The student voice of Hutchinson Community College
O
November 18, 2022
pinion
Lynn Spahr writes about listening to podcasts instead of reading. Page 2
C
C
www.hutchcollegian.com
ampus
Students give opinions on Daylight Savings Time
Page 3
ampus
HutchCC Esports Halo Infinite team finishes their undefeated season
Page 3
S
Vol. 64 Issue 9
ports
One blocked punt saves HutchCC’s football season
Page 4
From stalemate to checkmate: How Tony Ballard uses chess to aid rehabilitation in prison
By Ainsley Trunkhill Staff Writer
Tony Ballard found himself in checkmate when he received a 294-month prison sentence for attempted murder. Through a project called The Gift of Chess, however, he learned how to convert his prison cell to a classroom for rehabilitation until he was the one delivering the checkmates. Ballard grew up on the north side of Tulsa, Oklahoma, born into an environment seeping with drugs and crime. His mother, wanting to provide her family with the best opportunities, moved them to Hutchinson. Here, Ballard thrived as a standout football player, ultimately playing football for HutchCC, even after having some Division I offers. Eventually, Ballard wound up back in the circle of crime by selling drugs, which culminated in a shooting, a trial, and a prison sentence. “For the first four, five, almost six years, I was very angry,” Ballard said, describing the early mental effects of prison. “I tried to take my life.” Cornered in check, Ballard began viewing his life like a chess board, contemplating each move for the future. He tracked his progress on the board with chess notation, and he tracked his progress in reality with books and journaling. “I turned my prison cell into a laboratory where I studied myself,” Ballard said. “I studied, I journaled … I became a self-analysis.” Self-help books lined Ballard’s path to self-discovery. Chess, however, more so than “Chicken Soup” or Dr. Phil contributed to the transformation. In a prison system of routine and institutionalization, chess forced Ballard to think. He practiced metacognition,
Courtesy photo/The Gift of Chess Tony Ballard uses chess to keep himself grounded while he serves his prison sentence. Ballard also takes classes online through Hutchinson Community College.
the same skill taught in public schools across the country, creating an education out of a prison sentence, even furthering this education by taking classes at HutchCC. “It teaches a person how to think. A lot of guys in prison don’t know how to think. I did not know how to think,” Ballard said. As he developed skills on the board, he applied those same skills to his own life. He corrected impulsivity with patience
and a lack of originality with creativity. Where punitive justice failed Tony Ballard, rehabilitation transformed him into someone even better. Punishment resulted in Ballard’s anger, an anger that he would have taken out on those who don’t deserve it. Rehabilitation educated him on where he went wrong. “Punitive justice is something that I’m most definitely against,” Ballard said. “Everyone wants to be better than who they currently are … give them
the opportunity to do that.” Troy Robinson, who worked in every correctional facility in Kansas over 33 years and is a current student at HutchCC, shares similar beliefs in a goal of rehabilitation and restoration. “Roughly speaking, 95% of inmates are gonna get released,” Robinson said. “We are always striving to try to have them leave us better than the way we received them.” Budget cuts and a lack of priority on rehabilitation from politicians have challenged the ability for prisons to implement rehabilitative programs. Furthermore, modern technological advances resulted in a limitation of the previous programs prisoners participated in. Inmates that learned carpentry and bricklaying as a trade were restricted by the lack of ability to train skilled laborers and replaced by machines. Despite setbacks, rehabilitative programs still exist across Kansas. In one, prisoners learn to get horses saddle-ready, building a one-on-one bond and developing both inmate and horse therapeutically. Tony Ballard hopes to implement another widespread program. “I commend him,” Robinson said. “We need creativity.” Ballard collaborated with Russel Makofsky, part of the Impact Coaching Network in New York City to create a non-profit organization, The Gift of Chess, out of his passion. While The Gift of Chess provides outreach to elementary schools, countries across the world, and elderly homes, Ballard heads the prison outreach sector as the director. His collaborations have exceeded just New York City, however; Ballard works with FIDE, the governing body of chess, with CEO’s of See Chess, Page 3
HutchCC’s ‘grandmother’ celebrates 25 years of great service By Victoria Lewis Staff Writer
Often coined as Hutchinson Community College’s grandmother, Carolyln Blackburn recently celebrated 25 years of service with Great Western Dining, of which she has served in the HutchCC cafeteria for 12 of these years. When asked what keeps her coming back year after year, her immediate answer was ‘the students’ “You find some of the kids who just really leave an impact on you - the ones that like to joke around and stuff like that,” Blackburn said. “It’s just all good memories. “You’ve got the ones who are kinda shy and you try to get them out of that shyness, but there’s so many good kids, all of you are just good kids.” She said that even with the recent renovation of the cafeteria inside Parker Student Union, “the kids basically are the same - a lot of different personalities and a lot of fun and a lot of good kids. “(They) make my day.” It would seem the feeling is mutual. Current HutchCC student and worker at the Dragon’s
