Tech allocates $275,000 to annual Carol of Lights
Thanks to the brothers’ trust in each other, Gino Garcia said his pursuit of an NFL career has never been hindered by the company’s needs.
“That’s what my goal is at the end of the year,” Gino Garcia said. “I mean, the construction could wait. My brother could run it right now. I’m trying to go make some kicks in the NFL.”
Gino Garcia opened his first business, a roofing company, in 2021 when the athletics program sent players home due to COVID-19. He later poached his brother from his father, Longino Garcia, to merge his and Michael Garcia’s concrete business together.
“I’m Mexican at heart,” Gino Garcia joked. “We do construction all the time, so I told my brother to come along, and then he did, and it’s been going pretty well.
only reflected in its budget and agement Plan reported an 8.6 tricity usage from October to December 2022 and a 4.4 percent increase from January to March 2023. These are a significant rise dicating that the Carol of Lights
Beal acknowledged the deep personal connections that the Carol of the Lights ceremony
“My first memory as a student was going to Carol of Lights, and I went as a kid growing up, so it's always been a very special event to me,” Beal said. “When you can take your job and all the things that you love about Texas Tech, and combine it with Christmas and this great tradition and to be handed the reins of this tradition is a great honor. And it's just a lot
@GraceHawkinsDT
electrician, and I work outside as well. For him (Gino Garcia) to do that — that’s a big change for our family, you know, but I would say it’s actually a very good change, you know, we want that.”
If Gino Garcia is drafted or signed by an NFL team in April, he would become the first in his family to hold the title of professional athlete.
Michael Garcia said the possibility of seeing his brother go professional is one he can’t even fathom.
“For him to do all this, like, he’s already putting our family name up there,” Michael Garcia said. “That’s a big accomplishment for us and for my parents as well.” For his father, the reality of knowing his son has the opportunity to do what he loves is everything.
31 streak dating to last season in made field goals and has not missed an extra point since joining the Red Raiders from Houston Baptist University in 2022, according to Tech Athletics.
Although Micheal Garcia said he loves working alongside his brother, the career path Gino Garcia is on is bringing his family pride and honor.
“We’ve always been working outside in construction. That’s in our family,” Michael Garcia said. “We all work. My dad’s an
“I can’t even imagine it. I might get a heart attack or something,” Longino Garcia joked. “I’m so proud to say, you know, that’s my son. Some guys, they don’t believe me, but I show a picture, and I say, ‘That’s my son.’” @TyKaplanDT
Christmas lights outline the architecture of Texas Tech’s Administration Building for the university’s annual
Graphic by Dawn Franklin
The Daily Toreador
Sisterhood guides Sanogo to Lubbock
By KEITH INGLIS SportS reporter
Junior forward Sarengbe Sanogo first came to the United States with a dream to play alongside her sister Mariam Sanogo. Traveling from France, the two secured spots at Northwest Kansas Technical College before transferring to Odessa College.
However, when Sarengbe Sanogo was offered a scholarship to join the Lady Raiders’ basketball program, the dream of playing together split.
Faced with the decision
INFLUENCE
to leave behind her biggest influence, Sarengbe Sanogo said she hesitated. However, Mariam Sanogo urged her to go. Sarengbe Sanogo said her sister reminded her that the chance to play at the Division One level was too good an opportunity for either of them to pass up.
Despite receiving offers from other programs, Sarengbe Sanogo ultimately committed to becoming a Lady Raider.
“Texas Tech was the biggest school,” Sarengbe Sanogo said. “I felt like coming to Tech was an extension of what I was
doing in Odessa (College). I’m doing the same thing but at a superior level. I’m doing it better.”
Sarengbe Sanogo has since become a key player for the Lady Raiders; however, the thought of playing for Tech might never have crossed her mind if not for her sister.
During the 2023-24 Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship, Mariam Sanogo said she lay in bed scrolling through game highlights on her iPad when the Lady Raiders caught her attention.
“When I started watch-
ing, team by team, Texas Tech stood out,” Mariam Sanogo said. “The way they played hard really reminded me of Odessa. They had tall players, but some weren’t playing much. I thought, ‘Sarengbe’s tall, athletic and can run — this could be a great fit for her.’”
During their time together at Odessa College, Mariam Sanogo introduced Sarengbe Sanogo to highlights of Tech women’s basketball, planting the seed for what was to come. Meanwhile, Sarengbe Sanogo made a name for herself on the court.
In her sophomore season, she averaged 11.3 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, starting 29 of 32 contests and helping lead Odessa to a 30-5 record and an NJCAA Elite 8 appearance.
