller said. “He has his ways of, you know, trusting in his athletes and he has a lot of belief in each individual. He has the right training, and getting the guys to buy into what he’s doing is the biggest thing. We have this thing — ‘In Wick, we trust’ is what we say and that’s really the truth.”
The Northwest men’s cross country team will compete in the 2024 NCAA Division II Cross Country National Championships Nov. 23 at Arcade Creek Cross Country Course in Sacramento, California.
“
We have this thing — ‘In Wick, we trust’ is what we say and that’s really the truth.”
NATE MUELLER JUNIOR
Cunningham said in order for the men’s team to compete at a high level on the biggest stage of the season on the West Coast, it is going to take a collective team effort.
“I think what it’s going to take is just, you know, a fullfledged effort on everybody’s side and not really doing anything different than we’ve done all year,” Cunningham said. “It’s going to be a little bit more of a challenge, but just making sure that we’re really fighting for every position, you know, no matter where we are in the race is going to be crucial for us.”
CHAMPIONS
CONTINUED FROM A8
On the next drive, Maryville’s defense forced Cameron to punt, where Vierthaler made a gamechanging play. As Cameron attempted to punt, Vierthaler put himself in position to block the kick. The ball was recovered by the Spoofhounds, where Viau got a 3-yard touchdown to take the lead 35-28. “It looked like the first time they were in the punt he was going really far out to the right, out of the shield,” Vierthaler said. “So I just like stemmed out
CONTESTS
CONTINUED FROM A8
to that gap. I shot it and then stuck my hands up and I hit it.”
Maryville scored another two touchdowns thanks to senior wide receiver Kole Zarbano who extended the lead 42-28 and Viau to make the score 49-28. Viau ended the night with 19 carries for 201 yards.
Dragons junior running back Talan Eddins then ran in his third touchdown of the night, making the final score 49-42. The Maryville Spoofhounds will face off against Odessa (7-4) in the Class 3 State Quarterfinals at 1 p.m. on Nov. 23. Senior quarterback Matthew Walter, who broke his collarbone earlier this
Coming back from one road win and one loss, the team reflected on their games last weekend and will now focus on their opponents. Keeley recognizes the tests these teams will present.
“It’s good to get film and so first, early part of this week is kind of rehashing from us from the previous weekend,” Keeley said. “We’ll spend Wednesday, Thursday and Friday getting Southwest Minnesota State scouting but even Moose (senior guard Luke Moustakas) mentions…they’re so well coached, they play really hard. They have great tradition. So they’ll be both those teams, you know, they’re undefeated. They’ve beaten teams in our league already, but they’re good teams, so they present a challenge for us, for sure.”
Moustakas continues to lead the team in scoring, putting up 21 points against Chadron State, a personal collegiate-career high.
“Honestly, just going to the next day,” Moustakas said. “You know my dad kind of put something in my mind where, if something doesn’t go my way, like we’re up 20 that day, the next day, it’s gone. It’s over with. So haven’t really been down to my-
VICTORY CONTINUED FROM A8
“Second chance points are big for us — I don’t know if we emphasize (offensive rebounding), maybe as much as some teams, just because a lot of what we emphasize is defensive transition, but we will still send people to the glass,” Meyer said. “Obviously, if you get 28 in a game, it probably means you missed a lot of shots too, but we did a good job of getting ourselves second chances.”
Fields grabbed five rebounds in the win over Graceland to obtain the 711th rebound of her career, moving up to No. 4 on Northwest’s all-
season during their game against Benton Oct. 4, was cleared to play and was able to contribute during the district championship game and could possibly take the field on Saturday.
“Matthew’s a senior leader, grew up in Maryville, and he’s been a Spoofhound and waiting on his time, and then to think that it somewhat ends in a broken collarbone earlier in the year,” Webb said. “You know, he’s cleared, he’s back, and he’s been an active role in helping both Jackson (Dredge) and (junior quarterback) Will Sheil and for him to come in and get a few snaps.”
self about those two games, or that game against UCCS, but kind of just looking forward to coming, going each practice, day by day, brick by brick, trying to get ready for Southwest Minnesota State.”
