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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2021

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VOL. 110, NO. 3

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Recruits run home in Bid Day tradition QUENTIN MORRIS News Reporter | @TheMissourian

fter a raucous day of Greek life celebrations on Northwest’s campus, fraternities added 69 new members and sororities added 116 to their chapters. The fraternities started to arrive on the Bell Tower side of the J.W. Jones Student Union. Sigma Alpha Epsilon, the first fraternity to arrive, showed up with the intent of making a statement, waving their fraternity flag and blaring music from a stereo. More fraternities started to make an appearance. Each group was carrying their own flag, and some of them brought stereos to play their own music. After all the fraternities arrived, they formed a semi-circle in front of the Bell Tower entrance of the Union. While they were waiting, some of the guys threw a football around for a one-on-one scrimmage. At 1 p.m., it was time for the new brothers to join their fraternities. Each chapter was introduced individually as the new members sprinted out of Union to catch the embrace of their new brothers. Overall, the fraternities shared positive sentiments about their new recruits and Bid Day.

SEE GREEK | A4

ADDALYNN BRADBURY | NW MISSOURIAN

Phi Mu members Brylie Goff and Rachel Bohling embrace after running to their new members during Bid Day Aug. 29. Just hours before, fraternities held their own Bid Day where they met their new members outside the J.W. Jones Student Union.

Northwest’s rally against Fiji shows support for victims

Authorities seek sole suspect in homicide KENDRICK CALFEE Editor-in-Chief | @calfee_kc

SIDNEY LOWRY News Editor | @sidney_lowry

Only eight days after the reported sexual assault at Phi Gamma Delta, known as FIJI, over 120 miles away, Northwest students, faculty and staff stood together in front of the Bell Tower in support for victims of sexual violence and to urge for the accountability of perpetrators. Students for Change, a campus organization, planned the Bearcats for Banning FIJI rally after hearing about the rape that happened at the FIJI house on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus Aug. 23. Members from every Greek Life chapter, It’s On Us and other campus organizations showed their support in numbers and protest signs while gathered ADDALYNN BRADBURY | NW MISSOURIAN together to hear from officials A group of students stand with their signs at the Bearcats for Banning Fiji about the resources Northwest Rally Aug. 31. The protest was led by Northwest students Emily Rose and and the Maryville communiGarrison Kennedy. ty have to offer victims and bystanders of sexual assault. their office, so they can investi- dinator of the event, used the The rally hosted speakers from gate and provide support resourc- analogy of bricks to explain University Title IX and Equity Of- es to victims. He then told stu- the way that women have been fice, Green Dot and Hope for All, dents about the importance of taught to deal with the behavas well as a statement from a stuconsent and how recovery can be ior of men, and the only way to dent in the frontlines of protests break them down is through edat the UNL campus. On top of a trauma in which there are many ucation and accountability. resources available to students. speakers, there was a counselor “We all play a role in upholdIn between speakers, the from Wellness Services available ing the structural oppression of crowd chanted “Whatever I wear, to students that may have needsurvivors, and we can all have wherever I go, yes means yes, ed support or had any questions and no means no” to stand be- a hand in bringing that system during or after the event. Will Sabio, assistant vice presi- hind victims and reiterate that down,” Kennedy said. dent of Title IX and Equity, urged consent is crucial. SEE FIJI | A4 Garrison Kennedy, a coorstudents to report instances to

IN THE NEWS

A2 Diversity grants

Northwest’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion will be spending a $20,000 grant on two unnamed speakers.

IN THE NEWS

A3 Jessie Peter

The person behind the title: a look at Northwest’s new senior coordinator of diversity.

OUR VIEW

It’s become clear that students are taking a stand against sexual violence. It’s on all of us, men especially, to stop this crime plaguing universities.

Authorities are still searching for the sole suspect in a homicide case involving a Northwest online student and her 11-yearold daughter. The Boone County Sheriff’s Department said they have yet to locate JT McLean, 45, who was charged with two counts of murder in the first-degree for killing Allison Abitz and her daughter Jozee. The department released a statement saying there is reason to believe McLean is attempting to disappear. Authorities do not know if McLean is traveling or if he is held up at a speciﬁc location. Boone County Captain Brian Leer said all vehicles known to be registered to McLean are located, and a burn pile containing cell phones was found at a Callaway County residence. “He was … at least a parttime truck driver, so he had ties to several cities across the U.S.,” Leer said. “We have cooperation of both local and federal agencies to locate him.” McLean, a long-time boyfriend of Abitz, is said to have ties to Columbia and Fulton, Missouri, St. Peter, Minnesota, Chicago and Las Vegas. Abitz, 43, and her daughter, 11, were found dead in their Boone County home Aug. 22, after a concerned family member had not heard from Abitz and called authorities. Investigators determined by probable cause that Abitz was strangled to death and her daughter drowned. Leer said McLean was the last known person at Abitz’ residence before authorities found the bodies. Court documents

provide a witness account saying Abitz, her daughter Jozee and McLean were at the witness’s house until 10:30 p.m. Aug. 21. KRCG 13, a news station in Jeﬀerson City, Missouri, ﬁrst reported that court documents revealed McLean and Abitz leaving a local Hy-Vee together Aug. 21. Leer said that at 11:22 p.m. Aug. 21, McLean’s car can be seen entering Abitz’ subdivision. At 10:15 the following morning, it can be seen leaving. Authorities believe Abitz and her daughter were killed sometime between 11:22 Aug. 21 and 10:15 Aug. 22. A warrant for McLean’s arrest was issued, and his bond was set at $1 million cash-only. McLean is a white male, approximately 5’9” tall, weighs about 210 pounds, and has green eyes and brown hair. He was last known to have his hair grown out but has been known to shave his head bald in the past. There have been a number of tributes and gatherings put on in the Fulton, Missouri, area to honor Abitz, an elementary school teacher in the district, and her daughter, in the aftermath of a crime that devastated the community. “Her and her daughter were looked upon very fondly,” Leer said. “They truly impacted this community.” Abitz was pursuing her online educational specialist degree at Northwest. University president John Jasinski sent an email to students, colleagues and friends, notifying them of Abitz death Aug. 24.

SEE ABITZ | A4

IN SPORTS The ’Cats ready to take the field for the first time in 635 days against bitter conference rival Fort Hays in Hays, Kansas. A7 NW Football

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NEWS

Oﬃcials optimistic with local COVID-19 cases low NATHAN ENGLISH Managing Editor | @nathan_3nglish

ADDALYNN BRADBURY | NW MISSOURIAN

Bearcat Marching Band member Claire Smith runs with fellow band members during Freshman Convocation Aug. 27, a welcoming ceremony for the class of 2025. With new protocols, band members are not required to wear masks outside while playing, only inside with specialized masks meant for playing instruments.

