The Weekly Ringer

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Flowery foliage lines campus as students hunker

The Editor-in-Chief

Weekly Ringer

Editorial Staff

Callie Harkins

weeklyringer.eic@gmail.com

Associate Editor

Emma Kingkeo News Editor Ky Huynh

weeklyringer.online@gmail.com weeklyringer.sports@gmail.com weeklyringer.life@gmail.com weeklyringer.opinion@gmail.com weeklyringer.news@gmail.com weeklyringer.associate@gmail.com

Opinion Editor

Claire Marshall Watkins

Life Editor

Grace Wagner

Sports Editor

Thomas Jackson

Online Editor

Abbey Magnet

Photography Editor

Abbey Magnet weeklyringer.photos@gmail.com

Copy Editor Abbey Magnet weeklyringer.copy@gmail.com

Faculty Advisor

Sushma Subramanian

ssubrama@umw.edu

Corrections

Please report any corrections to Callie Harkins at weeklyringer.eic@gmail.com or Sushma Subramanian at ssubrama@umw.edu

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Landphair enters newly established position

AYIANA ALLEN Staff Writer

After a decade of leadership as Vice President for Student Affairs, Juliette Landphair is transitioning into a new role at UMW: Associate Vice President for Health and Well-Being. This newly established position aims to strengthen the university’s efforts in promoting physical and mental health across campus. Landphair will oversee the Talley Center for Counseling Services, the Student Health Center, the Center for Prevention and Education and Campus Recreation.

“My ultimate goal is for health and well-being to join ASPIRE as a central value for UMW.”
- Juliette Landphair

“For ten years, I have been in the role of UMW’s Vice President for Student Affairs and have loved it,” Landphair said. “With this new role, I will be transitioning into an area of higher education—health and well-being—that requires both systemic and strategic oversight, and that is very exciting for me.”

Now, as she steps into a new role, Landphair is eager to take on fresh challenges.

“This position will oversee several critical health and well-being functions at UMW,” she said. “As Associate Vice President, I will work with students and with colleagues to develop a strategic and systemic approach to health and well-being in recognition that these aspects of our lives are critical to success—in class, at work and in our social lives.”

Landphair emphasized that data will inform this approach.

“Our approach will involve communicating across all institutional consistencies about strategies for better health and

well-being and about how to support ourselves and our friends and colleagues,” she said.

The new role is not only a fresh opportunity for Landphair but also a well-considered move for UMW.

“Ideally this work will strengthen our community in several ways: students who thrive mentally and physically have higher graduation rates; all community members will have a better understanding of how to access resources at UMW and in the Fredericksburg community; and all community members will incorporate positive health and well-being into their personal and professional lives, now and into the future,” Landphair said.

Landphair hopes to make well-being a central value of the university.

“My ultimate goal is for health and well-being to join ASPIRE as a central value for UMW,” she said.

As the university prepares to welcome a new Vice President for Student Affairs, Landphair’s new role supports UMW’s commitment to prioritizing student needs with a stronger focus on health and wellness for long-term success.

Candidates that were interviewed over the past two weeks include Michael Walsh, Mel Johnson-Norwood, Frank Ross and Marty Wygmans. Interviews were public and each candidate gave a presentation of their accomplishments and the values they would bring to the university, followed by a Q&A for students and staff.

Ally Fletcher, a senior biomedical sciences major, shared her thoughts on the importance of engagement.

“I think that student engagement is very important. It allows students to be involved in their academic community in multiple ways other than solely just school,” she said. “This will allow students to become more well-rounded throughout their college experience.”

Fletcher also spoke on how engagement impacts student well-being.

“Being active in your community allows you to form connections in ways that you never would have if you hadn’t been engaged. There are so many ways to engage with a community, including clubs, service, athletics and leadership. All of these allow someone to not only form new connections, but feel like they belong in their community, thereby increasing their wellbeing,” she said.

Fletcher emphasized the importance of passion for the university in the new vice president.

