kentuckykernel Former UK swimmer speaks out against NCAA transgender policy | 10 features
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The dish on Bella Café & Grille
opinions
The growing infatuation with Wordle
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sports
16 Softball strikes out
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Thursday, March 31, 2022
news
Looking ahead to Greek Sing 2022 By Kendall Staton news@kykernel.com
Greek Sing, the largest Greek Philanthropy event on UK’s campus, is scheduled for April 2 in Memorial Coliseum. Hosted by Chi Omega and Beta Theta Phi, money is raised by different Greek organizations across campus to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation. On April 2, chapters will gather in Memorial Coliseum to perform dance numbers they have been preparing all year. Chapters can win “spirit points” to aid in the competition leading up to the final fundraiser through certain events held throughout the year. The COVID-19 pandemic canceled Greek Sing 2021 due to safety concerns. Chi Omega President Gigi Hill said she is excited to be back hosting this event safely and in person. She shared that she has high hopes for the turnout. “We all missed Greek Sing. Being able to finally bring the event back to UK’s campus is beyond exciting for our chapter,” Hill said. “It almost feels like we are counting down to Christmas!” Hill credits most of the hard work for Greek Sing 2022 to Chi Omega’s Greek Sing chairs, Grace Bush and Morgan Sjogren, and Beta Theta Pi’s Greek Sing chairs Trendon Byrne
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and Kameron Kraus. Byrne and Kraus called this year a “rebuilding year” due to the COVID pandemic. “The pandemic took away the majority of Greek Sing 2021 from us,” Kraus said. “How we structured our event this year is kind of a blueprint for years to come, which added some pressure but will make it all worthwhile.” In order to set this year's event apart from Greek Sing of years past, they added the first ever “Buzza-Beta” event. “Buzz-a-Beta” is a fundraising opportunity in which members of Beta Theta Pi volunteered to receive haircuts from donors to incentivise people to donate to the cause. Sjogren said one of the main goals of Greek Sing this year is to encourage involvement in the community. She aims to make this an enjoyable experience for all participants. “After almost a year of planning, it’s so exciting to see all the pieces come together,” Sjogren said. “The passion the community here in Lexington and outside of Kentucky had for Greek Sing is heartwarming.” Byrne said his fraternity is excited to see performances from other chapters, hoping to provide a fun environment for families that attend their event. “We are most looking forward to watching the families, especially
STAFF FILE PHOTO Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity performs at Greek Sing at Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, March 7, 2015.
the kids, have fun and not have to worry about anything going on outside of our event for a couple of hours,” Bryne said. While Chi Omega and Beta Theta Pi are the hosts, members of all of UK’s Greek organizations are excited to participate. Savanna Burke, a member of UK’s Alpha Delta Pi sorority, said that everyone in her chapter is involved in the process of preparing for Greek Sing. Burke is on the makeup committee this year and is looking forward to her chapter's performance of “Halo” by
Beyoncé. “Some of the best memories I and a lot of other girls in my chapter have are centered around Greek Sing,” she said. “This event is one that our whole Greek community cherishes and looks forward to. It’s so cool to see the impact that this passion has on the kids that need it most.” Burke also said that Greek Sing is a great way for her sorority to show their hearts for service and support their neighbors, Chi Omega. While the dancing and community-build-
ing around Greek Sing is something that most members of Greek Life look forward to, the main point of the event is to raise money for Make-A-Wish. This year, the event set a goal to raise $175,000, which will help sponsor wishes for 22 children, according to Greek Sing’s Facebook page. UK’s Lambda Alpha Chapter of Chi Omega was recently given the Society of Joy award for raising over $500,000 for Greek Sing in the past five years — the only Greek Life organization in Kentucky to
have been recognized for this achievement. First year Phi Delta Theta member Dallas Care called Greek Sing a wonderful tradition. While he is excited to have a good time with his fellow members, his main goal is to raise money. “Being able to contribute to a great cause while having fun with my fraternity brothers is a great experience,” he said. “Knowing that I am a part of a great cause pushes me to work hard to make Greek Sing 2022 the best experience possible.”
Thursday, March 31, 2022
kentuckykernel
Humans of UK:
Allen Stone brings the Bluegrass to Finland By Karley Keen features@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. Peter Allen Stone is learning to speak Italian, but for his upcoming adventure, Finnish might prove more useful. Stone, assistant professor of theatre and head of acting at UK, will take his craft to Finland on April 2. During his two-week stay in the land of a thousand lakes, Stone will collaborate with two universities, one high school and the Finnish Drama and Theatre Education Association to direct and teach acting for the camera. Starting at Tampere University and Theatre Academy at the University of the Arts Helsinki, Stone will use exercises from his new book, “Acting for the Camera: Back to One,” to teach and shoot scenes with students. “Often acting teachers, myself included, would always say ‘Forget about the camera, forget it’s even there!’ and it’s really kind of the worst advice,” Stone said.
JACK WEAVER | STAFF Peter Stone poses for a portrait on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, at the College of Fine Arts building in Lexington, Kentucky.
His book, published in 2021, teaches the essentials of acting for the camera from the perspectives of actors, editors, cinematographers and directors, focusing on how actors can use the camera as a tool for performance building and easier artist collaboration, rather than being subject to its hindrance. Some say “Those who can’t do, teach,” but thankfully for UK’s acting students, this doesn’t hold true. Since Stone originally only wanted to act, he
knows firsthand what his students may be feeling. “I wish I would’ve known these things when I was younger, because I was so scared in front of a camera,” Stone said. His book’s title stems from Stone’s first acting job, “Saved by the Bell: The New Class.” He starts the publication with a recollection of stopping a scene because of nerves. “I had a whole crew looking at me that was upset, but said, ‘Alright, let’s go back to one when Peter
is ready,’” he recalled. “Back to one” is a phrase used on film sets, meaning to go back to the first position with the cameras and actors, but Stone thinks of his title as also meaning going back to one, back to the actor. If the actor knows these tools, Stone said, “They can think ‘Okay, back to myself, back to one. I’m going to use this camera in a way that can help the editor create a great performance.’” Stone’s book was made possible by his teaching career, in which he originally had no interest. A former classmate from Stone’s conservatory training challenged him to try a career at New York Film Academy, encouraging him to teach, saying, “Go for it. What’s the worst that could happen?” While teaching at NYFA, Stone met a teacher from Finland’s Kallio Upper Secondary School of Performing Arts, who wanted to produce his play “Everygirl.” Years later, Stone and Kallio School will get to work together again, now on film. During his time in Helsinki, Stone will visit Kallio School to direct its student-made film about climate change, which they hope to finish and submit to film festivals around the world by the end of summer 2022.
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On the front cover:
MICHAEL CLUBB | STAFF Former Kentucky Wildcats swimmer Riley Gaines poses for a portrait on Wednesday, March 30, 2022, at the Lancaster Aquatic Center in Lexington, Kentucky.
