The Prospector 02 03 2026 by UTEP Prospector

Through th e Darkness

There

is still

Love

SPORTS Page 9

Alexis Bandin joins UTEP softball as assistant pitching coach

Across the country, the tone of the news has grown heavier.

Headlines filled with stories about immigration enforcement, violence and the unknown. It has become a part of the national rhythm, shaping safety, home and belonging to many.

For border communities like El Paso, these conversations are not distant. They are carried quietly into classrooms, workplaces and living rooms.

Acknowledging these moments is not about dwelling in uncertainty. It is about naming the reality that many are navigating, a sense that the country feels divided, and, at times, difficult to recognize. Yet even in periods of national or personal darkness, communities continue to show up for one another. People still gather, still care and still find reasons to move forward together.

The connection between El Paso and Ciudad Juárez is irreplaceable.

Every day, thousands cross the border. From shopping and work to school or visiting family and friends, community is what holds it all together; people find reasons to thrive and flourish.

Our culture is different. From the way we live to the way we interact, talk and walk. But those ubiquitous qualities have allowed us to not forget who we are.

Our city is built on grit, inclusion and an incomparable history.

And that’s felt on any walk in our beautiful city.

Love is often called the greatest gift, and nowhere is it felt more deeply than within a family. Family can be the reason someone gets up each day and keeps going, even when life feels heavy. Love doesn’t fade or vanish. It becomes a staple to love harder, to remember and embrace the strength of those who care most about you. With that

comes the pressures of tomorrow, but how can you live then if you can’t today?

There’s a stigma that staying in El Paso creates complacency, or a feeling of being stuck.

The city we inhabit is one that has set the standard to affect overall American history and attitudes.

UTEP was the first University in the state of Texas to desegregate and it continues its mission of providing a quality and accessible education to minority groups all over the U.S. For first-generation students, college isn’t just about a piece of paper. It’s about beginning a legacy and achieving a dream that many of their parents may have had to set aside. There is so much pride in being here, but there is also fear: fear of failing, of not belonging in spaces that once felt out of reach. Still, they show up. Even when the path feels uncertain, there is love guiding the way, in the sacrifices made at home or even in a simple “Estoy orgulloso de usted.” It can feel impossible to escape reality with so much going on in the world right now. It’s important to stay informed and to be in the know, allowing you to be a part of the change. While yes, “ignorance is bliss,” right now is arguably the worst time to live in ignorance. Taking a step back is something we all need to be reminded of. We are not in a world where we stand alone. It’s okay to smile, and it’s even more okay to break down. Emotion is not a sign of weakness but is what makes us human. So, bawl your eyes out! Laugh until your stomach turns! Let it all out! On a month centered on love, it is worth remembering that affection does not only live in grand gestures or corny gifts. It shows up in the steady presence of a city that continues to choose togetherness, even when everything feels scary. We hope this letter serves as a reminder that even in moments of darkness, there is still love.

Sincerely,

The Prospector Editors

Built on a promise

CAMERON MASON B

A&E EDITOR THE PROSPECTOR

Wow… I’m an editor for the Prospector. Who would have thought? Spoiler: let me tell you not me.

I’d first like to give honor to God who’s been watching me on my journey. Second to my mom, dad, and sister who have been the best ‘#1’ supporters I could ever ask for.

for a college newspaper, I would’ve stared at them in disbelief, like they had just uttered pure blasphemy.

Writing touched my fingers as a decent skill set, but it always lingered in the back of my thoughts.

As I’m writing, I’m struck with awe that it’s actually all happening. Life seems to move faster than I’d like it to.

If someone had gone back two years ago and told the 2024 senior version of me that I’d be working

Looking back, for Cam Mason, things of priority looked a little different. His favorite intangibles he possessed measured success such as athletic ability, book smarts, identity — and, according to him, looks… a claim supported by those with 20/20 eyesight.

But beneath all of that confidence was something that slowly ate .his soul — the feeling of going unseen.

A home I never expected to belong to

If you had told the beginning of the fall 2025 semester that I would be an editor at The Prospector, I probably would have laughed. Not because I didn’t care about it, but because I never saw myself stepping into something this big.

Yet here I am.