“The qualities I am looking for in a new VP of student affairs is primarily for them to be passionate about the wellbeing of their students,” she said. “This can be achieved through their efforts of promoting mental health, school spirit and students forming connections with each other.”

Sophomore psychology major Frankie Wulf added that the candidate’s ability to foster community is vital.

“I’d be looking for a number of qualities in a new VP of student affairs,” Wulf said.

“The

qualities I am looking for in

a

new VP of student affairs is primarily for them to be passionate about the wellbeing of their students.”

- Ally Fletcher

“Most of all, I’m looking for someone who will support existing campus events that unite UMW students. I am hoping the next VP is able to encourage the creation of new campus-wise events as well.”

He also went on to say why this position for the VP was so important for students at UMW.

“Student engagement is important to me because, without it, UMW could not have as much of a tight-knit community as it does,” said Wulf.

Bell tower logo designed by Bernadette D’Auria ‘22

Juliette Landphair has supported UMW’s ASPIRE values as Vice President for Student Affairs and hopes to add health and well-being to

Friday, April 18, 2024

Opinion

Social media is a helpful tool that exposes users to news

It’s not a secret that social media is the most common news source for college students. It’s quick, visually appealing and way more engaging than reading a long article.

As a student at UMW, I’ve seen firsthand how social media gives young people an entry point into conversations that matter. Through TikTok, Instagram stories or even reposted infographics, students are learning about current events, forming opinions and connecting with global movements. These platforms aren’t just for entertainment, they’re a gateway to awareness and action.

I know some people argue that social media isn’t always accurate and that the algorithm rewards engage-

ment more than truth. But that doesn’t mean social media itself is the problem. If anything, it shows why media literacy is so important. We don’t need less social media, we need to be smarter about how we use it. From what I’ve seen, many students are rising to that challenge.

I’ve become more thoughtful about the content I interact with. I double-check sources, and think more critically about what I see, and I’ve even found myself having deeper conversations with friends about current issues. Many of these conversations started because someone posted a clip or a quote that made me think. Global issues allow me to feel more connected to others when I hear about concerns directly from people who are experiencing them.

“We don’t need less social media, we need to be smarter about how we use it.”
- Harsha Ravuri

And let’s be real, after a full day of classes, readings and assignments, I don’t always have the energy to dive into a 10-page article or watch an hour-long news segment. But I do click on a compelling post or a quick video on my feed. That’s my starting point, and from there, I’ll often look deeper.

Social media isn’t just a tool, it’s a skill. And the more I use it, the better I get at navigating it. Yes, the algorithm pushes certain content, but I still get to choose what I follow, trust and engage with. Many of us are getting sharper at spotting misinformation, understanding bias and having conversations beyond just liking or sharing a post.

According to Concordia University in Nebraska, most universities have pages on platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Various campus clubs and activities often have an established presence on these platforms. On these pages, students can find out about upcoming events, campus news and various on and off campus opportunities. Social media can also be a place where students can find updates from a variety of organi-

zations on one streamlined platform, such as Instagram.

As a student, I am curious, creative and connected; I have the tools to be informed. But it takes more than a scroll and a share to get there. It takes slowing down, digging deeper and sometimes being willing to learn new perspectives.

“I do feel more connected to global issues because I find out what’s going on around the world,” said Amanda Sheward, a senior communication and digital studies major.

According to the World Movement for Democracy, engaging with news via social media has sparked interest in activism and political engagement for many users. Political activism on social media inspires people to model similar political behaviors, which in turn increases offline political participation. It may also generate interest and lay the foundation for offline political participation, including organizing, campaigning, and voting in elections.

“I do feel more connected to global issues because I find out what’s going on around the world.”

“I do think I’m becoming more politically active because of social media because I can see what the country is going through and I can make my own opinions,” said Sheward.

Social media is an accessible medium which can be helpful in an era where many major news sources keep their online editions accessible. It encourages users to learn directly from people documenting real-life events.

Professors teach us to analyze, debate and evaluate sources. That same critical thinking can and should extend to the content we consume online. We shouldn’t assume that being on our phones makes us less informed. In fact, for many of us, it’s the very thing that keeps us connected.