On the back cover:
MICHAEL CLUBB | STAFF Kentucky Wildcats pitcher Seth Logue pitches during the UK vs. Morehead State baseball game on Tuesday, March 22, 2022, at Kentucky Proud Park in Lexington, Kentucky.
spring 2022 | 3
Thursday, March 31, 2022
news
Local Food Systems Summit held at Kroger Field
By Kendall Staton news@kykernel.com
The Food Connection helped host the fourth annual Kentucky Local Food Systems Summit on March 23 at UK’s Kroger Field. People traveled from all over Kentucky to attend different breakout sessions, learning from their peers about everything from student perspectives on the food system to marketing strategies to expand local food consumption. UK’s Food Connection exists to serve all members of the food supply chain through creative strategies on and off campus. The organization places an emphasis on food systems research and aims to foster community partnerships around Lexington. Krista Jacobsen, faculty director of the Food Connection, said the main purpose of the summit was to facilitate discussion between scholars in local food systems studies so they can learn from each other and grow their communities. She wanted the summit to be a place for networking and sharing best practices within food systems. “The Kentucky Local Food Systems Summit is really geared towards people who are doing work in food systems to build local food systems in various ways,” she said. The summit opened with Jacobsen announcing the current Lexington director of local food and agriculture development, Ashton Potter Wright, as the incoming director of the Food Connection. She will assume her new position by the end of the academic year.
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MICHAEL CLUBB | STAFF A presenter speaks during the Farm to School for All session at the Kentucky Local Food Systems Summit on Wednesday, March 23, 2022, at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky.
Potter Wright said that she has high hopes for her time with the Food Connection. “I’m really excited to leverage the ability of teaching environmental issues and research to continue to build local food systems in a sustainable and equitable way,” she said. Potter Wright took the stage to introduce this year's keynote speaker, Kim Niewolny, a professor at Virginia Tech University. Niewolny also works as the director of Virginia Tech’s Center for Food Systems and Community Transformation. “This is the fourth annual summit, and work has passed on
a long history of people to us. That effort is to transform our local and regional based community food systems,” Niewolny said. “Just looking at today's agenda, it is hard not to be inspired.” In her keynote address, Niewolny highlighted the need to approach the agriculture industry with a systems approach. She said to fully understand food systems, society has to understand how systematic issues such as racism affect the industry. She encouraged an intersectional approach to solving these issues. Unjust systems were a popular topic of discussion at the summit, with six of the 16 breakout ses-
sions covering how race issues affect the food industry. Kenyetta Johnson, representative for the Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest located in Louisville, Kentucky, spoke on her role as an environmental educator and how it is difficult to bring diverse populations to the green space that Bernheim is able to provide. She aims to be able to bring green spaces back to the people who helped create them in the first place. “There’s a list of places where people of color built these spaces and then were hexed out of coming to them,” Johnson said. “It took 40 years to start seeing some
of those families start coming back out to those spaces.” Another summit participant, Tania Whitfield, asked Niewolny to expand upon processes for getting individuals involved in local food systems. Whitfield called for recognition that while individuals have power in food systems, it is often a struggle for them to feel heard. “For me, I always start with relationship building,” Niewolny said in response. “I work with different types of communities, different types of organizations, to build dialogs. Storytelling has been one of the most powerful ways in which we can organize at the community level.” After the keynote address, participants split into breakout rooms to hear from experts in different areas of local food system operations. Between breakout room sessions, participants were provided lunch. Everything from the milk to the grits was locally sourced. With such a large group of people, motivations for attending the event varied greatly. Sarah Carr is a representative of Journi’s Hope, a volunteer organization that aims to help distribute food to immigrants and refugees in America. Carr said regardless of attendees’ reasons, she was glad they were there. “I do this work because I care. We may have volunteers who come for credit, but I do it because I care,” she said. While some participants came all the way from Bowling Green to attend the summit, UK faculty See SUMMIT on page 5
Thursday, March 31, 2022
news
UK Greek Life organizations raise money for Ukraine fundraiser. After reaching out, members of Kappa Sig were eager to help. “We were completely on board,” said Jonathan Andrews, a sophomore information communication technology major and member of the fraternity. Andrews, the treasurer and t-shirt chair of Kappa Sigma, aided both organizations' philanthropy chairs in setting up and conducting the fundraiser. The organizations used social media platforms and their networks to get the word out. “We used our Pi [Beta] Phi Instagram, and members posted it on their own accounts. I know people also reached out to their families to tell them about it as well,”
Thomas said. Andrews, who has a connection to an employee at Microsoft, had the opportunity to reach out to the tech company about the fundraiser. Through this employee connection, Microsoft donated on Kappa Sigma and Pi Beta Phi’s behalf. “We donated $636, but Microsoft tripled that. So we donated, effectively, $1,908,” Andrews said. “That’s a lot. It was like a 2:1 match.” Andrews said that both organizations wanted to do a quick fundraiser in order to have immediate funds to send to support Ukraine. “It’s a pressing issue right now. It’s moving very fast,” Andrews said. “I think
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SUMMIT
By Laurie Jonhatan news@kykernel.com
In a 48-hour online fundraiser, Kappa Sigma Fraternity and Pi Beta Phi Sorority combined efforts to raise $1,908 to donate to UNICEF in support of Ukraine. “We felt strongly about everything going on with Russia and Ukraine and we wanted to help out in any way we could,” said Ava Thomas, a junior merchandising, apparel and textiles and integrated strategic communications double major. Thomas, the philanthropy chair in Pi Beta Phi, said that after the sorority decided to hold the fundraiser, it was “quick to reach out” to Kappa Sigma to have a joint
just like a quick one to raise that [much] and then using the company match was pretty effective.” Being able to raise almost $2,000 in such a short time period was something that both organizations were proud of. “It was such an amazing feeling,” Thomas said. “I was so excited and happy that we were able to donate that much and help out.” As far as the possibility of these organizations doing another fundraiser for Ukraine,they are watching to see how the crisis develops. “Depending on how it goes, we may do another fundraiser,” Andrews said. “I’d love to.”
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and staff were also participants in the event. Tim Woods, a UK agriculture economics professor, said he was honored to attend the event and hear from his peers about their research and experiences. He called the summit an “amazing network of folks” and said he appreciated that many of them had done work for local food systems in central Kentucky. After a long day of learning, collaborating and networking, everyone began their journeys home. This was a stark contrast to last year's event, which was held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Food Connection’s program director, Tanya Whitehouse, said she felt that everyone was excited to be back in person and able to see each other face to face. While the work never stopped, she felt more connected this year than last. “This has been extremely heartening to see so many people come together to promote local foods,” Whitehouse said. “I think people are grateful to get to do this work in person again.”
spring 2022 | 5
Thursday, March 31, 2022
features
Customers are family at Bella Café & Grille By Corrie McCroskey features@kykernel.com
Nestled on the side of E High St. in a bustling Lexington neighborhood is the cozy Bella Café & Grille, a restaurant which offers a “living room” dining atmosphere and cuisine that is simple but elevated. The café is an offshoot of the more well-known Bella Notte and Smashing Tomato restaurants, which were founded by Kuni Toyoda. Having only been open for a little over a year, Bella Café & Grille has spent the past couple of months figuring out its place in the community. General manager Jim Monast described the feel of the restaurant and how he helps to make day to day operations run smoothly. “It feels very residential, it really feels like a living room … It’s like you’re coming to our home for us to entertain you and to have a good meal,” Monast said. “Being that we appeal to the neighborhood, it’s not unusual when you’re taking a party to their table and they stop at the bar to talk to their friends and then at this table and the next table. It’s like everyone knows everybody.” Monast said that along with the warm nature of the dining area, working as a team and valuing employees is the most important aspect of ensuring that customers’ are happinessy.
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CORRIE MCCROSKEY I STAFF Jim Monast, general manager at Bella Café & Grille, poses for a portrait on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, in Lexington, Kentucky.
