Western Courier| January 25th, 2019

Opinions: Partying isn't the only way to have fun.

Sports: Royal Rumble hits the ring Sunday.

Sports: Leathernecks take on South Dakota Saturday.

Friday, January 25, 2019 - Vol. 119 Issue 48

Western grad recognized for leadership skills

By Steven Barnum news editor

The Galesburg, Ill. Area Chamber of Commerce chose a Western Illinois University graduate as one of the recipients of the “20 Under 40” program.

Smithshire, Ill. native Stephanie Hilten was selected to be a part of 2019’s list, which is announced once for every three years. The award

By Steven Barnum news editor

Western Illinois University was recently recognized for its opportunities in onlinedegree programs.

U.S. News and World Report studied developed a list of which colleges that offer what they consider to be the

is designed to recognize younger professionals who have showcased success in business in their local community. To be considered for the award, recipients had to be nominated for their work ethic. Hilten was able to stand out against more than 50 other contenders.

Hilten works as the director of the Foundation Board at Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg. A fellow mem-

ber of that board nominated Hilten for the award, which she believes is a result of her learning experiences in college.

Before making Carl Sandburg College her home, Hilten was a Leatherneck.

In 2015, she earned a Bachelor ’s degree in communications from Western, laying the foundation for her future leadership and business skills. When it comes to the

photo courtesy: WIU Office of University Relations

university’s communications department, Hilten knows she made the right choice.

“I love that department so much,” Hilten said. “I still keep in touch with a lot of the instructors. The degree itself is really broad, which really comes in handy with what I do now and it’s something that you can use for a number of different careers. I try to steer students at Sandburg to Western’s

Western to expand online classes

strongest online programs.

The study was based on factors like variety of selection, level of education and opportunity. U.S. News and World Report strives to provide useful information that would allow those seeking to further their education to make the best decision.

Macomb’s university ranked

76 out of 348 in the United States, putting its onlinedegree program in the top 21 percentile. Currently, Western offers 463 online classes in total, with seven of those being for undergraduate and graduate degrees.

More recently, Western has added accounting and economics to its mix of online

possibilities. It remains one of the few universities in the country to offer an anthropology degree from home. Starting in the fall semester, students at Western may enroll in the online program for supply chain management, which is one of the university’s highest-enrolled programs.

Jimmy person/Production Manager

communication department.”

Growing up less than an hour drive away from Macomb, Hilten had Western high on her list of preferred colleges.

She recalls one of the many elements that set it apart from other schools.

20 Under 40 page 3

Additionally, students who enroll at Western may earn bachelor ’s degrees in programs like general studies, communication and geography, while elementary education is one of the top choices in the school’s master ’s degree program.

Online Classes

Activity Fair spurs recruitment

page 3

Activity Fair tate dowell/courier staff

page 2

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Friday, January 25, 2019

NEWS

WesternCourier.com

Students recruit members at Activity Fair

Student clubs and organizations set up booths throughout the Grand Ballroom Wednesday in efforts to recruit new members to each organization.

WC Located on the third floor of the Heating Plant Annex on the south end of campus across from Sherman Hall.

Mail: 1 University Circle, WIU, Macomb, IL 61455 Phone: 309-298-1876 Fax: 309-298-2309 Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays E-mail: micour@wiu.edu Member: Illinois College Press Association, National Association College Press

STAFF MEMBERS editor-in-chief Devon Grrene DJ-Greene@wiu.edu news editor Steven Barnum

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20 under 40 from front page

“I liked how small the classes were. Coming from a small town, that was something that really drew me to Western,” she said. “And it helped that I was close to home and that it had a good reputation.”

Another factor that plays into the chamber of commerce’s selections is volunteer work in the local community, which Hilten has shown a track record of. She comes back to Macomb each fall to volunteer for the communications department’s career prep day, but her motivation to help others started long before now.

“When I was a student at

Friday, January 25, 2019 Western, there were a lot of leadership and volunteer opportunities available, which helped me focus on what I wanted in a career.

The student-worker position I was in made me fall in love with supporting higher education.”

