Big win for Page 6 Dragons The student voice of Hutchinson Community College
www.hutchcollegian.com
October 4, 2019
Vol. 61 Issue 4
Photos by Pablo Sanchez/The Collegian John O’Leary explains his story to the community at the Sports Arena during the Dillon Lecture Series.
O’Leary gives inspiring talk
By Rachel Lyons Staff Writer
In order to be effective, a leader must change the world one life and individual at a time. But, according to John O’Leary, an individual must be willing to transform their mindset
before changing another’s. It took a horrific accident at age 9 for O’Leary to realize that he would need to change his mindset to let go of the negative, and embrace positives that could be made out of every step on his journey. O’Leary’s journey began on Jan. 17, 1987, the day that one action of mimicking kids three years older transpired into a long road to recovery. “As a 9-yearold boy, it is mesmerizing to watch 11-yearold boys light a puddle of gasoline into a dancing pool of fire,’” said O’Leary, who was in Hutchinson on Tuesday
as part of the 2019 Ray and Stella Dillon Lecture Series. However, on that fateful January day, when O’Leary lit a piece of cardboard on fire in his family’s garage while his parents were gone, he would be thrown, by the explosion, against a wall between 15-20 feet away. “That weekend, I got the wrong example in front of me,” O’Leary said. “My father is at work, my mother is out (of) the house. I walk into a garage, bend over a can of gasoline (and) try to pour a little bit of gas on top of a piece of paper that is burning. … Before the liquid, came the fumes.” O’Leary believes that is what we cannot see that hurts us, and what makes events like the Dillon Lecture Series necessary. He said that we train our mind to be ready to complete an
action during a given event, such as stop, drop and roll if you are ever on fire. But the reality is that if the time ever comes that we find ourselves on fire, the fear of the fumes that are now on fire will prevent us from acting how we were previously trained. “... But you love your life, have you students, and have you leaders ever noticed (that) when your life’s going splendidly well, we seldom pause long enough to realize how great it is,” O’Leary said. Often, he said, we miss the small details that show how blessed we are in our day-to-day lives, until our story suddenly changes. But often, in these moments of change, when a child thinks that their parents might kill them, that another’s love overcomes. It becomes the perspective of how one looks at a given situation.
O’Leary gives the example of his father who, as a 41-years old is old to 9-year-old O’Leary, but today 41 years old doesn’t seem that old. Throughout his presentation O’Leary indirectly asks the audience to answer the call, and to have enough of saying no. When asked what his favorite event to speak at was, O’Leary stated that it was talking to prison inmates, such as those at United States Penitentiary in Leavenworth, because they are some of the most engaged students. These inmates are broken, but he has found that they are ready to make a change for the better, regardless of the length of any given inmate’s sentence. To be an effective leader is to change the world one
life at a time, because life is short, fragile, and “Essentially, we are all walking miracles”. Being a leader is also about overcoming the impossible, or seemingly impossible, and changing your mindset to adapt to the challenges at hand. It only takes one person to drive a great change that can reveal what is beyond the horizon. Change is necessary to make progress as a nation, especially when our “Epidemic of Loneliness” contributed to more than one million people committing suicide in 2018. From time to time, tears are strengthening, but when no one is willing to stand up for those who otherwise wouldn’t, they become a problem. See O’Leary, Page 5_
Spoopy fall hangout destinations By Tabitha Barr Editor in Chief
Since October has arrived, everyone will soon be thriving in fall sweaters with spoopy decorations in hand. Autumn seems to be the beginning season for people’s holiday moods. It brings cooler temperatures, colorful surroundings and the start of decorating season. Around the same time fall begins, college students are pushing through hard courses and their daily lives. So when it comes to enjoying the fall season, they reach out to places that are the epitome of fall - pumpkin patches, corn mazes, spook walks and more is the perfect place for students to unwind and take in that fall feeling. There are multiple farms and patches that are in the surrounding areas around Hutchinson. Each one has many activities that students, friends, and families can enjoy. When people think of corn maze in the surrounding area, their first thought is the Kanas Maze in Buhler. But with their new experimental sunflower festival this year, they aren’t having a corn maze. But many other places boast fun and entertainment.
Upcoming events
Oct. 5 — Women’s soccer vs. Garden City CC 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. Oct. 7 — Volleyball vs. Pratt CC 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Oct. 10 — Autumn Serenade Concert - Concert Chorale & Wind Symphony 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Oct. 11 — Fall Break, College Closed Oct. 12 — Football vs. Coffeyville CC 12 p.m. - 3 p.m.
The happenings around campus
Blue Dragons weekend forecast
Friday — High: 71 Low: 63 Saturday— High: 73 Low: 50 Sunday High: 68 Low: 47
Inside Scoop
Opinion: Page 2 - Laci Sutton brings her take on graduating from a small school Opinion: Page 3 - Competing opinions on flu vaccinations Campus: Page 4 - Free counseling option for Hutchinson Community College students
Opinion
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It’s Coming...
