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The Lion’s Roar S ou t h e ast e rn L ouisia na Univer sit y Spring 2016 Special Edition

Home is where the game is for foreign athletes

Courtesy of Larry Gray

LIONSROARNEWS.COM • A Student Publication • Volume 87 - Issue 15

The Columbia Theatre: entertaining the city of Hammond since 1928

Hammond officer donates time to Toys for Tots

Beauty Queens begin journey to Miss Louisiana

TABLE OF CONTENTS

10 12 14 16 18 19 21 22

Columbia Theatre History “High & Mighty” Donna Gay Anderson’s original musical can boast after world premiere in fall 2015

Miss Louisiana Contestants Hornbuckle An inside interview with head soccer coach Blake Hornbuckle

Foreign Athletes Hammond Hidden Gems A glimpse into some favorite Hammond locations for eating, drinking and enjoyment

Police Officer Supports Community

Donna Gay Anderson teases her hair for “A Doll’s House” in the historical Columbia Theatre. Anderson was involved with the Columbia Theatre Players and recently playwrighted “High and Mighty.”

UCA Athletics / Josh Goff

04 06

Courtesy of Larry Gray

January 19, 2016

Open Air Preacher Baptist preacher comes to campus in hopes to share faith in Jesus

Lion Traxx Driver Retires Spring 2016 Plays Sneak peek of upcoming productions at both the Columbia and Vonnie Borden Theatres

The Lady Lions soccer team won their eighth Southland Conference Championship title under the leadership of head coach Blake Hornbuckle this past season.

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EDITORIAL By Megan Ferrando - Editor in Chief

After what I hope was a break filled with an overabundance of food, quiet moments enjoying a cup of hot chocolate and plenty of relaxation, it is time to start another semester. For many of us, this upcoming spring semester will be one filled with new experiences, new people, new challenges and new blessings. We will stress over classes, attend numerous events and try to balance Netflix and studying.

I love new semesters because it signifies a new start. We can decide who we want to be, what we want to be involved with and how well we want to do in our classes. As the new Editor in Chief of The Lion’s Roar for this semester, I will be embarking on a new experience. I want The Lion’s Roar to be a source where students, faculty and community members can be updated on university news, discover upcoming events they would like to attend and be entertained by numerous features. The Lion’s Roar is a wonderful source to discover past, present and future events that happen on campus and in Hammond. If you are looking for new things to do this semester, our

STAFF Editor in Chief Megan Ferrando Opinions Editor William Schmidt Campus Life Editor Megan McCormick Sports Editor Heather Jewell Coordinator Lorraine Peppo Director Lee E. Lind Administrative Assistant Heather Collins Advertising Assistant Nicholas Walsh

Mailing Address

The Lion’s Roar SLU 10877 Hammond, LA 70402

Email lionsroar@selu.edu

online, like The Lion’s Roar on Facebook and follow our Twitter and Instagram @lionsroarnews. For any university organization that would like to print announcements in our paper, you can submit them through the tab on The Lion’s Roar Facebook page or by emailing us. Remember to submit these announcements by 10:00 a.m. the Friday before the paper comes out. Also, I encourage anyone to write ‘A Letter to the Editor’ if you ever have an issue or comment you would like to address in the paper by submitting it through our Facebook or email. I hope all new and returning students, faculty and staff have a successful and fruitful spring semester.

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

The Lion’s Roar

General Offices

issues will be a great place to start. Whether you like concerts, gallery openings, crayfish boils or sports events, The Lion’s Roar can offer you the latest news about what to look forward to. Our issues come out every Tuesday with exceptions around holidays and can be found in bins around campus. We hope you pick one up and find something you like. If you don’t, please contact us and let us know what you would like to read about. We hope to be the eyes and ears of campus, and bring news that is both relevant and interesting. If you hear of any stories you hope we could cover, always feel welcome to email us at lionsroar@selu.edu. If you prefer to read news

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The Lion’s Roar is the official newspaper of the students of Southeastern Louisiana University. It has been in continuous publication since 1937. Submissions and letters to the editor are welcomed, but the editor of The Lion’s Roar reserves the right to edit all submissions for grammar, libel and available space or refuse publication without notification. Submissions must include the author’s full name and either phone number, e-mail or other contact information (not to be published). Faculty and staff members should include their title and department. Students should include their classification and major. By submitting an article for publication, the author understands that the submission will be edited. Organizational News space is provided at no charge as a courtesy for university recognized Greek and Student Organizations in regular issues of The Lion’s Roar. The space of such articles is limited to 150 words. Submissions of this Organizational News must adhere to the same polices as other submissions or letters to the editor, but must also include the name of the organization.

