October 22, 2015
It’s time to operate: Inside the mind of a millennial
INSIDE:
Simulation aims to put the brakes on texting and driving
Blazers cascade the Rivers for first GSC win
SEE PAGE 9
SEE PAGE 10
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October 22, 2015
The Spectator | www.vsuspectator.com
Upcoming VSU events Thursday, Oct. 22
The first faculty/student colloqui um of the year will be at 7 p.m. in the University Center Theater. In this colloquium presentation, we provide some background on lat tice path counting problems and introduce the elementary Fourier methods that can be used to solve the problems, and finally apply the methods to specific examples. Campus Recreation Group Fit
ness Instructors are hosting a Breast Cancer Fundraiser! Fit Tease tickets are $2 pre-order or $3 at the door available at the Rec center front desk starting in October. T-shirts are also being sold for $10 in advance and $12 to buy them at the door. Add the dates to your calendar and grab some friends because this is a fundraiser that you won’t forget! Come get fit and support Breast Cancer from 8-9 p.m. in the Cam pus Rec Group Fitness room!
Tuesday, Oct. 27 Valdosta State University’s Philosophy and Religious Studies Club will host Religious Holidays and Food from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the University Center Theater. Admission to the panel discussion is free of charge and open to the public. Did you know there is a free self-defense class on campus? From 6 - 9 p.m. on Oct. 27-29,
the women of VSU have access to the free Rape Aggression Defense course, a comprehensive course of realistic self-defense tactics and techniques. This class with be taught by certified R.A.D. in structors whose initial focus is on education and awareness, preven tion, risk reduction, and avoidance of assault and rape. Individuals must be able to attend all three dates! Visit VSU Health Promo tions to Register! Limited Spaces available!
Just a reminder: Early Registration for spring 2016 begins Monday, Nov. 2 at 7 a.m. Register based on your current classification. Graduates and Seniors-Nov. 2 Juniors-Nov. 3 Sophomores-Nov. 4 Freshmen-Nov. 5 Make sure you have been ad vised before registering.
5 Day Forecast Today Partly Cloudy
84 H 61 L
Friday
Partly Cloudy
Saturday
Partly Cloudy
Sunday
Partly Cloudy
Monday
85 H 58 L
84 H 62 L
84 H 65 L
Mostly Cloudy
81 H
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Source: Weather.com
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October 22, 2015
The Spectator | www.vsuspectator.com
Misconceptions about Millennials will soon fade
Our point of view...
Why the haters?
Millennials receive negativity from other generations despite the accomplishments they have made.
HATERS
L
azy, spoiled, entitled —these are just a few of the words that older generations have used to describe millenials. There is a common misconception among people of Generation X and above that our age group is going to be the one to ruin the world. It has been said that millenials, or Generation Y, don’t know the value of hard work, because they have had everything handed to them by their parents. We supposedly expect everything to be easy and for life to be fair. This couldn’t be further from the truth. In reality, a study by Pew Research Center shows that millennials are now the largest labor force in the country. One in three workers in 2015 is a millennial. So why then, if we are dominating the work force, are we still considered lazy? Another common delusion is that we put more value in things that make us happy than the things that will make us money.
While we do tend to focus on taking time to get to know ourselves and finding what make us happy, that doesn’t mean that we don’t like to work hard and bring home the bacon too. Why is it a bad thing that we want to focus on finding a career that we will enjoy versus jumping into one that pays well but that we will ultimately hate? What’s wrong with traveling the world for a little bit before settling into the normal, and sometimes boring, nine to five desk jobs that are inevitably waiting on most of us after we graduate? We at The Spectator know that this is the generation that shapes the future. The way the workforce is looking now, within the next decade, over half of the workforce will be comprised of millenials. All of the negative things that have been said about our generation’s work ethic will be completely invalid. And instead of being the generation to “ruin” the world, we will be the generation to change it.