Sometimes I sit and think about how quickly everything changed. College has a funny way

of pushing you into rooms you never imagined walking into. The Prospector was one of those rooms. I joined wanting to photograph, try something new and see if I could belong somewher. I didn’t expect it to become one of the most important parts of my journey though college.

I want to thank the people who saw something in me before I fully saw it in myself.

Love you, forevermore

Three intro pieces in and I still never know what to say or how to truly express my gratitude for the people who have supported me. The issue you are reading is so special to me. It’s my first time running production as the Editorin-Chief (EIC), my first time doing layout. It feels like a special part of me and my time here at The Prospector.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had special moments and stories throughout my time here, but the last time I felt just like this, was my first story about French Olympians in the Sun City. This issue feels like my full circle moment . I’ve said my thanks in the past to my mentors, family and friends. I want to say thank you once again to my mom and dad for supporting me through every late night. Also, I would like to say sorry to my mom since she says she can’t sleep till read MORE at theprospectordaily.com

The single guy’s guide to Valentine’s Day

There’s a lot of important things that happen in February: my birthday, the Super Bowl, the occasional 29th day of the month, and my birthday again, because I have the right to reserve a whole month for myself.

And that’s it… that’s ALL there is to February, absolutely NOTHING else.

I get it.

You think I’m trying to be funny because I didn’t mention Valentine’s Day.

Listen, I know that’s a thing. Heck, 16-year-old me made a whole history video about the holiday. But, 16-year-old-me also had a girlfriend that he broke up with two days before Valentine’s Day, so editing that video was the closest he got to celebrating that year.

So, does it REALLY count if you don’t celebrate it? Think about it. What would you do if

you were single during Valentine’s Day? Go to the gym? Hangout with friends? Sure, that’s fun, but that isn’t celebrating Valentines Day-that’s trying to ignore that Valentines Day is a thing.

Some people play off ignorance better than others. I know the fellas posting gym pics with early 2000s tracks playing in the background are having a real hard time.

Now some could say (my coworkers) that I’d be one of those guys. I meet all the criteria. Single, gym obsessed, and a connoisseur of Eminem, but I’m not the type of person to post that stuff.

Even though I am aware that I have a substantial amount of muscle mass coupled with a variety of visible veins to make me conventionally attractive.

Don’t take it from me, take it from a previous talking stage of mine that said straight to my face “Ouuu, sleeper build.” (That talking stage quickly fell apart).

Dating is weird. For me at least, which is the main reason why my

111, No. 5 February 3, 2026

boss told me to write this article. What, you think I had an option? I’m the most qualified to talk about single life!

I mean it, so if you’re an executive of a love magazine and are trying to get single people to write about their experiences, my Linked-In is on my profile.

I’ve been single for a total of 17 months, 24 days, and one hour and 53 minutes since this story’s last refresh, but who’s counting? Me, I am. See that ticker started counting down when I got dumped, which happened on my second day of college… ever.

Sucked at the time, but it’s made every other second day of school better, because how could it possibly be worse!

I’ve learned a lot during my time of being a single man. Notably, dating is expensive, texting is a weird gray zone of communication, and it’s always a bad idea to try and win over your ex. Seriously, don’t.

Ximena Cordero, editor-in-chief

Cradling a ketchup bottle is one of the tried-and-true methods to block out the Valentines Day blues. Nate Flores/The Prospector

Photo by Iziah Moreno/The Prospector

Ximena Cordero, editor-in-chief

Man to man... ‘ I love you’

CONTRIBUTOR THE PROSPECTOR AZIEL RAMOS

Younger men can find it challenging to hug their “homies” or even say “I love you” to them, which is a set boundary between their friendships. But why is that considered the norm? Why do younger men find it difficult to show affection, care or vulnerability with their closest friends?

Could it be because that’s just how they were raised? Is it because of familial teachings that have been passed down? Or is it because of insecurities men could have within themselves? A fear of being perceived as “too much” or “weak”?

For some people, it could mean all those kinds of situations. University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) junior, Gael Guerra explained how multifaceted it can be.

and based on how I would see them, they would never do that. So, I guess I thought, it’s normal not to, for a guy.”

UTEP freshman, Christian Lester, had similar ideas as to why men his age can find it difficult and somewhat unusual to be affectionate towards their male close friends.