All views expressed in The Lion’s Roar are those of the author or, if unsigned, those of the staff of The Lion’s Roar. These views should not be interpreted as the views of the administration, faculty or students of Southeastern Louisiana University. A single issue of The Lion’s Roar is free. Additional copies may be purchased for 50 cents in Mims Hall 128. Annual mail subscriptions are $35 within the continental U.S. The Lion’s Roar, in its print form, associated Web sites and CD/DVD versions are designated public forums. Student editors have the authority to make content decisions without censorship or prior approval. The Lion’s Roar also defends the rights of student journalists relative to freedom of speech and press as stated in Amendment I of the Constitution of the United States of America. The Lion’s Roar is published through the Office of Student Publications, part of the Division for Student Affairs. It is published weekly during regular semesters and monthly during the summer semester.

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“It was beautifully and fantastically a good job. This was not just patch the roof

A LOOK INTO COLUMBIA HISTORY and shovel out the dead pigeons.”

By Megan Ferrando - Editor in Chief After hosting numerous plays, concerts, movies, recitals, meetings and more, the Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts has collected a rich history made of stories by people who allowed the theatre to become part of their own history. Opening on September 1, 1928, the theatre went through many stages including functioning as a Vaudeville house, a movie theater, a stage for acting troupes and eventually a performing arts space. Currently, the theatre is owned and operated by Southeastern. “Traveling troupes would come around and do entertainment, and compared to today’s standards, it’s real hockey, but it’s song and dance kind of stuff,” said Columbia Theatre director Roy Blackwood about the theatre’s function as a Vaudeville house. According to Blackwood, Vaudeville houses were built on railroad lines, which made Hammond a perfect location for such an institution. After the stock market crash in 1929, the theatre briefly closed only to be reopened as a movie theater that lasted into the 70s. “As a kid we use to come and watch cowboy movies on Saturday mornings,” said long time Hammond resident and owner of Richardson’s fashion store Rodney Richardson. “Every Saturday morning, my uncle and my parents would drop us off and

we’d come up here and watch movies. Downtown Hammond was everything.” Richardson recalls the theatre before integration when it had two separate balconies for blacks and whites. After renovations for the 2002 reopening, the theatre hosted only one large balcony. “I remember going there before integration,” said Richardson. “The ticket office was right in the middle and they had a booth right there, but we had to go on the side. Times have changed. Now I have a business across the street.” Despite its popularity as a movie theater, the building went into great disrepair and closed down in 1972. Five years later, in 1977, two brothers decided to join their separate visions to renovate the Columbia Theatre and use it as a performance arts space. According to an article in The Daily Star, during the first renovations in 1976, a box of old movie tickets were found. Prices for tickets were 12 cents for adults, nine cents for children and 10 cents for the colored balcony. Wiley Sharp, a banker and chairman of the board of directors of Citizens National Bank, acquired the Columbia Theatre building. “I’m fixing it up to keep it from becoming a slum,” said Wiley Sharp in The Daily Star during the time of renovations. “I don’t want to see Thomas Street

collapse. I don’t think I’ll make any money on it; I’m hoping to break even.” Wiley Sharp then joined his brother Tom Sharp, a teacher at Holy Ghost Catholic School and a lover of theatre. Tom Sharp got Hammond residents together who loved theatre and formed the Columbia Theatre Players. Tom Sharp hoped to make the Columbia Theatre the location for

the community theatre group to perform. However, before any performances could be done, Wiley Sharp had to fix up the theatre, which required the roof to be repaired among other things. “He got a lot of volunteer labor, especially from the people who were in the community COLUMBIA continued on pg. 8

Courtesy of Public Info

Courtesy of Larry Gray

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Dr. Larry Gray hangs lights for “Fiddler on the Roof” during the The Columbia Theatre went through renovations twice in its history. The second effort was 1983 production. a complete renovation, which involved an expansion from buying two neighboring stores.

