VOL. 100 – ISSUE 9
THE TRUMPET
NOVEMBER 12, 2020
WEST LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
WLU’s Student News Source
President-Elect Joe Biden wins the US 2020 election against President Donald Trump - pg. 3 WLU runner Brenden Sands stays positive despite COVID-19 setbacks - pg. 13 @WLTrumpetOnline @thetrumpetwestliberty @thetrumpetwlu
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WEST LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
THE TRUMPET
NEWS
COVER BY: WIKIPEDIA COMMONS
CULTURE
Photo Credits: Justin Geery
Wheeling restaurant, Avenue Eats, suffered major damages caused by fire pg. 6
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Photo Credits: WLU Media Relations West Liberty’s creative videographer, Jared Thompson, shares his love for the hilltop with campus community pg. 5
Photo Credits: Google Creative Commons License
US Gymnastics should’ve been gone years ago, why does it still exist? pg. 12
THE TRUMPET
The Student Voice of the Hilltop
The Trumpet’s mission is to provide WLU students of all majors an opportunity to learn how to gather and present news information to the campus community, and to serve the WLU community with fair and accurate reporting on matters of significance and interest.
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NOVEMBER 12, 2020
NEWS
NEWS
Editor-in-Chief: Annalise Murphy
PAGE 3
- anmurphy@westliberty.edu
President-Elect Joe Biden wins the US 2020 election against President Donald Trump
As per the Associated
Press, Joe Biden will be the next President of the United States. Biden pulled ahead of current President Donald Trump in the popular vote and surpassed the 270 threshold of electoral college votes needed to secure the Presidency. Last week was spent watching results trickle in from several key swing states as mailin were counted. On Friday it was announced that Biden had secured enough of the vote to win the electoral college. Votes are still being counted in several states, but Biden’s lead is now past the point of return hence the election being called in his favor by the AP. In states where the gap between the two candidates is less than 1%, a recount will likely take place. However, recounts rarely change the total count by more than a couple hundred
votes so the likelihood of this changing the outcome of the election is slim. The way of voting for president has had its changes due to COVID and has also presented challenges as well. Voting deadlines for an application to mail in votes was for Oct. 28 and submissions by mail as well as in person voting was for Nov. 3. West Virginia, much like other states, held early voting and absentee and mail-in voting. Voters were still able to mail their absentee ballot if it was postmarked by election day and received by Nov. 9. “All West Virginia voters had the option to vote absentee if they had concerns of COVID-19. During early voting, 253,243 votes were cast. We enter today (Nov. 3) with 394,476 ballots already cast in West Virginia,” said Deputy Press Secretary Jennifer Gardner. The impacts of COVID-19 have resulted in a rise in people who voted earlier this year or through the mail. According to Dr. Brian Fitzpatrick, from West Liberty’s political science department, roughly 150 to 160
Art Created by: Samantha Snyder million people were expected to vote in this year’s election and about 100 million had already voted prior to election.
first black, and first Vice President of South Asian descent. She will replace Trump’s Vice President, Mike Pence.
Trump has made claims of election fraud and rigging but they have no foundation. He is yet to concede the race to Biden which contrasts customary practice. However, foreign leaders have been in contact with Biden to congratulate him on the victory.
Democrats maintained control of the House of Representatives, but the Senate race is still undecided as Georgia will head into two run-off elections in January to decide their Senators.
The Biden campaign’s victory also sees Kamala Harris make history as the first female,
Republicans need to win the Senate in order to prevent the Democrats from holding the Presidency and both legislative bodies.
NOVEMBER 12, 2020
PAGE 4
NEWS
West Liberty University announces a virtual commencement ceremony for all fall 2020 graduates West Liberty University has decided to make the 2020 fall commencement ceremony completely virtual in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19, which is similar to what the University did for the Spring of 2020 graduates. As of today, 133 students are expected to complete their degree requirements, and nearly 35 summer graduates will be taking part in the virtual fall ceremony. WLU Director of Media Relations provided a comment on behalf of President Greiner. “We regret that once again our Commencement Ceremony will have to be virtual due to the pandemic, but it is the best choice for our students and their families. I congratulate all seniors who have persevered through these unusual times and earned their degrees despite COVID-19 and I wish them the very best in their future,” said President Greiner.
