kentuckykernel
Thursday, January 27, 2022 est. 1892 | Independent since 1971 www.kykernel.com @kykernel @kentuckykernel
news
5
Tornado relief fundraising
opinions
6
Is Kentucky in the South or Midwest?
sports
WHO IS WILL LEVIS? |8
Across the (By)Line: Kansas Jayhawks
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Thursday, January 27, 2022
news
A conversation with Jesse St. James, Kristoff and Agent James By Abbey Cutrer news@kykernel.com
Actor and singer Jonathan Groff spoke to UK students via Zoom on Tuesday, Jan. 25. Groff was this semester’s distinguished speaker for the Student Activities Board and spoke about his roles in “Glee,” “Hamilton” and “The Matrix.” Sarah Graves, director of cultural arts on UK’s Student Activities Board, introduced moderator Dr. Kody Frey before announcing Groff. She described him as “an American actor on both the Broadway stage and screen” and spoke about his breakout performance in “Spring Awakening.” Frey started off this conversation call by asking what Groff has been into lately. “‘The Matrix’ training got me really into working out, and it’s been two years going,” Groff said. “I started working out with a trainer five times a week, and then I sort of hung onto it. I work out four times a week now, so I have a makeshift gym in my basement.” Groff played the role of Agent Smith in “The Matrix” and spoke about his fight scene with Keanu Reeves later in the conversation.
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Groff continued to talk about how he and five friends started a film club, where he’d watch two to four movies a week and get on a Zoom call to talk about them. Frey moved the conversation along by asking Groff to give a background to his career as well as his introduction to performing. Groff delved into the beginnings of theater in his life. Groff described his childhood in theater, referring to Halloween costumes such as Mary Poppins and Dorothy from the “Wizard of Oz”. “In fourth grade, we went to see the high school production of ‘Annie Get Your Gun,’ and there was something about it that really landed with me, and then I became obsessed with everything theater,” Groff said. Frey asked Groff about his role as Kristoff in the Disney movie “Frozen.” “Oh my gosh, I auditioned, I went in and recorded, I read these scenes, and thought ‘Okay it’s never gonna happen,’” Groff said. “And then four months later, I got this call that my voice was one of three male voices that they were pairing with Kristen Bell and they were gonna take a survey, and so my voice ended up, people thought, pairing the best with Kristen’s, and
that’s how I got that part in the movie.” Frey asked if recording for “Frozen” was similar to creating bonds like Groff did on the Broadway sets, since the actors spend so much time together. Groff said the situation was “totally the opposite.” “You don’t ever interact with anyone except for your filmmakers, so I don’t think I ever even saw Idina [Menzel], Kristen or Josh [Gad] until we sat down to watch the movie together for the first time,” he said. “We never interacted, ever.” Groff explained that it sounded like they were actually talking to each other when the movie came out, and that it was crazy how production did that. Groff acted as “Glee’s” Jesse St. James, lead male of Vocal Adrenaline and main antagonist, in season one. Groff explained that he didn’t want to be singing all the time, but wanted to “flex different muscles.” He decided not to sign onto a whole seven years of “Glee,” but instead agreed to do a single season as Jesse St. James. “It was perfect, because it was something not like me because [Jesse] was kind of a d*ck,” Groff said. “When I joined the show, it had already become this
Poster from uksab.org
global sensation. I was nervous.” Frey concluded the con-
versation with questions from the students. A student asked if Groff is a “Gleek”
in real life. Groff responded, “Absolutely.”
Thursday, January 27, 2022
Humans of UK:
kentuckykernel
Joe Graft is living history By Corrie McCroskey news@kykernel.com
This is Humans of UK, inspired by the Humans of New York Instagram series by photographer and author Brandon Stanton. This series dives into the individuals of UK as well as their stories, strifes and passions. It was 1968, and Louisville native Joe Graft was a junior studying finance at UK with plans to someday join the military full-time. That day came much sooner than he thought. At only 23, Graft was drafted into the Army at the height of the Vietnam War and was forced to leave his studies behind. “I could’ve gone in and taken two years and probably been sent to ‘Nam. I said, ‘Let me shop around.’ I looked at Air Force, Army, you can do that,” Graft said. Upon his conscription, Graft went through boot camp and electronic warfare training. He was deployed to Germany shortly after. “I decided to pick the Army Security Agency; it took a four-year enlistment. I weighed four years against two years and possibly coming home in a body bag,” Graft said. “I took the four years.” After leaving the service, Graft traveled around Europe, living out of his BMW and using every spare pen-
CORRIE MCCROSKEY | STAFF Joe Graft poses for a portrait on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022, at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky.
