October 11, 2022

Life and Arts: Professor Novel Sports: Strutters

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Texas State pulls off upset win against Appalachian State

By David Cuevas Sports Contributor

A crowd of over 25,000 gathered to watch Texas State (3-3, 1-1 Sun Belt Conference) defeat Appalachian State University (3-3, 1-2 Sun Belt Conference) for the first time in program history 36-24.

The attendance of Saturday's game broke the record for the largest home crowd for a Sun Belt Conference game in Bobcat Stadium.

With the win, the Bobcats broke a six-game losing streak against the Mountaineers, and the Bobcats are now 3-0 at home for the first time since 2011.

“Overall, just a great team win,” head coach Jake Spavital said. “Throughout the week we talk about complementary football and we talk about playing clean football and efficient football and playing together, and we finally did that tonight against a very quality opponent.”

Following Texas State’s loss last week against James Madison, the Bobcats entered Saturday’s game as three touchdown underdogs to an Appalachian State team that was coming off a 49-0 thrashing against The Citadel.

Texas State redshirt junior quarterback

Layne Hatcher had a bounce-back game after struggling in poor weather conditions the previous week in Virginia, completing 26 of 36 passes to go along with two touchdown passes and one interception.

The interception came on the opening 12-play drive in which the Bobcats were set up on the Appalachian State four-yard line following a defensive pass interference penalty on senior wide receiver Marcell Barbee.

In the next play, Appalachian State senior cornerback Dexter Lawson Jr., who already had two interceptions on the season to lead the Mountaineer defense, picked off Hatcher in the end zone.

Hatcher responded to the interception by leading the Bobcat offense down the field on a quick five-play drive capped off by a two-yard touchdown run by sophomore running back Lincoln Pare.

As for Hatcher’s two touchdown passes, the first one came early in the second quarter on the team’s third offensive possession when he connected with redshirt freshman wide receiver Charles Brown on a two-yard completion to conclude a lengthy 12play drive giving Texas State a 14-0 lead.

Beto O’Rourke visits campus during college tour

By Staff

Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke visited Texas State last Wednesday to talk to students about his stance on gun control, reproductive rights and the legalization of marijuana.

The rally took place in Evans Auditorium as a part of O'Rourke's college tour across Texas. The Texas State crowd included a full auditorium plus a line that extended from the doors of Evans Liberal Arts to the Alkek Library stairs.

Wearing a maroon Texas State hat, O'Rourke began his address by calling out Gov. Greg Abbott’s actions regarding gun control following the mass shooting that occurred in Uvalde, Texas, in May.

“Our governor, the most powerful man in the state, has yet to lift

a finger to make it any less likely that any other child, in any other community or any other classroom will meet the same fate as those children in Uvalde,” O’Rourke said.

O'Rourke, if elected, plans to repeal the permitless carry law that took effect in September of last year and to raise the purchasing age for a firearm to 21 years old, a law that has seen success in other states.

“We can continue to defend the Second Amendment while doing a far better job of protecting the lives of those in our communities,” O’Rourke said. “Those kids literally legally do not get a vote or a voice in this election but through our actions and what we choose to do in this moment.”

Texas State Bobcats defensive line tackles down a Mountaineers running back during a game against Appalachian State University, Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, at Bobcat Stadium. The Bobcats won 36-24.

PHOTO BY VANESSA BUENTELLO

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LIFE & ARTS

English professor to publish fourth novel BOOKS

By Elijah Cardenas Life and Arts Contributor

Jennifer duBois, a Texas State English and creative writing professor, is publishing her new novel, “The Last Language” next fall.

Published through Milkweed Publications, the novel is inspired by an article duBois read about a speech pathologist using controversial technology called facilitated communication with a non-verbal client who has motor difficulties.

In "The Last Language" the use of facilitated communication leads to a romantic conflict and questions the ethos of communication.

Facilitated communication works by the therapist stabilizing the hands of the patient in order to communicate. The technology has been met with controversy from some medical and communications specialists who claim it leads to the facilitator having too much influence over the messages the user creates.

"Was theirs a tragic love story, or a story of exploitation?" duBois said. "I thought that would be an interesting narrative to explore through the lens of a first-person narrator who is convinced of her own vision."

