Crusader Seward County Community College
Year 48, No. 3
Liberal, Kansas
October 26, 2016
Haunted Liberal: Are the ghost stories really true? pg. 12
“If I were president...� pg. 8
#WeSpeak
Students support Somali community
Editorials/Opinion
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October 26, 2016
No Hate, Just Love Homophobia: irrational fear, aversion to or discrimination against homosexuality or homosexuals.
Brynn Grieshaber Co-Editor
You know what’s sad? It’s devastatingly sad when someone treats someone else with so much hate and disrespect just because they’re different than they are. Parents, teachers, family members, bosses, best friends, and even your preachers will stand there and tell you to be a unique in-
CRUSADER
Web: www.crusadernews.com Phone: 620.417.1459 Fax: 620.417.1169 Editors: Aubrey Holt and Brynn Grieshaber News Editor: Kathleen Alonso
Staff: Odalys Avalos Angelica Alfaro Keynitra Houston Joseph Ortega Andrea Baca Valeria Corrales Aylin Gomez David Gomez Yesenia Montanez Follow us on: facebook.com/CrusaderNews Twitter@CrusaderNews
The official student newspaper of Seward County Community College is publsihed monthly by journalism students during the regular college year, except on school holidays and during examinations periods. One copy of each isssue is distributed free to each student, faulty and staff member, with subsequent copies avialable for purchase in the Crusader office at 50 cents each. Letters to the editor will be considered for publication if they are signed and the authenticity of the writer’s signature is verified.The staff reserves the right to edit for length. Opinions voice in letters and editorials are not necessarily those of Seward County Community College. Advertising is accepted. Rates are $5 per column inch or $5.25 pci for color ads. Insert rates are $50 per thousand. The Crusader staff reserves the right to refuse advertising. Mail to: Crusader, Box 1137, Liberal, KS 67905, or email editors@crusadernews.com.
dividual. Be yourself and most importantly love yourself. But then as soon as someone does try to be himself or herself, they’re hated or bashed. Where’s the “freedom” in that? Growing up a very free-minded child, there wasn’t much room for judgment of new or different things. So the first time I ever heard about a guy kissing another guy, I thought, “So? What’s that have to do with me?” Same way I think about a straight couple, to be honest. The way I look at it, if it isn’t bothering you, then why do you care? On June 12, Omar Mateen killed 49 people and wounded 53 others inside Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. It was the deadliest incident of a violent hate crime against LGBT people in United States history. That kind of violence and hate shouldn’t happen. Many people turn to their Bible as reasoning behind denying gay people respect, acceptance and even basic human rights. This goes against everything America stands for and especially against what Jesus Christ taught. Though I believe the reason people can’t accept gay people, is linked to a primal childish reaction that has nothing to do with the Bible. So what is behind all the arrogant, self-righteous, red-eyed craziness towards gay people and especially gay men? The root of that issue is from the child-
hood ridicule society taught them at a young age. Boys are also taught that they are better than girls, so if they do anything that girls do, they are not as good or not as manly. Basically, homophobic, heterosexual guys refuse to accept gay men because they are not like them. Scorned if they showed any signs of weakness or femininity. They learn this from adults, TV, sports, and especially their favorite superhero. I believe this is also why guys insult each other with feminine references. And let’s not forget the coaches and boss-
es that love humiliating their members by calling them “girls,” “ladies”, or “pussies”; emasculating them and making them easier to control while making themselves appear superior. I have personally seen coaches yelling at boys, and yelling at them that they were playing like girls. There won’t ever be a law that will change people. Change comes from within. There won’t be freedom until we’re equal. Live on and be yourself whether somebody likes it or not.
Features
October 26, 2016
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Speak out! We can make a change week’s events and discuss topics that are often hard to approach. “#WeSpeak is our way of making space for students and team members to share what’s on their hearts and minds, and get to know each other,” said Executive Director of Marketing and Public Information ,Rachel Coleman. “The idea is that everyone should have a place to share life experiences,” said Coleman. “What’s it like to serve in the military, and then come back to normal life at a community college? What’s it like to move from an urban community of color to Southwest Kansas, where the color of your
skin is the first thing people register about who you are? What do our female students think about the Presidential Race, and all the conversation about sexual assault?” #WeSpeak will allow students to get know their fellow classmates and their life experiences. By coming together to show support, the impact this has on society proves to students that they can help make a change. Join the discussion today: Post via social media with the hashtag, #WeSpeak, or stop by the public information office to join the conversation.