ny he had. When the money ran out, he decided it was time to go back home and get to work. He arrived back at UK in 1972 and began working in the engineering machine shop while he finished his degree. Though his aspirations of investing led him to study finance, Graft minored in engineering, a passion that began at an early age when he spent most of his childhood in an
orphanage. “My mother died at childbirth. There were four of us and there was no way my dad could raise us,” Graft said. “When I was in the third grade, I would follow these maintenance guys around and I just thought, ‘Wow, they can do all these things; I want to be this.’” Now 76, Graft has spent the last 49 years of his life working for UK as a utility systems engineer. He oversees building operations,
writes standards for construction and checks city mapping for inaccuracies. Graft has been part of countless construction projects on campus and has also worked hands-on in the shop, crafting objects like the cannon that sits in Buell Armory. “We used to fire that on Stoll Field. We would drag it on the field in the endzone, and when our team scored, we fired it,” Graft said. Looking back at his career, Graft remembers the excitement of new projects and says that the university provided him with knowledge that he was able to use outside of work. “Because of the different shops that were here, I had an invaluable resource that I could go down and look at some of these projects while they were being built and learn. It was like a classroom,” Graft said. Set to retire in April, Graft enjoys woodwork and gardening and plans to continue work on an addition he built to his home. He also hopes to be able to travel again, saying that he would like to go “coast to coast on a train.” “My dad was a machinist and he built steam locomotives … Of course, I took trains all over Europe,” Graft said. “I’d like to see some of the country that way. I’ve traveled to 30-35 states, and I’d like to knock them all out. That’s on my bucket list.”
CONTACT
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editor@kykernel.com Managing editor:
Jack Weaver editor@kykernel.com
News editor:
Hannah Stanley news@kykernel.com
Asst. news editors:
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Features editor:
Emily Girard features@kykernel.com
Sports editor:
Hunter Shelton sports@kykernel.com
Asst. sports editor:
Cole Parke
Opinions editor:
Brooklyn Kelley opinions@kykernel.com
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Jack Weaver
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KENTUCKY KERNEL OFFICES 340 McVey Hall University of Kentucky Lexington, KY 40506
On the cover:
JACK WEAVER | STAFF Kentucky quarterback Will Levis (7) throws a pass during the Kentucky vs. New Mexico State football game on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky.
Top right:
AP PHOTO/MICHAEL CLUBB
Middle right:
RAYLEIGH DEATON | STAFF
Bottom right:
JACK WEAVER | STAFF
spring 2022 | 3
Thursday, January 27, 2022
news
Kentucky Kernel named best collegiate newspaper in Kentucky By Sophia Shoemaker news@kykernel.com
The Kentucky Kernel staff attended the 2022 Kentucky Press Association Winter Convention last Friday. The staff took home multiple individual awards and first place in the General Excellence category for the fourth year in a row. “I’m very proud of the Kentucky Kernel’s staff,” Kernel student media advisor Ryan Craig said. “They are a marvelous group of students who care about the truth and want to report the news that is important to the campus and the surrounding communities. This is the fourth straight year where they proved that they are the best collegiate newsroom in Kentucky and I feel they are among the best in the nation. I can’t wait to see what they do next.” The Kernel competed against other college newspapers in the Student Publication 2 category, which includes all participating Kentucky collegiate publications with a main campus enrollment above 10,000. “I am incredibly grateful for this group of people I get to call my staff,” current Kernel editor-in-chief Rayleigh Deaton said. “They are fantastic journalists and even better friends, and I’m honored to be their editor. I’m so proud of what we’ve already accom-
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plished together and can’t wait to see what we do in the future!” Among the individual award winners was former Kernel editor-in-chief Natalie Parks, who won Student Journalist of the Year for the second consecutive year. Jennifer Greer, dean of the University of Kentucky College of Communication and Information, expressed the importance of students attending conventions like KPA and learning from working journalists. “Take pride in what you have chosen to do,” Greer said. Current and alumni Kernel staff members received awards in the news, sports, photos and opinion categories.
First place — Luke Schlake Second place — Gillian Stawiszynski Third place — Sarah Michels
Best Editorial Writer: First place — Natalie Parks Second place — Kernel Staff
Best Investigative Story or Series: First place — Sarah Michels
Best Breaking News Coverage: First place — Natalie Parks Second place — Natalie Parks Third place — Sarah Michels
Best Ongoing/ Extended Coverage Story: First place — Kernel Staff Third place — Natalie Parks
Best General News Story: Second place — Natalie Parks Best Feature Story: Second place — Sarah Michels Best Columnist:
Best Sports Columnist: Second place — Barkley Truax Best Sports Story: Second place — Natalie Parks Best Sports Feature Story: First place — Braden Ramsey Best Enterprise or Analytical Story: Second place — Sarah Michels Third place — Natalie Parks
Best Business/Agribusiness Story: First place — Natalie Parks Second place — Natalie Parks Best Use of Social Media or Multi-Media: Certification of Merit — Kernel Staff
PHOTO BY DAVID STEPHENSON Past and current members of the Kentucky Kernel staff pose with awards won at the 2022 Kentucky Press Association Winter Convention on Friday, Jan. 21, in Louisville, Kentucky.