Performances can be full capacity MADISON KOVAC Missourian Reporter | @TheMissourian

With the 2021 fall semester in session, Northwest will begin to see its own performers doing what they do best. Social distancing has disappeared for audiences while masks will still be required by audiences and performers. There are COVID-19 guidelines, such as face coverings, these departments will have to follow. Katheryn Bilbo, an associate professor and artistic director of the theatre department, has been working tirelessly to adhere to Northwest COVID-19 guidelines. “Students and faculty are required to wear masks for both rehearsals and performances,” Bilbo said. “This year, there are no social distancing requirements for the actors and the audience.” The theatre department also has to comply with the cam-

pus’s guidelines for hosting performances. People will have to submit a form with the specific dates, times and number of attendees before it can get approved. After the University reviews and approves it, the performance is allowed to proceed. The Ron Houston Center for the Performing Arts is available for full capacity for theatrical productions. Last year, only a small number of attendees were invited to performances of the plays, with virtual options for those not inperson, but this year, all Northwest students and the public are able to attend the plays. The theatre department has a list of all theatrical productions available at the Northwest website on the performing arts page. With help from the mass media department, the theatre department avoided a signiﬁcant lapse in productions. It was able to ﬁlm and livestream the plays

last year. Bilbo is ready for this year’s theatre department to get back out on stage. “I’m very excited as we look forward to another productive year; this time with full audiences and the ability to create theatre with fewer diﬃculties,” Bilbo said. The marching band also has similar guidelines to maintain this year. While indoors, members are required to wear special designed masks, which were provided to every Bearcat Marching Band member. The new masks include a small sewn area for them to have easy access to their instruments. While performing outside, BMB members are not required to wear masks but will have social distancing measures between each member to ensure their safety. Senior drumline Bearcat Marching Band member Ali Stevens is excited about the up-

coming football season and being able to march again. “It has been over 600 days since I’ve been on the football field in front of fans, to say I miss that feeling is such an understatement,” Stevens said. “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to perform and entertain this year, especially since it’s my last semester. The feeling of playing a halftime show with my band family is such a one-of-a-kind, exhilarating experience. I’m beyond excited to get back out there and do what I love to do.” With Bearcat Stadium set to be seated at full capacity this upcoming football season, Bearcat fans are excited to see our top tier marching band performing again. Northwest Missouri State University has shown strength over this past year and a half, but students are ready to enjoy the traditions they have missed.

Northwest plans to spend grant on keynote speakers QUENTIN MORRIS News Reporter | @TheMissourian

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Northwest will be spending a $20,000 grant on two unnamed speakers. Northwest received the grant from the Missouri Scholarship and Loan Foundation to be used for its Advancing Racial Equity and Access Initiative through the Oﬃce of Institutional Equity and Diversity. The Missouri Scholarship and Loan Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded in 2010. Its mission is to provide students with more access to Missouri institutions and to make them more aﬀordable, as well as providing students with products and services. Northwest is not the only Missouri institution to receive this grant; Southeast Missouri State University also received the $20,000 grant. Assistant Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion Justin Mallett is responsible for the development and direction of outreach and awareness programs at Northwest. “Our job is to make sure that our marginalized students and underrepresented populations have the resources that they need to be successful academically, socially and personally, and for the entire campus, we provide learning and enrichment opportunities so students can leave here with a foundational knowledge in the area of diversity and inclusion,”

Mallett said. “We do that through training, workshops, education, and we also do that through programs here on campus.” The training is for both students and faculty. Northwest has a population that comes from all kinds of backgrounds. “It’s important to learn how to use inclusive language,” Mallett said. “Being able to identify that not everyone identiﬁes as a he or she and people who come from diﬀerent backgrounds, whether that is their race, gender, sexual orientation or another country.” A diversity leadership summit was supposed to take place in September but had to be delayed. “We will bring in a couple of keynote speakers to come in and talk about diversity and inclusion in a much larger frame,’’ Mallett said. “It was supposed to take place on Sept. 11, but because the performing arts center is down, we had to change the date and we are now just waiting to hear back from our speakers to see what day works for them.” Mallett does know who the speakers are going to be, but he is not currently making those names public. Growing up in a segregated part of Mississippi, Mallett has personal experience with a lack of diversity, giving him a key insight on the impact of this problem. “Whites had their part of

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A little over a year ago Aug. 31, 2020, Northwest was in dire straits because of COVID-19. The University had 189 positive cases in a single day, and the outlook for continuing the semester was bleak. This year, however, with a low case count and high bed availability on campus, Lt. Amanda Cullin, a member of the Crisis Management Team 2, said she is something many have not been able to be in the past 18plus months — optimistic. “I think we are on a positive trajectory,” Cullin said. “I think number-wise we are doing as well as can be expected.” A continued “positive trajectory” could bring the end to the mask mandate sooner rather than later. University President John Jasinski’s initial email announcement of the mandate hinted at it being a temporary measure. With the upcoming holiday weekend, cases are expected to rise locally, Cullin said. Labor Day weekend is the first threeday weekend of the semester, and many students will use the opportunity to go home for the ﬁrst time. Travel, in the past, has been linked to an increase in cases. COVID-19 case counts reached record highs during the holidays last year, but nothing that large is anticipated for Labor Day. Cullin said the CMT 2 continues to meet formally once a week and stay in communication throughout the week to examine COVID-19 data “holistically.” The team looks at case rates, vaccination rates, ICU bed availability and more regularly. President of Mosaic Maryville Nate Blackford said Mosaic is still seeing significant challenges relating to patient care even with the lower case count. There has been an increase in respiratory illnesses relative to normal years, Blackford said. However, the hospital is seeing improved bed availability in recent weeks. As of Aug. 25 — the most recent date with available data for publication —, there were 13 active cases of COVID-19 at Northwest, and as of Aug. 30, bed availability for those in quarantine and isolation was at 98.95%. The Nodaway County Health Department reported 17 new positive cases of COVID-19 Aug. 30, 12 of those cases were in the 1029 age group. Cullin said she attributes the low case rate to mitigation eﬀorts and compliance from the community, which she called “supportive,” and vaccinated individuals, a crucial demographic that didn’t exist during August 2020’s dramatic spike. It’s difficult for the exact amount of vaccinated individuals on campus to be known, Cullin said. The mass vaccination clinics held on campus last semester did not have records go to Northwest or the Wellness Center. So, even students vaccinated in the Carl and Cheryl Hughes Fieldhouse would not have a record automatically submitted to University Wellness. The Wellness Center has been tracking vaccination rates of Northwest students through lottery enrollment for incentives, including a $10,000 scholarship and various other prizes. At the time of publication, over 32% of on-ground students had submitted vaccine records to the Wellness Center. On-ground students at Northwest are likely vaccinated at a higher rate than the surrounding community as a whole, Blackford said in a previous interview with The Missourian. At the end of August, Nodaway County’s percentage of fully vaccinated individuals was 45%. “Ideally we would get to that 70% or higher goal,” Blackford said. “Whether or not that’s realistic in the next month, I’m not sure.”