“If you want to have the best people, you have to pay for it. Paying someone $15 doesn’t give you a great worker,” Monast said. “It’s how you take care of them, and how you connect with them … You’ve got to come into work [and say] ‘How are you doing?’ ‘How’s your day?’ ‘How are’s things going?’ ‘What do you need?’ That’s what I do. I make sure they get what they need. I can’t do all the work in this business, no one person
can.” For Monast, his role involves not only making sure his customers and employees are taken care of, but also pitching in to run food and wash dishes. “We don’t have dishwashers here. We don’t have that title,” he said. “We don’t have an employee here that has the job description of a dishwasher. Everybody washes dishes here. Part of it is a function of our limited capacity in this kitchen, and part of it
is the culture of what we want here.,” he said. The uncomplicated yet high quality dining options are another concept that the café feels is important to its brand and how they would like to be portrayed by customers. “The food is simple ... you don’t want to make it too esoteric where people don’t recognize what you’ve got,” Monast said. “You don’t want it to be a special occasion, you want people to feel
comfortable to come here regularly. We have a pasta dish, halibut, steaks, burgers. What we’ve done when we look at a menu is try to do food that people are familiar with but elevate it a little bit.” Though the food is why people may decide to come to the restaurant, the community and care for the customer is what will make them stay. Monast says that his favorite part about working at a smaller store is the “connection to people” and being able to learn the names of the regulars, calling them the “bread and butter” of the shop. He said that they are the ones who will spread the word to others. In the coming months, Monast hopes to increase the visibility of the restaurant and bring in new customers, adding they had a record last week in sales and the business has seen steadily seen growth since its opening. “It far exceeded the initial expectations for this business; it’s still growing ... [But] I still don’t think we’ve reached the potential of what this particular restaurant does,” Monast said. He said that the Lexington community has been in the center of the success. “It’s very local, there’s a connection with the community … you can see right here we don’t have any parking to get into the place…but the local folks just walk over,” he said. “They’ve really supported us.”
Thursday, March 31, 2022
opinions
The world’s obsession with Wordle By Lindsey Davis opinions@kykernel.com
Wordle on the street is, this word game is taking the world by storm. I only started playing Wordle a couple of weeks ago. I admit, I’m late to the trend. I saw the memes and the Tweets, but I didn’t see the hype. My mom and I love playing the iMessage game Anagrams together. Not to brag or anything, but I almost always win. Mom, if you’re reading this, you know it’s true. One day, we were playing Anagrams and I sent her a text saying, “There’s this new thing called Wordle, and I have no idea how it works, but I think we should play it.” To my surprise, she replied, “I play it every day!” Another thing I can admit: my mom is far more Twitter-savvy than I am. Mom, if you’re still reading this, I hope that makes up for what I said before. Now, we play Wordle together every night at midnight and race to see who can finish it first. For those who don’t know what Wordle is, I’ll do my best to explain it from its creation to how it’s played. Wordle was created by software engineer Josh Wardle for his partner who loves word games. Initially, it was played by just the two of them. After the game went viral on Twitter, it was further developed by Wardle and PreoNus Games, and then published by The New York Times Company. According to The New York Times, over 300,000 people played within the first two months of its release. Wordle is a grid that is five squares horizontally and six squares vertically. This means that the word has five letters in it, and you have six attempts to guess it. The word is the same for everyone and changes each day, which keeps players
coming back for more fun (or frustration, depending.) When you make a guess, each letter that you input will either turn gray, yellow or green. If a letter turns gray, it means it is not in the word. If it turns yellow, it’s in the word, but it’s not in the right place. If it turns green, it’s in the word and in the right place. This system helps to eliminate letters and let you know which ones you should use so you can correctly guess the word. I try to avoid using gray letters at all costs so that I don’t waste a guess. I also don’t use words with double letters like “class” or “doors” in order to get the maximum number of letters either eliminated or approved within a single guess, although it is possible for the same letter to be used twice in a Wordle. Many people have a “go-to” word that they guess first every time, but I’m not one of them. I always guess a word with at least two vowels and has an “s” or a “c” in it such as “leash” or “place”. I do this because “a” and “e” are the most common vowels seen in English words. However, I don’t have a real reason for guessing words with an “s” or a “c.” It wasn’t a conscious choice at first. I just realized over time that I gravitate towards them and I have never missed the Wordle, so I’ve stuck with it. Society’s obsession with Wordle stems from its scarcity effect: there is only one puzzle a day and everyone gets the same one. I’m like Cinderella when I open up Safari every night as the clock strikes midnight. It has me in an absolute chokehold. If you can’t get your Wordle fix with one puzzle a day or just want some practice, there are other games online that are similar. Wordle Unlimited and Infinite Wordle are the same idea as Wordle, except you can play more than one puzzle a day. There’s also Wordle Hurdle, which has the same premise, but the word is made up
of six letters instead of five. For those who prefer math to English, there’s Nerdle. Geography aficionados might like Worldle or Globle. Trivia geeks would likely enjoy Factle. And these are only a few of the tens of Wordle spin-offs. I definitely thought that Wordle was
just another fad game that would fall off the face of the Earth after a few months of Twitter users beating it with a stick. I prematurely marked its grave between Among Us and Fortnite, and I’m embarrassed. Now the headstone reads, “Here lies my pride.”
Graphic by Ryder Noah From
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Thursday, March 31, 2022
opinions
College students and coffee shops
By Kennedy Parks opinions@kykernel.com
Coffee shops are the perfect match for the sleep deprived college kid. There’s something special about grabbing a seat in your favorite coffee shop with your unique drink order in hand. The low music and dreamy background make it the perfect place to get inspired and study. What is it about a coffee shop that's beneficial to a college student? Well, chances are, if you go out of your way to study in a coffee shop, you're less likely to get distracted. You might be feeling overwhelmed from the same scenery of your bedroom and all the distractions that come along with being in your home. Coffee shops provide the perfect change of scenery and the right amount of social interaction. Coffee shops can provide the perfect peaceful experience and the perfect amount of social interaction when you’re feeling overworked. Coffee shops bring people together. Whether you’re a coffee drinker or not, there are so many different options that are sure to be perfect for you. They are a good way to immerse yourself into the culture of your college town. Other students are only some of the people that could grace your presence while in a coffee shop. There is something beautiful about observing new people and making new friends in your college town. Being in college can be difficult, especially when you’re far from home. I’ve made some of my deepest connections, written my best papers and gotten my best grades in the presence of a perfect cup of coffee made right here in Lexington. The sense of comfort and community provided by the experience of a good coffee shop is unlike any other. I know I feel incredibly special walking into my favorite local coffee shop and having the baristas know my
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JACK WEAVER | STAFF People study at Chocolate Holler coffee shop on Wednesday, March 30, 2022, in Lexington, Kentucky.
name and my order. It’s hard to get out of your comfort zone, especially for somebody that struggles with social anxiety, like myself. But it’s extremely rewarding when you finally take that step and do something as small as studying in a local coffee shop. Luckily, Lexington hit the jackpot when it comes to coffee shops. A special place for me is Chocolate Holler. It was the first coffee shop I ever went to and studied
in alone. I used to be extremely intimidated by the thought of sitting in a random place by myself for hours. I refused to go if I didn't have someone with me, and when meeting a friend, I would very rarely go inside and grab a table for us if they hadn’t made it yet. I was adamant about avoiding doing things on my own for a long time. It wasn’t until a friend encouraged me to try it out that I took what felt like an
out of the ordinary step for myself. I can say that a small act of courage in stepping out of my comfort zone changed my life! As small as it may seem, it made me more confident in talking to new people, trying new things and really learning to focus on my studies. This is your encouragement to try something new! Go to that coffee shop, talk to that barista and enjoy the small moments of college.
