March 4, 2021

THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 2021

Dwight Wilson is an offensive powerhouse...

PG6 Looking ahead to the MAC tournament...

PG14 Madi Mace brings energy to the Bobcats...

PG16

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Basketball Edition

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

Thankful for Our Sports Staff

MOLLY SCHRAMM EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The college sports world is something I’m not all too familiar with, especially looking at basketball. As a sophomore and junior at Ohio University, I often found myself in The Convo watching both the men’s and women’s basketball teams, but that doesn’t mean I could report on either or rehash an entire game in 500 or so words. The Post’s basketball beat writers, as well as any other sports writer on staff, possess talent that I, as a journalist, probably couldn’t.

I enjoy sports, but looking at a basketball game analytically seems like a foreign language to me. Basketball wasn’t really my sport. All throughout middle school, I was a soccer girl, and then into high school I played lacrosse. I played basketball in elementary school — not particularly well — but enough to learn the basics. I can dribble a ball. I can make a lay-up or free throw. And maybe, just maybe, I can shoot a three-point shot. But when it comes to the play-by-plays, statistics and writing about the strategy behind it all, I’m pretty much lost.

Within journalism, I’d like to say my expertise lies within the realm of entertainment. You throw an album or film review at me, and I am your girl. I can juggle artist media kits, press releases or even an impromptu interview in an overcrowded pizzeria with booming music (yes, I speak from experience). But juggling

watching a fast-paced game, live tweeting stats and updates and taking notes for your coverage all at once is a type of multitasking that’s beyond me.

Nevertheless, our basketball reporters are dedicated to their craft. Not only are they producing and publishing informative and touching features on both the men’s and women’s teams, but they’re also covering every home and away game. On top of being full-time students, holding other jobs, partaking in other extracurricular activities and maintaining their personal lives, these basketball reporters maintain their coverage.

Lately, Ohio basketball has been hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. The men’s team went two weeks without playing any games because of COVID-19. And most recently, the women’s team had to cancel its March 2 game against Akron due to COVID-19 tracing on Ohio’s end.

These cancelations (among others), along with multiple postponed and rescheduled games have thrown our basketball writers for a loop. They have had game coverage ripped out from under them like a rug, games rescheduled for times that may not be convenient and, most of all, they’ve sustained the loss of writing stories about a sport they love.

Nevertheless, our basketball writers have

truly persevered and produced both amazing game coverage as well as insightful features and sidebars. Simply within this issue, they’ve covered Dwight Wilson’s transition to the Bobcats, delved into Madi Mace’s powerful presence both on the court and on the sideline and analyzed the relationship with both the men’s and women’s teams. And that list isn’t close to exhaustive.

Basketball is a special sport, and The Post’s basketball reporters capture that. As someone who loves to watch the game but couldn’t cover it to save my life, kudos to these reporters for breaking it down and allowing me to understand the ins and outs of basketball.

With a budding sports staff — one, I’m proud to say, has multiple strong, female beat reporters on it — The Post’s sports coverage is only growing. The Basketball Issue is a small snippet into the world of sports, especially during the pandemic, and we should all be thankful for it.

Molly Schramm is a senior studying journalism at Ohio University and the editor-in-chief of The Post. Have questions? Email Molly at ms660416@ohio.edu or tweet her @_molly_731.

COVER DESIGN BY OLIVIA JUENGER

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Molly Schramm MANAGING EDITOR Baylee DeMuth DIGITAL MANAGING EDITOR Matthew Geiger EDITORIAL NEWS EDITORS Abby Miller, Nolan Simmons ASST. NEWS EDITOR Emma Skidmore LONG-FORM EDITOR Jillian Craig SPORTS EDITORS Jack Gleckler, J.L. Kirven CULTURE EDITOR Riley Runnells ASST. CULTURE EDITOR Lily Roby OPINION EDITOR Noah Wright ASST. OPINION EDITOR Mikayla Rochelle THE BEAT EDITOR Madyson Lewellyn ASST. THE BEAT EDITOR Emma Dollenmayer COPY CHIEF Bre Offenberger SLOT EDITORS Eli Feazell, Anna Garnai, Katey Kruback, Molly Powers ART ART DIRECTOR Mary Berger ASST. ART DIRECTOR Olivia Juenger DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Kelsey Boeing PHOTO EDITOR Nate Swanson DIGITAL WEB DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Brianna Lender SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR Taylor Burnette DIRECTOR OF MULTIMEDIA Ethan Sands BUSINESS STUDENT MEDIA SALES INTERNSHIP MANAGER Andrea Lewis MEDIA SALES Grace Vannan

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Falling Short SCOTT THOMAS FOR THE POST Ohio returned to the floor for the first time since Feb. 13 with a close 71-67 loss at Akron on Wednesday night. The Bobcats’ last three games were canceled due to COVID-19 issues within the program heading into the loss at James A. Rhodes Arena. Ohio also played without key starter Caitlyn Kroll, which only made the loss more painful.

The Bobcats now only have one game remaining in the regular season before heading to the Mid-American Conference Tournament on March 10. The Bobcats (12-7, 10-6 MAC) are currently seeded third in the MAC before playing Miami on Saturday.

Here are the numbers to know from Ohio’s 71-67 loss at Akron: 33

Last time CeCe Hooks was in Akron, she scored a school-record 41 points. This time, she scored 33. Hooks returned to the floor exactly how she left it before Ohio’s long hiatus with an added 10 rebounds and seven steals.

She added 11 points from free throws, going 11-for-13 from the line. She also scored 31 in the last meeting between the two teams.

Hooks’ latest performance is an addition to the strong

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL MAC Player of the Year campaign she has been putting forth this season. Hooks leads the conference with 26.1 points per game and has won four MAC Player of the Week awards this season.

35.4 Ohio shot poorly Wednesday night against the Zips. The Bobcats shot just 35.4% from the field and only 20% from the 3-point line. Kaylee Bambule made just two of eight attempts from beyond the arc, and Madi Mace struggled as well, going 1-for-5 on her 3-point attempts.

Despite out-rebounding Akron by 10, the Bobcats were not able to shoot well enough to win. They also turned the ball over 17 times. Both of these factors might have something to do with not playing a game for over two weeks.

3

Ohio is sitting in a decent position at third in the MAC standings heading into the final weekend of regular play.

The Bobcats have already clinched a spot in the tournament, so now all that’s left to do is wait for the seeding. If Ohio seeds toward the top of the bracket, it will have some interesting potential matchups against Buffalo or Ball State. The Bobcats beat each team once this season.

While there is no bye in consideration for the tournament this year, a spot in the top four would surely be favorable to being on the bottom for Ohio.

Ohio’s Erica Johnson (No. 4) goes up for a quick shot with heavy pressure from Toledo’s Hallie Idowu (No. 35) and Sammi Mikonowicz (No. 33), during the home game on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021, in Athens, Ohio.

