Western Courier| February 15th, 2019 by The Western Courier

Opinions: Did you think the Grammy's were a let down?

Sports: NFL players need to take a stand against domesrtic violence.

Friday, February 15, 2019 - Vol. 119 Issue 55

Sports: Men's basketball prepares for South Dakota

Western Alum brings efficiency to African farming methods By Steven Barnum news editor

agrinews.com

Todd Steinacher, Alpha Gamma Rho and Western alum, travels to Africa to teach modern day farming methods.

A graduate of Western Illinois University’s agriculture department is in the process of bringing more efficiency to farming communities in Africa. Todd Steinacher left Western in 2006 with the passion to work in the agricultural industry. He held jobs in sales and marketing before making himself at home at AgriGold, where he is the Regional Agronomist. AgriGold is a seed company based in central Illinois, where Steinacher has lived his entire life. He believes that Western’s agric ultural program helped shape his perspective. “It opens your mind up to dif-

ferent cultures and how they farm and reproduce,” Steinacher said. “It got me thinking about agriculture on a world level and not just in my state or my county.” In November, Steinacher and a team of agricultural leaders brought their skillsets to villages in Zambia, Africa. Once the group arrived in Africa, they hosted a grower meeting in order to share helpful tips about planting methods and plant development with area farmers. He knows that once they have a better understanding of a plant’s roots and nutrients, they will see a large-scale impact on their crops. Their primary goals were to increase yields and food stability.

One of the purposes of the trip was to help farmers build allies in the industry, which was something that Steinacher thought was lacking. “We spent a lot of time trying to establish those relationships so that when we’re all gone, those farmers will know who to go to for help,” Steinacher said. Specifically, he thought that the networking opportunities were non-existent between farmers and input suppliers, which could be due to the fact that they work with small amounts of acreage.

Farming page 2

Phi Sigma Sigma hosts annual Phi Singled Out

tate dowell/courier staff

The ladies of Phi Sigma Sigma held their annual philanthropic event Phi Singled Out and provided singles a chance to find love this Valentine's Day.

By Marc Ramirez edge editor

Wednesday night the ladies of Phi Sigma Sigma sorority held their annual philanthropic event Phi Singled Out to raise money for the National Phi Sigma Sigma Foundation. Phi Singled Out is based off of an old MTV show “Singled Out,” which originally

ran from 1995 to 1998. Many singles compete to have a date with a special bachelor or bachelorette unknown to them. They can potentially win a date by choosing the same answers as their potential match. Fundraising initiatives began with a coin war competition between fraternities and sororities in order to determine who would be

the additional bachelor and bachelorette aside from the one appointed by Phi Sigma Sigma. The objective of coin wars was to ensure that your Greek team had the most points by donating dollars or silver coins, opponents were tasked with dropping pennies in jars of their rivals to secure a win. Standings were revealed at the end of each day and the overall winners

were revealed when their bachelor or bachelorette were brought on stage to greet their new date. Delta Zeta, Sigma Chi and Alpha Gamma Rho were revealed to be the winners of the competition at the event. 10 bachelors and 10 bachelorette’s from participating sororities were brought to the front of the room at the beginning of each round to start

with about 60 applicants. Categories ranged from Below the Belt with question like socks on or socks off to Date Night with questions of Netflix and Chill or night on the town.

Phi Sigma Sigma page 3

NEWS

Friday, February 15, 2019

Farming

from front page

He explained the benefits that farmers have in the United States since they typically buy their own inputs and are able to use them more effectively. A key observation for the AgriGold group was that farmers in these villages still do most of their farming by hand, an outdated practice in the United States. With a focus on increasing efficiency anywhere they can, the group introduced the farmers to planters, which improves the consistency in the seeding depth and planting methods. Planters will also ensure that they can plant the appropriate amount of seed in each

acre. These farming communities did not have access to tractors either. “The majority of farmers there still do everything by hand. That was a major limiting factor for them,” he said, “so the planters should help.” Financially, growing white corn doesn’t have the market potential that exists in the United States, which Steinaicher says is because their families are the primary consumers of that crop. “On average, they only have enough bushels to feed their family for about 10 or 11 months, so they’re still coming up short based on their current production,” he said. With intent on expanding their financial opportunities, Steinacher and his team also

spoke to the farming communities about sales and profitability. An increase in efficiency could lead to additional sales, which could also lead to additional income. Modern farming methods may be costlier than the traditional ways, but there’s the potential for a much larger return on investment, according to Steinacher. Soy beans may now play a role in these farming communities thanks to this trip. There’s always been a much stronger market for corn in Africa, but with evolving dietary habits, the gap is closing. Steinacher explained how many citizens are moving to a diet that’s heavy in protein, which could create a larger need for a more diverse food system.