Thursday, March 31, 2022
opinions
Leaving a mark:
A wild night at the Oscars By Morgan Luster opinions@kykernel.com
This past Oscars ceremony is never to be forgotten, as this night left its mark on television as Will Smith left his mark on Chris Rock’s face. Sadly, there was a bit more slapping than clapping than everyone had anticipated. While I do not condone violence, I do
believe that there is a line that comedians should not cross, especially when it comes to conditions that one can not control. Although it is a comic’s job to fill the place with laughter, it should not be at the expense of someone’s feelings. On March 27, 2022, Chris Rock hosted the 94th annual Academy Awards, where events took an unpredicted turn. During a bit before presenting an award, Rock made an insensitive joke about Smith’s wife Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head. In his joke, Rock said that he could not wait for a G.I. Jane movie starring the actress. At first, it appeared as though the “Men in Black” star found the joke funny as he laughed it off. However, Smith then displayed his “Bad Boys” behavior by calmly walking on stage and slapping Rock right in the face. According to CNN, in 2018 Pinkett Smith was diagnosed
with alopecia areata, which is an autoimmune disorder that causes hair loss. The “Set It Off” star has been open about her condition as she continuously shares her journey through her social media. Following the physical altercation, Smith took his seat as he continued to curse at the host to keep his wife’s name out of his mouth. In spite of what had taken place, Rock kept his composure and continued with the show as the audience sat in awkward silence. This unfortunate event created social media chaos, as many tried to figure out if this was staged or not. Eventually, everyone’s confusion dissolved as the quarrel was clearly deemed real. Later that night, Will Smith received his first Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Richard Williams, the father of tennis icons Venus and Serena Williams, in the film “King Richard.” In his acceptance speech, Smith apologized to the Academy and to his fellow nominees. Yet, Chris Rock was not included in his apology. These past couple years, the
Smiths have been embroiled in much controversy involving sensitive topics, including their marriage, which has caused them to be the center of jokes, many done in poor taste. So, it is safe to say that Rock’s joke about Jada’s condition might have been the last straw. I am in no position to correct someone on how they should handle certain situations; however, there were a multitude of ways that this ill-fated event could have been avoided. As a Black person, it is disheartening to see two prominent Black figures involved in such an unsuitable moment that distracts from a momentous night. While Rock’s joke can be perceived as triggering, both were in the wrong. Repeatedly, Black women have been the targets of repulsive jokes as well as objects of derision. Seeing a Black man attempting to defend a Black woman, even if it was his wife, was right in spirit, but incorrect in action. As humans, everyone is entitled to their emotions, but escalating the situation by getting physical can potentially make matters worse.
Graphic by Ryder Noah From
spring 2022 |9
‘ The problem is not Lia.’ Riley Gaines shares perspective on transgender sports policies
Thursday, March 31, 2022 By Sarah Michels news@kykernel.com
When UK swimmer Riley Gaines tied for fifth with UPenn swimmer Lia Thomas in the 200-yard freestyle at NCAAs, it made national headlines. Thomas, a transgender woman who previously swam for two years on UPenn’s mens team, quickly became a controversial figure within and beyond the swimming world. So when Thomas was given the single fifth place trophy to hold during the podium presentation instead of Gaines, she took the opportunity to speak out against the NCAA. Gaines recounted her experience with the meet officials, who instructed her to hold the sixth place trophy instead because they wanted to give it to Thomas, to the Daily Wire. The officials told her that her trophy would come later in the mail. “I left the pool with no trophy,” Gaines told the outlet. “Not a big deal, but it was the goal that I had set all year.” Gaines felt miffed by the experience. As she reflected on it, she became more frustrated. “[The NCAA] completely put me and my hard work and everything I had done on the backburner just to kind of save face a little bit in terms of not wanting to receive that backlash,” Gaines told the Kernel. Thomas’ dominance at the national meet — she placed eighth in the 100yard freestyle, fifth in the 200-yard freestyle and first in the 500-yard freestyle — should have never been allowed to happen, Gaines said. It’s not about any resentment against or
lack of support for Thomas, she emphasized, but rather frustration with NCAA’s rules, which allowed Thomas to compete at the national meet in the first place without being in compliance with certain standards. "It is hard because you don't want to say something to where people call you transphobic or anything like that, because that's not what the problem is,” Gaines said. “Lia and her transition and her swimming career is not the issue that is making so many of us NCAA swimmers upset. It's the rules put in place. So there's such a fine line when you're talking about it." Until about a month before NCAAs, nobody was sure whether Thomas would be allowed to compete. She emerged as a dominant swimmer on the scene in November 2021, when she swam a time among the fastest in the nation. She went on to record the fastest 200- and 500yard freestyle times in the nation in December. “It kind of took everyone by surprise, like, whoa, who is this girl? And that's when news started to come out,” Gaines said. Thomas competed on UPenn’s men's team from 2017 to 2020. She began her transition in 2019, while still sometimes competing on the men’s squad. After a year of hormone therapy, under 2010 NCAA rules regarding transgender women, Thomas was ruled eligible to compete on UPenn’s women’s team in summer 2020, but she waited another year before beginning competition during the 2021-22 academic year. However, as Thomas be-
gan swimming faster times, USA Swimming, FINA and the NCAA – swimming’s governing bodies – were working behind the scenes to update their policies regarding participation of transgender athletes. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) had just released their “Framework on Fairness, Inclusion and Non-discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity and Sex Variations” in November, which called on national and international sporting bodies to update their policies based on the IOC’s 10 principles. In January, the NCAA voted to adopt a sport-bysport approach to transgender participation policies: each sport would defer to its national or international sporting body for guidance on how to best balance competitive fairness and inclusion within the confines of particular sports. For swimming and diving, that national body is USA Swimming. Less than a month before NCAAs, USA Swimming announced its updated policy. To compete on a women’s team, transgender athletes would have to prove that they had not exceeded a testosterone threshold of 5 nmol/L for three continuous years (the previous threshold had been 10 nmol/L for one year). Those who wished to compete at national meets would have to submit lab results affirming this within four weeks of the competition. However, since the rule change came so close to the national championship, the NCAA chose to overrule it for the time being and adopt it the following academic year. This meant Thomas was allowed to
compete, despite the new rules that would have ruled her ineligible if instated, since she began her hormone treatment in May 2019, not quite three years ago. When Gaines heard the news and realized that she would be competing against Thomas at NCAAs, it felt like a punch in the gut, she said. “It's definitely a bit of a disheartening feeling, because you are at such a physiological disadvantage,” she said. “You feel pretty defeated before you've even swam.” Gaines said she thinks the NCAA needs to acknowledge that the rules they put in place for the 2021-22 season were unfair and made out of a fear of backlash from a minority of people rather than the interests of the majority of the female swimmers at the meet. “If Lia didn't get the trophy, you would have so many people saying, ‘Oh, Lia didn't get the trophy because she's being treated as a male and this is unfair to her,’” Gaines said. “But when I didn't get the trophy, to me, it's just like all the work they've done with Title IX, all the females they backed in the past, all this talk about equality and fairness and sports just kind of got thrown out of the window.” Gaines said she doesn’t think there is a clear-cut answer that would make everyone happy, but that depending on the sport, there could be paths for transgender athletes to compete. For swimming, she suggested making a separate category for transgender athletes. “The transgender athletes will still get to partic-
PHOTOS BY MICHAEL CLUBB | STAFF Former Kentucky Wildcats swimmer Riley Gaines poses for a portrait on Wednesday, March 30, 2022, at the Lancaster Aquatic Center in Lexington, Kentucky.