“Probably the stigmatism of being manly. I feel like you go with your boys and forget your problems and not talk about them,” Lester said. When asked if he had a friend who defied those kinds of “norms” he had considered for himself, he said they all show the affection when they feel it is necessary.

towards his friends.

“He’s more like one of the bros where they can be affectionate. But there’s a certain boundary, they’ll hug each other. That’s only if somebody initiates it,” Pitcher said.

“Besides that, he doesn’t say I love you, but that’s about it.”

Pitcher said she believes her boyfriend’s limited affection towards his friends involves the stereotypes of Mexican culture.

“I think it’s more Mexican culture because in Mexican culture, males are supposed to be more masculine. They’re not supposed to show that emotion,” Pitcher said.

UTEP senior, Briana Estrada, also shared similar thoughts when it came to young men finding it difficult to be affectionate towards their friends.

“I think the way people are raised follow very

hegemonic norms and that involves men being more reserved and not as emotional in every aspect of life,” Estrada said. “I think that’s also a factor in the Mexican culture. Machismo is very prevalent, which leads to a lot of bottling up of feelings because you have to be a man and a lot of the times you have to step up and be a protector. So, I feel like that leaves a lot of men with a void. That they refuse to fail due to the way they were raised.”

“Personally, it’s just the way we grow up, the way we’re taught, the way things are shown to us,” Guerra said. “ I didn’t grow up with my dad for a little bit of my life. I still had like other father figures and well, they just showed me about respect

With both students’ perspectives, there is some clarity as to why men can feel like there is a norm or even a stigmatism to showing affection towards their friends.

UTEP junior, Trinity Pitcher, shared her experience seeing the way her boyfriend acts

These perspectives show a range of viewpoints that can contribute to hesitation around emotional vulnerability, even to the friends who are closest to them. Still, expressing care and appreciation toward friends remains an important part of maintainingpersonal relationships.

Men often do not show affection to their male friends as they risk being seen as “weak.” Photo by Lesly Chavez/The Prospector

ICE raids at construction sites raise questions across El Paso

Recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations at construction sites across El Paso have intensified public concern and renewed debate over immigration enforcement in a city where immigrant labor is seen as central to the local economy.

Multiple sightings of ICE agents at housing developments have been reported throughout January 2026, with videos circulating widely on social media.

On Jan. 22, KTSM reported that federal agents had conducted operations at construction sites where homes were being built and appeared to be searching for specific individuals.

This follows an operation on Jan. 14 in the Paseo del Este neighborhood of Horizon City. Witnesses reported dozens of ICE vehicles, supported by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), arriving at a development where several detentions occurred.

On Jan. 16, footage shared by the social media account, FitFam El Paso,w showed agents approaching sites near Montana Avenue and Mager Drive.

implementation of Texas Senate Bill 8, which went into effect Jan. 1. The law requires Texas sheriffs in counties with more than 100,000 residents to enter into 287(g) agreements, effectively deputizing local law enforcement to assist in federal immigration checks.

Workers describe a climate of high pressure and constant surveillance.

Erick Cano, a construction worker and U.S. citizen, said agents arrived while his crew was working in a garage in Northeast El Paso.

“Well, they were all over the place,” Cano said. “They just arrived... asking for documents, and we just showed them to them.”

Cano expressed his frustration with the focus on laborers.

“They’re just bothering the people who want to work... we’re not here doing anything bad. We’re just working,” Cano said.

Another worker, also a U.S. citizen who asked to stay anonymous, described a 40-minute encounter where agents took people away.

“There aren‘t many people here because they‘ve been taken away,” he said. “We’re not doing anything wrong... I don’t see [why]they want to take us out of this country.”

He described the agents as “overpowering” and “angry” when workers asserted their rights.

At the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), where the student body is approximately 84% Hispanic, these raids have begun to raise debate across the political spectrum.

A senior criminal justice major who asked to stay anonymous witnessed a raid firsthand in the Upper Valley region.

“I saw several immigration cars surrounding a construction site... preventing people from accessing their homes and blocking off [the] streets,” they said.

For this student, the choice of targets felt intentional.