WesternCourier.com “I’m excited to see how that new crop is looking and to help them generate some additional revenue,” he said. Farmers did one acre the new way and the rest of their crops the old way in order to see the differences in performance. When he returns for a pre-harvest evaluation, Steinacher expects to see that his work made a significant impact in areas like crop consistency and health, as well as an improvement in fertility. In addition to his judgment, a financial group will also visit the village to calculate the changes in yield and efficiency. Steinacher reflects on the elements that are changing in the agricultural industry. He think that the indus-

try is quickly becoming more efficient. “In a very short amount of time, there’s been a lot more focus in agriculture in general. Things are changing at a rapid pace and the technology and culture of farming has changed dramatically,” he said. Next month, Steinacher will return to the same villages in Africa to further evaluate the impact his team had on their crops. When it comes to the opportunity, he is thankful for his time in Macomb. “If it wasn’t for wanting to pursue this or for my educational knowledge from Western, I probably wouldn’t have went on the trip,” Steinacher said. “They gave me a good foundation.”

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tate dowell/courier staff

NEWS 3

tate dowell/courier staff

Phi Sigma Sigma from front page

If contestants answered a question wrong they were asked to sit down and the competition would continue. The contest would continue until three people were left and asked more personal questions to determine the best match. All money raised from the event and Coin Wars directly benefit the National Phi Sigma Sigma Foundation. The vision of the foundation is to empower women to aim higher. This is done by providing financial assistance to those in need. “Since 1969, the Phi Sigma Sigma Foundation has raised tax-deductible

donations to directly benefit Phi Sigma Sigma sisters through leadership programming, scholarships and need-based educational grants, and more recently, through compassion grants for those facing catastrophic events,” phisigmasigmafoundation. org reads. “The Phi Sigma Sigma Foundation also supports disaster relief worldwide and facilitates volunteer projects in our local communities to help the disadvantaged achieve readiness for school and college entrance.” In the past the sorority women across the nation have raised funds to help aid victims of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, Gulf Coast Floods and the Nepal Earthquakes.

OPINIONS

Friday, February 15, 2019

WesternCourier.com

Were the Grammy's a let down? On Sunday night at the Grammy Awards, the biggest names in rap, pop, hip-hop, rock and country gathered to honor each other. Except, of course, for Childish Gambino who wasn’t there despite tying for most awards of the night. Childish Gambino took home four awards: Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Rap/Sung Performance and Best Music Video. Another big winner of the night was country-pop singer Kacey Musgraves. She also won four awards: Album of the Year, Best Country Album, Best

Country Solo Performance and Best Country Song. Though they were the big winners, they were far from the only things happening on the Grammy stage. I tuned in Sunday night, watching every minute of the nearly four hour show. The opening speeches from Alicia Keys, Lady Gaga, Michelle Obama, Jada Pinkett Smith and Jennifer Lopez were awesome. “Who run the world?” Keys asked. And everyone shouted: “Girls!” It was a great moment followed by Keys turning to the

camera to say, “Tonight we celebrate the greatness in each other — in all of us — through music!” Had you heard of H.E.R.? If you are anything like me, watching the Grammys was the first time I had ever heard of H.E.R. But the singer took home some gold and displayed an amazing performance where she sang, played guitar and was joined by a huge choir and an ensemble of musicians. I thoroughly enjoyed her performance. Drake stepped up to take the award for Best Rap Song and then delivered a rousing acceptance speech honoring his fellow nominees and frankly writing off the Grammys: “You’ve already won if you have people who are singing your songs word for word, if you’re a hero in your hometown.

