Small Campus, Big Dreams by Talon

Talon

ISSUE 87 / SPRING / 2017

SMALL SCHOOL BIG DREAMS

INSIDE: FEATURE

INTERNATIONAL

SPORTS

WHY I MARCHED

TRUMP V INTERNATIONALS

TREY SLAYS THE COURT

PAGE 14

PAGE 26

PAGE 44

INSIDE

Photo From Jessica Albina

LIFESTYLE

INTERNATIONAL

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CONTRIBUTORS EDITOR IN-CHIEF GRACYN REED MANAGING EDITOR BRIANNA PERALTA SPORTS EDITOR RYAN MEYER INTERNATIONAL EDITOR MOHAMMED ALABDULLAH PHOTOGRAPHY EDITORS JESSICA ALBINA JOY BRANCH ADVISOR DR. J ANTHONY SNORGRASS

TALON TEAM SCOTT BOWER YESSICA RAMIREZ ZACH HOEFLICKER TREY BALES CHRIS GRISSOM DYLAN DOSS ZARIA DUKES LAUREN LARSON MEGAN DUFFY OMAR ALNASSER YESSICA RAMIEREZ HANAE ISHIKAWA LEXI YANEZ AJ OVIEDO LEXI CLARY MAHDI ALFOTIAH PENNY FENN ZACH HOEFLICKER

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ON THE COVER & BACK: COVER: Photo From Jessica Albina. BACK: Photo from Amy Kimsey ISSUE 87 |

EDITORIAL POLICY The Talon News Magazine is produced by students of Avila University. Opinions expressed are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect those of the Talon News Staff, the Trustees, administration, faculty, or staff of the University. The Talon News Magazine encourages letters to the editor. These may be submitted electronically or in writing and should include the writerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name, address, and telephone numbers for verification purposes. Letters can be mailed to the Talon News Magazine Editor, Avila University, 11901 Wornall Road, Kansas City, MO 64145. The Talon reserves the right to edit letters for reasons of space, clarity, or inappropriate language. Copies of the Talon News Network Operational Guidelines may be requested by writing to the above referenced address.

If you’d like to become a contributor, we’d love to hear from you! (Photos, articles, poems, etc. we accept it all!)

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FROM THE EDITOR I am so excited to release my first issue as Editor-in-Chief. This has been an amzing issue from everyone. Our writers produced so much amazing content it was hard to narrow down which stories to include. Our photography staff, Jessica and Joy, took some fantastic photos that you will find throughout the issue. They always produce great photographs but this issue they have outdone themselves. I couldn’t have produced this issue without the help of my team. Without them, my job would be so much harder and much more time consuming. This issue is all about where we came from. We have students disccusing how they grew up, how they came to America, and how their love for sports began. Some of our writers also discuss The Women’s Movement, something that is growing in coverage around the world. These women are not only brave for discussing their feelings but also strong for taking the criticisim. Ladies, we applaud you. Lastly, this issue hits close to home as we give previews for many Avila spring sports. Not only is sports one of my biggest passions, but also a majority of the students at Avila are athletes. Don’t forget to check out other content on our social media pages. We love to interact with our readers.

UNTIL NEXT TIME Gracyn Reed Editor-in-Chief

ISSUE 87 |

TALON TEAM Q&A Getting to know the behind the scenes team Joy Branch

Gracyn Reed – Editor and Chief From Blue Springs, Missouri. Most known for the use of words “SWAGTASTIC” and “COOLIO”. Plans to continue the leadership on the Talon put in place before her. Brianna Peralta – Managing Editor From Long Beach, California. Most known for being awkward and playing softball (or one of the two). Actually spends too much time online. Plans to bring a creative aspect to the Talon. Ryan Meyer – Sports Editor From O’Fallon, Missouri. Most known for outgoing personality and love of sports. Actually preformed in a high school musical. Plans to grow the sports section greater. Mohammed Alabdullah – International Editor From Hasa, Saudi Arabia. Most known for his creativity (he doesn’t know why exactly). Plans to present the Talon in the best light ever and help with everything he’s got.

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Photo From Joy Branch Q: What is the Talon? BP - The Talon is a magazine that is written for the students and by the students. RM - The Talon is a news magazine on campus that allows students to write stories and articles that they normally would not be allowed to write if they went to a larger school. Q: Why is the Talon important? GR - The Talon is important to the school and to me because I feel it is important to get the word out about what’s happening here, not only on campus but around the world. Q: How does the talon impact Avila and the surrounding community? BP - The Talon impacts Avila and the Community in a bunch of different ways, in that it really does give people a voice and lets people use that voice in ways that are different than maybe other clubs. MA - The Talon let’s students express their mind, feelings, and thoughts through a few letters on a page that represents a lot. Q: What are your goals this year for the Talon?

RM - My goals as the sports editor for the Talon are to make sure people are given a voice to write about things that they are passionate about. Q: How have you grown the talon in the past and will continue to grow the talon in the future? GR - The Talon has grown immensely in the past few years; we’ve grown from a 30-page publication to 64 pages. We’ve won over 9 awards in national competitions. It’s just important to keep growing and keep pushing ourselves to the best of our abilities. MA - The Talon used to be one section which was [lifestyle] but it evolved and moved to sports and international section. Q: How will growing the talon continue to impact the Avila community? GR - Growing the Talon to continue to impact the community is a big part of what we are doing now because we want not only Avila members but also members of our surrounding community to know what the Talon is, what we stand for, what we write about and the different issues we discuss in each issue. ISSUE 87 |

AVILA OR BUST Why I chose Avila Brianna Peralta When I was looking at colleges to go to, I had a couple of different options. I knew I wanted to go to a school with a good Communication department, a softball team, and somewhere where I could call home for what could have been the most important years of my life. If you had told me my junior year of high school that I would end up at a small private school in Missouri I would have told you that you were crazy. I had big dreams and I thought that a big school was the only way for those dreams to ever see the light. I always had my heart set on going to a big school in California. Somewhere by the beach that was also close to where I lived and was well known.