People can access news via apps. Brett Jordan/ Unsplash
Many news sources are behind paywalls. Brian McGowan/ Unsplash

Personal Essay: Advice from a sentimental senior

My time at UMW has consisted of trials and errors. During my freshman year, I had no expectations of what success in college would look like for me. Now, with graduation less than one month away, many seniors like myself are taking the time to reflect on the experiences that shaped their time here.

Looking back, my roommate was really helpful freshman year. She knew about organizations like the Student Alumni Ambassadors and Student Government Association, and encouraged me to get involved with the Office of Student Activities and Engagement. Having a friend to do things with definitely pushed me to try and get out of my comfort zone without completely abandoning what felt familiar.

Four years later, I’m still involved with both the Student Alumni Ambassadors and the Student Government Association. Now, as someone who has held many jobs and leadership roles on campus, I’ve learned that getting involved is just the start. Understanding what you need and want out of college helps to push you to take advantage of what is right in front of you.

Throughout my time at Mary Wash I have cherished the community that I have built and the people who have contributed to my success. Individuals on this campus have given me opportunities that I would not have thought of as possible. Being thrown into events and activities because people thought of me is something that I will miss about my time at UMW.

Getting lost in trying to create the perfect college experience often makes you miss out on opportunities on your doorstep. Throughout your time at UMW, you often hear that you’ll miss it in the blink of an eye, and as a senior, that sentiment could not ring more true. UMW is a bubble, and once graduation is over, students leave the place they once called home and the memories they created.

Graduating seniors are using this time to look back at their college careers and share advice to those who are just starting their journeys.

“I would tell myself that everything is going to be okay. It may not seem like it at first, but you will find your place and your people,” said Tejaswi Panday, a political science and business administration double major. “The best people I have met were completely different from me on paper, but when it came down to it, they became some of my best friends.”

A college campus is one of the best places for people to explore the world out of their comfort zone with people who are simultaneously on that same journey. A lot of pressure is put on students at the beginning of college to find “their people,” and though it can be daunting, it is something that will happen eventually.

At UMW, students value the strong connection that the community is able to provide, in and outside of academia.

“My advice for incoming freshmen is to get involved on campus early, whether that’s in clubs, student leadership, or any other kind of engagement,” said Carter Berg, a senior political science major.

Getting involved on campus has proven to be one of the best ways for students to build long-lasting and meaningful connections.

“Getting involved really shaped my experience here at UMW. Joining the Performing Arts Company, I made so many friends and kept up my passion,” said Emma Sanford, a senior linguistics major.

Though most people will join clubs or other organizations, getting involved on campus can look different for everyone. Students are able to get jobs on campus, which allows them to build their resumes as well as learn onthe-job skills for the future.

“Working as a student aid, front desk staff for SAE, and FSEM Peer Mentor taught me so much about leadership skills and teamwork skills. My experience truly wouldn’t have been the same without getting involved on campus,” said Sanford.

MARTINA NICHOLSON Senior Writer
UMW creates lifelong friendships. Photo courtesy of Martina Nicholson
Making friends comes easily when you are as connected to Mary Washington as Martina. Photo courtesy of Martina Nicholson
On campus events can some make the best memories for seniors to look back on. Photo courtesy of Martina Nicholson
Seniors look back on their time at Mary Washington as graduation swiftly approaches. Photo courtesy of Martina Nicholson

As the sun sets on the spring semester, campus blooms

Spring can bring a refreshing sense of relief to students dealing with exam stress.

As the days grow longer and the weather becomes warmer, UMW students often find it easier to step outside, breathe in fresh air and take breaks from intense study sessions. The blooming flowers, sunshine and overall vibrancy of the season can lift moods and reduce anxiety, offering a natural boost in mental well-being.

This seasonal change encourages healthier habits, like walking or studying outdoors, which can improve focus and motivation.

Altogether, spring acts as a gentle reminder that growth and renewal are possible—even during challenging academic times.