Hilten’s interest in higher education did not drive her to become a teacher. Instead, she turned to the non-profit world, where she saw the vast number of opportunities. Her duties at Sandburg include organizing special events that deal with scholarships and donations made to the college.

Among the qualities that could put other members of the community on the short list for the next set of selections, Hilten says that it’s

important for young workers to get into the mindset of becoming a strong and effective communicator, while also displaying a willingness to adapt in different settings.

“I believe Western helped me in both of those ways when I was there,” she said.

To follow her path, Hilten recommends taking advantage of the opportunities that Western has to offer.

She also says to volunteer even after you’re done with college.

“I think that being in the student-worker position definitely helped me,” Hilten said. “I was involved in other organizations on campus too, which are all very important. I always tell students to look into those opportunities.”

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Online Classes from front page

Western is riding a wave that continues to pick up momentum; according to U.S. News, more than 6.3 million students in the U.S. are currently taking at least one online class. In each of the last 14 years that the data was collected in, the number of students enrolling in online classes has steadily risen.

Students of all ages and demographics have been taking more online classes as of recent, even in times of economic strug-

gle. More than threefourths of all online students in the U.S. reside in the same state as their college, which indicates that proximity is still a deciding factor in making a higher-education decision. In general, in-state tuition is more affordable whether courses are completed in person or online.

For students who prefer the traditional method of learning, Western gives students the chance to take blended courses, which combine the elements of an online class and an in-person class.

Jeff Hancks, the Executive

Director of the School of Global Education and Outreach, believes that Western’s ranking is quite the feat. He shared his reaction with Western Illin ois Un iversit y Relations about placing so highly on the list.

“We are proud to have received this tremendous recognition from U.S. news and World Report for the quality of our online programs,” he said. “WIU has strategically built a portfolio of outstanding, in-demand online programs, and we are thrilled that respected national publications like U.S. News have noticed.”

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OPINIONS

Friday, January 25, 2019

WesternCourier.com

Social media has several effects on our daily lives

JIMMY PIERSON/PRODUCTION MANAGER

JIMMY PIERSON/PRODUCTION MANAGER

Social media has so many positive and negative effects on people, their relationships and professional lives.

When social media was invented, it was meant to be a way for people who live far away to connect and share their lives. Since the invention of social media and the Internet, we have come so far in the way they impact us. Social media like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat are all examples of apps people use every day. These specific apps, while maintaining connection, are also fairly harmful to our real lives and relationships.

When you log on to these sites some things you typically see are things like life updates (new cars, kids, graduation, marriage, etc.).

When we only see the positive life events people are posting, it makes us believe that our lives are much less appealing and therefore makes us feel bad about ourselves.

The same goes for pictures posted on Instagram and Snapchat.

When we see famous people posting pictures in their bikinis, we start to compare ourselves to those people. The negative impact social media has on us personally can also stretch out to our personal relationships.

Social media has increased the dating pool by connecting people all around the world. While most people use social media to connect with friends and family, it is also used to build relationships. Apps like Tinder, MeetMe, Bumble, etc. are made specifically for people with common interests to talk and

connect. More professional apps, like LinkedIn, are used to connect people with similar work interests. These kinds of apps can help you by giving you connections to people with similar interests and providing you the opportunity to speak with people about new jobs.

The problem with some of these apps is the negative impact it can have on your personal relationships. Some problems we see today have a lot to do with insecurity. Like I said before, we tend to compare ourselves to others more due to social media. When you are in a relationship, you tend to keep an eye on your significant others’ social media accounts. This can lead to issues because what could be a harmless “like,” could turn into jealousy and lead to a fight.

These kinds of issues are difficult because if social media did not exist, we would not have such a big problem with this.

All in all, social media has positive and negative impacts on everyone’s lives. Even though it's about connecting people, it can also cause people to assume others’ do not have the same problems in their personal lives as they do. This can lead to bigger problems like anxiety, stress and depression. Personally, I enjoy social media and tend to use it more often than I should.