There was one thing that separated Avila from all those big schools. There was the fact that at Avila I felt like a part a community of people that wanted me to succeed. They didn’t look at me as a number but as an opportunity. The benefits of going to a small school allowed me to grow not only as a student but as an individual. Large universities can be very alienating places. There it’s easy to feel that no one cares about you and whether you learn anything. At Avila, they have room to care. You see I didn’t come from a small town but I still have those same big dreams as everyone else. Avila seemed like the place to help make those dreams a reality. Photo From Brianna Peralta

IS WORLD VENTURES RIGHT FOR YOU? Pyramid scheme or the real thing? Dylan Doss To many, World Ventures seems like a pyramid scheme or something that just doesn’t fit around their lifestyle, which prevents them from becoming a representative. Those representing World Ventures would argue to ask, and point out, why one wouldn’t want to change their lifestyle completely to be involved as an entrepreneur in this multilevel-marketing business opportunity that would lead to fun, freedom, and fulfillment. World Ventures is all about travel and business while allowing it’s representatives to access wholesale prices through resorts, cruises, theme parks, hotels, tickets, sports, and more, not including airfare, to those only that are representatives of this company. To become a representative, one must choose 1 of 3 payment options that all lead to different perks and benefits that accompany you on your ‘Dream Trip’. Dream Trips are World Ventures Product, and these are the very trips that people have claimed to change their lives completely, benefitting them with both freedom in finances and value of their time of life. If you have ever seen a blue sign on social media that reads ‘You should be here!’, understand that this is the World Venture’s representatives way to easily network market these dream trips by posting their experience on Logo From Worldventures.com

their blog or page displaying this one of a kind vacation you can hardly find elsewhere that includes such a profound community and diversity of people. Austin Tate, a High School friend of mine from Blue Springs, MO, shared several of his Dream Trip experiences and travels that ultimately led to a major change in his lifestyle, one that he is very proud of to have made and isn’t planning on looking back again but only forwards. Austin believes World Ventures is a wonderful opportunity to follow your dreams, create your adventure, and change your lifestyle to something no one would typically think is remotely possible. He explained that World Ventures has only been around for 11 years and has already made over a billion dollars since the beginning of this individual start-up company. Austin has been a member for 13 months while experiencing 10 different dream trips and 5 national events all throughout the United States. A couple of his trips have included a trip to the Grand Canyon and another resorting in Miami. World Ventures has changed Austin’s life and so many others for the better but unfortunately, there are those too who haven’t had much luck in this network chain. What could World Ventures do for you? ISSUE 87 |

AVILA ARTISTS ON POINT What art looks like in Kansas City

Jessica Albina Art is truly extraordinary. It allows people to express themselves, record moments in time and it even helps us heal in ways that medicine canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t. However, there is a huge misconception that in order to pursue a career in art you have to move to a larger city to be successful. Whereas that might be true for some people I have found that it is very possible to achieve a career in art here in Kansas City. I spoke with two aspiring artists at Avila University and asked them what it means to be an local artist. Junior Film and Digital Media Major, Yessica Ramirez, spends most of her time outside of school doing photography. She has a unique style and is known for her portraits that follow a theme of body positivity. I asked her about being a local Artist and she explained that in regards to Photo From Jessica Albina

her photography, the most challenging thing is to gain a following audience regardless of the city you live in. Also stating that it is very possible to gain support here in Kansas City and to make herself stand out and gain exposure she uses social media. Indra Mursid, an Art Therapy student at Avila believes that art is thriving here in Kansas City. She attributes this to the additions such as the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, Nelson Atkins Museum of Art, and the Kansas City Art Institute just to name a few of the big ones. Her goal is to use art as a way to give back to her country and help veterans through the use of art therapy. Mursid noted that the art community here in Kansas City may not be as large as those in New York or Milan but art exists here and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s constantly growing.

BIG DREAMS BIG PLANS

Avila performer takes steps in his direction Chris Grissom

Photo From Chris Grisson

Imagine being a kid whose dream is to play college football. You go to a school that fits you perfectly and before you know it you are a true freshman on the field playing the game you love. To make it even more interesting you get playing time in the first game of the season. To top it all off you are 17 years old. Sounds impressive, right? That’s exactly how things went for Aaron Rodgers who is now a sophomore defensive back for the Avila Eagles. You may have already knew that though. But what you might not have known is that in his free time he is making big strides to be one of the most up and coming music artists in the area. His most recent thing being a music video he did that was then posted on his Facebook. Having performed at the Hollywood celebrity center 2011 when he was 13 and the California

Dance Festival in 2010. So he has some experience when it comes to performing in front of large crowds. According to him music is something that just always came naturally to him. When asked how it all began he replied, “I started as soon as I could walk. I just loved everything about music. I used to play the trumpet. But dance has always been something that I have been passionate about.” Growing up in California the inspiration for music is limitless. Aaron credits his to watching 106 and park, following in the steps of his favorite dancers and performers like Michael Jackson, Usher, and Chris Brown. And just like this performer brings his own flavor to the music game while continuing another love for sports at Avila. “If I could play football as good as I could dance I would be a star. I would be Odell Beckham.” ISSUE 87 | 11

THE WOMENS MOVEM The meaning behind the movement Gracyn Reed Recently, since the new presidential administration has moved in, it has been brought to the attention of the country that women are underrated. Women have been fighting for their rights, the same rights that men seem to be guaranteed, for a long time now. Not only are abortion rights on the table, but lately also the right for equal pay and the right to do anything a man can do is also in the hot seat Honestly do women really want to do whatever men can do? I thought we were supposed to be different then men? In the pages to follow, you will find how Avila students, and women around the world feel about the current situation.

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PHOTO FROM GRACYN REED

MENT Photo From Gracyn Reed

ISSUE 87 |

WHY I MARCHED

The truth behind the sign Lexi Yanez

There have been hundreds, if not thousands, of videos and articles out on the internet of people voicing their opinions about the Women’s March that happened all around the world on January 21st, 2017. Everyone is obviously entitled to their own opinion, but I also believe that many people were unaware, or confused, about what the march was really supposed to be about. It’s no surprise that there have been many controversies surrounding our new President, Donald Trump, throughout his whole campaign. He has insulted immigrants, people of color, women, the LGBTQIA community, and more, which has resulted in millions of people feeling as if their President doesn’t have their best interests in mind. Women, men, and children all around the world put together this march so we could come together in solidarity, take a stand, and demand that our voices be heard. The mission of the Women’s March, according to their website, is, “We stand together in solidarity with our partners and children for the protection of our rights, our safety, our health, and our families - recognizing that our vibrant and diverse communities are the strength of our country.” So, this march wasn’t necessarily “anti-Trump” but more of a way to make some noise and demand that we continue to take

steps in the right direction to make our country a better place to live. I don’t want to seem as if I take the rights and freedoms that I have for granted. I am extremely grateful that I get to live in a country where I can vote, protest, work, etc. but I also believe that I have valid reasons for attending the march. I chose to march because I believe that every woman has the right to choose what she does with her body. I believe that every woman should be paid the same amount of money as a man does for the same work. I believe every woman who is raped or sexually assaulted shouldn’t be blamed because of what they wore or because she was drinking. I believe that any man, young or old, who sexually assaults and/or rapes a woman, should serve time in prison instead of being slapped on the wrist because “they have a future ahead of them.” I also believe that us women, men, and children deserve to have a President that will take care of our environment and pay attention to the facts in front of him about climate change. We deserve a President that will listen to our concerns and do something about them. All of them. So, maybe you agree with me, and maybe you don’t, but these are some of the reasons why myself, and millions of others around the world, marched. I think it’s important that people hear these reasons, research form an educated Photo Fromthem, Lexiand Yanez opinion rather than relying on social media to give them their answers.

