Northwest Missourian

‘IT’S ON US’

Justin Mallett to part ways with NW for new inclusion job in Arizona

After six years of being at Northwest, Assistant Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion Justin Mallett is set to part ways with Northwest May 31 for a new position as Vice President of Inclusion, Diversity and Engagement at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona.

Justin Mallett said while this was a tough decision to make, the position allows him to create an inclusion office from the ground up and serve on the president’s cabinet, and that was too big of an opportunity to turn down.

“It’s the hardest decision I ever had to make,” Justin Mallett said. “… I had to factor a lot of things in it. I had to factor my family in it. Because I have a son who was going to be a senior in high school. I had to factor the students here in Northwest and that was a huge component of it. And the community as well because we made a lot of strides in area diversity inclusion.”

Justin Mallett said the students are what he is going to miss most. He said he had a gathering to break the news to students.

“I told them, and that was the most emotional thing I’ve ever done in my life,” Justin Mallett said. “It was tough. That was very hard, but (I could) also see that they also supported that decision. And no one was angry, no one was mad, and they showed a level of gratitude that really helped ease it. But I’d say there’ve been some hard things I’ve faced in my life. That was the toughest.”

Not only will he miss the students, he said the staff and faculty at the University have shown him support and helped him grow within his positions at Northwest.

“I pride myself on everyday getting up, putting a smile on my face and making sure that I can have interactions with everybody on a daily basis,” Justin Mallett said. “… Without their belief in me and the support that they’ve also given through their departments, I don’t think I’d be in the running for this position.”

The faculty and staff are going to miss him too. Senior Coordinator of Diversity Jessie Peter said she has spent every day with him since she joined the University in May 2021, and that it will be different not seeing him around the office.

Maryville passes 3% marijuana sales tax

Maryville voted yes on Proposition “M” at the April 4 General Municipal Election. Municipal elections are held to elect local governing officials.

After Amendment 3, which allows people 21 or older to recreationally use marijuana, passed Nov. 8, 2022, cities and counties were given the option to charge up to a 3% sales tax. City Manager Greg McDanel gave a presentation on what this would entail and any background information on it. The Maryville City Council passed the ordinance to add Proposition “M” to the ballot at the Jan. 9 meeting.

“There’s more than several (cities ap-

plying this tax), there’s probably a couple dozen, at least,” McDanel said.

All retail sales in Maryville will now have a 3% tax that will go towards the General Fund. This will not apply to medical marijuana and is estimated to generate around $150,000 or more per year.

“The additional revenue would go to the General Fund, which supports critical services — police, fire, street maintenance in the city of Maryville,” McDanel said at the Jan. 9 City Council Meeting.

The General Fund is the main operating fund of the city and accounts for revenues.

As Maryville voters cast their ballots, the question proposing the sales tax received 505 votes to pass it and 72 votes against it based on unofficial results throughout the four precincts. If the tax

is passed after the official results are released, it will go into effect Oct. 1.

“I believe research probably shows in Colorado that the communities that passed the sales tax earlier on were in a better position to go ahead and take advantage of the initial sales tax,” McDanel said at the Jan. 9 City Council meeting.

All precincts voted on different representatives for its specific area and the Nodaway County Health representative for all precincts.

Council members are rotated on a three year cycle, with only a couple being replaced or rerunning at a time. Two City Council members ran for reelection, Bryan Williams and Benjamin Lipiec.

People were invited to the “Take Back the Night” event at 5:30 p.m. April 4 at the J.W. Jones Student Union Living Room. Wellness Services provided pins at the entrance and information tables by North Star Advocacy Center, Engage and University Police Department. Speeches were given by UPD, North Star and a survivor. At the end of the event, candles in bags with messages to survivors were placed on the mantle in honor of those affected by sexual violence.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY DAKOTA WEAVER PHOTO EDITOR

Mozingo Lake Recreation Park was utilized to run Atlantic Hope, a simulated disaster training experience for students and other volunteers overseen by the Consortium for Humanitarian Service and Education March 30 through April 2.

The simulated situation takes place in a country overseas about to go into civil war, but an earthquake strikes. The students take the role of humanitarians who have come to the country to help. Throughout the fourday excursion, multiple scenarios and specific training are presented to the volunteers to teach them task and process skills ranging from radio operations, figuring out the needs of the people they’re helping, negotiation, leadership and communication.

Mariah Weaver, a Northwest student volunteer, said she volunteered for the event for her major, emergency and disaster management as well as the importance that she sees in the event. She said the conflict resolution is something especially important for volunteers to understand and the event helps cover that by making sure volunteers watch what they say and utilize critical thinking.

“The … good part is watching participants grow,” Weaver said. “They all come in terrified, they come out a little more

confident than they were when they first came in.”

This critical thinking and watching what you say was tested when the trainees had to participate in the search and rescue simulation where they had to find fakely injured roleplayers in vegetation. These roleplayers were previously prepared for this simulation by being made to look injured with fake blood and makeup.

Professor and Department Chair for Natural Sciences Mark Corson said Atlantic Hope was created by a man named Paul Forage, and Atlantic Hope was a driving factor into the creation of Northwest’s emergency and disaster management major and minor. This event has also been utilized as profession-based learning for field experience hours needed for the emergency and disaster management program curriculum.

“We started taking students and the students were like, ‘we want to do this,’” Corson said. “So, we created the major and then the students demanded that we create the minor. I think the biggest thing about the EDM program … is it’s really about serving others, selfless service.”

Northwest allows Atlantic Hope to utilize the Mozingo Lake Recreation Park Youth Camp, as well as its Outdoor Education and Recreation Area. This support allows the staff for Atlantic Hope to

be able to have the transportation, land and buildings with utilities they need. From all over the United States, people have chosen to come to this event to volunteer their labor willingly unpaid.

Atlantic Hope prepares students for disasters “

and engaging,” Omole said. “It’s a new experience for me … and whatever happened is just interesting to watch.”

Corson said the empowerment of people by training them to be responders so they are not victims is one of the reasons that this event takes place. He said disasters happen all the time, everywhere and a ff ect everybody, so being prepared is important.

“Just read right now what is happening right now in the southeastern United States with the horrible tornadoes,” Corson said. “Deaths, injuries, homelessness. All sorts of things.”

“People do it as a labor of love,” Corson said. “And we can keep the price down for participants, which are for the most part college students from different places, because there’s no labor cost.”

Tolulope Omole, a volunteer from Connecticut’s Fairfield University, also attended the event.

“(Atlantic Hope) has been fascinating

Make it Maryville promotes businesses with open house

Make it Maryville held its open house April 1. The first official day of Make it Maryville is May 6, and it will go until October 7.

Make it Maryville is a nonprofit organization that promotes locally owned small businesses and the community through sales events, social media outreach, large events and fundraisers. It was established in 2017 by shop and boutique

owners with the goal of revitalizing and restoring Maryville.

It is organized by volunteers and relies on contributions and grants. It received its standards of values from the state in 2022 and is currently working on its 501c3 to be tax-exempt by virtue of its charitable programs.

There were 14 local businesses posted, however, more sales and promotions were later posted online.

Local businesses included La

Chic, 39th Street Liquor, Ferluknat Farm, The Perk, Simply Posh Boutique, Thrifty Boutique, Barnyard Boutique, Cobbler Cottage, Bliss Salon, The Haircut Place, 5 Mile Corner This&That, Blue Willow Boutique, Timbearcats Axe Throwing The Fields Paintball, Black Pony Brewing Company, William Coy’s Farm to Table Restaurant, White Elm Mercantile, The Kitchen and Bath Source, Minnie Lane, Maryville Florist, Title Town Bar and Grill and A&G Restaurant.

Businesses such as the Thrifty Boutique had sales for 20% off your entire purchase. Hangar Cinema did buy one movie ticket, get one free for a future show. Simply Posh Boutique sold discounted denim and $10 leggings, and Ferluknat Farm had discounted fabric.

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Holly Kay Cronk is the owner of Ferluknat Farm and spoke about the beginning of Make It Maryville and how it grew into a nonprofit organization. Cronk has also been a part of the Don and Holly Breakfast Club on KNIM radio.