Scott Cook, Vice President
of Student Services and Registrar, sent an email out to all graduating seniors on Oct. 19 saying, “holding an in-person event on campus this fall was not possible.” He also stated that students graduating this December will be invited back to campus for the Spring 2021 commencement ceremony, if the university is able to hold an in-person ceremony when Spring arrives. Graduating students should expect an email containing a link to view the ceremony on TopperStation in the near future.
Station’s executive director, Theresa Gretchen, is collecting photos of all graduating seniors through email to create a visual image of all graduates. Cook is asking students to submit their photos to Gretchen by email at tgretchen1@westliberty.edu in their cap and gowns no later than Nov. 20 if they wish to be included in the virtual ceremony.
“Greiner will preside at the virtual ceremony as one of his last official duties of his unique presidency which has included two unexpected delays to his planned retirement date due to COVID-19. He expects to retire at the end of the fall semester,” said WLU Director of Media Relations.
The date for graduation has changed from the date originally set for the in-person ceremony on Nov. 21 and will now take place virtually through TopperStation and WLU social After final grades and media outlets on Saturday, Dec. 5, requirements are reviewed and 2020 at 11 a.m. recorded, graduates can expect to Since the Fall 2020 gradreceive their diplomas by to their uation ceremony is not being permanent address by mail someheld on campus, the fee has been time in January 2021. reduced and should have been Many students have mixed added to graduating seniors acemotions and feelings about gradcounts sometime within the last uation being done virtually rather few days of October. than in person. According to WLU DiSenior Social Work student, rector of Media Relations, Topper
Madisson Perdue is not in favor of graduation being virtual and thinks that enough information is known about COVID-19 to safely allow for an in-person ceremony. She stated most people know the symptoms of the infectious disease and feels there are procedures the university could put in place to accommodate the COVID-19 guidelines.
“Virtual graduation is disrespectful and dishonorable to all members involved, no matter how it’s conducted. For some graduating this semester, they are the first within their families to ever receive a college degree. Some of these students are breaking the detrimental cycle of poverty and becoming the best person they can,” said Perdue. On the contrary, some students are in agreement with the university’s decision to host the graduation ceremony virtually. Jasmyn King is also a Social Work student, but she differs in opinion with Perdue. “Due to the public mandates and safety concerns, I agree with virtual graduations. While it would be nice to walk across the stage and receive my diploma, my future and the future of our country depends on more than receiving acknowledgment for my achievements,” said King.
May 2020 College of Arts and Communication students attending their graduation via Zoom. Photo Credits: WLU Media Relations
For more information regarding graduation, please email Scott Cook at cook.scot@ westliberty.edu or Maureen Zambito at maureen.zambito@ westliberty.edu.
NOVEMBER 12, 2020
NEWS
PAGE 5
West Liberty Presidential Candidates continue to visit campus this week West Liberty University continues its search for president this week with the last two candidates visiting campus. Dr. Jay Gatrell visited campus on Nov. 5 and visited with staff, faculty, students, and participated in a campus tour. Around 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 5, a meeting strictly for students took place in Kelly Theatre. Only one student showed up to the meeting, and the recording of the student meeting can be viewed via TopperStation by To start the meeting, Dr. Gatrell talked about where he currently works, past job experiments in the field of education, and why he wants to be a part of the West Liberty University community. Currently, Dr. Gatrell is the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Eastern Illinois University, where he also works as a Geography professor. Previous to working at Eastern Illinois, he has had the honor of working for a number of institutions where he held several academic roles throughout the years. To view more information on his previous job experiences, please visit this link to view his full CV. Dr. Gatrell shared one of the reasons West Liberty is important to him is, “primarily the undergraduate focus. That is a unique type of institution. It is an institution that focuses on the faculty student relationship.” He went on further to explain that the student professor ratio offered here at West Liberty is special because it
creates opportunities to expand and grow more, whereas bigger universities have more moving parts, which makes creating a student-professor connection more difficult to achieve.