Brew Cafe next to the cafeteria, Austin Baker is a Blackburn fan. “The thing I love most about Carolyln is how warm and genuine she is every time she comes to wor,” Baker said. “She makes sure to make every student who walks through feel loved. “Throughout the multiple years I’ve been here and spent with Carolyln we’ve had many conversations about our hometown. we come from the same area or at least know people in the same area so that was always really cool.” Blackburn said she enjoys meeting the different cohorts of students every year, and often gets quite close with the kids she greets every mealtime. “You know when they’re feeling bad and you know, you try to get them feeling good - make them have a good day not a bad day,” Blackburn said. “You don’t want anybody to feel bad when they come in.” Blackburn started out at Great Western Dining in Garden City as an assistant manager, and then transferred to Seward County Community College to become the supervisor, overseeing their cafeteria.
Upcoming events November 19 — HutchCC Basketball @ Cloud County November 18-20 — HutchCC Theatre presents: An Evening of One-Act Plays November 22 — HutchCC Band and Instrumental Jazz Present: Bandemonium November 23-27 — Thanksgiving Break
Photo by Lee Wellman/Collegian Carolyln Blackburn sits at her desk at the entrance to the Hutchinson Community College Cafeteria, where she sees hundreds of students every day, giving each a bright happy smile.
After this, she was based at the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center, when she finally transferred to HutchCC. “Here at the college, everyone is like family, all the faculty and staff are just family, and you can’t go very many places that’s like that,” she said of the HutchCC community. Brenda Roberts, the Food Service Director at HutchCC’s cafeteria, says working
with Blackburn is fun and that “she’s got an amazing attitude, her spirit is amazing and the way she connects with the students is really cool.” One fond memory Roberts has of the last nine months she’s worked with Blackburn comes from when Roberts started. “When I took over as director (and) she told me a story
The happenings around campus
College Student Weather Report Friday High: 30; Low 18 I just wanted some fall weather Saturday High: 45; Low 19 Little bit better Sunday High: 56 Low 27 The going is slow, but we’re approaching some good weather
Weather source: Accuweather
about if anybody doesn’t like what I’m doing, just tell them there’s a new sheriff in town and this is how we’re doing it,” Roberts said. Blackburn is the embodiment of the saying ‘time flies when you’re having fun.’ She has enjoyed her journey with Great Western Dining and says it has been “worth it” as she earns and celebrates her 25thyear-of-service badge.
Visit and follow us on social media @hutchinsoncollegian @HCC_Collegian the_hutchinson_collegian hutch_collegian
Opinion
Page 2
The Hutchinson Collegian Friday, November 18, 2022
Brought to you by the red, white, and blue Columnist
Sam Ojeda The United States Men’s National Team has announced that they will be swapping out the colors of the team’s crest from the primary colors of the country - red, white and blue, and changing them to a rainbow color to show support for the LGBTQIA+ community, and to advocate for the issues with equality in the World Cup’s host country, Qatar. First off, this has nothing to do with the LGBTQIA+ community. This concerns the people who lack severe intelligence and respect for this country. These people are the ones who made this decision to change the colors of the crest from anything other than red, white, and blue. While the USMNT is an entity of a private, the crest of the USMNT is a representation of the
American flag, of our American flag. For an excellent refresher, remember basic American history. The flag has 50 stars to represent the 50 states and 13 stripes to represent the original 13 colonies of America. The colors of the flag are red, white and blue. These colors are the colors chosen to represent our country to the whole world. America is headed to the world’s second most impactful international stage, only second to the Olympics. Showing off this rainbow-colored crest is misinforming the whole world of what all Americans stand for. All humans should be treated equally with dignity and respect. Some Americans agree with the alignment of the LGBTQIA+ community and some do not. The crest of the USMNT is about to go out there and, in effect, say the world that all of America agrees with this idea. This is just not true. In order to respect both sides of the issue I submit that the crest needs to just remain American red white a blue. The USMNT is not wearing them on their game day kits, but everything else that has to do with the team overseas will have this crest. This is clearly misleading others to what America stands for, and it is deceiving the whole world. I understand that Qatar has a lot of issues with its treatment of many groups, but a change in the logo for