HUMANS OF NORTHWEST

Sept. 2, 2021 @TheMissourian

Jessie Peter advocates for cultural learning SIDNEY LOWRY News Editor | @sidney_lowry

Since the time she started learning, education has played a significant role in Jessie Peter’s life. It has turned into a passion for learning about others, herself and the cultures around her. Originally from Chennai, a city in south India, Peter packed up to move to Lincoln, Nebraska, in 2016 for her doctoral program at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Although many would feel an overwhelming anxiety moving to another country, she was engulfed with excitement about learning another culture and continuing her education in the U.S. “I think I am quite adventurous, so I was super excited,” Peter said. “For the first few days, I was excited to be here and wanted to check everything out. Like I remember the first day I came here, I went to the University that day within two hours of being there.” Though she was excited to move here and curious about living in a new place, she said leaving her family was difficult for her to do. “That was definitely hard,” Petersaid. “I was blessed enough to meet my own family here, too. So I have people I’ve gotten to know over the years and have that support system.” Before starting classes, one of the first things she was struck by wasn’t the difference in culture, but rather the change in weather. “Initially the first thing that struck me that I wasn’t prepared for was how cold it could get here,” Peter said. “I came in January, and where I come from it is warm year-round, so I bought a few sweaters because they said it would be cold, but I didn’t know the extent of it.” When it did come to classes though, an obstacle she encountered when coming to the U.S. to study was the type of learning environment that schools have compared to India, one of those being the use of more technology in the classroom. “I went in for my first class and the professor mentioned ‘Hey, we have the material in Blackboard,’ so I remember walking around the department looking for a blackboard, because it was my frame of reference,” she said. “One of my friends saw me and said ‘I see you walking around, can I help you find something?’ and she said ‘oh, that’s on your computer,’ and that’s how I got introduced to that.” Outside of the classroom, Peter was still continuing to learn about the culture that is secondnature to many, but complete-

ADDALYNN BRADBURY | NW MISSOURIAN

Jessie Peter, a new face to the Diversity and Inclusion Office, works as the senior coordinator of diversity. Peter came to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2016 for her doctoral program. At UNL, she helped set uptheir Inclusive Excellence Plan, which the DI Office is striving to recreate at Northwest.

ly new to someone who didn’t grow up in the Midwest. Chennai has a population of just over seven million people, while Lincoln, Nebraska, has just over 280,000 people. Getting to know a lot of the people around her wasn’t something Peter was used to. “Getting to know people on a more personal level doesn’t necessarily happen in those bigger cities,” she said. “It was nice to have this culture in the Midwest like when you’re walking by, just to say hello to people and wave, or just say ‘Hi, how are you?’ and just check in with them.” Learning about others and new cultures wasn’t one-sid-

ed for Peter; other people she encountered also had to learn about her and her culture. “When I say my name, I think people don’t expect me to look the way I do,” Peter said. “They usually ask me ‘hey, do you have an Indian name?’ because when I’m emailing them, it says Jessie Peter.” After settling into the changes she found when ﬁrst living in the Midwest, Peter continued learning and helping others learn during her time in Nebraska. At the UNL, she was a part of setting up their Inclusive Excellence Plan. Northwest is now starting to create a similar plan, in which Justin Mallett, assis-

tant vice president of diversity and inclusion, said she is going to play a signiﬁcant part in helping them formulate this idea. “Jessie adds a wealth of knowledge in the area of diversity and inclusion,” Mallett said. “She will be able to bring an outside perspective and further enhance our goal of creating and fostering an inclusive environment.” Peter took her position as the senior coordinator of diversity in May, so she spent the summer waiting for students to get back and the campus culture to come alive again. “Being a very in-person work environment, I think students are the heartbeat of the oﬃce,”

she said. “It was just looking forward to meeting the students, getting to know them, knowing how they experience the campus and what it is they want us to work with them for.” At the opening of the Diversity and Inclusion Office Aug. 26, Peter said she was excited to see the campus community was involved with diversity and inclusion. “It’s very promising to acknowledge that as a community, we are bringing about that change and creating space and being inclusive,” she said. Mallett said Peter, being an international student herself, is helping the DI Office as they look into educating people on and off campus about the experiences that international students face when they come to a college campus. “I think a combination of my life experiences and professional experiences have merged and helped me fit the position over here,” Peter said. While she has always been motivated for academic success, helping others achieve higher education is a recent discovery. “My grandmother has not had any schooling, but within two generations, here I am in a doctoral program with all these opportunities to excel,” she said. “One of the things I think about is how much education can make a difference in someone’s life, how you can even have access to doors you didn’t know existed before this. That’s one reason how education can change life trajectories for people, and I think that’s amazing.” Peter said that she has learned about her own perseverance throughout the past years. “If you think about how I moved from India to over here, just adjusting to a whole new environment, so adjusting to that without calling it quits. And I’m still doing that now that I’m in the workforce.” With her position at Northwest, Peter’s main goal is to work more with the community to bring about change and help create a more inclusive environment for everyone on campus. She said that looking inside your own culture is just as important as learning another because sometimes people don’t acknowledge where implicit thoughts come from. Wanting to learn about people and cultures every day is one of the reasons Peter came to Northwest in the first place, and continuing to do so is one of the ways she is working to make campus a more inclusive place for everyone, no matter who they are or where they come from.

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CRIME LOG for the week of Sept. 2 Northwest Missouri State University Police Department Aug. 31 There is an open investigation for a drug law violation at Millikan Hall. Aug. 30 There is an open investigation for a sexual assault at Franken Hall. There is a closed investigation for a vehicle accident on College Avenue. Aug. 29 There is a closed investigation for a liquor law violation at Perrin Hall. There is an open investigation for a vehicle accident at parking lot 20. There is a closed investigation for a liquor law violation at College Park Drive. There is a closed investigation for a drug law violation at College Park Drive. There is a closed investigation for a liquor law violation at Millikan Hall. There is an open investigation for tampering at parking lot 42.

GREEK

CONTINUED FROM A1 “It all went well. All the chapters have some good guys,” said James Palmer, recruitment chair for Phi Sigma Kappa. “I love the new guys. I thought it was an awesome time to come out and show some of the new guys how excited we are for this upcoming year,” said Noah Graham, a three-year member of Tau Kappa Epsilon. The sororities had gathered on the lawn in front of Roberta Hall, just after 3 p.m. Each group had an assortment of signs, color-coordinated shirts and chants to add to the moment’s intensity. While most of the chants got muﬄed out by all of the other noise, the phrase “Bring them home” was the loudest and clearest of all the chants. By 4 p.m., the campus was buzzing with energy as new recruits prepared to meet their future sisters. Similar to how the fraternities were introduced, the

ABITZ

CONTINUED FROM A1 “Please keep Allison’s family and friends in your thoughts and prayers,” Jasinski said in the email. Anyone with information regarding the investigation or the whereabouts of McLean are asked to call the Boone County Sheriﬀ’s Oﬃce at 573-442-6131. Anonymous tips can be taken at

Aug. 28 There is an open investigation for stealing. There is a closed investigation for trespassing at parking lot 41. There is an open investigation for property damage at parking lot 22.