Complex ethical dilemmas and characters facing incredible odds such as the basis of inspiration are not unique to just "The Last Language." duBois regularly takes inspiration from news stories. When it comes to her brainstorming and creative process, duBois' ideas are often fueled by reading articles and newspapers.

"My novels are usually inspired by reading about some unique or bizarre news story and wondering what it might be like to experience it," duBois said. "I try to imagine the situation from the character's perspective and write from there."

duBois has amassed a large body of works and writing clips since she graduated from Tufts University, the Iowa Writers’ Workshop at the

University of Iowa and the Stanford University Stegner Fellowship. She met her agent in 2008 and released her first novel, “A Partial History of a Lost Cause” in 2012.

Since then, she has received several accolades such as being named a 5 Under 35 honoree by the National Book Foundation in 2012 and the Whiting Award in 2013. She was the finalist for the New York Public Library Young Lions Award following the publication of her second novel, “Cartwheel,” in 2014, and she received a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts for her third novel, “The Spectators" in 2018.

According to Doug Dorst, MFA creative writing program director and associate professor of English, faculty policy in the Texas State English Department states that professors must be published twice to teach, making duBois a highly regarded published writer at Texas State.

"It’s absolutely a source of pride for the MFA program, the English Department, the College of Liberal Arts and the university as a whole," Dorst said. "Creative writing faculty like Jennifer duBois who are publishing both consistently and well and who are equally committed to sharing what they know [draw in prospective students cite to our MFA Program.]"

Professors in the MFA program teach students how to read and analyze form, while in their spare time publishing their own works of literature. duBois continues to write and craft creative fictional novels during the time she’s not teaching students throughout the semester.

Debra Monroe, a professor of English, said she and her colleagues find inspiration and harmony between the time they write and the time they teach.

"I know this as a colleague of duBois. [Writing and teaching] they feed each other," Monroe said. "You're not a very good teacher if you're not writing regularly and if you're not facing down the craft challenges all the time. You're also not a very good writer if you're just alone with your work. It really infuses your energy and your creativity."

When duBois is not preoccupied with grading and curriculum planning, she is writing novels and stories between breaks in her office or after work. One of the benefits of being a professor is enjoying the month long gaps between summer and winter break that allow her to zone in, read, find new inspiration and meet her deadlines.

"Although I have a lot less time to write now, I've always been pretty flexible in terms of location and time of day," duBois said. "Nowadays when I do write it is on the IKEA couch with piles of toddlers' laundry all around me."

Despite her shortage of spare time, duBois says she will continue to write and publish novels. She attributes part of her success as a writer to her late English professor, Michael Downing, who taught her while she was pursuing her undergrad at Tufts.

"I share this advice with my own students," duBois said. "Don’t stop writing."

Currently, there is no official release date for "The Last Language." For more information on Jennifer duBois' works and updates on her novel, visit her website at www.jennifer-dubois.com.

Third Frights and Sounds Festival takes over San Marcos

By Elijah Cardenas Life and Arts Contributor

The San Marcos underground music scene came to light to open up the Halloween season during the Frights and Sounds Music Festival on Friday and Saturday.

Sean Patrick's Irish Pub transformed into a spooky lagoon, decked with vines and creepy signs directing folks to the stages and East San Antonio Street became a monster bash block party with vendors and costumed audience members and performers wandering about partaking in the ghoulish spirit of the season.

Frights and Sounds started in 2019 when Mitchell Meitler, lead vocalist for local pop-punk band Our Last Daze, and Ricky Fullen, vocalist for the local metal band HateWaker, fused the spooky ambiance of Halloween with their love for Texan alternative music bands.

"We realized that no one in this town ran a spooky Halloween festival, and we were like, 'what's up with that?'" Meitler said. "[At the time], our bands were kind of taking off and blowing up. So we're like, 'why don't we throw something?' We know enough people, we played shows out of town, done stuff and people always want to hop on our shows."

The combined dedication and planning of the local band members since the festival's start is what lead to the success of the niche rock and Halloween-inspired event and lent itself to become what it is now.

Eventgoers wandered into The Square in costume and metal band shirts to enjoy the 34 different artists and bands that performed on the two Sean Patrick's stages, the Black Lagoon and the Green Lagoon, 'til midnight.

Right outside the pub, East San Antonio Street was closed for vendors selling horror-themed crafts, artwork and printed goods, tarot readings and gifted free poems to festival goers and the curious folk wandering The Square who followed the music.