Dr. Gatrell feels that the leadership of the university has to be engaged, and that he would “reconnect in an intentional and meaningful way” with the community of West Liberty. In the time of a global pandemic, picking a new president has proven to have some bumps in the road. However, Dr. Gatrell stated that he feels listening to the science regarding COVID-19 will help create strategies to help the community get back to normal. Overall, Dr. Gatrell shared his love for West Liberty. “I think there is a lot of opportunity here. I think it’s a great institution. It’s a beautiful campus. And, it’s part of a world that I know.” Said Dr. Gatrell. Be sure to voice your opinion by submitting a “Your Voice Matters” for each candidate. Please note that you must use and have access to your West Liberty email, you can only complete each form once, and your submission will be anonymous. If you would like to manually complete a form, please visit westliberty.edu/bog/, and scroll to the bottom of the page can click on the “Your Voice Matters” link. Manual forms can be dropped off at Shaw Hall, Room 107. For more information on the presidential search, please email West Liberty’s Director of Media Relations at maureen.zambito@westliberty.edu.
Dr. Gatrell at the student meeting in Kelly Theatre on Nov. 5 Photo Credits: Annalise Murphy
Photo Credits: WLU Media Relations
On Tuesday, Nov. 10, West Liberty University presidential candidate Dr. Michael Victor visited the WLU campus and held an open meeting for students, faculty and the community. The meeting took place in the Kelly Theatre in the Fine Arts building and was also accessible to view through Zoom. A recording of the meeting is now also available to view on Topper Station. Students were encouraged to participate in the meeting and ask questions. Dr. Victor is from Erie, Pennsylvania, where he has served as Mercyhurst University’s twelfth president for the past five years; beginning his tenure in August of 2015. He has also worked as a lawyer and led his family owned telecommunications production business’s chief executive office; after serving as CEO, Dr. Victor sold the business and pursued his dreams of being a college professor. He went on to teach business at Mercyhurst University, eventually filling the role of dean of the college of business. As a university president, Dr. Victor puts his energy and focus into fundraising for his schools and giving that money back to the student population by enhancing their overall experience at the college. When work-
ing for Mercyhurst, Dr. Victor made it his mission to restore the university’s brand, build consumable amenities, sports tracks, new collaborative spaces, and leading campus beautification projects; he prides himself in taking his role quite seriously, citing his strength in being a personable candidate. “I’m an accessible president. I walk around and am visible. I’m anxious to talk to students and engage with them, even be a mentor if they seek that kind of relationship out.” Dr. Victor spoke highly of the potential he saw in the campus; “It has great programs, it looks good, and it’s within great proximity to my family. I think I can do something really meaningful to enhance West Liberty’s student experience; let’s renovate the union, make the library and convenience stores open 24/7, provide new dining facilities and options. I’m deeply interested in this university, and impressed with it’s students and setting. The athletic facilities are spectacular, we just need to make some tweaks here and there to really deliver a fun and meaningful student experience.” Dr. Victor often spoke of how important the student experience is to him .“Engagement with students is paramount to the success of our university.” “Everything is to be geared toward the student, the faculty are here for the student, and so is the president, all to help them learn, grow, and prepare for their life and career.”