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‘HIGH & MIGHTY’ RECEIVES RECOGNITION By Larshell Green - Staff Reporter Festival, which will take place in San Angelo, Texas during February. Michelle Guillot, Neal Eli and Jaimee Rome were nominated. According to Winter, winners of the regional competition will have the opportunity to win

at the National Festival at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. According to Winter, student designers for the production, Kelsey Hymel, Taylor Sinclair and Anthony Gary will also be presenting their design work

fellowships and scholarships while performing at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. at the National Festival in April. Three more members of the cast are to compete in this year’s Regional Festival. The nominees for the Musical Theatre Initiative are Kalee Broussard, Rachel Davis and Provence Hatfield. According to Winter, the winner of the regional round of the Musical Theatre Initiative will receive a scholarship to study at The Open Jar Institute in New York City and will also have the opportunity to perform

at the Regional Festival, and the student designers will have the opportunity to compete to attend the National Festival in Washington, D.C. to win other scholarships, awards and fellowships. “This is the first time in the history of the Fine and Performing Arts Department at Southeastern that six student actors from a single production have been chosen by the Kennedy Center to compete at the Regional Festival,” said Winter. “It is an honor for any student to compete in the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.

The Lion’s Roar / Larshell Green

“High and Mighty” has come a long way since its premiere last year in the Vonnie Borden Theatre on November 17. The musical written by Donna Gay Anderson and directed by theatre professor James Winter proved to be a big hit on campus, as well as in the world of college theater. Although the musical was not selected to advance and compete at the Regional Festival, there is still much for the entire team to be proud of. “High and Mighty” has received the following awards from The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival: meritorious achievement in the production of an original musical, which was awarded to the fine and performing arts department, meritorious achievement in scenic design, which was awarded to professor of theatre design and technical direction, scenic designer Steven Schepker and meritorious achievement in ensemble performance, awarded to the entire cast. The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival has had a pivotal role in improving the quality of college theater in the United States through its emphasis on professionalism, the celebration of diverse work and the creative process. Regional festivals offer participants various activities including workshops, symposiums, scholarship and award programs, while also recognizing the best productions in each region. KCACTF respondents have selected three actors to compete in the Irene Ryan Acting Competition at the Regional

They will learn so much and meet so many people. It is a wonderful networking and learning opportunity. They’ll also have an opportunity to see full productions of some of our region’s best theatrical offerings of 2015.” According to Schepker, after receiving feedback, the cast was invited to perform the first few scenes of the show at the Regional Festival. “One of the reasons the production is recognized is because it’s a world premiere musical,” said Schepker. “It’s unusual for a college of our size to produce a world premiere musical.” According to production stage manager, Lydia Caballero, the show was submitted to the KCACTF by the theatre faculty. Preparation for the competition will be different from the original play because students will participate in individual competitions. “In many ways, the Irene Ryan’s and the MTI’s are almost like auditions,” said Winter. “The design students display their work and their research [and] are given feedback by professionals and educators in the field. Winners are selected based on a number of factors.” Junior general studies major Olivia Waguespack, plays B2, Bernie’s “conscience” in “High and Mighty.” Waguespack describes the different process that she is going through as a transition into the competition. “When preparing for competition, I am actively trying to find scenes and roles that I feel would showcase MIGHTY continued on pg. 8

The Lion’s Roar / Larshell Green

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The Lion’s Roar / Larshell Green

Actors entered a world set in the mid-1980s in a New York City upper east side Presbyterian Church for the production of “High and Mighty.” As the first musical in the Vonnie Borden Theatre since 1986, this tale of religion, friendship, love and secrecy received high praise.