Business major Sergio Borjas signs with two pens to show his support to SCCC Somali students. (photo by Keynitra Houston)
Gabby Rawlins
Reporter
The face of terrorism hit home in Liberal’s close-knit community. Three men were arrested in Liberal, Oct. 14 and were charged for conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction. They planned an attack on an apartment complex in Garden City where Somali immigrants live. The FBI had been investigating them since February. The shocking news ripped through the Seward County Community College campus in waves of shock and disbelief. Not only were two of the men from Liberal, Curtin Allen, 47, and Gavin Wright, 49, but many Somalis attend classes either at the main campus or the Colvin Adult Learning Center located downtown. This led students, staff and faculty in wanting to make a change in how diversity is seen in Southwest Kansas. They wanted
to show support for their Somali students, friends and community. “This is too important to just let go by,” said Janice Northerns, English instructor. Going to a diverse college made the Oct. 14 event a touchy subject to talk about the following week, but Northerns brought it up in class. She asked, “What can SCCC students do?” Eritrean student, Zeru Mebratu was quick to answer. “Discuss the topic and get to know the people around you,” said Mebratu. “Students can figure out a way to bring everyone together. If students have ideas, speak up!” Students have the chance to speak up through the college’s #WeSpeak campaign. Posters are set up around campus where students can sign to show their support. They can also post their own messages via social media using the hashtag, “#WeSpeak”. The concept is to go beyond talking about last
Student Diego Becerril, signs poster in order of support of the Somali students here at SCCC. (photo by Keynitra Houston)
4 CRUSADER
Features
Somali Community in Liberal Voices Concerns
Town Hall meeting welcoming the Somali community to put worries and concerns at ease. Town commissioners, business owners, Liberal Police Department, and Liberal Chamber of Commerce were among the many groups supporting. Photo by: Brynn Grieshaber
By: Kathleen Alonso News Editor
The mosque located in downtown Liberal is usually a place packed with worshippers. As of late, this sanctuary where man and faith intertwine as been mostly vacant with only a person or two in attendance. The absences come as a response to the arrest of three men charged with conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction after allegedly plotting to plant bombs at an apartment complex housing Somalis in Garden City. Two of the men, Curtis Allen, 47, and Gavin Wright, 49, are both from Liberal. The two men along with a third conspirer, Patrick Eugene Stein, 51, of Wright, Kansas, have claimed they specifically targeted the complex because of it’s residents who identify as Muslims. In the wake of this news, Seward Community College has come together to support our Somali students and community.
Travis Combs, Director of Colvin Adult Learning Center, teamed up with the Liberal Police Department to arrange a rally where members of the Somali community sat down with members of our community to voice their concerns and discuss how to keep the community safe. On Sunday Oct. 23, the Colvin Center was filled with visitors old and new. SCCC President Ken Trzaska, Liberal Mayor Joe Denoyer and State Representative Shannon Francis along with city commissioners, pastors from local churches and Somali residents were all in attendance. Al Sill, Chief of Police, had hopes for this meeting to begin open dialogue within the community. “We decided we need to sit down with our Somali community. Obviously to reassure everybody in the community that you are safe and that if you choose to move somewhere else, you’re not escaping any of the problems that you have in the world,” said Sill. The Somali community is made up of about 50 people. Sill assured that even
October 26, 2016
with it being small community, it is still an important one. “You’re not just a group of 50 [Somalis], you’re a community of 22,000 people,” Sil said. “Those who promote “hate” and “terror” - that is not the norm in this community. Liberal is a loving community and a very caring community. We welcome everybody with open arms,” said Denoyer. “The events of the last few weeks has, if anything, woken us up. We had become complacent. We know now that we have to be diligent. We have to have each other’s back. We have to look out for each other. We have to reach out to our neighbors and once again we have to get to know each other better. Where there is fear, we would like to promote courage. Where there is hate, we would like to foster love. Where there is terror, we would like to advocate for peace.” SCCC second year student and business administration major Qali Farah was in attendance with her sister Ambiyo Farah as a translator. Several Somali community members voiced their appreciation for support along with their concerns for the future.