ipate in the sport they love doing, biological females and males will be protected, and the whole integrity of sports can be protected,” she said. “I think that's a happy medium that everyone can get behind.” Gaines never thought she’d be the first one to speak up about this issue, but she’s glad she was presented the opportunity. “There's been so many girls who are afraid to talk about it because it's so easy to just get labeled as transphobic or canceled,” she said. “But I feel like if you can be respectful and be mature, you're fine because the problem is not Lia, and I think that's where it can
get pretty political.” Her coaches, teammates and athletic director at UK have backed her, Gaines said, alongside several Olympians and athletes who have sent her supportive messages. While she has also received backlash, she said it doesn’t bother her, because she knows it isn’t true. “Anyone who calls me transphobic or anything like that, it just doesn't even get to my head, because I know I'm not and that's not the point I'm communicating,” Gaines said. “To me, it just means they're misinterpreting what I'm saying and what I think the main problem is."
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Thursday, March 31, 2022
opinions
Machine Gun Kelly’s ‘Mainstream Sellout’ is cathartic chaos By Karrington Aliyah opinions@kykernel.com
Punk rock is Machine Gun Kelly’s, AKA Colson Baker’s, calling. From his days of being a subpar rapper to his new rock stardom, this new album, “Mainstream Sellout,” shows his continuous journey to punk rock as well as his continuous journey of self-reflection. It also seems like “Mainstream Sellout” is a continuation of his last album “Tickets to My Downfall.” In both albums, Baker unapologetically battles his demons and exposes his slightly toxic tendencies, all the while giving insight into his childhood and upbringing. This gives the listener and fan more insight into why this newfound punk rock artist functions the way he does. The first time I listened to “Tickets to My Downfall,” it was Oct. 2, 2020. I was on a train headed to Charlotte, North Carolina, visiting a friend. No matter how tired I was, the lull of the train couldn’t rock me to sleep. With both earbuds in and a gaze dead set out the window, I listened to all the tracks on the album, as well as the bonus songs added onto the deluxe version. As I listened, I felt understood for the first time in a while. I also was aware that this new sound and genre Baker had begun to explore fit his persona a lot more than the underrated rap god complex he had been donning for the
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past couple of years. His newest album “Mainstream Sellout” did not disappoint. It dropped March 25 at exactly midnight, a year and a half after the release of his previous album “Tickets to My Downfall.” As the clock struck midnight, I found myself dancing, pacing and raging around my room to every single song on the track list. While listening, I was overcome with nostalgia and a sense of contriteness, especially when listening to “emo girl” featuring Willow. I sadly never fully gave into my own emo girl phase as I transitioned from middle to high school. When my mother sensed my growing interest in this aesthetic, she put the kibosh on it immediately, and it is safe to say this song has unlocked my interest and guilt for not fully exploring myself earlier on in my life. Any song in which Willow is part, I will listen to, no hesitation. The audio clip from “Jennifer’s Body” at the start of the song is an iconic ode to his fiancée Megan Fox. They are a power couple I never thought I’d see but can’t help but obsess over. Her influence over the album is subtle and romantic, with “Twin Flame” giving a heartbreaking and heartwarming glimpse into their relationship. Aside from his romantic and eye-opening tribute to his fiancée and their relationship, this whole album felt like an ode to inner turmoil and the consequences, chaos and conflict that come with
it. Tracks “5150” and “god save me” are some of the more vulnerable songs on the album. In “god save me,” Baker is blunt when referencing the death of his parents and his multiple but fleeting attempts to take his own life. He also calls out the media and how it has impacted the way in which he carries himself in both the public eye and in his personal life. The song “5150” is named after a law code in California for the involuntary and temporary hold of individuals who present a danger to themselves and others. This is mostly for those who show signs of mental illness. In this song, Baker doesn’t hesitate, talking about self-harm, self-hate and the romanization of past traumas, which I can relate to on a level I wish I couldn’t. I always admire when artists are not afraid to bad-mouth themselves in songs, when they are not afraid to call themselves out for all of the bad things they have done in their life. In a way, it makes them more human and more approachable, and this album gave me more of an insight into who Baker is as a person, as a human — not as his persona Machine Gun Kelly. Another song that made me relate to Baker more is “ay!” featuring Lil Wayne. This song gives a slightly eerie vibe as Baker details his desire to suppress whatever he is going through in the forms of different things such as weed or lean. Yes, if you are an avid Machine Gun Kelly fan, you
already know how much Baker loves his blunts and booze, but this song shows another side to his love for them. This song almost presents them as a need, a means to forget. This song is a perfect example of how someone can get lost in their coping mechanisms and use them as a crutch rather than something that can lift them up and benefit them. Much like “ww3” on his previous album, “ww4” presents itself in the form of cathartic chaos, a perfect song to rage and scream to in the comfort of your room. And
much like “ww3,” “ww4” will be my new rage anthem, something I can belt out in full volume in the confines of my car or bedroom when I am feeling angsty or like I am about to combust. Honestly, every song on this album has related to me in some way. Anyone with the slightest interest in punk rock or who can relate to taboo topics such as toxic love (“sid & nancy”), drugs (“drug dealer” and “die in california”) or mental illness, this album will be an interesting and introspective find for you!
I always admire when artists are not afraid to bad-mouth themselves in songs, when they are not afraid to call themselves out for all of the bad things they have done in their life. In a way, it makes them more human and more approachable, and this album gave me more of an insight into who Baker is as a person, as a human — not as his persona Machine Gun Kelly. - Karrington Aliyah
Thursday, March 31, 2022
sports
What to know about UK football midway through spring practice By Hunter Shelton sports@kykernel.com
Kentucky is a football school, anyways…right? For fans who are still reeling from the historic loss to Saint Peter’s, not to worry. Mark Stoops is back for his 10th season at the helm of UK football, and the Wildcats’ spring game is right around the corner. The Cats are halfway through spring practice, and fans are beginning to get a glimpse as to what the makeup of the 2022 roster is going to look like. “The guys have a really good attitude, working really hard, we have the nucleus to have a very good football team,” Stoops said. With several players coming in and out of the transfer portal, UK’s roster will have a vastly different look than it did in 2021, not to mention the loss of the seven Cats who are headed for the NFL. Wan’Dale Robinson, Dare Rosenthal, Yusuf Corker, Luke Fortner, Darian Kinnard, Marquan McCall and Joshua Paschal have all moved on to the next level, leaving multiple gaps open in the UK roster. Stoops didn’t go heavy in the portal, but the main pieces he secured will make immediate impacts in
blue and white. Out goes one Robinson, in comes another. Tayvion Robinson enters the fray at wide receiver, coming from Virginia Tech. He caught 44 passes for the Hokies last season, totaling 559 yards and five touchdowns. It’ll be a challenge to replace the output that Wan’Dale achieved for the Cats last season, but the junior will be asked to step into that role. Joining Robinson in the wideout room is Alabama transfer Javon Baker. A former four-star recruit, Baker never broke through the log jam of talent that carousels through Tuscaloosa, leading him to Lexington. He caught seven passes for 101 yards and a touchdown for the Crimson Tide last season and will fight for a starting spot in the spring and fall. The departures of Rosenthal, Kinnard and Fortner point towards numerous holes in the offensive line. Tashawn Manning will provide one easy solution to incoming O-line coach Zach Yenser. Manning made the in-conference jump from Auburn to Kentucky after being a part of the Tigers’ line rotation for two seasons. The 6-foot-4, 335-pound guard will add needed size to an offensive line with more
JACK WEAVER | STAFF Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops high fives fans during Cat Walk before the UK vs. Florida football game on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky.