“I think construction zones [are targeted] because these people are easy targets in the eyes of immigration enforcement, they are seen as a way for the administration and ICE to meet their daily quotas,” they said.

admitted that even those at the university are unsure of their legal standing during these encounters.

“I personally, myself don’t understand [my rights], I know I can ask for a lawyer but specific details of what I can and cannot do when directed or confronted by an ICE officer, I do not know.”

An economics student who wished to stay anonymous called for ICE to

transition into a “case worker” role rather than a detaining force.

“It should be easier to get a [U.S.] citizenship,” they noted, citing family members who have waited decades for legal status.

A junior political science major who asked to stay anonymous and identifies as conservative offered a different point of view. They pointed out that enforcement is not a new phenomenon, referencing Tom Homan, who received a Presidential Rank Award for Distinguished Service in 2015 under the Obama administration for his work in immigration enforcement.

A third colleague who asked to stay anonymous described a more confrontational exchange, noting he refused to show documentation.

A sophomore student who asked to stay anonymous echoed these concerns, noting that the “militarization of immigration enforcement definitely hits hard” at a school with so many firstgeneration students. They argued that the raids are “performative.”

“People look at Trump and they think [he’s doing this] because of his hatred for Hispanics... that’s not the case. It’s a rule of law,” the student said. “This rule of law has been enforced by many presidents before Trump and will be enforced by many presidents after... Are they taking issue with the fact that the U.S. is enforcing its border laws, or who’s at the head of that?”

The El Paso Times reported that while formal arrests were not seen at every location, the visibility of federal agents has turned some neighborhoods into “ghost towns.”

The activity coincides with the

“I spoke to them in English, and I asked them, ‘Do I have to show you something?’... I told him‚ ‘I’m not going to show you anything.’”

“ICE is an organization that is state-sponsored terrorism,” they said. “They have been added to our communities to invoke fear.”

A mechanical engineering student who asked to stay anonymous

Two paths, one purpose: Hawkins Scholarship recipients

VANESSA OROZCO

CONTRIBUTOR THE PROSPECTOR

The Hawkins Scholarship is awarded annually to two University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) juniors who demonstrate outstanding academic achievements, a commitment to serving others in their community and a strong trajectory towards leadership.

Vianey Martinez, a Franklin High School alumna and computer science major, is also a member of

UTEP’s Undergraduate Fellows Program.

She distinguished herself in the applicant’s pool by completing a 12-week internship with Microsoft in Seattle, Washington, where she worked alongside international scholars. Martinez plans to pursue a graduate degree in artificial intelligence (A.I.) at UTEP.

“What really resonated with me was the highlight on leadership for this award,” Martinez said.

“I’m a big fan of advocating for

women in computer science and engineering.” Martinez explained that receiving the scholarship will ease financial pressure and allow her to focus more on her academic and leadership goals.

“I have a single mom, so this was really great help, me being able to help her,” Martinez said. “It’s going to give me less pressure to work for money and more focus on just getting through my classes and growing in my leadership as well.

It’s a big part of my goals this year.”

opportunities in the region.

“It’s a really great way of bringing AI to El Paso, and they have these rules to improve our community,” Martinez said. “I’m really excited that [this] opportunity has come to me through Hawkins and the panel I have met. I’m really looking forward to seeing how far I can go with that.”

Ryan Boatright, an Austin, Texas native, has attended UTEP for the past three years and is majoring in political science with plans to attend law school.

“I’ve been entrusted with something that a lot of other very qualified people applied for,” Boatright said. “I want to do something impactful and make my community proud.”

She was recently interviewed for SuperForce, a program created by SuperCity that offers apprenticeships to El Pasoans interested in training with A.I. software. The program aims to expand access to emerging technology and workforce

He currently serves as President of the Student Government Association (SGA) and has completed internships with U.S. Congresswoman Veronica Escobar, Texas State Senator César Blanco and two county commissioners.

Boatright said his motivation to pursue law stems from personal family experiences. He pointed to his father’s battle with stage four cancer, which Boatright said was linked to exposure to a commercial weeds deterrent product later addressed through litigation. He explains it as “the story that motivates everything I want to do in life.” Since then, his father has been in remission.

Arts & Culture

Love through generations: Same game, different rules

Once upon a time...there was a Direct Message (DM). Many modern love stories start off with a notification and some end that way too; leaving people wondering if spontaneity, real-life chemistry or a simple “hello” is still a thing in 2026.