The Bearcats will face Southwest Minnesota at 1 p.m. Nov. 23 and Concordia 1 p.m. Nov. 24 in Fayette, Iowa, as part of the Peacock Classic.
time career rebounds list. Meyer said the time and effort Fields has put into the program is what got her to this point in her collegiate basketball career.
“She’s a kid that every year has just gotten a lot better, has a great attitude and comes to work every day,” Meyer said. “Rebounding wise, she just finds a way to get her hands on rebounds. Obviously, she’s 6 feet, 2 inches, athletic, and she can get up there and get rebounds at a high point. Just a kid that works hard, has a great attitude, has improved each year, and obviously, off to a really good start this year and we’re expecting big things from her.” Northwest will continue its nonconference schedule, taking on William Jewell at 1 p.m. Nov. 23 in Liberty, Missouri.
Northwest men’s cross country runners freshmen Owen Wise and Ryker Pithan run laps around the track during practice Sept. 17.
LANEY PACE MISSOURIAN PHOTOGRAPHER
Northwest men’s basketball sophomore forward Jack Ratigan pops up for a shot during practice Nov. 19.
NATHAN NODA PHOTOGRAPHER
MHS GBB
Northwest soccer’s Lucia Fernandez talks adjustments
her hometown in Zaragoza, Spain.
don’s squad at the backline ever since she arrived.
Fernandez said she chose Northwest because of the program and Gordon’s relationship with her junior college coach.
“They brought me here to practice with the team,” Fernandez said. “I came here to the University, and got to see the program that they have. It was a really good weekend. I felt like I could be here. So, yeah, I signed with the team, and I came here to play soccer for three years.”
During Fernandez’s first season as a Bearcat and first year on campus, she enjoyed it all. She was awarded honorable mention All-MIAA, appeared in 20 matches and made 20 starts. Gaining experience and confidence, she logged 1,459 minutes of play, recorded one assist and took nine shots with four on target all while playing defense.
years was great.
“The first season, when I came here, it was a good season, we had a good ranking,” Fernandez said. “We went to nationals. This past year we didn’t expect the result we got, and it ended a little too soon. But when I came here I found good friends and was well welcomed by the team, and I enjoyed being with them.”
Fernandez added how classes and communication was a difficult learning experience.
“It was kind of hard at first because English is not my first language, so I had to work really hard, like if I needed to translate something I had to study more and ask teachers a lot,” Fernandez said “ I got more involved in classes and it’s going well today, so I’m happy about that. I’m graduating now, in December, and entering my masters.”
Adapting to the game of soccer from two different cultures is a change. For Northwest women’s soccer senior defender Lucia Fernandez, coming to the States the differences were prominent compared to
Lucia has played for the Beacrats for three seasons since 2022, coming from Cowley College, a junior college in Arkansas City, Kansas.
Graduating in December of this year, she has finished her involvement in the organization after being a staple for coach Marc Gor-
She did not record her first Bearcat goal until her junior season in 2023, during a Sept. 10 match against Sioux Falls where the ‘Cats won 4-0. Ending her junior season with a total of three goals playing defender. Then, in her senior season, she recorded 1,472 minutes played, one goal and two assists. Fernandez said her seasons here were successful and meeting the girls and coaches throughout the
During her time here she had many great memories but Fernadez said one that stood out was going to play at Hawaii University and being able to experience that with the team.