Look, if there are people who have regular jobs who are coming out in the rain and the snow, spending their hard-earned money to buy tickets to come to your shows, you don’t need this right here. I promise you. You already won.” Personally, I think Drake should have won a Grammy last year. I believe this acceptance speech to be a way of him comforting all the deserving nominees who had lost, because he knows how discouraging it can be to lose when you worked so hard. As good as this year’s Grammys were, some performances did not rise to the expectations I had. For instance, Lady Gaga’s solo performance of “Shallow,” her duet with Bradley Cooper from “A Star Is Born,” was not good. There was no Cooper or, anyone else to be

her counterpart, which is essential to that song. Instead, she did both parts, dropping her voice down to do the Cooper parts. It was weird, and not in a good way. Another performance that disappointed me was Post Malone. This was arguably one of the weakest performances I had ever seen, and that is coming from a fan of Post Malone. Post strummed a guitar, then tried to rap a little. As if it wasn’t weird enough that he was performing with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, he made the performance even more awkward. This year at the Grammys could have been better, however it also could have been worse. Compared to past years, I was left unimpressed, but not disappointed.

Unpaid internships are unfair Listed among the numerous degree requirements of various majors is the word “internship.” Generally, an internship can be defined as a shadowing of sorts, gaining professional experience in one’s desired field of work. Interns do everyday tasks that seem like busy work, but they also partake in real work that is relevant to their field. Internships are nothing new, our parent’s generation had them, and the generation before that. When asked about their experiences as internships, people oftentimes reminisce on valuable lessons learned and valuable contacts met. While internships may seem to serve as priceless and useful experiences for students before beginning their actual job searches, they come at an immense price to some students. In recent years, more and more of these professional experiences have become unpaid internships. Perhaps it is fair that students with no real prior experience in the field are not being paid, but perhaps it is not. The unpaid in-

ternship is clearly designed for one type of student; the student who has a secure source of income. Sure, this works for some or even most people, but certainly not everyone. For many students, taking on an internship means that they are forced to quit their paid job, whether it be due to lack of time or lack of energy. It is difficult to maintain two jobs at once, especially if the student is balancing any classes alongside the internship. They are forced to make a choice; struggle to make ends meet now or struggle to find an entry-level position later. Many students suffer through the months with no form of income, but many cannot afford to do the same. Students who are independent of parental income, paying for their own schooling or simply struggling to find cash for a meal are suffering immensely at the hand of unpaid internships. Even worse, some interns may take on a part-time job concurrently with their internship. This means they are working virtually all day, sleeping less and most

likely performing at a lesser degree than their peers. This is not only unhealthy, but also takes away the beneficial learning aspects of the internship. If a student is starving or just drained from the exertion of holding multiple jobs, they will certainly not perform their best. This can trigger a domino effect if the employer is particularly unimpressed with the respective intern’s work ethic. Because the intern was unable to quit the part-time job, they will now have weak recommendation letters and thus weak chances with employers. Unpaid internships are unfair and honestly could be considered unethical. If a person is required to show up to a position and do work, it seems only fair that they should be compensated. Unpaid internships force students into a position where they must either accept exploitation or accept a lesser future. Labor laws are abandoned and the idea that “time is money” is thrown out the window. While they claim to provide experience, unpaid internships lock the door to success for students without financial stability and cater to students of privileged backgrounds rather than the growing first-generation, impoverished population of college students.

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2019 Fall Semester Editorial Board

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

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OPINIONS 5

Friday, February 15, 2019

JIMMY PIERSON/PRODUCTION MANAGER

Meal preperation is something that people are not very familiar with. A lot of people may think that it is only something that needs to be done to be more healthy. Others might think it is something that might not be beneficial because they don’t want to be eating the same types of foods throughout the week. Others may even think that meal prep is a waste of time because it either takes too long or it doesn’t stay fresh for the entire week. It is understandable to see why certain people think that way because not all foods stay fresh. It also can get tiring eating the same types of food everyday, but the thing about meal preparation is that people aren’t aware that meal prep is whatever one wants to make it. The great thing about creating individualized meals through-