People often feel nostalgia over an “old school-love,” With the rise of social media, romance has changed its ways. First dates were replaced with stalking accounts and expectations are different when meeting people on screen rather than in person.

Even though social media was designed for connection, it created a different type of detachment.

Oliver Garcia, junior computer science student, knows firsthand how social media can impact all types of relationships.

“I would say social media is a really important tool now in 2026, but as any other technology, it has its pros and cons,” Garcia said. “You are able to meet and connect with new people, but these relationships, if you are really focused on only social media and not connecting with them, like as a personal way, they tend to be really superficial and fragile.”

Ghosting, icks, sharking, the list of overly complicated terms goes on and on, leaving many to crave the simple love that can be found in rom-com movies from the 90s.

Stephany Palos, sophomore neuroscience student, has been social media sober for five years and her experience in the dating world differs radically from her peers who are active social media users.

“I don’t feel like I need it. I feel more at peace,” Palos said. “I feel like, without social media, you actually get to know the person before you get into something. I would say in a way that you can talk to each other in person, instead of through social media.”

Palos, like many others, believes today’s generation views love not in a wrong way, but in a distorted one.

“I would say love was honest, long lasting and meaningful. Now it’s a lot different. I’m not saying it’s not

meaningful, but I think it’s not the same,” Palos said. “I think before it was more like a connection with your mind and your heart, and right now, I think a lot of people overthink it too much because of social media. So, it takes away some stuff, one person could be feeling something and misinterpret that thing. So, I wouldn’t say it’s not meaningful, but it’s not as truthful as how it used to be.”

This doesn’t mean that to find love one has to get rid of their digital self. Garcia says its not about following a script, but about real communication.

“If you feel like that person that you are with is the right one, even though it’s been two weeks, three months, whatever, just go and tell them: ‘Hey, I think you’re the right person, I would like to stay with you,’” Garcia said. “If you try to follow the logic of, ‘Okay, I’m going to first talk with them for three months, and then I’m going to see if I like them or not,’ it becomes really fragile, because you are following rules. Human emotions usually don’t have rules.”

Everyone has heard the phrase “Love will find you when you least expect it.” Some may find comfort in how true this manages to be even as years go by. Unexpectedly, it was in an English class where Vielka Valdez, junior finance student, and Felix Anoveros, junior nursing student, first met as high school juniors. Now three years later, love still shines in their eyes when they look at each other.

“We had this event called ‘Light Up the Night.’ I was with my friends at the time, enjoying the moment, and then I just had this feeling in me of like, ‘Oh, I wish she was here,” Anoveros said.

”It’s kind of rare when you have some feeling like that about someone, and I don’t know, I just kind of really got to know her. So, I went home, and I called her, confessing my feelings for her, basically.”

Whether it’s a call, a text or a

message in a bottle, Anoveros says being genuine remains the best way to someone’s heart.

“You don’t want to display a false character to have the girl because that’s not you, and then when you meet in person, the vibes are just, not there. There’s no chemistry there,” Anoveros said.

Just because romance is constantly on a screen, doesn’t mean that for love to last it has to be picture perfect all the time. Sometimes the moments that bring people close to each other are those when they are the most vulnerable.

“We went to Houston, Texas,z and that was the first time we went out of town. It was like a school thing, and I think that was the time that I saw how fun it could be to experience the scary things with someone who’s also just as scared,” Valdez said.

Love stories today include waiting for a text and overthinking a repost from time to time, but that doesn’t mean it lacks funny anecdotes or slow dances in the kitchen. Falling in love in this generation means that if you take the risk, you can win the best of both worlds.

Leave natural vegetation in place where possible to prevent erosion.

Abby Pedroza, editor

Romance continues to adapt to today’s world as love becomes hybrid experience that balances navigating social media while still holding on to classic romantic ideals and staying present in the moment. Photos by Nate Flores/The Prospector

Beyond Wuthering Heights: Love without limits

VIVIEN NOE C. B Y

STAFF REPORTER THE PROSPECTOR

Emerald Fennel’s new adaptation of “Wuthering Heights” has enamored the masses before its release. Two groups in particular await impatiently to enter this world, those who are fanatics of Emily Brontë’s novel and those who have been captivated by Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi’s onscreen chemistry.