GRACE WAGNER & ABBEY MAGNET Life Editor & Photo Editor
The flora and fauna surrounding campus brightens the mood of stressed UMW students. Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer
At Mary Washington, nature is healing for students experiencing stress during finals. Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer
As the sun sets on this semester, spring serves as a warm reminder that there is a relaxing summer on the way. Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer
Golden hour is captured flawlessly between the branches and leaves of the UMW native tree species. Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer
Bright spring colors bring a nice change of scenery to Mary Washington’s campus. Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer
Spring showcases some of the most vibrant colors that the UMW campus has to offer. Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer

Professor Majid and UMW Food Recovery Network team up to amplify outreach around food waste awareness

A couple years ago, Kashef Majid, a professor at the University of Mary Washington, was discussing an article with his students, who were taking his course on Alleviating Food Waste, about the Food Recovery Network programs that dozens of college campuses have to prevent surplus food from dining services from going to waste.

One of his students informed him that their very own campus had a chapter of this program and directed him to its Instagram page. He’d had no idea it existed. He found that the account didn’t have any posts from that semester, so he wasn’t sure if the network was active then.

After some digging later, he learned that a University of Mary Washington student named Hannah Jadgchew was running a chapter through the university’s Community Outreach and Resources service program. He reached out to her and started to take action to partner up with her.

This semester, the partnership has resulted in an expansion of the Food Recovery Network to two days rather than just one and increased efforts to raise awareness about it to recruit even more volunteers, through his class called Alleviating Food Waste offered through the College of Business.

“I think the opportunity to volunteer for the Food Recovery Network provides students with practical and hands-on experience reducing waste,” Majid said. “It gives them a sense of how much food goes to waste and how we can help to reduce that waste. Students can and should spread the word on the opportunity to reduce waste amongst their friends and peers.”

This semester, his students have a choice for their final project in his course,

which is to create an innovative idea, to do academic research or to volunteer in order to alleviate food waste, Majid said. He said that he thought that working to alleviate food waste would allow students to think creatively and execute practical ideas for the betterment of society.

Majid said that his class in the past has had a focus on the theoretical and conceptual understanding of food waste. The volunteering option is useful because students aren’t simply talking about the problem; they’re working to solve it. The idea for community engagement hadn’t crossed his mind in the previous semester, not until he spoke to Jadchew.

“She had already organized a lot of the logistics for the first day, so it’s simply a matter of carrying that over,” he said. “Things like where do we get the trays, where does the food go, how do we package it up, all those logistics that are necessary, she had already got down.”

Jadchew said it was nice that Majid recognized her work and offered his help to expand the network.

“We were really excited as we were getting attention from other people, and the fact that other people wanted to get involved and we could extend this operation to two days is awesome,” she said. “Now, we’re recovering food from the entire week of the dining hall, so none of it is getting disposed of unless it actually does go bad.” Hannah was amazed by how the network recovered a total of 425 pounds of food in only the first two weeks of people volunteering on Thursdays.

The volunteers are responsible for transferring the surplus food leftover in the dining hall’s dishes into food storage containers. The Community Outreach and Resources leaders then place lids on the containers, wrap rubber bands around them and weigh them to record how much food has been recovered before placing

them on a rack for people to drop them off at the local Thurman Brisben Homeless Shelter in Fredericksburg, Va.

In addition to working on food recovery, the students are trying to spread the word to prevent the program from returning to operating on Mondays only, Majid said. Majid said that he thinks that food insecurity is senseless because we have enough food available and that the Food Recovery Network program is wonderful because it can give the food that would otherwise be thrown away to those in need who may be food insecure.

“We waste, on average, maybe 400 pounds a day of food at the dining hall,” Majid said. “If one person needs one pound of food a day, the amount of food we’re wasting could feed about 400 people a day.”

The Food Recovery Network was founded in 2011 at the University of Maryland by a group of college students who watched people throw away food at their campus dining halls every day while members of their community faced hunger. Today, it brings together more than 8,000 college students, food suppliers, farmers and local businesses across the U.S. to fight against climate change and hunger by recovering surplus food from across the supply chain and donating it to local nonprofit organizations that feed people facing hunger.