With several alternative genre artists performing for the event, Fullen and Meitler turned the festival into an experience that brought the San Marcos underground artist to the main stage.

“Our vision was to take Warped Tour at a small scale for the city and see what we could do for San Marcos," Fullen said. “[Going to these festivals] just gave a feeling that I survived on through my youth. And I just love being able to kind of give that atmosphere back.”

Frights and Sounds was previously held at the metal and rock venue Ragnar's On The Compound in 2019. The event was planned to go again in 2020 but was canceled during

the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The festival returned to Ragnar's in 2021, and the demand for live music and Halloween fun had grown.

“It was weird that it took two years of silence to branch out a scene that's been thriving for 15 years now,” Meitler said. “Now everybody just wants to be a part of something big and have a good time.”

With larger audiences being drawn in, Meitler and Fullen decided it was time to relocate and hold the event closer to The Square and bring that scene to the heart of San Marcos. Fuller and Meitler invited their friends at Headwater Audio Productions to provide production equipment and help entertain the large crowd they had anticipated.

Dave Sims Jr., a sound engineer on the production team has helped produce Frights and Sounds since it began in 2019. According to Sims, the number and variety of bands have doubled in size since last year, but the festival still keeps the spirit of showcasing Texan alternative talent at its core.

“Frights and Sounds is a kind of a hyper-local San Marcos festival, with a lot of friends performing and showcasing a lot of crazy music things,” Sims said.

In the future, Meitler and Fullen hope to take Frights and Sounds to San Marcos Plaza Park and expand to hold haunted houses, a larger vendor market and performers in spooky garb wandering and interacting with people. Meitler said as the event grows, they still hope to keep the festival a San Marcos tradition.

“We wanted to bring it closer to the city and keep it in the hardest city,” Meitler said. “Me and Ricky swore that we'd always do this festival no matter what in San Marcos, no matter how big it got.”

For more information on Frights and Sounds, visit its Facebook @frightsandsounds.

Texas State English and creative writing professor Jennifer duBois.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JENNIFER DUBOIS

Frights and Sounds Festival founders Ricky Fullen and Mitchell Meitler pose at the entrance of the Green Lagoon, Friday, Oct. 7, 2022, at Sean Patrick's Pub on The Square.

PHOTO BY ELIJAH CARDENAS

TXST World Mental Health Day 5K Run

Texas State exercise and sports science senior Sara Huddle throws the frisbee to her WellCats peers during the TXST World Mental Health Day 5K Run/Walk, Monday, Oct. 10, 2022, at Bobcat Soccer Complex.

PHOTO BY VANESSA BUENTELLO

Texas State dean of graduate college Andrea Golato heads toward the finish line with her dog, Ayla, during the TXST World Mental Health Day 5K Run/Walk, Monday, Oct. 10, 2022, at Bobcat Soccer Complex.

PHOTO BY VANESSA BUENTELLO

Texas State nursing sophomore Courtney Mensah receives a medal after placing first in the female's 18-29 age group in the TXST World Mental Health Day 5K Run/Walk, Monday, Oct. 10, 2022, at Bobcat Soccer Complex.

PHOTO BY VANESSA BUENTELLO

Prior to taking the stage, O'Rourke was introduced by Faith Mata, a psychology senior whose family was struck by tragedy when her sister Tess was killed in the Uvalde shooting.

Faith told the auditorium crowd who her little sister was and how the tragedy affected her family and community. Faith said she used to describe herself as uninterested in politics, but since the shooting, she has become an advocate for firearm restrictions and a strong supporter of O’Rourke’s campaign.

“Vote before you become me," Mata said. "We are the future and the generation that can make change. My voice today and forever will be strong for my sister Tess, but our voices together can be stronger."

During his speech, O’Rourke advocated for a law granting women the choice to have an abortion, a law that has been delegated to the states following the overturning of Roe v. Wade. According to O’Rourke, it was the women of Texas who won women’s rights 50 years ago and it will be women who get them back in 2022.

“We are at the epicenter of a maternal mortality crisis that is claiming the lives of Black women at three times the rate of white of white women in the state of Texas,” O’Rourke said. "Abortion was just as illegal in the state of Texas [50 years ago] as it is today. No one from outside of the state rode to the rescue of the women in Texas. Truth be told it was the women of Texas who rode to the rescue of the rest of the country.”