The Hutchinson Collegian
The Hutchinson Collegian is the official student newspaper of Hutchinson Community College. It is created by the Newspaper Production class each week during the academic year, except for when school is not in session, or during final exams. Copies may be found on campus Friday mornings, or in Shears Technology Center, room 207. Our newspaper is printed by The Hutchinson News.
Staff
Editor In Chief Tabitha Barr Campus editor Jared Shuff Opinion page editor Emily Fehrman Sports editors Adam Kolb and Bailey Pennycuff Digital Content Coordinator Cody Schroeder Social Media Coordinator Shealynn Hubbs Online Content Editor Bailey Young Online Web Master Aaron Strain Editorial cartoonist Kristin Anguiano Staff members Samarah Bailey, Emily Branson, Jake Brown, Rachel Lyons, Bre Rogers, KJ Ryan, Caleb Spencer, Laci Sutton Adviser Brad Hallier
Letters to the editor
The Hutchinson Collegian welcomes letters to the editor. Letters must include the author’s signature, address and phone number. The Collegian reserves the right to edit letters for style, legality and length. Letters may not exceed 300 words. Send letters to hallierb@hutchcc.edu.
On the web
Visit our web site at www. hutchcollegian. com Our e-edition can be viewed at www.issuu.com
Social media
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Nondiscrimination statement
Hutchinson Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, age, military status, sexual orientation, or any other protected category under federal, state, or local law, or by college policy. The following person has been designated to monitor compliance and handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies (www.hutchcc. edu/equity): Jake Gunden, Coordinator of Equity & Compliance 1300 N. Plum Hutchinson, KS 67501 (620) 665-3500 equity@hutchcc. edu
The Hutchinson Collegian Friday, Oct 4 , 2019
Bring on the cold Our view A lot of people around campus are not exactly happy about the fall weather. However, many of us, especially on The Collegian staff, are more than excited for the new season. We aren’t the biggest fans of walking outside and immidiatly sweating bullets. The most desirable temperature, for many of us is when you can dress in layers. There are so many different styles you can wear with layers too. You could dress for comfort in a bunch of sweatpants and sweatshirts. Or you can dress it up with some jeans, a sweater or sweatshirt, all with a jean jacket on top. For a lot of people, they love the colder season because of the food. In the winter, it almost seems as if the food becomes more wholesome and filling. But then again, that might just be from our mothers constantly making soup or chili, and then saying “here you go honey, I made this with love.” Speaking of food, don’t even get us started on Thanksgiving, (it is just around the corner you know) and some of us are already excited about it. Halloween is this month and all of us are already coming up with ideas for costumes. And we’re coming up with fun things to do with friends. Sadly, this year the corn maze out in Buhler isn’t open, but the rest of it is. The Field of Screams is always a good time, if you’re into screaming for however long it takes you to get through the whole thing. Winter is a fantastic time because it also means Christmas is getting close. Many of us look forward to this holiday because of the long break between classes. But we suppose going home and spending time with our families and loved ones is a plus too.
Growing up in a small town, I’ve heard all the jokes and stereotypes, as well as some of the harsh criticism. I’ve listened to classmates constantly talk about getting out of this town as soon as they graduate (most of which never did), been talked to about the seemingly endless lists of opportunities I could have if I transferred to a bigger school, and I can’t even count the times we’ve been called rednecks or hicks. No matter how much negativity I hear about small-town schools compared to large schools, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. My high school, Nickerson, was classified as a 4A school. This means we had between 312-661 students in the school. Usually we were on the lower end of that range, sometimes even below that. I graduated in 2018 with a graduating class of 85 students. I could probably name every student in my graduating class, and at least 60-75% of the students in my whole high school. Many of these kids I’ve gone to
Have a Little Compassion I’m currently taking this Pyschology of Happiness class here, and our recent subject was compassion. I felt the need to share what I’ve learned. Mainly, because you don’t see people acting out of compassion anymore. Compassion is a gateway to happiness. It means to suffer together. It is described as the feeling when you are confronted with another’s suffering and feeling motivated to relieve that suffering. Some people think of compassion and assume it means you have to be a touchy-feely person to show it to other people. But it isn’t all about the emotions. It’s about just listening to your friends cry about their horrible day, and instead of giving them a lecture of things they can do to fix the situation, just saying “I’m so sorry this happened, what can we do to help?”