8 | The Lion’s Roar see MIGHTY pg. 6

see COLUMBIA pg. 4

my strengths and those of my partner,” said Waguespack. “I think the most important element in competition is preparedness. I look forward to perfecting our scenes and finding our rhythm to perform these scenes to the best of our ability.” The success of “High and Mighty” has truly been a team effort composed of student and faculty in various areas. Senior general studies major Anthony Gary believes that in theatre, the cast has become more of a family rather than a team. “Teamwork is crucial for everything,” said Gary. “The director, management, designers, actors and crew need to be on the same foundation or everything could tumble down.” Winter believes that the recent success of the musical could increase administrative support of bringing a four-year theatre degree back to Southeastern. “Our students consistently turn out some of the strongest theatrical work in the state,” said Winter. “They deserve a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre for their efforts.” Despite this being the first musical that Winter has directed, he did not disappoint. With the help of an original musical, a talented cast and crew and an exhilarating performance, the team of “High and Mighty” made a mark. “In the end, I really had so little to do with the success,” said Winter. “My job was somewhat easy. I just had to take all of this wonderful talent and shape it into a unified whole. My colleagues, cast and playwright really deserve all of the credit.”

theatre, to go in; I was one of those,” said Columbia Theatre Players’ first vice president Dr. Larry Gray. “There were no lights, the roof had fallen in and all of the tiles that were there had fallen in over the years. There were hundreds and hundreds and hundreds, maybe thousands, but certainly hundreds of dead pigeons everywhere. So we went in with huge shovels and shoveled out the dead pigeons, working by lights that were strung. He [Wiley Sharp] did what I suppose would be called minimal renovations that made it possible to open it and have something on stage.” The Columbia Theatre Players’ first production, “The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-In-The-Moon Marigolds,” was financed and directed by Gray and performed in what is now the Vonnie Borden Theatre. The Players’ first show in the Columbia Theatre was “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” which was directed by Tom Sharp. The group then began to have a full season of plays in the Columbia Theatre for about five years until they moved across the street to the Levy Building that is now the Hammond Regional Arts Center. The group eventually changed its name to simply Columbia Players, as they were no longer in the theatre. “It did various things, but none of these things were sufficient to pay for the building,” said Gray. “That’s why in 1983 ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ was the last Columbia Theatre Players production in the Columbia Theatre. After that, they moved across the street and then it fell into disuse again.” According to Blackwood, the theatre was also condemned by the your aspect this week. This can serve as a counterweight to the mounting effects of the season’s growing commercialization. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Taking on that recent challenge impressed a lot of important decision-makers. Meanwhile, proceed with your holiday plans, and don’t forget to include you-knowwho in them. CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Disagreeing with an opinion you can’t accept could be dicey, and your motives might be questioned. Best to wait to mount a challenge until you have support for your position. AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Getting involved in helping others in this increasingly hectic period not only makes the generous Aquarian feel good, but you could also gain a more substantive benefit from your actions. PISCES (February 19 to March 20) The Piscean way of thinking clearly and objectively helps you resolve a complex situation without creating any ill will. Don’t be surprised if your counsel is requested on another matter. BORN THIS WEEK: You have a way of persuading people to look at the positive possibilities that make up any choices they might face.

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) At this time you might want to resist that otherwise admirable Aries penchant for getting to the heart of a matter quickly. Keep in mind that a delicate situation calls for patience. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Your aspects favor more diplomacy and fewer direct confrontations when dealing with a relationship problem. Avoiding hurt feelings can help in your search for the truth. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Positive aspects are strong this week. Although you might still have to deal with some problems caused by a recent period of turmoil, you are making progress, and that’s what counts. CANCER (June 21 to July 22) A family matter could benefit from your counsel. But don’t come into it unless invited, and don’t stay if you feel uneasy. Just remember to reassure one and all that you’ll be there for them. LEO (July 23 to August 22) As the truth about an ongoing situation emerges, you could find that you were right to defer judgment before you had all the facts. Now would be a good time to move on to other matters. (c) 2015 King Features Synd., Inc. VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Your plans to take control of a personal situation because you feel you are best qualified could create resentment. Best to hear what everyone else involved in the matter has to say about it. LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Uncovering some surprising background facts about that ongoing personal matter could make you reconsider the extent of your involvement. A neutral family member offers advice. SCORPIO (October 23 to1612 November 21)Thomas St. West Religious or spiritual themes start Hammond, to dominate LA 70401