Features
October 26, 2016
Representative Bud Estes shows his support at the town meeting. Photo By: Brynn Grieshaber Tajo Yusuf, mother of three, shared her concerns once she found out about the planned attack. “I was thinking about quitting my job. There was a lot of pressure and stress on the situation. Instead of providing for my kids I was fearing for my kids safety,” said Yusuf. After openly discussing concerns and opinions, everyone stayed to chat and get
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Police Chief, Al Sill, gives out a list of emergency numbers for Somali members to contact if needed. Sill wanted to stress the importance of the Somali community’s safety in the town. Photo By: Brynn Grieshaber to know one another. People conversed not just about the event but also about their jobs, their kids, and the place they call home. Sills said, “This event has given us an opportunity to bridge gaps so we can get the word out within the community. We want members of the community to know they are safe and don’t have to live in fear.”
Ambiyo Farah helps translate gratitude and concerns from the Somali Community. Ambiyo is a student at the Seward County Community College. Photo By: Brynn Grieshaber
“You’re not just a group of 50 [Somalis], you’re a community of 22,000 people.”
Police Chief, Al Sill
Samoli community members show gratitude to the Liberal community during the town meeting on October 23. Photo By: Kathleen Alonso
Features
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October 26, 2016
Teenage moms face struggles in college Aylin Gomez
Reporter
Being in college is stressful and difficult for any student. For teen mothers Myriam Rubio and Jocelyn Gomez, it can be twice as much of a challenge. Myriam Rubio is a sophomore at SCCC and she has a daughter named Janelle. Rubio says that she has the same teacher for four out of five classes and that her teacher is also a mom so she understands if she needs to leave early and is willing to help her catch up on the work she misses. She says the toughest thing for her is disciplining her child. “I hate hearing her cry and would rather give her what she wants than hear her cry and make a scene,” says Rubio. Rubio says that she knows one day she won’t be able to give her everything that she wants. For her every day is the best day because of the unconditional love she gets from her daughter Janelle. Rubio feels lucky to have her parents support since the very beginning and they support her every decision. “... I am striving for a better education…” Her ultimate goal is to keep learning new things and not give up. Rubio wants to only depend on herself and for her daughter Janelle to be proud of her accomplishments. Jocelyn Gomez, a Freshman, has a daughter named Renesmee. Gomez says her biggest struggle is leaving her daughter to go to school and work.
Teen mom Myriam Rubio, juggles between her homework and keeping her daughter occupied. (photo by Keynitra Houston) “My life has changed for the better, hav- when it comes to getting done at school or preciated, but not only her having dad by ing her taught me that there is much more any spare time in my day.” my side helps a lot!” to life behind her beautiful smile,” she says Gomez says “If it wasn't for her mom Gomez pushes herself by telling herself She sometimes struggles to do her home- watching her daughter while she's at work, that it will be great for Renesmee in the work but she tries to do it while her daugh- or school, she doesn’t know where she future, and she will see that her mom and ter is napping. would be right now.” dad didn’t give up, and want to give her the “Trying to multitask hardly ever helps “I trust her and her support is greatly ap- best, even when it was hard for them.