It’s when you’re sick found that it makes better friends - college and your best friend people more resilient friendships show that shows up with medito stress. It lowers when one friend sets cine and soup. stress hormones in the the goal to support the It’s about being blood and saliva, and other compassionately, aware of others’ emostrengthens the immune both friends experience tions and being self response. Compassion greater satisfaction and aware of how your training may also help growth in the relationactions affect others. us worry less and be ship. Knowing that with one more open to our negaIt makes better word you could either tive emotions. doctors - medical signifCompasstudents who train in icanty sion could compassion feel less improve improve depressed and lonely, someones our menand avoid the typical day, or tal health. declines in compassion completely It helps that happen during demolish make caring medical school. it. parents Compassionate peoShowing brain scans ple are more socially compasshow that adept, making them sion slows when people less vulnerable to loneour heart experience liness. Loneliness leads rate, while compassion, to stress and harms the secreteting Emily Fehrman their brains immune system. the “bondactivate in Compassion is vital ing hormone” oxytocin, neural systems known for our survival as a to the regions of the to support parental species, and right now brain that is linked to nurturance and other we’re severely lackempathy, caring and caregiving behaviors. ing. feelings of pleasure. Helps make better This is what drives us spouses - compassionas human beings. Along ate people are more opwith kindness, and timistic and supportive Emily Fehrman is a Pretty Prairie sophomore studying altruism. when communicating Journalism One compassion with others. training program has It also helps make
Columnist
Small Town Livin’
Columnist
Laci Sutton school with since I was in kindergarten. We’ve bonded for years, we became a family. I wasn’t best friends with all of them. Some of them got on my last nerves on a daily basis. The Friday-night lights were the best feelings. I was a cheerleader, so I had my own little cheer family with me each week. We struggled together, laughed together, and built each other up in every aspect of our lives. My cheer girls were, and always will be, my sisters. We watched our football team go from one of the lowest teams in the league, to being winners.
We had our whole town behind us, supporting us in every event. We had each other to count on whenever we needed. We grew up together all the way until our graduation. Many of us parted ways, but a lot of us are still here, going back to the same school that made us into the people we are today, and continue to support them. I remember being told many times when I was growing up about the opportunities I could have going to a bigger school. They would tell me all about these new, cool classes their students can enroll in. It didn’t take me long to realize that even though we may not have had as many of these available courses, we did have ones that taught us so much more than the material coursework. We were taught to be honest and considerate citizens. We were taught to follow our passions, because you never know where it will take you. Being in a smaller school, we also had smaller class sizes, which meant we got to bond with
our teachers and build connections with them that would last a lifetime. My teachers blessed me in so many ways. They had a passion for their job. It’s no question teachers aren’t treated as well as they should be, but these teachers come to school everyday ready to help us. They loved us as their own children, and I can’t imagine that connection happening in the big schools. I’m beyond thankful for my time at Nickerson High School. It has shaped me into the person I am today, and provided me with countless amazing opportunities. I created a family with everyone during my time there. We may not have talked everyday, maybe we didn’t even get along back then. Whatever the case, these are my people. This is where I come from. Once a Panther, always a Panther. Laci Sutton is a Nickerson sophomore studying Nursing
Opinion/Campus
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The Hutchinson Collegian Friday, October 4, 2019
A Discussion on Vaccinations Protecting others through vaccines By Emily Branson Staff Writer
With fall rounding the corner and winter on its heels, we can all expect flu season to be approaching quickly. Flu season is the time of year when class absences increase due to sickness, tissues are necessary in every classroom, and the sound of someone sniffling never goes away. That being said, one of the most important things that you can do is get your flu shot. More and more people today are against vaccinations, and it all seems like silly reasoning. Vaccinations provide so many benefits, not just for yourself, but for the people around you also. If you choose not to get your flu shot, you are putting everyone at risk. Just in the 2017-2018 flu season alone, 80,000 people died from the influenza illness. One of my biggest fears is someone getting my little siblings sick, because someone chose to not get vaccinated. My youngest siblings are 4 and 5 years old. They were both born premature, which gave
them a weaker immune system than most babies. They get sick easily. Before we brought my sister home after a month in the neonatal intensive care unit, my dad took all of us to the pharmacy to get our flu shots. When people came to visit, we made sure they were not sick at all, and then required hand sanitizer to be used before holding her. It seems crazy, but it helped eliminate the chance of her getting sick. While protecting little kids is my main reasoning as to why you should get a flu shot, there are so many other reasons. Some people will argue that getting the vaccine causes them to get sick. The flu shot does not contain the live influenza virus, meaning that it cannot give you the flu. If you choose to get the nasal spray, it does have the live virus, but it is at a weakened level. This means that it will also not give you the influenza illness. According to www. cdc.gov, the reactions and side effects of the flu vaccine are always favorable and less severe when compared to the symptoms of the actual
Columnist
Emily Branson flu illness. Unvaccinated people put anyone with poor health, asthma, or other chronic health conditions at risk. Another argument against the flu shot is that it is not 100% effective, which is also true. Here’s the thing - if you don’t get your flu vaccination, it is 100% ineffective. Getting the vaccine reduces your chances of getting the flu by 40-60 percent. When it comes down to the facts, you are much better off just getting your flu shot. Whether it is your “personal preference” or not, choosing not to get vaccinated only puts yourself and other people at risk. Influenza can be an incredibly serious illness. We should all take it seriously and just get the vaccine.