A DAY WITHOUT WOMEN WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE WOMEN OF THE US

In the latest news on the protesting for women, the organizers have decided to organize “A Day Without Women”. Women who are partaking in the upcoming protest feel that if women aren’t treated equally then why should they be considered in the work force at all? But this isn’t the first time this has ever happened. On October 24, 1975, it’s estimated 90% of women in Iceland chose not to work inside or outside the home in order to raise awarness about the inequality and the underestimation women are put through. It’s important for men, other women, and children of all genders to understand that equality is what life in the United States is all about. As a woman, I think it is extremely important to stand up for our rights. I think it’s important that we thank and honor all of the women who came before us and fought for the rights that we have today. We have to continue to stand up for what we believe in, fight against the injustices that we face everyday, and continue to build each other up rather than tear each other down.

MARCH ON WHERE? Politcs and the women’s march Zaria Dukes The day after the presidential inauguration of Donald J. Trump thousands of women, men and children arrived in Washington D.C, wearing pink “pussy hats”, holding protest signs, and sending a strong message to the United States government. However, the demonstrators in Washington D.C were not the only ones sending a message. The Women’s March on Washington spawned protest across the country and around the world. During the worldwide protests, there were several signs supporting different social causes. The Women’s March objective is to address women’s rights as human rights, but the organizers believe women’s rights intersect with every social justice issue. The signs at the Women’s March ranged from supporting Planned Parenthood to Black Lives Matter. According to the Women’s March official website, the mission and vision is to “…stand together in solidarity with our

Photo From Jessica Albina

partners and children for the protection of our rights, our safety, our health, and our families—recognizing that our vibrant and diverse communities are the strength our country.” The idea for a women’s march started in the midst of the 2016 Presidential election. Trump’s campaign speeches made him a controversial nominee. His comments towards minorities and women caused outrage, and many labeled his political platform as racist and misogynistic. Trump’s demeaning comments throughout the election may have been a catalyst for women to march. On the other hand, some marchers feared a Trump presidency as a threat to progressive policies. There were various reasons why people chose to attend the Women’s March. But the beauty of the march was the unity—and the peaceful assembly of citizens on every continent. The question now is, what do we do after the march?

PINK HAT POWER The voice behind the hats Lauren Larson Photo From Lauren Larson

If you have watched the news in the last month, I am sure you are aware of some current events. A day after President Trump’s inauguration, there was a march held in Washington, D.C.: The Women’s March. If you have seen pictures of the women’s march around the world, you may have noticed the hats that were worn by supporters. They are called “Pussy Hats”. These hats are pink and they have cat like ears. So who started this movement? Well two friends Jayna Zweiman and Krista Suh. They thought that these hats are perfect for the cold temperatures in Washington D.C. It is incredible what this hat represents. Some may say it is a fight against Donald Trump and his rude comments that he has made about women. Some may say that this hat represents that they are pro-choice. I would just like to point out the irony that these hats are pink.

The women at the march were fighting for equality and equal opportunity. Ironically the color pink that has been associated with the female gender. The hat is also about fighting for human rights and expressing that I am the one who decides what happens to my body. They’re about choice. I predict that more women will start to knit these pink hats. A trend and movement is on the rise. What people wear day to day says something about their personality. These hats show what people stand for. My impression is that their goal was to unite people across the country and this hat was the way, because it was an opportunity for people that were not able to attend to show support. These hats show support. It is time to rise and make a fashion statement. Get out there and start knitting. ISSUE 87 |

Photo From Megan Duffy

IS TRUMP TANKING FAST? Trumps first few weeks

Megan Duffy It has only been a couple weeks and Donald Trump as already signed multiple orders to deliver on promises he made while campaigning. Since his Inauguration on January 20, 2017, Trump has signed orders regarding his plan for a wall on the Mexican-American border, immigration orders and more. For just a couple weeks President Trump is moving awfully fast, contradicting what former President Barack Obama did his first couple years in office. Is Donald Trump moving fast to make some type of point or is he afraid of possibilities of not being able to sign these orders in the future. After Trump signed the Immigration ban multiple protests and riots broke out throughout the country in multiple airports. Could these protests turn into an attempt to have the new president impeached? According to Time magazine, “Donald Trump is facing

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significant criticism from Republican officials and conservative groups who are rattled by his ban on immigrants and refugees from Muslim-majority nations,” Trump is stepping into some treacherous waters making these big of decisions this early in his presidency. If Trump continues to make decisions that don’t sit well with the American Public and the House of Representatives, he could be leading himself into his own impeachment. Trump needs to get advice from his team before deciding on decisions as big as these. Trump has made a lot of moves fast and in some cases it would mean change is happening, but not everyone agrees that these are changes that need to be made. At the rate Trump is moving he could be out of office faster than he can sign his name on the next executive order.

DOGS CATCHING SHAME? A Dogs Purpose backlash

Lexi Clary Recently, there has been a lot of controversy with the movie “A Dogs Purpose”. The arguments surrounding it, from my opinion, are one sided; “he said she said’ type of thing. One side is saying the dog was “distressed and being endangered” while an article by Vanity Fair states in an interview, that Dennis Quaid, the actor of the movie, stated “there was no animal abuse on the set”…and if there had been, he would have walked. The American Humane Association reviewed the footage and stated they were completely disturbed with what they saw and are taking preventative measures for the dogs well being. According to CNN, “The AHA safety representative who was on set during the time of filming is now being placed on immediate leave.” But how many times has something like this happened? I don’t know which side is wrong and which side is right, but I do know if it is true, it bring up some good points. Maybe the question we should be asking is how many times does animal abuse actually occur in the media? We always see movies with live animals in them, talking and performing more than basic tricks, but how often do we think about what the animal goes through and how they are treated? Animals can’t talk, so we have a hard

Photo From Gracyn Reed time understanding what they are communicating. Whenever you see the wording, “No Animals Were Harmed” in the making of this movie, this seal of approval is supposed to ensure the animals safety. In more movies than the one previously stated, animal abuse happens more times than we think, and the AHA fails to bring these concerns into the light. This is not the first time an instance like this has occurred, the only difference is that someone chose this film to use to bring it to people’s attention. According to Arwa Lodhi, movies such as Life of Pi, where the tiger was nearly drowned and the “email that expressed concern for the animal’s welfare was suppressed” demonstrates how the AHA has failed to be proactive in taking preventative measures to ensure the animals safety. ISSUE 87 |