Best Video: First place — Kennedy Miller Best Breaking News Photo: First place — Jack Weaver Second place — Michael Clubb Third place — Jack Weaver
Best General News Photo: First place — Martha McHaney Second place — Jack Weaver Third place — Michael Chubb Best Feature Photo: First place — Michael Clubb
Third place — Jack Weaver
Best Graphic: First place — Natalie Parks
Best Picture Essay (Breaking, General or Feature): First place — Michael Clubb Second place — Jack Weaver Third place — Martha McHaney
Best Sports Page/ Section: First place — Kernel Staff Second place — Ryder From and Natalie Parks Third place — Ryder From
Best Sports Picture Essay: First place — Michael Clubb Second place — Jack Weaver Best Special Section/ Best Sports Special Section: First place — Kernel Staff
Best Editorial Page: First place — Ryder From Second place — Natalie Parks Best Front Page: First place — Ryder From Best Headline Writer: First place — Natalie Parks Second place — Natalie Parks
Thursday, January 27, 2022
news
Kappa Sigma raises over $10,000 for western Kentucky tornado relief By Lindsey Davis news@kykernel.com
On Dec. 10 and 11, 2021, four tornadoes ripped through western Kentucky, leaving communities devastated. University of Kentucky fraternity Kappa Sigma wasted no time in responding by starting a GoFundMe on Dec. 11 for western Kentucky tornado relief. In less than a month, the fraternity raised $10,720. Several members of the chapter are from western Kentucky, including Max Morris, a sophomore business management major and the fundraiser’s organizer. Morris, the Kappa Sigma philanthropy chair, said that some of the fraternity members completely lost their homes to the tornadoes. “I thought that this would be a good opportunity to show them that the fraternity, the alumni, our friends, families and everyone on campus has their back during these hard times,” Morris said. He recalled his experience going back home to Bowling Green, Kentucky, for winter break. Bowling Green was one of the areas of western Kentucky that was hit by the tornadoes. “It was really sad, seeing all the places that I
used to go to growing up. They were just gone,” Morris said. “It’s a scary sight that no one should ever have to see, but unfortunately, so many people do now.” Morris credited Ben Samson, Kappa Sigma chapter president, for pushing him to start the GoFundMe. “I was hopeful as the leader of a large student organization that we could do something for the communities that were affected and raise some funds,” Samson, a junior neuroscience major and Marshall County native, said. Jonathan Andrews, a sophomore information communication technology major, is the Kappa Sigma treasurer and graphics chair. Andrews created the graphic regarding the success of the fundraiser that was posted on @kappasigmakentucky, the official Instagram account of UK’s Beta Nu chapter of Kappa Sigma. “I thought that the fundraiser could be a little sense of hope for everyone,” Morris said. Little did he know, the fundraiser was going to be much more successful than he anticipated. “Honestly, I was surprised that the fundraiser went as far as it did,” Andrews said.
AP PHOTO/MICHAEL CLUBB A car sits among the remains of a destroyed house after a tornado in Dawson Springs, Kentucky, Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021.
Morris explained that he originally set the fundraiser’s goal at $1,000, which it raised within the first 48 hours, so he increased it to $2,000. When that goal was met, he raised it to $3,000. “Once we met that, we figured, ‘Why not shoot for the stars?’” he said. Samson believes that one of the reasons the fundraiser was so successful was because it was so
easy to share. “We sent emails to the alumni, texted friends and family and posted about it on social media,” Samson said. “Once it got out, a lot of people jumped on it and donated.” Andrews credited the help of the generous alumni and families as the reason they were able to crush goals that they didn’t think were possible. Now that the fundrais-
er has received $10,720 in donations, Morris and Andrews are discussing what to do with the money. Andrews said that he is working with the philanthropy chair to ensure that the funds make it to the families affected as efficiently as possible. Samson explained that many people in western Kentucky live below the poverty line. According to the United States Census
Bureau, the average poverty rate of the cities most affected by the tornadoes is 30.2%. “I think that, recently, fraternities have been portrayed pretty negatively in the media — you know, with good reason — so I’m happy that we can use our platform as a large and active student organization to make a difference in those communities,” Samson said.
spring 2022 | 5
Thursday, January 27, 2022
opinions
The real division in Kentucky By Brooklyn Kelley opinions@kykernel.com
Moving to Lexington to attend the University of Kentucky might as well have been like moving to a whole other part of America, even though I only live a few counties away, and I grew up coming here to shop on occasion. I was surprised when I spoke in my classes and almost everyone in the room had a confused look on their face because they couldn’t understand my eastern Kentucky drawl. While many people – including the Kentucky Kernel’s staff – debate whether the Bluegrass State is Northern, Southern or even Midwestern, I think the argument is much more complex than that, and there isn’t even a real answer. In short: it depends on where in Kentucky you mean when you ask the question — is Kentucky a Southern state or not? If you go to my home in Appalachia, the culture is far different than it is at my home in Lexington. We have Sunday afternoon dinners after church, many people make a living working the land, and we have a plethora of Southern expressions and a language in the mountains that I’ve never heard in somewhere more urban, like Lexington. I can speak from experience: Appalachian regions embody many ideas of Southern culture in the minds of a lot of people. Since I’ve been a student here at UK, I’ve been surprised to learn that a lot of people don’t realize what people further South, West or East of Lexington sound like. I’ve been asked many times where I’m from and asked to repeat things several times, or even spell them out, because fellow Kentuckians can’t understand my accent. The fact that people who were also from Kentucky couldn’t understand me led me to realize that this is a very diverse
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MARTHA MCHANEY I STAFF The Kentucky State Capitol dome breaks through the morning fog in Frankfort, Kentucky, on Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021.