SCCC/ATS Cosmetology Mon.-Wed. & Fri. 8 am - 4 pm Thursdays Noon -8 pm For Appointments Call:
620-417-1361
Seward County Community College/ATS 1801 N. Kansas * Liberal
October 26, 2016
Features
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Column: Young mom juggles baby, school
Kathleen Alonso
Graphic by Andrea Baca
News Reporter
Being a young mother is something rather common in Liberal. We don’t think much of it because we see it so often. To us, it’s normalized and at times even praised. In my case, like many, it was completely unexpected. I had plans of moving to New York City and traveling the world — dreams every young woman has. When mothers get asked what it’s like being in this situation, we tend to brag. We show them cute pictures, videos and share fun stories. We hardly ever tell the ugly side of motherhood, like the time you had to miss a test because your baby got sick or how every time you’re in a rush your baby seems to make everything impossible. You don’t talk about the late nights you tried to do some homework but the baby wouldn’t let you stray away from her or the times the baby rolled off the bed because you weren’t paying attention. Don’t get me wrong, being a mother has been amazing but it has taken some getting used to. Nights out with friends have been replaced with snuggles with my baby. Busy days running around trying to do everything at once has been replaced with a calmer time to enjoy the presence of a little one. It’s small things like this that make it all worthwhile. Motherhood is not easy, let alone while in college. Transitioning into motherhood can be extremely difficult and lonely without the right support. Relationships at a young age are unstable, it’s a proven fact. So managing a relationship and parenthood can take its strain on people. My take on parenthood is: do not rush unless you both are physically, emotional-
ly, and financially stable. Even with those things, no one is ever truly ready. There are times when we, as young mothers feel we neglect our babies or don’t give them as much time as we should. Keep in mind that your career is no longer just for you but for your little one, too. Appreciate quality time, play with them for an extra five minutes and give them that extra kiss. Whether a good or bad day though, going home to someone that needs every bit of you is a truly amazing feeling. No matter if I’m in Kansas, New York or Europe, I’ll have some fun company on the way.
Sophmore Kathleen Alonso, Prepares for this school year while taking care of her baby Journey. (photo by Keynitra Houston)
Features
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October 26, 2016
If I Were President... What would you do if you sat in the Oval Office? Would you suggest new laws or would you work to edit the ones that already exist? No matter your opinion, there’s always something that we, as citizens, would choose to change. We asked SCCC students and faculty members for their presidential suggestions.
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I would like to have gun rights and protect them. Also, bumping the military salary because our service men and women deserve to be paid more.
Mario Cardenas
Business Major, Liberal, KS
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I would make it to where there are no speeding limits, so there would be no speeding tickets.
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Blas Jimenez
Agricultural Economics Major, Liberal, KS
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Features
October 26, 2016
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I would address the issues of our men and women in the military and our veterans benefits. I would address education and bringing prayer back into schools.
Patsy Fischer
Advising Coordinator, Liberal, KS
I were President, I would “ Ifmake it so high school athletes could graduate and go straight into the league if they’re good. Diamond Bailey Major Undecided, Liberal, KS
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I would change how much entertainers get and give it to the people living in poverty.
”
Myriam Rubio
Business Major, Liberal, KS
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Election nears, vote Nov. 8
Politics
October 26, 2016
In this years election there are four candidates with all eyes on Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican nominee Donald Trump. These rivals have had many heated debates which have all resulted in Clinton’s favor. Hillary Clinton is the senator of New York, and Donald Trump is a business man. There are only two weeks until election day. Make your voice heard and vote. The on campus poll showed that the majority of the student population were not going to vote. Hillary Clinton was the candidate that got the most votes by one percent. Some poplular topics in this years election are racial/ethnic issues, free college, taxes, and immigration. We have gathered information on each candidates postion on these issues. Election day is November 8th with early voting starting November 1st through 7th. Seward county has started as early as October 19th.
Poll by 538 election forcast
Know the facts: Presidential viewpoints
This years Presidential Candidates discuss many issues. The main issues are Terrorism, Taxes, Racial/ Ethnic, and Free College.
Gary Johnson- Liberterian
Hillary Clinton- Democratic
Donald Trump- Republican
Jill Stein- Green
Terrorism
Terrorism
Terrorism
Terrorism
Taxes
Taxes
Supports involving congress in the military.
Taxes
He thinks we should make a more efficient system were immigrants are paying taxes.
Racial/Ethnic
Believes that it’s racist to judge others on their birth.
Free College
Is for getting rid of guaranteed government student loans in order to cut tuition prices.
Supports a bill that closes a loophole in a bill that requires the government to stop tracking suspected terroist once they are in the U.S.
Taxes
Supports fair tax system and strongly supports labor and worker’s rights and raising the minimum wage to meet financial needs.
Racial/ Ethnic
Has been fighting for racial equality.
Free College
Supports making community colleges free of tuition.
Temporarily ban Muslims from entering the US. Under Trump’s proposed tax reforms, everyone would get a cut.