Being responsible for yourself By Bailey Young Online Editor
All right here’s the situation on vaccinations, from my point of view. I am a 19-year-old woman. I pay some of my bills. I pay my tuition. I commute to and from Hutchinson Community College Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I work a part-time job, and I help many people with many different things. Basically, the point I’m trying to make is that I am responsible for myself. With that being said, any person over the age of 18, responsible for themselves, or not, has the opportunity to decide whether or not they receive a flu shot annually. I am not anti-vaccination at all. I think infants and children up until age 18 need shots to protect against diseases like the measles, polio and chicken pox, but something as insignificant as the flu shot, should not be a big deal, in my opinion. Since I’ve been legal, I have chosen not to receive the flu shot, (and
I haven’t gotten the flu), and I can provide you with two reasons for that. First, in my family, at least, two of my family members have previously gotten the flu shot and have not reacted well to it. One person gets sick after receiving the live virus transmitted by the shot, and the other person (who I take after) gets the flu every year that he gets the flu shot, but typically doesn’t get the flu in the years when he hasn’t gotten the flu shot. Second, the flu shot is not 100% effective. It is not a 100% guarantee that you will not get the flu if you get the shot, and there’s not a 100% guarantee that you will get the flu if you don’t receive the shot. These are just some things that I’ve observed. For myself, and my immune system, I have chosen for the time being to not get the flu shot. However, I can see how people in different situations could need the flu shot. Like Emily Branson, a
Columnist
Bailey Young fellow Hutchinson Collegian staff writer, who says she needs the shot because she has young siblings with weak immune systems. Until I get the flu from not getting the flu shot, I will probably choose not to get a flu shot until I am in a situation where I need it. I would also like to say that when and if I do get the flu, I’ll eat my words. It could very easily happen, because like I said, neither situation is 100% effective. That’s just my opinion on the matter. I think everyone should decide for themselves whether or not to get the flu shot.
Staying healthy in Hutchinson By Caleb Spencer Staff Writer
When you ask someone what their favorite season is, it’s a safe bet they won’t say the flu season. Having a sore throat, aching muscles and head, fever and congestion add up to a terrible week, but that same week could’ve been infinitely better with a vaccination two weeks prior. With flu reason right around the corner, getting a vaccination quickly is important. According to the Duquesne University School of Nursing, the flu season has no definitive starting date but generally begins around October. With it already being October and the vaccine taking two weeks to go into effect according to the CDC, getting vaccinated sooner rather than later is important. Luckily, there are plenty of
places where you can get a flu shot for free around Hutchinson. The website vaccinefinder.org finds places around you that offer the flu shot, and according to the website there are two locations in Hutchinson- Walgreens, located at 510 East 30th Avenue, and Walmart, located on 1905 East 17th Avenue. Walgreens offers free flu vaccinations, but Walmart’s flu shot costs money if you don’t have insurance. The flu thrives in cold, overcast weather, according to a blog posted by Harvard. This may be a problem for Hutchinson because the two-
week forecast provided by The Weather Channel suggests that the next two weeks will be colder and less sunny than it has been recently. Another cause for concern comes from the list of flu viruses that this year’s vaccination protects against. One of the three viruses that the flu shot protects against is called A/Kansas/14/2017 (H3N2)-like virus and can be contracted through “prolonged exposure to pigs at agricultural fairs,” according to the CDC. This might be a problem for the Hutchinson community, due to the Kansas State Fair taking place two weeks ago. Getting vaccinated every year is important to stay healthy and to avoid spreading the flu, but Hutchinson might need the vaccination moreso this year than years prior.
Learning more about the LGBT history with the GSA
By Samarah Bailey Staff Writer
With October being LGBT History Month, many students at Hutchinson Community College are looking to the past to honor those who made LGBT pride globally celebrated. This year is particularly important to the community because 2019 is the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. These riots are widely considered to be the start of the equal rights movement in the LGBT community. The HutchCC organization Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA) is looking to October to further understand LGBT history. GSA is sponsored by Janelle Voth, who sat down with The Collegian to answer some questions about LGBT and GSA. “LGBT was the original designation.” Voth said, “In the last 10 years or so there’s been more (letters) added to it to be more encompassing of some of the different
genders and sexualities.” Hutchinson Collegian: Why is LGBT History Month so significant in the community and the outside world? Janelle Voth: (It’s significant) just like Black History Month and Hispanic Heritage Month. (They) encourage you to learn more about the people who came before you and the differences in different cultures. It’s exposure for those that are not in the community and for those in the community to pay tribute to those who came before them. HC: What strides has the LGBT community made in the past and how are things continuing to change for the better? JV: The Stonewall Riots kicked off the equal rights movement we have been battling for over 50 years now. And then, just a few years ago, there was the Marriage Equality Act, and so we’ve been granted the right to get married. That was four years ago now that that
was granted (but) there’s still quite a bit of stride to be made, especially here in Kansas. HC: What struggles do the community still have to fight through? JV: Just as recently as last year the legislature proposed a bill that basically compared LGBTQ to people who would have sex with animals. To know that someone believes that about another human being is, for me, depressing. The One Man One Woman bill started here in Hutchinson so we’ve been fighting quite a bit with that conservative mindset here in the community. It is a constant battle, especially in a conservative community such as Hutchinson. HC: How do these hardships affect the students at HutchCC? JV: There are students in Hutchinson right now whose parents don’t know that they are LGBT because they are afraid to come out and be themselves with their own family. It’s important
to these kids that they are represented because now they›re away from home and able to do some things that make them proud of who they are. If we’re not represented in government then its still an uphill battle. HC: What is the Gender Sexuality Alliance? JV: It’s primarily a social organization. They meet (and) discuss issues that are related to being LGBTQ. We talk about coming out, we talk about history, (and) we talk about different things they can do. It is also a time just for them to know that there is other people that are like them and to learn more about people that are similar but may be different. HC: How many members are currently in GSA? JV: We have approximately 17 members at this time. HC: If anyone is interested in joining the organization, who should they contact? JV: My door is always
open for anyone who wants to stop by. I’m in the mailroom and my extension is 3515. You can call me at any time; if you are not comfortable talking to me and you would just like a fellow student to talk to I have a couple of students who would be willing to talk on a one on one basis with others. HC: What upcoming events are the GSA hosting? JV: We’re going to be hosting a drag show in November on campus. It will be raising money for
our events and for possibly starting a scholarship for LGBTQ students. HC: Is there any other information students should know about GSA? JV: We’re always looking for friends who support us for being us and affirm us in our lives as much as we affirm them. So allies are important. (Even if you do not necessarily) identify as LGBTQ you are more than welcome to come to a GSA meeting and just learn more (about) how to support your friends.