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The Lion’s Roar | 9 fire marshal because of the bad shape it was in. During the 80s and 90s the building was not used, and was supposed to go under the wrecking ball. The scrap brick from the building was then going to be sold. To try to prevent this, a group of people including the Downtown Development District Director Marguerite Walter, the director of Fanfare Harriet Vogt and Senator John Hainkel got together to save the building. “Senator Hainkel said if you could raise half the money, he would get the legislator to fund the other half to renovate the building and make a performing arts center out of it,” said Blackwood. “Because the university raised the money, it’s actually deeded to the university.” The theatre was completely renovated with the help of Holly and Smith Architects and the then campus architect Michael Rickenbaker. The building was expanded with the purchase of part of Firestone Tire store and the old JCPenny building. This expansion allowed for the grand lobby to be incorporated. The large neon marquee sign was added later in a second fundraising effort. “It was beautifully and fantastically a good job. This was not just patch the roof and shovel out the dead pigeons,” said Gray. “This was a complete renovation. I saw it before. I’ve been on stage before, and I’ve been on stage afterwards, and all of it, the green room, the rehearsal space, the dressing rooms, the bathrooms, everything was completely redone and it’s fabulous. It’s really, really nice now. Now the university uses it as a presenting organization.” The Columbia Theatre reopened in 2002 and now presents a variety of concerts, dance, theatrical performances and more. This current 20162017 season celebrates the theatre’s 15th anniversary since renovation.

Sponsored By

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FOLLOWING THE DREAM TOWARDS MISS LOUISIANA The Lion’s Roar / File Photo

Courtesy of Nancy Peck

By William Schmidt - Opinions Editor

Nancy Peck accepts the crown for Miss Slidell 2016 and earns the chance to compete in Miss Louisiana 2016.

Last fall, Brianna Young took the crown of Miss Southeastern 2016 allowing her to represent the university at the Miss Louisiana competition.

Each fall, the university holds the Miss Southeastern Beauty Pageant, which is a preliminary competition as part of the Miss Louisiana/Miss America Organization. However, for some students the path leading to the stage of competition for Miss Louisiana may take place off-campus. With beauty pageants still underway in the state of Louisiana, it is possible for more university students to be able to compete for the title of Miss Louisiana. However, as of now, the contestants The Lion’s Roar is aware of are Miss Southeastern 2016 Brianna Young, Miss Crescent City New Orleans 2016 and Former Miss Southeastern 2015 Emily Randon and Miss Slidell 2016 Nancy Peck. For some contestants, the path for pageantry began at a young age as they now prepare for Miss Louisiana. “I have been competing in pageants my entire life,” said junior communication major Peck. “My first one was at 11 days old. I have gained so much from pageantry. I am able to attend Miss Louisiana as a contestant this summer [since] I won the preliminary title of Miss Slidell.” Another attraction for some to begin their career in beauty pageants is the scholarship money that can be gained to further their education. “The Miss Louisiana Pageant is a way for students like myself to be able to earn scholarship money,” said senior kinesiology major with a concentration in exercise science Randon. “In fact, that is one of the things that attracted me to participate in the Miss Southeastern pageant.” One of the goals of those participating in beauty pageants is to

not only focus on the various competitions which include lifestyle and fitness in swimsuit, evening wear, talent, private interview and on-stage question, but the contestants also participate in various community projects and fundraisers to help the community. “To prepare for Miss Louisiana, I first began learning about my service roles and responsibilities as a new member of the Miss America Organization,” said junior communication major Young. “After raising money towards the Children’s Miracle Network, maintaining my GPA and practicing for the different phases of the competition, I became eligible to compete for the title of Miss Southeastern 2016. The money collected by other contestants during that pageant, as well as my own contributions, will allow me the opportunity of becoming the next Miss Louisiana.” The road in preparing for Miss Louisiana in these next few months is a time-consuming one and some participants will be preparing as they take on their normal college responsibilities. “Preparing for Miss Louisiana involves lots of time in the gym, practicing my talent, interview prep and spending time promoting Slidell, my platform and Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals,” said Peck. Though all contestants are promoting their platforms, some are making sure to prepare their talent for the talent portion of the competition. “With this title [Miss Crescent City 2016], I plan on promoting my platform and serving throughout the community and in the greater New Orleans area,” said Randon. “I will spend a lot of time preparing