Racial/Ethnic
He plans to build a wall to keep immigrants from crossing the border. Also plans to make Mexico pay for the wall.
Free College
Improve public schools and reduce interest on student loans.
Foreign terrorism suspects should be given constitutional rights. Raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour and wants to make Wall Street, big corporations, and the rich pay their fair share of taxes.
Racial/Ethnic
Stein opposes deportation and supports the Dream Act.
Free College
Believes that there should be cuts in military spending in order to reduce national debt.
October 26, 2016
Features
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Bleeding Kansas By: Aubrey Holt, Co-Editor Damron, Social Science Instructor, has been talking about how this meets up with his American History I class. “As always, we are calling on the members of the art department to help with the set and with the props. We love any time that we can make drama productions cross divisions and cross campus,” Goodwin said. Tickets for the show can be purchased in the Humanities building from Terri Barnes in the Humanities building room H116. “The play is two nights only on October 28 and 29 which is a Friday and a Saturday at 7:30 pm both nights. Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for 65+ and 12 and under,” Goodwin said. Barnes said, “All students can get a free ticket just for showing their current student ID. We just ask that it is one for the current year.” Seward County Community College students, Jessica Malkin and Alexander Pierson rehearse for the play Bleeding Kansas. Photo By: Keynitra Houston Are you looking for a little action, a lot more practice,” said sophomore actor romance and comedy this fall? The SCCC Bryce Brockmann. Drama department will be presenting the “What the playwright does is take five, play Bleeding Kansas on Oct. 28 and 29 rather “ordinary” people, and put them in in the Humanities building theater. the middle of it all. They all have oppos“The play is called Bleeding Kansas and ing viewpoints. We have an abolitionist its by an amazing playwright named Kath- who has come in from Boston who is erine Willot. Its set in 1855 in Kansas, working to try to get the vote to go against more in the eastern part of the state around slavery, we have the Missouri ruffians Lawrence in a town called Lecompton. who come in to try to use any means at It is set in a year and a time that was not their disposal to get the pro-slavery vote, only pivotal for Kansas, but for the nation then you have the people trying to farm as a whole,” said Play Director and Thethe land caught in the middle who are just ater Instructor Gloria Goodwin. trying to make a life for their families.” In the early days of statehood, Kansas Because of the diverse history involved became a key player in the fight to abolish in the play’s setting, other branches of the slavery. As states were being voted into humanities are using Bleeding Kansas as the union, they were either for or against a way to teach outside of the box. Both slavery and these decisions ended up American Literature I and American Hisdeciding borders for the Civil war. tory I students will be required to watch Goodwin said, “The basis of this script the production and complete an assignis that Kansas is trying to vote on weather ment based on its context. to come into the union as a free state or a A big center point of this show is the slave state. And there is a lot of politics novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin. An abolitionist surrounding that. Some of it is violent. who moved into Kansas had two books Some of it is passionate.” with them at all times- the Bible and The cast of this production is a bit out Uncle Tom’s Cabin. They used both to of the ordinary for an academic theater make their argument for slavery being an production seeing that it consists of only immoral wrong. Mrs. Northerns, English five people. instructor, heard about this part of the play “I find myself doing more work at home and since they are doing a whole unit on in order to learn all of my lines. My charUncle Tom’s Cabin, which works along acter has some long monologues that take with the point of the play. Also Gary
7:30 pm Oct. 28 and 29 Showcase Theatre
Student actors Jessica Malkin and Alexander Pierson take part in a prodcution dipicking historical events in Kansas. Photo By: Keynitra Houston
Editorials/Opinion
12 CRUSADER
October 26, 2016
Ghost experiences prove downtown is haunted
Local buliding’s haunting led to real people actually living in buildings. These doors belong to the building located at 201 N Kansas. The business owner was having a feeling that a ghost lived upstairs, but one day she caught a man coming down stairs during store hours. He had an entire house layed out upstairs. He was kicked out by the business owner. It is still rumored that the building is haunted. (photo by Angelica Alfaro)
Angelica Alfaro
Reporter
Downtown Liberal is known as being haunted. Different stories are told around town but which ones are actually true? Halloween is just around the corner and telling ghost stories isn’t just to scare someonesometimes the events really did happen. The buildings downtown are all really old and usually old buildings have history to them. The building at 201 N Kansas Ave, former location of Mema’s, has a few stories behind it. It is rumored that one of the janitors that worked in that building committed suicide by hanging himself. During the day, footsteps can be heard both on the main floor and upstairs of his spirit that still lives there. That is just one of the reasons why businesses always leave that location. The second story behind that same building is that there are tunnels connecting that building to another. Two men supposedly decided to take the tunnel and head to the other building. When they got to the other building they murdered a young women. The people who now work there say she is a friendly ghost and refer to her as Sadie. They say that Sadie is in her early twenties because when they hear her, she has a youthful laugh. During the day, Sadie stays in the basement but some employees
feel her underneath the stairway and is sometimes heard running up and down the stairway. Sometimes when employees are alone, they smell cigarette smoke even if they themselves don’t smoke. Because of this, they are sure that Sadie is a smoker.