Majid said that he does not know of another university that has a class that helps with the Food Recovery Network and that what he is doing at the University of Mary Washington is uncommon. The students in his food waste class are volunteering for this program because it aligns with the purpose of the course, but at other colleges that have an active chapter, the students will join themselves without any connection to a class, he said.

“Volunteering for the Food Recovery Network has been pretty easy to be honest,” said Jordan Doss, one of the volun-

teers from Majid’s food waste class. “You come in, it takes less time than you think, it’s not as hard as you might have expected it to be.”

Doss didn’t expect the amount of uneaten food from the dining hall that the volunteers end up packing to be as much as it is, she said. She said that she hopes that other University of Mary Washington students begin to volunteer and thinks that it’s a good thing to continue the program. Doss thinks that Majid’s food waste class helps to teach people about what the Food Recovery Network is doing and keep it in operation as each new group of students taking the course can continue it, she said.

Majid hopes to replicate the program’s current operation on Mondays and Thursdays in the semesters to follow, whether he is teaching his food waste course or not, he said. While he hasn’t thought of any specific plans to spread the word about the volunteering opportunity, he said that he will share information about the program with his students in his food waste class and hopes that they share it with others.

Majid may create a campus club or use social media to help spread the word, he said. When he isn’t teaching Alleviating Food Waste, he said that he would spread the news about the Food Recovery Network throughout the College of Business through the other courses that he teaches, and he hopes that other faculty members do too.

“Definitely when I teach the class, it won’t be an issue to ensure that students are actively volunteering because it will be an option that they can do for academic credit,” he said. “But when I’m not teaching the class, to get students to volunteer, it’s more about emphasizing communication and getting buy-in and getting students involved. I think that would be the big thing, especially across campus, not just in the College of Business, and getting people to know that they can volunteer.”

Kashef Majid is teaching a course called “Alleviating Food Waste,” which identifies the origins of uneaten food and its possible solutions. umw.edu
The Food Recovery Network at UMW has recruited volunteers to package thousands of pounds of extra food from the dining hall to send to a local homeless shelter. @umwfoodrecoverynetwork / Instagram

Regalia costs overshadow graduating students’ celebrations

Every spring, UMW students prepare for graduation by purchasing required commencement regalia, adhering to hundreds of years of academic tradition. Students collect cords, decorate their caps and take graduation photos in their gowns.

However, the excitement surrounding the ceremony is routinely accompanied by discontent from some graduates because of the prices of required garb. This spring, the cost of a bachelor’s degree ensemble is $89.96 plus tax. This marks a price increase of $13.98 from 2024 and $31.98 from 2023.

“The caps and gowns are really expensive, which is a bit obnoxious considering what they’re made out of and that they’re used one time,” said sophomore geography major Sarala Kennedy.

UMW has used Oak Hall, a Virginia-based company, as its regalia provider for several years. The company produces its regalia locally and highlights its sustainability efforts, saying on its website, “The Class of 2025 will wear regalia made from 100% recycled plastic bottles. Each

gown produced diverts 25 plastic bottles from landfills and turns them into GreenWeaver® regalia.”

Director of Community Events Ali Gauch Hieber said that the reason for the jump in prices is not coming from UMW, but Oak Hall, citing “inflation and the costs of the materials” as the source of the issue.

“When the price went up, we completed a cost comparison to make sure it was still one of our best options,” Hieber said. “Other vendors have comparable prices but may not be as reliable for shipping and delivery.”

Alex Thomas, a senior English major, pointed out that not everyone is interested in holding onto regalia after graduation.

“I don’t care to keep them. They’re just going to take up space in my closet,” Thomas said. “I think enough people, if given the option to rent or buy, would rent.”

Kennedy suggested a different idea about making regalia more affordable for students:

“I don’t think that it should be something that each senior has to purchase themselves, at least not at that price point,” Kennedy said. “It should be covered in activity fees that we already pay, rather than being an additional thing that each person has to go out and buy.”