Campus
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The Hutchinson Collegian Friday, October 4, 2019
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discussing Rate My Professors By Bailey Young Online Editor
Some college students can’t get through a semester without at least one tough professor. Students across campus and in class can bond over their experiences with one professor or another, and thanks to technology, students can communicate about their experiences from one generation of students to another for decades to come. Websites like “Rate My Professors” do just that. If you’re like some students with a professor you loathe, rating your professor anonymously at the end of the semester can soothe the sting of a difficult semester A couple of professors at Hutchinson Community College, however, do not feel the same way. Tricia Paramore, Department 4 chairperson, said, “I just don’t find a lot of merit in it, to be honest.” Kathy Mendenhall, speech professor, said that the criteria on which they’re being rated is unimportant to the quality of education they provide, and the website itself is outdated and not credible. When a student uses “Rate my Professors,” the criteria the website asks for is a general rating of the professor, level of course difficulty, whether or not the student rating the professor would take the course again, if the class was taken for credit, whether or not
the textbook was used, and if attendance was mandatory or not. The rater can also choose to input the grade they received from the course and to write their opinions of the professor in a textbox. “Rate my Professor” does tell students not to use profanity, name-calling or derogatory terms, and also not to claim the professor shows bias against certain students. “I looked at it years ago for the first time, and I saw that someone had put that I didn’t like firefighter students,” Mendenhall said. “What? I have no idea where that came from. That’s absolutely not true, and so after that, I thought, ‘if one person can put one complaint and then all these other people are choosing their professor according to that website, then no, this isn’t good’.” Although Mendenhall had a couple of ratings like that from
2005, she is among the top-three rated professors from HutchCC, with a rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars, compiled from 14 ratings. Professors with higher ratings than most students find possible can make people wonder if professors will get on the website and rate themselves to boost their rating. That goes to show anyone is able to rate a professor. Currently on “Rate my Professor,” the top-three rated HutchCC professors are Rachel Santine, speech professor, with a 4.3 out of 23 reviews, Thomas Percy, social science/history professor, with a 4.3 out of 11 reviews, and Kathy Mendenhall with a 4.1 out of 14 reviews. Students can also rate the school as a whole. HutchCC currently stands at a 3.5 based off 16 ratings.
Walk photos Photos by KJ Ryan/Collegian
Options are available for HutchCC students suffering from mental illness By Tabitha Barr Editor In Chief
The rate of mental health issues has skyrocketed in the past years and it continues to increase. College-age students are now understanding that mental health needs to be acknowledged and helped. Hutchinson Community College is striving to do everything thing it can in that aspect, as the college offers counseling services to its students. Christopher Lau, Coordinator of Advising, Career Development and Counseling, and Head
of Student Services, wants students to feel safe on campus. “At the college here, we have three licensed mental health therapists. In that regard, it makes us unique from other colleges, universities, etc.,” Lau said. Many education facilities have counselors, but they may not be what students need or are looking for. “Many have college counselors, who have the counselor title, but who aren’t licensed in the state to do therapy,” he said. But every counselor at HutchCC is licensed in giving
care and can help students with their problems. Many students have not heard that the college offers therapy, let alone that it is offered at a financial-stable cost. “It’s all completely free.” Lau said. Employees at HutchCC know that college and life can be triggers in student’s mental health. They want to do the most in helping students understand themselves and understand how to approach life in a healthy way. Their hours are Monday
through Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. If a student wants to arrange a session with Lau, Debra Graber or Mike Shirkey, contact Michelle Wortham at worthamm@ hutchcc.edu or 620-665-3377. She can schedule an appointment get students connected with the help they need. While students are able to receive free counseling from the college, some cases may need more attention. HutchCC works closely and recommends for students suffering and need help faster, Prairie Star and Horizons Mental Health Cen-
ter. Both provide reduced rates for college students. Horizons also offers a 24/7 crisis management services for students who need immediate help. Sometimes, students don’t want to ask for help until it comes to the time they can’t put it off any longer. “At the moment that the need is the greatest, that’s when the delivery of information is the most important.” Lau said. He wants HutchCC students to know that they are here to help, even if they don’t realize it until later.