(KELSEY BOEING | DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY)

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MEN’S BASKETBALL

Finishing

STRONG

Ohio prepares for season finale at Bowling Green J.L. KIRVEN SPORTS EDITOR Before traveling to Cleveland for next week’s Mid-American Conference Tournament, Ohio will make the trek to Bowling Green on Friday for a rematch with the Falcons. The Bobcats’ season finale comes against a tough team in a hostile environment, a situation mirroring what’s to come in the tourney.

Opponent: Bowling Green (14-10, 10-8 MAC)

the MAC, thanks to the play of star guard Justin Turner.

Turner leads the Falcons in scoring 19.9 points per game, which is the second best in the MAC. What makes Turner so hard to guard is he knows how to get to his spots. His favorite happens to be the free throw line. Turner has the most free throw attempts of anyone in the conference and is shooting 87% from the stripe. If Ohio wants to slow him down, it can’t give up free chances for points.

Place: Stroh Center (Bowling Green, Ohio)

SERIES HISTORY

GAME INFORMATION

Time: 7 p.m.

How to watch: ESPN3/ESPN+ How to listen: TuneIn

MEET THE OPPONENT

Head Coach: Michael Hugger Probable starters 25 Daeqwon Plowden 11 Trey Diggs 01 Justin Turner 05 Kaden Metheny 03 Caleb Fields

PLAYERS TO WATCH

For the Bobcats, the player to watch Friday is Jason Preston. Preston is Ohio’s most versatile weapon. He can score, pass and rebound. When Ohio lost to Bowling Green back in December, Preston was still nursing a lower leg injury. The junior can’t win on his own, but when he’s on the court, his teammates play even better.

Despite its record, Bowling Green has one of the best chances of being a dark horse in the MAC Tournament.

Entering the season, the Falcons were expected to win

4 / MARCH 4, 2021

Ohio coach Jeff Boals hasn’t beaten the Falcons since his playing days. Bowling Green won the last meeting between the two squads 83-75 and the two meetings before that as well. Under Boals, Ohio has struggled to put away Bowling Green after jumping out to a lead early.

In their first matchup this season, Ohio led by 10 at the half and lost by eight. The year before, Ohio led by 15 at the half in Bowling Green. Ohio lost that game 62-61. If the Bobcats get the Falcons where they want Friday, will they be able to finish them?

WHY THIS GAME MATTERS?

Momentum is key when entering the postseason, and this game will determine if Ohio has that when the tournament starts. In its last game, Ohio had its six-game winning streak snapped by Buffalo in blowout fashion.

A loss to Bowling Green would be an underwhelming way to enter the tournament. But a win, however, would have the Bobcats excited and primed to amaze. It’s anybody’s guess for who will leave Cleveland victorious.

Ohio needs every advantage it can get. Beating Bowling Green and keeping the roster healthy in the process would give Ohio its best odds.

@JL_KIRVEN JK810916@OHIO.EDU

PREPARE for Battle Ohio battles Miami on Senior Day TEE WILLIS FOR THE POST Ohio (12-7, 10-6 Mid-American Conference) returns to The Convo on Saturday for the final time this season in a rematch against rival Miami. Its matchup against the RedHawks will be the Bobcats’ last challenge before heading to Cleveland next week for the start of the MAC tournament.

GAME INFORMATION:

Opponent: Miami RedHawks (4-19, 3-16 MAC) Time: 1 p.m.

Place: The Convo (Athens, Ohio) How to watch: ESPN+ How to listen: TuneIn

MEET THE OPPONENT

Head Coach: Deunna Hendrix

Probable starters Peyton Scott Kelly McLaughlin Abbey Hoff Katie Davidson Kenzie Shmitz

ALL TIME SERIES:

The Bobcats will welcome the RedHawks in the 95th all-time meeting between the squads. Ohio has five straight wins against Miami. When the Bobcats faced the RedHawks on Jan. 6, CeCe Hooks led the charge with 26 points, five rebounds and five steals all the way to a 7263 victory.

With the cancelation of the Buffalo rematch last week (and a disappointing loss to Akron on Wednesday), a win over Miami would give the Bobcats some much-needed momentum rolling into tournament time.

WHY THIS GAME MATTERS?

No matter what the record is, the Battle of the Bricks will always matter. After losing to Akron on Wednesday, Ohio is in desperate need of some momentum before the tournament. Miami isn’t the same stubborn foe who used to give Ohio fits, but they’re still those RedHawks who Bobcat fans love to hate. Beating the RedHawks on Senior Day could be the win that pushes the Bobcats back into the right direction.

@18TEEDUB TW532416@OHIO.EDU

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Trust the Transfer Process Dwight Wilson has surpassed his own expectations at Ohio JACK GLECKLER SPORTS EDITOR Dwight Wilson III believes he has to work to prove himself. This season, his efforts bore fruit.

The senior forward has become a staple of Ohio’s offense in the season following his transfer from James Madison. Wilson provides a much-needed in-your-face presence on the court and is prolific when shooting in the paint.

At 6-foot-8 and 250 pounds, Wilson can glide through traffic to keep a scoring run alive or start one on his own.

His size gives him an edge, and his 69.23 field goal percentage, the second-best in the NCAA, is proof.

Some say he has a magic touch.

“He has the greatest touch I have ever seen. Ever,” Ohio forward Ben Vander Plas said. “He’s in there before practice, after practice, any free time he’s got with the coaches just working on that, whatever you want to call it. But I still don’t know how it goes. The touch is incredible.”

The role he plays at Ohio is one he isn’t used to. In his first three seasons at James Madison, the forward hovered around 20 minutes per game and played a supporting role, even as a starter. As his proficiency on the court grew during his junior season, Wilson got antsy. He felt like he wasn’t playing to his potential.

He wanted to go to a competitive school.

In March 2020, Wilson found an out. James Madison’s men’s basketball program was on the rocks. After finishing 9-21 in the regular season, coach Louis Rowe departed the program March 9, and the Dukes were in the hunt for a new coach.

Wilson saw the writing on the wall. He had spent his entire college career at James Madison, but he needed a change of scenery. Two weeks to the day after Lowe left the program, Wilson entered the transfer portal. On April 5, he announced his decision to play for Ohio.

“I wanted to weigh my options and see if there was possibly a place that I could benefit from going into a better program,” Wilson said. “I did think about staying.

But at that point, I felt like it was time for me to leave.”

As Wilson was transferring during the initial stages of the pandemic, he wasn’t allowed to tour campus. Coach Jeff Boals and the coaching staff were calling him around the clock for check-ins, but he hadn’t met anyone in person or so much as stepped foot in Athens. Wilson was flying blind into a school and basketball program he knew next to nothing about.

So when the lease on his apartment began in early May, Wilson took a road trip.