for the different phases of competition at Miss Louisiana, however, the most time will be put towards the talent portion which will showcase my years of training in ballet.” Though the phases of the competition for Miss Louisiana are the same as Miss Southeastern, the participants are aware that they will need to put even more effort than before in order to gain the crown. “Luckily, the phases of the competition are the same, however, the number of girls whom I will be competing for the title for in this pageant has significantly grown,” said Young. “This means that I have to step it up a notch and make sure that my talent is to the highest of my ability technically, and I have to be sure to stay updated and fresh on any national and local news that may occur during my reign. To help me learn more about the ladies who I will share the stage with, I have begun attending other local pageants as a way to personally build connections and friendships with other ladies.” Though the next Miss Southeastern will not take place until Fall 2016, the current Miss Southeastern encourages students to realize being crowned is more than just being considered a beauty queen, but opens up other doors as well. “I want students to know that I am not a beauty queen at all, but my goal of joining an organization that celebrates beauty and scholarship was the reason I competed,” said Young. “I had no clue how many new family members I would gain once I became Miss Southeastern, and I hope that if anyone is interested in learning how to become the next crown holder, they know I am very comfortable with helping and giving advice on how to do so.” Former Miss Southeastern 2015 is also pleased to help the city she now reigns in. “I am so excited to be able to go back to Monroe this June and compete for the title of Miss Louisiana,” said Randon. “Although I was very sick during the Miss Crescent City pageant, I’m happy that I stayed and competed anyway. I have a great group of family and friends who encouraged me every step of the way. Holding the title of Miss Crescent City New Orleans 2016 will open the door to so many opportunities for me to serve in ‘The Big Easy.’” Although beauty pageants may not be for everyone, Miss Southeastern 2016 would like university students to remember that Southeastern has many other options to get actively involved. “I want people to know that while in college, they should take the time to join an organization, social club, sorority, fraternity and even try to attend the events the Campus Activity Board offers so they can become a part of the legacy of the school,” said Young. “It

Courtesy of Greg Randon

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Miss Louisiana 2015 April Nelson (left) stands with the newly crowned Miss Crescent City New Orleans 2016 and former Miss Southeastern 2015 Emily Randon (right). doesn’t take a crown to make a difference and be a part of what makes Southeastern such an amazing place for learning and growing into adulthood.” The Miss Louisiana Beauty Pageant will be taking place June 23 to 25 and for more information, visit misslouisiana.com. The beauty pageant will be a great way for university students to represent the Southeastern campus. “There are so many girls from SLU competing this summer,” said Peck. “I know we will all proudly represent and promote our great university throughout the pageant week. We work really hard to do our best and make everyone proud.”

BLAKE HORNBUCKLE Leading the Southeastern coaching staff in victories since 1998

Courtesy of Blake Hornbuckle

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By Heather Jewell - Sports Editor Blake Hornbuckle has made history again at Southeastern when the Ladies soccer team brought home another Southland Conference Title. Walking into the coffee shop sporting a Lions soccer sweater and shorts, he is comfortable in the cold and walks with an air of confidence and ease. The sudden Louisiana weather change at the end of December has not deterred him, and he talks of his family life while waiting in line for his drink and meal.

The Lion’s Roar: You were named co-coach of the year, how does that feel? Blake Hornbuckle: It is quite humbling to be honored with someone like Bryan Lee, and I think it is a byproduct of the team’s work. TLR: What is your winning formula? How do you go about choosing girls and deciding how you work with them? BH: It’s all about your philosophy, the imprint you want to put on the game and how you want the team to play. You have this vision of how you want them to play. The biggest thing about trying to be the biggest coach that you can be is by getting your players to be able to commit to your philosophies and ideas. Sometimes you hit that mark, sometimes you miss that mark, sometimes you miss it narrowly but when you do hit it, it makes a big, big difference. TLR: What is your philosophy? BH: We look for players who have a specific mindset. We go back to the basis of what got us all here: communication, team work [and] things from the days of old, and then you have to blend that with the new mentality of people today. The millennial generation, whatever generation people are termed you have to be able to relate as best you can with them and get them to understand there is a workable solution to everything you do. And in our sport, you have to solve problems on the