“So, I started out promoting our small businesses and sales events, and then we grew from two events to, you know, some open houses, then COVID came, and the fifth page was pretty dormant anyways to begin with,” Cronk said. “Then I took it over and pumped it up, and now Make it Maryville is for most all the businesses constantly, we share their

To be prepared for disasters, anyone can utilize online resources like the Federal Emergency Management Agency website to see things that one can do to be prepared for a disaster. One of the things people can create for preparedness is a to-go bag that can be utilized if there is an evacuation for an emergency. The to-go bag should contain a week or two of essentials that would be needed to survive.

“So really, emergency preparedness should be everybody’s business,” Corson said. “And we’re terrible at it and then bad things happen and we suffer. That’s the first thing that I would say is, basically, be prepared and pay attention.”

posts, so I don’t normally create new content. I share their content because the idea is for people to go and follow these other businesses that have their interest.”

Make It Maryville coordinates four yearly events, including spring open house, June Shop Hop, fall open house and Christmas Shop Hop. There are two open houses sponsored by Make it

Maryville per year, including Maker’s Market and the Northwest Missouri Moon Festival. Maker’s Market focuses on handmade local crafts had over 30 vendors. Make It Maryville hosts the Northwest Missouri Moon Festival. It is being planned and talent is being signed. A press release will be made once the contracts are signed.

Right: Emergency and disaster management students from Northwest utilized the training offered at Atlantic Hope as an opportunity for field experience. Atlantic Hope provided protective gear, prosthetic makeup, badges and more to the students and volunteers who participated in the training. Left: Atlantic Hope training simulates a country overseas on the brink of civil war when

GRACE ROTHWEILER MISSOURIAN PHOTOGRAPHER

“They all come in terrified, they come out a little more confident than they were when they first came in.”

-MARIAH WEAVER NORTHWEST STUDENT VOLUNTEER

KAYLA ALLISON MISSOURIAN PHOTOGRAPHER

BECKY DAVENPORT Missourian Reporter | @TheMissourian

Nodaway-Holt approves retention pay

ty teachers that we have,” Blackford said.

Teachers' job satisfaction is at the lowest level in 50 years, this applies to interest in education majors in students in high school and college. NodawayHolt R-VII Education Board approved a $1,000 salary increase for 2023-2024, setting the base pay at $36,500 to combat this low level.

Nodaway-Holt R-VII Superintendent Jeff Blackford said they raised the wage based on supply and demand, they know that teachers are underpaid. NodawayHolt also gives a $2,000 training stipend to teachers in August, which is not included in the base pay. This money goes into retirement.

Blackford said he feels teachers have been devalued over the past few years, and this is still a low wage for teachers considering all the certifications and schooling they go through. He said the board is doing everything it can to make teachers feel more valued.

“For Nodaway-Holt specifically, we always try to find ways we can retain quali-

GREEK WEEK

The board gives out these wage numbers in March because teachers' contracts are renewed every year in May. Blackford said it’s important for teachers to know what they are getting paid, Nodaway-Holt currently has 24 teachers and 22 have renewed their contracts already.

Blackford wants to make NodawayHolt as attractive as possible because when future teachers do have interviews, he said they should be interviewing the school. Teachers are looking for an environment that works for them and gives them the best opportunities.

Nodaway-Holt is a training ground for others, he said it’s like a revolving door, it trains teachers for one to two years for experience and then they leave. Blackford said its tough that they have these teachers coming in and out, especially with no applicants out there.

“I think that’s the goal to attract more teachers, more young students into the teaching profession,” Blackford said.

Nodaway-Holt also moved to a fourday school week this school year. Black-

ford said it’s not for every district, but it has helped this school district. Its daily schedule is 8 a.m. to 3:36 p.m, Tuesday through Friday. He said this schedule has given teachers more flexibility, instead of teachers going to the school on a personal day, Sunday to plan they come in on Mondays. Blackford has seen school discipline go down, he said the less time students are sitting in in-school detention the more time they are in the classroom learning. Blackford said it's hard to measure things right now, but he has seen a positive change in the environment of the staff and students. He cannot determine yet if it's caused by the four-day school week.

Campus sororities, fraternities hold a week full of events to promote values

Greek Week is a time for all Northwest sororities and fraternities to get together and commemorate their values. This is the first time since 2017 that Greek Week has been celebrated at Northwest, this break was due to a lack of interest in the week from members and COVID.

The last week of March was dedicated to events and fundraising that brought the groups together. Everything they did throughout the week represented different values that Greek organizations have, like civic engagement, scholarship, accountability, community and leadership.

Greek Life Coordinator Annie Punt graduated from Northwest in 2022 and is an alumna of Alpha Sigma Alpha - Phi Phi chapter. Greek Week is something celebrated on many college campuses during the springtime since they have so much going on during the beginning of the year. She said the week's whole purpose is to return to the roots of Greek life.

“It’s a way to make our values fun,” Punt said. “So that they’re still remembering the reason why they are in Greek life and then having fun while doing it.”

Northwest has six sororities and 10 fraternities. Punt asked two members from each chapter to get together and plan out Greek Week. They started planning in January — Punt said she was surprised to see how much work they put into planning these events and how engaged they were in making it memorable.

The chapters opened up the week with "Chariot Races" and "Greek Family Feud" afterward March 27. Presidents participated in a "Dunk Tank" March 28. They played Capture the Flag at Bearcat Stadium March 29. Then the annual “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” event, sponsored by the Interfraternity Council, was held March 30. This event is dedicated to recognizing sexual assault by having men walk a mile in women's shoes, specifically, red heels.

Punt said it's supposed to show that these men are there and support women, especially through dating and domestic violence. April 1 they hosted a "Field Day" where members participated in activities like dodgeball and three-legged races at the Student Rec Center. Ending the week, April 2 with "Lip-Sync Battles," "Stroll Show" and an award ceremony.

Chapters also sold cupcakes and puppy chow for the New Nodaway Humane Society. Punt said she hopes this pushes them to do more in their affiliations.

“I hope they get closer, I think recruitment in the fall is a big competitive thing,” Punt said.

Junior Robbie Keays is part of Sigma Phi Epsilon - Missouri Lambda. He participated in the “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes.” Keays and other fraternity men walked from the Memorial Bell Tower to the Nodaway County Courthouse. Sorority members walked with them and had conversations with them about sexual assault. Punt said hopefully they learn something new about sexual assault awareness. Keays said he walked alone to reflect on what it means as a society

to be able to put yourself in someone else's shoes.

“I think it really important to raise awareness for sexual assault because it happens everywhere,” Keays said. “It's not talked about enough. The victims need to know that we are with them always and that we love them and cherish them.”

Greek Week was open for students to come to watch. Punt said this week was also a recruitment tactic and hopefully students see the sense of belonging that all of the chapters have.

Punt said she learned how to lead through being in a sorority. She said she also learned how to delegate things and put on different hats at different times. Punt made life-long friends in her sorority, and she said it gave her the opportunity to understand more about herself.

Freshman Emma Tabor is part of Phi Mu - Zeta Lambda Chapter. She attended most of the events and said she had a lot of fun. Tabor's favorite part about Greek Week was watching the fraternities walk a mile in heels. She said it's for a good cause, and it was cool to see them walk in women's shoes.

“I learned that we need to do more things like Greek Week and getting together,” Tabor said. “When we are together, everyone has fun, and I think we need to break the stigma of Greeks being pinned against each other.”

Throughout the week, all the chapters were given points on attendance, sportsmanship and on-event wins. After the lip-sync battle, awards were given out, but the overall winner from Greek Week was Pi Kappa Alpha - Mu Phi Chapter.

There has been an increase in a switch to a four-day school week in rural areas in effort to increase teacher recruitment and retention. Rural areas tend to produce more challenges for teachers, they receive lower wages than suburban areas. Wage isn’t the only issue, housing can be a challenge and employment opportunities for teachers’ spouses tend to be lower. 119 out of 518 school districts in Missouri attended school for four days in 2021-2022.

“I feel like we are in cycle, you know anything we can do: the four day, better pay, better benefits, better insurance,” Blackford said. “The better off we all will be to get more quality educators.”

