14 minute read
SPORTS
(First Row, Left to Right) Kinesiology junior K’Vonte Jackson, sprints past defenders for a huge gain as the Stangs defeat TAMU-Kingsville, March 6 - Photo by Bailey Graham | Criminal justice graduate student and guard Morgan Lenahan dribbles down the court playing against UTPB, Feb. 25 - Photo by Niko McWilliams Lewis, practices her jumping form ahead of the OBU Invitational, March 25 - Photo by Bailey Graham | Undecided sophomore Erwin Regules, takes a shot on goal in the Stangs win against Lubbock Christian, March 2 - Bailey Graham serve to Metro State University. March 5, 2020. - Photo by Bridget Reilly | Men’s golf pose together on the green, March 16. - Photo courtesy of Garrett Leek. (Second Row, Left to Right) Forward and psychology junior, Jermane Carter, dunks the ball versus Lubbock Christian, Jan. 30. - Photo by Niko McWilliams. | Pre-law senior Lissette Lefforge spikes the ball in a 5 set game against Cameron, March 4 - Photo by Bailey Graham March 3 - Bailey Graham | Exercise physiology freshman Emilija Visic returns a serve from a Tyler Junior College player, Feb. 7, 2020. - Photo by Bridget Reilly. | Marketing junior Juanita Gomez, lines up her putt in the Stangs 4th place finish at the Midwestern State Invitational, Mar
MUSTANGS SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS ON THE
THALIA DOE REPORTER
As the spring semester comes to an end, some of MSU Texas’ star players reflect on the highs and lows of a unique Mustangs season.
Caleb Brown (No. 63), offensive lineman and criminal justice senior, was announced the All-Lone Star Conference Male Performance Athlete of the Year. Brown said this past season the team started strong but didn’t finish as strong as they would’ve liked.
“I think we just have to get better and focus on that during off-season and this summer, becoming more disciplined and learning how to execute the game... Our first scrimmage against South Eastern Oklahoma was very special to me, just to be able to walk on the field again after a year. We are grateful to be back out on the field after missing a year, but it definitely took some time adjusting back to the flow of a game… that’s no excuse though, because everyone else also had a year off, so that’s when it goes back to learning how to execute the game better,” Brown said.
Men’s Soccer
Mere Escobar (No. 22), forward and undecided freshman, was announced LSC Freshman of the Year and featured on the All-Freshman team, making him even more ready for the conference tournament.
“The biggest lesson I’ve learned this year was to work hard and wait for the moment. I struggled a lot in the beginning and even felt like I wasn’t doing enough for the team. However, I never stopped working and my coaches supported and pushed me to be great and do whatever I could to help the team. These awards are just the beginning of what I want to do for the program,” Escobar said. she did not expect to have such a big role her first year.
“I honestly wasn’t expecting to play as much as I did or have a really big role on the team; all the other players understood that and helped me through it all. The season was a little tough for the team because we didn’t get all the outcomes we wanted in the games, but we stuck through it together, and I feel we had great leaders on the team that really pushed us and motivated us through the hard times,” Wildt said.
Men’s Tennis
Alberto Diaz, business management junior, said the season started with a few defeats, but the team has improved and is now physically stronger.
“We could’ve played better and won more in the beginning of the season, but at the time, we weren’t as fit as we needed to be. Now that the most important part of the season is coming up, I feel that we are now more than capable of making it far in nationals,” Diaz said.
Women’s Tennis
Tiffany Holleback, sports administration senior, said, despite struggle with the pandemic, the team has been given the opportunity to grow together as a team on and off the court. She says her experience at other universities
“I’m one of the new ones on the team because I am a transfer graduate student. There’s a couple of years between me and some of the other girls, but it’s a cool experience because I get to help them through the experience, I’ve gained playing at other programs,” Hollebeck said.
Emilija Visic, exercise physiology sophomore, said this season has been special because her freshman year was cut short due to COVID-19.
“Being able to complete through a whole season is kind of ‘new’ for me in a way, but it’s been a blast. Being able to play with my team and compete for each other every match has felt special. Individually, I love being on the court so having the whole season to learn and grow as an athlete has been important for me,” Visic said.
Men’s Basketball
Derrick Ogechi (No. 21), guard and un decided junior, said that it was his first season playing for the Mustangs, and be ing able to meet and bond with the coach es and players was a great start.