O’Rourke continued the rally by speaking on the importance of restoring the statewide power grid, legalizing marijuana and building safe legal immigration.

We are going to make sure that we legalize marijuana in the state of Texas,” O’Rourke said. “Texans of all races and ethnicities use cannabis at the same rate, disproportionately back and brown people are stopped and frisked.”

Following the rally, O’Rourke fulfilled his promise to take a photo or shake hands with everyone willing to wait in line outside of Evans. Some waited up to three hours including first-time voter, biology sophomore Kamrie Scott who said O'Rourke is advocating for her rights.

“I think it was great that [Beto O’Rourke] said something about Black and brown people and especially females because say I was to get [sexually assaulted] under the abortion law. There is nothing I can do about it,” Scott said.

Walking with his security to the parking lot, O’Rourke continued speaking to supporters about the importance of casting a vote in this election.

“It’s only possible to overcome challenges and do great things when young people are in the lead,” O’Rourke said.

O'Rourke plans to visit 19 colleges until Oct. 11. Texas State was the 14th on the list.

Texas

gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke's political

Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke speaks to Texas State students on his political stances during his college tour, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022, at Evans Auditorium.

PHOTO BY VANESSA BUENTELLO

Texas State criminology sophomore Amber Weatherton takes a selfie with Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022, outside Evans Auditorium.

PHOTO BY VANESSA BUENTELLO

Texas State psychology senior Faith Mata talks with Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke on stage, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022, at Evans Auditorium.

PHOTO BY VANESSA BUENTELLO

Music can help get you through midterms

By Rhian Davis Opinions Contributor

Students should take time every day to listen to music because it can benefit study habits, mental and physical health.

Concentrating on schoolwork can be arduous. Long study sessions can lead to underlying causes such as stress, depression and anxiety. While it can yield different results for everyone, listening to music while studying has been shown to have multiple benefits.

According to Healthline, music can help promote a more positive mindset. Students are more likely to have better results when completing homework or reviewing test materials when in a good mood.

According to WebMD, pressure can improve the ability to create memories but also affect the ability to retrieve those memories. Listening to music has been shown to lower stress and enhance relaxation.

Bella Haltom, a business marketing freshman, implements the habit of listening to music in her study sessions.

"Even if it's just instrumental music in the background, I always need something to listen to so that I'm not just focusing on the words that I'm reading," Haltom said. "If I'm just trying to study without any distractions, I tend to study for shorter periods of time so listening to music helps me stay focused for longer periods of time."

Music can activate both the left and right brain hemispheres at the same time, which aids in improving memory and maximizing the amount of information learned. In addition, instrumental music can be beneficial because, without the lyrics, there is less opportunity for distraction while also keeping the brain stimulated.

Music can also affect mental health significantly. According to The Jedd Foundation, the average teen spends two and a half hours daily listening to music. In addition, teens often listen to music to explore their identities and discover how they choose to fit in.

A person's music taste tends to change along with their psychological and social needs. With a new allowance for freedom in college, students may stray away from the music they have listened to most of their lives. Though it may be small, it is a step toward independence and discovering oneself.

With pressure from both school and personal life mental health is present for students, it can be easy to get tunnel vision and slowly begin to isolate from others.

People with anxiety or depression can turn to specific solutions, such as music therapy, to lessen some effects. This therapy can include making music, listening to music and even dancing. It helps patients deal with stress, and it promotes psychological well-being.

Another way music can benefit mental health is through the community that comes with it. No matter what one listens to, there will always be someone else who is a fan. For students having trouble finding a place where they feel like they belong, connecting through music can be one of the most straightforward solutions. At Texas State, multiple organizations have a shared interest in music, such as Bobcat Country and Hip Hop Congress.

According to Greater Good Magazine, listening to music with others has been shown to impact neurochemicals in the brain that play a role in personal connections which explains why, at concerts, one feels happier or more excited than usual.

Experiencing at least 20 minutes of live music every two weeks can improve one's self-perceived wellness by 20%. For Texas State students who want to test this, there are many local options for live music, such as Stellar Coffee Co., which hosts an open mic night every Thursday.

The effects of music go even further in impacting physical health. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, not many things in the world stimulate the brain the

way music does. Because music has a complex structure, the brain must do a lot of computing to make sense of it. It provides a "workout" for the brain.