CASSANDRA FORD TOWER YEARBOOK

CASSANDRA FORD TOWER YEARBOOK

MALLORY SCHEELK MISSOURIAN PHOTOGRAPHER

MALLORY SCHEELK MISSOURIAN PHOTOGRAPHER

Northwest Week holds events for students

Northwest Week has gathered students across campus for free food and activities to participate in from April 3-7. These series of events have been the introduction to spring and the nicer weather on campus and held mostly by the Student Activities Council.

The first event held was the BBQ with SAC and Campus Recreation. Students were invited to join SAC and Campus Recreation at the Raymond J. Courter College Park Pavillion for a barbecue, other foods and yard activities.

Ali Trosper and Maggie Claassen were the Campus Recreation members helping at the event. Trosper said they hoped the participation in the event would overall be good.

“We invited a lot of different organizations to be involved in it,” Claassen said.

Trosper said this was an intern project for her with Campus Recreation and it teamed up with SAC to make the event bigger for the students and organizations at North-

west to enjoy. “Free T-Shirt Day” and “Thank a Donor Day” were April 4 where SAC handed out free t-shirts in the morning to advertise Northwest Week. For “Thank a Donor Day,” thank you notes were collected and placed on the walls, pictures were taken and overall awareness was spread.

Annual Giving and Alumni Relations Specialist Tess Lovig said “Thank a Donor Day” is an annual event Northwest holds to show appreciation to the donors that support Northwest. This event was held both in person and online. It was mainly held in the J.W. Jones Student Union, but similar activities were held in the B.D. Owens Library.

“Many Bearcats don’t realize just how many things on campus are donor funded,” Lovig said in an email to The Missourian. “‘Thank a Donor Day’ is a great opportunity to teach students, employees and others in our community about why charitable donations to Northwest are so impactful.”

“Thank a Donor Day” started a few years ago, and Lovig said Northwest is always looking for ways to show appreciation to

supporters. This event will continue annually for all the donors that contribute to Northwest and its students.

“There are many things on campus that are donor-funded and profession-based learning opportunities that would not be possible without support from alumni and friends of the University,” Lovig said in an email to The Missourian.

SAC set up an event with a food truck March 5 at the Memorial Bell Tower for the first 200 people who showed up.

SAC and the Robert and Virginia Foster Fitness Center employees will be hosting yoga from 12-1 p.m. April 6 at Colden Pond. SAC will also be having doughnuts from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m April 7 on the second floor of the J.W. Jones Student Union. There will only be enough doughnuts for the first 360 people that show up.

Most of the events were based on supplies and lasted until the organizations ran out of whatever was being handed out, such as the doughnuts and T-shirts. Most of the events were SAC and another organization partnering together.

Day of Green’ raises nearly $100,000 in 31 hours

Northwest’s third annual “Bearcat Day of Green” raised nearly $100,000 in donations during the mere 1,905 minutelong fundraiser.

The Northwest Foundation started the event at 9 a.m. March 28, and $99,825 and 339 gifts were given until 4:45 p.m. March 29. This was the first “Bearcat Day of Green” since fall 2021 as it was moved from the fall to the spring semester.

Annual Giving and Alumni Relations Specialist Tess Lovig said this “Bearcat Day of Green” generated almost $25,000 more dollars than the last time it was held. This year, the 10 core initiatives the campaign supported included scholarships, athletics, academics, Martindale Hall renovations, diversity and inclusion and more.

“I think it’s important because it really shows how much of an impact individual gifts can make,” Lovig said. “A lot of people don’t realize that a $25 gift can lead up to something really big. We raised so much money and a lot of that was from those smaller individual gifts.”

Northwest alumni and supporters had the opportunity to become ambassadors for the event and promote specific causes they wanted to see people donate to.

“Something cool about ambassadors is they can direct people to the page that they want people to go to,” Lovig said. “If they feel very passionately about student life, they can push people to that page.”

During “Bearcat Day of Green,” many people create challenges to increase support for different initiatives through their own gifts, ranging anywhere from $250 to $10,000 if those challenges are met. These pledged donations are unlocked after a certain amount of support is raised for a cause.

Northwest’s Interim President Clarence Green and his wife, Chelli, had a $1,500 challenge for diversity and inclusion. Their gift was unlocked after 15 gifts were donated to the cause. Green also cosponsored a challenge with Interim Vice President of Culture Egon Heidendal for the Safe Ride Home program.

“It is very important to me just to see that we’re always helping out those students and folks who are in that area to ensure that those students have the proper support and resources as they’re transitioning to our University so that they always have a sense of belonging,” Clarence Green said. “I was one of those students and so it’s something that I’m just very passionate about. And having the proper re-

sources helped me transition well.”

After these challenges are unlocked, the money pledged by the challengers will be donated to the cause it was made for. Green’s challenge was met, and he said the $1,500 will go directly to the Office of Diversity and Inclusion to use for anything it needs like scholarships, programming and other resources.

“I love that momentum that we’re on,”

Clarence Green said. “You know, we’re doing a little bit more every time which is very good for everyone and then we’re gonna put more resources back in and folks hands to really just help us live out our mission of helping every student to be successful.”

School of Education Instructor Jill Baker and her husband Vice President of Student Affairs Matt Baker had a $500 challenge for student life. Jill Baker said due to the nature of her and her husband’s job, and that they have both been with the University for 30 years, they were excited to donate to something that would directly benefit students.

“I think that our students from ‘Bearcat Day of Green’ (can) see a direct impact on things that they care about, things that help them to be able to be more successful in college, help them to have opportunities for offset costs,” Jill Baker said. “All of those things I think are huge, and it’s a way that everybody, regardless of how much you can give, can participate.”

Provost Jamie Hooyman and her husband, Gary, sponsored a $1,000 winnertakes-all challenge for academic departments. The department with the most donations at the end of the 1,905 minutes would receive an extra $1,000 dollars.

“We wanted it to be about the people that are giving versus the amount and so it wasn’t the total amount, it was how many people actually gave to that department,” Jamie Hooyman said. “It was just something to help try to stimulate getting enthusiasm about academics. Our faculty and staff and students do so much every day, and we can only be as successful as the ability of the departments to have what they need to teach.”

Lovig said the next “Bearcat Day of Green” campaign will be next spring, but there is no official date set yet.

“Whatever you put into it, if you start getting involved and start doing things, it’s going to embrace you even more,” Hooyman said. “You can always stay on the fringe and not not get touched by anything, but the more you get involved and get touched by it, you realize how strong it really is. Our alumni group are some of the best supporters.”

GRAPHIC BY SAVANNAH ATHY-SEDBROOK ASST. DESIGN EDITOR

‘Bearcat

Northwest librarian retires after 32 years

Carolyn Johnson has retired from her position as research librarian at the B.D. Owens Library after over three decades of service. A reception was held at 2 p.m. March 31 in the library to celebrate her retirement.

Johnson was an English major in college, where she worked as a tutor for her college’s writing center. During her senior year, she had a job as a student assistant. After graduating, Johnson worked at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health where she had two part-time jobs, one where she helped organize and operate a departmental library for the physiological chemistry department and one where she did research for the medical ethics program.

For her research for the medical ethics program, Johnson would go to different libraries around the campus and gather sources for whatever topic the medical ethics professors needed for their journal articles.

“That was another experience with libraries that really got me hooked,” Johnson said.

Working 32 years for B.D. Owens Library, Johnson purchases books with state funds. She also answers questions 13 to 14 hours weekly either in the library or through the library’s online chat. Johnson also organizes and runs events and workshops, such as “Long Night Against Procrastination.” Johnson works with other library and campus organizations to run

CRIME LOG

for the week of April 6

Northwest Missouri State University Police Department

April 2

There is a closed investigation for a fire alarm in Tower Suites West.

March 27

There is a closed investigation for a fire alarm in Tower Suites East. There is an open investigation for a hate crime in the J.W. Jones Student Union.

Maryville Department of Public Safety

April 4

There was an accident between Jennifer L. Gray, 43, and Keim TS Inc. on the 2000 block of East First Street.

A summons was issued to Elijah J. Sharp, 23, for a dog at large on the 700 block of East Fourth Street.

March 27

There is an ongoing investigation for larceny on the 1600 block of South Main Street. There is an ongoing investigation for a stolen motor vehicle on the 300 block of East Second Street.

March 26

A backpack was recovered on the 1200 block of South Main Street.

