Saturday Sept

By JULIA MOSS

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Sue Bird’s illustrious career ended on Sept. 6 as the Seattle Storm lost a decisive game four in the WNBA semifinals to the Las Vegas Aces by a score of 97-92. Although Bird’s playing career has come to a close, her impact on the WNBA will forever be apparent. Her presence was felt from the moment she stepped foot in the league, and it never diminished during her 20-year career.

Sue Bird entered the WNBA in 2002 after being drafted first overall to the Seattle Storm following her outstanding college career with the University of Connecticut Huskies. It didn’t take long for Bird to make her mark in the league, averaging 14 points and six assists during her rookie season. She was also the only player on the Storm roster to start all 32 games and landed herself on the AllWNBA first team. She finished second in the Rookie of the Year voting, right behind Indiana Fever small forward Tamika Catchings.

The 2002 season served only as a base for the phenomenal career Bird went on to have. The accolades she achieved could be listed forever, including winning four WNBA championships in three different decades (2004, 2010, 2018, 2020), five Olympic gold medals and holding the all-time WNBA assists record, just to name a few. At the core of Bird’s career, it’s obvious that she’s just a winner. She knows how to win when it counts and the cards are stacked against her.

Bird’s playing career only scratches the surface of her character. She is a devoted activist who has won several humanitarian awards including the Moyer Foundation Award and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) Connecticut’s Changemaker Award. One of the biggest accomplishments of Bird’s career is her work as Vice President of the WNBA Players Union and making the 2020 WNBA season safely happen during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also used her position to advocate for social justice issues suggesting that messages be shown on jerseys and on the courts to shine light on issues that America faces. On the court for what is now called the “Wubble” season because of its quarantined nature, “Black Lives Matter” was displayed on the sidelines.

Bird’s also a founder of the media company TOGETHXR, a platform aimed to bring more attention to women in sports. The company was also founded by star athletes Alex Morgan, Chloe Kim and Simone Manuel. Its Instagram account has surpassed 100,000 followers in under two years and consistently brings content from the world of women’s sports, including popular stories surrounding things such as the WNBA and NWSL and stories highlighting younger athletes making differences in their own right.

As Bird signs off on her WNBA career, humility is still at her center. Directly after the Storm’s loss to the Aces, she was asked how it felt to walk off the court for a final time. “I’m so, so, so proud to be a member of the Seattle Storm,” she said. “It has been my honor to play for this franchise, to play for these fans.”

As for regrets, Bird knows this is the right time for her career to come to a close, saying, “Of course my body feels good, so that can trick ya, but there’s a reason why I felt comfortable and I felt confident in this being my last year. Being able to say that out loud was a big hurdle. Once I kind of jumped over that, I knew I did the right thing because of how I felt afterward.”

Bird’s name will forever be synonymous with the greatest athletes to play the game, and while she will be missed on the court, the contributions she made to the game will still be felt as new generations enter the league. picked up yellow cards in the second. UMBC accumulated two yellows, going to William Forby and Jago Lott, while the Rams received one yellow to freshman Bennett Leitner. The game would end in a stalemate, 2-2.

Next, the Rams faced off against Loyola Maryland, playing Tuesday morning after the game was postponed due to weather from its original slot on Monday night. The game would be an inverse of the game against UMBC, as no team got on the board in the first half, with the teams racking up nine total shots.

The second half kept a slow pace, with both teams failing to score. Loyola had more opportunities for the game, totaling 18 shots to Fordham’s nine. However, the Rams had better accuracy, with four of those shots being on goal to the Greyhounds’ three.

The Rams’ record now sits at 2-1-3 for the season, with the other tie coming from their match against #13 Providence College back in August.

Fordham will play their first A-10 matches of the year next, with the first game coming against the University of Rhode Island on Saturday at 7 p.m. That game is followed by a road match against St. Bonaventure University the following weekend. Both of those contests can be watched live on ESPN+.

COURTESY OF TWITTER

Sue Bird calls it quits after an incredible 20-year WNBA career.

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

After a thrilling week of games, Fordham Men’s Soccer netted two ties, drawing 2-2 against the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) Retrievers and 0-0 against the Loyola Maryland Greyhounds.