soccer is not going to do anything. Many teams and companies in the past have changed logos to show support to some group or to call for change. These do not work. When did sports decide to become political? I get that sports are the most common viewership on TV in America, but sports are supposed to be a vacation-like get away for people. When you relax and reset and recharge for the week ahead, is talking and reading about the stress of politics a part of it? Of course, it isn’t. Why should sports teams ruin the peace of Americans by including politics in almost everything they do. Let the American people enjoy their stress-free sports. This is why reviews and ratings of the NBA have enormously declined over the past couple of years. Politics are the reason, and it is the cited reason by many home-owning Americans. According to a poll done by NewsWeek, The NBA’s ratings dropped 12% overall during the 2021 season. The poll also showed that 34% of Americans watched less sports because of social justice messages. The NFL saw a significant decrease in viewership when it got invested in the corrupted world of politics. According to ABC, during the 2021 NFL season TV ratings in Republican households dropped 17% over the season. Democrat households dropped 4%. Both sides of the
political spectrum saw ratings drop. However, this season, they have been hands-off in the political game, and the ratings are shooting back up. Why? Because people love to live in a nonpolitical world every Sunday and enjoy relaxation. I am almost sure that if the 2022 FIFA World Cup becomes a worldwide political ad for something that not all Americans stand for, the viewership of the World Cup will suck. The leaders of the USMNT are anti-American by stripping away the flag that represents the American people and our freedoms and replacing it with a statement that does not represent the whole of America. Do not fix what is not broken and come up with financial and physical ways to change the gruesome issues in Qatar. Do not lie to the world please and thank you. The soldiers in the American Revolution and the Northern side of the Civil War fought for the values of that American Flag. They fought for the red, white, and blue American flag. They fought for the pride that flag shows, not the pride flag. To each their own but leave the American Flag alone. Sam Ojeda is a Lincoln, Neb., freshman studying journalism. He is also a pitcher for the Blue Dragons baseball team.
The Game Awards are a sham Well ladies and gentlemen, the year is coming to an end. And you know what that means. It’s awards season. Specifically, Game Awards season. Ahh, the Game Awards. My favorite yearly show of trailers and announcements mixed in with some crap award categories where things that don’t fit or don’t deserve get the ‘recognition’ they want. You may be thinking to yourself “Wow Braedon, I don’t think you’ve ever started out this negative before!” And yeah, you may be right. But realistically, this is one of those personal issues that really just grind my gears. It’s a sham. The categories are so loosely fit together it has you comparing games like “God of War: Ragnarok” and “Elden Ring”. Both densely packed multi-million dollar experiences with a game like “Stary”, a 15-hour experience at most, straight to the point, incredibly linear. I put almost 200 hours into “Elden Ring” the month it came out. I beat Stray in a weekend. I cannot even begin to fathom how the two games are comparable on any level. Not to mention, the nominees for
Game of the Year, Best Direction, Best Art Direction, and Best Narrative are the same five games. “Elden Ring”, “God Of War”, “Horizon: Forbidden West’’, “Stray”, and some game called “Immortality” I have legitimately never heard of. (“Stray” is missing from Best Narrative and Immortality from Best Art Direction) Those top three are also included in Best Score and Best Audio Design. Sure, those games are all well made. But the least the Game Awards could do is get some recognition for other titles in their lists. The only categories I really paid any attention to this year were Games for Impact, (a category of thought-provoking meanings or messages) and Best Indie. Where the Game Awards I feel really makes me angry are categories like Best ongoing. All five games nominated for this award have been
out for at least two years. And one of them has been out for 12 years. Going on 13. Game Awards is meant to celebrate the new stuff that’s innovated over the past year. Not games from 2017 or god forbid 2010. It’s absurd. One of the games running for best Mobile Game of the year came out two years ago. The award for Best Community Support could go to any number of games from any year but this year, the newest game in that category is from 2019. And then, when the Game Awards does finally categorize games a bit, you get entries like “Stray” in categories like Action/Adventure, facing games like “God of War Ragnarok”, once again, two games that cannot be compared. And in fighting games, there is a game about martial arts, that is an action adventure game. ONE OF THE GAMES NOMINATED FOR BEST FIGHTING GAME OF THE YEAR, IS NOT A FIGHT-
Columnist
Braedon Martin
ING GAME. Then TGA gets to their top content creator category, a category including … none of the major content creators of the year. Twitch record breakers are completely off the list, replaced for the most part with people I’ve never even heard of. The list of nominations closes out with the best of Esports for this year, most of which I haven’t paid attention to so I have little to say on this. Except that the best esports games of the year all of which were released at least 2 years ago again, and then worse as they include a game from 2009. Who knows, maybe I’ve grossly misunderstood what the Game Awards is supposed to be. But from my perspective it looks like it exemplifies almost everything wrong with modern games journalism. Come back next week for my own “Game Awards” Braedon Martin is a Hutchinson sophomore studying journalism. He is the Collegian’s Opinion Page Editor and Managing Editor for Design.