March 25

A vehicle key was recovered on the 1400 block of South Main Street.

March 24

There is an ongoing investigation for identity theft on the 600 block of West Torrance Street.

March 23

A summons was issued to Faith A. Fuller, 30, for a city code violation on the 800 block of East Fourth Street.

A summons was issued to Haylee M. Johnson, 19, for a minor in possession and failure to maintain the right half of the roadway on the 600 block of North Prairie Street.

March 21

There was an accident between Nathaniel C. Van Boening, 27, and Randy A. Hanson, 46 on the 200 block of West South Avenue.

March 20

There was an accident between Ada I. Edwards, 90, and Sidney C. Bogart, 23, on the 600 block of West Halsey Street.

these events.

Johnson said retiring is odd, since she has worked 32 years for B.D. Owens Library and saying goodbye is going to be difficult. She said she has appreciated that her and her coworkers all are appreciative of each other, all have great senses of

MALLETT

humor and were always helpful however needed.

“I think it is hard in a job if there’s a person or different people who you really don’t get along with, and you still have to work with them,” Johnson said. “That would be a drag. Big time.” Professor of music William

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“I was super excited for him because it’s a wonderful opportunity for him, and it’s the next stage in his life,” Peter said. “Then it dawned on me that he’s not going to be here anymore. I will terribly miss him, all the guidance that he’s given me and all the training. He’s taught me how to work in this space and his knowledge base is so vast on any topic that you can think of.”

This decision was not only one Justin Mallett had to consider for himself, but his family, too. His wife, Dana Mallett, is a counselor at Wellness Services and his children have grown up in Maryville.

Dana Mallett said she will be staying in Maryville next year while their son finishes out his senior year of high school. In that, she will be continuing at the University until then.

“We have always been supportive of each other and our aspirations, and honestly I just feel really proud of all that he does and how hard he works,” Dana Mallett said in an email to The Missourian. “... He has been working in higher education for a long time and his passion for diversity, equity and inclusion runs deep.”

Northwest is currently searching for a new Assistant Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion. Despite leaving Northwest, Justin Mallett said he thinks Northwest will continue to thrive in its efforts toward a more diverse and inclusive environment.

“I had to ask myself ‘do I think we’re in a good enough place here at Northwest that the mission can keep going even if I’m not here?’” Justin Mallett said. “I definitely do. I think with everything that we have in place from an Inclusive Excellence Action Plan, just to the overall commitment, just even seeing during the president’s search. … Seeing that shows me that you know, we’re in a good place now.”

ELECTION

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They were running unopposed, but community members were still allowed to vote on them. The two Maryville City Council candidates will be sworn into council following the official results. Williams received 372 unofficial votes and Lipiec received 452 unofficial votes.

“If you want to make a change, for an office, or join a board, do something that is going to better yourself and better your community,” Lipiec said.

The Maryville R-II School Board candidates

son assisting in advertisement for ensemble performances.

“I hope that she has a lot of artistic experiences,” Richardson said. “I think they are moving to Kansas City and so there will be a lot of chances to see music performances and go to museums… I hope she gets a lot of those opportunities.”

B.D. Owens Research Librarian Frank Baudino has been a colleague of Johnson’s for around 30 years and celebrated her retirement at the reception.

Baudino said something great Johnson has brought to the library is outreach work. He said Johnson worked with both student groups and other groups to figure out how that group and the library can collaborate.

“You never are sad that she’s giving you advice,” Baudino said.

Johnson has plenty of ideas for what she wants to do in her retirement. Tutoring students who struggle to read is one she said she would love to do. She also has an interest in becoming a standardized patient in Kansas City, Missouri and even continuing doing chat reference.

Richardson attended Johnson’s retirement session to celebrate with her. As the director of Northwest’s jazz ensembles, Richardson has collaborated with Johnson because of her love for jazz music. These collaborations included concerts that took place in the library, as well John-

Johnson said she hopes students continue finding ways to take initiative and make improvements in their work, whether future employment or part time employment because she believes that will create opportunities for them. She said employers talk about the good work ethic and needed soft skills Northwest students have.

“I love our students,” Johnson said. “I think you guys are great.”

were not on the ballot because all were unopposed. Superintendent Logan Lightfoot said they will be sworn in as board members April 18. Then they will take on their duties on the board, such as making decisions for the school district.

There were a large number of write-ins during this election. A bipartisan team will be coming to Maryville in the morning to tally those writeins, which will also be announced before the official tally comes in.

All votes remain unofficial until noon April 7, allowing any mail in ballots or military ballots to have the chance to be counted as well.

Carolyn Johnson’s retirement party was held in the B.D. Owens library March 31. Colleagues, students and friends gathered to celebrate her 32 years working as a research librarian for Northwest.

GRACE ROTHWEILER MISSOURIAN PHOTOGRAPHER

Assistant Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion Justin Mallett sits in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. Mallett’s last day at Northwest will be May 31, as he took a position at Northern Arizona University as Vice President of Inclusion, Diversity and Engagement.

SIDNEY LOWRY MANAGING EDITOR

“

I told them, and that was the most emotional thing I’ve ever done in my life. It was tough. That was very hard, but (I could) also see that they also supported that decision.”

-JUSTIN MALLETT ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

Last year, many movies were released in hopes to reach the top, becoming an Oscar nominee or winner, but one movie in particular was released to make an impact.

“She Said” is a movie based on the true story of New York Times Reporters, Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, who uncovered the truth behind the sexual harassment settlements from Harvey Weinstein.

Many complaints came through about how it felt like people were watching one long interview, and there was nothing to it — that was the whole point.

The investigative reporters dedicated months of their lives talking to the survivors, attempting to get them to go on the record about what happened to them. It was interview after interview, phone call after phone call, all to take down one person.

The captivating movie that brought many to tears was written by none other than the reporters themselves.

Through the duration of the movie — even into the end credits — Weinstein’s face was never shown. The amount of power that something as simple as that took away from that man was endless. Not only did it give the women their voices a louder cry, it made women, just like myself, know that our voice really matters and that assailants are just worthless human beings.

On my first watch, I sat on my kitchen floor, reflecting on the movie. I was moved, yet I was filled with rage. I had read the story, I saw the statements that the women gave but I still couldn’t rationalize the words that I heard come out of the mouths of those women.

My one critique of modern films is that rather than address issues we have at hand, entertainment is used as a distraction from those topics, but this movie wasn’t afraid to put a halt in the cycle.

As a survivor myself, I felt heard. The voice in my head, constantly telling me that I am alone as a survivor was finally quiet.

As we enter April, Sexual Assault Awareness Month, I try to think of the many different ways someone can learn more about sexual violence, and this movie does just that. “She Said” gives everyone a peek into the life of survivors’ experiences and the pain that they endure.

Since this movie has been released, Weinstein has been sentenced to 16 more years in prison, while already serving a 23year sentence. With a total of 29 years, the 70-year-old assailant may never see the outside of a prison again.

All of this is because Kantor and Twohey worked relentlessly to help survivors gain their voice after being paid off and silenced.

It may be a hard watch, but it is one that everyone needs to experience at least once.

Your Bearcat thrives on Bieber feuds

I never thought I would be around more people talking about Justin Bieber than I was in fifth grade, but here I am. When I first heard about the Hailey Bieber and Selena Gomez drama spiraling, I was more confused than I was trying to hear Lana Del Ray on Taylor Swift’s “Snow On The Beach.”

As I fell down the TikTok rabbit hole of users connecting Selena Gomez to every line

of any Justin Bieber song ever written, I started to see where the dots might be connecting. I will say it now, “Ghost” by Justin Bieber is absolutely despicable. If I were Hailey Bieber, I would cry myself to sleep every night. That’s besides the point here, but I can see where Hailey’s behavior may root from. This drama is like the modern-day Crusades. Both of these girls get their friends

and millions of followers in on the drama while fighting over some guy.

When it comes to friends being involved, don’t even get me started with the mean girl behavior Hailey Bieber is exhibiting alongside Kendall and Kylie Jenner. You know what they say, people are mean because they are jealous.

As if the drama from rewatching seasons of The Bachelor wasn’t enough for

me, I get to see a timeline of the back-and-forth Instagram drama between Selena Gomez and Hailey Bieber. It’s like Christmas came early.