DEALING WITH ANXIETY Adulting 101 Brianna Peralta and Gracyn Reed Honestly, we all know soeone who has suffered from anxiety in some part of their life. Some suffer more than others, and everyone deals with things differently. The honest truth is anxiety sucks, so here are some tips to make it suck less 1. Take a deep breath I know this sounds like an easy thing to do but when your brain goes into panic mode, its super easy to forget things like this. Make it a conscious effort to focus your attention on deeper breathing. 2. Realize that your brain is playing tricks on you You just have to remind yourself that you are not dying, this feeling will pass but, this is your brain playing tricks on you. 3. Keep your hands busy Whether you decide to start a DIY project, do your makeup, or maybe cook something up. Keeping yourself busy is a good way to keep your mind off the things that are making you feel anxious in the first place. 4. Try “grounding” Grounding is a technique to help keep someone present. One way to do this is the 5-4-3-2-1 technique. There are 5 steps to take to help find some relief. Acknowledge 5 things you can

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see around you, 4 things you can touch, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell and 1 thing you can taste. With some practice this trick can definitely help to cope with anxiety. 5. Throw a dance party Put on some jams and pump up the volume and dance it out. Nothing like some good tunes to make you feel mighty and empowered. 6. Wrap yourself in a blanket like a burrito I don’t know what it is about wrapping yourself up in a blanket that makes it feel like you’re getting a nice warm hug but it really does feel great. Nothing bad can happen when you’re wrapped in a blanket burrito. 7. Look at baby animals on the internet In real life or on the internet there is something about tiny animals that really puts people in a better mood. 8. Exercise Getting your blood pumping is a proven way to reduce stress. Exercise can help you feel good and maintain your health. 9. Scream/laugh/cry/feel into a pillow

Unleash all the feels into a pillow, it won’t fight back. 10. Talk to someone Whether it be a friend, guidance counselor, or a therapist sometimes the best way to get over anxious feelings is to talk them out. You don’t have to know why you feel the way you feel but there is something empowering about finding

comfort in your discomfort. When dealing with anxiety, there are so many things you need to continue to think about but one is to remain yourself. If you have been diagnosed by a doctor with anxiety, don’t forget to never let your disease define you. Everything you do makes you who you are and that’s what life is all about.

Photo From Jessica Albina ISSUE 87 |

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ISSUE 87 / SPRING / 2017

INTERNATIONAL SECTION

INSIDE: FEATURE

FEATURE

TRUMP VS INTERNATIONALS

YOU CAN BE ANYTHING YOU WANT

CHEERLEADER WITH A DREAM

PAGE 26

PAGE 28

PAGE 33

Contents

BRINGING THE WORLD TO AVILA AND AVILA TO THE WORLD

26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35

TRUMP V INTERNATIONALS THE HIDDEN TRUTH IN THE TRUMP ORGANIZATION ARABIC TRANSLATION ARABIC TRANSLATION YOU CAN BE ANYTHING YOU WANT HOW TO BE HAPPY WITH OURSELVES SPANISH TRANSLATION SPANISH TRANSLATION ALTERNATIVE REALITY COPING WITH CHANGE ARABIC TRANSLATION ARABIC TRANSLATION JAPENESE TRANSLATION JAPENESE TRANSLATION CHEERLEADER WITH A DREAM HER JOURNEY FROM TOKYO TO KANSAS CITY WHY ARE YOU HERE? MY JOURNEY TO AMERICA ARABIC TRANSLATION ARABIC TRANSLATION

ON THE COVER: Photo From Joy Branch LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

â&#x20AC;&#x153;We all are here, and we came from somewhere looking for opportunity, looking for change. Overcoming the challenges is a challenge by itself, and without great will that opportunity is wasted. Overcoming the challenges today makes you stronger to achieve bigger goals, and sometimes you have to make the opportunity yourself. In every letter there is a meaning, how about a whole word. Mohammed Alabdullah, International Editor

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TRUMP V INTERNATIONALS

The hidden truth in the Trump organization Omar Alnasser

Photo From Omar Alnasser

Hillary Clinton was a big hope for the international students who live in the United States for education purposes. A couple months ago when the election began between Clinton and Trump, everything said that it is impossible for Trump to win. From the debates that we saw most of us noted how Hillary was strong and confident, and we also saw the weaker side of Trump while the debating was live to millions of people. Tuesday November 8/2016, the tables flipped, and Trump wins the presidential election. After Trump won, what is the reaction of the internationals? Mohammed Baghdadi is a senior student here at Avila University. He

says that he was not expecting Trump to win because he was shocked when Hillary lost. The question that I had asked Mohammed is, “If you are in the freshman year what will you do?”. His answer was, “For the three next years I will not go back home to visit my family. That would be hard for me to take [in] because I am afraid when I go back the immigration will not allow me to enter the US.” Finally, he says that he is glad this is his last semester and also pleased that in May he will finish his bachelor degree. All in all, nowadays you should expect anything in this world. Do not trust what you hear until you see it happen.

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YOU CAN BE ANYTHING YOU WANT How to be happy with ourselves Yessica Ramirez

“ Just because you have a camera, doesn’t make you a photographer.” This saying infuriates me. I can be anything I want. Hell, I can be Superman if I wanted to be. Just because you aren’t the best, you are seen as something less than a photographer. You can’t expect everyone to be a professional from the start. That’s not how life goes. Everyone starts from the bottom. I love doing photography because I have such a passion for it. I know, and have more confidence than Kanye has of Kanye, that I will be absolutely great at what I do. You have to have that mindset and never ever doubt yourself. Coming from a small city has its advantages. Your church community, work area, family, and classmates start recognizing your work. You want to get your own city to know you first. Personally, this is essential when starting out. The first thing you should to do is get the attention from where you are.

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I want someone to look at something and think, “That looks like something Yessica would do.” That’s definitely my first goal. My next goal would then be getting to the other level: having my work recognized elsewhere as well. You can be and do anything you set your mind to. In order to make it to the top you have to be patient with yourself, and most of all be your own supporter. The first time you do something isn’t always going to be the best. One of the many reasons why you should keep going at it. There is no need to rush everything because you’ll learn it eventually, you shouldn’t fight the universe. Sometimes you have to be as fluid as liquid in this life and let everything take its place. You have to push yourself in order to succeed. One bad day can’t be the reason why you let it all go. You’ve come this far, keep going. Fight harder. You keep falling? Get back up, find a new route and keep going.