A native of Tallahassee, Florida, Wilson had lived a 12hour drive away from James Madison. He often drove the route himself whenever he needed to report for training or to go home for the holidays. A 14-hour trip to Athens wasn’t much worse. When May rolled around, he packed his car and trekked north.

The first thing he noticed was The Convo.

“That was the biggest thing,” Wilson said. “Driving past (The Convo) and seeing how huge it was. I was mesmerized.”

As much as Wilson wanted to get into The Convo, he 6 / MARCH 4, 2021

Ohio University’s Dwight Wilson III (4) grabs the rebound during the home game against Northern Illinois University on Jan. 5, 2021 in Athens, Ohio. (KELSEY BOEING | DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY)

was locked out. COVID-19 had a stranglehold on Ohio athletics over the summer, and the university didn’t want to take any chances until conditioning began in June. The rims were even removed. Even if Wilson found a way into the building, he’d be working with an empty room.

Despite being locked out of The Convo, he improvised. To condition himself, he ran sprints and exercised in the fields between the River Park apartments and South Green. He drove around Athens looking for basketball courts and shot around whenever he found one.

When he wasn’t doing work for summer classes, he was conditioning. He even called up incoming freshman Sam Towns to workout together. Towns lived in Columbus and had access to a gym, so Wilson jumped at the opportunity.

The senior has a drive to improve like no other. He’s an ardent believer in “what you put in is what you get out.” Even when he wasn’t getting the minutes he wanted at James Madison, he was working on proving himself.

Any free time he had was spent in the JMU Convocation Center, shooting baskets until his arms ached. If he wanted to be the best, he had to prove it.

“You don’t have a chance in this game if you don’t

work,” Wilson said. “There would be times where my teammates would go out, and I would be in the gym. If I was dating, my girl had to be in the gym with me or she couldn’t be with me.”

The work paid off. Wilson is performing better than he dreamed of. Topping the NCAA in field goal percentage and averaging 15.2 points per game is a blessing to him.

Before his transfer, James Madison never made it farther than the quarterfinals of its conference tournament. Ohio, on the other hand, has a strong case to win the Mid-American Conference Tournament.

Wilson sowed the seeds of success at James Madison, and they bore fruit at Ohio.

@THEJACKGLECKLER JG011517@OHIO.EDU

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Ohio guard Cece Hooks (No. 1) jumps for a layup in a match against Kent State at The Convo on Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021. (NATE SWANSON | PHOTO EDITOR)

Ohio’s Ben Roderick (No. 3) makes a layup during the home game against Eastern Michigan University on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Athens, Ohio. (KELSEY BOEING | DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY)

8 / MARCH 4, 2021

Erica Johnson (No. 4), of Ohio, dribbles the ball betwee Nov. 25, 2020, in The Convo. Ohio won 76-72. (ANTHON

Ohio’s Jason Preston (No. 0) and Dwight Wilson basket counted against Eastern Michigan Unive (KELSEY BOEING | DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAP

en her legs during Ohio’s game versus Liberty on Wednesday, NY WARNER | FOR THE POST)

n III (No. 4) celebrate after Preston drew a foul and the ersity on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021 in Athens, Ohio.

PHY)

Ohio’s Lunden McDay (No. 15) dribbles the ball during the Ohio versus Cleveland State game in The Convo on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020. Ohio won 101-46. (ANTHONY WARNER | FOR THE POST)

Ohio guard Jasmine Hale (No. 23) plays through Kent State forward Lindsay Thall (No. 44) in a match held at The Convo on Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021. (NATE SWANSON | PHOTO EDITOR)

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 9

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Overcoming Hard Times Ohio’s young roster plays through the growing pains JACK GLECKLER SPORTS EDITOR It has been a trying month for Ohio.

Just when the Bobcats seemed to be over a COVID-19 outbreak and were making preparations for their final two games of the season, their issues resurfaced. Tuesday’s game at Kent State was canceled due to contact tracing problems on Ohio’s roster.

Although both teams had rosters deep enough to play, they mutually agreed to not take any chances prior to the upcoming Mid-American Conference Tournament.

The pandemic, albeit frustrating, has

forced Ohio’s roster to adapt.

Injuries or positive tests have hampered the Bobcats all season. Jason Preston has missed five games this season, and the hole he left in the roster gave underclassmen the chance to get experience on the court.

Coach Jeff Boals has told his underclassmen to play with confidence, and many of them have bought into his advice. With every game, the Bobcats’ game further rounds out, the roster deepens and the uncertainty surrounding the team shrinks, at least when they are healthy.

The Bobcats’ perennial starting rotation is among the most balanced in the

Ohio University’s Mark Sears (10), lays the ball in the basket after a fast break during the home game against Western Michigan University on Jan. 26, 2021 in Athens, Ohio.

(KELSEY BOEING | DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY)

10 / MARCH. 3, 2021

MAC. They can shoot from any range and can run up the score even on an off night. Preston is the commander on the court, leading the Bobcats in points and assists per game, and is second in rebounds. He is unselfish with the ball and will gladly pass it off if he’s under pressure.

Preston and senior Dwight Wilson III are Ohio’s motors on offense. They are the only two shooting more than 50% from the field, and Wilson has only missed half or more of his shot attempts twice this season. Wilson cracks double digits in almost every game and is unrivaled when shooting in the paint.

Ben Roderick, unhampered by injury like in his freshman season, has become Ohio’s go-to 3-point shooter. He and Ben Vander Plas are both shooting 4% more accurately from behind the arc compared to last season. The pair are shooting 33.6% and 40.2%, respectively, from 3-point range in 2020-2021.

Ohio’s final starter, Lunden McDay, is a jack of all trades. He shoots decently from the field and is neck-andneck with Vander Plas when shooting 3-pointers. McDay has also developed a strong mid-range shot, which gives him versatility at any spot on the court.

The starting five are Ohio’s bread and butter, but there is still an ace in the hole.

The power on Ohio’s bench cannot be overlooked. Since Ohio began its sixgame win streak, it has granted more playtime to those who need the confidence boost. When Preston and Wilson were sidelined against Akron on Feb. 23, Boals pulled from deep in his roster to cover the loss. The results spoke for themselves. Ohio whipped Akron 90-73, and the conference got a look on just what the reserves can do.

“I think it’s really good for those guys because they’ve had an up and down year from a playing time standpoint,” Boals said. “Anytime you get those types of players that are your ninth, 10th, 11th or 12th guy … and they see success, it’s just going to help everybody.”

Mark Sears is a de facto sixth starter. The freshman ranks behind only the starting five in points per game as well as average minutes on the court and even beats out McDay and Vander Plas in field goal percentage. Even among the seasoned veterans, Sears stands out.

Boals recognized this and put him front and center when Preston was out with a lower leg injury for four games.

In those games, Sears averaged 14.25 points, eight assists and 4.25 rebounds.