Along with Herb changing the radio station, Hook-Gray mentions that Herb would open and close the file cabinets during the day and sometimes move the frames on the wall. They would arrive at work and the frames would not be in place. Herb did this throughout the seven years that Hook-Gray remembers. Agent Vickie Rice has also had an experience with a different ghost. Before working at Heritage, Rice had her own business at 221 N Kansas Ave. Rice says “Sometimes I could smell smoke and I knew I was alone so it had to be the ghost.” Along with the
smoking, footsteps were heard on the second floor as well.
WHEN YOU THINK OF INSURANCE...
Another friendly ghost in town is named Herb. Herb lives or lived at 8 E 2nd S. That building was previously used by the Heritage Real Estate Group. Agent Lydia Hook-Gray, said, “It was funny because we usually had the radio on a country station, but all of a sudden it changed to a gospel station.”
620-624-6238 1011 N. Kansas, Liberal
Features
October 26, 2016 Jessica Crawford, who works at Leader and Times, has had several experiences. Crawford’s first experience was upstairs, she didn’t want to go home yet because it was snowing heavily and she lived out of town. She didn’t want to get stranded somewhere so Crawford decided to set up an air mattress upstairs and spend the night. Around three in morning, Crawford says that her sheets just started moving. When she looked, no one was there. The second experience happened on the main floor around 6 a.m. Crawford says she heard a little girl say “Oh wow.” There was no one else in the building, much less a little girl. After those two experiences, Crawford says she will not spend the night in the building again.
In a different building, employees say there are ghosts of children. They refer to them as ‘the kids’ because they hear them running around, talking and laughing. When they go down to the basement to work or use the restroom, they can hear the ghost kids upstairs. Often times, they assume they are customers, but once they go back upstairs there is no one there.
At a different building, people often times hear voices. The voices are heard throughout the day but the employees just tend to ignore it. Several employees said that when they first got the building they made peace with the ghost. They told the ghost that they were there to just work and didn’t want to cause harm or have any problems. One experience reported was that two employees went down to the basement because they got curious and snapped a picture. They became uneasy and went back upstairs. Once they saw the picture, they saw it had a white face in it where they had seen nothing before.
L ib e r a l 20 E T uck er Rd. n oon t o 10pm
6 2 4 -2 0 4 5
The last building is the Landmark Center where the ghost of a little girl has been rumored to live. It’s told that in the 1930s, when the building was a motel, a little girl and her family came to visit for Thanksgiving. This motel had early style elevators where, in order to operate, someone had to physically shut the doors. The little girl reportedly died when one of the employees was closing the doors and she dropped her teddy bear. As she bent over to pick it up, the doors were shut and she was decapitated. The little girl is now heard running through the hallways laughing and moving doors.
CRUSADER 13 So, do you believe these ghost stories? Next time you visit one of these businesses, listen closely to what is going around you. You just might hear one of these friendly or terrifying ghosts. Some businesses are not named for personal reasons.