Both teams came out hot in the first half of the UMBC game, scoring two goals apiece. UMBC got on the board first courtesy of Taylor Calheira in the 12th minute. Calheria got to the ball off of a rebound attempt from teammate Spencer Hanks. The ball was deflected in off senior Fordham defender Conrado Duhour to make the score 1-0 Retrievers.

The Rams equalized the score three minutes later thanks to freshman Nathan Simes. Graduate student Daniel Espeleta took a shot right off a Rams’ corner at the UMBC goalkeeper Quantrell Jones. However, Simes was able to get his foot on it to make the score 1-1. For his efforts against UMBC, Simes received the Atlantic 10 Co-Rookie of the Week award.

The score would continue to bounce back and forth between the Retrievers and the Rams, with the next goal in the 21st minute coming from UMBC’s Ryan Becher, who scored a 30-yard-shot from outside the box.

Twenty grueling minutes would go by until the Rams would score the next goal. Sophomore forward Paolo Primavera received a cross from Espeleta, netting his first goal as a Ram.

Ending the first half, both teams racked up a total of 17 shots, and both would take a backseat in scoring during the second half.

While the second half was quiet in terms of scoring, both teams

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS Paulo Primavera in action.

George Teague’s Reminder of Being an American

By THOMAS AIELLO

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

It is an enormous challenge for some to recall the traumatic events of Sept. 11 and what occurred that day. In the immediate aftermath, the path forward was unclear. How would we, as a nation, respond to such unprecedented events?

One of these responses occurred through the world of sports. Most in the Metropolitan area would point to the Yankees’ run to the World Series in 2001, while others would reference former President George W. Bush throwing out a perfect first pitch.

But does anyone remember Dallas Cowboys safety George Teague?

On Sept. 23, two weeks after the attacks took place, week two of the 2001 NFL season. The Cowboys were coming off a week one loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 10-6.

The Cowboys, dubbed ‘America’s team’, were well past their dynasty years of the mid 1990’s and had come off a 5-11 season in 2000 under head coach Dave Campo. Still, the franchise had the most visible image of any NFL team and continued to boast one of the most lucrative sports teams ever.

The sports world went on pause for about two weeks following the attacks, including Major League Baseball. The Yankees made a magical run to the World Series (their fourth straight World Series appearance), one where Derek Jeter became “Mr. November” before ultimately losing the World Series.

But the Cowboys, amidst all the drama in 2001, reminded the country that we, as Americans, are unstoppable when we stand united.

Unknown to most, the 2001 campaign would be Teague’s final NFL season. He wasn’t the most decorated player in the NFL, but his time in Green Bay and Dallas proved him to be a serviceable safety. Teague didn’t have any moments in the NFL that made you jump out of your seat, but Sept. 23, 2001 was the day he etched his name in history.

In an interview with Fox 4 Sports, Dallas’ Fox correspondent, Teague recalled where exactly he was and what he was doing on Sept. 11.

“We were actually going into practice,” Teague said. “When we came into the training room that day, we had some players who were affected… trying to reach loved ones. It immediately had an impact on the team just because there were other teammates who just said ‘I can’t get a hold of my family.”

Teague had family members who served in the military. His father served in the Air Force for over 20 years, making him no stranger to the meaning of the American flag.

As the Cowboys ran out of the tunnel for the start, Teague took center stage running out solo holding up “Old Glory.”

“It wasn’t really a planned deal, it was knowing someone there with a flag there. As we were running out of the tunnel, a part of me said ‘I wanna take this flag and run out with it.’ The young gentleman who had the flag didn’t put up a fight, and let me have it.”

Out came America’s team in the most dramatic way, with Teague flying the flag high and proud.

Teague’s reminder of what it means to be an American in

COURTESY OF TWITTER George Teague’s run with the flag remains an iconic sports moment.

dire times united the nation, and he provided a guiding light to Americans who felt lost at a time that was so otherworldly. Close to the 21st anniversary of Sept. 11, many still look back at the moments that tore this nation’s heart out and question Americans’ morals and strength. Then you have the good moments, the ones that brought us closer together than ever before. So many images of 9/11 are of pain, but there are also those that show triumph.

George Teague’s moment on the field was one that encapsulated everything this country is all about: to never forget that tragic day, to stand strong in tough times and feel proud to be an American.