His performance set a new standard for himself, and Boals has weaved him in

with the starters more often.

Sears isn’t the only one who has been granted more play time. Fellow freshman Jalen White and junior Rifen Miguel have become off-the-bench players who Boals has placed more faith in as of late.

In the game against Akron, Miguel’s stubbornness on defense was vital.

He wasn’t afraid of getting physical to deny Akron a chance to score. Although he was taken out of the game due to five personal fouls, Miguel had stalled enough to keep the Zips behind for the remainder of the game.

Before Ohio’s quarantine ended, White was a rarity on the court. He averaged just over six minutes per game and had a combined 11 points on the season. In nine minutes of playtime against Akron, he nearly doubled that total. The freshmen went 3-for-3 on 3-pointers against the Zips, a definite confidence booster for a man without much playtime.

White and Miguel, while still playing minor roles, have found their niches on Ohio’s roster. Players who are effective in short bursts will be a godsend in the MAC Tournament. They can come off the bench, score a few points or stop a scoring run while the starting five recuperate on the bench.

Ohio has worked a balancing act this past month. It has struggled to stay at full strength, and COVID-19 worsens the problem. But its roster is young and has grown up fast. The players on the bench are coming into their own, and the starters have struck a balance between their combined talents.

A week remains until the Bobcats take the floor in Cleveland. Anything can happen in a week, and anyone can be sidelined due to COVID-19. If that happens, the Bobcats don’t need to worry. They’ve got a few tricks up their sleeves.

@THEJACKGLECKLER JG011517@OHIO.EDU

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Cheering Each Other On J.L. KIRVEN SPORTS EDITOR When it comes to basketball at Ohio, the Bobcats are a family. And recently, the family business has been booming.

For the second season in a row, both Ohio men’s and women’s teams are headed to Cleveland for a shot at winning the Mid-American Conference Tournament. And even though they won’t be playing together, the special bond the two squads have could provide a unique advantage.

For example, in last season’s women’s MAC quarterfinal, Ohio played Western Michigan in front of zero fans, but nobody said the men’s team couldn’t be there.

And even though the men’s team took up about 20 spots in a Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse full of empty seats, the guys made their presence felt in the women’s team’s biggest moment. Ohio beat Western Michigan 84-75, thanks to its traveling O-Zone.

When Cece Hooks would shoot, the men would cheer, but when the Broncos tried to muster offense, the Bobcats would yell, tease and create chaos in the stands.

Most schools have men’s and women’s basketball teams, but not everyone is as close as Ohio basketball. And it’s willing to put its bond up against anybody in the country.

“I don’t know if there’s a program in the country that has a men’s staff and a women’s staff that cheers for each other more than we do,” Ohio women’s coach Bob Boldon said earlier this season. “It’s genuine, and they’re great guys. I hope nothing but the best for them.”

At Ohio, the men’s and women’s team try to be as connected as possible.

There’s no Bobcats and Lady Bobcats.

Everyone, man or woman, who came to Athens came to ball. And that mindset is shared.

12 / MARCH 4, 2021

Despite being coached by two different men, both Ohio squads sort of mirrored each other this season. Their records, 13-7, 9-5 MAC for the men and 12-7-10-6 MAC for the women, are similar. Both teams are led by stellar point guards, both went on winning streaks around the same time and both had fought battles with COVID-19.

Going through the same issues is another way the teams are capable of

bonding. In The Convo, the men and women share so much of the courtand training facilities equipment it’s impossible not to strike up a conversation.

“We’ve talked about life, cartoons, whatever it might be,’’ Boldon said.

Part of the reason why Boldon is so high on the men’s team is because he has a connection with its head coach, Jeff Boals. Boldon and Boals’ offices are close to each other, but when Boals set up shop two years ago, Boldon already knew his new coworker pretty well. “(Boldon) and I are both from Northeast Ohio,” Boals said. “We were both at Akron as assistants together, so I’ve known Bob for a while.”

From 2006-2008, Boals and Boldon each served as assistants in the same program with hopes of running their own programs one day. The pair seem

to have set their roots in Athens. Boals called Ohio his dream job the day he was introduced. And Boldon is without question the best women’s coach in program history.

“I think, number one, it starts with Bob,” Boals said. “He’s a phenomenal person and, obviously, a great coach.”

When Ohio travels to Cleveland next week for the MAC Tournament, both teams will face tough odds. The bracket is deep on both sides, and neither the men or the women are favored. But like multiple times in the past, they’ll feed off one another and support each other.

Like a family.

@JL_KIRVEN JK810916@OHIO.EDU

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MEN’S BASKETBALL

Road to Cleveland Ohio prepares to face the MAC’s best at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse

JACK GLECKLER SPORTS EDITOR Ohio has booked its ticket to Cleveland.

With their win over Eastern Michigan on Feb. 25, the Bobcats are one of the eight teams that have qualified for the Mid-American Conference Tournament. Unlike previous seasons, only the top eight teams in the conference will qualify, and every game will be played in the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

Bobcats coach Jeff Boals anticipates the three-day tournament to be a free-for-all. Even teams at the top of the conference have slipped up against teams they were predicted to beat. Ball State, who clinched the final spot in the tournament on a 7-8 record, has beaten MAC leader Toledo by 14 points.

“Whoever you play is gonna be good,” Boals said.

“And when you get to that point, your margin for error is smaller. I think from that standpoint, whoever we play is going to be good.”

All eight teams made it to the MAC Tournament for a reason, so The Post broke down how each qualifying team stacks up in the week before they travel to Cleveland:

GRAPHIC BY MARY BERGER 14 / MARCH 4, 2021

TOLEDO

The Rockets are almost untouchable. A 14-4 conference record maintained by a roster boasting the second-best offense and defense in the conference is going to be a tough nut for any team to crack. Their worst loss to a MAC team was a 14-point upset by Ball State. They lost the other two games by seven points or fewer.

Marreon Jackson has been a pain for any team to defend against this season. Toledo’s star guard averages 17.5 points per game and leads the Rockets in assists and steals. Spencer Littleson carries the Rockets behind the arc with a 48.4 3-point percentage, the best in the MAC. Toledo was picked to finish sixth in the conference in the MAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll and has proven that prediction flat wrong.

AKRON

The Zips have lived up to expectations this season.

They are old, experienced and effective. Senior guard Loren Crisitan Jackson leads the MAC with 21.4 points per game, with 30+ point games against both Kent State and Toledo. Enrique Freeman totes 8.8 rebounds per game, placing him second in the conference and raising the Zips’ chances to run up the score.

Akron has also beaten six of the seven other qualifying teams at least once, which provides it with valuable insight. It has firsthand experience with every team and knows what it needs to do to advance.

KENT STATE

The Golden Flashes, much like Toledo, have surpassed expectations this season. They were predicted to

finish seventh in the MAC and now sit tied with Akron for second in the standings.