Maryville Department of Public Safety Aug. 29 There was a summons issued to Branden R. Peaches, 21, for disorderly conduct on the 400 block of North Main Street. Aug. 28 There was a summons issued to Zayne K. Swope, 19, for a minor in possession, resisting arrest, an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle and an illegal turn onto a one-way street. There is an ongoing investigation for property damage on the 1700 block of South Main Street. Aug. 27 There was an accident between an unknown driver and Spencer Schiefelbein on North Mulberry Street and West Second Street.

sororities were called out one at a time. Once they were called, the doors couldn’t contain the girls as they sprinted to meet their sisters. The new sorority women were ecstatic to be a part of their new sorority. “I am really excited to be in a sorority,” Elizabeth Mendick, a new member of Phi Mu, said. “I was so excited to see who I got that I could not get my card open.” She said she didn’t always want to be part of a sorority, but her friends convinced her to at least give joining the sorority a shot. “I am so happy I listened to them,” Mendick said. As the women were running out of the Union, the fraternities cheered them on from the Bell Tower. For anyone that still wants to join Greek life, open enrollment is now open. If students have questions, they should visit assistant Director of Greek Life Joanne Sapp at the Student Engagement Center, located on the second ﬂoor of the Union. 573-875-8477. As always, students are welcome to use Wellness Services for counseling by contacting 660-562-1348 during regular business hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or contact the University Police Department at 660-5621354 outside of business hours. Faculty and staff can call the University employee assistance program at 800-964-3577.

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Northwest Student Senate President Bailey Hendrickson swears in new off-campus and on-campus student representatives. Along with swearing in new members, the senate also recognized the criminology club as an official organization.

Student Senate swears in new representatives KAILEE FORD News Reporter | @kailee_ford

Northwest’s Student Senate met to vote on empty representative positions and to reinstate the Criminal Justice Club at their Aug. 31 meeting. Representatives were nominated at last week’s meeting by members of the senate. The empty positions voted on were for on and oﬀ-campus representatives and junior class representative. Junior Garrison Kennedy was voted in as junior class representative and said he wants to be a part of Student Senate to be more involved on campus. “It’s something I’m passionate about, and I’d bring a lot of lead-

FIJI

CONTINUED FROM A1 Ben Moran, Green Dot coordinator, said this is the main violence prevention program on campus, and he wants to steer students toward taking advantage of Green Dot programming. “No one has to do everything, and they’re not expected to, but everyone has to do something,” Moran said under the lights of the Bell Tower. “Reality is, if you see something, say something.” Not only are campus organizations and facilities getting involved against FIJI and sexual violence, students on campus

ership experience,” Kennedy said. The new on-campus representatives are Nico Bland, Joe Connelly and Elise Green, all of whom were voted in. The new off-campus representative is Luundo Fataki, who was a former member of Student Senate last year. Student Senate also voted to reinstate the Criminal Justice Club, which fell out due to COVID-19-related conﬂicts and because the group did not replace former executive members. Now with a complete board, Criminal Justice Club President Caitlyn Colter and Vice President Kourtnie Stenwall presented information such as a $5 due for oﬃcial members to pay

to cover any club expenses. The club was voted to become an ofﬁcial organization. “We’re hoping to get out there more and get people interested so that it doesn’t die out again,” Stenwall said. Student Senate did not mention the rollover budget Aug. 31, but Treasurer Jenna Lee-Johnson said committees are working on submitting their budgets and discussing ways to spend the money. The 2020 rollover budget has a $25,000 surplus that has gone undiscussed since the end of the 2021 spring semester. Options on how to use the money will be discussed at future meetings, Lee-Johnson said.

are also reaching out to show support to victims. “I’m just truly a supporter,”sophomore Maggie Grishow said. “I’m part of an organization called CARE (Concerned Advocates for Relationship Equality), and we deal with things like this. I personally reached out to the Instagram account ‘shutdownﬁji’ and asked if they would like pictures from this event and how we can continue to support them.” Emily Rose, coordinator of the rally, read off a statement from Dana Clements, a student at UNL. Clements is a close friend of Rose who has been ac-

tive in the UNL protests. “Your voices are powerful; please continue to use them,” Clements’ statement said. “The same time you are protesting at Northwest, we are protesting at UNL. Together we are strong.” Junior Emma DaSilva attended the event because it was important for her to take a stance to condemn sexual violence. “I am really impressed with the turn out, especially from fraternities,” DaSilva said “It makes me hopeful that some change will actually occur on campus because I know some people that have been sexually assaulted on campus, so it’s important as we go forward that we actively work together.” Monica Ziegel, Hope for All coordinator, said people are no longer able to sit back and support victims, but instead, they need to take action. She shared a statement from a friend of Daisy Coleman, who was sexually assaulted in Maryville when she was 14 and then went on to be an advocate for victims of sexual assault. Ziegel then urged students to not blame the victims, but rather support them through taking action as a bystander. “When they say those ridiculous things, challenge them. Don’t allow that crap to happen in your circle,” she said. “That’s how it starts.” Brady Fritts, Interfraternity Council president, shared insight from the Greek Life side of the University. IFC released a statement Aug. 27 on their plan of action against sexual assault in the Greek Life community. “Remind yourselves when you are holding these signs, this is not only in Nebraska,” Fritts said. “It’s everywhere and it is all our responsibility to stop it, to change mentality and be proactive. It starts with us.”

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OPINION

Sep. 2, 2021 @TheMissourian

Physician dispels vaccine myths DR. SUSAN WATSON Guest Columnist @TheMissourian

In recent weeks, we have either heard or read heartbreaking stories about unvaccinated patients in the ICU begging their family members and friends to take COVID-19 seriously and get the vaccine. Unfortunately, some of these pleas come as the person is taking their last breath. It has been more than 18 months since the beginning of the pandemic and six months since the development of a safe and effective vaccine. At the end of June, the daily case rate in the U.S. was around 10,000. We’re now seeing over 100,000 cases per day, the majority caused by the delta variant and affecting the unvaccinated. We are in the middle of a COVID-19 surge that is killing our loved ones and overwhelming healthcare systems across the country — some states more than others. The delta variant, which now makes up most cases, is highly contagious and is affecting a younger population. Those who are 18 to 49 years old make up the largest demographic of hospitalized people with COVID-19. The best chance we have for getting back to the normal college experience is to have as many students, faculty and staff immunized as possible. Avoiding the vaccine gives the virus time to spread and mutate, which leads to increasing susceptibility in both the vaccinated and unvaccinated population to future variants. While vaccinated individuals do continue to get the virus, the hospitalization and death rates pale in comparison to those of the unvaccinated. Reasons given for vaccine avoidance or hesitancy are: Worries about side effects including long term effects. Because of the way the vaccine works, side effects are typically short-term, lasting only a day or two. According to the CDC, vaccine monitoring has historically shown that side effects generally happen within six weeks of receiving a vaccine. Serious safety problems are rare. “I am young and healthy, so my immune system will protect me.” COVID-19 is a novel virus, which means the immune system has no antibodies to mount a defense against it, leaving the person susceptible. “I have already had COVID-19, so I have a natural immunity and don’t need a vaccine.” Studies show that immunity provided by the vaccine is longer and better than natural immunity. It produces roughly 100 times more antibodies than infection alone. We all want the pandemic to be over. All of us play a part in this effort, and vaccines remain the best protection against every strain of the novel coronavirus. Masking regardless of vaccination status and avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated indoor areas adds extra layers of protection against breakthrough infections and lowers the risk of spreading the virus. Dr. Watson is a pediatrics specialist at Mosaic Behavioral Health - Maryville. She completed her residency at Medical Center Hospital, San Antonio.