“We won more games than the team did last year, so I feel like we are moving in the right direction….I was at a junior college last year when Coach Lesley and other coaches were recruiting me, but I picked Midwestern because I felt it was the best school for me, overall, in educa tion and basketball,” Ogechi said.
Women’s Basketball
Frances King (No. 10), guard and ki nesiology sophomore, said this season is one to remember. King said this season showed what the team is capable of ac complishing as a whole.
“Against UT Tyler, we beat the school record for the most made 3’s in a game and had one of the best records by far in this program. My favorite game and memory by far was beating West Texas
Criminal justice graduate student and guard Morgan Lenahan dribbles down the court playing against UTPB, Feb. 25 - Photo by Niko McWilliams | Finance sophomore Peyton Undecided sophomore Erwin Regules, takes a shot on goal in the Stangs win against Lubbock Christian, March 2 - Bailey Graham | Business management junior Alberto Diaz waits for mechanical engineering sophomore Quentin Scharfenberg to (Second Row, Left to Right) Undecided sophomore Ashley Turner, throws down the runner at first in a doubleheader against Southeastern Oklahoma, March 10 - Photo by Bailey Graham | Pre-law senior Lissette Lefforge spikes the ball in a 5 set game against Cameron, March 4 - Photo by Bailey Graham | Kinesiology Junior, Emma Baley, passes the ball upfield in a hard fought battle agaisnt Dallas Baptist, Marketing junior Juanita Gomez, lines up her putt in the Stangs 4th place finish at the Midwestern State Invitational, March 16. - Photo by Bailey Graham.
Derrick Ogechi (No. 21), guard and undecided junior, said that it was his first season playing for the Mustangs, and being able to meet and bond with the coaches and players was a great start.
“We won more games than the team did last year, so I feel like we are moving in the right direction….I was at a junior college last year when Coach Lesley and other coaches were recruiting me, but I picked Midwestern because I felt it was the best school for me, overall, in education and basketball,” Ogechi said.
Frances King (No. 10), guard and kinesiology sophomore, said this season is one to remember. King said this season showed what the team is capable of accomplishing as a whole.
“Against UT Tyler, we beat the school record for the most made 3’s in a game and had one of the best records by far in this program. My favorite game and memory by far was beating West Texas A&M in double overtime. That is a game I will never forget.... We had some of our key players hurt or fouled in trouble, but we still grinded in every single possession. We were trusting one another and really playing together,” King said.
Volleyball
Raven Presley (No. 21), right-side hitter and business senior, and LSC Commissioner’s Honor Roll member for spring 2021, said this season was the most successful in her four years at Midwestern.
“Despite the adversity thrown our ways, we were able to accomplish great things. I’m content with how I did this season, of course, there were times where I feel I could’ve done better, but ultimately, my main goal this season was to be the best leader I could’ve been both on and off the court. Coming back this year off of an injury, I wasn’t sure what to expect or even if I would play the same, I made it a priority to focus on the things I could control like my attitude and leadership,” Presley said.
Softball
Bailey Brenek (No. 16), utility player and education sophomore, said that despite the season not being what she had expected, that she is still very thankful for the opportunity to have a season, unlike last year due to COVID-19. Despite the season being a challenge, Brenek said that her favorite memory was beating the University of Texas Permian Basin in the team’s first series of conference games.
“In game two we were down six runs and had to find a way to come back and win. We ended up coming back and winning the game on a walk-off. It’s my favorite memory because it showed that our team had the will to fight from behind and find a way to come out on top. It’s been the best team effort we’ve had all season and a great way to start the conference,” Brenek said. Canada. Anderson said it has been such an amazing experience being an international student and a member of the track team.
“Getting to experience meets as an NCAA athlete and through MSU has been really awesome. Every meet so far has been a good introduction, especially since it’s still COVD-19 season, we haven’t been able to have as big of a season as we normally would’ve. However, I think it’s been a good time. I think we’ve been able to grow together as a team, starting from the beginning of the year to where we are now, we are a lot closer and it’s made it a lot easier to compete,” Anderson said.
Men’s Golf
Lane Garcia, biology sophomore, said this season has been one of the most successful yet.
“This has been a great season. As a team, we have all gotten better both mentally and physically. Even though practice, weight room sessions and team meetings have been a little different due to COVID-19 we have all worked through the new adjustments together, as a team, and have made the most of the season. My favorite memory of this season so far was when we went to our last tournament in the fall semester of this season; our team ended up taking the first-place spot,” Garcia said.