Photo From Yessica Ramirez

PUEDES SER LO QUE QUIERAS Como ser feliz con nosotros mismos Yessica Ramirez

Photo From Yessica Ramirez

“Sólo porque tienes una cámara, no te hace un fotógrafo.” Este dicho me enfurece. Puedo ser lo que quiera. Puedo ser Superman si quisiera serlo. No puedes esperar que todos sean profesionales desde el principio. La vida no es así. Todo el mundo empieza desde abajo. Amo hacer lo que hago porque tengo una pasión por él. Lo sé, y tengo más confianza de lo que Kanye tiene de Kanye, que seré absolutamente la mejor en lo que hago. Tienes que tener esa mentalidad y nunca dudes de ti mismo. Viniendo de una ciudad pequeña tiene sus ventajas. Su comunidad de la iglesia, área de trabajo, familia y compañeros de clase comienzan a reconocer su trabajo. Quieres que tu propia ciudad te conozca primero. Personalmente, esto es esencial para comenzar. Lo primero que debes hacer es llamar la atención de donde estás. Quiero que mi trabajo y mi estilo sean reconocidos. Quiero que alguien mire algo y piense “eso

se parece a algo que Yessica haría.” Ése es definitivamente mi primer objetivo. Mi siguiente objetivo sería llegar al otro nivel: tener mi trabajo reconocido en otro lugar también. Puedes ser y hacer cualquier cosa que usted pone su mente a. Para llegar a la parte superior hay que ser paciente con usted mismo, y sobre todo ser su propio apoyo. La primera vez que haces algo no siempre va a ser el mejor. Una de las muchas razones por las que debe seguir adelante. No hay necesidad de tener prisa en todo porque lo aprenderás al final, no debes luchar contra el universo. A veces tienes que ser tan fluido como líquido en esta vida y dejar que todo tome su lugar. Tienes que esforzarte para tener éxito. Un mal día no puede ser la razón por la que dejes todo ir. Has llegado hasta aquí, sigue adelante. Luchar más duro. Sigues cayendo? Recupérate y encuentre una nueva ruta y siga adelante. ISSUE 87 |

ALTERNATIVE REALITY Coping with change Mohammed Alabdullah

Change, the classic issue that sometimes is preferred to a person to stay the way he is and to resist change. The trick is in finding where change is necessary to cope with reality. At a younger age, the experience of moving out from a house to another that is a couple of miles down the road, it was a challenge, with promising your childhood friends to keep in touch. Even though it’s a small change, it’s big in the eyes of a child. We underestimate it as we grow up, until we face it ourselves and realize how difficult it is, even with our experience in it as adults. As 2016 approaching December, I was excited to go back home to Saudi Arabia, to my hometown of Hasa. As an experienced adult with both lifestyles and after spending two years in Kansas City, I thought it would be easy to cope with the change, but it wasn’t as I thought, and that made me realize the level of difficulty of change. An internal struggle started, I was asking myself

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which life should I get used to, and is school just an excuse to “getaway” for a few years. I met my childhood friends from Hasa, and one of them is graduated and the other is a teacher, life never stops, I was happy to see them. Each day goes by, I get asked: “When are you graduating?” I heard that as “When are you coming back?” That question left me in suspension, where I didn’t see home either here or there. It’s like a 16 hours flight that I have been awake 15 hous and reality seemed distorted. Naturally, at this time resolving this issue would be great. I have planned the path of my life; I was just in a narrow vision for a minute. I’m glad I caught this before it got out of hand. I’ve reviewed myself over and over, and the reason I’m here, or there is to complete a journey. A story my listeners would find inspiring and amusing, and that makes me happy. You can find happiness wherever you go, you simply have to find the courage to look for it.

Photo From Mohammed Alabdullah

Photo From Banon Royer

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CHEERLEADER WITH A DREAM

Her journey from Tokyo to Kansas City Hanae Ishikawa As an international student, I’ve been asked so many times why I came to Avila. Each international student has own unique reason to study abroad. I’m not going to lie, it’s not easy to stay here without family and friends. Especially in the beginning, if you can’t speak English fluently, it’s very hard to keep up with academic classes. There is a Japanese girl who is in the Avila cheer team. Yuho Kanda is a freshman at Avila University and went to UCA National Championships in January in Orlando, Florida. The Eagles brought home their third consecutive top three finish in the Open All-Girl Cheer division. Yuho is 19 years old and from Tokyo, Japan. She has begun cheerleading when she was 16 as she entered high school. “My big sister used to be in the cheer team so I guess it was natural for me to follow her steps,” Yuho said. She had opportunities to enter some cheerleading competitions in Japan while she was in high school; however, she had not been awarded a prize. After graduation from high school, she’s decided to study abroad and continue cheerleading in the United States. Yuho

wanted to be in all-girl cheer team and also was looking for the team that does three high pyramids. The Eagles were just a perfect match for her. She realized there are so many differences between Japan and the U.S through cheerleading. In Japan, students had to choreograph dance by themselves, but in here, coaches choreograph and she just needs to remember the number. The way they perform, how they practice are different. Also how the girls in the team interact each other is totally different in between Japan and the U.S. Yuho said, “When I was so nervous, my teammates and coaches gave me courage. They told me that I would do great.” She told me how happy she was when the Eagles won third place. “I never had been awarded a prize in Japan, so I was filled with a feeling of accomplishment!” Yuho proudly said. Personally I am so proud of her because I know how hard it must’ve been for her to study English, attend academic classes, and practice every day. Her journey has just begun, and I know she will accomplish something great more in the future. ISSUE 87 |

WHY ARE YOU HERE My journey to America Mahdi Alfotiah

We should all be happy because we are in the best country with the best education in the world. Before I came here I had a dream. My dream was to finish my education in the U.S. I wanted to go someplace new and exciting with a lot of opportunities. I wanted the challenge of learning a new language and being in a different environment than I was used to. I felt it was important to challenge myself and try to learn as much as possible about different cultures before going home to start my career. I know that I will work in a diverse company so knowing English is essential to success. There were many steps to how I got here. First, I filled out an application to apply to get a visa from the U.S Embassy. I had to go through an interview and promise that I would

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come home after my studies. I was very lucky and I got the visa in two days. I was very happy when I got it. After that, I told all my family that I was going to the U.S to finish my education. Not all of my family liked my idea, but the important people to me were my parents and my older brother. I had many discussions with them where I told them of my plan to improve my chances for a better career by studying abroad. It took some time, but finally they accepted my idea and gave me their blessing and support. My father gave me the advice to work hard in the beginning so that I will be fine after it. Coming to the states has been a real challenge because when I came to the U.S. I knew no English at all. But I know that all my hard work will be worth it and I am proud to be studying here.