By MICHAEL HERNANDEZ

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR EMERITUS

Over the past three weeks, Formula 1 (F1) returned from its summer break with a triple header, starting with the Belgian Grand Prix, followed by the Dutch Grand Prix and the Italian Grand Prix.

When F1 arrived at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps for the Belgian Grand Prix, most of the teams decided to take new engine components which brought on grid penalties if they exceeded their original allocation. Spa is an excellent location to get these penalties due to the various overtaking opportunities that are available around the track. This year’s main title rivals, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, announced they would be taking new components and triggering those penalties, forcing them to start the race from the back of the grid.

As the 20 drivers lined up on the grid, Verstappen started 14th with Leclerc starting right behind in 15th. When the lights went out, all 20 drivers got away cleanly. However, not even a half-lap into the race, Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes and Fernando Alonso’s Alpine crashed together, forcing Hamilton to finish early due to the severe damage. Meanwhile, on the second lap, Valtteri Bottas’ Alfa Romeo ended up in the gravel trap, forcing the safety car to come out.

While all of that was happening at the front, Verstappen was flying through the field. When the safety car came out, he was already in eighth place. Meanwhile, Leclerc was forced to pit during the safety car due to a tear-off getting stuck in his brakes. Once the race restarted, Verstappen continued his charge. On lap eight, he was already in third place with his teammate Sergio Perez in second and Leclerc’s teammate Carlos Sainz in first. Verstappen’s pure speed allowed him to surpass Perez.

Sainz pitted first on lap 11, with Perez then pitting on lap 14 and Verstappen pitting on lap 15. When Verstappen emerged from the pits, he came out ahead of Perez but just behind Sainz. But on lap 18, he easily cruised past Sainz and started to build a gap. Perez was eventually able to pass Sainz on lap 21 to make it a Red Bull one-two finish. After 44 laps, Verstappen won the race in dominating fashion to increase his championship lead against Leclerc who ended up finishing sixth.

Then, F1 went to Zandvoort for the Dutch Grand Prix, with Verstappen starting his home race on the right step by getting pole position just ahead of Leclerc. When the lights went out, Verstappen was able to retain the lead. While Verstappen and Leclerc were on soft tires, the Mercedes duo of Hamilton and George Russell started the race on mediums with a potential one stop on the cards.

Leclerc pitted on lap 17 with Verstappen pitting immediately after with both going to medium tires. The Mercedes pair stayed out and inherited the lead with Hamilton leading Russell. On lap 28, Verstappen finally caught up with one of the Silver Arrows and was able to pass Russell for second place. Once that happened, Hamilton pitted on lap 29 and Russell pitted on lap 31 for hard tires with a one stop in mind. At this point, it seemed like Mercedes had a stroke of genius due to the fact that neither Verstappen or Leclerc could make it to the end on their tires forcing them to pit again, which would let Hamilton and Russell pass them.

However, on lap 46, Yuki Tsunoda’s Alpha Tauri pitted. When he came out, he came to a halt on the track, believing that a tire wasn’t attached. Everyone braced for the inevitable virtual or full safety car, which would let Verstappen and Leclerc to pit and gain an advantage against both Mercedes. However, Tsunoda was told to continue and he entered the pits again on the following lap for new tires. When he emerged from the pits, he once again stopped on track and had to retire from the race. The virtual safety car (VSC) was called and Verstappen pitted alongside both Mercedes for new tires. Leclerc had pitted just before the VSC and as a result, fell down to fourth after Verstappen and both Mercedes left the pits. The race resumed with Verstappen 12 seconds ahead of Hamilton.

Then, on lap 55, Bottas had to retire on the main straight and called out the full safety car. Verstappen immediately pitted again, with Russell also pitting for fresh softs. However, Hamilton stayed out and was now leading the race, albeit on worse tires. It was now Hamilton, Verstappen and Russell in a sprint to the finish. When the safety car came in on lap 60, Verstappen got the perfect jump and overtook Hamilton just as the green flag was shown to take the lead of the race. From there he didn’t look back, winning his home race ahead of Russell and Leclerc, with both passing Hamilton due to the tire offset.