According to the UMW Undergraduate Estimated COA 2025-26, all students pay $5,900 every year in auxiliary fees, which consists of costs like the health center and other student resources.

Kennedy believes that even if students were paying the same amount for the regalia, the convenience of paying for it in the cost of attendance would improve senior’s attitudes towards the fee.

“It wouldn’t be as stressful, and it wouldn’t be like a talking point anymore on campus,” Kennedy said.

Layla McGovern, a senior English and communication and digital studies double major, echoed the sentiment.

“You have to transfer money before you go into the bookstore to make sure you have enough in your checking account to buy your cap and gown, because you know you’re going to leave at least $100 short,” McGovern said.

Hieber said that UMW is interested in hearing further student feedback on this matter for future consideration.

“We appreciate student feedback on possible options for renting robes or donating used robes to the next class,” she said. “If there’s interest this year, we could work with Gwen Hale Resource Center to make a donation box available.”

Crime Column

The Crime Column is based on UMW Police reports from April 9 to April 16.

Petit Larceny

On April 6 at 4:14 p.m., there was a case of petit larceny at Westmoreland Hall. This case is pending.

Vandalism

On April 13 at 12:16 p.m., there was a case of vandalism at the Jepson Science Center. This case is pending.

All regalia, including caps, cords and gowns, must be bought from the UMW bookstore. Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer
ELLA CORDLE Staff Writer
Cords and stoles have requirements that must be met in order to be worn at graduation. Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer

Sports

Mary Washington’s men’s tennis bury claws into Salisbury University at home

On Wednesday afternoon, the Mary Washington men’s tennis team went against Salisbury University at home, defeating them by a score of 4–3.

Going into the match, UMW was ranked 19th in the country for NCAA Division III, while Salisbury was ranked 25th. Matthew Scott, sophomore international affairs major, spoke on how the teams current position compares to their expectations from the beginning of the season.

“If you had told me at the beginning of the year that we were gonna be top 20, I would take that in a heartbeat, so I mean I’ve been super happy with how all of us have been playing,” Scott said. “There’s been some matches where we definitely could have taken them and we lost and there was just 50/50s that hurt us, but overall I’ve been super happy with our performance so far this season.”

Mary Washington started the day slowly, losing all three doubles matches by scores of 6–7, 0–6 and 2–6.

Scott spoke on the importance of energy and savoring every point in double matches.

“Just bringing the energy, for doubles especially, even on every point, I and my partner always bring the energy no matter how big or small that point is, and that just gives us confidence in each other,” Scott said.

After losing their three double matches, Mary Washington was in need of a reset before playing single matches. Senior business administration major Brock Ladehoff says that reminding his teammates to stay focused on the overall match and not on every lost point is important for keeping team morale high.

“I like to tell my teammates when I sit down with them on the bench or whatever, I’m like, ‘hey guys stay positive, it’s a really hard game. You’re gonna fail, you’re gonna lose points, but tennis is a marathon, so try not to focus on what’s currently happening, but think with the big picture,’” Ladehoff said.

The singles matches started with UMW losing their first match in two sets. Following this loss, the Eagles took the second and fourth matches in two straight sets before taking the third, fifth and sixth matches to a third set.

For all three matches that went to a third set, Mary Washington lost in the first set. Evan Fisher, sophomore biomedical sciences major, said that the grit and fight to make it to that third set is what made the win possible.

“Just fighting out there quite frankly we didn’t play the best in the doubles, some guys didn’t play the best in singles, but we just kind of hung around, kept fighting, got the job done eventually,” he said.

Fisher participated in the third singles match, after dropping the first set 4--6, Fisher rallied and won the next two sets by 6–2 and 6–4. While in the second and third set, his teammates came around the court to support and cheer him on after their matches were over. Fisher says that while it felt good to have the team behind him, it was the concentration and focus he had that helped win the match.

“It’s nice, it always makes you feel good, but I honestly wasn’t really paying attention to that, I was pretty locked into the match,” Fisher said. “Trying to stay focused, stay with my pattern, stay with my shots, trying to get through the finish line.”