Photo From Mahdi Alfotiah

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ISSUE 87 / SPRING / 2017

SPORTS SECTION

INSIDE: FEATURE

FEATURE

LEGENDS LOST

PAR FOR THE COURSE

THE GIRLS ARE BACK AGAIN

PAGE 38

PAGE 42

PAGE 44

Contents

CAPTURING THE LIVES AND INTERESTS OF AVILA’S STUDENT ATHLETES

38 40 41 42 43 44 46 47 48 49 50 51

LEGENDS LOST DEATHS OF MLB PLAYERS MORNED EVERYWHERE WE DON’T SHINE, WE SPARKLE AVILA GLITTER GIRLS WIN BIG AT NATIONALS ONE HEART, ONE TEAM AVILA CHEER TEAM PLACES 3RD IN THE NATION PAR FOR THE COURSE THE FUTURE FOR AVILA GOLF SLAM DUNKS EVERYWHERE MARCH MADNESS PREVEW TREY SLAYS THE COURT TREY BALES MAKES IT TO 1000 CAREER POINTS THE GIRLS ARE BACK AGAIN SOFTABLL SEASON PREVIEW NEW SEASON SAME GOAL EAGLES LOOK TO GO BACK TO BACK FLOW MASTERS AVILA BASEBALL TEAM GOES WITH THE FLOW READY FOR A SURPRISE IN SURPRISE ROYALS SEASON PREVIEW DEFLATEGATE NOT DEFEATED SUPERBOWL LI RECAP THE GOAT FROM NOBODY TO SOMEBODY

ON THE COVER: Photo From Jessica Albina LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Basketball season is wrapping up and spring training is almost underway. In this issue you will read about the ending to a historical battle between NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and the five time winning super bowl champ Tom Brady. You will see predictions for March Madness, as well as previews for Avila’s baseball and softball teams. March means spring is right around the corner and the warm weather will here in Kansas City. Ryan Meyer, Sports Editor

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LOST LEGENDS Deaths of MLB players morned everywhere Penny Fenn

Photo From Gracyn Reed On January 22, 2017 Yordano Ventura, Pitcher for the Kansas City Royals died in a car crash in the Dominican Republic. According to MLB.com the 25 year old was the only person in the car. It was evident that he was not wearing his seat belt and it seems that he wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t driving at high speeds when the crash happened but was in a mountainous air with heavy fog. In a separate incident, Former major league infielder Andy Marte age 33, died in a car crash also in the Dominican Republic. Reports say he was wearing a seatbelt, unlike Ventura. Earlier in the year 2 other MLB players died in motorcycle accidents in the Dominican Republic. In recent years there have been Dominican baseball players who have died on the country`s dangerous highways also. St. Louis Cardinal outfielder Oscar Taveras died in 2014 in a crash in his

hometown Puerto Plata. He was 24. Shortstop Andujar Cedeno died in a crash in his home city of La Romana. He was 31. Why are so many of MLB`s stars and former stars dying on these roads? Former Nationals and Indians Manager Manny Acta, a Dominican native currently managing the Aguilas Cibaenas in the Dominican Winter League, said driving in that country is like the “wild west” or “extreme sports.” Former Nationals and Indians Mnager Manny Acta, a Dominican native says, “Law and order don’t exist,” Acta said. “We don’t have enough cops. If we do have them, they’re underpaid and easy to bribe by people. And there’s minimal punishment for whoever breaks the law. I’m from here, and I won’t even drive. I always hire a driver. It’s an issue that’s deeper than just baseball. It’s cultural. “ ISSUE 87 |

WE DON'T SHINE, WE SPARKLE Avila Glitter Girls win big at nationals Jessica Albina

The UDA National Championships in Orlando, Florida is the time where Avila’s Glitter Girls getthe opportunity to perform and compete against teams from all over the nation. January 13th-15th the Glitter Girls shocked the world of college dance when they placed seventh in the Open Hip Hop division and ninth place in Open Jazz. However, their road to nationals began many months ago where they started preparing, practicing and perfecting theses two dances. Unfortunately, their head coach Cindy Freeman was unable to make the trip to nationals this year due to a family emergency, but she attributes their success at nationals to the girls

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hardworking demeanor throughout the season. So it was up to the team’s two assistant coaches, Keiana Moyer and Mandy Honeycutt, to lead the team in Florida. Dance Team CoCaptain Ysabella Sperling explains some of the challenges they faced this year. “We had a lot of injuries and two days before we left someone got a concussion so we had to reblock both of the dances.” These girls have proven to be more than just beautiful dancers they are athletes. Currently, the team is gearing up for their next competition, the Heart of America Athletic Conference Championships in February where they have been undefeated the past three years.

Photo From Jessica Albina

ONE HEART, ONE TEAM

Avila cheer team places 3rd in the nation Joy Branch

Photo From Joy Branch

Imagine a 2 minute 30 second moment so important that the preparation takes months. The preparation is backed by years of physical and mental training. Free-time is foregone and all of your efforts go into making that 2 minutes and 30 seconds perfect. Sounds stressful right? Well, all of the Avila University cheerleaders are familiar with this situation. They are part of the select few that can say they succeeded under the intense pressure caused by competeing for a national title. On January 14, the team competed at the 2017 UCA College Cheerleading National Championship. The competition was held at Disney World in Orlando, Florida. The cheerleaders are led by head coach Melissa Shipman and assistant coaches Ashlee Williams and Taylor Stephenson. The team placed 3rd in the nation, the third consecutive year with a top 3 finish. This award was not earned

without setbacks. The season was a rebuilding year for the program due to an influx of new freshmen joining the team. Kana Wilkinson was one of the seniors who helped guide the new members through the experience. “We weren’t expecting to get the top numbers that we usually get, but we came through.” A significant motivator to the team this season was Chris Williams. Williams is the husband of Coach Ashlee Williams who learned this year he was in need of a second heart transplant. “We knew what he’s going through, so we just applied that to ourselves. If he can do it and he’s making it, we can do it as well,” freshmen Katie Emmer said. Williams became the face of overcoming adversity to the team. His influence spurred on the drive to finish strong at the competition. Even with the large amount of resistance, the cheerleaders overcame in the end.

Photo From Scott Bower

PAR FOR THE COURSE The future for Avila golf Scott Bower Before the start of the 2016 fall season for golf, coach Chad Habluetzel resigned from coaching at Avila. However, he continued working with students as a swing coach for the fall season and helping out with practice. During the Fall season, the Avila Golf team won their first tournament in nearly six years when Freshmen Abby Clark made a three-foot putt on the first playoff hole at The Dominic tournament on October 11th, 2016. Overall it was a successful season for the Avila Eagles. Dr. Gerald Larson, head of the Kinesiology Department, has been serving as interim head coach after the former head coach resigned. During the second semester in 2017, there

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were some students who left the team and many more will be graduating soon. Corey Cochran, Grace Miller, John Schwarzel, Taylor Livingston, and Jackson Gurley are among the golfers who will be graduating. With that said, Taylor Livingston is also on track to be the Golf Coach for Avila next year. Despite the changes happening, the golfers continue to have an optimistic view for the teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s future. Just like every other sport, golf is also out recruiting new players that are graduating from high school. So there will be a number of new players being added to the team as well. Things are changing for golf, but sports are constantly changing and growing all the time.