Mariam Sanogo and Sarengbe Sanogo shared a bond not just as siblings but also as teammates. It was a relationship rooted in trust and built on mutual ambition. While Mariam guided her sister off the court, Sarengbe made strides on it.
Since donning the scarlet and black, she has made a strong impression on the coaching staff, earning the starting forward spot in the first game of the 2024-25 season — a role she has
maintained through Tech’s first nine games.
To illustrate her performance in the starting role, Sarengbe Sanogo made her mark as Tech’s top defender within the paint. She has recorded 19 blocks throughout nine games and ranks No. 18 in the country in total blocks, according to NCAA stats.
Sarengbe Sanogo’s decision to commit to Tech wasn’t solely about basketball. It was also about trusting the environment her sister had introduced her to. Mariam Sanogo’s influence, built on years of playing and learning together, made the transition easier, even if it meant stepping out on her own.
For Mariam Sanogo, the connection she saw between Tech’s playing style and Sarengbe Sanogo’s strengths was clear. Watching highlights and games on her tablet, she envisioned how her sister’s talents could make an impact at the Division One level.
“Tech plays at a similar pace as Odessa,” Mariam Sanogo said. When Tech plays, they look like they’re out there playing for each other. I felt like I wanted to play for them myself, and that’s how I knew Sarengbe Sanogo could perform for them.”
Even as Sarengbe Sanogo
moved on, Mariam Sanogo remained a constant source of encouragement. After nearly every game, she offers feedback, focusing on areas of improvement while reminding her sister of her progress.
“I watch all of her games,” Mariam Sanogo said. I don’t have ESPN +, but I ask my teammates and coaches for their phones to watch her play. I’m always telling her what she can do better.”
Tech head coach Krista Gerlich said Sarengbe Sanogo is buying into what the team wants in terms of development.
“She’s getting more confident in what we’re doing,” Gerlich said. “I love her aggressiveness, determination and hard work … . We haven’t had a rim protector like her since I’ve been here.”
With her sister’s continued influence to advance her basketball career, Sarengbe Sanogo said she remains focused on being the presence in the paint that Tech needs.
“She’s doing an amazing job, and I hope she continues to grow because she truly deserves it,” Mariam Sanogo said. “I’m excited to see what she’ll accomplish this year.”
Lytle’s legacy leaves lasting impact on Tech soccer
By ANDREW GOODRICH SportS reporter
Texas Tech soccer was in a rut for 12 years, going from 1997 to 2009 without recording a winning record.
Then came the rise of former midfielder Taylor Lytle.
At the forefront of a program shift, Lytle’s junior and senior seasons in 2010 and 2011, respectively, marked the first back-toback seasons of at least 10 wins since 1995 and 1996, according to Tech Athletics.
Head coach Tom Stone, who took the job in 2007, the same year Lytle enrolled, said she was the person who built the foundation of the program.
“We just always refer to Taylor as the transformational player,” Stone said. “Until you get an absolute superstar, you can’t build a program. You can’t just build it on non-superstars. Somebody who’s awesome has to commit to you, and she was the one.”
The university confirmed what Stone already knew when she was inducted into the Tech Hall of Fame on Nov. 8.
The Las Cruces, New Mexico, native finished her career as the all-time assists leader with 27, third in shot attempts with 250 and ninth in points with 55, according to Tech Athletics.
“I wanted to help build a program, so I feel like getting inducted into the Hall of Fame gives me that
and shows me because the team is so good right now,” Lytle said. “It’s awesome to see the growth of the program since I was here.”
When Lytle arrived at Tech in 2007, the team played inside the track and field facilities with no dedicated place for soccer.
The following year, Tech completed the construction of the John Walker Soccer Complex. The facility provided a home for Tech soccer, and Lytle took advantage of the new space and said it helped further develop her and the program.
“When we got the John Walker Soccer Complex, I actually felt like they’re investing in women’s soccer and women’s sports,” Lytle said. “It was really cool
to have our own facility and our own field — then obviously all the goals and all the wins scored there which was awesome.”
During Lytle’s tenure, she said a large part of her success as an athlete and as a person was her relationship with Stone.
“I tell him every time I see him he’s the best coach I’ve ever had,” Lytle said. “He helped me grow not only as a player but as a person and always really challenged me to not be complacent. If I became a professional it was definitely because of him, so I owe him a lot.”
In totality, Lytle’s impact changed the way Red Raider soccer was viewed in the eyes of recruits and opponents, Stone said.
“She was the one that made other players look at us, take us seriously,” Stone said. “... She was the pivotal player that came here and gave us some credibility in
have gone anywhere.”