Through collaboration with Warner Bros. College Ambassador, a senior organizational and corporate communications student Jesus Guillermo Reyes and The Prospector had the opportunity to get a glimpse into “Wuthering Heights.” Student journalists participated in a college roundtable where actors Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, who portray Cathy and Heathcliff in the film, talked about what to expect from the upcoming project.

“Some movies are kind of designed to make you think, and some movies are designed to make you feel, and I feel like this is all feeling,” Robbie said.

The film invites audiences into a world where pleasure and pain, as contradictory as they are, blend so closely together that it may be impossible to distinguish one from the other.

“I think the most sadomasochistic relationship I can think of is Cathy

and Heathcliff’s,” Robbie said. “Like, they torture each other, and they torture themselves, and they love each other, and they love themselves, and they hate each other, and they hate themselves and it’s why this whole relationship’s so intoxicating to watch or read or immerse yourself in as an actor.”

When bringing to life characters such as Heathcliff and Cathy, both actors embraced the challenges that come with personifying roles that have existed for nearly 200 years on paper, and that have been treasured by so many generations leading up to this interpretation.

“I think that’s the best part of it, there’s so much material. You have the original text, and then you have the different publications throughout the years that kind of changed with the edit as the times changed,” Elordi said. “So, you have all these different generations of outlooks on the original text, and then you have artists interpreting the text and regurgitating it in their own way. And it’s all inspiration, and you can draw from all of it.”

This film is not meant to adapt the book traditionally, instead it is a retelling that highlights the soul of the book, which carries the story of love, regret and childlike spirit.

“The essence that you felt from Cathy in the book is what I felt in her [Fennel] zscript, and I kind of felt like all I had to do was

honor that spirit,” Robbie said. “Hopefully, lovers of the book end up watching the film and agreeing that the spirit of the book is in this film.”

If there is something audiences can learn from this story, it is how love without limits can transform itself into all types of beautiful and dangerous things. This message lingers throughout the movie, being represented in the soundtrack, costume, scenery and even with the use of color.

“It’s what color red evokes for you. It’s the blood that pumps through the heart, and his blood, to him [Heathcliff] is Cathy’s blood. You know, they share a heart. So, I think it is kind of like a theme throughout the film,” Elordi said. Heathcliff and Cathy stand together forever stuck between being star-crossed lovers and masters of their own fates, both creating and destroying their own destinies.

“It’s a constant conversation, these dueling parts, and they exist because of each other,” Elordi said.

The passion conveyed through the film reflects the intense care that was put into building this reimagined version of Brontë’s classic.

“There was never a question of, will she [Fennel] be able to do this justice,” Robbie said. “I know that she approaches everything with

such artistic integrity and passion, and that’s all you could really hope for, I think, if someone was adapting a book that I love, and I do love this book, but I hadn’t read it before Emerald’s adaptation. I’d want to know that the person adapting it, and depicting it and interpreting it, cared about it, and she does deeply.”

Where love and pain meet, that’s where one will find “Wuthering Heights,” a story fueled by passion and haunted by remorse. Get your gowns ready and your hearts open to dive into the addictive turmoil of “Wuthering Heights,” available in theaters Feb. 13.

Vivien Noe C, is a staff reporter at The Prospector and may be reached at vgnoe@miners.utep.edu

“Wuthering Heights” actors Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie during the student journalist roundtable. Photos courtesy of Warner Bros Discovery

Sports

Kristian Hernandez, editor

A love to coach and elevate student-athletes

With the spring softball season fast approaching, Alexis Bandin begins her first year with the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) as the Miners’ new assistant pitching coach and recruiting coordinator.

Hired back in July 2025, Bandin joined the UTEP softball program, continuing a successful coaching career where she hopes to make the Miners’ final year competing in Conference USA (C-USA) one to remember.

“I want us to get in that conference tournament and let them know who we are, and that way, when we leave, they’re like, ‘Whoo! They gave us a run for our money last year. We’re glad they’re going to the Mountain West [Conference],’” Bandin said.