Women’s Golf
Beatrice Perucchini, psychology sophomore, said this season was challenging, due to injuries the team had suffered from, but has high hopes for the coming fall season.
“I could’ve played better individually; we had a lot of injuries that didn’t help us score at some of our tournaments. For fall, I cannot wait to meet the new recruits that are coming and also to have a bigger team,” Perucchini said
12 April 19, 2021 Staff Farewell | News | Collegiate Health | Sports | Media | Feature | New Staff | Graduation THE ASSISTANT
IS A VALUABLE COMMENTARY BUT NOT A BLOCKBUSTER
Julia Gardner in “The Assistant” (2019)
Set in a New York film toward the boss’ behavior. nored by others, going through mundane tasks toes score for the film: a 92% critic score and a production office, “The The movie is clearly inspired by the infa- and discovering all the signs of sexual abuse, 25% audience score. Those expecting a mystery Assistant” focuses on a re- mous network that Harvey Weinstein cultivat- except everyone else, acts like it doesn’t exist. thriller involving a defiant and charismatic ceptionist who endures conde- ed throughout his career. Even though the boss While I wish some scenes were cut down to female protagonist were sorely disappointed. scension, belittlement and gas- is never named or shown throughout the film, provide a more accessible movie for audiences, As mentioned before, the clues are as little as lighting from her co-workers. his gruff, distorted and deep voice clearly imi- the film in its present form expects you to pay finding an earring or hearing a small piece of This gaslighting happens as a tates Weinstein’s. The film also convincingly attention, get caught up in the atmosphere of dialogue about the boss leaving for a five-star Joseph consequence of the reception- telegraphs how employees are suppressed into the movie and put yourself in the shoes of the hotel. While most modern audiences expect a Nelson ist discovering various clues submission, by the various strings pulled by ex- assistant, as she navigates the predatory world film to lay everything out on a silver platter, the alluding to sexual harassment. ecutives. However, the film also telegraphs the of big-city business. film expects viewers to pay attention, to take Through a 24-hour interval, we follow Jane, condescending and patronizing attitude male If you are expecting a sermon preaching their time and piece together the power dynamplayed by Julia Garner, to her “first one in, last employees get away with, represented by how against the patriarchy and denouncing all of ics and strings being pulled behind the scenes one out” job, where she discovers an earring in Jane’s male co-workers treat her. Portraying the misogyny in the workplace, you will be dis- of the gloomy office.her boss’ office. After this, she is pressured by these interactions, the actors all balance on a appointed by “The Assistant.” If you are expect- The film could have been trimmed down to her male co-workers to answer her boss’ wife double-edged sword of realism, admirable in ing a realistic, documentary-style, atmospheric offer a more concentrated dose of its message and explain away the film executive’s constant absences and suspected infidelity. Garner’s convincing portrayal of uneasiness and conflict during this phone call is very compelling, as is her performance throughout the movie. As with many other moments in the film, the scene is punctuated by a phone call from the craft but painful to watch, as their convincing portrayal is a reminder that these power dynamics still exist today. “The Assistant” is not a blockbuster film. You won’t hear a sharp violin sound every time sexual harassment is ignored or alluded to. You won’t see Jane walk in on her boss assaultportrayal of what working in a claustrophobic, gloomy, Weinstein film office would feel like, you will enjoy the film. This isn’t to claim the movie doesn’t have anything to say. Because the film only subtly hints at the transgressions of the boss, the audience gets a sense of how easily deniable these accusations were among and render the film’s themes more accessible to a general audience. However, as it stands, “The Assistant” is a well-made movie that, given the patience and attention, provides a skillfully crafted portrayal of workplace abuse, from small degrees to significant. unnamed film executive, who verbally abuses ing someone. You won’t see a climactic, Sher- executives and employees. Not only that, the Jane for unsuccessfully veiling his adulterous lock Holmes-esque reveal where all the clues audience feels the anxiety and fear that Jane behavior. As the film progresses, Jane not only are cut together in a montage. The film is not endures as she attempts to report these signs uncovers the “revolving door” apparatus that sensational or dramatized. You are a passive of sexual assault, as the HR reps and other cothe film executive has cultivated but discovers observer of an assistant, working in a dingy workers act as though nothing is going on. how callous and accepting her co-workers are office space, demeaned by male employees, ig- The subtlety is evident in the Rotten Toma-
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