When I’m on social media, I’m sure to remember that not everyone posts everything, and just because they post only the happy things does not mean they’re truly happy.

College is all about experience.

It’s about expressing yourself and figuring out what’s best for you. It’s about figuring out who your friends are, accommodating to school and the new environment shift from high school.

It’s about getting the full college experience so when you graduate, you can look back and say you had no regrets.

Some college students think the experience is about going out every weekend and partying, but that’s not true. There is more to college than drinking to the point of no return every night. At the end of the day, everyone is in college for one purpose, and that purpose is to get their degree and figure out what to do next when they graduate. It’s safe to say that a number of people party consistently in college. The girls spend hours putting on makeup and finding the right outfit to impress the crowd. Guys usually drink with their buddies and when the night progresses, they go have a good time with one another. Sometimes even couples go out to enjoy a few drinks and each other's company. Many social groups go out to parties or party at the bar as well like Greek life members, athletes and musicians.

People who are involved heavily in school go out and party, as well as those who aren’t so involved in school. Whatever social clique one might belong to, there are still a lot of people who go out to have a good time

and that is not necessarily a bad thing. Going out and having fun is totally okay and something that everyone should experience. No one should solely be focused on their studies; they should have time for themselves, friends, family, peers, etc. However, partying is not for everyone and there are more things to do besides that. It’s understandable why people don’t want to go out all the time because it’s always the same routine. House parties are usually crowded and it’s super hot. There are usually too many people piled in one little house. If people want to go to the bars, they are usually super crowded as well. Most bars in this particular college charge some form of cover and overpriced drinks with little to minimal alcohol. Not to mention that the bars are open until 1 a.m. on the weekdays and 2 a.m. on the weekends and that might be a lot for some people.

Not everyone is good with big crowds either because it can be so overwhelming. People are constantly bumping into you, spilling drinks on you and being loud and obnoxious.

Maybe my opinion on partying is negative because I am a senior and over the scene, but there are so many different ways to spend your 24 hour time frame that doesn’t involve binge drinking. Yes, partying is part of the experience, but it’s not the scene for everyone and that is completely understandable.

OPINIONS 5

Friday, January 25, 2019

@WesternCourier

Should McDonough county offer I-bonds?

Currently, it's county policy to not offer I-bonds for low-income individuals who have been charged with a crime, misdemeanor or felony in McDonough County.

An I-bond is a type of bail that allows individuals charged with certain crimes, typically non-violent crimes, the right to their freedom without requiring them to post a cash bail. This has nothing to do with sentencing or whether or not a person is innocent or guilty, this is prior to trial and at this stage in the process, all are considered innocent until proven guilty. This is done predominantly in urban cities, for example in Illinois, it’s often widely used in Cook County. This helps reduce

the population of the jails and helps free up space for more hardened, serious offenders. This also helps low-income offenders, for example, from rural and urban backgrounds where there aren't many opportunities for economic advancement, retain their livelihoods and helps them not fall into a cycle of crime and violence.

The reason for why the county of McDonough does not offer I-bonds most likely has to do with money.

The minimum bail amount for nonviolent offenses is $150 but can be much higher per person. So during a typical weekend, the McDonough County jail receives about a dozen to two dozen (during homecoming/

Halloween it can be much higher) people who would need to pay the $150 plus any other court fees, not to mention the cost of any tickets or citations issued. Overall, cash bail is a lucrative for-profit business.

Now, the problem with this system is that a large portion of those who are charged are typically Western Illinois University students who, due to their enrollment, are usually unemployed or underemployed and simply lack the resources to pay for their immediate release. Another problem with university students being put in jail is the fact that the overwhelming number of students recruited by Western are from the Chicago and the St. Louis areas and are predominantly people of color, so not only are university students being imprisoned, but most of them are minority students from low-income backgrounds who are being imprisoned.

If an individual can't cover the bail

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Edge Editor - Marc Ramirez Editor-in-Chief - Devon Greene Opinions Editor - Allison Young

amount, then they must stay in county jail until they can cover it.