Originally from Arizona, and a former junior college and division two pitcher, Bandin brings with her over a decade of coaching experience within the National Association of Intercollegiate

Athletics (NAIA), Division II and Division I levels. Bandin’s move to UTEP is not only a reminder of home, but also a new step in her career as she transitions from the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) to C-USA.

“The other reasons were coming to work for T.J. Hubbard. Knowing that he’s been in the softball game for quite some time in the collegiate aspect, and to be able to just learn from him and gain new knowledge, while also progressing my career at the same time to a higher division within NCAA division one softball,” Bandin said.

Having grown up playing the game, Bandin credited many of her early mentors such as Kesley Hogan, then head coach at Shorter University, for shaping the championship mindset, structure and expectations that she plans to bring to UTEP in her new position as assistant coach focusing the development and management of the Miners’ pitching staff.

“I had some of the best two

pitching coaches in the nation at the time, in my biased opinion. I was able to learn how to win, how to be a competitor, and how, honestly, not to be weak,” Bandin said. “From the time I was probably 12 all the way up to 21 [I’ve] been part of championship cultures, championship mindsets and championship programs, and that’s something I’ve been able to carry out through my coaching career.”

Focused on player development and creating that championship mindset, Bandin plans to lead by example. Making a point to show up with and for her players, be it early morning weights, team outings or even simple check ins. Bandin believes that serious work goes further when players know their coach genuinely cares about them as people, not just athletes.

“If one of my pitchers walks in and I can see maybe they’re walking a little bit different, or their facial expressions a little different, all it takes is to be like, ‘Hey, you good?’ Give that option to them to open

up,” Bandin said. “Once they know that you genuinely care as a coach, they’re going to step up naturally and run through that wall for not only you but for their teammates as well.”

Alongside a very present and player focused coaching style built on trust, honesty and everyday buy-in, Bandin wants to empower players’ voices, encouraging all her athletes to speak up and hold themselves and each other accountable for success.

“Being a part of a team is making sure you’re there collectively and that’s how you create that foundation, making sure that you’re creating a safe place for your athletes as well,” Bandin said. “You want your athletes to feel like they can be themselves, they can be vulnerable and that they can speak their mind in a way that’s productive and allow that kind of camaraderie.”

At Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) she helped guide the Panthers to three straight SWAC

division titles and two conference championships. After mentoring players and building a winning team, Bandin was drawn to El Paso to further her career and learn under Head Coach T.J. Hubbard.

“He’s helped me get the ropes of things that I’ve done and haven’t done before. So, that’s been super nice, to have that kind of help and that kind of guidance. Also making sure that within my specific role, being the pitching coach, to be able to have the freedom and the structure to build one of the top tier pitching staffs in Conference USA,” Bandin said.

With goals of surpassing 20 wins and reaching a team ERA (earned run average) of 4.0 or lower, Bandin is encouraging her team to go “pedal to the floor, full force” as UTEP prepares to join the Mountain Western Conference. Beyond wins and losses, Bandin says she measures her success as a coach by who her players become.

STAFF REPORTER THE PROSPECTOR

JEWEL OCAMPO B Y

Originally a softball coach at Prairie View A&M University, Alexis Bandin has made her way into UTEP. With a different set of coaching experiences, Coach Bandin’s plan for the team’s future looks bright. Photo by Sadie Briones/The Prospector

Missouri State steal Miner’s momentum in C-USA matchup

Editor’s note: This is not UTEP men’s basketball’s most recent game.

After a confidence-boosting win against Florida International University (FUI), the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) entered a rainy night on Jan. 24 looking to carry momentum into a crucial stretch of home games.

Standing in their way, a rising Missouri State Bears team that is sitting near the top of the conference standings.

For 20 minutes, the Miners controlled the match by being elite in defensive rebounding and

getting good looks at the basket.

Bodies crashed the paint for rebounds and hustled on defense; Missouri State searched for space and found orange jerseys instead.

One of the conference’s top scorers, Missouri State senior forward Keith Palek III, even struggled to find clean looks as UTEP’s defense swarmed, causing five turnovers on Palek alone.

On offense, the Miners found a rhythm. Paint touches collapsed the defense, kick-outs led to open looks, and shots fell at a high clip.

Transition buckets played a huge role in success, finishing the night with 14 fastbreak points.

