Circle K Club
New Band Director
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HCC’s campus service club spend time bettering the community and world.
Chris Miertschin steps up to the podium to direct HutchCC’s symphonic and pep band.
The student voice of Hutchinson Community College
www.Collegianweb.com
October 6, 2017
Vol. 59 Issue 5
High five! (and one)
By Lucas Barlow Sports Editor Three seasons ago, Rion Rhoades, Hutchinson Community College football coach, led his squad to an 11-1 record and a Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference championship. However, hard times hit Rhoades and the Blue Dragons immediately after, as they suffered back-toback 5-6 records in the 2015 and 2016 seasons. This year is different. The No. 14 Blue Dragons are currently 5-1 and tied with Independence Community College for first place in the conference with a 3-0 conference mark. When asked if this year’s team has any similarities to his championship squad, coach Rhoades said: “Nothing really, but I like the team’s chemistry,” Rhoades said. “The guys care about each other and they have a good mindset during games, especially when things don’t go their way. They just hang in there.” The Blue Dragons also lead the conference in numerous statistics including
Hutchinson Community College’s BJ Emmons (left) celebrates along with Marcus Edwards (3) and Otis Williams (right) after the Blue Dragons beat Highland 13-10 in double overtime on Sept. 23 at Gowans Stadium. Games Decided By 5 or Less Points
2016: 1-5 2017: 2-0
points per game, rushing touchdowns, passing touchdowns and total offense. The most notable achievement about this new Blue Dragon football team, is its ability to win the tough
Total Yards
2016: 3,591 (2,664 allowed, 242.2 per game) 2017: 2,189 (1,473 allowed, 245.5 per game)
Points Scored
2016: 310 2017: 248
games. On Sept. 16, they took revenge on defending national champing, Garden City Community College, winning by only three points. The following week saw
2016: 16 2017: 16
Pass Yards
2016: 1,630 2017: 1,088 Hutchinson get into another nail-bitter, edging Highland Community College in the second overtime period before winning 13-10. Rhoades hasn’t made
Rush Yards
2016: 2,216 2017: 1,101
in major changes to his team since last year. He believes its just a new year. “In terms of schemes, nothing really,” Rhoades said. “It’s a new group of guys this year and the
Takeaways
landscape of the conference is different. Everyone has good players.” Last year, the Blue Dragons were only 1-5 on games decided by five or fewer points, while this year they are currently 2-0 in those games. This week the team heads into a much deserved bye week, after riding a four-game winning streak. As the players rest up on the off week, they will need to stay focused as the road doesn’t get easier from here. The Blue Dragons play two top tier teams in Butler Community College (Oct. 21) and Independence CC (Oct. 28) the final two weeks of October. “We wont look ahead to anybody, every game carries a lot of meaning,” Rhoades said. “It all matters how we play not the other team. We can beat anybody and were far from playing our best football game yet.” Rhoades’ team looks like a well-oiled machine at the moment, but can the Blue Dragons keep it up as they face a difficult second half to the season?
Completions-Attempts
2016: 127-274 (46.4%) 2017: 64-121 (52.9%)
(10 interceptions, 6 fumbles) (11 interceptions, 5 fumbles)
President File reaches out to students By Merissa Anderson Collegian Editor
Courtesy Illustration/Campus The ‘Pizza with the President’ coupons were awarded several students during the health and wellness fair. File hopes for several more sessions this semester.
Merissa Anderson/Editor The pizza, in a variety of flavors from jalapeno to cheese, was provided by the downstairs cafe and was free to the invited students that decided to attend.
President of Hutchinson Community College, Carter File is reaching out to students through his new event, ‘Pizza with the President’. ‘Pizza with the President’ was first tested on Sept. 28 after handing out tickets to students as a prize at the health and wellness fair. Although more than 30 tickets were won or distributed to a random variety of students, only four students showed up for the event. Despite the low attendance numbers of the first session, the discussion was filled with student insight, and File expects the numbers to increase. “It gives me a great opportunity to connect with out students,” File said. “I’m just looking for opportunities and ways to have a casual conversation
with the students and faculty and staff about the things that might be on their mind, and sometimes it’s difficult for everybody to find time.” During the event, with pizza provided by the school caterer, Great Western Dining, File initiated a casual discussion with the students in attendance about what they liked and disliked about their college experience at HutchCC. Later during their dinner, they discussed what they believed would improve the school’s curriculum and recruitment program. “We talked about the student’s experience here at HutchCC and the things we could do to make an already excellent experience even better,” File said. “I opened it up, and gave the students the opportunity to ask me questions and tell me what’s on their mind. It was all good and positive.”
In addition to having ‘Pizza with the President’ for students, File is also opening the door to faculty and staff, although during a separate session. File hopes that there will be enough interest for about three or four sessions per group this semester. “I would love to hear your thoughts on the things we’re doing well here and the things we need to improve on,” File said. “So if you get an invitation, or
if you see the opportunity, then please take it. And there’s free pizza.” File also hopes to begin attending more student organization meetings for a more in-depth understanding of what’s happening in the sphere of student clubs. ‘Pizza with the President’ is similar to the breakfast he held with faculty and staff last year every so often. Now that opportunity for discussion is being opened to students.
Merissa Anderson/Editor File, left, speaks to two students about how they think more highschoolers could be recruited. The event and discussion lasted just under an hour.
CAMPUS BEAT What are your plans for fall break?
Upcoming events Oct. 11 — Soccer vs. Northwest Kansas Tech, 4 p.m.; Volleyball vs. Barton, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 12— Convocation, 1 p.m. College closes at 1 p.m. Night classes will be held. Oct. 13 — Fall break. Oct. 14— Soccer vs. Garden City, 3 p.m. Oct. 18 — Entrepreneurs Forum, 7 p.m., Shears Technology Center, Justice Theater.
“I will be going home to spend time with my family, friends, and boyfriend.”
“I’ll just stay in my room all break and drink a bunch of pop.”
“I will be going out of town to train for Herbalife, since I’m a seller.”
“Spending hours with my best friend by my side.”
“ For break I will be working out, and probably going to the corn maize in Buhler.”
— Tatiana Lujano, Newton
— Chris Henning, Kingman
— Sebastiana Garcia, Haven
— CJ Smith, Hutchinson
— Alyssa Pankratz, Hutchinson