Jamel Shorter
Staff Writer jhshorter@valdosta.edu The definition of what a millennial is may vary depending on who you ask, but generally if you were born in the 80s or 90s, you can be considered a part of this frequently misunderstood generation. This particular group of people has been studied, analyzed and are now being depended on due to the fact that they currently make up over a third of the workforce. And by the year 2025, they will make up the majority of the labor force. The older generations and those who are currently in the work place have always had strong feelings, both negative and positive, of how the millennials are representing themselves. Current managers and other high-level position holders have said millennials aren’t prepared to run companies, due to their lack of presence when interviewing, being so reliant and heavily involved in the world of social media, and that our sense of entitlement is at an all-time high. Older generations have several misconceptions when thinking about what millennials actually care about when referring to their careers, social and political issues, as well as other aspects of their lives such as marriage and family. Generation Y is the most racially and ethnically diverse generation ever, with 43 percent of the United States population being non-white. That diversity
This editorial was written by a member of the editorial staff and expresses the general opinion of The Spectator.
Editorial Staff
Editors-in-Chief: Jordan Barela, John Preer Managing Editor: Tatyana Phelps Opinions Editor: Kenzie Kesselring College Life Editor: LaShawn Oglesby Sports Editor: Kristin Whitman Photo Editor: Stella Henderson Multimedia Editor: Jefferson Leblanc Web Editor: Kayla Stroud Social Media Editor: Tyra Mills Copy Editor: Zenobia Harris
Rising millennials, in any field, have a strong desire to take over the world that they are interested in. brings diverse opinions, values, and traditions. Millennials are influenced and inspired by those people that remind them of themselves. People who listen to what they listen to, look the way they look and share similar aspirations. Rising millennials, in any field, have a strong desire to take over the world that they are interested in. They have a consistent and insatiable thirst to win and dominate any competition; that’s one factor that older generations fail to see. “People our age care mostly about getting a job after they graduate, and having a good income,” Tiffany Delgado, a junior psychology major said, “Money is what everyone wants and needs. The younger generations focus on the ‘right now’ mentality.” Millennials also understand that high-income careers require a
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higher education and degree. According to Pew Research Center, one-third of this generation, ages 26 to 33, have obtained a fouryear college degree, making them the best educated group of young adults in US history. Social media and the internet is no longer “a thing of the future”; it’s a part of the present. The time to grasp and take hold of the infinite possibilities it offers is now. Companies and organizational heads might complain that millennials are addicted to their smartphones, but how can they control it when most of the information that they receive comes from there? Companies such as the New York Times, CNN, Kindle and Nike have all started drifting towards the world of advertising through social media and the internet, because this generation isn’t reading a physical magazine or newspaper, or even going instore to shop. SDL, a consumer experience solutions company reported in 2015 that five out of six millennials in the United States connect with companies via social media. Millennials are definitely here to stay. They are a force to be reckoned with in any field of employment, and they have the motivation to pursue their goals despite the negative reputation that may precede them. The misconceptions that many have had regarding Generation Y will soon fade away.
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October 22, 2015
The Spectator | www.vsuspectator.com
Social media helps in job hunt: Millennials rely on everyday websites to help look for a job after graduation
Kenzie Kesselring
OPINIONS EDITOR klkesselring@valdosta.edu People young and old like to criticize social media. Many don’t like the idea of posting aspects of everyday life that were once thought to be personal online. Others don’t like the advertising that is thrown at them on nearly every website, while some don’t like the lack of privacy they have once they sign up for a social media account. However, there is one thing we can all agree on: social media has given millennials endless opportunities in the work force. One of the greatest blessings to the millennial generation in regards to the job hunt has been social media. Social media has allowed the millennial generation to follow, like and connect with
companies they are interesting in working for on various platforms. Previous generations have had to rely on phone calls and seminars to network with people in their career field and now there are sources, like LinkedIn, that can connect us with people on the same career path. Social media has also allowed millennials to promote themselves in other ways besides their resume. Twitter, Facebook, and other platforms make it possible to create personas online that reflect who they are, and millions of people can see it at any time of the day. With the world becoming a smaller place due to globalization, tools like social media and modern technologies are extremely helpful to millennials when looking for jobs in their field all around the world. Many
millennials want to find jobs in other countries or states, and with travel being so expensive, it would be a lot more difficult to seek out desired jobs without social media. The biggest perk of social media for millennials is the ability to turn it into a job. Almost every company has a presence on most social media sites and needs someone to run those accounts, so who better than millennials? This generation is the only one who grew up and evolved with social media and many companies desire this experience to help promote them. So complain about the world of Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for now if you must, but don’t forget to be grateful for these modern blessings when you get your first job.