questions than answers. Darrion Henry-Young highlights the additions on the defensive end. He played just four games across two seasons for Ohio State but brings depth as a defensive lineman. The Cincinnati native may not make an immediate impact, but will be a factor for defensive coordinator Brad White heading into the fall. The portal giveth, the
portal taketh. Kentucky’s secondary has consistently been one of its weaker positions, and the loss of cornerback Cedrick Dort adds to that. The former starter left Lexington to use his extra year of eligibility, heading to Madison to play for Wisconsin. Over four seasons at Kentucky, Dort appeared in 44 games, making 25 starts. Linebacker Marquez
Bembry played in all 12 regular season games for UK last season, totaling just nine tackles. He made the move to UConn in search of more playing time as a senior. Isaiah Epps is the biggest loss on the offensive side of the ball, as the wide receiver began the year as one of three starting wideouts. Catching 11 passes last season, the Oklahoma
native opted to return closer to home and transferred to Tulsa. A total of 18 players joined or left Kentucky via the portal, meaning quite the shake-up for a coaching staff that also welcomes in multiple new faces. Liam Coen’s time in Lexington was brief, as the offensive coordinator left See FOOTBALL on page 18
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Thursday, March 31, 2022
sports
Four Kentucky women's basketball players enter transfer portal By Cole Park sports@kykernel.com
Four Kentucky womens basketball players announced they will be entering their names into the transfer portal over a four day stretch. On Friday, current senior point guard Jazmine Massengill, junior forward Dre’una Edwards and sophomore guard Treasure Hunt all declared their intentions to search for new homes in the coming season. If all three find different schools as expected, it will be the second time both Edwards and Massengill will have transferred in their careers, with Massengill starting her career at Tennessee and Edwards starting hers at Utah. Massengill, who was the starting point guard for the team this season, averaged seven points per game with 3.6 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game. Massengill transferred to Kentucky prior to the 2020-2021 season as a junior after being a consistent starter for the Tennessee Lady Vols her sophomore year. She played in 19 games her junior year, starting in eight, before starting in all 30 games she played in her senior season. Massengill, despite being a senior, will look to make an impact as a graduate transfer on whatever team she decides whether that be stepping up into a more aggressive scoring role or continuing her role as a ball-handler and high assist point guard.
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JACK WEAVER | STAFF Kentucky forward Dre'una Edwards, right, reacts to a foul call during the UK vs. Princeton NCAA Tournament womens basketball game on Saturday, March 19, 2022, in Bloomington, Indiana.
Edwards, likely most known for her game winning 3-pointer over No. 1 South Carolina to win the first SEC Championship at Kentucky in 40 years, transferred to Kentucky prior to the 2019-2020 season but sat out due to the NCAA policies regarding transfers that had not yet been changed. Edwards played her freshman season at Utah, starting in 26 games and averaging 11.6 points and 6.7 rebounds to earn Pac-12 Freshman of the Year honors. After finally having the op-
portunity to take the court in the 2020-2021 season at Kentucky, as a redshirt sophomore, Edwards played 27 games with 11 starts averaging 9.7 points per game and 6.1 rebounds per game. Edwards took a significant jump this season, averaging 16.8 points and 8.4 rebounds per game, including 11 double-doubles on the season. Despite the impressive numbers, Edwards also served two suspensions during the season, possibly contributing to the decision to transfer.
While the first was a simple one game suspension for academic standing, the second was much more notable with viewers wondering at times if she would ever return. Following the blowout losses against No. 1 South Carolina and then No. 5 Tennessee in January, Edwards was absent in Kentucky’s home game against Florida for “disciplinary reasons.” She would go on to miss four games, including not traveling with the team to two separate road games. The timing of her suspen-
sions also meant that she did not play in either of Kentucky’s two games inside Rupp Arena. Though the road was sometimes rocky, the loss of Edwards is a big blow to Kentucky, who will need to look to build up a replacement fast. Edwards will look to be a strong rebounder and steady scorer at whatever team she chooses, even possibly continuing to work on her 3-point shot that improved throughout her junior year. The only Wildcat to have been recruited by and chosen Kentucky first, Treasure Hunt, averaged 6.9 points per game as well as 4.6 rebounds per game, getting the call as a starter in every game she played except the first against Presbyterian. Hunt never quite fit into Kentucky head coach Kyra Elzy’s scheme, ultimately seeming to decide that she needed a different environment to thrive as a player. She also had connections to both star guard Rhyne Howard and Jazmine Massengill, playing on the same high school team as the latter and AAU ball with the former. Hunt, while not having her numbers pop off the page, is another tough blow for Kentucky, with the younger guard having shown signs of development even in her short tenure and looking to be a strong piece of the UK roster in her junior and senior seasons. Later, on Monday, Kentucky center Olivia Owens announced on Twitter that she was departing See WBB TRANSFER on page 18
Thursday, March 31, 2022
sports
Column: Reflecting on Kentucky’s historic loss to Saint Peter’s By Hunter Shelton sports@kykernel.com
After receiving a thumping at the hands of North Carolina in the Elite Eight, Saint Peter’s all-time Cinderella run in the NCAA Tournament came to an end. Shaheen Holloway, Doug Edert, Peter the Peacock and the gang etched their names into college basketball history books, becoming the first ever No. 15 seed to make it past the Sweet 16. The small Jesuit university out of Jersey City, New Jersey, which has less than 3,000 students enrolled, quickly became America’s darling as it rolled through the tournament with a chip on its shoulder and passion on the court. It all started on Thursday, March 17, inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, where those same Peacocks were supposedly attending their own funeral, taking on that esteemed blue and white school that resides in Lexington. You know, the one that has the eight championships and the second-most wins of any program ever. The game started out as most March Madness tilts do, an even bout that see’s the mid-major find the gusto needed to hang around with the big dog for a while. One half goes by, and the score is tied at 37. The story then goes that the top seed wakes up for the back half, and swats away the little brother, avoiding danger and moving on to the next round. Kentucky must’ve missed that memo. Another even half of basketball, which saw the Wildcats on the back foot, eventually called for overtime. As fear struck John Calipari’s group, Holloway and his players remained calm and poised. UK would manage just eight points in the overtime period, missing five free throws along the way. It became apparent that the Cats’ performance wasn’t up to
MICHAEL CLUBB | STAFF Kentucky Wildcats forward Oscar Tshiebwe, left, and head coach John Calipari, right, hold their heads in their hands after the UK vs. Saint Peter’s NCAA Tournament mens basketball game on Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Indianapolis, Indiana.
snuff, and the Peacocks handed Kentucky its worst loss in program history, winning 85-79. Of course, Saint Peter’s wasn’t done there. It would continue its Commonwealth takeover, vanquishing Murray State in the second round just two days later. The Peacocks would then get to play a little closer to home in the Sweet 16, outlasting No. 3 seeded Purdue, before UNC brought everyone back to reality in the Elite Eight.