NOVEMBER 12, 2020
PAGE 6
NEWS
Wheeling restaurant, Avenue Eats, suffered major damages caused by fire Contributing Writer:
Justin Geery
A local restaurant favorite, Avenue Eats, unexpectedly caught fire early Sunday morning (Nov. 1, 2020) causing devastating losses. The Wheeling Fire Department received an emergency call around 5 a.m. Sunday morning. Firefighters arrived at the corner of Washington Avenue and Valley-View Avenue to find the structure ablaze. The Wheeling Fire Department released a statement regarding this tragedy: “When firefighters arrived on scene, there was heavy fire coming from the rear of the structure and the roof area. The building housed the neighborhood eatery ‘Avenue Eats’ and residential apartments. No one was hurt and the building is a complete loss.” It appears that the fire started in the rear of the building. At this time, The Wheeling Fire Department does not know the cause of the fire, but is investigating it further. Avenue Eats released a statement on their Facebook page saying “We are scared for our future, worried for our staff and while we want to say, we’ll be
‘okay’, it honestly doesn’t feel like that right now.” Locals of the Ohio Valley area have most likely heard of or have been to Avenue Eats. The hamburger restaurant has been a local eatery for years, but has also attracted attention from outside of the Ohio Valley. Google reviews from travelers can be found on Google. The restaurant has a 4.7 star rating. The community has had an unbelievable response to the loss. Community members have organized GoFundMe pages to support the restaurant and the girls living above it who lost everything in the fire. Over $17,000 in donations have been made to aid the restaurant, as well as over $10,000 to support the roommates Sierra and Haley. Thankfully, both tenants were not in the apartment building when it caught fire. With the suffering tragedy, it is unlikely to determine the owner’s next steps. Locals can only hope that Avenue Eats will return back to business in the future. For more infomation on this article, please contact the author at jgeery@westliberty.edu.
Pictured above is the now burned Avenue Eats restaurant Photo Credits: Justin Geery
CULTURE
CULTURE
NOVEMBER 12, 2020
PAGE 7
Culture Editor: Hanna Perry - heperry@westliberty.edu
West Liberty’s creative videographer, Jared Thompson, shares his love for the hilltop with campus community Contributing Writer:
Olivia Romick
Jared Thompson took a marketing position at West Liberty in 2018. He balances his job of Creative Video Director with teaching various classes on campus and running a video production service on the weekends. The day after Thompson graduated from West Liberty University, he was hired with the campus TV station (WLUTV), and he has since remained here. Thompson says convincing students to participate in campus videos is easy, which is something he loves about West Liberty. With the recent pandemic, he is forced to find new ways to film and photograph campus activities. He graduated from WLU in 2009 with an undergraduate degree in Digital Media Design and then completed a Master of Arts in Education in 2013, also from WLU. In
2018 he continued his education by earning an MFA in Film from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. Thompson commented, “I love learning and want to go for another degree soon!” Though his full-time job is being Creative Video Director, Thompson also teaches several classes for WLU which results in a lot of hours outside of his 8-4 job. He also runs his own video production business that takes up a lot of his weekends and evenings when he has no classes. To balance this hectic schedule, Thompson says, the best way I manage is to always schedule some me time and to plan for it.” Thompson says he loves traveling to State Parks or finding local places to explore nature. He added, “I find that keeps me grounded especially when the semester gets the most hectic.” “For anyone who feels overwhelmed by the pressures of their job and/or schoolwork, I always advise scheduling time just for you.”
Thompson’s job as Creative Video Director allowed him to shoot a video showing the aerial view of West Liberty’s campus. Thompson said this video was one of his proudest accomplishments. The video can be viewed on West Liberty’s Home page. Photo Credits: Jared Thompson
E a rning the title of Creative Video Director entails taking photos in classrooms and clubs that have in-person activities and events. When asked what he is most proud of in terms of holding this title, Thompson said, “I think I am most proud of taking seeds of concepts, Photo Credits: WLU Media Relations such as the My Homecannot wait to be back to normal.” town series and the Beyond the HillIn terms of teaching his classes, top series and bringing them to life to Thompson said, “I miss interacting highlight the incredible students and with a full class in person. It has alumni of West Liberty.” made it harder to connect to my students, but I hope they are still Though Thompson spent feeling some connection.” most of his time in previous semesters taking photos and videos of in-person Reghan Johnson, a student classes, activities and events, this sefrom Thompson’s oral communicamester has brought on new challention class commented, “I have never ges. Thompson says he hasn’t been taken a public speaking class before able to step foot in a classroom and (I was always too scared, public in-person activities on campus are speaking is one of my worst fears), rare. Thompson’s solution to this probut he has made me feel less nerblem is to continue campaigns he worvous and more confident. I would ked on in the past, such as his What’s say I learned a bunch in his class, Up West Lib series and a new series and I am slowly but surely getting called My Hometown. Thompson said, over my fear thanks to his class.” “It has been a challenge for sure, but I think we have adapted well…I really
NOVEMBER 12, 2020
PAGE 8
CULTURE
Two Masked Toppers battle in a sing-off to move onto the next round Contributing Writer:
Hanna Perry
On Wednesday Nov. 4, 2020 West Liberty University’s Student Activities Instagram account posted recordings for the first ever Masked Topper event. The Masked Topper event is kind of similar to the television show the Masked Singer because students that are voting for their favorite singer have no idea who they are but they have the opportunity to guess who the contestants are each week. The competition will continue until November 18th when the winner is announced. On Nov. 4, 2020 the first two contestants’ recordings were uploaded onto the West Liberty University Student Activities Instagram account. Students were also given a few hints to help them figure out who each contestant that participated is.