Every night spent in jail is worth $30 dollars, so a person who has not yet been found guilty of a crime would have to spend seven nights in the county jail to cover the $150 or as many nights required until their bail is paid off. That is time that they will miss from school and work (if employed), of their life that they will never get back, along with the trauma imposed upon the human psyche from experiencing the loss of their individual freedom. Now, I'm not suggesting that all offenders be offered I-bonds, that would be radical and dangerous, but I am suggesting that non-violent offenders from low-income backgrounds should be offered I-bonds when they lack the financial resources to post their own cash bail and thus, they can then return to their lives with minimal intervention from law enforcement. This will help

the county in the long run, because students who experience being imprisoned for a non-violent offense will be much more likely to drop out of the university. This then leads to a reduction in enrollment (my theory as to why it's already at a historic low) and then translates to loss of state and federal grants that the University receives per student enrolled not to mention the tens of thousands of dollars they receive directly from the student enrolled at the institution. This then further exacerbates the financial woes of the county; which is ironic because it’s why they don’t have I-bonds to begin with because of the supposed revenue it adds to the county.

Overall, it’s a vicious cycle that must be reduced if not out-right eliminated. Until this happens, students will continue to drop out of Western and the economic woes of the entire region will continue.

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Friday, January 25, 2019

Sports

Men's from back page

The Leathernecks will be looking to ride their hot offense into this matchup into their game against the Coyotes. CJ Duff is coming off the best performance of his career after dropping 30 points against the Mastodons.

However, he is not the only threat the Leathernecks posses on the offensive end.

Kobe Webster has been stout all season. He is currently averaging 17.9 points and 3.5 assists on the year. He is the man the Coyotes will have to keep a close eye on because he can light up the scoreboard at any given moment. On the defensive end, the man that will be troubling to South Dakota is Brandon Gilbeck.

The reigning Summit League Defensive Player of the Year is currently top-five in the nations for blocks per game, and has been wrecking havoc on Summit League opponents all season.

Both teams want to extend their prospective winning streaks, but it won’t be easy with how well these two teams have been playing. The game tips off at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday. Be sure to catch the action on ESPN+.

Twitter: breidytv

CJ Duff runs back to get into the play.

WC

For Rent

For Rent

Houses for Rent 2016/2017: A&D Real Estate has several 3, 4 and 5 bedroom houses for rent, all with at least 2 bathrooms, recently rennovated and located close to campus. Call for a tour or visit our website at www.wiucollegerentals.com. Local landlord with a focus on clean and updated housing with personal service for your college housing needs. 309-313-1122.

FALL INTO SAVINGS with Charleston Boulevard Apartments! Now offering SPECIAL RATES through Dec. 2017! Call for specific details 309-833-4545!.

NICE, CLEAN, WELL MAINTAINED 1 TO 6 BEDROOM HOUSES FOR 2016-2017 Our houses have hard wood floors, ceramic tile, central air, washer and dryer and are close to campus with plenty of parking. We offer a ten month lease so you don’t pay for the months you aren’t here. Please call 309-255-1959 for a showing.

Now showing for 2017 & 2018 year 2, 3, and 5 bedrooms homes all close to campus. Call 309-331-4565.

Westen Investments: Leasing season has officailly begun, and we’re showing properties now! 1-5 bedroom houses close to campus are ready to be leased for this upcoming school year! Call our office at 309-833-5995 to schedule an appointment! Stay updated with us on Twitter @Western_Invest STC Investments now leasing for the 18/19 school year. We have 1-6 bedroom apartments/houses ready for you to call home! Check out our selection at www.stcinvestments.com.

You can also find us on Facebook to see daily posts!

from back page

Nicholas joined Kaufmann and Elizabeth Lutz atop their single-game highs with 10 made field goals at Purdue Fort Wayne (Jan. 19).

All three Leathernecks have hit the mark at some point of this season, and it currently sits as the most made in the 2017-18 season. Lutz was the first to do so against MacMurray College (Nov. 12) where she finished the game with 23 points before Kauffman followed with a career-high 28 points against North Dakota (Jan. 13).