I know I am a little late to this party as they have apparently settled all the drama, but after the preponderance of TikTok evidence, I am team Selena.

OUR VIEW:

People need to better prepare themseleves for emergencies

With Atlantic Hope being this past weekend, Maryville and people living in the midwest could have a lot to gain from understanding the tragedies that we could still face while living in the middle of the United States. No one ever knows what is going to happen, and everyone should always be prepared for anything at any time.

Atlantic Hope is a training experience that is put on from March 30-April 2 at the Mozingo Outdoor Education Recreation Area at the Mozingo Youth Camp. Atlantic Hope is typically hosted in Florida, but was temporarily moved here due to destruction by hurricanes.

This is an intense simulation of an earthquake and incorporates real life scenarios to help prepare students studying emergency and disaster management. This simulation is not only for students at Northwest but also for participating students from University of Missouri-Kansas City, The Citadel and State of New York at Albany.

Although Missouri is not as known for earthquakes like California, the New Madrid Seismic Zone is located in southeastern Missouri, northeastern Arkansas, western Tennessee, western Kentucky and southern Illinois. Small earthquakes frequently

YOUR VIEW:

happen around Missouri.

The last large-scale earthquake happened in 1812, and it caused the Mississippi River to temporarily run backwards, an 18-mile lake was created and towns were destroyed. Though it’s been 211 years since the last major earthquake, that doesn’t mean it can’t or won’t happen again.

Whenever bad weather is coming in or is already here, most people want to travel to get away from it. This doesn’t mean you won’t be affected by the weather somewhere else. Just because you’re in the Midwest, doesn’t mean that you aren’t going to avoid natural disasters in other places when traveling.

Over the last decade, 45,000 people globally have died each year due to natural disasters. Though these don’t happen often and they’re not preventable, the deaths they cause are.

In Missouri, schools take steps to prepare for emergencies that could occur. A program called Ready in 3 helps students, administrators and parents prepare for emergency situations. The three steps are create a plan, prepare a kit and listen for information. This American Red Cross, State Emergency Management Agency and Missouri’s Office

KRISTOFF HERROLD Senior General Studies

of Homeland Security program is available to schools and families in Missouri free of charge.

Tornado season has made its entrance known as the peak season from April to June. With the recent days being over 60 degrees, if people weren’t paying attention to weather services March 31 when tornadoes ripped through the south and midwest, they wouldn’t have been prepared. Just three days later, death tolls have increased to 32.

Five of the 25 deadliest tornadoes in U.S. history occurred in Missouri. Nationwide, there is an average of 800 tornadoes per year that have resulted in 80 deaths and 1,500 injuries, according to the National Weather Service. With it being the beginning of peak season, everyone needs to be aware of their surroundings.

When you’re younger, you go through drills preparing you for these disasters. As you get older, it’s still just as important to continue these practices to keep yourself and others safe during an inevitable event.

Utilizing resources like Missouri Hope, Atlantic Hope and the Ready in 3 program will help prepare you for disasters in which all you can do is react — not prevent.

HOLLY MODLIN Junior Math and Economics

“I do not think so. I don’t know where the safe places on campus are. I feel like they have stuff but I don’t know where to look for it”

“I would be prepared because I think I’m always thinking about the end and so I think because of that I think my faith plays a big part in that. So I think that I am constantly preparing for the end because I never know when that will come. ”

HAILEY JOHNSON-NEESER CARTOONIST

If a natural disaster happened right now, would you be prepared?

The Stroller has been a tradition since 1918 and does not reflect the views of the Northwest Missourian.

MAKAYLA POLAK Editor-in-Chief @kaypolak

“She Said” is not just a movie about a newspaper

“No, I live in an apartment, and I feel like I don’t have the resources to be able to be prepared.”

HANNAH GRAHAM Senior Dietetics

Joe Shy Relays upcoming for Maryville track

CARSON BREMER Sports Reporter | @CBMissourian

Maryville boys and girls track and field are coming off a successful weekend at the Smithville Invitational March 31 with the boys taking home first place, and the girls earning sixth place.

Leading the charge for the boys was senior Keaton Stone who secured a first-place finish in triple jump and also a fourthplace in long jump. The boys’ side also won the 4x800-meter relay.

Freshman Sadler Viau took fifth in 110-meter hurdles, sophomore Dylan Meyer claimed first in the 400-meter dash and senior Jesus Flores-Hernandez came home with a win in high jump. Stone said he was proud of his performance, even if it is early in the season.

“I think I did pretty well at the Smithville Invitational,” Stone said. “On the triple jump, I got out there pretty far, and, on the long jump, I struggled a little bit, but I think I did really well overall.”

Leading the way for the girls side was junior Ella Shulte who placed 3rd in 100 meter hurdles and 5th in 300 meter hurdles. Other top placers for the girls include freshman Brylee Acklin taking 2nd in 300 meter hurdles and 6th in 100 meter sprint, and the girls relay team took 3rd in the 4x200 relay.

After the performance in the Smithville Invitational, the Spoofhounds are nearly a month away from the district and state tournaments in May. Coach Rodney Bade said every practice counts.

“Practices are getting more specific,” Bade said. “We are doing workouts here and there, but there are still specific parts of every event that we look at with each athlete to make sure that they are making late season improvements so those adjustments are made before we get into the conference, sectional and state meets.”

Coming into the later months of the season, avoiding anxiety and mental fatigue has been a focal point for high school athletes all over the country. An estimated 25% of athletes experience mental fatigue, anxiety, depression and being burnt out, according to the American College of Sports Medicine.

Bade said he and his coaching staff observe their athletes’ body language to see if there is

UP NEXT

Joe Shy Relays

2 p.m. April 6 Chillicothe, Missouri

a sign of mental fatigue with any of his athletes.

“We try to be attune to that,” Bade said. “Our athletes — a lot of the time — have been doing the same event every single time, and we try to switch it up for them, even when sometimes they don’t like it. It is something we are aware of, and, if we see athletes plateauing their performances, then we try to give them as much help as we can.”

Stone said mental health can be a factor toward the end of the season, but he doesn’t let it get in the way of his performance or the team morale.

“I really don’t see it very much,” Stone said. “I think when it comes to the team, we get super pumped to get going in May for heavy competition, and, for me and the team, we are ready for it all the way.”

The Spoofhounds will be back in action April 6 for the Joe Shy Relays in Chillicothe, Missouri, and then they head off to the Winnetonka meet April 13 in Kansas City, Missouri.

MHS TRACK AND FIELD BOYS TOP FINISHES

BASEBALL

CONTINUED FROM A12

“It’s hard to bounce back, but looking back on games like these where we get blown out, there’s always something to fix,” Allen said. “We had plenty of errors that we can always fix up, and practice makes perfect.”

Before the Spoofhounds’ rematch with the Savages, they host Cameron (3-4) and Lathrop (3-3). At home, Maryville is 3-0, while the Dragons are 2-2 on the road and the Mules are 1-1. Loe said

GOLF

CONTINUED FROM A12

“It just is what it is,” Peterson said. “There’s just the mindset, honestly in the spring of, ‘You’re battling probably the conditions in the golf course, more than you are the other programs.’ It’s mainly just going out there and competing, and playing the schedule that we set up.”

As the Bearcats look ahead to next week’s contest, this will be the first time Northwest has played at Eagle Creek Golf Club in Joplin.

This invitational is also in the same location as the MIAA Championship April 24-26. Speece and Peterson said the competition in Joplin is a big one for the team, leading up to the conference tournament in a few weeks.

“It’s an opportunity to get there and play it and see it, so that we’re prepared as best we can for conference,” Peterson said.

“It’s a great advantage, and we can’t wait,” Speece said. “Having that advantage before conference is great, and we can’t wait to learn from this tournament next week.”

preparation will be the key for bouncing back from the loss against Savannah.

“I just think we’re gonna have to leave this one behind,” Loe said. “Keep doing what we’re doing everyday. Keep swinging the bats. I think we can’t let this one affect us, but we got to go in taking every team seriously, and we’re gonna be ready for Cameron on Thursday.”

During Maryville’s hot start to the season, the team became the Plattsburg Tournament champions April 1. The Spoofhounds defeated Maysville (53) — for the second time of the season — 6-2 in the semifinals and Plattsburg 16-0 in the championship.