Mayah Cantave
ASST. OPINIONS EDITOR mcantave@valdosta.edu Millennials are the future. Millennials are older than 20 and younger than age 30. We are the future CEO’s, business leaders and presidents of the United States. Millennials are going to rule the world one day. During the 2015 UN General Assembly, President Obama urged leaders to invest in the millennials saying, “I have met young people on every continent, and they can lead the way if we give them the tools they need.” Truer words have never been spoken. Millennials will soon have the power to make a change and make a difference in the world. All we need are the tools and to be pushed in the right direction. There is no limit to what millennials are capable of doing. President Obama believes that the people are the greatest asset the United States has. Millennials are the creative and innovative entities that will continue to make America great. “Let’s invest in innovative entrepreneurs, the striving young people who embrace new technology and are starting businesses and can ignite new industries that change the world,” said President Obama. Embracing millennials will only enhance our unity as a country. Every generation has a
“I have met young people on every continent, and they can lead the way if we give them the tools they need.” -Pres. Obama younger generation after it. During last year’s UN General Assembly, President Obama said, “Around the world, young people are moving forward, hungry for a better world. Around the world, in small places, they’re overcoming hatred and bigotry and sectarianism. And they’re learning to respect each other, despite differences.” President Obama is correct when he describes young people as being the future. This generation will be the leaders in everything and the only way we will be able to succeed is if we have help from the preceding generations. It is important for past generations to help the future generations, because we are stronger as a nation when we work together.
Head to www.vsuspectator.com to see the Opinons web exclusive of the week: “Millennials and Marriage” by Kenzie Kesselring
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October 22, 2015
The Spectator | www.vsuspectator.com
The Digital Direction Jordan Barela
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF jlbarela@valdosta.edu
26%
Technology
74%
Pen and paper Do students learn better taking notes with pen and paper or through technology?
33%
Distraction
67%
Asset Do you think technology in the classroom is an asset or distraction?
Graphs made by Jordan Barela/THE SPECTATOR
With all the new iPhones, Galaxies, Mac Books and even Segways comes the generation that uses this technology the most: millennials. According to the Pew Research Center, a millennial is someone born after 1980 and is part of the first generation to come of age in the new millennium. With millennials becoming a prominent component in the future work force, a question comes up—how are millennials in the classroom? Technology plays an essential role in the classroom when it comes to millennials. The Spectator conducted an online survey to the faculty of VSU. Fifty-one faculty members completed the survey. One of the most popular ways to take notes is pen and paper. Of the faculty members surveyed, 76 percent said that students learned
:
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Technology and millennials in the classroom
best when utilizing pen and paper. The other 26 percent said that technology was the best approach to student learning. Technology is a key component of modern classroom etiquette. According to The Spectator survey, 37 percent of faculty said that they let her or his students use laptops in class. Nine percent of faculty let students use a tablet and three percent let students use a cellphone or smartphone. Nineteen percent of the faculty members surveyed said that she or he uses a combination of different technologies. According to the survey, the professors that used technology in the classes use a variety of different forms. Prezis, videos, online quizzes and clickers are just some of the many responses that faculty members utilize. In fact, 67 percent of faculty members surveyed said that they believe that technology in classroom is an asset and not a distraction. A misconception about mil-
lennials is that, as a generation, they are not prepared for the workforce. However, according to data collected by the Pew Research Center, 68 percent of male adult millennials are in the workforce, and 63 percent of female adult millennials are in the workforce. Another survey from the Pew Research Center found that 53 percent of the labor force today is millennials, making millennials the largest generation of the labor force. Of the faculty members surveyed, 46 percent believe that millennials are not ready for the workforce. However, 63 percent of participants believe that technology use in the classroom helps prepare millennials for the workforce. With a new generation comes new ways for innovation. With a predilection for technology, the millennial generation is taking that preference and applying it to all facets of their individual lives, starting with the classroom.
Want to keep going in the digital direction? Head to our website to read Tresia Bowles’ article on BraveSpace, the News web exclusive of the week. Also, watch our staff video if the Spectator Editors spoke only in “millennial speak.”