The most notable benefit is that music is proven to be heart-healthy. According to Harvard Medical School, the brainstem controls the rate of one's heartbeat and respiration; it is also where sound processing begins. So, depending on the type of music being listened to, it can lower blood pressure, heart rate and breathing rate. Though the effect may be small, it is incredibly positive.

Music can even have positive benefits during physical activity. For example, listening to music while working out can increase stamina and improve one's mood. In addition, faster-paced music can be beneficial for increasing distance and pace when completing specific exercises. Music can also boost serotonin levels and be a minor distraction from the workout.

It is clear that music has many benefits, but it is essential to remember that every good thing has downfalls. Listening to music through headphones frequently can lead to hearing loss over time. It can also be a distraction when focusing on essential tasks, especially when learning new material. It can be an auditory distraction and take away focus at inconvenient times. Music is sometimes better implemented in moderation.

That said, take the time to listen to your favorite song today because it might make you feel better.

- Rhian Davis is a journalism freshman

The University Star welcomes Letters to the Editor from its readers. All submissions are reviewed and considered by the Editor-in-Chief and Opinions Editor for publication. Not all letters are guaranteed for publication.

Opinions in The University Star are not necessarily those of our entire publication, Texas State University’s administration, Board of Regents, School of Journalism and Mass Communication or Student Publications Board.

DeWalt looks to continue playoff appearances in final season

By Ashton Knight Sports Contributor

Emily DeWalt has been the starting setter for Texas State volleyball since she began to play for the team in 2018. Since then, she's racked up four Sun Belt Conference Setter of the Year awards, was named to the All-Sun Belt First Team four times and was the first player in program history to be Division I American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American.

DeWalt, a graduate student, has left her mark on the Texas State volleyball program. As one of the most decorated players in program history, she has had a positive and inspirational impact on both her teammates and coaches.

In her final year at Texas State she has cemented herself as one of the best athletes in program history, holding the record for career assists and looks to end her super-senior year with a championship.

Texas State volleyball head coach Sean Huiet said that he enjoys the relationship the two of them have built over the past four years.

“There’s stuff that Emily DeWalt does that you don’t teach. It’s been fun to help work with her, it’s more of a, ‘we do this together.’ She is a very high-level player," Huiet said. "She always comes in, she’s ready to work."

DeWalt began her volleyball career when she was in second grade. Her curiosity for the sport was influenced the year prior when her classmates began playing volleyball, but she was not old enough to join them just yet. Her friends were a year ahead of her so she could not wait to start playing with them the next season.

“I remember when I started to play volleyball in second grade. My best friend — who actually plays for Texas A&M — her mom was our volleyball coach," DeWalt said. "I think there was only eight on the team, but it was fun."

As soon as she began playing, the

sport became her life. In high school, volleyball became DeWalt's primary focus above other sports she played, like softball or basketball.

Even through years of practices, tournaments and injuries, DeWalt's passion for the sport has not burned out.

“I like the team dynamic of [volleyball], I also like that it’s fast-paced but we get time to stop and celebrate what has just occurred. I’m a sports junkie so I probably would’ve been happy playing

Volleyball:

Texas State volleyball played two matches against the University of Louisiana last week on Oct. 7 and Oct. 8 and swept them both 3-0. With those wins, volleyball is 5-1 in the Sun Belt Conference.

On the road trip in Louisiana, graduate setter Emily DeWalt had 81 assists across two matches and became the career leader in assists for Texas State.

Texas State led Louisiana in kills 94-72 in the two-match sweep. Texas State is first in the Sun Belt Conference in hitting percentage (.301), assists per set (13.39) and kills per set (14.33).

Texas State will host Southern Miss at 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 14, and at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 15.

softball, basketball, or whatever but I like that when we do something well, we have time to stop and celebrate each other before the play starts again. It’s not like basketball where you have to just turn around and play defense. I like that it’s fast-paced but you get to slow down sometimes,” DeWalt said.

During the 2020 season, DeWalt suffered a career-threatening shoulder injury in a nonconference game against the University of Texas at El Paso. Despite being advised to get surgery

Soccer:

Texas State soccer got handed its first Sun Belt Conference loss against James Madison University in a 3-1 match on Oct. 6 but rebounded with a 2-1 victory against the University of Louisiana on Oct. 9.

Across those two matches, sophomore goalkeeper Katelyn Chrisman, a former Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Week recipient, had seven saves.