Kate Billings said, “Every Tuesday evening videos will be posted and voting will take place on Wednesdays.” The first student sang the song A Thousand Years by Christina Perri. They are from South Park, Pennsylvania. Their birthday is on March 6, 2002. Their hobbies include singing and songwriting. They are a music education major. They are in the marching band and they are planning on starting a club soon. They are also the cofounder of the ADHDreamers which is the Scatterbrain Squad. The second student sang Shallow from the movie A Star Is Born. They are from Martinsville, West Virginia. Their birthday is on April 4, 2000. Their hobbies include singing and going to church. Their majors are Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology. They are an RA in Curtis Hall, they are a member of the choir, and they were the president of the Sustainability club last year.
They are also legally blind without eyewear. Billings also said, “It was very difficult to figure out which platform this would work best on. Originally we thought about having it in person event but because of COVID restrictions we decided to make the event virtual. As of October, Zoom numbers have gone down because students have become zoomed out. So we are hoping that Instagram will be a good platform to hold the Photo Credits: WL Activities
event on and we also hope to continue it in the future.” This event gives students the unique opportunity to participate in a fun event through social media. Stay tuned to West Liberty University’s Student Activities Instagram account to keep track of the Masked Topper Event! For more information about student activities and student life, please email West Liberty’s student life coordinator, Kate Billings at kate. billings@westliberty.edu.
PAGE 9
NOVEMBER 12, 2020
West Liberty student life presents... Axe throwing on the quad nov. 4, 2020 Last Thursday was a beautiful day on the Hilltop... and the perfect opportunity for students to take a break from studies to release some stress! The Axe Throwing event was one of the few in-person activities held by student life this semester due to COVID-19 restrictions. Photo Credits (All): Creed Kidney
CULTURE
NOVEMBER 12, 2020
OPINION
OPINION
PAGE 10
Coming soon: Finals Week! Prepare for your exams with these easy tips! Contributing Writer:
Emma Beatty
The week of final exams is quickly approaching in this unusual semester. This year finals will happen from Nov. 28 to Dec. 4. Another important date to note is Nov. 24 which is the last day of classes as well as the last day to drop a course. Finals week is arguably the most stressful time of the semester. Despite this, there are several things one can do to make sure that the stress is manageable. A very important first step, as reported by Lisa Witzberger who is the Director of Counseling Services, is to take time out of your day to manage your time. She said, “…You literally have to spend time managing your time, which will ultimately save you time. These time management skills will serve you well throughout your college years and will also be invaluable when you enter the
working world.” The first step to time management is to find a planner or calendar of some kind that you will write your schedule on. It is very important to know when your finals are taking place. In addition to this, you should plan your study times and what other assignments you could possibly have. You could also record things such as meals and planned relaxation to make sure your time is spent to the fullest extent. There are many ways to relax between exams and studying. The first is to spend time with your friends and family. Your brain will need a break because after a while, it cannot absorb any more information. Another way is to exercise.
brain which allows for the comprehension of more material. A very simple last way to relax is to just have quiet time. During this time, turn off all electronic devices as you most likely will have been glued to them all day. As for the studying process, there are several techniques that can be helpful. The first is to take advantage of study guides, if you are given any, or even make your own. Study guides are a great way to plan for an exam as well as to quiz yourself. You can quiz yourself easily by turning a study guide into a Kahoot for free. Make sure to find a way to make this type of studying fun. Col-
or-coding or making mnemonic devices is an excellent way to do this. Another tip is to not be afraid to reach out to your professor or teaching assistant. They are there to answer any questions you have about the exam or material. Lastly, reach out to classmates to have social-distanced study sessions. These could easily be held over Zoom. This way you could talk through the material together and get a better understanding. One last reminder is to breathe! Finals week is not the end of the world, and you will survive it. Good luck!