@KeithInglisDT
Texas and in the west because she could
JACOB LUJAN/The Daily Toreador
Texas Tech women’s basketball junior center Sarengbe Sanogo pats her head after scoring on a Washington State basketball player in the United Supermarkets Arena Nov. 16, 2024.
FILE PHOTO/The Daily Toreador
Taylor Lytle dribbles in between New Mexico state defenders Aug. 24, 2011, at the John Walker Soccer Complex.
Tech illuminates campus in annual Carol of Lights
noun 24. The Ecto-1, for one
25. “The Sopranos” channel
27. PC port
28. ___ Alamos
31. “Rashomon” director Kurosawa
52. Enroll, as in a contest
ACROSS 1. Risque 2. Early “Simpsons” writer Conan 3. Famous line from “Se7en” ... or a possible question about what this grid depicts 4. Spinning toy 5. Tax-collecting agcy
6. Topic of a will 7. One of the two images to the right of these clues
8. Compete in a race 9. URL ender
10. Agency especially busy this time of year 11. Spews lava 12. Memory failure 16. Possessive pro -
32. Soft drink with a seasonal Winter Spiced Cranberry flavor
33. Position 34. Between 90 and 100 degrees, as an angle
35. Rather than later?
36. Items on a Spotify Wrapped list
39. Character’s journey
45. Obesity meas.
46. Peanut or olive product
47. Certain suit color
48. Egyptian boy king
A playable online version of this crossword and its solution are available at dailytoreador.com/ puzzles.
NATHAN KENISON/The Daily Toreador
JADON CHESNUTT/The Daily Toreador
A completed wreath stands on the steps of the Physics & Geosciences building Dec. 4, 2024, ahead of Texas Tech’s celebration of the 66th annual Carol of Lights in the same location on Sunday.
JADON CHESNUTT/The Daily Toreador After months of preparation, over 25,000 lights line buildings on the Texas Tech campus before they are illuminated on Sunday in celebreation of the 66th annual Carol of Lights.
EMILY WILLIAMS/The Daily Toreador
Lacey Joanidis, a member of Texas Tech’s Women’s Service Organization, helps prepare for the 66th annual Carol of Lights Nov. 20, 2024. This year’s celebration will see musical performances from the American Authors band, Tech Combined Choirs and the Tech Trombone Choir on Sunday evening.
EMILY WILLIAMS/The Daily Toreador Student volunteers assemble a wreath to background the 66th Carol of Lights on Sunday. The annual events brings students and community members together to witness over 25,000 lights switched on, as well as appearances from campus music and spirit organizations.
CAREER
Tech student builds experience at Disney
By AUDREY BOISSONNEAULT Staff Writer
Like many kids of his generation, sophomore Nick Hernandez grew up with Disney magic, which he now creates through his internship with Disney in Orlando, Florida, to pursue his career in computer science.
The Disney Internship Program allows students to gain hands-on experience by working directly for Disney, according to the program website. In addition to the paid internship, the program offers time off for classes and networking opportunities with professionals in multiple fields.
“It’s just been a big blessing because, ever since I was little, I have always wanted to do this,” Hernandez said. “Disney, you know, people think of
magic. They think of community, think of family, of unity. Being able to be here, I’ve changed.”
Hernandez joined the Disney College Program in May and will complete his time with the internship on Jan. 2.
Through his internship, Hernandez said he has the opportunity to work on the animatronics. Some he listed are in the Magic Kingdom such as Barnes the Barnstormer, featuring the Great Coffini, and Dumbo the Flying Elephant.
“We actually have to control the systems of how the technology is supposed to work,” Hernandez said. “So I have to manage ‘OK, how do I turn this light on? How do I know whenever something’s not right?’”
By working with the animatronics, Hernandez said he has learned funda-
mental skills for his future career. The skill he placed the most emphasis on was time management, which he said is necessary when working for Disney.
“As someone who personally does not like being late, I have been able to improve making sure I’m on time and knowing where exactly I’m supposed to be on my job that day,” Hernandez said. “Disney is strict when it comes to being able to be on time, so you have to make sure you’re clocking in on time.”
He added that while learning time management was essential to his career, he also has had the chance to make professional connections with people from various majors. Hernandez said the Disney Program is a giant networking shop where all Disney career paths come together.
Some of the people he has met, Hernandez said, have become great friends he enjoys spending time with in his free time. With the automatic admission
given to him by Disney, he said he can take time to create deeper bonds while exploring the various parks in Orlando.
“Being able to make
connections, in my opinion, has helped me be able to have a sense of family and community here,” Hernandez said.