While Kent State’s offense straddles the middle of the road in the conference, their No. 1 defense more than makes up for it. Its 40 rebounds per game is the second best in the MAC, beaten out by Buffalo by almost four.

The white whales evading the Golden Flashes this season are wins over Toledo and Akron. They have been beaten in every meeting by both teams, which doesn’t spell well for them if they were to advance in the MAC Tournament.

BUFFALO

Buffalo will be entering the MAC Tournament with one thing most of the competition is lacking: depth. Four of its players rank in the top 25 MAC scoring leaders, the most of any team in the tournament. It also has the most productive offense in the conference, averaging 82.9 points per game.

The strength of the Bulls roster centers around Josh Mballa, who leads both the Bulls and the MAC in rebounds, and cracks the conference’s top 15 in scoring and field goal percentage.

A deep and capable Buffalo offense blew out Ohio 8666 on Saturday, days after Ohio had beaten both Akron and Eastern Michigan by a combined 36 points. It can strike fear into even the best defense in the MAC, and that might be Buffalo’s key to success.

OHIO

Ohio has spent its entire season proving it has more to show than it lets on.

It first took then-No. 8 Illinois to the buzzer the day after Thanksgiving, and it was then revealed Ohio wasn’t

the wishy-washy team it was in previous seasons. Jason Preston and Ben Vander Plas had grown into their roles as starters, and transfer Dwight Wilson III provided a necessary presence in the paint.

After a heated loss to Kent State on Jan. 16, the Bobcats went on a six-game win streak that was briefly interrupted by a COVID-19 lockdown. Due to the lockdown, they were forced to play three rescheduled games over five days, which wore them down enough for Buffalo to snap their streak Feb. 27.

Despite the loss, Ohio is in a decent position for the tournament. If it can pull off a win against Bowling Green in its final game of the regular season, it will enter Cleveland on the upswing.

BOWLING GREEN

2020-2021 has been a tough season for the Falcons.

They were predicted to finish first in the conference, but a six-game crash through January and February sent them crashing through the floor.

However, it seems to have rebounded from its skid and fanagled four straight wins heading into the final week of the regular season. Justin Turner has scored double digits in every single game this season, cementing him as one of the most offensively capable players in the conference.

Alongside Turner, Daeqwon Plowden has averaged 12.1 points per game in his senior season and has the best field goal percentage among Falcons who have played in all 23 games. Bowling Green may have hit a bump on the road, but its trip to Cleveland might not end so quickly.

will bring to Cleveland. They average a meager 72.2 points per game, worse than even Central Michigan, who has won six games this season.

But that’s just the thing. Offense isn’t the key.

Miami’s strength lies in its defense. It has allowed 71.1 points per game, which has won it games against Bowling Green and Ball State. The margin for error is slim, but Miami might be able to pull off an upset if the defense holds on.

BALL STATE

The Cardinals are the only team this season to have earned a spot in the tournament with a record below .500, but it’s the wins that make them a wild card.

Ball State has taken down Toledo, Kent State and Bowling Green this season. Senior guard Ishmael ElAmin has averaged 16.2 points per game this season and put up 33 points against Central Michigan on Feb. 27. If Ball State has any chance of a postseason surge, El-Amin will be the spearhead.

Unpredictability is what makes basketball tournaments interesting, and Ball State has a chance to become the MAC’s Cinderella story.

@THEJACKGLECKLER JG011517@OHIO.EDU

MIAMI

The RedHawks don’t have the firepower other teams

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WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

MACE Madi Mace is up next for Ohio SCOTT THOMAS FOR THE POST Under Bob Boldon’s reign, the Bobcats have always had a top scorer. When he came to Athens in 2013, he had Quiera Lampkins and Kiyanna Black, the third- and fourth-leading scorers in program history. Amani Burke, the leading threepoint scorer in program history, came after them, followed by the three-headed monster of CeCe Hooks, Gabby Burris and Erica Johnson.

With time running out on the careers of those players, the question has to be asked: who’s next?

Enter Madi Mace.

Mace, a redshirt freshman from Parkersburg, West Virginia, has exploded onto the scene as one of the best players off Ohio’s bench. In the wake of knee injuries to Peyton Guice and Erica Johnson, Mace has been moved into a starting role.

She has been instrumental to the success of the Bobcats even without Johnson and Guice. Since entering the starting lineup, Mace has played even better. In the last three games, she has averaged 14 points and eight rebounds.

Her workhorse attitude has made her one of the top rebounders on the team and has led to many second-chance points for her. It also has led to praise from her coaches and teammates long before she cracked the starting lineup.

In Ohio’s huge comeback win over Buffalo, Mace was one the most vocal players in the huddle despite being at a double-digit deficit for most of the game.

“I give it all to Madi because Madi kept telling us we can win the game,” Hooks said after the comeback. “She kept fighting. She kept going hard. I feel like we fed off Madi’s energy by her telling us that we can win.”

In a season without fans, it’s up to the team to create its respectively, in Ohio’s last two wins.

Rebounding has been a typical struggle for a long time own energy. Mace is one of the highest-energy players on the floor. She oftentimes will be on the floor diving for re- for the Bobcats. Mace has contributed to a new trend of Ohio out rebounding other teams, something that makes bounds and flat-out hustling the other team.

The attitude and natural talent Mace brings are two Boldon happy.

“The first thing (he mentions) when coach Bob comes things Ohio had been searching for since Burke graduated last season. Mace has proven she can provide a spark in big into the locker room, the first stat is always rebounding,” Mace said. “If we’re really behind, it’s the worst. You know moments that keeps the team energized and upbeat.

Adding to what she already has, Mace has the oppor- it’s bad.”

As the Bobcats finish out the regular season and head to tunity of playing against some of the best players in the Mid-American Conference and alongside some like Hooks. the MAC Tournament in Cleveland, Mace will have to be one Her experience against the best has brought her huge im- of those players who continues to bring the energy. Ohio hasn’t played since the second week of February, and the provement through the season.

“Watching (Hooks) and being able to play against her has long layoff could either provide a well-rested team or one really helped my game and helped my defense,” Mace said. that looks sloppy and out of touch.

At Mace’s first conference tournament, Hooks and John“I could not move my feet before, and then I had to come in and guard CeCe, and I was like, ‘Oh, crap. I better learn how son will most likely blow up the stat sheet and score the most points. Mace will be quietly waiting in the wings, waitto play defense.’”

Mace also relies on some of the older role players, like ing for her opportunity to prove she’s next for Ohio.

Hunter Rogan and Abby Garnett, when she finds herself out of place or confused on an assignment. @SCOTT_CTHOMAS11 Of course, no freshman in a new system is going to be ST610417@OHIO.EDU perfect. Moving to a new level of play often brings new challenges and creates confusion and turnovers. At the beginning of the season, Mace was riddled with those turnovers.