Nichols’ 10 field goal effort

also set a collegiate best with 21 points.

Western sits ninth in the nation with 178 made 3-pointers. As a team, Western has made 10 or more threes in six games this season including a program-record 28 against MacMurray College (Nov. 12) that also set an NCAA Division I record.

South Dakota (17-3, 5-1 Summit League) is scheduled to take on rivals, North Dakota, Friday night before playing host to the Leathernecks. Catch your Western Illinois University Leathernecks at the Sanford Coyote Sports Center this Saturday at 1 p.m.

Elizabeth Lutz looks to make a pass inside Western Hall.

CLASSIFIEDS Spacious 2-5 bedroom homes for rent. 10 month lease available. Great locations, close to bus stops, plenty off street parking, all new windows, AC, energy efficient furnace, hardwood and ceramic tile floors, free washer/dryer. Well maintained (24 hrs.) by local landlord.

Call 309-255-1233.

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Submit a classifieds ad to JD-Day@wiu.edu

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LARGE STUDENT RENTALS 5 and 6 Bedroom Homes are still available!! Ask for our $1000.00 Discount program! First come first serve for the last large homes that are open for the fall.

NICE, CLEAN, WELL MAINTAINED 1 TO 6 BEDROOM HOUSES FOR 2017-2018 Our houses have wood floors, ceramic tile, W/D, central air, and are close to campus with plentry of parking. We offer low rent and a 10 month lease to save you money! Call 309-255-1959 for a showing.

Small 1BR apt near campus and downtown. All utilities included. (Electric, Water, DISH, Garbage) $500/month, $300 deposit. Available immediately. Also have 2BR, you pay electric. $600/month, $350 deposit available September 1st. Please contact 309-255-4367 for a showing.

Timbercrest Apartments 1587 Riverview Drive Now showing 1 & 2 Bedroom Units. Very clean, close to WIU campus with bus stop in front of building. Washer/dryer available in most units, all other appliances included, FREE INTERNET, ceiling fans in every room, pet friendly. All units have off street parking and private decks overlooking campus. Both 10- and 12-month leases are available. Openings for Summer 2017 and school year 2017/2018. Deposit required. Phone (309)833-3192 and leave message.

Westen Investments: Are you looking for an apartment? We are now showing our beautiful 1-3 bedroom apartments for this upcoming school year! Don’t like paying for utilities? Ask about our ALL UTILITIES options, and be sure to check out our website (westerninvest.com) to see our listings! Schedule an appointment with us today at 309-833-5995.

The nicer apartments are going fast, excellent service- 24 hour emergency maintenance. Reasonable prices. Studio, 1-3 bedrooms, locations on/off campus available ‘18-’19 school year. Check us out at rentcollegepads.com. If interested, please call F & H Rentals 309/837-1705.

RATES $5.50 per issue (open rate) $4.00 per issue (campus rate)

For Rent Available now: Close to campus, clean studio apartments, excellent condition, reasonable rent, and partly furnished.

Ceiling fans and a/c. Professionally maintained. No pets.

Semester leases offered. Call 309 837 4369 and leave your phone number if not there. Email: MandKhousing@gmail.com ALL APARTMENTS - ALL INCLUSIVE Get control of your budget. Know exactly what you are spending each month. Each apartment includes free a/c, free heat, free electricity, free water, free cable tv, free hi speed internet, and free off street parking. Laundry on site.

No noise policy. Bus stop across the street. Close to campus. Well maintained. Studios are $460/mo, One bedrooms are $620/mo. Call Doug at 309-255-8179 for an appointment.

For Rent: Little Swan Lake, 30 min from campus. 2br, 2bth, heated double car garage with work area. $600 per mo.

(309) 335-2206 after 6:00 pm, may leave message anytime.

Spacious 3 Bedroom Upper in Duplex close to campus and Jackson St. All utilities furnished and appliances Includes cable and internet 18/19 school year $375.00 per Br Ph 309 255 8086 Please leave message Still have some nice large locations available at reasonable prices. Excellent service- 24 hour emergency maintenance. 1-8 bedrooms, locations on/off campus available ‘18-’19 school year. Pets at some locations. Check us out at rentcollegepads.com. If interested, please call F & H Rentals 309/837-1705.