state as far as cultures and accents go. If you visit somewhere like Louisville or Lexington, city culture is evident, accents aren’t as abundant, and most of the expressions I hear at home are foreign to almost everyone. Culture across Kentucky varies so much that it’s less of a matter of whether the state can be considered Southern and more of a matter of whether the county can be. Western Kentuckians, southern Kentuckians and eastern Kentuckians have more similar cultures, expressions and ac-
cents than northern and central Kentuckians. This makes me think that the state is divided almost horizontally as far as what is typically thought of as the South in a cultural sense. When people argue whether Kentucky is considered the South, a popular argument to bring up is the state’s neutrality in the Civil War. The state was divided in opinions and sides, so it was considered a border state. I think of the Bluegrass State very similarly today. Kentucky is divided in culture. However, today, that doesn’t mean that we
can’t get along with Kentuckians from other parts of the state. One of my favorite parts about attending college in my home state is learning about other people from the state. I have found that meeting people from northern and central Kentucky is akin to meeting people from other states for me. We learn from each other and are exposed to a new kind of thinking and living. So, maybe Kentucky as a state is neither Southern nor Northern nor Midwestern, but rather it’s the state that holds a bit of everyone and everything.
Thursday, January 27, 2022
opinions
Are music streaming services bad for artists?
By Hayden Donaldson opinions@kykernel.com
Streaming services such as Spotify and Apple Music have taken over the music industry and drastically altered how musicians profit from their work, for better or for worse. Streaming services grant listeners access to a seemingly infinite catalog of music that can be listened to at any time or place, all without ever having to buy a single song or album. Ten dollars a month is now all it takes for every song there is to be available to you instantaneously. Never before has it been possible to have such unbridled access to the boundless wealth of music that the world has to offer. From the consumer perspective, streaming services are one of the best things to ever happen to music, but is it all at the expense of the artist? Artists earn just fractions of a cent when one of their songs is played, and the overwhelming dominance of streaming services leaves them with no real alternative platforms that command a mainstream appeal. It wasn’t long ago that an artist could expect to sell an entire album millions of times over off the back of just one song that was worth listening to. Record sales were once a musician’s bread and butter and are now on life support, which, in turn, has left the music industry and its overall profitability clouded in uncertainty. It's tempting to see how little Spotify pays artists per stream and how few people buy music now and conclude that streaming services are the enemy of artists and music everywhere. It is only when examining the holistic impact that streaming has had on the music industry, however, that it becomes clear that streaming has overwhelmingly had a positive impact on musicians in a multitude of ways. On average, an artist can expect to make around $0.00437 per stream and
$3,500 for 1 million streams. Earning just a percentage of a cent for every stream may initially sound like far too little for artists to be getting for their work, but in practice, these meager earnings add up very quickly and can generate a sizable profit for musicians. This is because at any given time, millions of people are streaming music and every single time a song is getting played, an artist is earning a profit from it. Critics of streaming services who feel they take advantage of artists and need to pay them far more fail to consider the greater impact that music streaming has had on musicians and their compensation. An artist’s compensation from streaming is a direct result of how many people actually want to listen to their music and how often those people are listening to it. Earnings from music streaming reflect the quality of the artist’s work, which ensures that artist compensation is fair and based on the merit of their work. Therefore, more musicians than ever before can make money from their music. Even very niche musicians can gain far more exposure and reap far more profit than they ever would be able to do without streaming. Services like Spotify do not just provide artists with streaming revenue, but they also allow those artists to interact directly with their audience from selling merchandise and promoting concerts on their artist profile. Prior to streaming services, live performances and merchandise sales did not generate nearly as much revenue for artists because merchandise was usually just sold from the artists website or during concerts, and getting the word out about concerts to the right people was far more difficult. The mass exposure and seamless integration into the platform their audience already is using to listen to their music has transformed live performances and merchandise sales into extremely lucrative sources of revenue for artists.
0:00
$0.00437
spring 2022 | 7
Thursday, January 27, 2022
Faith, family, football (and fruit, of course): The story of Will Levis By Jack Weaver sports@kykernel.com
MICHAEL CLUBB | STAFF Kentucky Wildcats quarterback Will Levis (7) acknowledges fans after the UK vs Iowa Vrbo Citrus Bowl football game on Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022, at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.
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Will Levis knows what it’s like to be a “normal student.” Last semester, Levis spent his weekends at Kroger Field, where he led the Wildcats in a successful 10-3 season. But just a semester before that, he was spending his weekends at Penn State like any college student does — relaxing and studying to graduate. Levis was still living with his former Penn State teammates, but he no longer had commitments to the team after entering the transfer portal in January 2021. “It was kind of a time for me to recharge and really focus on this transition phase that I was going into,” Levis said. Levis graduated from Penn State with a bachelor’s degree in finance in May 2021. The next day, after an eight-hour car ride to Lexington, his time as a normal college student was over. It was back to football. “I was ready to hit the ground running,” Levis said. And that’s what he did. After an impressive showing at fall camp, Levis was
named Kentucky's starting quarterback, a sign of payoff for the difficult decision to transfer. The initial thought that transferring may have been in his best interest was not easy for Levis to cope with at the time, he said. Like he is used to doing, Levis relied on his biggest supporters for guidance: his parents. “There were some long nights spent with long conversations and hard conversations about what the best decision for me would be,” he said. “It was really, really tough.” Levis said his mother especially shares in his anxiety when preparing for games. “I think my mom gets more emotional and worked up for the games than I do. She thinks she’s the one playing,” he said.