The opening goal for the Bobcats against Louisiana was a penalty kick from sophomore midfielder Madi Goss, which makes her first in program history in career penalty goals.

Texas State will travel to Alabama to take on the University of Troy Trojans at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 16.

by team doctors, DeWalt decided that, because she had another year of eligibility due to the NCAA's eligibility extension for Division I athletes impacted by the pandemic, she was instead going to rest and do rehab for her shoulder.

DeWalt's decision to opt out of surgery allowed her to continue playing in the 2021 season, albeit with a torn rotator cuff. She achieved the title of the Sun Belt Player of the Year for the 2021 season, which was an emotional award for both DeWalt and Huiet.

"The day I got to tell her she was setter of the year and player of the year we both cried and had some good, happy tears because it was a hard season for her mentally," Huiet said. "For her to be setter of the year for the fourth year in a row and player of the year playing through a pretty major injury, that was a pretty special moment.”

DeWalt's teammate and senior middle blocker Tessa Marshall said that DeWalt's volleyball IQ is higher than anyone she's ever played with, making for a different experience on the court.

"She knows where everyone is on the court at all times, whether it’s her side of the court or the team we’re playing," Marshall said. "She’s also helped push me and understand the game in different ways... I feel like she makes everyone around her a smarter player."

Texas State volleyball has played in five consecutive Sun Belt Conference title games, with a loss coming last year against South Alabama denying the team four straight Sun Belt titles.

For DeWalt, the end goal for the 2022 season, her final season playing at Texas State, is simple: return back to the Sun Belt Conference championship and take back the Sun Belt title.

“That’s always the goal. We need to take it one game at a time, but by the end of the season conference champion is definitely the goal for this year, and to get into the NCAA tournament,” DeWalt said.

Tennis:

At the Texas State Fall Invite from Oct. 8 to Oct. 9, junior Kiana Graham won the top singles flight, and the duo of seniors Kate Malazonia and Mae McCutcheon won the top doubles flight.

Graham won all three of her matches in the two-day tournament to secure top flight.

Tennis head coach Kendall Brooks said the team will now head into offseason training as they prepare for spring ball.

"We got a lot of matches in which is the goal of the fall and got to compete and see what we need to work on for the spring," Brooks said in a press release.

Texas State will return to action at 1 p.m. on Jan. 27, to take on Sam Houston State in Huntsville, Texas.

SUBS SALADS SOUPS

Texas State senior setter Emily DeWalt (17) celebrates after the Bobcats score during a match against James Madison University, Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, at Strahan Arena. The Bobcats tied the weekend series 1-1.

PHOTO BY VANESSA BUENTELLO

TXST strutters form strong sisterhood

By Angelique Landry Sports Contributor

The Strutters performance group is a proud part of Texas State tradition, working to entertain home football game attendees, students and faculty alike. Together, they are more than just kicks and precision dance, but a sisterhood that strives for excellence.

Barbara Guinn Tidwell, the former choreographer and director of the program, founded The Strutters after the former president of Southwest Texas State College John Flowers approached her to start a female dance team that would represent the college and perform at football games. The Strutters are the first precision dance team formed at a four-year university since the programs establishment in 1960.

Currently, The Strutters are under the direction of Tammy Fife and former Strutter and professional cheerleader Selina Flores, following Tidwell's 37 years, and Susan Angell-Gonzalez's 16 years with the group.

Tidwell passed away earlier this year in May. Her legacy lives on in the form of The Strutters' performances and dedication to Texas State.

"I would say they're just a very unique group of very very, very, very talented dancers who are also very tied to each other and very dedicated to their university and to each other and to the team," Fife said.

Fife sees The Stutters as a group of talented and devoted dancers who represent Texas State through their performance and spirit.

There are currently 93 members of The Strutters, making them the nation's largest college drill team. Performing at state, national and international levels in 26 countries, they have cultivated a large fan base and are role models to young dancers.

Lindsey Trahan, a former Strutter who served as a captain in 2015, was one of those young girls who looked up to the Strutters after witnessing their performances.

"My high school director and friends were Strutters," Trahan said. "The first time I watched The Strutters perform, I got chills like I couldn't describe and I then realized that's what I wanted to do."

Lillian Mathis, a dance sophomore and first-year Strutter had her eye on the Strutters the moment she researched it. She took notice of the value of sisterhood the team had, and she was immediately drawn in to join the team.