After sitting at your desk all day, you need to move, even if it is just a small walk around campus or your neighborhood. Exercise also increases blood and oxygen flow to the
Graduate student Caitlin Devries studies quietly in Elbin library. Devries is working to obtain her traditional biology Master’s degree. Photo Credits: Morgan Kafana
NOVEMBER 12, 2020
OPINION
PAGE 11
Quarantine makes for the perfect time to develop new hobbies
Contributing Writer:
same interests. Forums and groups exist
Baylee Snyder
across the internet to connect
With the winter months
people with the same interests
well on their way and the
and talents, so learning a new skill
warmth of summer becoming
might even lead to making new
more and more of a distant
friends.
memory, the days of comfortably and safely socializing outside
There are many benefits
are almost over, which means
to learning a new skill, and there
spending more time inside and
has never been a better time
likely alone.
to try it out. Make your socially distant winter season better by
One way to make this transition easier is by taking up a new and interesting hobby. Learning a new hobby can be as simple as watching an online tutorial, buying a do-ityourself kit from a local craft store, or even using the things you already have in a new and different way. Some hobbies that are fairly inexpensive and easy to begin learning include knitting or crocheting, embroidery, baking, or painting. Other inexpensive hobbies require warmer weather than the winter months offer, but gardening or hiking can also be a great way to experience nature and learn something new. Some hobbies require a little bit higher of a startup cost, but activities like learning a
Photo Credits: Engin Akyurt/UnSplash Photos
new instrument or starting a new collection can be very fulfilling for some people. Some hobbies can even easily be transitioned into a side business for someone in search of extra income. Websites like Etsy or even Facebook Marketplace allows almost anyone to find a customer for their new product Since the holiday season is also on the way, it is easy to save a little bit of money by giving handmade and personalized gifts to the people you care about. Learning a new skill and gaining a new hobby not only helps someone achieve a sense of fulfillment, but they can also be a great way to make new friends with the
picking up a new hobby today!
NOVEMBER 12, 2020
PAGE 12
OPINION
USA Gymnastics should’ve been gone years ago, why does it still exist? Just over four years after one of the largest scandals in sports history, the governing sports body for American gymnastics, USA Gymnastics, is still profiting off of the gymnasts that it so wrongfully hurt.
In August 2016, the Indianapolis Star released an article about the sexual abuse by the organization’s team doctor, Larry Nassar. Since then, over 500 survivors have come out to say that they have been abused by Nassar and several others within the USA Gymnastics organization. Let that sink in.
Nassar was sentenced to over 200 years in a Michigan state prison, but no matter how many years he serves, the pain for the survivors will never go away.
In the last four years, a lot has changed for the organization and the sport itself. USA Gymnastics filed for bankruptcy in December 2018 after numerous lawsuits were filed against USA Gymnastics. The organization claimed bankruptcy allowed them to maintain their governing body status with the United States Olympic Committee. Almost all of USA Gymnastics major sponsorships including Under Armour, Hilton, and Hershey, dropped the organization after the scandal worsened.
Photo Credits: Google Creative Commons License
Simone Biles at the 2016 Olympics in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil Photo Credits: Google Creative Commons License
After all of the negativity and heartbreaking incidents, why not just get rid of the organization and start over? Instead of the current organization, which is currently going through a bankruptcy suit, as well as other negative changes, why not create a new organization with a different idea and motto that better suits the needs of gymnasts in the United States rather than the organization itself? Keeping the old program and updating it, is not the same as building an entire new one. The old organization had its chance to make a difference and work for gymnasts, but when athletes reported something was wrong, they didn’t listen. Instead they locked
those complaints away and let it happen, while they made millions in profits off of the gymnasts getting hurt the most.