Maryville track and field sophomore Katherine Pohren rounds the corner of the Carl and Cheryl Hughes Fieldhouse during the Bearcat Indoor March 18. Pohren, with the distance medley team, finished with a time of 14:59:60.

Northwest golf Taylor Sedivec goes into the top of her back swing before contacting the ball on the driving range at Mozingo Lake Recreation Park April 5. During the Holiday Inn Express March 27-28, Sedivec hit 21 strokes over par.

DAKOTA WEAVER PHOTO EDITOR

GRAPHIC BY SYDNEY COOK DESIGNER

*From the Smithville Invitational March 31

Bearcat baseball to host Missouri Western series

RIVER BOYD Sports Reporter | @RiverBoyd5

Northwest baseball will return to Maryville after dropping its three-game series against Newman March 31-April 2 in Wichita, Kansas. The weekend wasn’t all doom-and-gloom, as the Bearcats scored 20 runs in the second game of the series April 1 — the first time they have scored 20 runs in an MIAA game since 2015.

After another up-and-down series for Northwest, the team will try to turn its season around during a five-game homestand against Highway 71 rival Missouri Western April 6-8, Washburn April 11 and Quincy April 11.

Senior outfielder Ryan Koski had seven RBIs in the series against Newman. Koski said being away from home is tough and playing at home gives the Bearcats an edge. Northwest is 2-5 at Bearcat Baseball Field, compared to 2-13 on the road and 3-6 at neutral sites.

“It’ll be nice,” Koski said. “This was kind of a heavy stretch during our season where we had a couple of away series in a row. It’ll just be nice to be back at home playing in Maryville with our fans there.”

The Bearcats (7-24, 5-15 MIAA) will kick off the five-game stretch against Highway 71 rival Western (7-24, 4-16 MIAA). The last time the Griffons and ’Cats clashed, Western took the series 2-1 April 8-10, 2022.

Koski said the Bearcats need to come together and play a full series of good baseball.

“Just sticking with the process of how to win baseball games, ‘skip’ talks about the process a lot, and we’ve shown flashes of great baseball,” Koski said. “It’s just we need to keep continuing to work to put it together for a whole series.”

After the matchup between the in-state rivals, the Bearcats have an MIAA matchup against Washburn (21-13, 14-6 MIAA) April 11 in Maryville. The Ichabods have defeated the Bearcats twice this season — each time by two or less runs.

Most recently, the Ichabods bested the Bearcats 4-2 March 29 at Bearcat Baseball Field. Even during the loss, the ’Cats were very vocal in supporting their teammates from the dugout or on the field.

“It’s extremely important — we treat everyone like we’re brothers on this team, and we always want to see that person next to you succeed,” Koski said. “It’s extremely important, especially if we’ve lost a couple of series, we just have to stay positive and stay with each other to not waver.”

This season, neither Northwest or Western have won a series. The conference bout will feature two teams in the MIAA struggling to generate success at the plate. Heading into the series with Western, the Bearcats are No. 11 in the conference in batting average (.263) and the Griffons are No. 10 (.269). Koski said the Bearcats just needs to focus on what’s in front of them.

“It’s really important,” Koski said. “Every series that we have going forward and even the ones in the past have always been number one priority, and we just have to focus on this series coming up. One game at a time and play the best baseball we can.”

Next on the docket is Quincy April 12 in Maryville (20-6). The game will mark the first time the Hawks have played in Maryville since their 11-8 win over Northwest May 3, 2016.

Coach Darin Loe took over the program in 2000 and has been at Northwest for the last five matchups against Quincy. Loe said the ’Cats need to be more consistent.

“That’s kind of been one of the big things in our season — we’ve been inconsistent,” Loe said. “Whether that’s in a game or individual players, we just need our players to be the same guy everyday (and) give us their best day everyday. A lot of it is we just need to stay focused.”

Transfer-athlete talks about first outdoor meet with Northwest

WESLEY MILLER Sports Editor | @wesleymiller360

Northwest track and field was 232 miles away from Maryville, yet, some athletes made themselves right at home in Southwest Baptist’s Plaster Stadium, perhaps because it was another “home of the Bearcats.”

In the Southwest Baptist University Bearcat Invite March 31-April 1, Northwest’s record books were rewritten three times. Additionally, the women’s team won the meet with 146 points — 45 points more than second place. Coach Brandon Masters joked there may have been some familiarity in Bolivar, Missouri, and he said the Bearcat Invite is always a good meet.

“We like that meet,” Masters said. “It’s still a little bit early to have some of the marks that we’re having, but we’ll take them because maybe it’ll be pretty good later.”

Among those marks were Northwest’s record-breaking men’s 4x100-meter relay, women’s 4x100 relay and the women’s 4x400 relay.

A mark of three minutes, 42 seconds and 66 milliseconds by sophomore Luisarys Toledo, sophomore Chloe Saenz, sophomore Jaedy Commins and sophomore Kaylee Harp during the meet would have set the program record in the women’s 4x400. However, during the same event, the quartet of junior Olivia Sattlefield, junior Tiffany Hughey, sophomore Bailey Blake and freshman Kennedi Cline finished with the program’s top finish of 3:42.24.

“It was really fun to watch because we planned it where they could push each over in every single rep,” Masters said. “I swear at some point they were holding hands — holding hands, they were so close together. It was really fun.”

Sophomore Lexie Gilbert, sophomore Ally Hammond, Hughey and Cline, with a time of 45.95 in the women’s 4x100, passed the mark of 46.45 set by Hammond, Gilbert, Cline and freshman Reese Brown.

Senior R.J. Williams, sophomore Joel Dos Santos, sophomore Enrico Cavagna and freshman Dominic Sedlacek set the program-best time in 4x100 with a time of 40.40 in the men’s 4x100.

Among the athletes to find success in Bolivar, transfer-

athlete from Oral Roberts, junior Kemuel Sloan, competed in his first outdoor meet for Northwest and earned his first Division II provisional qualifying mark with a leap of 14 feet and 81 inches in the men’s triple jump. Sloan said he has enjoyed the support during his first season in a new environment.

“I’m not a very talkative person, so I’m kind of quiet,” Sloan said. “People will come up to me and talk a lot, so I talk back to them. So it’s pretty family-oriented around here.”

“(Sloan) says he’s a quiet guy — doesn’t talk a whole lot — but you get that boy on the runway, and all of our guys and gals come over to watch him jump,” Masters said. “It was probably 25 of our athletes or so, and he’s back on the runway, calling for a big clap, so he isn’t as quiet as he says sometimes. He’s a showman.”

For Masters and assistant coach Nikki Wetstein, Sloan’s impact goes beyond his jumps or showmanship.

Wetstein, who has helped Masters with hurdles, jumps and multi-events since 2020, said her favorite memory of Sloan was during the fall when he gave a teammate shoes after their shoe busted. She said Sloan even chose to run barefoot alongside his teammate.

“He’s a team guy,” Wetstein said. “He gives (support) every day, so it’s easy for the team to give it back.”

As Sloan and the rest of the Bearcats prepare for a pair of meets in California April 12-15 and the Kansas Relays April 1315, he said he’s grateful for the team he has around him.

For Masters, finding athletes who are team-oriented has been a focus. The sixth-year coach said he feels that’s exactly what the program has done.

“We’re doing something right by getting the right people into this team,” Masters said. “This team is the closest team I’ve had here by far — not even close. And I think that’s part of recruiting. That’s part of getting the people that want to be here, want to be good and want that type of atmosphere.”

Freshman sprinter Vashon Riggins runs over the hurdle during practice April 4. Riggins placed eighth in the 400-meter hurdles race at the Southwest Baptist Invitational March 30-April 1 with a time of 58 seconds.

MALLORY SCHEELK MISSOURIAN PHOTOGRAPHER

Softball set for first road doubleheaders

Northwest softball earned its 20th win of the season in their doubleheader with No. 15 Washburn April 1 at Bearcat Softball Field — the programs first 20-win season since 2018. Now, the Bearcats look ahead to Northeastern State April 7 in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, and Rogers State April 8 in Claremore, Oklahoma.