Looking for 2 roommates to share a 3-bedroom furnished house beginning in August for 2018-19. 10- to 12-month contract. New carpet, air, garage w/ storage, laundry. $300 each per month, plus utilities. Call Sharon at 309-338-3888.

@WesternCourier

Friday, January 25, 2019

Sports 7

Let's get ready to rumble

It’s the beginning of a new year and that means one thing and one thing only for wrestling fans: It’s time for the Royal Rumble! The Royal Rumble is the first of the World Wrestling Entertainment’s (WWE) big four pay-per-views which also includes WrestleMania, SummerSlam and Survivor Series.

The Royal Rumble is a very special event that not only has multiple matches, most dealing with a championship on the line, but it also has the famous 30-man Royal Rumble match. The rumble match is like a normal battle royal except that instead of all 30 superstars starting in the ring, they enter one at a time in 90 second intervals.

While most people get excited for WrestleMania, and don’t get me wrong I do too, the Royal Rumble is by far my favorite pay-per-view of the year. The sheer thrill and suspense of trying to predict who’s going to win the match and earn a championship spot at that year’s Mania never fails to draw my viewing of the event annually. This year’s card is quite stacked and should be entertaining.

Starting off the show is a strong tag team matchup for the SmackDown Tag Team Champions. The current champs The Bar, comprised of Sheamus and Cesaro, face off against the newly formed team of The Miz and SmackDown Live general manager Shane McMahon.

The Bar has proven since their formation that the chemistry is there, and they can compete with any tag team in the SmackDown or Raw divisions. Since their formation in 2016, Sheamus and Cesaro have won the Raw Tag Team championships a record of four times and have held the SmackDown titles since Oct. 16, when they defeated The New Day. The one thing I don’t understand about this matchup is the randomness of the Miz/McMahon pairing.

The two are both talented stars, the Miz both a former world champion and tag team champion, but with the star-studded tag division on SmackDown it just seems odd that these two got this opportunity. My prediction is that The Bar retain the titles and some fuel is added to a sparking rivalry between Miz and McMahon that may end up with a match at WrestleMania.

Following the tag match, both women’s championships are on the line. Raw women’s champion Ronda Rousey faces off against former women’s champ Sasha Banks. I personally am not looking forward to this match at all. There will be plenty of talent in that ring on Sunday, but an unpopular opinion that I seem to have is that I don’t think Rousey should be in the WWE at all.

Since her surprise debut in the WWE at last year’s Royal Rumble,

the former UFC champion has had all the hype in the world for her first WWE match. That match came at WrestleMania when “The Baddest Woman on the Planet” teamed with Kurt Angle to beat Triple H and Stephanie McMahon.

I thought her performance in that match was some solid work, but not crisp enough to be put anywhere near main event quality. Unfortunately for me and fans with my similar reaction, Rousey has received the largest push I’ve seen in recent years. Not only has she held the Raw women’s title since Summerslam, but the champ has never lost since joining the WWE. My prediction for the match is that Rousey wins via armbar submission and will hold the title until WrestleMania.

The other women’s title match pins SmackDown Live champion Asuka against Becky Lynch. Lynch has been red hot as of late. Her promos building her up as “The Man” in the women’s division as well as calling out the other women in the division have been some of the best promos I have heard in a while. Putting her up against last year’s women’s Royal Rumble winner Asuka sets the stage for an impressive bout. My prediction is Lynch either wins the gold or loses via DQ. Either way I think this feud will continue all the way to WrestleMania with Lynch taking the final win.

The one match on this entire card that I think has the possibility to be a classic is WWE champion Daniel Bryan versus AJ Styles. Both are some of the most technically gifted professional wrestlers of this gen-

By Brie Coder

all against Missouri, Columbia (Mo.) and Avila with 115.5 points and the Purple and Gold men came in third with 44 points.