"It's different from performing in high school because obviously there's a larger crowd," Mathis said. "There's a little bit more pressure of it, but it's like a good type of pressure, I guess. It forces you to perform your best."

The term "sisterhood" takes the lead as The Strutters' theme for this year. The sisterhood-like bond brings them together as a teammates. According to Fife, there is nothing they would not do for one another.

"They take care of each other," Fife said. "If one needs a ride, there's about 90 girls offering them a ride."

The program participates in the big sister and little sister tradition in which young Strutters are paired with veteran Strutters. Generations of Strutters stay involved with their sisterhood down the line. The performance group has cultivated over 3000 alumnae that stay connected through the sisterhood bond that

FROM FRONT FOOTBALL

is formed through being on the team.

Strutter alumnae know the importance of staying connected to the team and providing help and support wherever and whenever it is needed.

"There's people on your sister line that go all the way back, and you just get to learn from people of all different ages and one's that have graduated," Mathis said. "Strutter alumni always stay involved. The past alumni will tune in to practices, come support games, or show up for sister lines and meet their next sisters that join the family as more and more girls join the strutters each year.

The Strutters perform in various dances and styles, specializing in jazz elite and pom. In time, they performed at three U.S. presidential inaugurations, at a Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and were selected to participate in America's Bicentennial in a commercial

Hatcher’s second touchdown pass came later in the second quarter during the Bobcat’s sixth offensive possession when he threw a 23-yard pass over the middle to sophomore wide receiver Ashtyn Hawkins in the back of the end zone, putting Texas State up 24-0 with 44 seconds remaining in the first half.

On the opening drive of the second half, quarterback Chase Brice led the Mountaineers on a nine-play drive that took them deep into Bobcat territory. Facing a fourth and five at the Texas State 12-yard line, Appalachian State head coach Shawn Clark elected to go for it rather than kick a field goal.

On fourth down in the opening drive in the second half, Mountaineers quarterback Chase Brice threw his third interception of the season to junior safety Tory Spears, who returned it for a 94-yard touchdown, giving Texas State a 30-3

“The play before I misread my key, gave up a little too much,” Spears said. “We were in zone, I read the quarterback, ball came over my shoulder, caught it and when I cut it up the only thing in my head was go get it.”

Brice finished the game 40 of 53 for 395 passing yards, three touchdown passes and one interception.

The Bobcat defense disrupted Brice and the Appalachian State offense all night, particularly on third and fourth down.

The Bobcats held the Mountaineers to 6-15 on third down and forced four turnovers on downs and two takeaways.

“It was a great win for the program,” Spavital said. “I think that’s a momentum kind of game for us to understand what we’re capable of doing if we play together and play clean football and play the game of football the right way. So that’s a big win for these kids in terms of the confidence level and

PHOTO BY VANESSA BUENTELLO

for Coca-Cola.

The team takes importance not only in reaching their performance standards but in building strength and character to be good examples and role models at Texas State. Part of their core mission is to give their very best halftime performances and to stick to their core values of professionalism, vigor and poise.

This year, the Strutters are making their mark by traveling to perform in Costa Rica at the end of the fall semester. The team has been looking forward to this special trip and have been hard at work preparing.

"It'll be really exciting and fun. The Strutters have never performed in Costa Rica, so we are really excited about that," Fife said.

For more information on The Texas State Strutters, visit https://txst.com/sports/dance-team.

showing everybody that we can play with anybody.”

Saturday’s win is the type that can single-handedly turn an entire season around in a positive direction, but Spavital knows there is still plenty of work ahead.

“At the end of the day, we got to strap it up and do it again next week,” Spavital said.

The Bobcats will look to carry the momentum from Saturday's victory into next week when they face the 4-2 Troy Trojans. The game is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 15 at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Troy, Alabama.

Texas State redshirt senior cornerback Kordell Rodgers (3) covers a Mountaineers receiver during a game against Appalachian State University, Saturday,

2022, at Bobcat Stadium. The Bobcats won

PHOTO BY VANESSA BUENTELLO

Texas State education junior and Strutters assistant line captain Jasmine Gilliam dances on the bleachers during the first football game of the season, Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, at Bobcat Stadium.

PHOTO BY VANESSA BUENTELLO

Texas State redshirt junior safety

defensive play

game