Peaceful podcast listening for readers Stories and storytelling have long been a way to relax and make connections. However, in a world that’s in constant motion, it can be hard to find the time to sit down and read a book. Instead of trying and failing to find time to read on a busy day, I listen to podcasts. Most of the podcasts I listen to have episodes that are 20-30 minutes long. These smaller chunks help me stay focused on the story. As much as I love reading, it’s easy for me to get distracted halfway through a chapter and be completely confused when I refocus. Being able to listen to a story in small
chunks while I’m doing something makes it easier for me to stay fully engaged with the story. And, each episode has a small description, so it’s easy to get a quick recap if I don’t remember what happened. Most of the time, episodes have distinct endings, which makes it easier to find a place to stop. When reading, chapters flow together, which is good, though that makes it difficult to find a natural stopping point. Another thing I like about podcasts is the variety of ways to tell a story. Most books have the same basic structure, even though writing styles differ. Characters are introduced, readers learn a little about them, and then the story begins.
The Hutchinson Collegian The student voice of Hutchinson Community College
The Collegian is created by Hutchinson Community College’s Newspaper Production class each week during the academic year, except for when school is not in session, or during final exams. Copies may be found on campus Friday mornings, or in Shears Technology Center, room 207.
Follow us on social media: Facebook: The Collegian Hutchinson Community College Twitter: @HCC_Collegian Instagram: the_hutchinson_collegian Snapchat: hutch_collegian
Podcasts, however, can tell stories through recordings, or as if you’re listening to a radio show from a strange town. This difference in style allows for a difference in structure. It can take longer to introduce plotlines, letting listeners get to know characters before major events. There’s more time to explore how major events affected the characters. Podcasts are a wonderful way to listen to stories. There’s such a wide variety of styles that there’s something for everyone.
Lynn Spahr
Lynn Spahr is a Hutchinson freshman in general studies.
Collegian Staff Managing Editor-Content Laci Sutton Managing Editor-Design Braedon Martin Opinion Page Editor Braedon Martin Sports Editor Ben Short Online Editor Colin Shields
Columnist
Staff members Sabrina Anzo, Colton Fast, Lizzie Kipp, Victoria Lewis, Mariah McGarraugh, Sam Ojeda, Mason Poepperling, Lynn Spahr, Carly Thompson, Josie Schrag, Lea Thompson, Ainsley Trunkhill, Lee Wellman. Collegian Adviser Brad Hallier
www.HutchCollegian.com
Letters to the editor The Hutchinson Collegian welcomes letters to the editor. Letters must include the author’s signature, address and phone number. The Collegian reserves the right to edit letters for style, legality and length. Letters may not exceed 300 words. Send letters to hallierb@hutchcc.edu.