Contact Allison Young

out the week is that one can create whatever types of foods that they enjoy. Eating healthy does not always need to be miserable. Life is what you make it, and that includes what you eat. The overall goal for meal preparation is intended for people who are trying to stay healthy, but it is also a great way to save time and money. Meal prepping in college is a great way to stay ahead of the game with a busy schedule for those who are involved. Meal prepping tends to happen on a day that is the least busy for someone. They go to the store, get the items that they want to eat for the week and begin preparing them so when it comes to actually eating the meal, it is something fast you can eat on the go or warm up quickly in the microwave. The meals do take a few hours or so to make depending on what you are making, but for the most part it is some-

thing that makes meal time a lot faster. There are a variety of foods to make and there is not really a right or wrong way to plan your meals. As stated before, it is all individualized one’s preference. This is also something that is great to do as a college student because there are a lot of times when a student doesn't know what to eat. This can work potentially if one lives on or off campus. It may be more of a challenge when living on campus because of the meal plan, but there are plenty of foods that can be brought back to the dorm that can be spread out for the week. Students can eat food like chicken breasts, salads, fruits, and put them in to go containers so if their schedule prevents them from eating at the scheduled times, at least they will have something to eat for later. This is a lot more effective for people who don’t have a meal plan and who live off campus. They are able to prepare the foods that they want and save money while doing it instead of spending money eating out all the time.

AN-Young@wiu.edu

Friday, February 15, 2019

Sports

Women's

WesternCourier.com

Men's

from back page

The Leathernecks are hoping to garner more of the league’s weekly awards while sitting at three so far this season. Taylor Higginbotham moved to second on Westerns all-time scoring list at the Las Vegas Hoops Tournament (Dec. 22). Kaufmann averaged 15 points, 8.5 assists, six steals and 5.5 rebounds in wins over Omaha and Purdue Fort Wayne (Jan. 21). Higginbotham also became Western’s all-time leading scorer; which helped the Leathernecks win over North Dakota with backto-back 20-point games (Feb. 1). Western Illinois Athletics has combined with McDonough District Hospital and Linda’s Fund to “Think Pink.” This occasion will raise money in support of women diagnosed with breast cancer, and for $1 fans can purchase pink ribbons, wristbands or post on the department’s “Think Pink” wall. To purchase a t-shirt for the event, please call (309) 2981190 or email Diane Cassimire at dl-cassimire@wiu.edu.

from back page

Their third lost came on the road last week in a 79-64 game against the PurdueFort Wayne Mastodons. Sophomore guard Kobe Webster scored a team high of 15 points and combined with senior center Brandon Gilbeck and sophomore guard CJ Duff for 38 of the Leathernecks 64 points. The Leathernecks are 8-16 overall this season and 3-8

Taylor Higginbotham stands tall and defends.

in the conference, sitting third from the bottom of the Summit League. It hurts to see our men’s basketball team struggle but the season is not over for them. As they look toward the tournament in March, we hope to see some changes within the strategy and gameplan of the Leathernecks. With five games left including the post season for each team, the pressure begins this Saturday, with tip-off starting at 2 p.m.

BECCA LANGYS/PHOTO EDITOR

CJ Duff defends a zone inside Western Hall.

CLASSIFIEDS

For Rent

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

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. 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!

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.

FILE PHOTO

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.

Sports 7

Friday, February 15, 2019

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Stop giving chances to domestic abusers Devon Greene Editor-in-chief @Starewaytodevon

On Tuesday, the Cleveland Browns announced that they just signed the very recently released Kareem Hunt to join their organization. This is just the most recent example of how hard it is to support the NFL who seems to give domestic violence offenders chance after chance to play football. The Kansas City Chiefs released Hunt on Nov. 30 of last year after a video surfaced of Hunt pushing and kicking a 19-year-old woman in a hallway. The Chiefs were commended for releasing the 23-yearold runningback because he was not only one of the best players on their team, but he was also an integral part of one of the most high powered offenses in football as they were about to head into the playoffs. Here we are just three months later and Hunt has already been

picked up by another NFL team in less time than it takes for a WNBA player to get back in the league during a pregnancy. It sickens me to see players like Hunt be picked up after a domestic violence offense but keep a player like Colin Kaepernick out of the league just because he kneels for the anthem. This is such a backwards and hurtful practice that keeps the NFL leaps and bounds behind other leagues like the NBA from being a semi-humanitarian league. Domestic violence offenders are all over the league. Kansas City still has one on their roster in the form of their superstar wide-receiver Tyreek Hill. In December 2014, Hill reportedly punched and choked his pregnant girlfriend. Hill was arrested and charged with domestic assault and battery by strangulation. Hill

pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to three years probation but was still picked up by the Chiefs in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft. Yes, the Chiefs did a great job releasing Hunt from their organization in November, but it makes my skin crawl that they still have Hill on their roster with the significantly worse things that he did to his pregnant girlfriend. Another example of teams picking up a domestic abuser is the Washington Redskins who signed Reuben Foster on Nov. 27 of last year just days after he was arrested and charged with domestic violence. Foster had been arrested two other times for domestic violence before the final arrest which caused him to be released from the San Francisco 49ers. There was an immediate backlash against the Redskins for picking up Foster but like usual, the NFL is a business and they’ll do what is best for their team to win a championship. The most troubling thing about the Foster signing is that if the Redskins didn’t sign him, another team would have. In the current climate of the

league, I have more faith that a player who is caught on video drop-kicking a woman will be picked up before Kaepernick. I love the NFL and I am probably still going to watch, but I always feel so gross watching players that I know are bad people who have done horrible things to other people thriving and making millions of dollars, while the people they have abused have to live with whatever physical and emotional damage they inflicted upon them. I certainly believe in second chances. I’m sure most of us wouldn’t be where we are today without given a second chance at one point in our lives but when you’re in a position of such responsibility like NFL players are, I don’t believe they should be given a second chance in the NFL. The cliché of protecting the kids is used far too often but I believe it is most appropriately used in this type of situation. An athlete is one of the top 15 jobs that kids want and they look up to these athletes and when they see that athletes can act so poorly but still be successful, who’s to say they don’t follow their hero’s

actions. The NFL has an obligation to show the world what they won’t stand for and domestic violence should be one of their no-tolerance policies. The current domestic violence policy was put into effect due to the Ray Rice situation that occurred in 2014. Rice was caught on video knocking out his then fiancée in an elevator. NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell, who was harshly criticized for the light suspension, only suspended Rice for two games. In response, the NFL introduced their new domestic violence policy, which carries a six game suspension after the first domestic violence incident and a supposed lifetime ban after the second offense. This policy has already been proven to be a sham because players like Foster, who have multiple domestic violence charges against him, are still in the league. I’d like to believe that all it takes is one team to change the situation with domestic abusers in the league, but it takes all 32 teams to really make a change. Unfortunately, I don’t see that happening soon.

Baseball to start season in Tennessee By David Koier sports writer The weather is warming, up the sun is shining and the ballplayers are lacing up their cleats once again. Baseball season is back, and the Western Illinois University Leathernecks are going to better themselves from last season. The Leathernecks finished their 2018 campaign with a 17-31 overall record while posting a 14-12 conference record, a record that saw the Purple and Gold as the Summit League runner ups. Last season was one of the most successful in a while for the Leathernecks as their 14 wins in the Summit League were their most league wins in the past 12 seasons. Their Summit League wins were highlighted by a 2-1 series win over the Golden Eagles of Oral Roberts, who have won the Summit League title five seasons straight. Coach Ryan Brownlee returns for his seventh season along with his support staff of Matt Risdon, Parker Osborne and Trey Hannam. Brownlee is the fourth coach who has had the most wins in Western baseball history, tallying 71 wins in his seven seasons. The road ahead won’t be an easy one for the Leathernecks. This season the Purple and Gold go toe to toe with some of the nation’s best teams. Three of Western’s opponents qualified for the NCAA tournament last season including Oral Roberts, Saint Louis and the NCAA College World Series runner-ups Arkansas. The Leathernecks added nine players to their already strong roster, bringing in six freshmen while also adding three junior college transfers. The new recruits join the Leathernecks roster that has six returning seniors, four of which were starters last season.