ALEXANDRIA MESZ | NW MISSOURIAN

OUR VIEW:

More action needed to stop plague of sexual violence Normally at The Missourian, we cover issues pertaining to Northwest, Maryville and the surrounding area. However, we stand in solidarity with violence survivors and agree with those who organized the protests at Northwest: the Lambda Nu chapter of Phi Gamma Delta at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln needs to be banned, and more needs to be done, especially by men, to prevent sexual violence. Turmoil has brewed in Lincoln for much longer than the past month or so, but the student body has finally had enough — justifiably so. Since 2005, UNL has dealt with issues and complaints concerning the Fiji chapter after numerous reports of rape have been linked to the chapter. The chapter was put on probation for sexual misconduct and reckless alcohol abuse in 2015 before being suspended from 2017 to 2020. The alleged assault that earned the chapter its three-year suspension came from a reported rape — the 103rd since 2005 and the 78th since 2015 to happen at the Fiji house. Unfortunately, the event that triggered the campus’ most recent disciplinary action was not dissimilar from previous years. At 3:47 a.m. on Aug. 24, a 17-yearold girl — a UNL freshman weeks into her first semester of college — walked out of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity house and walked into a Lincoln hospital, where she told police she was raped by a 19-year-old member of the fraternity, according to police. Eight hours later, UNL police fielded another report from an alleged sexual violence survivor — the 79th reported to campus police since 2015. In the days since, there have been five more. The student body responded with consecutive days of protest to hold

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Your Bearcat loves sweaty season White people love to talk about the start of hoodie season on Twitter. It’s a pantheon white person topic from June to September; they wait with baited breath for the time when they can break out the old Nike hoodies and crewnecks from colleges they didn’t go to. I, as a white person, would argue these people are forgetting a crucial, sweaty season. Sweaty season is the glorious four to six weeks at the beginning of every school

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year where it is so unbearably hot that you must plan your outfits around how much you will sweat. If you choose wrong, your walk to class could make you look like an anti-vaxxer that just ingested a horse dewormer. Hoodie season, and winter as a whole, is too easy to plan outfits for. All you do is throw a hoodie on top of a random t-shirt and wear pants. For these four weeks you have to have a fashion strategy or ev-

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eryone will know you as the insanely sweaty person from the first few weeks of class. Light grey shirts are a hard no go. Need to wear your backpack for extended periods of time? You better love the look of back sweat. Do you have a sick pair of light sweatshorts to wear? Take time in the morning before you get dressed to pray to whatever deity you believe in that your posterior doesn’t resemble the Everglades by

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Although Northwest’s rally won’t directly call out the university or its Phi Gamma Delta chapter, it’s showing Northwest students there’s no tolerance for such behavior in Maryville. It should send a message of solidarity and support to survivors of sexual violence and create an environment of comfort on campus. Northwest is in no way immune to sexual violence. A report created by UPD and off-campus law enforcement states that Northwest averages roughly seven reports of rape a year with 7,000 students. This is not simply an issue 122 miles away in a separate state; it’s one that hits right here at home. As a university, Northwest has continued its stance against sexual violence every year by offering various resources to aid survivors and avoid future assaults. Annually, freshmen attend a “Can I Kiss You?” lecture detailing the ins and outs of consent and how to not cross into sexually aggressive behavior. It’s a bad reflection on your character if you choose not to pay attention to it or not respect your potential partner’s answer. Additionally, Northwest’s Coalition Against Violence offers self-defense lessons, while the University Police Department’s hotline allows callers to speak with an assault advocate 24/7. The conversation of sexual violence is difficult, but the only way to eliminate it is by respecting boundaries and holding offenders accountable. Always ask for consent and make sure consent is present through the entire sexual encounter. To report a sexual assault or speak with a sexual assault advocate, call UPD at 660-562-1254. The National Sexual Assault Hotline is 1-800-656HOPE. For more information on North Star Advocacy call at 660-562-2320.

THE STROLLER:

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the predatory members of the chapter accountable for their crimes. Since the protests have started, the house has been closed for investigation into an alleged sexual assault. In Lincoln, UNL police have launched criminal investigations into 48 alleged rapes and attempted rapes since September 2015, according to the university. Nine of those — 18.75% — are alleged to have occurred at Greek houses. One arrest has been made. Whether it’s reported or not, this violence happens on every campus, and it’s encouraging to see that Northwest has a community willing to stand against it. Greek life has always been present when it comes to the discussion or demonstration in support of sexual assault survivors. Last year’s Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event raised more than $1,000 for the North Star Advocacy Center. The spectacle of men walking down the streets of Maryville in crimson heels is quite odd. It provided a method for men to feel a slight portion of the pain women go through. That solidarity and call for conversation is a step that’s necessary in ending sexual violence. Much like the annual Walk a Mile event, the rally held in protest of Fiji is exactly what should be expected from students. For far too long, sexual assaults have been swept under the rug or mocked by those who believe it’s acceptable to act in such a manner. For example, during the recent UNL protests, a video surfaced of residents of the house laughing while protesters could be heard outside. It’s apparent that members of the fraternity don’t see the gravity of their situation, nor have the maturity to handle it appropriately.

If you believe information within our publication is incorrect, please email us at northwestmissourian@gmail.com, call our newsroom (660) 562-1224, or leave us a comment on www.nwmissourinews.com.

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days end. This time separates the true titans from mere mortals. As the great DJ Khaled once said in an album title, sometimes you are “Suffering From Success.” Give me that diamond-making pressure over hoodie season every day of the week. Maybe someday I’ll sweat my way to Tiffany’s. The Stroller has been a tradition since 1918 and does not reflect the views of The Northwest Missourian.