The field events started the intercollegiate. In the field events, junior Brady Shows (weight throw), freshman Gabe Cheeks (long jump), sophomore Amelia Peterson (triple jump) and junior Megan Reed (triple jump) each placed in the top-five rankings while also setting new personal records in their respected positions.

Juniors Bo Brasseur and Justin Montalto won their events, which was a big highlight for the Leatherneck teams. Brasseur had a 5.54 meter effort (18' 2.25") in the long jump, and Montalto created a new time for other runners to beat in the 400meter (52.93). He was two seconds ahead of the other competitor, which was quite a close call for the Purple and Gold.

In addition to other impres-

sive top-five marks, junior Rachel Hilton (60-meter dash) and freshman Sierra Long (400 meter) beat their previous collegiate bests which concluded the Mizzou Intercollegiate.

Head coach Diane Wholey was thrilled to see her teams excel the competition, especially since the teams were off several weeks for winter break.

“Today's (last Saturday’s) meet was a good opportunity to find out where our athletes stand after the Christmas break," said Wholey. "I was pleased with several of our athlete's performances. I know many worked hard over the holidays to keep up their fitness levels while they were away from campus. We had a short week of training this week so I am pleased with how well our athletes competed today."

A lot will be at stake this weekend and it’s up to Western to maintain their high rankings like they did two weeks ago.

Twitter: boxin_briecoder

eration. Their WWE title match on SmackDown a few months ago saw Bryan hit a low blow on Styles to give him the advantage and win the title.

The story those two told and the solid execution of Bryan’s first heel turn since pre-WrestleMania 28 should make any wrestling fan excited for what these two are planning for the Royal Rumble.

My prediction is that Bryan retains his title and the two continue their feud until they meet one more time at WrestleMania.

The other match may not be as technically astounding, but it will be entertaining and thrilling. After winning a fatal four-way match on last week’s RAW, Finn Balor earned the right to face the WWE Universal Champion Brock Lesnar at the Rumble. Balor is easily the underdog in this matchup due to the significant size difference between Lesnar and himself. My prediction for the match is that Balor will put up a strong fight but Lesnar will still come out on top to retain the title.

And last but certainly not least, the Royal Rumble matches. It is almost impossible to correctly guess all 30 participants in each match so for these I will just stick to my predictions for who will win.

For the women’s Rumble I think that Charlotte Flair will emerge the victor and earn a title match at WrestleMania. It just makes sense on paper. Both the SmackDown and Raw women’s titleholders are in feuds right now, but Flair could easily be put in a program with anyone and it would be a phenomenal match.

If there is anyone who would be worthy enough to end Rousey’s undefeated streak, Flair is the easy choice to do it. Put her up against Asuka, the superstar who she defeated at last year’s WrestleMania in a stellar bout, and I think they could blow the roof off the joint. And hypothetically if Lynch were to defeat Asuka, Lynch and Flair have had matches in the past that were so technically sound that no wrestling fan would be disappointed to watch again.

While I think that Baron Corbin and Elias are two talented superstars who deserve a shot to win the Rumble and get the push they deserve, it most likely won’t happen this year. I don’t think there is a clear-cut winner that stands out, but the two most likely winners in my opinion are Samoa Joe and Seth Rollins.

Rollins has been hot lately and has the feel that the backstage personnel are pushing him hard. Samoa Joe, on the other hand, is in a need of a strong push. An accomplished independent wrestler, Joe hasn’t gotten many Universal title shots since joining the WWE. If the Balor/Lesnar feud doesn’t continue after their match at the Rumble, I think that Rollins or Joe as the Rumble winner would make a fine opponent to possibly dethrone the Beast.

Whatever the outcome may be in each of these matches, one thing is for certain, “The Road to WrestleMania” has begun, and it goes through Phoenix at the Royal Rumble!

Justin Montalto stretching out before practice.

Leathernecks are ready to get back on

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U R B A N A - C H A M PA I G N , IL — With the winter blues taking full effect these past couple of weeks, the Western Illinois University men and women’s track and field teams are still motivated to take their competition to new heights this Saturday at the Illini Invite.