The Hutchinson Collegian Friday, October 4, 2019
Sports/Campus
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Sports Roundup: Sylvestre Kibarar takes second at Emporia By Adam Kolb and Bailey Pennycuff Sports Editors
For the first time in his Hutchinson Community College men’s cross country career, sophomore Sylvestre Kibarar finished as the Blue Dragons’ top runner in a race. Kibarar and fellow sophomore Andrew Kibet finished 2-3 to pace the No. 7- ranked Blue Dragons to a third-place finish at the Emporia State Invitational at Jones Park. Kibarer was running his ninth career race for the Blue Dragons, and in his first eight, he finished behind Kibet, but that all changed on Friday at ESU. Kibarar finished second overall with a time of 26 min-
utes, 19:43 seconds over 8,000 meters. That was 26 seconds faster than the time he ran at Emporia State last season. Kibet was third overall with a time of 26:46:24. Sophomore Brett Hillabrand placed 15th with a time of 28:51:37, while Jeffery Klopf had a season’s best finish of 18th with a time of 29:11:91. Matthew Schrag placed 28th with a time of 30:19:90, Zach Haxton was 38 in 31:19:65, and Jacob McElhanon was 51st in a time of 33:35:80. Austin Lorenzo was the fifth runner to figure into the Dragon score. He placed 23rd in 29:46:37. The Blue Dragons run next in two weeks at the Fort Hays State Tiger open on October 12 Women’s cross country -
Four Blue Dragons finished in the top 50 and the No. 17-ranked Hutchinson Community College women’s cross country team finished fifth at the Emporia State Invitational on Friday afternoon at Jones Park. Sophomore Sheila Too led the way for her third straight race with a 16th place finish over 5,000 meters with a time of 21:13:48. All-American Gabby Collins placed 34th overall in a time of 22:42:90. Sophomore Christina Bruce was 45th in a time of 23:43:99, while freshman Megan Miller was 47th in a time of 24:17:73. Freshman Brooklyn Terstriep was the fifth runner to figure into the scoring with
a 58th-place finish in a time of 26:25:90. Also, freshman Natalie Schroeder was 64th with a time of 29:23:76. The Blue Dragons scored 130 team points, finishing just two point behind fourth place Cloud County. The Blue Dragons will run at the Fort Hays State Tiger Open on October 12. Volleyball - The Blue Dragon volleyball team was swept by Panola College in their last match of the TJC Invitation in Tyler, Texas. Camila Espejo and Katelyn Elstun had 27 kills together for the match; however, the fact that the team played a total of 11 matches throughout only 14 is a weighing factor that could not be overcome. Over the 14
days, they went 4-7 and 8-11 for the season. Hutchinson travels to Dodge City on Tuesday. The Blue Dragons hit .074 in the match. Espejo finished with 15 kills on .167 hitting to lead Hutchinson. Not only that, but she also had eight digs. The previous Friday, Elstun had a career high of 34 kills against Missouri State-West Plain. She had 12 kills, hitting .116 for the Panola match. Freshman setter Lainey Robertson had 18 assists and six digs, and sophomore setter Eboni Sapien had 12 assists and eight digs. Freshman libero Alissa Bautista had 16 digs. As a team, the Blue Dragons had seven blocks.
Scenes from Saturday’s game
Photo by Bre Rogers /Collegian Members of the Hutchinson Community College cheer squad gather at the pregame tailgate party Saturday outside Gowans Stadium.
Photo by Nathan Addis/HutchCC Sports Information Duke the Dragon celebrates a big play Saturday at Gowans Stadium.
Photo by Nathan Addis /HutchCC Sports Information Hutchinson Community College’s Cortes Braham (83) and Craig Burt (11) celebrate a touchdown Saturday at Gowan’s Stadium.
Wright
• Continued from Page 6
able, leadership, responsibility, all those good traits I learned here,” Wright said. Coming into Hutch, no one knew Wright would be such an influential player. “In the beginning, we were trying to shift gears a little to have more of a mobile quarterback compared to what we had last year,” Blue Dragons coach Rion Rhoades said.
“We thought, ‘Hey we’ll give him a shot,’ that’s really all it was. I would say it was kind of a shot in the dark to be quite honest with you.” Mark’s personality and the way he plays seems to be a perfect fit for this football team. “The most important thing to mention about Mark is that Mark is a phenomenal young man,” Rhoades said. “He’s got a real calm spirit, very competitive though, works hard. He’s a good leader, our guys
Photo by Nathan Addis/HutchCC Sports Information Hutchinson Community College’s pep band plays during Saturday’s game against Butler Community College at Gowans Stadium.
listen if Mark says something.” Because of his hard work, he has become a five-game starter on a football team of this caliber. “Everybody wants somebody tall, maybe someone better looking (from a football standpoint), but Mark’s really effective and I love that about him,” Rhoades said. “I just love who he is, he’s really a good guy. He has a positive effect on the personality of our team.”