Non-discrimination statement Hutchinson Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, age, military status, sexual orientation, or any other protected category under federal, state, or local law, or by college policy. For inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies contact: Christopher Lau, Coordinator of Equity & Compliance 1300 N. Plum Hutchinson, KS 67501 (620) 665-3500 equity@hutchcc.edu (www.hutchcc.edu/equity)
The Hutchinson Collegian Friday, November 18, 2022
Campus Puzzles
HutchCC’s ‘Halo’ Esports team remains undefeated By Mason Poepperling Staff Writer
Hutchinson Community College’s Halo Infinite team, part of the Blue Dragons’ Esports team, has been on a roll as of late, becoming the only HutchCC Esports team to be undefeated in only their second season. Since the release of the game's multiplayer mode a little over a year ago, HutchCC’s “Halo Infinite” team has become a force to be reckoned with. “It’s been fantastic honestly,” Christopher Klear said. “There have been some games where we know that we need to do better as a team but so far we’ve gone undefeated.” When taking into consideration how little time “Halo Infinite'' has been released, it’s remarkable to think about how far HutchCC’s team has come in the short time they’ve had to get to grips with
Page 3
everything the latest entry in the “Halo” series has introduced to the franchise. “It didn’t seem like too many people were in (the team) so I just said that I would join up. This was last year when we did it and I just decided to keep on doing it,” Klaer said. Just a little while ago, HutchCC’s “Halo Infinite” Team was just starting to take shape. I don’t think anyone expected the amount of chaos they would create for the Halo League in the little time that they’ve been around. “Keep on watching us, because we’re good but there's still some points we need to get, but we're all having fun and you can tell when we’re having fun,” Klear said. In only their second season, HutchCC’s “Halo Infinite” team has quickly grown into not only one of the best HutchCC teams, but one of the best in their league and in the NJCAA.
Communication is key with students, instructors By Mariah McGarraugh Staff Writer
College students communicating with teachers outside of the classroom can be difficult, especially when students are on a deadline. Many students have the challenge of getting in touch with their teachers through email which as itself can be a mess to navigate. Email is the official communication between instructors and students at Hutchinson Community College. Olivia Andrews, a freshman from Hutchinson discussed the challenges she has with teachers. “Trying to talk to your teacher outside of the classroom all depends on the teacher,” Andrews said. “Some answer right away, some have set times that you are allowed to contact them and others I still have never gotten a response from.” Inconsistency with teachers can be frustrating for college students who already have a lot on their plate but there’s another side to it. Miranda Engelken, a business professor at HutchCC explained the teacher's side of things. “One of the hardest things as a teacher is keeping in communication with all your students and being available all the time,” Engelken said. “The struggle of communication between students and teachers affects both sides of the equation. I want to be approachable all the time. I had sons in college and I saw the struggle they went through with teachers and getting in contact
with them, so I completely understand the frustration.” Understanding both sides can help teachers and students work together to better their communication process. Whether it be contacting on weekdays or certain times or setting up meetings to go over material. Getting in contact with your teacher can be difficult if the communication of how isn’t well labeled. “Some tips I would give to a teacher is to be patient, more understanding and be less intimidating,” Andrews said. Having a teacher you feel comfortable talking with can make a world of a difference when it comes to communicating issues or problems you're having with a class. “Technology has made us be on call all the time,” Engelken said. “The best time to talk to a teacher is before or after class.” Although technology has made it easier to get in contact with teachers outside of the classroom, it’s also caused teachers to feel they have to be available 24/7 to help their students. Touching base with teachers before or after class can be helpful. There’s a guaranteed answer and students can set up a meeting time if necessary to get the help needed. When there is a small question on an assignment or just needing something double checked a quick email can be very helpful but understanding if the issue can be solved over an email or needs to be solved over direct communication can save the stress for both students and teachers.
Opinions on daylight savings By Carly Thompson Staff Writer
Many people have a love/hate relationship with daylight saving time. With daylight saving time for the year ending in the early hours on Nov. 6,, many students have had to adjust. This tradition of changing the time started forming during World War 1 as an energy-saving measure, and World War 2 continued to push the idea of taking advantage of daylight. Daylight saving time has been through several trial runs throughout the years. Today, Americans turn clocks ahead on the second Sunday in March and turn them back on the first Sunday in November. Dylan Hamon, a Hutchinson freshman, has dealt with headaches after each time change throughout his life. However, even with it getting dark sooner, he tries to keep his routine the same. “I have tried my best to not change anything about my daily routine, I find that by sticking to a routine I’m more productive,” Hamon said. Even though his routine hasn’t
changed, he still finds himself socializing less and being less motivated to do certain things. Shelby Briggs, a Hutchinson freshman, has found herself waking up earlier to enjoy as much daylight as possible. She even takes her dog on morning walks. “I love that it is bright out sooner. It lets me enjoy the sunrises on the way to school,” Briggs said. While the morning people are definitely benefiting from the sun rising earlier, the sun going down seems to have a strong effect on people’s moods. The sun going down earlier - the sun will set at 5:14 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day - also brings people’s motivation and productivity down with it. While it can take a few days for your body to acclimate, it seems that it takes longer for the energy levels to re-balance themselves. There has been quite a debate on whether or not the United States should keep daylight saving time or not. The Senate passed a bill in March to keep the time change permanent but there are still several people against it.