This brings us to the final race of the tripleheader in Monza for the Italian Grand Prix. With it being one of Ferrari’s home races, Leclerc was one of the favorites for pole. And when it was time for qualifying, he was able to stick it on pole to the delight of the Tifosi. Verstappen did qualify second but fell down to seventh due to another grid penalty. Sainz, who qualified third, started 18th due to his own engine penalties. Due to all of the

COURTESY OF TWITTER Max Verstappen continus to dominant Formula 1 this season.

penalties, Russell was promoted into second place for the race.

When the lights went out, Leclerc was able to stay in front of Russell. However, just like at Spa, Verstappen charged through the field and was already into the podium spots by lap four. One lap later, he passed Russell for second place. On lap 12, Sebastian Vettel’s Aston Martin pulled over to the side of the track and retired from the race, causing the VSC to be deployed. Ferrari made the call to pit Leclerc while under the VSC with Red Bull telling Verstappen to stay out.

Verstappen then pitted on lap 25, giving the lead back to Leclerc. However, Verstappen was flying, causing Leclerc to pit again on lap 32 to have a fresher tire to catch back up to the Dutchman. After Leclerc pitted for the second time, Verstappen was 20 seconds ahead with 20 laps to go, meaning Leclerc would have to claw back a second every lap for any hope of a Ferrari win. That gap didn’t shorten and with the laps dwindling down, it seemed like a slam dunk victory for Verstappen.

However, on lap 48, Daniel Ricciardo’s McLaren retired from the race which brought out the safety car, giving us a five lap sprint. Both Verstappen and Leclerc pitted for new tires to prepare for the restart and emerged from the pits still in first and second. However, the marshals were unable to remove the car quickly enough. On the final lap, it was announced that the race would finish under the safety car, denying everyone the chance to see a pedal to the medal sprint for the win.

With his win in Italy, Verstappen swept the tripleheader with a hat trick of victories to extend his lead against Leclerc to a staggering 116 points with six races left. Red Bull also have a dominating 139-point lead over Ferrari in the constructors standings. This was Verstappen’s 11th victory of the season and fifth in a row. After a long and grueling tripleheader, the next race isn’t for another three weeks, where F1 travels to the Marina Bay Street Circuit for the Singapore Grand Prix. This will be the first time that F1 races there since the pandemic. Verstappen can actually clinch his second driver’s championship in a row if he wins the race with Leclerc finishing ninth or lower, Perez finishing fourth or lower and Russell finishing second or lower. With only six races to go, both Leclerc and Ferrari’s chances of winning the title are slim but don’t expect them to throw in the towel yet.

By MAX ADAMS

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Mayhem, confusion and violence.

That is what encapsulated and surrounded UFC 279 on Saturday.

A backstage brawl launched the insanity at the press conference on Thursday when the intended headliner and highly-touted prospect Khamzat Chimaev had a heated altercation with fan-favorite Kevin Holland. The two camps apparently had more people in their entourages than were intended, and a war of words quickly turned into a physical altercation between the two welterweights. Then, Chimaev’s intended opponent Nate Diaz got involved and water bottles and fists were flying backstage. For the first time in the history of the company, a pre-fight press conference was canceled.

Things only got crazier at the ceremonial weigh-ins the next day, with the up-and-coming Chimaev remarkably weighing in almost eight pounds over the allowed limit. The top three fights on the main card were

Chaos Ensues at UFC 279

all scheduled to be fought at 170 pounds in the welterweight division: Kevin Holland versus Daniel Rodriguez, Tony Ferguson versus Li Jingliang for the co-main event and Khamzat Chimaev versus Nate Diaz for the main event of the evening. However, due to Chimaev’s failed attempt at making weight, the card was rearranged. Chimaev would now square off against Holland, Rodriguez would take on Jingliang at catchweight (180 pounds) and Diaz would fight Ferguson as the main event.

Ion Cutelaba and Johnny Walker kicked off the action on the main card with a one round contest that went to the Brazilian underdog, Walker. Cutelaba pushed the pace early and eventually secured a takedown on Walker. A scramble then ensued with Walker eventually getting Cutelaba’s back and securing a rear naked choke that forced the Moldovan to tap, improving Walker’s record to 19-7.