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SOCCER

UP NEXT

CONTINUED FROM A8 For senior midfielder Jessie Brown, that game served as a point of motivation for herself, and she is proud of what she was able to accomplish against Augustana at the Bearcat Pitch. “Scoring three goals in one game hasn’t happened often for us in the last couple of seasons, so I’m excited that we’re having high-scoring games early on,” Brown said. “I’m hoping that the trend continues.” Brown said she believes Friday brought a couple of things to the forefront of what needs improvement, and she is interested to see how the team responds to those issues. She said the team needs to work on getting a better first touch and defending closer to the player with the ball. Coach Marc Gordon said the team started off a bit slow, mostly due to the fact that the ’Cats couldn’t find a good rhythm out of the gates. But as the game went along, they eventually found their footing. Whenever there’s a chance to address tempo in practice, Gordon said, they do activities that force the players to be in smaller spaces to work on ball control. In game, however, it is a different story. Gordon said during the game, he tells the players if they’re holding the ball too long or if they need to be more accurate on offense and, defensively, if they need to increase the pressure. “That’s the thing with our game, there’s no timeout,” Gordon said. “So we have to address it during the run of play.” Senior goalkeeper Alexis Serna Castillo also said the team was having trouble finding a solid pace. However, she said

FOOTBALL

CONTINUED FROM A8 McKeller, a transfer from the University of Indianapolis, announced he was committing to Northwest Aug. 4. He’s a two-time candidate for the Harlon Hill Trophy, which is giv-

MHS v Benton 7 p.m. Feb. 13 ’Hound Pound

ADDALYNN BRADBURY | NW MISSOURIAN

Northwest forward Teagan Blackburn fights for the ball against Augustana defender Brooke Oberbroekling at the Bearcats’ second scrimmage of the season Aug. 27. Northwest will play its first official game of the season Sept. 3 against Sioux Falls with 14 freshmen and redshirt freshmen on the roster.

when the second half started, a change came upon the Bearcats and they were able to ﬁx the earlier mistakes. “We were all fired up and playing how we should,” Cas-

tillo said. Castillo said, collectively, the team needs to improve its passing. Similar to Brown, she said they need to put more pressure on the other team.

“Those are our weaknesses that I personally see, and with our captains telling that to our coach, we have already begun to do longer practice sessions on

en to Division II’s most valuable player. “He’s been phenomenal,” Wright said of McKeller. “He works really hard. He doesn’t say anything. He’s very humble. He’s extremely talented, and he’s going to make us better.” This won’t be the first time

the running back will face Hays, though. In the ﬁrst round of the Division II playoffs in 2018, McKeller had 137 yards on 29 carries en route to UIndy beating the Tigers 38-27. He’s hoping to emulate that performance three years later. “I mean, I had a pretty good game as a sophomore,” McKeller said. “It’s gonna be a lot on them my senior year.” After the Bearcats walked away from Lewis Field Stadium with a 36-33 road win in double overtime against the Tigers in 2019, eﬀectively ending their chances of reaching the postseason, Hays junior quarterback Chance Fuller has been ready for a chance at revenge. “We’ve been waiting for this since 2019,” said Fuller, who threw two of his six interceptions last season against the Bearcats. “We’re ready to get back at ’em. There’s no better

place to be than Hays, Kansas, on Sept. 2.” Northwest’s defense has other plans in mind, and one of them includes applying as much pressure on Fuller as possible. That plan seemed in peril when Howard went down with an ankle injury during the Green & White Scrimmage, but sitting beside Wright two days before the season opener, Howard said he’ll be good to go against the Tigers. And senior defensive tackle Sam Roberts — along with Howard, senior nose guard Noah Williams and junior defensive end Elijah Green — expects to ﬁnish at least a few snaps with Fuller in his grasp. “We’re gonna hit him,” Roberts said after the scrimmage Aug. 26. “That’s our goal.

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it,” Castillo said. Both scrimmages are over and in the past, and now the Bearcats will be set to play in the first regular season game during the fall since 2019. The first game will feature them against the Sioux Falls Cougars Sept. 3 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The Bearcats hold a fourgame winning streak against the Cougars, with the most recent game being a 4-0 win during the 2019 season. The Northwest soccer program has never taken a loss to the Cougars. Castillo, who played against Sioux Falls in 2019, said she’s confident in the team’s ability to return to Maryville 1-0. The 2021 spring season was the first time Brown and Castillo experienced a season above .500 in their time as Bearcats. Brown said the season may have been shortened, but that doesn’t make her any less proud of her team. She said the goal is to do it again, and then go further, with the sights set on competing for the MIAA title. “It’s executing that’s going to make or break our season,” Brown said. “That’s something that we’ve discussed a lot, both at the end of last semester’s season and preseason for this year.” Gordon said he believes the team is ready, and now it’s about putting everything they’ve practiced onto the field when it comes time to compete. “You play hard, you work hard, but now there’s more on the line,” Gordon said. “All the games have significance to them now.”

HOUNDS

CONTINUED FROM A8 Stoecklein said for him, personally, he needs to focus more on tackling and being able to block for his fellow running backs, which includes being more physical. No matter how powerful the Wildcats’ offense might be, Webb looks at it as just another normal week with more football and a chance to help his team capture its first win of the season. It’s not uncommon for players to be rusty or overly excited to start the season; however, Webb said that’s not the case for his players. With the ‘Hounds coming off a loss to the Falcons in Week 1, Webb said nerves had nothing to do with the outcome of the game. “I don’t think we need to calm down, I think we need to execute better,” Webb said while reflecting on the Week 1 loss. “But I don’t think it has anything to do with nerves.” Stoecklein said Maryville didn’t elevate to the level of performance it needed to when playing a great team like Blair Oaks. “We didn’t play the greatest, Stoecklein said. “I know for sure I didn’t.”

The Maryville football program hasn’t started 0-2 in 15 seasons (2005). A loss, Stoecklein said, will hopefully help the team learn and be better prepared each week for the rest of the season. Despite Harrisonville being over a two-hour drive from Maryville — and Lee’s Summit, Missouri, for the Week 1 matchup was close to two hours away last week — Webb said traveling this much is nothing his players can’t handle. “We’re in the northwest corner of the state; these kids grow up knowing that anywhere you’re going to go in Missouri, you’re going to go a long way,” Webb said. And after the Spoofhounds weather the storm of the lengthy road trip for the second time in as many weeks, they’ll be searching for their ﬁrst win of the season. The only thing that stands between them and their initial win of 2021 is Harrisonville, and the Spoofhounds aren’t planning to let the ’Cats stay in their way.