field. TLR: You have had 115 All Conference players, 79 All Louisiana Selection players and you have had Players of the Year in multiple categories; do you always see that coming in? How do you go through the recruiting process? BH: It’s all when you go through the recruiting process, and when I see them I get a feeling, you see certain aspects of what they do and you think, “Oh yeah, I like this kid right here. I think she would be great for our team or program.” But, you also look at what kind of person they are; character is a big, big part of it. What they do when things go wrong on the field, in the classroom or in life, and how they handle it. TLR: You lead Southeastern’s coaching staff with victories, do you feel any pressure? BH: Well, pressure is what you put on yourself, and I’m always going to push myself. TLR: What has your experience been at Southeastern as compared to other schools you have coached at? BH: Well, I’m getting ready to start my 19th year here, and I’ve grown as a coach and a person in all of that time. TLR: When did you begin playing soccer? BH: I began playing when I was about four or five years

The Lion’s Roar | 13 old. TLR: Who got you started? BH: My parents put me in the YMCA back in the early 70’s, and there we go, the rest is history. TLR: Did your experience as a college athlete impact how you would coach and your coaching style? BH: Well, I was a defender. I played left back, and I was very defensive oriented to where I enjoyed marking players more than winning a ball. In today’s defensive mentality, those players are really difficult to find more so as everybody wants to attack. TLR: What was it like playing for Maryville Tennessee College? BH: It was a fantastic time for me just as a person, because I was able to develop friendships with people that I still keep in touch with today. We had players who played professionally, and it was a tremendous team. I had great players around me, and it allowed me to really smack into balls and enjoy my time there. TLR: How important do you think the relationship between the players are off the field? Many of them live together, and do you think that impacts how they are aware of one another in a game or at practice? BH: I think they are, because it helps them if they’re struggling with something they may not want to share with their teammates or coaching staff. That’s their prerogative, that’s okay, so long as they do have someone to talk to, whether it be their roommate, one of the counselors, we have an amazing counseling facility, there’s so many things our student athletes face today, more so than when I played. There’s a lot more going on in the world. TLR: The role of the coach is evolving as well, what coach have you had that may have stuck out more than the others? BH: All of my coaches have been fantastic, one that shoulders above the rest is a man named Ralf Landry at the College of Charleston, and is still coaching today. I learned from him everyday and completed a lot of philosophical ideas. I learned everyday when we were together. TLR: What was it like for you to transition from the position of a star player to a coach? BH: The transition itself is very interesting. You go in and all of a sudden you realize there is a process to this. It’s more than putting a ball on the field and telling players to kick it. Our sport is so much more scientific based and measure based than any other team. You have to look at what types of intensity levels you have on the teams and moderations of intensities, your timelines you have to look at what you’re doing to help your team because each meeting is designed specifically for a purpose. So, what we’re really doing is watching to make sure recovery is always an optimum for our players.

TLR: Was this always the path you wanted to take? BH: It was about staying in touch with the game when I first came out, and here we are 25 years later, moving along. I’ve still got another good 20 years of coaching ahead of me that I’m still excited about. I can only do it because of the support I have in my family. My wife is probably the strongest person I know, she is unbelievable, and I have two young girls [aged] six and ten years old. I had two great parents that really set the course for me. You can’t choose your parents, but if I could, I would go back and choose them again. TLR: Tell me more about your family? BH: I grew up in Georgia and my mom and dad were always behind me in everything I did, everything I wanted to try to do [and] there has never been a time in my life they weren’t there, they have always been there. When our two kids were born, they came down. They come down for specific events, just a phone call here, a note there, they live seveneight hours away and they were just here for this Christmas. It was absolutely a special time for me because when I have the five people I cherish the most in the room together, at one point, it makes my life very nice. My two girls are very sweet, a lot of fun. My youngest enjoys soccer and swimming, and my oldest enjoys horses and ballet. We want them to be involved with something and that’s what my parents did for me. They’ll find what interests them and we’ll support them. My wife is my biggest fan and I’m her biggest fan because she supports me in everything I do, everyday. TLR: Did you expect this to happen twenty years ago? Did you see yourself where you are now? BH: I don’t know if you ever really see yourself anywhere in a specific place. I think we all start out with a vision of what things might be, but the journey is the fun part of getting to the destination. You get to experience so many things along the way.