Levis knew that if he wanted to play professional football one day, he needed to find a school where he had a better chance of starting, he said. However, Levis was afraid that choosing to transfer would go against his personal mantra to never give up, a saying that Levis’ grandfather instilled in him from a young age. “He’d literally say that at the end of every conversation I ever had with him,” he said. At eight years old, Levis didn’t give too much thought to the wise words of his grandfather, he said. But as he grew older, he began to cherish those moments before his grandfather passed away. Now, those words live on through the Bible verse tattooed on Levis’ right bicep.
I remember when I was a little kid, looking up to players like me. I’m still a normal guy, a regular guy. To some other people, I’m a little more than that.
- Will Levis
Thursday, January 27, 2022
MICHAEL CLUBB | STAFF Kentucky Wildcats quarterback Will Levis (7) celebrates with his mom, Beth, after the UK vs Iowa Vrbo Citrus Bowl football game on Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022, at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.
JACK WEAVER | STAFF Kentucky quarterback Will Levis (7) throws a pass for a touchdown during the UK vs. Tennessee football game on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky.
“It’s the second book of Chronicles, verse seven, which reads, ‘But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded,’” he said. The ink on Levis’ arm isn’t the extent of his faith by any means. “My faith is something that I strive in and struggle with at times, as well,” he said. Spending one-on-one time with team chaplain Aaron Hogue, Levis has learned to use his faith to keep him from getting “too worked up over such miniscule things like a football game.” And when it comes to handling the pressure of his role at the helm of Kentucky football, Levis has found a positive outlook. “Whenever there’s stress or anxiety, it means there’s high expectations, so that’s a cool thing,” he said. “If you’re not nervous, it means the expectations aren’t high enough.” And as Levis discovered this season, one way to build high ex-
pectations and establish yourself as a leader in a community is to play winning football. “I remember when I was a little kid, looking up to players like me. I’m still a normal guy, a regular guy. To some other people, I’m a little more than that,” he said. When he does experience moments where others look up to him, Levis said he likes to look back and realize how far he’s come. “Looking back … to be in the position I’m in right now, I know it’d make my younger self proud,” he said. While he recognizes himself as a leader on his team and in the community, he doesn’t consider himself famous. “I’m not just a football player, and I want to get involved with other things and get to know other people other than who I surround myself with every day because I can get tired of those people,” Levis laughed. “I don’t
wanna see my teammates every single hour of the day.” Levis said he wants to meet as many people as he can to become an “overall diversified human being.” “All I ask is that if anyone sees me, to just come up and introduce yourself to me,” he said. “I love talking to anybody in the community.” If the conversation happens to turn to citrus fruits, Levis will likely mention his dislike for blood oranges, a lesson he learned under a confetti shower after winning the Vrbo Citrus Bowl to finish his first season at Kentucky. “I’d probably go with
just a regular orange or a clementine,” he said. But when one’s fruit basket is the top of a bowl trophy, there isn’t much variety. Levis plans to use the offseason to set official goals for the next year … and make more Tik-
MICHAEL CLUBB | STAFF
Toks. One team goal that Levis expects to aim for again next season would solve his blood orange dilemma. Instead of a Citrus Bowl trophy, Levis has hopes to win the National Championship Trophy instead.
Thursday, January 27, 2022
Kentucky survives Mississippi State in overtime
PHOTOS BY JACK WEAVER I STAFF Kentucky Wildcats guard Davion Mintz (10) dribbles towards the basket during the UK vs. Mississippi State basketball game on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022, at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky. To the left: Players on the Kentucky bench reacts to a foul call during the UK vs. Mississippi State basketball game.
Players on the Kentucky bench reacts to a foul call during the UK vs. Mississippi State basketball game.
To the right: A fan holds up a sign recognizing Kentucky Wildcats head coach John Calipari for his 800th win during the UK vs. Mississippi State basketball game.
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Thursday, January 27, 2022
sports
Kentucky hockey out-scored 12-9; swept by Louisville By Cole Parke sports@kykernel.com
Kentucky hockey was out-scored 12-9 in backto-back losses against the Louisville Cardinals on Jan. 22. The two-game series took place entirely on Saturday, with the first contest in Lexington beginning at midnight, and the following game starting in the evening from Louisville. Momentum favored the Cats early in the first game, with former Kentucky football linebacker and hockey fanatic Kash Daniel doing the ceremonious first puck drop after flashing the “L’s Down” to a packed Lexington Ice Center. Not long after, just four minutes into the first period, UK freshman wing Dan Quartapella scored the first goal of the night. He was assisted by sophomore center Drew Carlson. Though Louisville would tie the game up nearly 10 minutes later, a pair of back-to-back goals in the span of 15 seconds saw Kentucky take a 3-1 lead. The goals were scored by senior defenseman Eric Molitor, off an assist by Quartapella, and sophomore center Brett Quinn, off assists from senior captain Gary Eastlack
and sophomore wing Gabe D’Amico. Louisville would score once more before the end of the period, with Kentucky leading 3-2 after 20 minutes. Things took a turn for the Wildcats in the second period, with Louisville out-scoring Kentucky 2-0 to take a 4-3 lead into the last period. Visiting Louisville fans celebrated accordingly, even knocking a panel of glass from the board onto the ice at one point, leading to a short delay. The Wildcats attempted to retake momentum in the third period of game one with a quick power-play goal by junior assistant captain Tim Burke off assists by Eastlack and D’Amico to tie the game at four, but three straight Louisville goals would see the Cardinals take a 7-4 lead late. D’Amico would score one final time for Kentucky off an assist by Burke with three minutes to play, officially resulting in the 7-5 loss for Kentucky in Lexington. Kentucky coach Tim Pergram held his composure, but was visibly frustrated with the result heading into the locker room. Traveling up to Louisville for the second game
JACK WEAVER | STAFF A Louisville player celebrates after scoring on Kentucky goaltender Sam Tucker (29) during the UK vs. Louisville hockey game on Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, at Lexington Ice Center in Lexington, Kentucky.