UTEP shot 55.6% from the

floor in the first half and carried a 31-21 lead into halftime, forcing Missouri State into uncomfortable possessions while the Don Haskins Center fed off every stop and second-effort play.

Halftime brought noise and the feeling that UTEP held control but that changed coming into the second half.

The Miners had errors such as miscommunication, throwing the ball away and loose dribbling, which brought the bears back into the game in the second half.

The Bears opened on a 12-2 run, erasing UTEP’s cushion and flipping the momentum.

“We could’ve took better shots,”

UTEP senior forward Jamal West Jr. said. “Defensively, we need to toughen up on rebounds and stop them from scoring inside. That’s what they wanted to do.”

West finished the night with 15 points and six rebounds.

As the lead tightened, UTEP’s offensive flow from the first half also faded.

Defensive possessions stretched longer with every rebound turning into a battle.

“I just say fatigue,” UTEP junior forward Elijah Jones said. “We kind of wore out… took our foot off the gas.”

Missouri State eventually edged in front, but the Miners refused to let

the night slip quietly.

Late defensive pressure created life and pairs of steals that turned into quick chances. Empty possessions from the Bears kept the door open just enough.

The Miners clawed back possession by possession, trimming the deficit and bringing the crowd back into the game. With under ten seconds left, and the Miners down three points 6057, the Don Haskins Center stood on its feet.

Out of a timeout, UTEP broke the huddle with one last chance to even the score.

A Miner rose off a peel screen and the building rose with him. The shot left his fingertips and hung in the air as time seemed to freeze.

Missouri State secured the rebound, and the final horn sounded moments later, sealing the 62-57 score after UTEP’s late push came up just short.

“I loved our fight tonight,” UTEP Head Coach Joe Golding said. “Our effort was there against a physical, tough team. We just couldn’t score in the second half. We never got any rhythm or flow.”

Trenches were controlled by the bears, holding UTEP to 20 points in the paint compared to Missouri States’ 28.

Missouri State defeated the Miners attributed by 11 crucial second-chance points to the Miners’ zero, which gave the Bears the W.

Hustle plays amounted to eight steals result in 14 fast break points. Photo by Cameron Mason/The Prospector

Miners defend at home with double-digits in Battle of I-10

The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) (10-10, 2-7 Conference USA) held off New Mexico State University (NMSU) (7-14, 3-6 C-USA) at home in the first rivalry game of the season. While both teams had key players in the scoring department such as Aggie junior guard Imani Warren accumulating 21 points and going 8-9 on the free throw line.

UTEP senior guard Portia Adams earning 21 buckets and shooting 10-10 on free throws.

Rebounding and defense was the name of the game.

“We really really harped on rebounding all week, and we had 14 offensive rebounds to their [NMSU’s] nine,” UTEP Head

Coach Keitha Adams said. “I think rebounding was the big deal.”

The Miner’s earned 41 rebounds compared to the Aggies’ 33. NMSU was not able to get out of foul trouble with three aggies on the verge of fouling out and

gave UTEP 25-31 shots from the charity stripe.

“‘We need to be five for five on box outs. I just kept saying that like I was a broken recorder,” Adams said. “I mean every day if you’d been in the gym, you would have heard me say ‘We need to be five for five boxouts.’ I probably said it 100 times.”

UTEP senior forward Ndack Mbengue was the only player on the court who earned a double-

double with 21 points and 11 rebounds helping the Miners get second-chance points.

Graduate student guard Ivane Tensaie earned 12 points and sophomore forward Mary Moses Amaniyo scoring 16 points, just four shy of matching her season high since her game in Dec. 29.

While NMSU is looking to break their three-game losing streak,

UTEP, who has broken even on their overall record, is set to face off against the top Bulldog in C-USA LA Tech on Feb. 5 who have not lost a game since Jan. 2.

Ndack Mbengue scored double-double rebounds during the game against NMSU Aggies. Photo by Dustin Perez/The Prospector

SPORTS EDITOR THE PROSPECTOR KRISTIAN HERNANDEZ B Y

Natasha Lacy, who previously played in the WNBA for six season and was part of the programs first NCAA tournement entry, was inducted into the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame. Photo by Dustin Perez/The Prospector