Irene Aldana and Macy Chiasson then squared off in a highly anticipated bantamweight fight that was predicted to have a massive impact on the future of the women’s division. The bout was a back and forth affair, but it was the Mexican Aldana who came out on top. A scramble saw her throw an upkick from her back which landed right on the liver of Chiasson and forced a stoppage. With the champion of the women’s 135 pound division Amanda Nunes waiting for new challengers, Aldana seems to be an intriguing matchup for the consensus GOAT. When asked about the potential matchup, UFC President Dana White said, “We love Aldana … we don’t make fights the night of a fight but what a way to finish.”

The third fight on the main card, Li Jingliang vs Daniel Rodriguez, was a close but not too action packed bout that featured heavy kickboxing. It was Rodriguez who would get the victory nod via split decision, much to the chagrin of fans who believed Jingliang had done enough to secure the victory.

The highly awaited return of the undefeated Chimaev lived up to expectations, as he finished a legitimate contender in Kevin Holland in just two minutes and 13 seconds. The Chechnian absolutely smothered Holland, securing a takedown right off the bat. Holland tried to escape Chimaev’s grasp but eventually succumbed to a brabo choke. The two traded words and blows before the press conference on Thursday, but shared an embrace and seemed to have squashed the beef after the fight.

However, in his post fight press conference, Chimaev embraced the villain role further after he was showered with boos. An animated Chimaev screamed, “I’m coming for everybody, I’ll kill everybody.” This is a familiar sentiment after his fights, as this is the second time that Chimaev has made such threats. When asked about where Khamzat is in the eyes of the company, Dana White mentioned that he was an incredible talent, but probably had more of a future at 185 pounds due to the failed weight cut. A Paulo Costa matchup could be on the horizon after the two had an altercation at the UFC performance center, but only time will tell.

Finally, the highly anticipated main event lived up to expectations. Nate Diaz defeated Tony Ferguson via fourth round submission in a classic back and forth affair. Both veterans looked like they were having fun in the cage and it was a fitting send off for the legend, Diaz, who seemed to be getting the better of the standup in the first three rounds. As a response, Ferguson’s corner called for him to use his superior wrestling to his advantage. When Ferguson shot for the takedown, Diaz countered and secured a guillotine that forced a tap for the first time in his career. After the fight, Diaz said, “[I] wanted to get out of the UFC for a minute and show UFC fighters how to take over another sport, [because] Conor McGregror didn’t know how to.” Could the highly anticipated trilogy between the two megastars happen in the boxing ring? Only time will give us an answer.

By WILL TALLANT

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The number of extracurricular activities at Fordham are nearly endless. The university provides students with a plethora of opportunities to enjoy themselves, influence career paths and connect with students and alumni alike. One club in particular that has done nothing but blossom in this respect is the Fordham Sports Analytics Society (FSAS).

In just a few days, the student organization will be hosting a charity wiffle ball tournament to bring the students of Fordham University together, raise money, and awareness for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The tournament will take place Sept. 24, with final rounds to be played on Sept. 25 if necessary, and is open to all Fordham undergraduate and graduate students. All games will be played on Murphy Field between 12 p.m. and 6 p.m., and the deadline to register is Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 11:59 p.m.

So, how can you register? Head to the IMLeagues website or download the IMLeagues app. Select Fordham as your “School" and login to IMLeagues using your Fordham credentials. On the “Network” tab, select “Intramurals” and then “Wiffleball Tournament.” On the page displaying all current teams, select the clear box titled “Info.” In “League Description,” click the link to complete your donation. Finally, return to the previous page to create your team. Once registered, you will receive an email a few days prior to the tournament with the date and field location of your first game.

Each game will be four innings long with all innings consisting of two outs. Each team will be made up of three players. Teams can score a maximum of eight runs per innings before switching sides, and the tournament will be played in single elimination fashion. On offense, batters will start with no balls and one strike. Strikeouts are recorded after two strikes are thrown and walks will be the traditional four pitches to miss the strike zone. A chair will be placed behind home plate to dictate balls and strikes. Singles, doubles, triples and home runs are determined by the distance the ball is hit — with zones being designated on the field. Double and triple plays, sacrifice flies and bunting are all prohibited in tournament play.