of the series, Kentucky hoped its favor would be different. However, it would be Louisville who would find the net first as the Cardinals took a 2-0 lead early in the second game. Kentucky was undeterred, with freshman defenseman Toby Cooper scoring his first goal of his Kentucky career, just before freshman center Clayton Headlee did the same,
with the young duo tying the game at 2-2. The Cats took the lead after Eastlack scored his first goal of the series and Cooper scored another to put Kentucky up 4-2. Unfortunately for Kentucky, after the Cardinals scored once more to make it 4-3, Molitor would be sent to the penalty box, sparking a Louisville power-play. The Cardinals would take advantage, ty-
ing the game at 4-4 with a power-play goal to send the game to overtime. Though the Cats fought to even the series, Louisville’s Dalton Karl would score the overtime goal, giving the Cards a 5-4 overtime victory and a series sweep of Kentucky. Kentucky has just six games left on its schedule before the TSCHL playoffs in mid-February. The team will next take the ice
on Jan. 28 in a two-game road trip against the Ohio Bobcats. It will then return home for the first of a home-andhome series against Miami Ohio in early February, before finishing its regular season with a home stint against Michigan on Feb. 11 and 12. Like all Kentucky home games, the hits the ice at midnight inside the Lexington Ice Center.
spring 2022 |11
Thursday, January 27, 2022
sports
Is it too late for Kyra Elzy’s Wildcats? By Cole Parke sports@kykernel.com
Kentucky womens basketball is on a free fall, suffering four losses in its last five games by a combined margin of 80 points in the month of January. The Cats entered 2022 ranked No. 21 with a 7-3 record and two of their three losses coming from top ten teams in the country. Checking in now with one week left before February, Kentucky is 9-7 and without even a single vote in the AP Poll, being unranked for the first time this season. Recent bracketology predictions even have the Cats not making the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018. Looking ahead, Kentucky has two more games this month, both road games, including a tough test in Baton Rouge against No. 12 LSU. To make matters worse, head coach Kyra Elzy can only guarantee seven players going forward with three injured Wildcats and one facing a suspension of an unknown length. The team that took the court in Kentucky’s recent 63-54 loss to Ole Miss was a far cry from the 8-3 unit that handily beat No. 15 Georgia at home on Jan. 6. Things went south for Kentucky on Jan. 9, hitting the road to take on No. 1 South Carolina in Columbia. While the Cats hung around for a quarter, they finished the game being blown out by 20 points, with the final score being 74-54. In a fit of misfortune, Mississippi State was forced to pull out of its game against Kentucky in Lexington due to positive COVID cases, forcing the Cats to have two consecutive road
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JACK WEAVER | STAFF Kentucky head coach Kyra Elzy yells from the sideline during the UK vs. Ole Miss womens basketball game on Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022, at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky.
games against top five opponents. Traveling to Knoxville, Kentucky was then blown out by 26 points, its single largest margin of defeat this season, by then No. 5 Tennessee. It marked the second time this season Kentucky had suffered back-to-back losses. It also stood to make the Cats 0-4 on the road this season, a foreboding sign for their upcoming road games. “We just did not do what we were supposed to do,” Elzy said. “We had a stretch that we quit making baskets, but there’s no excuse.” Finally getting to return home, Kentucky hosted Florida on Jan. 20 in what initially looked to be a strong bounce-back opportunity over an unranked opponent. This
would not be the case. Prior to tip-off, it came out that junior forward Dre’una Edwards would not be on the bench for the Cats, as she was facing a suspension for disciplinary action. The game went from bad to worse for the shorthanded Cats as senior guard Robyn Benton had to leave the court after going down with an ankle injury in the second quarter. When the dust settled, the Wildcats found themselves on the wrong end of a 25-point beat down, having never led Florida at any point in the game. “We have to do some soul searching,” Elzy said after the loss. “We need to refocus and change our mentality. We are not victims. Obviously we’re deal-
ing with adversity but so are other teams in the country. We just have to step up to the challenge.” Kentucky’s most recent defeat to Ole Miss inside Rupp Arena saw just seven Wildcats eligible to play, with Edwards remaining suspended and absent while Benton, Kristen Crenshaw-Gill and Blair Green were all out injured. While the Cats lost by a mere nine points, they once again failed to lead their opponent for the entirety of the game. “The margin of error is so small,” Elzy said. “I thought we did some things we needed to do, but we came up short today. There are free throws we’ve got to be able to knock down, there are some layups we have to be able to hit, and we have to be able to knock them down. We
have to figure out a way to get the job done.” While UK was able to bounce back, getting its first road win of the season on Tuesday, Jan. 25, defeating Auburn 67-55, the win does little to bolster the Cats’ resume, as the Tigers find themselves in last place in the SEC standings with an 0-7 conference record. Edwards and Benton were once again unable to take the court with the former not traveling with the team. UK does have the benefit of playing another bottom three SEC team in its next game, but the 1-4 road record and questions surrounding the roster add question marks to every game, even the ones that seem easier on paper. Kentucky currently stands in 10th out of 14 teams in the SEC standings, having gone 2-4 in conference play. Elzy has confidence that the team will be able to right the ship, but with her hesitancy to comment on whether or not Edwards will be with the team for their upcoming road games, as well as constant questions regarding player injuries, many do not share her confidence. Kentucky’s performance against Vanderbilt on Thursday, Jan. 27, that will likely not be enough to get the Cats back into the rankings. With only two ranked games currently left on their schedule, including a rematch against No. 1 South Carolina, questions remain as to whether it’s even a possibility for the UK to create an at-large resume to enter the Big Dance. While there’s plenty of basketball left to be played, it’s a reasonable fear that it may simply be too late for Elzy’s Wildcats this season.