The Bearcats split their home doubleheader against Washburn. In game No. 1, the ’Cats capped off a win against the Ichabods 5-1, in large part due to senior catcher Madison Friest’s grand slam in the bottom of the sixth inning. Friest’s shot over the center field fence not only secured her sixth home run of the season, but it also gave her team its 20th win.

Coach Naomi Tellez said this team is due for something big, heading into the final stretch of the spring season.

“That’s just a small measure of where and how far this team has come,” Tellez said. “We keep building on what we did last year, and there’s obviously still more to come. That just shows even the small changes that we’ve done, we’ve been able to get that many wins with so much of the season left to go.”

Northwest (20-16, 5-7 MIAA) split both of its home conference doubleheaders against Emporia State (19-15, 3-7 MIAA) and No. 15 Washburn (297, 8-4 MIAA) March 31 and April 1 in its last four contests.

The ’Cats will face off against Northeastern (20-15, 2-8 MIAA) in a doubleheader at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. April 7. The Bearcats will matchup against the defending Division II national champions Rogers (27-6, 6-4 MIAA) in another doubleheader at noon and 2 p.m. April 8.

Senior infielder Olivia Daugherty said the plan is to stay consistent throughout both games in the doubleheaders at Oklahoma.

“This past weekend, we split with our teams, and we’ll have, you know, a really good game and we’ll compete, and the next game will be a little different,” Daugherty said. “When we do win the first game, to

UP NEXT

NW vs. Northeastern State

4 p.m. and 6 p.m. April 7

Tahlequah, Oklahoma

NW vs. Rogers State

12 p.m. and 2 p.m. April 8

Claremore, Oklahoma

NW vs. Truman State

1 p.m. and 3 p.m. April 12

Bearcat Softball Field

take it into the next, and know that we can keep up with these teams.”

Daugherty is in the top-five in multiple categories in the MIAA’s individual hitting statistics. She is tied for first in RBIs (41), No. 2 in home runs (11), No. 3 in hits (50), No. 4 in slugging percentage (.788) and No. 6 in batting average (.424). Daugherty is having her best season as a Bearcat, as all of those statistics mark her career-highs in her five-year tenure at Northwest.

As Northwest looks ahead to the second day in Oklahoma against Rogers, the Bearcats have matched up against the Hillcats five times in the programs’ history and have yet to secure a win.

Daugherty said playing against tough conference opponents this past weekend — Washburn and Emporia — will prepare them for the program’s potential first win against Rogers.

“Just taking that into this weekend, knowing that we can do it,” Daugherty said. “Some nice weather will help, so just knowing that we can do it and compete is gonna help.”

With 16 games remaining on the schedule for Northwest’s regular season, only six of its matchups will be at home — the final four games will be at Bearcat Softball Field April 28-29. Tellez said it is about staying persistent with the grind this month, before the MIAA Tournament starts up May 3.

“It’s hard to win on the road,” Tellez said. “Our conference, you know, there’s a lot of shifting going on right now, so just being able to at least take one, if not two on the road, is going to be huge for us.”

Coach praises team for four-match win streak

Maryville boys tennis cruised to another shutout win April 4 after the Spoofhounds went on the road and defeated Bishop LeBlond 9-0 in St. Joseph.

With the win, the Spoofhounds moved up to a 4-1 record and to first place in the Class 1 District 16 season standings.

Over the past four matches, Maryville has cruised to wins by beating Cameron March 28, Benton March 29, Lafayette-St. Joseph April 3 and LeBlond by a score of 9-0 each contest.

With each practice and match, making adjustments on the fly is necessary for success for any team.

Coach Nicole McGinness said she has seen the on-court adjustments paying off in a big way between singles and doubles and has seen improvement from both.

“They are winning with greater margin so they are trying new things to see what works best for them, and it’s working,” McGinness said.

After a 6-3, season-opening loss to Midland Empire Conference foe Savannah March 21, Maryville is on a four-match win streak. McGinness said at this point, the team is moving in the right direction.

“We have momentum on our side,” McGinness said. “We are now moving through the middle and coming up on the latter half of the season, so we need to keep winning and moving forward towards a competitive postseason.”

In the past 12 years, Maryville has had 10 winning seasons. Out of those 10, three of those teams won district titles in 2011, 2012 and 2018. Maryville has had only two losing seasons in the past 12 years, with both of them ending with a win percentage under .500.

UP NEXT

NW vs. Truman State

3 p.m. Nov. 20 Bearcat Arena

NW vs. Morningside

2

The Spoofhounds have won roughly 70% of their matches in the past six seasons. They will have their chances to continue their prolonged success over the course of five road trips — including the Cameron Tournament April 19.

Leading the charge for the Spoofhounds is sophomore George Groumoutis, who won 8-5 in singles against LeBlond’s senior Noah Stevenson.

Other wins in singles include sophomore Kristian Mendez winning 8-2 over Golden Eagles’ senior Kaiden Baer, junior Kason Teale winning 8-2 over LeBlond’s sophomore Cole Stevenson and junior Landon Baker winning 8-2 over Golden Eagles’ junior Brady Rocha. Groumoutis said he believes if the team continues to be on a hot streak, then a deep postseason run is ahead of him and his team.

“I know this team has what it takes to win, and everybody knows that at this point in the season,” Groumoutis said. “The early jitters were a big deal for me. It gets in the way, and it gets in the way of a player’s performance most of the time. Ever since that Savannah match, they have gone away and now we are on a big winning streak.”

The road trip continues for Maryville, as the Spoofhounds play St. JosephBenton April 6 in St. Joseph and St. Pius X April 12 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Maryville girls soccer looks to ‘experiment’ in exhibition contests

CRAIG MCMULLEN Missourian Reporter | @NWMSports

Maryville girls soccer took a nearly 75-mile drive April 3-4 to Smithville, Missouri, for its first road matches of the 2023 season in the Smithville Round Robin Tournament.

The matches at Smithville High School were mid-season exhibition matches, so it didn’t count toward any of the participating teams’ regular season records. Assistant coach Courtney Kennedy said the early in-season exhibition matches allows the team to try new things on the field before going into the rest of the season.

“We were able to put players in different positions and experiment and see how they play,” Kennedy said.

Four high schools will compete or have competed in the tournament April 3-6. — Harrisonville from Class 2 District 6, Maryville from Class 2 District 8, Smithville from Class 3 District 8 and Staley from Class 4 District 8.

On the first day of matches, the Spoofhounds took on Staley. Unlike the last three regular season matches in Maryville, where the

Spoofhounds seemingly couldn’t stop scoring — to the tune of 22 goals in the team’s first three contests — it was the polar opposite in this match.

The Falcons were up 2-0 with nearly 22 minutes left in the match, and Maryville senior forward Halle Buck kicked the ball from the right wing close to the sideline. The wind helped the ball sail right into the back of the net to give the Spoofhounds their only goal of the match.

Following the goal by Buck, the Falcons put up two more goals — with 14:30 left in the match and then 1:30 left — to earn a 4-1 win in the first game of the tournament. Senior goalkeeper Abigail Swink said she has mixed feelings about the in-season tournament.

“A lot of times we play teams that have bigger schools and different looks on the game,” Swink said. “I like it because we get to see teams with different styles, and we can look back on these games to see how we can prepare better as we propel into the future.”

The Spoofhounds have one more exhibition match against Harrisonville April 6 in Smithville and will resume the reg-

ular season schedule against Mid-Buchanan (4-1) April 10 at Bearcat Pitch. Swink said the team just needs to play calm and collective soccer.

“We have a younger team this year, and we need to just take it back and scan the field for available options because this is a game that doesn’t need to be rushed,” Swink said.

The Lady Dragons and the Spoofhounds have met twice since 2021, and the Spoofhounds won both times. The first match was a 6-0 win May 3, 2021, and the most recent match was a 2-1 win April 11, 2022. Kennedy said one of the

“Our

Maryville boys tennis junior Kason Teale hits the ball over the net during his singles match against Cameron March 28. The Spoofhounds have a 4-1 record on the season and will match up against St. Joseph-Benton at 4 p.m. April 6.

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Northwest softball freshman pitcher Kylee Rockhold warms up during the Bearcats’ 8-2 loss to Washburn April 1. Rockhold has pitched in just over 14 innings this season with six strikeouts.