Of the six returning seniors, two stand out as big returns for the team. Outfielder Steve McShane and utility man Deion Thompson return to power this Leatherneck offense. McShane, who also served as the Leatherneck football team’s star runningback, returns after having been named to the 2018 First Team All-Summit League team with his team leading .317 batting average, an average that placed him sixth in the Summit League. In his 39 games played (38 of which he started), McShane had 45 hits with seven doubles and two triples, while also tallying 18 runs accompanied by 14 RBIs. McShane showed his running back speed on the bases, successfully stealing nine bases on 10 attempts. Thompson also had an outstanding 2018 campaign. He led the Leatherneck baseball team in hits (48), doubles (9), home runs (6), RBIs (30), total bases (75) and stolen bases (17). He also appeared on the Summit League leaderboards in home runs and stolen bases, ranking eighth and third respectively. Returning on the mound for the Leathernecks is right-handed junior Javin Drake. Drake is the only returning starter for the Purple and Gold who finished the 2018 campaign with a sub-four ERA with his 3.96 ERA, which also ranked sixth amongst Summit League starters. Drake recorded 53 strikeouts in his 50.2 innings pitched. With their strong recruiting and even stronger returning starters, the Leathernecks look like they can make a strong run this season against some tough opponents. The Purple and Gold start off their season this weekend with a series against the Golden Eagles of Tennessee Tech. The game times from Cookeville, Tenn. today at 1 p.m. and a doubleheader tomorrow starting at 11 a.m.

Steve McShane rounding the bag at first.

Deion Thompson tipping his cap to the defender.

GOLEATHERNECKS.COM

Women's basketball to host ranked Coyotes By Taylor Jordan courier staff

GOLEATHERNECKS.COM

Danni Nichols goes up for a layup against SDSU.

MACOMB, III. – Western Illinois’ women’s basketball team returns to Western Hall to face off against No. 25 South Dakota this Saturday at 4:30 p.m. The Coyotes lead the all-time series, 13-3, and were the winners of the first meeting this season by a score of 92-49. The Leathernecks fought to take their fourth consecutive win in Summit League action as Western defeated Omaha 79-67 on the road Saturday. For the first time this season, three players scored 20-plus points as Olivia Kaufmann had 24, Danni Nichols posted a career-high 22 and Annabel Graettinger hit 20. The Leathernecks are in the midst of a four-game winning streak, averaging 90.5 points per game over the stretch. South Dakota closed out a thrilling 75-64 victory over Oral Roberts in their last match on Saturday. The Coyotes junior guard Ciara Duffy, scored 16 of her team-high 18 points in

the fourth period alone as South Dakota made the final run. She also grabbed nine rebounds, handed out four assists and swiped a pair of steals. A day after entering the Associated Press Top 25 for the first time in school history, South Dakota women’s basketball has recorded the USA Today Coaches Poll at No. 25 as well. The Coyotes had received votes for nine of the past 10 weeks. This marks South Dakota’s first time being ranked since the 2007-08 season. Western currently sits 13th in the nation with 224 made three-pointers. The team has made 10 or more treys in seven games this season including a program-record 28 against MacMurray College (Nov. 12), which also set an NCAA Division I record. After a seven-game break of converting less than 10, the Leathernecks’ 3-point stroke returned with 15 against North Dakota State (Feb. 1).

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Men's basketball look to sweep South Dakota By Kejuan Rucker courier staff The Western Illinois University men’s basketball team is back in Western Hall this Saturday as they go up against the South Dakota Coyotes. The Coyotes sit a game above the Leathernecks in the Summit League standings; however, last time these two teams played each other, the Leathernecks were able to run away with 65-59 victory in South Dakota. Four of our five Leatherneck starters scored in double digits as they took charge in the second half. This game was the last victory for the Leathernecks as they lost their next three games. The Coyotes are on a four game losing streak and look to steal one in Western Hall; however, the Leathernecks are looking to have the home court advantage in this matchup as one team’slosing streak comes to an end. South Dakota are above Western Illinois in the conference, but have not had a better season than our team. Like the Leathernecks, the Coyotes are 3-8 in the conference, but 9-15 in the Summit League overall. They have an even home record,

with only three wins on the road so far this season. South Dakota’s losing streak began when Western Illinois defeated them at home, and since then they haven’t come close to a win yet. Their best chance came against their conference foes, Ohama in an 107102 shootout, but ended up losing their momentum and the game. Three of their five starters are averaging double digit points on the season with sophomore guard Stanley Umede,averaging the most with 14.6 points per game. On the other hand, the Leathernecks are 6-5 at Western Hall this season, so their chance of beating South Dakota is better. Despite having an above .500 home winning percentage, the Leathernecks haven't found their rhythm yet as the season boils down. They lost their last two games at home against North Dakota and North Dakota State in close but disappointing games. It was the second half that did not work out in the Leathernecks’ favor, causing them to lose leads late in the half.

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Kobe Webster runs back into the play inside Western Hall.

FILE PHOTO