Thursday, January 27, 2022
sports
Kentucky travels to Lawrence for blue blood battle with Kansas By Hunter Shelton sports@kykernel.com
The tough road tests keep on rolling in for Kentucky basketball. Just one week removed from the Wildcats’ 80-71 defeat to the now No. 1 Auburn Tigers, Kentucky will head west to Lawrence, Kansas, for a date with the No. 5 Kansas Jayhawks. Led by Bill Self, who is in his 19th year as head coach of the Jayhawks, Kansas will welcome Kentucky to Allen Fieldhouse as a part of the SEC/Big 12 Challenge. As per usual, Self and his staff have a highly-touted roster that nears the top of the Big 12 and the country. Coming into Saturday’s matchup, the Jayhawks vaunt a 17-2 (6-1 Big 12) record headlined by wins over Iowa State and Texas Tech. Ochai Agbaji paves the way for KU, averaging a league-best 20.4 points per game. Agbaji’s name has been floating amongst the 2022 NBA draft boards, often seen in first round projections. The senior guard will play Kentucky fresh off of a career high 37-point performance against Texas Tech on Monday. Right behind Agbaji is backcourt mate Christian Braun, who tallies 15.3
points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists a night. In the paint, Kansas is paced by senior forward David McCormack, who has appeared in 120 games over his Jayhawk career. Through 18 games this season, McCormack averages 8.8 points and a team-best 6.8 rebounds a contest. Sophomore Jalen Wilson assists with the dirty work down low, notching 8.9 points and 6.5 boards per game. The Wildcats will counter with Oscar Tshiebwe. Leading the SEC in rebounding, the West Virginia transfer will hold a distinct advantage in the post. If healthy, the duo of Sahvir Wheeler and TyTy Washington will cause its own set of problems to attempt to offset Ogbaji, while sharpshooter Kellan Grady has shown once he gets hot, his 3-point percentages can rival anyone in the nation. Kansas and Kentucky post similar numbers, creating an alluring matchup that will witness two of college basketball’s blue bloods doing battle in a historic venue. Both teams average over 80 points scored while hovering around the 65-point mark in points allowed. Shooting percentag-
JACK WEAVER | STAFF Kentucky Wildcats guard Sahvir Wheeler (2) calls out to his team during the UK vs. Mississippi State basketball game on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022, at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky.
es stand nearly identical at just below 50%, while assist and block numbers lie next to each other. The Wildcats maintain an advantage on the glass, thanks to the presence of Tshiebwe. KU will counter with a better 3-point shooting percentage, but otherwise, the statistics point towards the weekend matchup being a total crapshoot. Kansas will carry one
crucial advantage on Saturday, however. Also known as “The Phog” after legendary former KU head coach Dr. Forrest C. “Phog” Allen, Allen Fieldhouse is considered one of the Mecca’s of college basketball Over 16,000 spectators consistently create one of the best home-court advantages in the nation. Since Self has taken over as head coach in Lawrence,
the Jayhawks have allowed just 13 home losses. Saturday will mark the first time the two teams have played at Kansas since 2016, when the Jayhawks slid by the Wildcats 90-84 in overtime. The teams have played four more times since 2016, seeing KU best the Cats in three of the four matchups. The average margin of victory in the past five games is a mere 5.4 points.
Kentucky leads the all-time series against Kansas, 2310. Following Saturday's gut-wrenching loss to Auburn, Kentucky is in search of yet-another statement victory to solidify its spot in the top half of the rankings. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. E.S.T. on Jan. 29, featuring two juggernauts in the marquee matchup of the weekend.
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Thursday, January 27, 2022
sports
By Hunter Shelton sports@kykernel.com
The “Across the (By)Line” series will give Kentucky basketball fans an in-depth look at their opponent for this week — from the mind of the opposing school’s sports editor. This week: Nathan Swaffar, The University Daily Kansan, University of Kansas. Ochai Agbaji leads the way for Kansas. What does he bring to the table, and is containing him even an option for Kentucky on Saturday?