Clothing help on campus By Laci Sutton Managing Editor-Content
Hutchinson Community College has an abundance of resources available to help its students succeed, including tutoring, counseling and health services. Thanks to the HutchCC Catholic and Non-Catholic Connections Club, there is also a free assortment of clothing and accessories for students in need. What started as a coat drive in 2021 quickly evolved into a large winter clothing drive. The more donations they received, the more the group realized how big of an impact they could make. With the help of HutchCC custodial services coordinator Stony Wilson, the drive turned into a permanent closet space located in the basement of Parker Student Union. The clothing is available to all HutchCC students and is free of charge. No judgment and no questions asked. Students looking to shop the closet may contact Molly Stahl, a HutchCC speech instructor. “What I do is go down and unlock it for them, then I step out and tell them to grab whatever they’d like so they may
Chess
• Continued from Page 1
million-dollar companies, and with partnerships spreading West to East coast, all from within the Wichita Work Release Facility. The Gift of Chess has already started its path towards impact, operating in 32 states and over 200 facilities. They distributed 500 chess boards to Rikers Island, one of the most notorious jail complexes in the country. “When they laid out the chess boards
have privacy while they shop,” Stahl said. “We have bags in there for them to use as well as tote bags and back-packs they can also keep to carry their items out in.” The closet includes purses, bags, shoes, winter clothing, job-interview attire, bedding, and much more. All items are sorted based on type to make for easy browsing. Thanks to the donations of students and local community members, the closet is currently fully stocked. A thrift store located in western Kansas, Ideatek of Buhler, and St. Elizabeth’s Ann Seton - a Catholic church in Wichita - have also been excellent resources for stocking the closet when extra help is needed. For anyone interested in donating, there is a drop box located next to the cafeteria in PSU. Donations can also be arranged and given directly to Stahl. “We’ve been blessed with a generous space, and we know we’ll go through the items,” Stahl said. “We also plan to send items to other organizations if space starts to become an issue.” Stahl can be reached by email at stahlm@hutchcc.edu or by call or text at 316-243-6264. … it turned it from a madhouse, insane asylum, to a library,” Ballard said. “That’s the power of chess.” Ballard welcomes all to embark on this operation with him, assisting in anything from donations to writing emails. Bill Gates set out for the Nobel Prize from a garage, but Tony Ballard starts the endeavor from a prison cell. His end-game lies in transforming lives with chess, just as it did with his own. “My end-game is to win the Nobel Peace Prize because I believe that chess has healing powers,” Ballard said. “Change lives all over the world … make Momma proud.”
Sports
The Hutchinson Collegian Friday, November 18, 2022
Page 4
Blue Dragons block Reivers’ path
Photo by Billy Watson/HutchCC Sports Information Hutchinson Community College’s Jaden Mosley (32) and Terry Kirksey celebrate a big defensive play during the Blue Dragons’ 29-28 win Saturday in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Late special-teams heroics lift HutchCC to marquee victory By Ben Short Sports Editor
The Hutchinson Community College football team advanced to 10-0 last Saturday and will host a NJCAA playoff semifinal now after the win, but that doesn’t tell the story of how crazy Saturday was. The top-ranked Blue Dragons pulled off a slim victory at Iowa Western, 29-28, after a blocked punt to go ahead late. JJ Hamilton broke loose and got a hand on the punt and Jaimelle Claytor picked it up and returned it for the game winning score.