SPORTS

Sept. 2, 2021 @NWMSports

WALK THE TALK:

Northwest football’s biggest challenge? JON WALKER Sports Editor @ByJonWalker

Welcome back to Walk The Talk, the weekly mailbag column where you submit questions about your favorite — or maybe least favorite, I suppose — Northwest sports program. If you’re reading for the first time, then welcome. It’s the ﬁrst game week for Northwest foot-

ball since December 2019, so, of course, we’ll talk about Rich Wright’s program in a little bit. Mount Rushmore of Northwest uniforms? These Mount Rushmore questions are tough, but this one is pretty easy compared to the one about Northwest’s football program. The ﬁrst one, without a doubt, has to be Northwest soccer’s pink-out uniforms. The soccer program’s kits are probably one of the coolest uniforms in the MIAA, not just in Maryville. I never really thought green and pink would work well together for a soccer kit, but they for sure do for the Bearcats. It wouldn’t be an accurate Mount Rushmore of Northwest uniforms if the football program’s Family Day threads weren’t on it. The late coach Scott Bostwick wanted to surprise the players with black jerseys, but he died before he could see their reaction to them hanging in their lockers. The pro-

gram still got them, though, and it’s been a Family Day tradition ever since. Northwest women’s basketball has these pretty slick allblack uniforms, and they belong on this list, too. They’ve served as the women’s away jerseys, which is a different look than the Northwest men’s basketball team sporting all-green uniforms on the road. It’s diﬀerent, and the black jersey with green trimming just looks good. The final uniform on this Mount Rushmore has to be the baseball program’s white-jersey, white-pant combo. There’s just something about making it to spring, having a warm day with a breeze and seeing a baseball team in all white. It’s sleek — plus, it makes it look really cool after a slide into second. Which other team in the MIAA is Northwest football’s biggest threat? It’s somewhat ironic that this question is being asked during Week 1, because that’s the an-

swer to the question: Fort Hays. This could very possibly be the most important game of the season for both of these programs, and it happens to occur after an 18-month hiatus. I mean, what more could you ask for? The Bearcats and Tigers met in 2019 with, essentially, a trip to the postseason on the line. Northwest won that game, of course, and made it all of the way to the quarterﬁnals before being bounced by Ferris State. After the Bearcats’ annual Green & White game Aug. 26, coach Rich Wright said he’d rather the matchup be Week 11 with both teams undefeated. Instead, he gets the matchup Week 1 with both teams undefeated and coming oﬀ of the longest game break in the history of the MIAA. Which Northwest football player is most likely to go to the NFL? It’s pretty difficult to be able to pinpoint a Division II

player who is a lock to make it to the next level, but I don’t think that’s the case for one person in Maryville this year: Sam Roberts. The 6-foot-5, 300-pound defensive lineman is primed to have a massive season this fall. After redshirting his freshman year, Roberts has only not started two games — both of which he missed due to injury. His size, alone, will make him appealing to NFL scouts. His 29 tackles for loss, 115 tackles and one interception — all before his senior season — will probably sneak him into the later rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft. I’d be genuinely surprised if the Waynesville, Missouri, native isn’t on an NFL roster next summer. Walk The Talk is a mailbag that focuses on all things Northwest Athletics. To submit a question for the next edition of the mailbag, tweet @ByJonWalker or email j.walker.missourian@gmail.com.

Benton rallies to take down Spoofhounds KESTON OLTMAN Sports Reporter | @KO_12_14

ST. JOSEPH, Mo.— Maryville volleyball, the defending MSHSAA Class 3 state champion, stumbled out of the gate with a 3-1 loss to open the 2021 season against MEC foe Benton. The Spoofhounds (0-1) took an early 7-4 lead on the Cardinals (3-1) in the first set before Benton went on a 9-1 run to take a five-point lead. Neither Maryville nor Benton was willing to give up any ground in set one, as the two teams tied at 21 and 24 before the Spoofhounds scored the last two points to win set one and send their crowd that made the 45-minute trip into a frenzy. “Having 27 freshmen definitely helps our fan base,” Maryville’s first-year coach Bailey Cook said. “I don’t remember who made the comment on that very first point, but somebody made the comment ‘Holy cow, it’s loud in here,’ and that’s how it should be; that’s what makes it fun.” Maryville used the momentum from the first set to gain a 4-0 lead in the second before the Cardinals came back to take a 12-8 lead. Benton remained in control for the rest of the set and took set two 25-22 to tie the match at 1-1. Benton controlled set three from the start, jumping out to an 11-5 lead before going on a 7-1 run to lead 18-6. Maryville rallied and picked up a few points but ultimately lost set three 25-16. The Cardinals were able to get Maryville out of system throughout much of the night, giving the Spoofhounds little in the way of clean offensive possessions. As a result, the Spoofhounds had to settle, putting over free balls to the Cardinals for most of the match.

KESTON OLTMAN | NW MISSOURIAN

Maryville volleyball junior Rylee Vierthaler spikes the ball during the Spoofhounds’ 3-1 loss to MEC foe Benton Aug. 30 in St. Joseph, Missouri. The ‘Hounds won the first set, but lost the final three during their first game of the season. They’ll be back in action against East Buchanan Sept. 2 in the ’Hound Pound.

“We do work and practice on those out-of-system balls,” Cook said. “I do want them to be more aggressive, but with it being the ﬁrst game and a new rotation, I still feel like they’re kind of getting the swing of things. Eventually, I will expect them to be a lot more aggressive, but tonight, I think we were just playing.” As the Spoofhounds were losing sets and not getting clean possessions, Maryville’s bench

was still as loud as ever. Junior outside hitter Rylee Vierthaler appreciated the support she and the team got from the bench, even though the night was not going the Spoofhounds’ way. “That’s one of our main things,” Vierthaler said. “Energy is a game changer, and our bench was amazing. I think it really helped us in some of those sets gain back our energy that we felt like we lost.” The fourth set resembled the ﬁrst, as the two MEC rivals were

tied at many different points of the set. After Maryville pulled away to an 18-14 lead, it looked like the match would be decided by a fifth set. Instead, Benton came back from a four-point deficit and used a 7-1 run to end the match 25-23. Maryville starts the season 0-1 for the first time since 2009 and looks to rebound against East Buchanan at home Sept. 2. With the loss, Vierthaler wants to make sure the team

UP NEXT MHS vs. East Buchanan 7 p.m. Sept. 2 ’Hound Pound

doesn’t get discouraged, knowing there is still a lot of volleyball to be played this season. “You know what, we know what we need to work on now,” Vierthaler said. “We know what we can do in practice to get better.”

Experience, depth carries NW golf into first tourney of season TRISTAN LYNCH Missourian Reporter | @NWMSports

The Northwest golf team is looking to use experience and depth to its advantage this fall, as the Bearcats are gearing up for their first tournament of the year, the Central Region Preview Sept. 7-8 in Blue Springs, Missouri. Andy Peterson, Northwest’s athletic director and golf coach, couldn’t be more excited to get back in the swing of things. “I’m pumped for the fall,” Peterson said. “The fall season is not our championship season, but the rounds do count towards NCAA qualifications, and it is also a huge conﬁdence boost.” The fall season has been a good time for the ’Cats, as they are usually at their peak from playing and practicing all summer long. “The fall, especially for us being the northernmost school in the league besides NebraskaKearney, is a really good time for us to put some really good scores out there when we are

conﬁdent and at the top of our game,” Peterson said. One of the things Peterson is particularly excited about is the program’s returners, which has created a multitude of depth among the eight-person roster. “I’m feeling really good — we got everyone back,” Peterson said. “Morgan Thiele, Anna Zech and Mady Acers are all ﬁfth-year seniors for us because they got their covid years.” These seniors bring a ton of experience to the team, along with the returning sophomores Alyssa Ginther, Taylor Sedivec, Elly Speece and Lauren Wood. Along with those returning pieces, Peterson is also excited about the new addition to the team: freshman Kylie Carey, who won the class 2021 2A Iowa State Championship. “All that experience coming back, all those rounds coming back,” Peterson said of his roster’s depth. “Plus throw in Kylie Carey … adding her to the mix only makes us deeper and stronger.”