Swaffar: Where do you even start with Agbaji? I haven't seen a player of his caliber at KU since Frank Mason, probably four or five years ago. He's a much more dynamic scorer than he has been in previous years. I wouldn't say that Kentucky should try to contain him, but limit what he can do. I think with how he's playing, you're not going to be able to do so, because he's at least going to score 15 just with how confident he is right now. But what I would say is contain everything else, because that's really all you can do. Oscar Tshiebwe mirrors Agbaji in the production that he brings to Kentucky. Will Kansas forward David McCormack be able to handle Tshiebwe and stop him from having a 20-rebound kind of night?
Swaffar: If you would have asked me this question three
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Across the (By)Line: Kansas Jayhawks
weeks ago I would have said Tshiebwe would outrebound the entire Kansas team just by himself. That has changed over the last two weeks, especially with David McCormack. He really struggled at the beginning of the year pretty much everywhere, and he was still trying to find his stride. But over the last two to three games from him, there's been increased intensity. His rebounding has gotten so much better. He's going up, trying to get every rebound he can, especially on the offensive end. I think it's going to come down to how well Kansas can contain Tshiebwe on the offensive end, because they're going to get out-rebounded.
How special is Allen Fieldhouse? To you, is it the biggest home court advantage in college basketball?
Swaffar: I don’t know how it couldn’t be. It is so tough to play at Allen Fieldhouse. It doesn't matter whether KU is ranked, unranked, number one or the worst team in the country, because the crowd is going to bring it the entire time and especially for a game like this. I just think that this will be one of the best home crowds they've had a long time. I anticipate Allen Fieldhouse really being that sixth man and causing some pressure. There's gonna be an incredible atmosphere, and I'd argue that there's no real way to prepare for it. What is the most intriguing matchup on Saturday in your opinion?
JACK WEAVER | STAFF Kentucky Wildcats guard Davion Mintz (10) looks for an open pass during the UK vs. Mississippi State basketball game on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022, at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky.
Swaffar: I’d have to say McCormack and Tshiebwe just because if McCormack doesn't play well, again, Tshiebwe will have his way on the glass and under the basket. If McCormack is playing well, he brings a whole new factor to that team because now you have to worry about down low. And if Kentucky has to put pressure on McCormack, you're gonna leave somebody open out wide, and then you just kind of pick your poison because you might have to double Agbaji, you might have to double McCormack, and because this KU team has so many playmakers, it really is kind of pick your battles and see what happens. I think it's just
all gonna come down to if McCormack will be able to rebound more than anything. Because if Tshiebwe is having his way, especially on the offensive glass, it's going to be a problem for KU and they've struggled all year with defensive rebounding. What is Kansas’ key to victory, and what is your score prediction?
Swaffar: This team has been so intriguing all year because they've had so much depth. Bill Self has never really found a consistent lineup, until we got into the Big 12 season. He's had a consistent seven to eight man rota-
tion. I'd have to think that for one, Self is going to be saying feed off the atmosphere. But more than anything, it's probably going to be rebounding, because he knows how much they've struggled to get those rebounds, especially on the defensive end. When you're going against possibly the best rebounder in the country, you have to be on your A game, because if you’re not, it’s going to be a long night. This team has found ways to win. So I have to think that this is going to be no different. I think it'll be close. I think that this is probably going to be a pretty high offensive game as well, so for the score, I'm gonna go with 78-74 Kansas.
Thursday, January 27, 2022
sports
Kentucky Track & Field finishes weekend with many high finishes, new school record By Alec Anstine sports@kykernel.com
Saturday concluded the Vanderbilt Invitation and the Red Raider Open, with Kentucky Track & Field placing well in various events and setting a new school record. On day one of the Vanderbilt Invitational, Phoebe McCowan stood out, winning the womens 1,000m with a time of 2:45.59. Jenna Schwinghamer followed in second place with a time of 2:46.35. Day two saw Josh Sobota start off with a win in the shot put for his second week in a row. His final distance was 61 feet 0.75 inches. Shadajah Ballard won the 60m hurdles with a time of 8.30. He also earned the top qualifying spot in prelims. On the women’s side, Kaylyn Heath set the tone in the 60m run. She finished second in the prelims but won the finals with a time of 7.44. The Cats would also add two third-place finishes. Theo Bachmann in the 3,000m run finished with a time of 8:19.16. Molly Leppelmeier finished third in shot put with a final distance of 51 feet 3.50 inches or 15.63 meters. In the Red Raider Open, Kentucky also fared well, winning four events. The whole day was highlighted by the
women’s 4x400m team setting a school record. The team consisted of Masai Russell, Abby Steiner, Karimah Davis and Alexis Holmes. The Cats also finished with a few second-place finishers. Steiner in the 60m, Russell and Tai Brown in the 60m hurdles and Rahman Minor in the high jump. Following the dominant performances by Kentucky, the mens and womens teams checked in at Nos. 2 and 3, respectively, in the first top 25 poll of the indoor season by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. The mens team currently holds the fastest 4x400 relay time in the nation as well as the second fastest 200m and 400m times in the country. Steiner headlines the womens team, holding the fastest 200m time and second-best 60m time in the nation. The Wildcats’ next meet will take place in Lexington, for the Rod McCravy Memorial Meet on Friday, Jan. 28, and Saturday, Jan. 29, at Nutter Field House. JACK WEAVER | STAFF Junior Siobhan Szerencsits pole vaults during the Kentucky Invitational meet on Saturday, May 1, 2021, at Shively Track and Field Stadium in Lexington, Kentucky.
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Thursday, January 27, 2022
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