Simone Biles, the most decorated female gymnast of all time, has come out with multiple statements saying that she does not feel that the organization is making a difference, or at least not fast enough. It took them almost three years to develop an athlete protection policy, and bring an outside source, SafeSport, for external auditing. It’s time to cut USA Gymnastics and start making the survivors feel safe and happy again. They deserve that much.
SPORTS NOVEMBER 12, 2020
SPORTS
Sports Editor: Anna Johnston
PAGE 13
- acjohnston@westliberty.edu
WLU runner Brenden Sands stays positive despite COVID-19 setbacks Contributing Writer:
Justin Geery
Brenden Sands, a sophomore at West Liberty University, remains positive despite the cancellation of both the 2020 Track and Cross Country seasons. Many athletes across the nation have seen their seasons ripped out from underneath of them. The difficulty stands with practicing to get better, with no way of showing that in competition. What sets Sands out from the rest is his ability to remain positive throughout this pandemic. Sands is a track and field and cross country athlete at West Liberty. After receiving the news in March that his track season was canceled, Sands and the rest of the team hoped for a 2020 cross country campaign.
it’s important to stay motivated for when things kick back up again.”
Uncertain times have called for multiple changes for Sands as a runner. The team was asked to run with masks on, on campus, in order to practice together. Sands explained that the oxygen demand for running is high, especially with higher efforts of training, which makes it difficult to run with a mask on. Shortly after, the team was no longer able to practice together as mandated by the University. Sands commented on how this affected his team, “I can definitely see how the team values being able to train together more since we haven’t been able to bond over a season as we normally would.”
Just a few weeks out of the start of fall classes, his hopes ceased when the fall season was canceled.
To counterbalance the losses of 2020, Sands has searched for ways to stay positive by increasing his productivity. He has dedicated more time to studying, communicating to new people via social media, and focusing on his athletics through the mist of this pandemic.
“When the news was broken to me, I wasn’t all that saddened or shocked, simply because I was able to see it coming,” Sands said. “Of course, not having a season is hard [but]
“It’s definitely different not being able to socialize and explore in the ways I could prior to the pandemic, but I’ve surely learned to appreciate the little things in life more because of it,” he said.
Brendan Sands is on his morning run near Bethany, W.Va. Sands is building his base in running for the upcoming season. Photo Credits: Jared Ullom Sands has taken his time to appreciate the little things in his life. He is participating in a sport that is fortunately not really affected by COVID-19 He is still able to enjoy his sport everyday, despite not being able to compete like usual. He said, “There is always something better on the horizon. In any given situation, you have two options. You could either walk with your head down, or you could turn it to the brighter side.” Sands advice to those who are struggling to stay positive during these times is to “do something that makes you happy every day, no matter how big or small.” Sands attributes his positivity to this. Long distance running
was introduced to Sands in the fifth grade, and the next year he joined the middle school cross country team. He attended Wheeling Park High School and ran cross country all four years. During his senior year of high school, he discussed the opportunity of running at the collegiate level with West Liberty University Cross Country Head Coach Justin Simpson and signed on to join the Hilltoppers. Sands now runs for the West Liberty University Hilltoppers. He is in the midst of his second season with the black and gold and looks forward to continuing his career. “Running is a sport that, quite literally, chases progress, and I’m all for it,” he said.
NOVEMBER 12, 2020
PAGE 14
SPORTS
Senior softball player, Haley Collett, is optimistic in preparing for her last season on the hilltop
Many athletes are disappointed due to postponement of fall season sports around the country, West Liberty University athletes in particular have made the best out of the situations that were given to them. Junior Haley Collett answered several questions regarding West Liberty athlete training. Collett not only flourishes on the field, being once named an All-West Virginia Class AA shortstop during her time at Elkins High School, but she also has experienced excellence in the classroom during her time at WLU, as she has received the Mountain East Conference Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll twice. When asked about the day-to-day training
her softball team participates in during the season, Collett had stated that, “during the season, my day-to-day schedule is very much the same. When I am not in class, I am either at practice or studying. Between traveling, staying healthy, and schoolwork, there isn’t much free time for me.”