“I remember when we came back after the Christmas break and we had a meeting with the team,” Fernandez said. “They asked how Spain was going and everything. Then they told us we were going to Hawaii, and I didn’t believe it. We played over there and lost 1-0, but it was in the last 10 minutes. I think we did really well. ”
Bearcat football ends season, hunt for new head coach begins
The Northwest football team ended the 2024 season finishing 6-5 and 5-4 in MIAA conference play, which is one of its worst records produced under the coaching of former coach Rich Wright. Starting off the season 0-2, the first time since the 1995 season the team had that record, the Bearcats saw two difficult opponents with No. 13 Minnesota State and then University
of Nebraska-Kearney. Not only did the Bearcats start the season on the wrong foot, but they also lost their playoff contention after falling to the Central Missouri Mules (14-9), for the Homecoming game. This is the first time in two seasons the team did not make a playoff game under the coaching of Wright. Though, sophomore wide receiver Jake Weber was also selected for the Don Black Award after the game. The award is giv-
en to the most valuable player during the Homecoming game, in which Weber caught six passes for 93 yards and a touchdown against the Mules.
The first games for the ‘Cats weren’t hard games — the team was hit or miss on explosive plays, especially in the first two games of the season.
“I just said to the kids, I mean, until we learn how to stop beating ourselves, we’re going to have a difficult time beating other people,” Wright said. “We have a talented football team. We just have a lot of self-inflicted wounds right now.”
The game that stood out was when the team faced the Missouri Southern Lions, when the ‘Cats shut out the Lions in a 59-0 game.
Wright talked about the offense performance all season, and how the quarterbacks kept getting sacked or even the turnovers — which the team acculated 26 for the 2024 season. Last season the ‘Cats had 21 turnovers.
“We had 26 turnovers on the season,” Wright said. “And that’s a lot, that’s something that is obviously got to be fixed going into the off-season.”
Going into the last game of the season, the Bearcats needed a win to send off the seniors for their last game at Bearcat Stadium. That is where the No. 13-ranked Pittsburg State Gorillas handed the ‘Cats its final loss, 23-7.
Following the game, multiple players have put their names in the transfer portal. Sophomore tight end Zach Atkins according to a post on X and junior running back Dominic Meyers according to his Instagram – both put their names in the portal on Nov. 19.
Also following the team’s last meeting on Nov. 19, the University announced that there will be another change next season — the head coaching position. Wright’s contract will not be re-
newed effective Dec. 31. While the school is on the hunt for the next coach, Co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Chad Bostwick will step in as interim coach until the position is filled.
OLIVIA WALLACE Sports Reporter | @_oliviawallace_
Northwest soccer senior midfielder Lucia Fernandez prepares to kick the ball to a teammate Sept. 25. Fernandez played three seasons as a Bearcat.
AARON HARE PHOTO EDITOR
Northwest soccer senior midfielder Lucia Fernandez passes the ball to a teammate Oct. 13, 2023. Fernandez earned an honorable mention and made her first goal her junior season.
LANDON CLOUSE Missourian Reporter | @NWMSports
Northwest football sophomore quarterback Henry Martin looks for a pass during the second half of the Bearcats’ 23-7 loss to Pittsburg State Nov. 16.
HANNAH CLAYWELL MANAGING EDITOR
NOTHING BUT NET Bearcat women’s basketball collects two wins
In its first six outings — three of which were against topfive Division II opponents — Northwest women’s basketball sits at 5-1 on the season after back-to-back wins in the Gorilla/ Bearcat Challenge. The Bearcats faced off against Rockhurst University and Graceland University in the two-game challenge Nov. 14-15 at the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri. The ‘Cats earned a defensive victory 66-51 Nov. 14 against the Rockhurst Hawks (03) after outscoring them in each quarter and limiting their offense. Junior guard Lindsey Kelderman said holding opposing offenses under its scoring average is something every player and coach on the team take pride in defensively.
Northwest women’s basketball sits at
5-1
after back-to-back wins in the Gorilla/Bearcat Challenge.
“I feel like no matter what happens offensively, you can always count on your defense to get stops,” Kelderman said. “So, I just feel like having that mindset and being locked in on our defense allows us to be able to hold the other teams to a low average of points. It’s always something that you can control, and we al-
ways know that it’s going to be there every night.”