O’Leary
• Continued from Page 1
Change is made when people like long-time St. Louis Cardinals broadcaster Jack Buck show up at the bedside of a badly-burned child and say “Kid wake up, you are going to live. And when you get out we’re going to celebrate and call it ‘John O’Leary Day’ at the ballpark.” O’Leary closed by reminding the audience
that they must insist on change by asking three questions: Why me? Who cares? What More Can I do? Answering them the next day, and repeating the process the next day. The three questions that O’Leary wants the crowd to ask at the end of each day could be made negative, and if given the opportunity, would destroy one’s self esteem, but if they are asked positively they can transform our direction
in life. O’Leary said, “We are called to live and as leaders connect connect our hearts and our heads.” Be the person who shows up with plans for 100 years in the future. Take a note from Jack Buck, who made a commitment and followed through, he wanted to grow people and he did so by motivating 9-year-old John O’Leary to give up when the odds were against him.
Sports
The Hutchinson Collegian Friday, October 4, 2019
Page 6
Athlete of the week (Sept. 22-28) Mark Wright, Football
The week: Wright continued his impressive season, as he threw for 194 yards and three touch- Wright downs while rushing for 121 yards and another score. That helped the top-ranked Blue Dragons beat Butler 35-27. The season: Wright, a transfer from Ellsworth, has thrown for 903 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Brawl mars end of game Photo by Nathan Addis/HutchCC Sports Infromation Mark Wright runs for a first down in the Blue Dragons’ win against Butler on Saturday.
Online Editor
Making it Wright
By Bailey Pennycuff Co-Sports Editor
An obvious influential player for Hutchinson Community College on Saturday’s game was sophomore quarterback Mark Wright. Saturday was an intense matchup between the highest-ranked teams in the NJCAA, and Hutch maintained the No. 1 ranking. The Blue Dragons faced No. 2 Butler on Saturday at Gowans Stadium, resulting in a 35-27 win. Throughout the intense football game, Wright achieved a total of 330 yards, 195 of which were passing, and 135 yards rushing. Wright helped the team in different ways as well, ways in which many fans may not even notice. “He made it easier on us because Butler’s defense had
to watch out for him, by him scrambling around and making things happen,” sophomore defensive linemen Latrell Bankston said of Wright. Wright looks out for his teammates, doing anything he can to make their jobs easier. The better his throws Wright are, the easier it is to catch. He knew his defense needed help in the second half of the game. “Mark puts it on the money and we just go try to make a play. He’s a good quarterback because he has legs and has a good arm. He’s pretty accurate too,” sophomore wide receiver Mitchell Tinsley said. The Blue Dragons had a strong start on Saturday. Going into the second quarter, the
score was 21-0. “We really wanted to have some explosive plays to start the game off and I think it was very important that we did,” Wright said. “We came out swinging and they didn’t respond well. I think without us coming out swinging, the outcome of the game would have been different.” Wright proved he is a player who makes things happen. He had one rushing touchdown and was only sacked one time by the second-ranked defense in the nation. Over the last two years, Wright’s football career has been interesting. He started his freshman year at Ellsworth Community College in Iowa. However, the bumpy road started before his college career. “I missed my whole senior year of high school because of injury,” Wright said. “Then,
going from a community college who went like 1-9, and now I’m at the No. 1 JUCO in the country ... it’s just been an up-anddown ride.” Although his career has had rocky points, obviously the positive points have shined through. “Transitioning from Ellsworth to Hutch has been pretty smooth thanks to the coaches and players on our team, welcoming me in with warm arms,” Wright said. Hutch has felt like the place where Wright fits in, and he knows how challenging it is to compete in such an intense football team. “When I got here, the program was just ran different. Different than any other program in the conference, or any JUCO. No disrespect to Ellsworth, but we just hold each other account See Wright, Page 5
Defense making bank with Latrell By Adam Kolb Co-Sports Editor
In big games, there are always a couple of players that make a difference. On Saturday at Gowans Stadium, in top-ranked Hutchinson Community College’s 35-27 win against No. 2 Butler, Latrell Bankston was one of those players. He registered seven tackles and two quarterback sacks.
While Bankston himself had a good game, so did the defense as a whole. “We feel like we have the best run defense,” Bankston said. The stats are there to prove that. The defense held Butler to 69 rushing yards the entire game in 42 attempts. That averages out to be 1.6 yards gained per rush. The defense against the pass allowed 339 yards on 20
completions out of 39 attempts for the Grizzlies. Overall, the defense allowed 408 total yards on 81 plays. The Blue Dragons, by contrast, accumulated 407 yards on 13 fewer plays. The importance of the “Red Storm Game” was immense, and Latrell came to play. “All four quarters were really intense,” Bankston said. “This is what we live for.”