SLAM DUNKS EVERYWHERE March maddness preview Ryan Meyer The beginning of February means one thing, March Madness is just around the corner. The theme of this college basketball season is parity. Parity in the league has never been greater with top ten teams losing week after week. Only one undefeated team remains, and that is the Gonzaga Bulldogs. Gonzaga currently sits at 22-0 and atop the AP poll. Gonzaga has key victories over Iowa State, Arizona and Saint Mary’s, however, many will question their ability to play at a high level due to a lack of of competitive schedule. Gonzaga features a two headed attack of guard Nigel Williams-Goss and Przemek Karnowski. Kansas may be the most balanced team with Frank Mason III, Josh Jackson and Devonte’ Graham. Although they lack a dominant inside presence, the duo of Landen Lucas and Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk . Bill Self has built the Jayhawks into a dynasty over the past decade but have yet to cash in on a national championship since 2008. Fellow big 12 member Baylor is off to a hot start with

Photo From NCAA

a 20-1 record and is ranked number two in the current AP poll. Powerhouse Kentucky has a phenomenal freshman named Malik Monk who is taking the college basketball game by storm. Monk is averaging 22.4 points per game while running point for John Calipari’s team. Northwestern has solidified its spot as a contender in the Big Ten race. Northwestern has never made the NCAA tournament but this year they seem to be a sure lock barring a lackluster finish to the season. Some sleepers that could bust a bracket this March are Vermont, New Mexico State and Akron. Vermont, a member of the America East conference is currently sitting at 21-5 and on a thirteen game winning streak. New Mexico state sports a 22-2 record currently, and padded their resume with a road win at Arizona State. The Akron Zips are sitting with a 20-4 record and currently are 10-1 in the MAC conference.

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TREY SLAYS THE COURT Trey Bales makes it to 1000 career points Lexi Yanez Some of you may know Trey Bales as the quiet guy who’s in your class, but most everyone on campus knows of him for his dominance on the basketball court! In just (barely) 3 full seasons Trey has already scored 1,000 career points for Avila University. A record like that deserves special attention so we wanted to shine the spotlight on him and allow everyone to get to know him a little better. Q: “How old were you when you started playing basketball? A: “Um.. Games [were] probably around Kindergarten, but it got competitive around second grade when I went on my first out of town tournament. Q: “What made you interested in basketball?” A: “It was kind of because it runs in my family. My grandpa played and my dad played. My biggest influence was my older brother, I always wanted to be like him and as good as him.” Q: Did you always know you wanted to play basketball in college? A: “Um.. Kind of since 7th grade. That was when my brother went and played in college too. Once I saw him go and play it was something I wanted to do.” Q: What’s your favorite memory so far while playing in college?

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A: “My favorite memory I guess would be scoring my 1000 points. It was at the Evangel game - the second time we played them. My first year we weren’t that great, so I don’t have too many great memories from that first season. They announced my 1000 points and it was special because it was nice to see all

“...it was nice to see all my hard work from the years pay off...” my hard work from the years pay off and everything.” Q: I heard you quit playing a couple of times. Why’d you quit? What made you decide to start playing again? A: “Really I just thought I was done playing and I didn’t really have a desire to play anymore. That semester I was gone I found out I really missed it more than I thought I would. I got the opportunity to come play again and the second time this year was the first day of school I actually wasn’t thinking

about playing or anything and then Duke is good friends with the coach, he’s been playing under him for a while, and they were talking and he reached out to me so I kind of stumbled upon it.” Q: One more question I want to ask you, what set Avila apart from the other schools you had to choose from when deciding to play in college? A: “The biggest thing was it’s close to home so my family can come see just about every game or at least every home game. My parents go to every game regardless but that was a big reason. I guess you asked me why

I decided to come back, everyone’s really close, this year the baseball team is really supportive and that’s really cool. I guess in the past years students come out and really try to support us as much as they can. It feels like a family here.” Now that you’ve gotten to know Trey a little better you can see how hard he’s worked and his dedication to this sport and this school. Hopefully we’ll be seeing more of you out there in the stands cheering him and the rest of the team on during the rest of this season! Congratulations Trey! Photo From Lexi Yanez

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THE GIRLS ARE BACK AGAIN Softball season preview AJ Oviedo Coming into the 2017 season, the expectations are high for the Avila University Eagles Softball team. Under the direction of Head Coach Samantha Honeycutt the Eagles are coming off two of the most successful seasons in program history. These past two seasons have produced a Heart of America Conference tournament title in 2015 en route to earning a bid to the NAIA national tournament, the first appearance in program history. In 2016 even with an impressive 35-20-2 record and a fourth place finish in the HAAC, the Eagles narrowly missed out on yet another national tournament appearance. In the 2017 campaign, the Eagles look to build off the success of recent seasons and claim another berth to the national tournament. This season the Eagles come into the year picked to finish fourth in the Heart of America Conference Preseason Coachesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Poll. However this group of girls knows that championships are won on the field and not in polls. This Eagles

squad is led by a healthy group of returning veterans like Kaycee and Sam Dexter, Abby King, Mackenzie Pritchett, Emilee Biondo, Maddie Mueth, and Hayden Roberts. All of whom played big roles for the Eagles in 2016. One of the keys to success for the Eagles this season will be their middle infield led by junior shortstop Kaycee Dexter, who was a first team All-Conference performer in 2015, and earned yet another 1st team AllConference honor in 2016 despite missing a portion of the season due to an injury. Throw in a fellow first team All-Conference performer, senior second baseman Mackenzie Pritchett and the Eagles will undoubtedly have the most talented group of talented middle infielders in the Heart of America Conference, and certainly can be mentioned amongst the best in the entire country. This yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Eagles squad will certainly look to these two up the middle to help drive their team to success this season.

Photo From Jan Humphrey Photography

NEW SEASON: SAME GOAL

Eagles look to go back to back Trey Bales It is said that winning one championship is hard, but defending a championship is even harder. That is the task for the Eagles baseball team as they’re gearing up to defend their Heart Conference Championship this season. Unfortunately, they will have to do so without the help of last year’s HOA Pitcher of the Year E.J. Merlo as well as first team all-conference players, Kyle Simmons and Anthony Biondo. Although the Eagles lost some key players, they still have enough impact players coming back to get the job done. They will rely heavily on sophomore pitcher Gunnar Friend who went 10-1 with a 2.81 ERA last year as a freshman. The team feels that when Gunnar is on the mound, they will win games. Unfortunately for the Eagles, Gunnar Friend can’t pitch every game, so they will be looking for another pitcher to step up and help them win games. The Eagles are confident at the plate and believe that their hitting will

keep them in games. They will need big production from Junior Brandon Chandler who is showing promise so far before the season. They will also rely on infielders Chase Watt and Tyler Raymond to come up big at the plate and show off their playmaking abilities in the field. An outfielder who has proved reliable is senior Danny Kralicek, who won a gold glove last year in center field. If the Eagles can get consistent play from Friend, Chandler, Watt, Raymond, and Kralicek and then get a couple other guys to step up and bring some quality time on the mound, then they have a good chance at repeating as Heart champions. The Eagles will start off the 2017 campaign with eight games on the road traveling to Oklahoma City February 3rd-5th before heading to Texarkana, TX the 10th-12th. You can catch the Eagles home opener on February 18th at 1pm as they take on Briar Cliff University. Photo From Trey Bales