With all the returning experience, and Carey’s big-tournament experience, Peterson knows what they need to work on to achieve their goals. “What we have to do is put together whole tournaments,” Peterson said. “In the past, the girls have all shown, individually, they can shoot good scores, but we have to figure out how to put together a good 36-round tournament.” Being able to push through mental struggles and staying focused were other big points that Peterson was hoping to work on this season. Now that the program has made its way through the preseason, Peterson has the team on one goal: qualify for regionals. “We have always had that goal out there. As a team, we have never qualified for regionals,” Peterson said. “But I think that’s our goal. We want to be better than we were last year, but we really want to qualify for regionals.”

FILE | NW MISSOURIAN

In a file photo, Northwest junior Alyssa Ginther putts the ball into Hole 2 of Watson 9 at Mozingo Golf Course Oct. 15. The Bearcats’ first tournament of the year is the Central Region Preview Sept. 7-8 in Blue Springs, Missouri.

SPORTS

MEC meltdown Benton manages comeback against Maryville volleyball.

Road work ahead For live coverage of MHS football’s Week 2 road trip,

see A7

see nwmissourinews.com

Sep. 2 2021

JON WALKER | NW MISSOURIAN

Northwest football coach Rich Wright addresses his team in the aftermath of the program’s annual Green & White Scrimmage Aug. 26 at Bearcat Stadium. Wright heads into his fifth year at the helm of the program with a record of 31-8, and he’ll be looking to improve that record when the Bearcats make their 2021 debut against Fort Hays Sept. 2 at Lewis Field Stadiun in Hays, Kansas.

Football to return with Week 1 test in Hays JON WALKER Sports Editor | @ByJonWalker

n walked Northwest football coach Rich Wright, directly through the northernmost door to a reporterﬁlled room on the east side of Maryville’s Pizza Ranch for the Northwest Athletics Media Luncheon Aug. 31. “I always sit on this side,” Wright said to junior defensive end Zach Howard, who accompanied the ﬁfthyear coach into the room. “I’m superstitious.” “Oh, I gotcha,” said Howard, who responded without question before taking a seat on Wright’s left. The instance didn’t come as a surprise to Howard, as he’s been around Wright — who also serves as his defensive line coach — since 2018. He’s had an up-close look at the routines that his coach puts himself through before, during and after games. “It’s not the only thing he does that he has to be perfect about,” Howard said. “He’s got the pregame knuckles.” “One, two, three, four. There’s always an order,” Wright said. “I pound fists with everyone on the defensive lineman, and the order’s always the same. Never changes.” When the Bearcats travel to Hays, Kansas, Sept. 2

for the 2021 season opener against Fort Hays, it’ll mark the first time in 635 days Wright will get to partake in his pregame routine. And for the first time since Wright and company prepared to face Ferris State in the NCAA Division II Quarterfinals in December 2019, it’s officially game week for the Northwest football program. “I just think everybody’s extremely excited,” Wright said. “It’s been a long process, and everybody’s just ready to go.” Despite the animosity surrounding both program’s first game in 18 months, the Bearcats are eager they found light at the end of the tunnel. After COVID-19 effectively canceled Northwest’s 2020 season, the ’Cats are excited they’ll finally get to put the pads on for something other than practice. “It’s honestly a little bit surreal,” Wright said after the program’s annual Green & White Scrimmage Aug. 26. “It’s just time. I mean, it’s time to go see who we are, take a test and see what happens.” The matchup between the two programs usually comes toward the end of the year, while both programs are readying for the postseason. This time, it’ll

UP NEXT Northwest @ Fort Hays 7 p.m. Sept. 2 Hays, Kansas

happen Week 1, and Wright knows what to expect, mostly due to his friendship with Hays coach Chris Brown. Wright believes Brown is one of the main reasons the Tigers have sat among the top of the MIAA in recent years. The Tigers’ tough brand of play, Wright said, mirrors the style of football Washburn embraced while Brown was the Ichabods’ defensive coordinator. Northwest expects to have an answer for that, particularly at the line of scrimmage. The Bearcats, traditionally, pride themselves on the ability to run the football and win up front, and senior running back Al McKeller is going to play a key part in the ’Cats trying to assert their dominance.

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soccer ends preseason, readies for 2021 debut

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Week 1 is now a thing of the past for Maryville football, and up next for the ’Hounds is a trip to play Harrisonville. The Spoofhounds (0-1) will be on the road for a second straight week, as they’ll travel to Harrisonville, Missouri, to take on the Wildcats (1-0) Sept 3. This will be the fourth matchup in as many years for both programs, with this year featuring the Wildcats in MSHSAA’s Class 4. Maryville coach Matt Webb and company head into the matchup with a three-game win streak against Harrisonville, the last game being a 42-40 victory during Week 2 of the 2020 season. Harrisonville is coming oﬀ a nail-biting Week 1 victory over the Wayne Hills Patriots, 38-37. On the other hand, Maryville is fresh oﬀ of a 40-6 loss, courtesy of Blair Oaks in Week 1. “That was a great win for Harrisonville,” Webb said of the Wildcats’ Week 1 heroics. One key to winning the Week 2 game, Webb said, is to stop Harrisonville’s runoriented offense.

WESLEY MILLER Sports Reporter | @ wesleymiller360

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Maryville football senior quarterback Connor Drake drops back to pass during the Spoofhounds’ 40-6 loss to Blair Oaks Aug. 27 in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. It marked the Spoofhounds’ fifth consecutive loss to the Falcons.

“They’re a very dominant offensive team, dominated by tailback No. 25, a young man named Jace Reynolds,” Webb said. Reynolds, a senior who earned Class 4 All-State honors for the 2020 season, racked up 340 yards rushing in Week 1. Webb said it is important the team ﬁnds a way to contain him in order to avoid being 0-2 for the ﬁrst time since 2005.

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one knows that. We just have to show up with that kind of mindset that we’ll run against any team and win.”

Northwest soccer has played its last exhibition game on the schedule, which means the regular season is right around the corner. To prepare for the 2021 season, the Bearcats played two preseason scrimmages against the Truman State Bulldogs Aug. 21 and Augustana Vikings Aug. 27. While results and statistics for both contests are unoﬃcial, both ended in a draw. The first one ended 1-1 and the last one 3-3. The most recent scrimmage against the Vikings provided Northwest soccer players and coaches with one last opportunity to gauge the squad before the beginning of the regular season.

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Maryville junior defensive back and running back Caden Stoecklein, similar to Webb, acknowledged Harrisonville’s rushing attack, particularly Reynolds. Stoecklein said one of the Spoofhounds’ goals is to contain him as much as possible. “I think if we do that we’ll win,” Stoecklein said. “Offensively, we just need to be very physical, very downhill. We’re a running team, I think every-

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