On the defensive side of things, teams are allowed to have three players on the field including the pitcher. There will also not be any actual baserunning, with theoretical or “ghost” baserunners advancing the same number of bases as the batter. The mercy rule will go into effect if one team is leading the contest by 10 runs after three complete innings.

The Fordham Sports Analytics Society (FSAS) has worked countless hours coordinating and planning the event, but it could never have been done without the help of FSAS Vice President and Business of Sports Society (BSSF) president Connor Dwyer, GSB ’23, as well as current FSAS president and founder Peter Majors, GSB ’23.

Over the past few years, the two have been quintessential to building both of these student organizations, devoting much of their time to providing an outlet for students interested in the analytics and business sides of sports.

While the names above have been critical in the planning and development of the tournament, it would not be possible without the collaborative efforts of Fordham Intramurals and Fordham Athletics. From reserving field space to higher level guidance regarding hosting an event of this size, these bodies have been critical in the planning and soon the execution of an event which aims to have between 40 and 50 student teams in competition. To spread the word even further, FSAS Chief Marketing Officer Matt Stanzione, GSB ’23, produced a promotional video sharing details about the tournament to kick off the registration period. The purposefully humorous video can be viewed on FSAS’ official Instagram and Twitter pages, @ sportsfordham.

On the matter, Stanzione commented, “It is always a lot of fun to get a group together to promote something you are all working hard on. We hope this tournament will get a lot of the Ram community together to have fun and raise money.”

Outside of Fordham, the official Wiffle company and the New Jersey chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Foundation have also put their stamp on the charity event. Wiffle has given discounts for wiffle bats and balls and the foundation has donated CF branded attire for teams that place high in the tournament. On FSAS’ collaboration with these groups, Dwyer said, “It’s been awesome to see the willingness and dedication from other organizations to help put on this event.

Wiffle and the CF Foundation have made sizable contributions, and the event would not be possible without them.”

COURTESY OF TWITTER Wiffle For A Cause is expected to have high participation.

Fordham Volleyball Splits In North Dakota

By MILES GROSSMAN

STAFF WRITER

Last week, Fordham Volleyball boarded a 747 on their way to their longest road trip of the 2022 season. The midwest bound Rams were seeking to continue their 5-1 start to the year, a stellar record that included three sweeps.

The Rams haven’t had a test like this most recent weekend in a long time. On average, the Rams take a trip out west once a season.

This year, in lieu of the West Coast, Fordham Volleyball made the 1500 plus mile trip to Grand Forks, N.D., to compete in the University of North Dakota Classic, along with Montana State University.

The Rams began the tournament by dropping the first set to Montana State 25-15, which matched their largest margin of defeat this season.

Given the long flight and quick turnaround, a bit of a flat start from the Rams was relatively predictable.

They got back on track by taking the next two sets but were unable to finish the job in set number four.

After picking up that crucial fourth set, the Bobcats of Montana State carried serious momentum into the decisive fifth set, where they would dominate the Rams 15-7 to cap off the win.

Although the Rams suffered a disappointing loss, one in which they led 2-1, there were some bright spots in the effort.

Reigning Atlantic 10 player of the week, junior Whitley Moody, posted 15 kills against Montana State and freshman Audrey Brown continued her ferocious freshman campaign with 14 kills.

This impressive duo of explosive outside hitters in Moody and Brown have solidified their spots as the “usual suspects” when it comes to offensive standout performances.

For head coach Ian Choi, having a veteran star such as Moody there to mentor and lead a budding freshman talent in Brown is all he can ask for. Before every match, you’ll see some of the Rams come out in pairs for warmups.

Moody and Brown frequently do that together, chatting pregame and getting loose prior to the team’s group effort. Clearly, a mentor-protege dynamic has been established between the two.

Following the difficult five set loss to begin the tournament, Choi decided to revert back to his original starting lineup.

Over the past two weeks, junior Lauren Arzuaga and freshman Mackenzie Colvin had taken the place of Brown and senior Megan Brzozowski as starters.

But after falling to Montana State, Choi felt the Rams would be better served by his opening day lineup, including Brown and Brzozowski.

With Brown now returning to her starting role to face North Dakota, the freshman took full advantage of the opportunity.

Brown posted 15 kills, hitting at an unbelievable .565 clip to lead the Rams to a sweep over the hosts of this weekend’s tournament.