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The Spectator | www.vsuspectator.com
l a i n n e l l s i e M ston e l i M
2 8
9 1
Momentous moments for millennials: Nov. 30, 1982 Michael Jackson releases “Thriller”
Scan code for a mouthful of millennial lingo • Trolling – When someone allows boredom to overtake their soul and purposely attempt to annoy or upset other people either online or in real life. • On Fleek – Something that’s on point; your hair, your outfit, etc. • Catfishing – When someone tries to befriend or date someone online by pretending to be someone else.
October 22, 2015
Are you a true millennial? Take the quiz to find out!
Momentou moments f millennial Jan. 31, 199 Seth MacFarla "Family Guy" fir
October 22, 2015
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The Spectator | www.vsuspectator.com
e
z
us for ls: 99 ane's rst airs
Momentous moments for millennials: Oct. 23, 2001 The first Ipod was released
0 2
4 0
Scan code for full story
Lamar Odom Wakes From His Coma According to E!, former NBA champion, Lamar Odom, has awaken from his coma. After earlier reports of possible organ failure, it appears as if Odom is on the mend. ABC Family changes name ABC Family, the channel that brought us Pretty Little Liars, Secret Life of a Teenager and other classic television shows, has decided that a change was needed. The channel believes that in order to gain more traction with the younger audience that a name change was necessary. Ok, sounds cool. Whatever. However, it wasn’t until it was announced this week that the name the head honchos at ABC came up with Freeform. Yes, you read that correctly…Freeform.
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October 22, 2015
The Spectator | www.vsuspectator.com
Missed SpecTech this week? Look out for new stories in next week’s issue!
Millennial Word Search The sudoku grid consists of eighty-one squares in a nine by nine grid. To solve the sudoku, each square in the grid must contain a number between one and nine, with the following conditions: · Each row of nine cells must contain each of the numbers from 1 to 9 once and only once. · Each column of nine cells must contain each of the numbers from 1 to 9 once and only once. · Each of the nine 3 by 3 boxes of nine cells must contain each of the numbers from 1 to 9 Answer Below
UNSCRAMBLE THE WORD
sorry not sorry smartphone facebook snapchat
1. itnenetr _________________________ 2. sratmhepon_______________________ 3. fwii_____________________________ 4. txgntei___________________________ 5. hiopne___________________________ 6. ejsmoi___________________________ 7. dtnnnioe_________________________ 8. egamoby_________________________ 9. shathag__________________________ 10. rwettee_________________________
Twitter Call: What are some of your favorite millennial terms? Mention us on Twitter @vsuspectator and let us know!
Sudoku Answer
yik yak catfish reality tv shade pressed
Answers to word unscramble internet smartphone wifi texting iphone emojis nintendo gameboy hashtag retweet tumblr
on fleek hashtag twitter instagram tinder
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October 22, 2015
The Spectator | www.vsuspectator.com
October: not just breast cancer awareness month Julia Rodriquez
Staff Writter jlrodriquez@valdosta.edu DID YOU
KNOW?
According to UberFacts, studies have shown that older adults have larger vocabularies than young adults, and that they make better use of them.
Many of us know October as Breast Cancer Awareness month but there are over a dozen causes to which October is dedicated. The point is to raise awareness but unfortunately, little to no light is being shed on these issues. This month is almost over, but
Mayah Cantave/THE SPECTATOR
Managing editor Tatyana Phelps tests out the virtual reality Oculus goggles during the texting and driving simulation.