Sports
14 CRUSADER
October 26, 2016
Saints basketball preview:
Lady Saints seek Jayhawk Conference title Valeria Corrales
Reporter
The Lady Saints Basketball team has high hopes for their 2016-2017 season. “I hope we win the conference and regionals. We have to win this time, and we have to be good, very good,” said sophomore Clitan de Sousa. The Lady Saints first game will be November 1st at home against Otero Junior college, but they will have a home scrimmage on October 25 if fans want to go watch them play. This year they will have a total of 30 games and 26 of them will be conference games, which is something they have never done before. “First time we have done this, so it’s going to be something that nobody’s experienced here because we’ve never done it like this and so it could end up being a longer more demanding season because just the strategies involved in playing conference games are a little bit different than
all conference games. It could be a tough, challenging season, but also a very rewarding season as well,” said Lady Saints basketball coach, Toby Wynn. The Lady Saints will come back this season with eleven players- six of them sophomores. Of the six sophomores, the two players to lead the team are Joanna Grymek and Clitan de Sousa. Grymek, the tallest girl on the team at 6’7, will diffidently be a presence post player wise, and Clitan de Sousa has really developed her skills since last year. The other sophomores are Erin Richardson and Neidy Ocuane who will be showing leadership on the floor as guards. Sophomores Manula Fungate and Alex Tyson will lead and also will show production as front court players. The Lady Saints first conference game will be November 12, against Hutchinson. Hutchinson is the team’s biggest rival. This will be a game that the Lady Saints will have marked in their calender as it will be a big game for them. “They are a very good team, but we are great. We beat
them last year two times, and we just need to keep doing what we are doing against them,” said player Clitan de Sousa. From that point on, they will start to play many conference games, which are games played against teams from Kansas. As of now, the Lady Saints have great chemistry, and they will have to continue to work train harder to continue to imrpove their game and have a productive season. “We need to continue to build the chemistry we have and keep working hard every day,” said freshman, Brennen Seagler. They will have to compete for the conference games, region championships, and could have a chance to go to the national tournament. “At this point I feel like we have the pieces to the puzzle and the right chemistry to diffidently make a run for it,” said the Lady Saints coach, Toby Wynn. The Lady Saints are excited to start their new season and to see how the season will turnout for them. They hope to be holding Jayhawk conference title at the end of the season.
Clitan de Sousa, 6-foot sophomore from Maputo, Mozambique, practicing three point shots. Averaging 8.0 points and 5.4 rebounds per game last year, de Sousa was a key cog in the Lady Saints runner-up finishes in both the Jayhawk Conference and the Region VI Tournament in 2015-2016. (Photo by Brynn Grieshaber)
Erin Richardson looking for the rebound. 5’6 sophomore from Wellington, Texas. Richardson saw action in all 33 games for Seward last season, drawing three starts while averaging 4.2 points and 1.3 rebounds per game. (Photo by Brynn Grieshaber)
Lady Saints practicing free throws. Free throws are one of the most crucial fundamentals in basketball as they are an oppurtinity to earn free points (Photo by Brynn Grieshaber)
Saints basketball preview night on October 27th starting 6:30 at the Green House.
October 26, 2016
Sports
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Men’s basketball prepares for new challenges David Gomez Reporter Replacing two time All-American Niem Stevenson will be a tough job for the Saints men’s basketball team this season. But they have a plan tp replace his production — one that they predict will bring good results for the season.