The two sacks he had were in the fourth quarter, during Butler’s final drive, and helped seal the win for the Blue Dragons. Overall, Bankston has nine total sacks on the season. He’s also averaging 4.8 tackles a game and has 19 tackles. In those final plays of the game, Blue Dragons coach Rion Rhoades said to his defensive lineman, “I need you here.” Rhoades puts a lot
By Bailey Young
of trust in Bankston to make big plays when it matters most. After the hype of the game on Saturday, the Blue Dragons can now focus on the rest of the season. The next game will be on Saturday at Highland Community College, where Bankston and the Blue Dragons will try to keep this unbeaten streak and top-ranking alive.
The Hutchinson Community College football team defeated the Butler Grizzlies Saturday at Gowans Stadium. However, that’s not what some people remember from their time in the stadium, or watching the game online. Post-game tensions rose as both teams got physical and started throwing punches and swinging helmets. Although video does not make it conclusive as to who started the fight, video suggests that tempers boiled over after Butler’s Rhett Weidenbacher took a swing at Hutchinson’s Kirmari Gainous. In a statement from Hutchinson Community College’s athletic department, Josh Gooch, HutchCC athletic director said, “Hutchinson Community College Football had a great team win Saturday at Gowans Stadium over Butler Community College. It was a hard-fought game with a great atmosphere. The unfortunate incident at the conclusion of the game is still being reviewed. We are working with the KJCCC and NJCAA offices to resolve this matter. Thank you to all the students and community members for their support.” Suspensions from the Jayhawk Conference are likely for players who can be identified in video throwing punches or swinging helmets. Last season, Garden City and Independence had a similar postgame fight, as documented on the Netflix show “Last Chance U.”
Blue Dragon sports schedules, results. All home games, events in caps. Cross country
Aug. 30, TERRY MASTERSON TWILIGHT Sept. 21, at Missouri Southern Stampede Sept. 28, at Emporia State Oct. 12, at Fort Hays State Oct. 26, Region 6 Championships, 11 a.m. Nov. 9, at NJCAA Championships
Football
Aug, 22, at Ellsworth, W 41-16 Aug. 31, INDEPENDENCE, W 31-21 Sept. 7, at Iowa Western, W 34-27 Sept. 14, at Fort Scott, W 27-7
Sept. 28, BUTLER, W 35-27 Oct. 5, at Highland, 1 p.m. Oct. 12, COFFEYVILLE, noon Oct. 19, DODGE CITY, noon Oct. 24, RPA, 7 p.m. Nov. 2, at Garden City, 1 p.m. Nov. 9, at Iowa Central, noon
Golf
Sept. 8-10, at Ryan Palmer Classic Sept. 23-24, at Missouri Southern Classic Sept. 30-Oct. 1, at Newman University Classic Oct. 21-22, at Park University Classic Oct. 30-Nov. 1, at NJCAA National
Preview
Soccer
Aug. 22, TRINIDAD ST., W 4-0 Aug. 24, INDIAN HILLS, L 1-0 Aug. 30, REDLANDS, W 13-0 Sept. 7, at Barton, W 2-0 Sept. 11, at Garden City, W 2-0 Sept. 14, HESSTON, W 19-0 Sept. 18, at Dodge City, W 3-0 Sept. 21, PRATT, W 5-0 Sept. 25, at Cloud County, L 2-1 Oct. 2, BARTON, W 2-0 Oct. 5, GARDEN CITY, 6 p.m. Oct. 9, at Hesston, 5 p.m. Oct. 12, DODGE CITY, 6 p.m. Oct. 16, at Pratt, 3 p.m. Oct. 19, CLOUD COUNTY, 6 p.m.
Volleyball
Aug. 23, vs. Pima, L 3-0 Aug. 23, at New Mexico Military, L 3-1 Aug. 24, vs. South Mountain, W 3-1 Aug. 24, vs. Odessa, L 3-1 Aug. 30, DODGE CITY, W 3-0 Sept. 2, GARDEN CITY, W 3-0 Sept. 7, SEWARD COUNTY, L 3-0 Sept. 11, at Pratt, W 3-2 Sept. 16, BARTON, L 3-2 Sept. 18, at Colby, L 3-1 Sept. 20, NAVARRO, L 3-0 Sept. 20, JEFFERSON, L 3-1 Sept. 21, MINERAL AREA, W 3-0 Sept. 21, INDIAN HILLS, W 3-2 Sept. 23, at Butler, L 3-0 Sept. 25, at Independence, W 3-0
Sept. 27, vs. Missouri State-West Plains, W 3-0 Sept. 27, at Tyler, Texas, L 3-0 Sept. 28, vs. Panola, Texas, L 3-0 Oct. 1, at Dodge City, W 3-0 Oct. 7, PRATT, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 9, at Seward County, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 11, vs. Jefferson, 2 p.m. Oct. 11, vs. Tyler, 4 p.m. Oct. 12, vs. Indian Hills, noon Oct. 12, at Missouri State-West Plains, 6 p.m. Oct. 16, COLBY, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 19, at Garden City, 6 p.m. Oct. 23, BUTLER, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 26, INDEPENDENCE, 2 p.m. Oct. 28, at Barton, 6:30 p.m.