Did You Know?

Under Hornbuckle’s lead the soccer team has: •Made it to the NCAA Tournament in 2009 and 2013 •Earned three Southland Conference tournament titles -Four regular-season crowns -Nine SLC Tournament championship game appearances •In 1999 the team won the conference’s regular season title for the first time in school history. -Had a 13-game unbeaten streak -Was fifth best in the nation -Hornbuckle was named Coach of the Year by both the LSWA and Southland Conference.

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THE JOURNEY OF INTERNATIONAL ATHLETES

PLAYING THE SPORT THEY LOVE By Jonathan Rhodes - Staff Reporter Imagine being at a university, but also being in a different country where a language different than your own native language is spoken. The culture, words, phrases and body language is different. This is what many foreign athletes may experience going to school in the United States. When coaches recruit foreign athletes, they are offered scholarships to play for the university. These scholarships offers are difficult to get if coaches are not scouting for you. In those cases, the athletes have to send their videos to colleges to get scholarship offers. Programs are now being made to help this process. “My golf coach from New Zealand met the ex-golf coach Tim Baldwin when he was traveling America coaching,” said junior golfer from Queenstown, New Zealand

James Anstiss about how he was recruited to come to Southeastern. “Coach Baldwin got in touch with me while I was playing golf tournaments in New Zealand and asked whether I would be interested in coming over.” Since joining the Lions, Anstiss has achieved being the first player in school history to win the Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year honor in fall 2015, and led the team with a 72.67 stroke average over nine rounds. Once the athlete receives the scholarship, they have to adjust to going to college in a different country. “It is very difficult to go to school in a different country like the U.S. because I needed to learn how to speak English,” said freshman golfer Joris Etlin from Fréjus,

France. “The American scholar system is also different from the French one. But with the help of many people here, it’s easy to adapt.” While some find school to be difficult, others find it to be easier than in their own country. “It is not difficult really,” said Anstiss “I did two years of college in New Zealand and I find school easier in the U.S. The best part about it is being able to schedule around your sports training as we can’t do this back home due to the support of sports not being as high.” For some, leaving their families at home to go to school in a different country was not an easy pill for their families to swallow. “It was just hard for them seeing that their youngest child is, technically speaking,

moving out the house to go study somewhere far,” said sophomore tennis player Dalina Dahlmans from Selfkant Hillensberg, Germany. “My family wasn’t too worried about me going to the United States because they know that I am able to find friends quickly.” Some families are purely excited about their child going to school in another country. “My family loved the idea,” said Anstiss. “I get to experience a new country while finishing school and playing the sport I love.” Foreign athletes are not kept from their family all year. They can go home during any long break in a school year. “I go back home for Christmas break and for summer,” said Etlin. These athletes also have to adjust to American culture, which proves difficult for some. “In the beginning, it was really hard for me to adapt to the American way of life since it is really different than what I am used to [in Germany],” said Dahlmans. “I picked up the language easily, but in some classes, I have difficulties understanding

The Lion’s Roar / File Photo

The Lion’s Roar | 15

Junior golfer Paul Obermann traveled to Southeastern from Germany to continue his golfing career.

some words and sentences because of the technical terms. The American way of life is very different from the German way. It’s not just the food that is different, but everything to me seems so huge and far away. I’m used to driving to another country within two hours and whenever I’m on the highway in America and drive two hours, I’m still in the same state.” On the other side, Etlin found adapting to American culture easy. “It’s not very hard adapting to American culture because people here are very friendly, and there are not big differences between our cultures,” said Etlin. The foreign athletes that play for Southeastern are proud to represent the university and are glad they chose it. “Southeastern is a great university,” said Etlin. “I really like it here. I met a lot of people and made friends. Many people are taking care of us. We have had a new coach since September 2015. My coach, Jake Narro, is exactly how I expected. He has plenty of knowledge and experience about golf. His presence is important for the team. He is doing a great job.”

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HAMMOND HIDDEN GEMS By Heather Jewell - Sports Editor