New simulation aims to stop texting and driving Tatyana Phelps
Managing Editor tnphelps@valdosta.edu With the several television and radio ads about the dangers of distracted driving, there are still more than 3,000 deaths each year from texting and driving, according to Auto Safety. AT&T’s “It Can Wait” campaign came to VSU on Oct. 8 to give students first-hand experience on the dangers of texting and driving. “Our main goal is to save lives,” CJ Johnson, AT&T tour spokesperson for the campaign, said. “We know that this demographic, well almost every demographic or age groups, are all affected by distracted drivers. We want to teach people that no post, no email, no text, no glance at your phone is worth your life or somebody else’s life.” To participate in the simulation, students had to put on a pair of Oculus goggles and Google cardboard. Students are then able to look from side to side and up and down. With virtual reality,
people are able to look around as if they’re somewhere else. In this particular simulation, students drive through a town, constantly getting text messages as they are driving. The driver dodges pedestrians and other vehicles while glancing at his or her phone until he or she eventually collides with another vehicle. “This has been the wakeup call they need,” Johnson said. “Within only three minutes, it becomes this wakeup call—this epiphany going, ‘You know what? To give up my life for a text, an email, or an LOL, is not worth it. This is the reminder we all need to keep our eyes on the road and not on our phones.” Students lined up in the Student Union to see what the buzz was about. “The main goal of our campaign is to make distracted driving as socially unacceptable as drinking and driving,” Johnson said. “So far it’s been a huge hit. The kids love it and I think behaviors have been changed today, for sure.”
it is never too late to get involved and show your support. This month, according to Healthline Networks, we should bring light to breast cancer, down syndrome, eye injury prevention, health literacy/ health education, lung health, SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome), spina bifida, miscarriages, domestic violence, mental illness, bone/joint health, infection prevention and eczema.
We need to raise awareness for these issues so that we can create cures, safety measures and prevention. The more support these causes get, the faster we can end suffering. Raise awareness by talking about it, sharing your story, donating or visiting an organizations’ website to learn more about getting involved. For things such as eczema, many do not even know what
exactly the disease is or that there is no cure and minimal choices for treatment. The same goes for many other diseases to which October is dedicated. By raising awareness, we raise money and the research can be conducted to find cures. The public needs to be educated on what these problems are and how to prevent them.
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October 22, 2015
The Spectator | www.vsuspectator.com
This Day In History:
In 1995, the Atlanta Braves won game two of the World Series, 4-3, over the Cleveland Indians. They went on to win the championship in six games.
Rivers leads Blazers in first GSC win Gabe Burns Aldean Starr
Asst. Sports Editor Staff Writer gcburns@valdosta.edu aldeanstarr@valdosta.edu VSU is on the board in Gulf South Conference play. After losing its first two conference games in somewhat staggering fashion, VSU rebounded with a 34-7 victory over the Mississippi College Choctaws. The Blazers’ dominant performance gave them their fourth victory. After forcing a punt on MC’s opening drive, the Blazers scored quickly as EJ Hilliard connected with Greg Dent on a 74-yard touchdown on the third play from scrimmage. Dent totaled 203 yards and a score on six receptions. Obviously a standout performance that the New York Giants scout in attendance will keep in mind. “I just had to get open, and when I got the ball, I had to make plays,” Dent said. “We have to know where we need to be, and get better every day. We just need to push it so we can get into the playoffs.” Mississippi College threatened to tie the game, but Cooper Lem-
onds recovered a fumble to prevent any damage. Peter Tulloch added an interception, but neither opportunity resulted in VSU putting up any points. As has been the season’s theme for the Blazers, the team struggled to get going outside the lone touchdown. Backup quarterback Roland Rivers relieved Hilliard late in the second quarter and provided a spark with five straight completions to five different players. The drive concluded when Rivers found Donovan Bolden in the end zone. VSU carried a 14-0 advantage into the half. “You have to go in there, stay focused and do your job,” said Rivers. “I knew we had to get a touchdown right before the half so we could have some momentum going into the second half.” Rivers stayed in the game and completed a 75-yard pass to Dent on the first play of the 3rd quarter. Cedric O’Neal then punched it in to put VSU up three touchdowns. Rivers took it himself for a 28-0 Blazers lead. Following the Choctaws’ only points of the afternoon, Rivers connected with Bolden again to put an exclamation point on the win. MC finally scored early in the
fourth but the school has yet to win a GSC game since rejoining the conference prior to last season. They could not capitalize on VSU’s stalling offense and two missed field goals in the first half. The Blazers seem to have a quarterback competition on their hands, but luckily, both signal callers appear capable of leading the offense. Hilliard finished 8 of 10 for 119 yards and a score, while Rivers went 14 of 20 for 197 yards and three total touchdowns. Neither quarterback turned the ball over, and both received great protection from an offensive line that did not surrender a single sack on the day. Saturday was Rivers’ most extended action of the season, and the young quarterback impressed. “We wanted to give (Roland) some game experience,” said coach David Dean. “We had decided this week that we were going to roll both of them in the ball game, and then when Roland came in, he was throwing the ball really well. It’s like a three point shooter. You don’t want to take those out when they’re hot. We Kristin Whitman/THE SPECTATOR just felt like we wanted to keep Wide reciever Donovan Bolden stretches to catch his second touchdown him in there and keep playing.” pass during the game against Mississippi College. The Blazers won their first Gulf South Conference game 34-7.