For Kentucky fans, the pill may be a little easier to swallow, knowing that the Peacocks weren’t one and done, as they achieved one of the greatest runs in tournament history. Regardless, when you take a look at the Final Four, it’s a blue blood party and the Cats didn’t get invited. The Wildcats played three of the four remaining teams, slaughtering North Carolina and Kansas, while falling to Duke in the season opener.
UK pasted the Tar Heels 98-69 in Las Vegas on Dec. 18, led by a 26-point performance via Sahvir Wheeler. The Cats shot 54% from the floor and smothered UNC on the glass, winning the rebound battle 44-26. Just over a month later in Lawrence, Kansas, Kentucky waltzed into Allen Fieldhouse and decimated the Jayhawks See HISTORIC LOSS on page 18
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Thursday, March 31, 2022
sports
Are alarm bells beginning to sound for UK softball? By Cole Park
sports@kykernel.com
Kentucky softball currently checks in at No. 8 in the USA Today softball top 25, but looking at its recent stretch, is it time to start sounding the alarm? The team made headlines over the weekend for its walk-off grand slam, courtesy of Renee Abernathy, to win the series over No. 18 Auburn, but the bigger picture is not as rosy. Since March 16, Kentucky has gone 3-6, with the Auburn series being the only light in the darkness and, though the result was a win, it could have just as easily been a loss with a big hit required to secure the win. Apart from taking the Auburn series 2-1, Kentucky’s only other win since the 2022 Bluegrass Classic was a 9-4 win over then No. 3 Alabama, in the last game of a three-game series. Looking at the loss column, many of the losses are easily explainable, such as the two in the aforementioned Alabama series and a 9-1 blowout loss to No. 1 Oklahoma, which is par for the course when facing the Sooners. If that were all the losses Kentucky had taken, there would not be a cause
16 | kentucky kernel
for any immediate concern, but the Wildcats have now also dropped one-off games to Miami Ohio and Ohio State. The loss to Miami Ohio undeniably is the worst loss of the season for the Wildcats, falling 7-5 in Oxford, Ohio, with the Redhawks currently checking in at 13-10 on the season with losses to the likes of Tennessee State, Bradley and Troy. The problem in that game was starting pitching, with Miranda Stoddard, who is often sturdy, only pitching one inning with five earned runs against her before Kennedy Sullivan entered the game. Most recently, Kentucky played Ohio State who, while receiving votes in the polls, is also unranked in the USA Today top 25 as well as the D1 Softball top 25. Ironically, the issue against the Buckeyes on Tuesday was the polar opposite of the issue against Miami just two weeks prior. Kentucky’s starting pitcher, Alexia Lacatena, did not have the best start she could have hoped for, but her three runs allowed generally would not lose the game for a Wildcats team that has shown little issue putting up high run totals throughout the sea-
JACK WEAVER | STAFF Kentucky infielder Alexia Lacatena makes a throw to first base during the UK vs. Oklahoma softball game on Tuesday, March 22, 2022, at John Cropp Stadium in Lexington, Kentucky.
son. Unfortunately for Lacatena, the night was not a usual Kentucky softball night, with Ohio State starter Lexie Handley notching a complete game shut-out, not allowing a single Wildcat run. Several high caliber hitters for the Cats struggled at the plate, such as senior catcher Kayla Kowalik, who went 0-3 inside the batter’s box. Co-home run leader
Erin Coffel also went 0-3 at the plate against Ohio State, with the team as a whole only notching five hits across three batters. While two bad games should not normally be cause for concern, especially with only one of those games being a truly bad loss, it must be at least considered after Kentucky finished its “tournament” portion of the schedule 19-2, with its only two losses to then No. 13 Vir-
ginia Tech and then No. 19 Michigan, with the latter game even being avenged just days later. Looking at the record now, Kentucky is 22-8, which while still being a good record, is a drop-off from where it was. The Wildcats are still ranked within the top 15 and should not be given up upon this early in the season, but can not continue down its current path if it hopes to make a splash in
the postseason. Kentucky plays No. 20 LSU in Baton Rouge to start the month of April, and will need another bounce back series that it can point to when questions start getting posed about the team’s validity that isn’t just the Auburn series. Game one of the series against LSU is scheduled for Friday, April 1, with first pitch being planned for around 7 p.m. EST.
Thursday, March 31, 2022
Kentucky baseball prepares for former No. 1 Ole Miss By Cole Park sports@kykernel.com
Reeling from a loss to Eastern Kentucky on Tuesday, Kentucky baseball has a tough series ahead against former No. 1 Ole Miss. In what was supposed to be the team’s 2,000th program victory after a big series win over No. 14 Georgia, the Wildcats were overcome by poor starting pitching, falling to EKU 6-3. Now with the momentum potentially knocked out of their sails, the Cats host the former No. 1 team in the country, who is also looking to bounce back after being swept by Tennessee the weekend prior. While that sweep and fall to No. 10 in the D1Baseball Top 25 may signal to some that the Rebels may not be much of a threat, they showed flashes of what got them to No. 1 in the first place on Tuesday, beating North Alabama 20-3 in seven innings. While that win over the Lions was a dominant one for Ole Miss, the team is still out to rebound after the UT series and has its eyes set on the Wildcats. Similarly, the Cats have their eyes set on the Rebels, still searching for the coveted 2,000th win and seeking their third win in a ranked series this season, second in conference play. While its bats struggled against the Colonels, Kentucky has paved its road to success this season on the backs of its bats, such as its two-hole hitter Chase Estep who, even after going 0-4 against EKU, is still batting .400 on the season.
MICHAEL CLUBB | STAFF Kentucky Wildcats infielder Daniel Harris IV drops a fly ball during the UK vs. Bellarmine baseball game on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022, at Kentucky Proud Park in Lexington, Kentucky.
Recently, junior Kentucky native Jase Felker has also answered his call, going 7-9 in the past two games with a walk in the second, inflating his batting average up to .469. “I’m just thankful that his number has been called and he’s been ready,” Kentucky head coach Nick Mingione said. “We got other guys too that are just waiting for their opportunity, and when you get them in there you want to see them be aggressive. You want to see him execute what they’ve done in practice, and Jase is a guy that’s done that, he’s definitely taking advantage of his opportunities.” Other big names such as Ryan
Ritter may be struggling at the plate recently, but they are still fully capable of unleashing their talent when the opportunity presents itself and cannot be overlooked as a threat in the lineup. On the other side of the aisle, Ole Miss doesn’t have any batting averages that pop off the stats page, but just looking into its results this season is all one needs to see that the Rebels can score runs. Ole Miss has out-scored its opponents 223-213, and removing the Tennessee series brings that number to 216-187. While the starting pitching gave way against the Vols, Ole Miss has held opponents to five
or fewer runs in 14 out of its 24 games. Looking back at Kentucky, the team’s weekend pitchers Darren Williams and Tyler Bosma performed well against Georgia, but its Friday pitcher, Cole Stupp, has been declared out for the remainder of the season due to a forearm injury sustained against the Bulldogs. Mingione opted not to place Tuesday pitcher Seth Logue in that spot, with Logue going out on his usual schedule and struggling, taking the loss against EKU. “We made the decision that Seth was going to start this week and give us the best start possible
sports
so he would not be an option for this weekend,” He said. “We just felt like it was important to keep Seth on his normal routine and give him the opportunity in the midweek.” While there may be no other options, it’s unlikely Kentucky wants to have a bullpen day on Friday, likely hoping to keep its arms fresh for relief situations in the latter two games of the series. With no easy solution in place, all eyes will be on game one on Friday to see who Kentucky goes with and, more importantly, how it works out for the team and whether or not it's a viable solution. As the season prior has shown, Kentucky baseball is unpredictable and is fully capable of beating very good baseball teams, winning series over both TCU and Georgia. That said, the odds will certainly be stacked against the Wildcats on Friday, and depending on the result, that game could sway the entire series as a whole. “We get two home series in a row back-to-back so anytime you’re at home you have got to play good and you gotta win those series,” Mingione said. “We got to get a good practice on Thursday and have a good weekend.” Regardless of what happens, Ole Miss at Kentucky is simply an unmissable series early in conference play. Game one of the series is scheduled to take place Friday, April 1, with the first pitch currently scheduled for 6:30 p.m. EST.