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Maryville girls soccer junior Presley Ingram inbounds the ball in a match against Lafayette-St. Joseph March 28. The Spoofhounds recorded their second shutout to start the season with an 8-0 win and improved their record against the Fighting Irish to 29-1 since 2009.

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Northwest tennis splits up for matches

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Northwest men’s and women’s tennis defended their homecourt over the weekend by defeating multiple opponents. Those weekend wins carried over into the squads’ meeting with Emporia State Senior Day April 4. Both teams will also look to carry momentum into their upcoming road trips.

Senior No. 2 singles player Michael Delebois, who is also ranked No. 41 nationally, said it feels very nice to have gotten a win on Senior Day.

“That’s good, getting a win for my teammates,” Delebois said. “It’s a special day for them. We’re gonna all celebrate and have some speeches and stuff like that.”

The men defeated two ranked teams over the weekend, including a 4-3 victory over No. 9 Ouachita Baptist April 2 in Maryville. The win bumped the Bearcats (11-5, 6-0 MIAA/Great American Conference) win streak up to four, and the ’Cats used it to catapult them to a 4-0 win over Emporia State April 4 in Maryville.

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two matchups between the two. Senior No. 1 singles player Vera Alenicheva — ranked No. 48 nationally — said both teams are different this season.

“They’ve got some good girls there, so it should be a good match,” Alenicheva said. “We’re going to compete as hard as we can, and we’ll do everything we can to get this match down because it’s an important conference and regional match. We just have to get through it like we did before and keep our heads up.”

Coach Mark Rosewell said the Bearcats have faced adversity this season, but they keep pushing forward regardless.

“Stay away from injuries we were missing two girls and a guy today — the No. 1 and No. 2 girls — so if we get healthy, I think we can be really dangerous,” Rosewell said after Northwest’s match with Emporia.

Next, the No. 12 Bearcat men will travel 247 miles April 6 to Fulton, Missouri, to clash with No. 5 William Woods. The ’Cats and Owls have only clashed two times since 2019, and each team has won once.

The most recent installment of the series went in favor of Northwest 5-2 April 20 in St. Joseph. The last time the

match was played in Fulton, the Owls took the match 5-4 April 19, 2019.

“They’re NAIA, so maybe not as important as a Division II match but still very important, and they’re a Missouri school, so that’s going to be a good match,” Rosewell said.

The Bearcat men are 5-1 on the road this season, but the Owls boast a 6-0 record at home. Delebois said William Woods is an important matchup because the Owls are a tough opponent.

“It has always been tough to play against them in their home,” Delebois said. “I think because they’ve been playing every single day and those courts are a little bit faster than ours. So, they have a little bit of an advantage

in that they’re used to that, but we feel confident with all the wins that we’ve been getting at the moment. I think that is just going to be in our favor.”

The Bearcat women (14-3, 5-0 MIAA) had a similar weekend to men’s tennis, as the Bearcats took down Southern Arkansas March 31 and Newman April 1 in Maryville. Those wins, including their Senior Day, 5-0 win over Emporia brought their win streak up to eight.

The women will be hitting the road, but, unlike the men, they will be traveling nearly six hours to play MIAA foe Northeastern State April 7 in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. The Bearcats have defeated the RiverHawks in the last

While the men won’t compete again until their match with Indianapolis April 14, the women will stay on the road in Oklahoma for a clash with another MIAA opponent, Central Oklahoma April 8 in Edmond, Oklahoma.

The Bearcats haven’t defeated the Bronchos since April 29, 2016, in Springfield, Missouri, but Northwest’s last win in Edmond came almost a year before that April 4, 2015.

“We’re very confident now that we can defeat them, and I hope that this confidence will help us get over the past defeats,” Alenicheva said. “We just have to compete, play as hard as we can and do everything to win this match and finally defeat them. Me, as a senior, it’s going to mean so much, so we’re all going to give 120%.”

Left: Northwest men’s tennis senior Mason Meier hits the ball back to Newman’s side of the court during the Bearcat men’s 7-0 win April 1. Meier partnered with senior Michael Delebois en route to a 7-6 win in doubles.

Right: Northwest women’s tennis sophomore Carolina Lima De Oliveira returns a serve from a teammate prior to the Bearcat women’s 7-0 win over Newman April 1. Northwest’s No. 5 singles player won her singles match 2-0.

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matches that the Northwest women’s tennis team has won in a row

Back at home base

Back at home base

Maryville baseball hosts Cameron after loss

aryville baseball is off to its best start in at least 15 seasons with a 7-2 record through nine games. However, the Spoofhounds’ early success was halted by a 11-1 loss in five innings to Savannah April 4 in Savannah, Missouri.

With a little bit of help from the heavy wind, the Savages posted a four-run inning in the bottom of the third and a fiverun inning in the bottom of the fifth — along with two runs in the second — to secure the 11-1 win in five innings.

Maryville coach Hans Plackemeier said the loss might be just what the Spoofhounds needed ahead of back-toback home games against Cameron April 6 and Lathrop April 10.

“It was a wake up call, for sure,” Plackemeier said. “Our effort was not there. Too many mental mistakes.

That’s what it is — mental mistakes and effort.”

Savannah (8-4) totaled 10 hits in the Highway 71 bout, but Maryville (7-2) swung for just four hits against the Savages.

seasons, at least, that Maryville baseball has not had a 7-2 or better record through nine games.

Senior infielder Cooper Loe started the Tuesday afternoon contest on the mound for the Spoofhounds, but, after 85 pitches, sophomore infielder Can-

on Creason finished up the game in the bottom of the fifth.

In the bottom of the third, Savannah sophomore Landon Noland smacked the ball just to the right of the scoreboard at Savannah High School for a three-run home run to put the Savages up 6-0. Loe said it was tough to work through the longer innings, like the third.

“I mean, I was frustrated,” Loe said. “I mean, I can’t do anything about it, besides keep bringing guys up. Everyone knows that they can always do better, even when it’s a perfect game. There’s always that one more thing that you can do better, and I just think that people are just trying to do too much, and they’re not doing the little things.”

Junior outfielder Don Allen is second on the team for the season in stolen bases with five, and he hit a double to left field against the Savages — one of just three Spoofhounds to record a hit.

The junior also scored Maryville’s lone run off an RBI-single from junior outfielder Boston Hageman. Allen said the 10-run loss can be a valuable lesson, as the team will meet Savannah again April 11 in Savannah.

Northwest golf set to finish break on unfamiliar course

Northwest golf is looking to build off its recordbreaking meet and top-three finish in the Holiday Inn Classic March 27-28 at the St. Joseph Country Club. The Bearcats’ first chance to continue their momentum will be the Virginia Laas Invitational April 10-11 in Joplin, Missouri.

The Bearcats were able to cap off the thirdplace finish in St. Joseph, due to tying the program record for strokes in a 36-hole tournament (626) and the second-best individual round for the program March 27, with a score of 307 in 18-holes. Northwest was one shot back from a second-place finish overall at the competition.

Sophomore Paige Hoffman finished the Holiday Inn Classic in the top-10 for her second top10 mark this year, and seventh time out of eight contests in her two-year career for the Bearcats. Coach Andy Peterson said the plan is to ride the momentum into Joplin next week.

“We want to build off that, we want to be better,” Peterson said. “It’s gonna be a course we’ve never played before. We’re just gonna try to build off what we started last week, and, each round, we feel like we can shave away and try to improve our

scores individually, therefore as a team.”

Junior Elly Speece said she looks forward to this week of practice, as she looks to focus on her individual golf game.

“I get to really focus on the area that I need to work at,” Speece said. “This last tournament, I was hitting a lot of greens in regulation. I was striking the ball really well, but I wasn’t very good around the greens. This week, I’m really just trying to dial in and focus on my short game, to see where that takes me into next week.”

Speece will look to improve off her 12th-place finish at St. Joseph Country Club, as she shot a 76 in the first round and an 81 in the second. In the spring season for Northwest, there is not a single home meet on the schedule. Peterson said the team can’t control everything.

Northwest golf sophomore Paige Hoffman follows through with her swing while practicing on the Mozingo Lake Recreation Park driving range April 5. Hoffman hit eight strokes over par during the Holiday Inn Classic

PHOTO GRAPHIC BY SYDNEY COOK DESIGNER