Senior forward Kelsey Fields led Northwest with 17 points and six rebounds against the Hawks, while Kelderman contributed 12 points on four three-pointers. Northwest limited Rockhurst to just 26.8% (15-of-56) from the field and allowed only one made shot from beyond the arc (1-of9). The Bearcats shot 44.6% (25of-56) from the floor and 36.4% (8-of-22) from long range. Northwest earned its fifth win of the season against Graceland (2-3), 85-54, to close out the Gorilla/Bearcat Challenge Nov. 15. The triumph over the Yellowjackets not only marks the Bearcats largest margin of victory on the season, but also extends their winning streak to four games. Freshman forward Sadie Maas led the way against Graceland with a
Maryville football defeats Cameron in District 8
LEAH COX Sports Reporter | @byleahcox
After a tough first half, the Maryville Spoofhound football team (8-4) found itself trailing the Cameron Dragons (57) 28-21 at halftime during the Class 3 District 8 championship game Nov. 15. As the team headed into the locker room, head coach Matt Webb knew they had to adjust quickly to extend their threegame winning streak and capture the district title. “Early in this game, we want-
championship game
ed to show something a little different than what we did previously in the regular season,” Webb said. “We did a little bit of that, then they adjusted. We didn’t make our adjustments fast enough. Obviously, in the first half, we allowed 28 points. We came back and kind of went to the drawing board and went to the marker board.”
Webb, senior offensive tackle Lucas Vierthaler and the Spoofhound defense knew the key to gaining momentum was to continue scoring on offense and come up with defensive
stops — and that’s exactly what they delivered. “I feel like when we got in the locker room, we all knew we were still in this, the game wasn’t over yet,” Vierthaler said. “I mean, if we could just get a stop on defense. We couldn’t get a stop the first half, we just got to stop. We would be right back in.”
To start the second half, Maryville junior running back Sadler Viau rammed his way into the endzone for a 5-yard touchdown, tying the game 28-28.
NW
personal season-high 12 points, 11 rebounds — eight of which were on the offensive glass — three assists and two blocks to secure her fi rst collegiate double-double.
Junior guard Ella Moody also added a personal seasonhigh in scoring with 13 points, while senior guard Peyton Kelderman put up 11 points to conclude three ‘Cats scoring in double-fi gures against the Yellowjackets. Northwest won the rebounding battle, 55-32 — 28 of the Bearcat’s 55 rebounds were on the offensive glass, which is tied for the most since William Penn, dating back to the 200405 season.
Head coach Austin Meyer said offensive rebounds and second chance points were tremendous in the win over Graceland.
SEE VICTORY | A6
men’s basketball continues neutral court contests, hones in skills
Northwest men’s basketball will be traveling yet again, this time to Fayette, Iowa, for the Peacock Classic where it will play two neutral court games against Southwest Minnesota State and Concordia University, St. Paul. This tournament will be the last before the team’s conference and home opener Dec. 3. Both Southwest Minnesota and Concordia are undefeated this season, with three and four wins respectively. First-year
head coach Matt Keeley said the team has been honing in on their personal skills this week. “You know, it’s great if we had a trick play or a trick thing, then, you know, would end up being the difference,” Keeley said. “But a lot of times, it’s just doing the things that we believe in a little bit better and a little bit closer attention to detail. And so we did that yesterday in practice, you know, talked a little bit about, ‘Hey, this is how the play works, this how we can do it better.’”
TREY HOUCHIN Missourian Reporter | @NWMSports
KAITLYN LISKO Sports Editor | @kaitlynmlisko
Northwest men’s basketball senior guard Emorie Knox drives through the top of the key during practice drills Nov. 19. The Bearcats will compete in the Peacock Classic in Fayette, Iowa, Nov. 23-24.
NATHAN NODA PHOTOGRAPHER
Maryville football junior running back Sadler Viau rushes into the end zone to score a touchdown during the Class 3 District 8 Championship Nov. 15.
LILLY HALLMON MISSOURIAN PHOTOGRAPHER