In the beginning of the season, Mace struggled against two of the top teams in the MAC, Ball State and Central Michigan with five turnovers in each of those games. Just two weeks late, she shined against Akron with only one turnover to counter her four assists.

She has also become one of the best rebounders on the team, especially on the offensive glass. Against Toledo, she had seven offensive boards in just 22 minutes. She also collected four Ohio’s Madi Mace (No. 3) dribbles the ball past Notre Dame’s Dara Mabrey (No. 1) and five offensive rebounds, during the match in The Convo on Friday, Nov. 27, 2020. Ohio won 86-85.

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JUST LISTEN TO JL

Ohio guard Cece Hooks (#1) dribbles past Western Michigan University in the second quarter of a match held at the Convocation Center on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021. (NATE SWANSON | PHOTO EDITOR)

Greatest of All Time Ohio prepares to face the MAC’s best at the Rocket Don’t believe everything you hear.

Mortgage FieldHouse Hooks went off for 28 points J.L. KIRVEN SPORTS EDITOR

When CeCe Hooks steps onto the court Saturday to face archrival Miami, it could be for the final time as a Bobcat. The senior point guard has an extra year of eligibility due to the trials athletes have had to face due to COVID-19, but if Hooks decides to hang up her white Adidas, then it’s important to recognize her place in Ohio basketball history now rather than later.

And that spot is at the very top.

When Hooks leaves Ohio, she will leave as the best player in program history, even if she doesn’t have every stat to prove it. Hooks knew coming in she had the potential to be a program-defining player. Since high school, she 18 / MARCH 4, 2021

has often been the best player on the court, making her jersey number almost ironic.

Wearing No. 1 is such a powerful statement that some teams won’t even let a player have it. You can’t wear No. 1 and be a bum. So when Hooks decided to don the number her freshman season, she was subconsciously telling everyone whose show it was.

There’s no athlete at Ohio I’ve watched more than Hooks. I’ve fluctuated between multiple beats throughout the years, but women’s basketball has been a constant.

In fact, the first women’s basketball game I covered was Feb. 3, 2018, Hooks’ first collegiate start.

I remember arriving at The Convo. All I heard was Ohio was going to lose to Ball State and that nothing special was going to happen.

and 11 rebounds. Ohio never trailed. I was dumbfounded.

In the postgame presser, Hooks talked about how excited she was to start but that it didn’t change how she felt. No matter when she’s on the court, she plans to leave her mark on the game.

Ever since that game, Ohio has felt like Hooks’ team. While Erica Johnson has proved to be an Ohio legend in her own right, Hooks gives opposing teams nightmares.

When you analyze Ohio’s roster, a particular ability is usually associated with each player. For Johnson, it’s her offensive versatility. Peyton Guice’s basketball IQ comes to mind. Caitlyn Kroll has settled into her role as a shooter. But for Hooks, the way she plays on both ends of the court makes it impossible

to label her.

Defensively, Hooks is the best Ohio’s ever had. You could watch any Ohio game and quickly see that when it comes to playing defense, Hooks is like a defensive back and center fielder in one. If you bring the ball near her, she’s going to take it.

This season, Hooks leads the Mid-American Conference in steals per game (3.1) like she has every year. For four seasons, Hooks has terrorized ballhanders and made the Ohio steals record her own personal Lego to break and put together again. Hooks’ record currently stands at 374, 145 more than the next best (Quiera Lampkins’ 229).

But Hooks is more than just a defender.

Despite winning the MAC Defensive Player of the Year two years in a row, Hooks has solidified herself as one of Ohio’s best scorers. This season, Hooks leads the conference in points per game (25.7), and she’s second in points for program history.

Hooks will need another season to catch Caroline Mast’s school record 2,449 points.

To start the season, Hooks was in fifth place behind Mast, Lampkins, Kiyanna Black and Laura Reding, but her 2,031 points are in reach of Mast’s with a fifth season.

So I know what you’re thinking, shouldn’t Mast still be considered the best?

No. While Caroline Mast was a phenomenal player — her jersey hangs high in The Convo, just in case you didn’t know — I believe Hooks edges her out. But it’s close.

Mast is the superior scorer, no question about it. Hooks could break the record, but it would take more games than Mast played to reach 2,450. But if you’re going to count games, you have to acknowledge roles.

Over her four seasons at Ohio, Mast played with Marti Heckman. Heckman was a solid scorer, but her main role on offense was to feed Mast the ball. That role provided Heckman to amass 810 assists over her career, a program record.

Hooks doesn’t have the luxury of only being a scorer. As point guard, Hooks has to find and create opportunities for her teammates.

She can not only score with the best, but she can share. Add that to her defensive prowess, and she has to be No. 1.

Over my four years of covering CeCe Hooks, not once have I been bored watching her play.

No matter the opponent, Hooks does what she can to prove that she’s the best. I’ve seen the game-winners, the steals, the reverse finishes, and I can say with 100% certainty ...

CeCe Hooks is the best player in program history.

J.L. Kirven is a senior studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk to J.L.? Email him at jk810916@ohio.edu.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Intolerable Acts Anyone in Cleveland’s organization who covered up Mickey Callaway’s behavior should be fired WILL CUNNINGHAM is a sophomore studying journalism at Ohio University On Tuesday morning, a report came out in The Athletic that people both high up in the organization of Cleveland’s baseball team and in the MLB knew about Mickey Callaway’s inappropriate behavior.

For those who do not know, Callaway is currently the pitching coach for the Los Angeles Angels, but he served in that position in Cleveland’s farm system and then with the MLB team from 2010 to 2017. In early February, an article in The Athletic told the stories of multiple women who claimed Callaway had sexually harassed them. This report led to Callaway being put on leave by the Angels while the investigation was ongoing.

When it came to Cleveland, there was one big question about Callaway. The incidents had allegedly started when he was with the team, but we did not know if the organization knew about his behavior.

Tuesday’s story puts that question to rest. According to the report, not only did people inside Cleveland’s organization know about the behavior, but it was also reported to the league office, and nothing was done about it.

This calls into question the role that Cleveland’s major management figures had in covering up Callaway’s behavior.

Cleveland has been lucky that, over the past decade or so, they have had one of the best management trios in baseball in manager Terry Francona, general manager Mike Chernoff and president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti. Francona has managed the team since 2013, while Chernoff and Antonetti have served in their positions since 2015 but have been with the team for much longer than that.

These three have been able to keep Cleveland performing at a high level and consistently making the playoffs despite the frugal spending of the team’s owners. From a baseball perspective, they are great at what they do, and as a fan, I am grateful they have kept the team competitive despite being financially restricted.

However, with all that being said, if any

of them knew about Callaway’s behavior and did nothing, they should be fired immediately. Covering up things like sexual harassment is what contributes to the systemic culture of abuse in sports, and anyone who has helped to cover it up has no place in the industry.