“It started with Coach (Andrew) Krause believing in me and getting me on the field. He tells me I have a high motor,” Hamilton said. “He put me on punt force to be able to make plays off the edge to attack the block point … I dialed in and took it seriously.” Without the blocked punt, there might be a different story to tell. Iowa Western may have won and vaulted to No. 1 in the rankings. Thus, you could imagine the emotions running high in the end zone after the block and score. Hamilton talks about the end zone frenzy. “It was a good time everyone
celebrating,” Hamilton said. “It felt like a long run especially when we got to the sideline everyone there booting us up. I just wanted to catch my breath. I’m really proud of the punt force unit. We’ve just been waiting on our time to make a play .” Emotions run high on every big play and that makes people wonder, before that play did they know what it meant for their title hopes, season or winning the game? “In the moment, it was all about making a play, giving it my all,” Hamilton said. “I knew if I blocked or even in-
terrupted the punt our offense would have good field possession to work with and score, but when the ball hit my hand and I had seen Jaimelle with the ball that’s what we needed. The team had enough trust with our defense going back out and securing the game. Winning that game was just one step closer to the title. I’m glad I could contribute. The job is not done.” The Blue Dragons have a couple games ahead, but they have punched their ticket to the postseason and will be fighting for their second national title in three seasons.
Athlete of the week (Nov. 6-Nov. 12) Journey Armstead, women’s basketball
The week: Armstead had three good games in leading the fourthranked Blue Dragons to three wins last week. Armstead Armstread started with 11 points and 10 assists in a 90-51 win over Washburn’s JV. Then, Armstead had 23 points and three assists in a 74-63 win over Labette in Great Bend and she finished with 8 points and four rebounds in a 64-58 win over Redlands. The season: Armstead, a 5-foot, 7-inch freshman from Sand Springs, Okla., is averaging 11 points, 4.7 assists and 3.3 rebounds a game for the undefeated Blue Dragons. Armstread also is shooting 45.8% from the floor nad 47.4% from 3-point range.
Women’s cross country finishes fourth at nationals By Colin Shields Online Editor
The Hutchinson Community College women’s cross country team finished with a program-record fourth-place at the NJCAA Division 1 Championships in Tallahassee, Fla. Freshman Serenity Larson finished off a stellar freshman year with a 12thplace finish and earned third-team All American honors as a result. The Blue Dragons (177 points) finished behind champions Southern Idaho (61 points), New Mexico JC (79 points), and Salt Lake (95 points). Sophomore Louise Cocking finished her career as one of the most decorated runners in Blue Dragon history with a 45th place finish. The Blue Dragons did win the 2001 Division 2 national championship, but this was their best Division 1 finish. Women’s Soccer - The Blue Dragons were heavily decorated with postseason honors, as seven players earned All Conference selections,
including sophomore forward Hadlie Lowe earning Offensive Player of the Year, Sammy Lane earning Coach of the Year, and sophomore defender Lexi Jack earning Defensive Player of the Year. Sophomores Aimee Maher and Ella-Mae Miller also received first-team honors with sophomore Zara Lawless and freshman Adriana Delgado taking home second place honors. Football - The Blue Dragons finished their regular season with a 29-28 victory over number three ranked Iowa Western to improve to 10-0 and wrap up an undefeated regular season. Sophomore running back Dylan Kedzior led the way for the Blue Dragons offense, totaling over 200 total yards of offense including a pair of 70+ yard touchdowns. Redshirt Freshman Jermaine Hamilton-Jordan came home with KJCCC conference player of the week honors after blocking a punt with less than
Sports Roundup three minutes remaining in the game. Jaimelle Claytor would then scoop up the blocked ball and return it 40 yards and into the end zone, giving the Blue Dragons a 29-28 edge. The Blue Dragons defense would then hold the Iowa Western defense out of field goal range. Men’s basketball - The Blue Dragons used a pair of big wins over Victoria College and Wilbur Wright College at the Cougar Booster Club Classic in Great Bend to rise to No. 4 in the latest NJCAA rankings. The Blue Dragons used a pair of 19-point efforts from Ty Frierson and the reigning NJCAA player of the week Aaron Franklin to defeat Victoria 121-95. The Blue Dragons then faced the Wilbur Wright Rams and moved to 6-0 behind a 22-point performance from Franklin and a 18 point performance from Jayden Garrison to
defeat the Rams 112-89. The Blue Dragons have now scored no less than 112 points in each of their six contests this year. Women’s basketball - The women also soared through the rankings and sit at No. 4 in the NJCAA national rankings as well. The Blue Dragons earned a pair of wins over Labette and Redlands in Great Bend as they also traveled to the Cougar Booster Club Classic. The Blue Dragons used a 23-point performance from Journey Armstead and a 21-point performance from Mya Williams to defeat Labette 74-63. They then turned around and defeated Redlands 64-58 behind a team effort on offense that was led by 14 points from Mo Duffy, 12 points from Mya Williams, and 10 points off the bench from Kali Howard. The Blue Dragons advanced to 6-0 on the year and will travel to Concordia on Saturday to face Cloud County Community College.