October 22, 2015
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The Spectator | www.vsuspectator.com
Blazers play in the GSC game of the week Tiarra Bell
Staff Writer tcbell@valdosta.edu After their first win in the Gulf South Conference last week against Mississippi College, Valdosta State looks to even out their conference record tonight against in-state foe Shorter University. Shorter has had trouble holding onto the ball this season, which can be to the Blazer’s advantage. The Hawks coughed up the ball 15 times in their last two contests, in which nine were recovered by the opposing team. The costly turnovers gives the Hawks a 2-4 overall record and 1-2 in conference play. Averaging 271.8 rushing yards a game, the Hawks have solely relied on the running game all season, as opposed to averaging 71 passing yards per game. Among their top running backs, their go-to man is running back B.J. McCoy, who has a total of 830 yards on the season. In last week’s loss against West Alabama, McCoy had a career-high of 210 rushing yards, fourth most yards in a single game in Hawk’s history – and two touchdowns, a 30-yarder and a 92-yard spree that was the Hawks’ fourth longest in school history. Quarterback Aaron Bryant left the game in the first half due to an injury with 93 rushing
yards and one touchdown during the West Alabama matchup and failed to complete all five passes. Similarly, backup QB Devante James did not complete any of his four passes, but rushed for 73 yards and one touchdown. James will be starting for the Hawks against the Blazers. Valdosta State has controlled the Hawks in all three of the most recent showdowns between the two schools. Last season, the Blazers defeated the Hawks 37-6 after Shorter turned the ball over on downs and a fumble. Defense steered the game for the Blazers as the Hawks couldn’t get into the end zone, settling for a pair of field goals. If Shorter continues to turn over the ball, the Blazers have a very good chance of getting another conference win. Valdosta State overcame its recent two game losing streak this season by winning against Mississippi College and look to continue by beating Shorter University for a twogame winning streak. A win would also even VSU’s conference record at 2-2 before returning home to take on the West Alabama Tigers. The Blazers and Hawks have a short week and will go toe-to-toe tonight in the GSC Game-of-the-Week in Rome, Georgia. on ESPN3. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Cross Country preps for GSC With the championship on the horizon the men’s and women’s team look to up last years results Kyle Dawson
Circulation Manager kkdawson@valdosta.edu The Valdosta State men’s and women’s cross country teams will travel to Danville, Alabama, on Oct. 24, for the Gulf South Conference Championship. Head coach Todd Smoot has high aspirations for the teams’ performance in the meet. “I think there will be a number
of personal best times run this weekend at the conference meet,” Smoot said. The men’s team is currently ranked sixth in the GSC, but Smoot said he thinks they can finish fifth based on performances in last year’s championship and meets earlier this season. The women’s team’s goal is to finish better than last year, when they came in fifth.
The women’s team has been led by sophomore, high finisher, Tyra Holloway who came in second overall at the Division two Georgia collegiate championships in Milledgeville, while the men’s team has been led by sophomore Nicholas Schofer who came in thirteenth overall at the same meet. The teams have been preparing for the conference championship
since the beginning of training. The women have run about forty miles leading up to Saturday’s meet while the men have run about fifty-five while also working in the weight room. Coach Smoot says that the intensity has been picked up in the last two weeks prior to the meet. Another obstacle that the teams will face is the time it takes to get to Danville. They will go to
Decatur, Alabama, in order to get in a workout the day before the meet so they can have some adequate recovery time. “Travel is a part of every sport. The travel time will exceed eight hours. We will stop every 75 minutes or so to walk around and stretch their legs.” Smoot said. The championship meet will begin at 9 a.m. at the Oakville Indian Mounds in Danville.
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October 22, 2015