Following their up and down trip to the midwest, the Rams will have something of a more local commute this weekend when they travel to New Haven, Conn. to participate in the Yale Invitational.

The Fordham Volleyball season has gotten off to a fast start, one that has been a few years in the making for the players and head coach Ian Choi.

Friday, the Rams will be matched up with Sacred Heart University before facing the hosts in Yale on Saturday afternoon, all before they wrap up early season tournament play with a contest against Villanova University. This tough out of conference schedule will be more than enough for the Rams to prepare fortheir upcoming Atlantic 10 contests.

Originally from Wallingford, Conn., Dwyer is a senior in the Gabelli School of Business where he is studying Information Systems and Sports Business. He currently holds the position of Director of Analytics and Player Development for the Fordham baseball team. After graduation, he hopes to work within the baseball operations department of an MLB front office.

The other half of this duo is Majors, a senior from Kinnelon, N.J. studying Accounting Information Systems with a minor in Computer Science.

Majors’ younger brother, Matthew, was born with cystic fibrosis, and is one of the estimated forty thousand Americans students will be playing for to help raise awareness and money for CF Foundation’s research.

From an early age, Majors has been involved in the CF Foundation, attending foundation-run events such as the annual CF Sports Challenge at MetLife Stadium and countless walkathons throughout his home state of New Jersey. Now, he’s thrilled to organize his own event to continue spreading the word about a disease many are unfamiliar with. “In organizing this event, we’ve really tried to push raising awareness for cystic fibrosis above all else,” Majors said. “As college students, we don’t have the resources to make large contributions on our own. So we’re looking to inspire the next generation of donors and advocates.”

Seeing Fordham students come together to make a difference not just in their community, but in their society is truly inspiring. Dwyer and Majors are just two examples of what it means to be a Fordham Ram.

For any concerns about the tournament, you can contact Dwyer, cdwyer16@fordham.edu, and Majors, pmajors@fordham. edu.

Fordham Rams Wiffle for a Cause is expected to have a huge turnout and all Fordham students are encouraged to participate in this event to raise good money. Let’s play ball for a good cause!

Student Athlete Column

By NICOLETA PAPAVASILAKIS

VISUAL DIRECTOR

In cross country you have to run on all kinds of terrain. Some races take place on hard, rocky gravel. Others are on soft grass fields.

And sometimes, it’s a hybrid of the two. Both pose their own challenges; the gravel can make me feel like my feet are going to fall out from under me and on the grass, I feel like I can’t even pick them up.

Any coach would say the key is to be adaptable: to adjust your stride, tempo and form accordingly.

If it is 90 degrees or 20 degrees, rain or shine, you need to adapt. But at that point, I think it's more mental than anything. And I think the same could be said about anything in life; every external element plays into performance.

I’m a senior now and it's my last season of running cross country for Fordham. I’m still learning how to be adaptable.

Looking back to when I was a freshman, I remember imagining this time of my life and how much stronger I would be as a runner with a few years of college racing under my belt. Well, it’s safe to say I haven’t fulfilled my freshman fantasies.

In fact, it feels like I am starting over. At the beginning of September, my team and I raced at the Stony Brook Invitational, an annual rust buster to break in the new season. To my disappointment, I ran the 4k course about 30 seconds slower than I did when I was a freshman. And, in the cross country world, that is considered a big difference.

At first, it logically didn’t make sense to me. I have been running more mileage than I ever have in my college career and have been putting more time into strength training.

As mentioned before, it's also about grappling with the external elements. I’m not trying to beat myself up about it. To be fair, I have changed a lot since I started running for Fordham.

I went from having no clue what I wanted to do with my life to declaring a major in journalism and double minoring in Spanish and visual arts.

I work two jobs outside of school, hosting for WFUV and broadcasting at The Fort Washington Avenue Armory in Washington Heights.

I went from running being the only important things in my life to now juggling multiple passions equally important responsibilities.

Perhaps I haven’t adapted to all these new changes just yet. And adaptability doesn’t mean that it’s going to get any easier. Rather, it’s accepting that things aren’t perfect and adjusting to the circumstances.

Regardless, it's my last year. I want to put my all into it, knowing that I did all I can to the best of my ability.