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Thursday, March 31, 2022
FOOTBALL CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13
after just one season to return to the Los Angeles Rams for the same position. Stoops wasted little time finding a replacement, as he went back to the NFL, selecting San Francisco 49ers QB coach Rich Scangarello to take over. Yenser also comes to UK via the 49ers, while Stoops stayed in the family to find an inside linebackers coach, appointing his brother Mike to the position. Once past the significant amount of turnover, some familiar faces can be found, anchoring the skill positions for the Cats. Everyone’s favorite fruit-eating quarterback Will Levis is back for one more run in blue and white. After notching 33 total touchdowns last season, Levis is poised to take the
next step in his game, as he looks to elevate himself and Kentucky to a level higher than the Citrus Bowl. In the backfield, Chris Rodriguez returns after rushing for 2,163 yards and 21 touchdowns over the last two seasons. He’ll again be flanked by Kavosiey Smoke and JuTahn McClain at tailback. The Big Blue Wall will be anchored by Eli Cox and Kenneth Horsey, both of whom will remain key interior pieces for protecting the run game and Levis. DeAndre Square and Jacquez Jones headline the linebacker core, both of whom made the decision to return for one more season as graduate students. In the tight end position, UK runs deep as Brendan Bates and Izayah Cummings return, while Keaton Upshaw will take over the starting role, having missed last season due to injury. Kentucky still has some work to do, as just 85 players are currently on
HISTORIC LOSS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15
80-62. It was a career performance from Keion Brooks Jr., as he poured in 27 points while Oscar Tshiebwe added 17 points and 14 rebounds. UK held Kansas to 40% shooting. Despite the two near perfect performances, proving that the Wildcats belonged in National Championship contention, it’s the Tar Heels and Jayhawks who are headed to New Orleans for a shot at the title. Along the way, Kansas passed Kentucky on the alltime wins list, removing the “winningest program” moniker from the Cats’ clutches. Toss in Louisville announcing longtime UK assistant Kenny Payne as its new head coach, and March has been a rough month for Big Blue Nation. There’s still plenty of uncertainty surrounding the makeup of next year’s team, which isn’t unusual for UK. Falmouth, Kentucky, native Dontaie Allen has entered the transfer portal after three seasons in Lexington, and there is speculation that he will not be the only player to do so, with rumors swirling around the likes of Brooks, Bryce Hopkins and Lance Ware. Kellan Grady and Davion Mintz’s departures leave slots open that Calipari hopes will be filled by incoming McDonald’s All-Americans Cason Wallace and Chris Livingston. UK hopes there will be a trio of talented fresh-
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scholarship. Stoops and his staff will look to remain active in the portal for as long as possible, though most substantial options have already been gobbled up by opposing schools. With kickoff against Miami Ohio to begin the season over 150 days away, there’s still plenty of time for the roster to shake out. The Wildcat offense has the ability to overshadow the defense for the first time in the Stoops era. Scangarello runs a similar playstyle to Coen, providing a smooth transition for the players and the playbook. There are plenty of question marks throughout the depth chart, but once spring ball comes to an end, Big Blue Nation will have a much greater idea as to what the ceiling will look like. The defending Citrus Bowl champions are no longer a secret in the SEC; Stoops will have to prepare for everyone’s best shot in the 2022 season.
men running the court next season, but Shaedon Sharpe’s decision to either go pro or return to Lexington still hangs in the balance. TyTy Washington Jr. is yet to announce his decision, though it seems certain that he will test the waters at the NBA Draft, where some have him projected as a lottery pick. National Player of the Year Tshiebwe is also yet to make a decision as he rakes in postseason awards on a daily basis. The return of the West Virginia transfer will completely alter how Calipari attempts to fll his roster for next season. It’s going to be a long offseason for Kentucky fans, especially if Duke and Mike Krzyzewski hoist the title one final time. Year 14 under Calipari will once again bring excitement, as a new batch of talent will enter Rupp Arena, looking to reinstate the Wildcats as one of the figure heads of college basketball. Don’t expect BBN to jump right back in. Following the worst season in program history with the worst loss in program history isn’t exactly the best way to keep the fans happy. As famed as Calipari is in the Bluegrass, he has just one title for his troubles. The 2022-23 season is far away, but for many it will be viewed as a make-or-break year for Kentucky basketball to reclaim its spot atop the world of college athletics. After going three years without a single victory in the NCAA Tournament, UK must face the music as patience begins to run thin in Lexington.
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the women’s basketball team to transfer to law school. “I will be a proud Kentucky Alumnus and will always carry blue in my heart,” Owens said in her Tweet. “With bittersweet emotions, I will be leaving Kentucky, but to pursue my career as a future attorney. Therefore, I am entering the transfer portal as a grad transfer. Thank you BBN! It was a privilege.” Owens transferred to Kentucky as a redshirt sophomore from Maryland, and was granted immediate eligibility for the 2020-2021 season, making her the third player leaving Kentucky to have transferred in prior. As a redshirt sophomore Owens played in 25 games, earning five starts, and averaged 4.4 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. She remained on the team as a redshirt junior, playing in 28 games with nine starts, with the bulk of her starts coming during Kentucky’s injury heavy 1-8 skid from early to mid January until early February. Owens averaged 3.1 points and three rebounds per game in an average of 13 minutes on the court. At Kentucky, Owens majored in US culture and business practices, though per her announcement, she will be pursuing her dream of being an attorney at the college to which she chooses to transfer. With Howard also leaving the team for the WNBA Draft, Owens became the fifth Wildcat, out of a total of 10, from last season’s roster that will not return to the team in the fall. Regardless, Owens seemed to wish to make it clear that there were no issues within the program to lead to her departure, but rather that her dream of practicing law was the main motivating factor in her decision to leave. “I am so blessed and grateful to be apart of BBN and all that we’ve accomplished,” Owens wrote. “I want to thank my coaches for loving me and guiding me on and off the court. I’d like to thank the staff for the constant encouragement and support. I want to thank my teammates for two great years. And most importantly, thank you Big Blue Nation, for welcoming me and loving me.” With the losses, Kentucky head coach Kyra Elzy is back on rough waters preparing for next season after becoming just the second coach at Kentucky to bring home an SEC title. All four transfers are tough losses for a Kentucky team that will already be searching for a proper identity in the absence of Howard, who dutifully led the team for her historic four seasons in blue and white. Elzy has put together a solid recruiting class for the upcoming season, though it’s yet to be seen how the team will function with so much of its veteran influence gone, as what was once a disappointing end to an otherwise impressive turn-around of a season has now been overshadowed with even more question marks for the future.
Thursday, March 31, 2022
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