The Eagles would go on to win the fifth match and lose the sixth. Sophomore economics major Jack Riordan said that winning when they needed to is what allowed the team to reach the third sets and fight for a chance to win the day.

“We just succeeded when we needed to, lots of third sets, but we came out of them,” he said.

Reflecting on the season as it comes to an end with only two regular season matches left, Ladehoff hopes that the chemistry and culture the team has now continues onto next year, even after he graduated.

“I hope the culture and chemistry, how good it is now, I hope that carries over to the

next group of freshmen coming in and I’m looking forward to the next group of leaders because we have three seniors leaving.” Ladehoff said. “The juniors and the sophomores currently, that will be juniors and seniors, step up and carry on the culture and some other things because we have such a great team dynamic.”

Riordan echoed this sentiment, hoping that everyone on the team gets stronger and becomes more of a family to hopefully get even more wins next season.

“What I’m looking forward to most is the team chemistry, just getting stronger and stronger every year,” he said. “Everyone being a family and hopefully getting some more wins next year.”

With the seniors on the verge of leaving, Scott reflected on the influence of the upperclassman and how he hopes to be able to take the good habits he’s seen from them in the coming years.

“They’ve been showing up for four years here and it’s just an inspiration to us to always keep going,” Scott said. “Even when times are hard, having to wake up for lifts, but just seeing those guys consistently do it and seeing them been doing it for four years is something that I can take from for sure.”

When asked about the future of the team, both this season and the following, Fisher believes that how young the team is will be a benefit and shock teams in bigger tournaments.

“We’re a very young team so I think we’ll be able to have some good runs in the NCAA tournament come down the road, and once we get there I think once we all develop a little bit more. I think we can be a super big problem for a bunch of different schools.”

Along with age, Riordan said that how involved everyone is with the team is what gives them strength. Even if someone is not playing on the court alongside them, just by cheering they are helping along the team.

“Everyone wants to be there, everyone’s a team, even if you’re not in, you’re still in. you’re helping us win with cheering each other on and everything, and even off the court I would say it’s being there for each other.”

Fisher claimed that the talent of the roster will come to shine, and when everything comes together, they will be able to pull off big team wins.

“We have a whole bunch of talent on this roster, and that’s just a matter of can we all bring it together at the right time to make things happen, get some big wins and stuff like that.”

The Eagles next match will be April 21 on the road against Barton College

“We all have a lot of school pride, we all love Mary Washington,” said Ladehoff. “We have a blessed facility . . . we just have so much heart. We love our school and we’re out here to be playing and representing Mary Washington.”

University of Mary Washington Spring Sports Schedule

Baseball (22-9)

Apr. 12 @ Salisbury University (4-7) Apr. 19 @ Christopher Newport University Apr. 22 @ Messiah University

Softball (9-23)

Apr. 15 vs. Sevenson University (3-2) (6-11)

Apr. 22 @ Catholic University

Men’s Tennis (14-7)

Apr. 12 @ Sewanee (1-6)

Apr. 21 @ Barton College Apr. 22 @ North Carolina Wesleyan University

Women’s Tennis (7-7) Apr. 12 @ Salisbury University (7-0) Apr. 18 vs. Johns Hopkins University

Men’s Lacrosse (8-6) Apr. 16 @ Christopher Newport University (8-22) Apr. 19 vs. Kean University Apr. 22 vs. St. Mary’s College of Maryland

Women’s Lacrosse (10-4) Apr. 12 vs. Christopher Newport University (3-17)

St. Mary’s College of Maryland (6-8)

Men’s Rugby (4-7) Apr. 19 vs. Ohio State University

Games are available to watch via livestream on the UMW Athletics webpage www.eagles.com/composite

Full schedule not listed above. Most recent games included. Bold indicates home game.

THOMAS JACKSON Sports Editor
THOMAS JACKSON Sports Editor
UMW sophomore economics major Trevor Rein serving the ball over crouched Jack Riordan, a fellow sophomore economics major, in their 4-3 home win over Salisbury University. Thomas Jackson / The Weekly Ringer

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