There have been countless examples in sports similar to what is happening with Cleveland, but the two who most readily come to mind are Joe Paterno and Jim Tressel. Paterno was fired after it became clear he covered up Jerry Sandusky’s sexual abuse of children, and Tressel resigned due to his cover up of benefit violations committed by Ohio State players.

They are two of the greatest college football coaches of all time, and their cases prove no matter how good you are at your job, there have to be consequences for covering up the truth.

Francona denied the allegations in a press conference Tuesday, and Antonetti previously said the team had no knowledge of Callaway’s behavior prior to the original report being released in February.

Unfortunately, it is increasingly hard to believe that’s the case. As Tuesday’s report suggests, it would have been virtually impossible for Cleveland’s front office not to know about what Callaway was doing. If they knew, and did nothing, they deserve to be fired as soon as possible.

The bottom line is that every single person in Cleveland’s organization who knew about Callaway’s behavior and did nothing should be fired. If that hurts the team on the field, then so be it, but there must be consequences, and the team must show that covering up the truth will not be tolerated.

Will Cunningham is a sophomore studying journalism at Ohio University.

Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk to Will? Tweet him @ willocunningham.

GET INVOLVED

Create a profile on Bobcat Connect: ohio.campuslabs.com/engage

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 19

SOCCER

SEASON PREVIEW The Bobcats kick off their season against archrival Miami

day feeling as well as what the season may bring in a scrimmage against Xavier at the Xavier University Soccer Complex last week.

Ohio now looks to begin a 10-game conference-only regular season as the 2021 schedule has been cut short and altered because of COVID-19. The Bobcats will play each team in the East Division of the MAC twice with teams including Miami, Bowling Green, Akron, Kent State and Buffalo.

The first game will take place Thursday at home against Miami. The last time the two teams faced off was Oct. 24, 2019, when Ohio came out on top 5-2 in Oxford. The Bobcats look to do the same this week and get a good start to a much-awaited season.

The Bobcats need to start strong and keep the momentum going as they look

ahead at a chance to play in the MAC Championship game, which will take place April 17. It won’t be easy for the Bobcats to dodge COVID-19, but they will do as much as they can to stay safe and healthy in hopes of a chance in the postseason.

@MARIAMONESII MM017019@OHIO.EDU

MARIA MONESI FOR THE POST Ohio has waited a long time to step foot on the soccer field again and finally has its opportunity for a season this spring. Coach Aaron Rodgers’ eighth season at the helm commences when the Bobcats face Miami at home Thursday at 3 p.m.

A LOOK BACK

The Mid-American Conference made the decision to cancel fall sports in August due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. It was decided playing was still unsafe for the teams, and there were too many unknowns about everything going on.

The decision wasn’t easy on athletes, and the season cancelation made the last time Ohio played a regular season game be November 2019. The Bobcats’ final record for the 2019-2020 season was 11-9-1. Ohio came up short in the MAC Tournament Semifinals after a 5-2 loss to Eastern Michigan.

CONTINUING THE MOMENTUM

The 11 wins Ohio had last season was its most since 2002. The team is looking to build on that momentum into this season.

Ohio will have to find success and build chemistry early with many new players coming in and getting a feel for what being a part of this team is like. Ohio’s six seniors — Sarina Dirrig, Konstantina Giannou, Paige Knorr, Sydney Malham, Paige Pappanastos and Jenni Santacaterina — are the foundation of the team.

A LOOK AHEAD

The Bobcats got a glimpse of the game

20 / MARCH 4, 2021

Ohio University defender Olivia Sensky (#3) looks up field to pass the ball during the Bobcats’ home game against Robert Morris on Friday, Sept. 13, 2019. (KELSEY BOEING | DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY)

NEWS BRIEFS

OU to hold in-person spring commencement; Board of Trustees objects to Faculty Senate special committee report regarding Yusuf Kalyango ABBY MILLER NEWS EDITOR OU to hold optional in-person commencement ceremonies

Ohio University announced Wednesday it will hold multiple in-person commencement ceremonies for the class of 2021.

The ceremonies, taking place for five days between April 29 to May 3, will also have live streams available for those who do not want to attend amid the coronavirus pandemic. Graduates must RSVP and will then be assigned a specific day and ceremony.

OU plans to gather students into groups by their colleges in order to allow students to graduate with their friends, Jenny Hall-Jones, interim vice president for student affairs and dean of students, said. At each ceremony held in Peden Stadium, students will be allowed a maximum of two guests and will only stand when their name is called to maintain social distancing. There will be no processional or recessional, Hall-Jones said.

Also during each commencement, names of those attending in-person will be announced first, followed by those viewing the ceremony remotely.

Those on regional campuses and in the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine will also have commencement ceremonies. Regional campuses will hold graduation recognition activities April 29 or 30, according to a university news release, and HCOM students will have commencement May 8.

OU also plans on announcing plans for the class of 2020 before the end of the semester, as those graduates did not receive a virtual or in-person commencement ceremony yet.

Hall-Jones said students need to keep taking precautions — such as avoiding any possible fests — throughout the semester to ensure commencements can take place.

Faculty Senate special committee to reconsider recommendation on Yusuf Kalyango’s university status

Ohio University’s Board of Trustees voted Monday for Faculty Senate’s special committee to reconsider its recommendation for journalism professor Yusuf Kalyango to retain tenure and full position as a professor.

Kalyango was found, after several investigations by OU’s Office of Equity and Civil Rights Compliance, to have sexually harassed two students. After the release

of the Faculty Senate special committee report, the body as a whole voted for the Board to disregard the committee recommendation.

The meeting was scheduled from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Monday with the bulk of the meeting in executive session. Once the Board returned, Secretary to the Board Dave Moore presented a resolution in which the Board expressed their grave concern over the Faculty Senate committee report. The Board’s concerns surround the committee’s standard of evidence, failure to permit the cross-examination of Kalyango by the university’s representative, failure to define the grounds where findings were made, misunderstanding of the moral turpitude specification in the handbook and review process.

The Board voted to object to the report due to those concerns.

Faculty Senate has 21 days to respond to the objections by submitting a reconsideration to the Board secretary. The report will be discussed at the Board’s upcoming meeting in April.

@ABBLAWRENCE AM166317@OHIO.EDU

POLICE BLOTTER

Trespassers arrested; man’s phone hacked ANNA MILLAR FOR THE POST NOT IN MY HOUSE

The Athens County Sheriff’s Office helped Glouster Police investigate a trespassing report. When deputies arrived, two individuals with existing arrest warrants were found in the abandoned home.

The individuals were arrested and transported away

by Glouster Police.

GOODBYE DOLLY

Deputies responded to a call from North Plains Road in The Plains regarding a stolen car dolly, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office. The dolly was reported to have been taken from the location during the last week.

A report was filed, and the incident is now being investigated.