Tech Sinfonietta strung together by passion
The Texas Tech Sinfonietta performs on Nov. 24 at the Tech Opera Theatre. The orchestra is composed of music and non-music majors alike, and members said it requires less of a time commitment than other campus music groups.
By GRACE HAWKINS Staff Writer
The Texas Tech Sinfonietta, an orchestral student organization on campus, welcomes music majors and non-music majors and community members who value passion above all else.
Music website describes the group as “an opportunity to both maintain and improve skills playing a wide variety of music with limited weekly time commitments,” but the members say the people are what makes the organization so much more than that.
Ximena Del Rio, a vio -
lin player and political
science junior, said joining the Sinfonietta reignited her love for music and playing her instrument.
“I stopped playing for a long time because of certain circumstances, and I saw this as an opportunity to love music again and be with other people that also love music,” Del Rio said. “This group is about loving music, being together and having fun.”
Aleksander Grubor, a cello player and electrical engineering sophomore, said unlike other orchestras, the Sinfonietta has a more relaxed and noncompetitive energy fueled by members’ passion.
“This orchestra is made out of people that really love what they do,” Grubor said. “I’ve been in high school orchestras that are really competi -
tive, and it almost fosters a toxic environment where the ultimate judge of character is based on how well you play your instrument.”
The group rehearses on Thursday evenings from 7 - 9 p.m. Students with busy schedules like Madeline Leeah, a senior anthropology major who plays violin, said they appreciate the low time commitment.
chestra is a lot, so with everything else that we do, we’re able to do what we’re passionate about in school, but also in music.”
If it weren’t for the Sinfonietta, I wouldn’t be able to do music because I don’t fit into the other groups here.
LEEAH TECH SINFONIETTA VIOLINIST
“If it weren’t for the Sinfonietta, I wouldn’t be able to do music because I don’t fit into the other groups here,” Leeah said. “The rigor and the time commitment of a full or-
Mason Taylor, a violin player and sophomore studying music composition and computer science, agreed the low time commitment is ideal for students with a busy schedule and fulltime job.
“Normally music majors are in the big university orchestra, but because I have another major and a full-time job, I have no time for rehearsals,” Taylor said. “So, this is a nice fallback for me to still do
an orchestra but not a crazy big one.”
The students said they devote their musical success to associate professor of music and director of orchestral studies Lanfranco Marcelletti and teaching assistant Marian Herrero-Suarez-Barcena.
“One of the people who have a lot of credit for turning this organization into what it is and being able to transform it and give us a ton of new opportunities that we wouldn’t have otherwise is Lanfranco,” said Samuel Howell, a viola player and political science senior. Marcelletti, who has taught the group since 2021, said at their endof-year party on Nov. 21 it has been a pleasure to watch the group learn and grow musically.
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Tech PD ride-along shows day in the life
By GRACE HAWKINS Staff Writer FIRST PERSON
In October, I joined Texas Tech Police Department’s Officer Caitlynn Jeffries to get a firsthand look at a day in the life of a Tech police officer.
While many may overlook the complexities of law enforcement, I had the chance to learn about both the technical side of the job and the importance of building relationships with fellow officers and the student community.
Jeffries spent several years as an officer at the Lubbock Police Department before she moved to TTPD. After three years as a Tech officer, she recently moved into the public information officer role.
On our first call, with lights and sirens activated, we rushed to Holden Hall for a medical emergency involving a student. Upon arrival, we briefly spoke to the student to get more information while waiting for EMS to transport the student to the hospital.
Afterward, we patrolled several off-campus Tech buildings, including the Reese Technology Center, located 15 minutes from the main campus; the Lubbock Lake Landmark, which Jeffries said often attracts crime due to its secluded location; and the Petroleum Engineering Oilfield Technology Center,
located roughly 10 minutes from campus.
Near these off-campus buildings is Sunrise Canyon, a psychiatric hospital officers often transport mental health calls to. Jeffries said mental health reports are common on campus.
Along with mental health calls, Jeffries said theft and intoxication are other frequent reports the department sees.
The day ended with a routine traffic stop for speeding before we returned to the police department to return the car.
Spending the day with Officer Jeffries gave me a new perspective on the range of situations officers handle on a daily basis, including the balancing act of enforcing rules while also trying to build trust within the Tech community.
Beyond enforcing laws, Jeffries said the team aims to set a positive example and uses their interactions to engage and help students and faculty feel safe on campus.
COURTESY OF MARIAN HERRERO-SUAREZ-BARCENA
The Tech School of
COURTESY OF NICK HERNANDEZ
Nick Hernandez, a sophomore at Texas Tech, enrolled in the Disney College Program in May after a childhood of loving all things Disney. The program typically lasts from four to eight months.
MADELINE