Blue Dragon schedules. All home games, events in caps. Basketball, men’s
Nov. 1, FORT SCOTT, W 124-101 Nov. 4, TRITON, W 113-105 Nov, 5, NEO, W 117-197 Nov. 9, LABETTE, W 139-84 Nov. 11, vs. Victoria at Great Bend W 121-95 Nov. 12, vs. Wilbur Wright, at Great Bend, 11289 Nov. 16, INDEPENDENCE, W 99-94 Nov 19, at Cloud County, 2 p.m. Nov. 22, at Pratt, 5:30 p.m. Nov. 26, BARTON, 5:30 p.m. Nov. 30, at Cowley, 5:30 p.m. Dec. 3, at Butler, 2 p.m. Dec. 7, COFFEYVILLE, 5:30 p.m. Dec. 10, at Dodge City, 1 p.m. Dec. 12, COLBY, 5:30 p.m. Jan. 4, at Northwest Kansas Tech, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 7, SEWARD COUNTY, 5:30 p.m. Jan. 14, at Garden City, 2 p.m.
Jan. 18, at Independence, 5:30 p.m. Jan. 21, CLOUD COUNTY, 5:30 p.m. Jan. 25, PRATT, 5:30 p.m. Jan. 28, at Barton, 5:30 p.m. Feb. 1, COWLEY, 5:30 p.m. Feb. 4, BUTLER, 5:30 p.m. Feb. 8, at Coffeyville, 5:30 p.m. Feb. 11, DODGE CITY, 5:30 p.m. Feb. 15, at Colby, 5:30 p.m. Feb. 18, NORTHWEST KANSAS TECH, 2 p.m. Feb. 22, at Seward County, 6 p.m. March 1, GARDEN CITY, 5:30 p.m.
Basketball, women’s
Nov. 1, BETHANY JV, W 88-44 Nov. 4, MINERAL AREA, W 84-48 Nov. 5, NEO, W 84-61 Nov. 9, WASHBURN JV, W 90-51 Nov. 11, Labette at Great Bend, W 74-63
Nov. 12, vs, Redlands at Great Bend, W 64-58 Nov. 16, INDEPENDENCE, 61-53 Nov 19, at Cloud County, 2 p.m. Nov. 22, at Pratt, 5:30 p.m. Nov. 26, BARTON, 5:30 p.m. Nov. 30, at Cowley, 5:30 p.m. Dec. 3, at Butler, 2 p.m. Dec. 7, COFFEYVILLE, 5:30 p.m. Dec. 10, at Dodge City, 1 p.m. Dec. 12, COLBY, 5:30 p.m. Jan. 4, at Northwest Kansas Tech, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 7, SEWARD COUNTY, 5:30 p.m. Jan. 14, at Garden City, 2 p.m. Jan. 18, at Independence, W 61-53 Jan. 21, CLOUD COUNTY, 5:30 p.m. Jan. 25, PRATT, 5:30 p.m. Jan. 28, at Barton, 5:30 p.m. Feb. 1, COWLEY, 5:30 p.m. Feb. 4, BUTLER, 5:30 p.m. Feb. 8, at Coffeyville, 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 11, DODGE CITY, 5:30 p.m. Feb. 15, at Colby, 5:30 p.m. Feb. 18, NORTHWEST KANSAS TECH, 2 p.m. Feb. 22, at Seward County, 6 p.m. March 1, GARDEN CITY, 5:30 p.m.
Football
Aug. 27, NAVARRO, Texas, W 42-0 Sept. 3, at Ellsworth, Iowa, W 70-7 Sept. 10, IOWA CENTRAL, W 31-28, OT Sept. 24, at Coffeyville, W 14-9 Oct. 1, BUTLER, W 27-19 Oct. 8, at Dodge City, W 47-14 Oct. 22, at Garden City, W 65-7 Oct. 29, HIGHLAND, W 31-7 Nov. 5, INDEPENDENCE, W 53-0 Nov. 12, at Iowa Western, W 29-28 Dec. 3, NJCAA SEMIFINAL, time and opponent TBA