Jeromie Simmons, 6’3 freshman, from Leavenworth, Kansas showing off his shooting skills. Simmons played in 26 games for the Saints as a freshman in 2015-2016. He averaged 6.2 minutes per game and dropped in 2.0 points per contest. (Photo by Brynn Grieshaber)
Sophomore veteran Micah LittleJohn gave a little insight to how the team will handle the offensive hole left behind. He said there will not be one person that replaces Stevenson, but the entire team. They will all contribute by spreading the ball around and finding the open shooter. Eight members from last year’s squad are returning and they are coming back to the court with confidence. LittleJohn and Charles Beauregard, two of the team’s veterans leaders, are oozing with confidence about their chances at winning the Kansas Jayhawk Collegiate Conference this year. “We just try to lead by examples since we are the oldest on the team and have the most experience,” said Littlejohn When asked how he thought the 20162017 season would pan out, LittleJohn said, “Just watch out for us.” Coach Bryan Zollinger enters his 10th
Tre Kidd, number 24, and Eric Turner, number 21, celebrating after making a basket. As a senior Turner averaged 16.8 points and 7 rebounds per game. Kidd averaged 15 points and 8 rebounds per game, earning 1st Team All-District honors. (Photo by Brynn Grieshaber)
Pierre Johnson receiving the pass to make a basket. 6’4 freshman from Baltimore, Maryland. Averaging 14 points and 6 assists per game as a Senior, he earned 1st Team All- League honors while being named the Defensive Player of the Year in the conference. (Photo by Brynn Grieshaber)
season as the Saints basketball coach. Last year the Saints were able to pull off an impressive 13-1 start, however the team did not do as great the rest of the way, finishing with an 18-13 record. This time around the saints look to keep a hot start going throughout the season. Beauregard believes they have enough chemistry as a team to play cohesively as a unit. The team has also been working on their conditioning all offseason. Good conditioning allows the team to get out on the fastbreak and score easy points, something that coach Zollinger stresses. The Saints first game will be on November 1, against Sunrise Christian. Preview night will be on October 27, at the Green House. “It’s going to be fun,” expressed Beauregard. The first five games will be in The Greenhouse. Beauregard thinks they will have a competitive advantage at their home court with so many games in a row. “Five and 0,” he predicted confidently. Both Littlejohn and Beauregard mentioned that they have been impressed with the play and energy of Malik Brown. “I like Malik. He always brings the energy and knows how to score the ball,” said Beauregard. Beauregard said he believes that his team has a chance to be great. He mentioned that the group is talented at all positions and that freshman have not been shy about developing their roles on the team.
Sports
16 CRUSADER
October 26, 2016
Men’s tennis wins national title Alvaro Rengifo
Reporter
After a tough fight through the tournament, Carlos Añez and Ondrej Nice clutched victory at the NJCAA Men’s Doubles National Championship in Phoenix, Arizona. Their incredible performance during the championship has given them the faith to continue working hard and looking ahead to next season. “We wrote a name for ourselves after Regionals. Now we have confirmed that name as something to be scared of,” said Añez. The match against Tyler Community College was a back and forth struggle, but the Saints duo were able to ramp into a 5-3 set lead. After trading sets for awhile longer, Añez and Nice pushed through to claim the match 7-5. Nice said, “I was so scared. I only could think about winning that last point, we made such a great effort that my legs were dying down during the match. I remember that when Carlos won the match point, I just could not believe it so I hugged him for almost five minutes.” This is the second championship winning Men’s Doubles Tennis pair within the past three years. Ronzai Saurombe and Alejandro Gonzalez earned the first title in program history in 2014. Coaches Greg Owen and Chase Ashley have helped the team
Tennis player Ondrej Nice plays a friendly singles match to pass time. (Photo by Keynitra Houston)
reach the top by emphasizing hard work and daily routines. “I truly believe that their hard work has paid off and I am so happy for them,” said Owen. The Saints Tennis team is now the topranked team in the nation. The pride and happiness shown by Añez and Nice is coupled with determination to stay on top. “We have to keep working hard,” said Nice. “We need to keep pushing ourselves through and get that new impulse which will make us be successful again.” In a spectacular feat of athletic ability, the Women’s Lady Saints Tennis team fell only one win short of clutching a NJCAA Doubles National Championship of their own. Thalita Rodrigues and Steffany Bermudez fell in their final match to the State College of Florida after a hard 6-4 fight and tie for the best finish in school history, equaling Paula Lopez and Paula Coyos second place finish in 2014. The team’s mentality for the spring is all about success. They expect nothing short of greatness. Tennis is more than ready to battle for both Regionals and the National Championship. “The expectations are always high. We have a good program and we know that we will make it again,” said Owen. “We don’t go out there to lose- we go out there prepared and ready to take care of business.”
Sports Management major Carlos Anez prepares to swing at an oncoming ball.(Photo by Keynitra Houston)
Sophomores Ondrej Nice and Carlos Anez, hold their trophies with pride after winning the NJCAA Men’s Doubles National Championship in Phoenix, Arizona.. Nice and Anez are the second men’s doubles from Seward County Community college to win the National Title. (Photo by Keynitra Houston)