Collett was then asked about the team’s offseason training and how it varied on a daily basis, in which she responded that, “off-season training varies, mainly because there are periods in which we are pushed physically and mentally, but there are also times where we have long rest periods. I would say off-season training is more intense because that is when we physically and mentally have to get tougher. During the season is when you just have fun.” There is no question that COVID-19 has played a significant role in altering
the way teams train and prepare for the season, and Collett knows that.
When asked about how training has changed, Collett provided the insight that, “because of COVID, we are limited on the amount of time we can practice each week. The team uses the maximum amount of hours we can be together, but we also work on our own because we know what it takes to win. Even though the NCAA has restrictions, we are still working just as hard just in a different way. Our team has been making sure we follow the guidelines as best we can because we don’t want our season taken away again, but we also know we have to keep everyone safe and healthy.” Despite these adversities, Collett and the WLU Softball team continue to stay optimistic. When the question of how her team translates their training to on the field play, Collett had an array of positive feedback to share. Per Collett, “softball is 100% a team sport, so when one person is slacking, it affects the entire team.
Note: This is not a picture of Collett playing. Pictured above is West Liberty’s Softball Complex Photo Credits: WLU Media Relations (HilltopperSports.com)
However, what I love about this team is that we have put a lot of trust in one another, which makes it easier to perform
Photo Credits: Haley Collet
our jobs on the field. The amount of training we do shows on the field because softball is a game of failure, so it’s very easy to mess up, but it’s very obvious when the work has been put in.” Before the cancellation of the remainder of last year’s season, WLU Softball went 7-9 through 16 games. In 2019, the team finished the season with a great record of 38-19, showcasing that winning is in their nature. With spring season sports set to take place this academic year, the Lady Hilltoppers aim to mimic their success in 2019, and take revenge on the abrupt ending of 2020.
NOVEMBER 12, 2020
SPORTS
PAGE 15
Division one college football has provided sunshine in an otherwise cloudy 2020 time or a delayed start.
With the ongoing complications the United States has been facing in regards to the infamous novel coronavirus, many questions have been raised with how the sports world would be affected, including the wonder of whether or not fans would be able to experience a college football season this year. Despite a year that has been plagued with misfortune and melancholy, college football persevered through this adversity, and began their season on time...well, for some at least. In regards to NCAA Division 1 college football, conferences had the option of whether or not they would participate in the season, whether it be on
The Power 5 conferences who opted to begin their season on time include the BIG12, ACC, SEC, while the conferences who had a delayed start time include the BIG10 and PAC12. Although there have been minor outbreaks teams have dealt with, forcing the postponement/cancellation of some games, there has been an overall success for college football this year, which in turn has been a fantastic entertainment outlet for fans nationwide. Although there have been strict limitations this season, many college football fans across the country have been given the opportunity to attend games in person. The Oklahoma Sooners, who have a stadium capacity of more than 86,000, are holding fan attendance to 25%.
Photo Credits: Google Creative Commons
The Clemson Tigers, who have a stadium capacity of 81,500, are holding fan attendance to 23%. Finally, the Alabama Crimson Tide, who have a stadium capacity of upwards of 102,000, are holding fan attendance to only 20%. Although there are limitations being placed to ensure the health and safety of others, the possibilities for fans to enjoy games are still there, something in which did not seem possible at the beginning of the pandemic.
Photo Credits: Google Creative Commons
College football, at any level, is a means that brings people together. Even during a pandemic, where people are desperately searching for any type of escape, college football has still persevered, providing a ray of sunshine in an otherwise cloudy 2020.
If you have any questions about this article, please email Maxwell Fiedorczyk at mfiedorczyk@westliberty.edu
Due to COVID-19, no sports are currently active on campus. To stay up to date on all things sports at West Liberty, please visit hilltoppersports. com.