The men and women Leatherneck teams haven’t been in competition since Jan. 11, when they headed to Columbia, Mo. and took part in the Mizzou Intercollegiate.

Western was suppose to take on Indiana State University last Saturday at the Sycamore Team Invitational but due to weather, the event was cancelled. Since then, the Purple and Gold have used their time off from invites to practice maintaining their already strong suits.

At their last invite in Missouri, the women of Western came in second over-

BECCA LANGYS/PHOTO EDITOR

Men's basketball tries to win back to back

By Brendan Reidy courier staff

MY'ANNA PERDUE/COURIER STAFF

Brandon Gilbeck posts up against Purdue Fort Wayne.

MACOMB, Ill. — The Western Illinois men’s basketball team (7-13, 2-5) will travel to Vermillion, S.D., to take on the University of South Dakota Coyotes (9-11, 3-4) this Saturday.

Both teams have had their fair share of ups and downs this season, but look to cap off the back end of conference play on a high note.

This will be the first time these two teams meet this season, but the Leathernecks will have their chance to host South Dakota later on in the season. Going into the matchup both teams are coming off victories. The Coyotes defeated the University of North Dakota by a margin, winning by 14 points. The Leathernecks are coming off a dominant performance as well. Western Illinois defeated the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons, 87-58. The Purple and Gold were able to knock off the No. 1 team in the conference, and provide a little pillow for their playoff hopes. Both teams are going to continue climbing the conference ranks, and this matchup is a crucial one.

South Dakota has the advan-

tage going into this matchup because they are the home team.

The entire Summit League has struggled while playing on the road, but that’s not the biggest thing Western Illinois should fear when they go into the Dakota Dome. Stanley Umude is the name to look out for in this matchup. He is the leading scorer for South Dakota. Many people wonder how the Coyotes would react to losing their prolific scorer Matt Mooney from a season ago, but Umude has stepped right in perfectly.

Another name on the offense that can explode at any given time is Trey Burch-Manning. He is stepping into a bigger role this season on offense, and is shooting at an unbelievable clip from beyond the arc. He is drilling 50 percent of his shots from downtown. On the defensive side of the ball, their best defender is Triston Simpson. He has 30 steals on the year and will most likely be guarding Western’s hot hand all game long.

Men's page 6

Women's basketball to make it four in a row

By Taylor Jordan courier staff VERMILLION, S.D. — The Leathernecks will extend to the midpoint of their Summit League schedule this Saturday at South Dakota.

The Coyotes lead the alltime series, 12-3 having won both contests in the 20172018. South Dakota women’s basketball remains third in the CollegeInsider.com MidMajor poll as announced Tuesday evening.

Western Illinois glided to their third consecutive win after defeating Purdue Fort Wayne by 73-59 inside Western Hall. Four Leathernecks scored in double digits, featured by Danni Nicholas’ game-high, careerhigh 21 points, and as a team, Western tied its program record for fewest turnovers in a game (4).

Olivia Kaufmann was voted Summit League Player of the Week after putting up a pair of complete games for WIU against Omaha and Purdue Fort Wayne. She nearly bagged her first career double-double with 17 points and a career-high nine assists

versus UNO before enfolding Western’s homestand with 13 points, eight assists and seven steals against the Mastodons.

Kaufmann currently ranks second in the Summit League with 75 dimes, while managing it in steals (61) – almost double the amount of the next ranked student-athlete who has 31.

The weekly honor marked Western’s second of the season as Taylor Higginbotham acquired the award on Dec. 22. Higginbotham is the lone senior on the Leathernecks’ 2018-19 roster, she ranks second all-time on Westerns’ career scoring list with 1,665 points, just 35 points away from eclipsing the program record. Her former teammates and current assist coach Emily Clemens became the program’s all-time leading scorer. Clemens received this honor last season where she finished her career with 1,699 points.

Women's page 6

Taylor Higginbotham guards the paint inside Western Hall.

MY'ANNA PERDUE/ COURIER STAFF