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FLOW MASTERS

Avila baseball team goes with the flow

Photo From Zach Hoeflicker Zach Hoeflicker

baseball team is all about winning. Everyone on the team agrees that winning games is the goal, but that doesn’t mean they can’t have fun doing it. “Our team’s personality is this. We don’t give a damn what anyone thinks. We like to have fun and stand out. If we are going to lose games, we are going to do it the way we play as a team”, stated Senior catcher Trevor Norbury. “Our team is able to find that balance of staying loose and focused, and that makes us intimidating.” Intimidation is key and it can make any team dangerous before they even step Flow can be defined in multiple on the field. Avila baseball works as different ways. For the baseball a unit and that allows them to stay team, it’s a lifestyle. Whether that’s connected on and off the field. how they act on the field or the This team prides themselves on their wavy hair underneath the hat, Avila ability to get things done in a style baseball has flow. Of course the that others can’t. The Avila University baseball team finished out the 2016 Spring season going 33-26 and winning conference. After a solid season, and having key returning seniors, the baseball team looks to turn around and do it all again. Many teams have the struggle of finding a groove and becoming one as a unit for the next year. That’s not the problem with this year’s team. The problem is many people don’t understand it. All they see is the loud music, crazy personalities, and wild hair. What they don’t see is how the baseball team uses it to fuel them while staying loose and focused. The ball team keeps it rolling and lets it flow.

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READY FOR A SURPRISE IN SURPRISE Royals baseball preview

AJ Oviedo It may still be winter in Kansas City but spring is right around the corner, and with that means the return of Royals baseball at Kauffman Stadium. This offseason has been an eventful, and emotionally draining one for the Royals. The team said goodbye to veterans like Kendrys Morales, who departed to the Blue Jays, and Wade Davis, to the Cubs, both of whom played vital roles in the Royals 2015 World Series campaign. While these stars have departed, the team welcomes fresh faces like first baseman/outfielder Brandon Moss who travels across the state after spending 2016 with the St. Louis Cardinals. However the most notable acquisition this season came in the form of the young and exciting Cuban outfielder Jorge Soler. Soler struggled to break into the loaded Cubs lineup, however, the hope amongst the Royals organization is that the consistency of being in the lineup on a daily basis will give the young outfielder the at-bats needed to grow into a star. Under the established veterans like Alex Gordon & Lorenzo Cain Soler will definitely be a player to watch for the Royals in 2017.

While it will be impossible to replace the presence, excitement and talent that Ventura brought to the mound, the Royals will look to returning starters like Danny Duffy who recently signed a contract extension to stay with Royals until the 2021 season. Rounding out the starting rotation will be returning veterans like Ian Kennedy, Jason Vargas, and Nate Kearns to round out their starting rotation in 2017. This spring training will be an interesting one as the loss of Ventura open up a spot in the starting rotation. Surprise, Arizona seems to be a fitting name for the spring training home of Royals because that is exactly what they will be looking for to replace to void vacated by Ventura on the pitching staff. However, a rising star for the Royals will be their number one prospect pitcher Josh Staumont, who came on the scene in his first professional season following being drafted in the 2015 draft. In his first full season Staumontâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fastball had been clocked in the triple digits. Staumont will certainly be a young pitcher that fans should keep their eye on and look for him to make his major league debut for the Royals in 2017.

Photo From Gracyn Reed

DEFLATEGATE NOT DEFEATED Superbowl LI recap Ryan Meyer Super Bowl LI was one of the most memorable sporting events in the history of football. Although the entire game may not have been appealing to the average fan, the fourth quarter more than made up for it. Tom Brady and the New England Patriots proved to everyone that injuries to key players and a four game suspension could not stop them from achieving another super bowl ring. Deflategate, the scandal in which Tom Brady and the training staff was accused of deflating game balls, was a large headline over the past two years in the NFL. It seemed as if the Atlanta Falcons would come away with the super bowl victory after posting a 28-3 lead late in the third quarter, however, Tom Brady showed that he is the most clutch football player of all time. Down 25 points, Brady led his team back with the help of a fumble recovery by the defense deep in Falcon territory to tie and the game and send it into overtime. Over the course of this comeback, the Patriots were forced to convert two two-

point conversions. The Patriots won the toss in overtime and they didn’t need much time in the overtime stanza to put the Falcons away for good. Brady led the offense down the field and James White capitalized in the end zone on a pitch to the right side to win it for the Patriots. Tom Brady has now won five super bowls, the most by any quarterback. The owner of the New England Patriots Robert Kraft said in the post-game speech that, “Two years ago we won our fourth Super Bowl down in Arizona and I told our fans that was the sweetest one of all. But a lot has transpired during the last two years, and I don’t think that needs any explanation. But I want to say to our fans, our brilliant coaching staff our amazing players who were so spectacular:This is unequivocally the sweetest.” Kraft seemingly took a shot at commissioner Roger Goodell and his choice to suspend Tom Brady for four games this season. New England and the Boston area will be celebrating this one for a long time. Photo From philly.com

Photo From Trey Bales

THE GOAT

From nobody to somebody Trey Bales 198 players were taken before Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in the 2000 NFL draft. Brady is no stranger to being overlooked. Coming out of high school he wasn’t heavily recruited, instead he had to be the one recruiting schools. He sent out tapes of his games to schools all over the nation hoping to catch the attention of college coaches. He finally found a home for himself at the University of Michigan. Things didn’t come easy for him though. After redshirting his freshman year there, he only played in 6 games in his first two years in Ann Arbor. It wasn’t until his junior year that he got the chance to become the starting quarterback. Even as a senior, some people did not want Brady to be Michigan’s starter After his senior season, Brady entered the 2000 NFL draft. He had to wait for 198 players to be drafted ahead of him. The New England Patriots finally took him in the 6th round. Little did anyone know it then, but this would turn out to be the best draft choice of all time.

The 39-year-old has had an illustrious career and is still adding to it. He is a two-time MVP, has been selected to 12 Pro Bowls, and has led his team to more division titles (14) than any other quarterback in NFL history. Brady is a five-time Super Bowl champion. While winning those five Super Bowls, he was named the game’s MVP in four of those wins. Tom Brady is also the quarterback with the most wins of all time with 207. The craziest thing about Tom Brady is, he is 39 years old and has shown no signs of aging leading his team to yet another Super Bowl. I think it is fair to say that if Tom Brady is one of, if not, the greatest quarterback to ever play the game. Tom Brady’s story just goes to show that even though the journey might not start out just right, it doesn’t mean it’s not heading in the right direction. So for anyone who’s on a journey to accomplish anything, don’t quit because things aren’t going your way, keep on keepin’ on like TB12 did. ISSUE 87 |

Photo of Caroline Kimsey from her mom Amy Kimsey

“When you believe in a thing, believe in it all the way, implicitly and unquestionable.” | ISSUE 87

WALT DISNEY