WRONG WAY

The Athens County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of an individual driving the wrong way on U.S. Route 50 near Athens. Deputies, APD and OSHP searched the area but were unable to find the driver.

HACKER BEWARE

The Athens County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle at Shadow Creek Road in Athens. When deputies arrived, they found an abandoned vehicle on private property. They placed a four-hour tow tag on the vehicle at the property owner’s request.

@ANNAMILLAR16 AM157219@OHIO.EDU

A report was filed with the Athens County Sheriff’s Office in which a man believed his phone was hacked, among other accounts. He said he will be contacting both Apple and Verizon about the issue as well.

SOON TO BE TOWED

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 21

the weekender OU to host social media campaign for International Women’s Day KAYLA BENNETT STAFF WRITER

With the month of March comes International Women’s Month, and this year, OU has decided to host a COVID-19-friendly celebration via Instagram and Twitter.

On March 8, International Women’s Day will be accompanied by a social media campaign, hosted by the Black Student Cultural Programming Board, Center for International Studies, Department of History, International Student and Faculty Services, Multicultural Center and the Women’s Center. Together, the organizations put together a day full of virtual participation for Athens.

This year, the campaign will cover how one can visibly commit to challenging instances of oppression and bias that women are still faced with today. Using Ohio University’s local hashtag #OhioUInternationalWomensDay, or the international hashtags #ChooseToChallenge and #IWD2021, one can post or view posts on social media that are directly geared toward women empowerment.

“We actually have a really robust website that we just released and developed in which we walk through the different ways in which people can participate,” Geneva Murray, director of the Women’s Center, said.

“We’re really following the International Women’s Day 2021 theme because this is a global movement. That theme is ‘Choose to challenge,’ and so they have really asked us to step up collectively to think about what it is that we can do to interrupt bias, but then also we’ve provided additional ways in which people could engage through their online platforms.”

The engagement can be done through seeing what other women are doing to make an impact globally or locally. International Women’s Day is a chance to see how women’s voices have been amplified or minimized, not only because of sex but because of race, ethnicity, homophobia, transphobia, 22 / MARCH 4, 2021

classism, ableism and more. This way, participants can choose how they want to challenge bias and uplift other women’s voices.

The purpose of this day is to not only start a conversation for one day but to start a conversation about the everyday challenges women face.

The advantage of the event being online is it allows participants to be involved in the comforts of their own home. It’s an opportunity to take a chance and try something new. Participation can be simple. People can really regulate how much they participate.

This provides comfort and less hesitation for people to take the step in the direction of empowerment.

“It’s joining the hashtag, joining a thread, responding and also keeping in mind that you have an opportunity to also highlight yourself,” Winsome Chunnu-Brayda, director of the Multicultural Center, said. “So if you do not have the time to do research on a particular woman, serving women or challenges that women are facing –– you can highlight yourself and your accomplishments … and oftentimes, people tend to be shy when it comes to talking about their own accomplishments, but if you’re putting it on paper, if you’re sending a tweet, sometimes that can be easier than actually verbalizing it.”

Chunnu-Brayda feels empowering other women includes empowering oneself. OU students have said they are grateful OU offers an opportunity for women on campus and beyond to be appreciated.

“I feel very accepted on this campus,” Katie Wilson, a freshman studying psychology, said. “There’s a lot of places for me to go. I know there’s a lot of women’s organizations.

Being a part of Greek life, which is a strong group of women, they really emphasize that OU really supports all of that. I think it’s really cool that the university is doing something for International Women’s Day.” Following the campaign, at 6 p.m. on Monday, graduate students at OU who

The Women’s Center is Located on the fourth floor in Baker Center. (MEAGAN HALL | THE POST)

have done extensive research on Mexican feminists, are giving a speech about Mexican women and the social justice impacts they’ve been having within their local areas.

Murray and Chunnu-Brayda encourage anyone and everyone to try out the events taking place on International Women’s Day and let it be the first step to starting their own conversation.

@KKAYYBEN KB084519@OHIO.EDU

IF YOU GO WHAT: Social Media Campaign: International Women’s Day WHERE: Instagram and Twitter WHEN: Monday, March 8, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

ADMISSION: Free

WHAT’S GOING ON?

Dance at Bollywood Night; learn the basics of flameworking ISABEL NISSLEY FOR THE POST

FRIDAY, MARCH 5 Diversity & Inclusion Drop-In Career Corner at 10 a.m., hosted virtually by Ohio University’s Career and Leadership Development Center and Division of Diversity and Inclusion. Get help with career-related needs from career coach Tamika Williams. Sessions are often used to discuss resume feedback or to answer general questions about career development.

Admission: Free Coping Clinic: Feel Good Fridays at 11 a.m., hosted virtually by OU’s Counseling and Psychological Services. Learn about healthy coping skills in a supportive group setting.

Students do not have to be a client with Counseling and Psychological Services or currently located in the state of Ohio to engage in Coping Clinic workshops.

Admission: Free Bollywood Night at 6 p.m., hosted virtually by the OU Hindi language and Asian studies program. Engage with Indian culture and have fun while learning to dance to “Kala Chashma.” Varalinka Srivastava of the Thumak Dance Company will lead the event.

Admission: Free

SATURDAY, MARCH 6 Athens Farmers Market at 9 a.m., hosted by Athens Farmers Market, 1002 E. State St. Shop for locally grown and locally made foods and goods at the farmers market. The market accepts SNAP, credit cards and wholesome wave. Masks are recommended, and social distancing protocols are in place.

ing Lot at Strouds Run State Park.

Help fix a bridge on the Hickory Trail to better hiking conditions. It is recommended participants wear good footwear and bring gloves.

Admission: Free Level One Flameworking at 11 a.m., hosted by Hocking Makers Network, 3301 Hocking Parkway, Nelsonville. Learn the basics of flameworking and make a mushroom pendant. The pendants will be available to be picked up Sunday.

Instructor Sabrina Suman will lead the class.

Admission: $35

SUNDAY, MARCH 7 “Headshot Marathon with Erica Matheny Photography at 11 a.m., hosted by Erica Matheny Photography. Get a headshot photo taken for free at the Athens Fairfield Inn, 924 E. State St. Participants must book an appointment through the Erica Matheny Photography website.

Admission: Free “Women of Appalachia Project” Fine Art Exhibition at 12 p.m., hosted by the Dairy Barn Art Center, 8000 Dairy Lane. Explore art created by a diverse group of women. The “ Women of Appalachia Project” encourages the making of art that shares artists’ culture and experiences, addressing issues of stereotypes and marginalization.

Reservations to view the exhibit can be made through the Dairy Barn website.

Admission: $5, free for Dairy Barn members

@ISABELNISSLEY IN566119@OHIO.EDU

Admission: Free Fix Hickory Trail at 10 a.m., hosted by the Athens Bicycle Club in the Thunderbunny Trailhead Park-

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