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DEFENDING
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THURSDAY Feb. 10, 2022 Volume 126 Issue 21
Fresh off the softball program’s first AAC regular season and tournament championship last spring, the Shockers look to repeat with increased expectations. For full coverage and the softball preview flip to pages 7-10.
Softball prepares to defend AAC title BY RACHEL RUDISILL rtrudisill@shockers.wichita.edu
The Shockers are heading into the 2022 season with an enormous target on their backs as they are predicted to be the conference winners. “We’ve got a pretty big target and you know this team knows it,” Bredbenner said. “I think last year was a special year and what
we’ve got to figure out is how to put together our own special year because it’s a new year.” Overall, the Shockers went 41-13-1 and 18-5-1 in the conference season. They were undefeated in the American Athletic Conference Championship and went 2-2 in the Norman Regional. The Shockers were ranked 25th in the rpi poll above and were ranked first in their conference.
“We’ve got a bunch of girls that are working hard every single day and understand that target’s getting bigger and bigger.”
- Kristi Bredbenner
“We’ve got some people that were obviously big losses for our
program last year that people are gonna have to step in and fill, but we’ve got a bunch of girls that are working hard every single day and understand that target’s getting bigger and bigger with the more national publicity that we’re getting and I haven’t seen a lot of fear in them,” Bredbenner said. “I’ve seen excitement and they’re wanting to pave their own way and show that they can be just as good
as the team last year, but it’s going to take us a little time.” The Shockers lost a lot of big players including Kaylee Hucker and Madison Perrigan. The starting lineup is not set for the season. In and out of practice, each athlete is working to earn their spot on the starting lineup. “I think the biggest thing for our program is the experience SEE AAC PAGE 10
Applications open for six different SGA scholarships BY MELANIE RIVERA mxrivera-cortez@shockers.wichita.edu
Scholarships are the way to a student’s heart. Wichita State’s Student Government Association offers six scholarships to students who are in need of financial assistance. SGA offers six different scholarships and the International Student Hardship Fund. Students who look over applications are chosen through a committee and host interviews to see who is the best candidate for each scholarship “Depending on the scholarship we have different committees, the Budget of Finance committee looks after some scholarships, I myself, along with our Director of Public Relations as well as others,” SGA Treasurer Zachary James said. The International Student Hardship Fund is different from the other scholarships because it is catered towards international students who are going through financial difficulties. They will receive a one-time award, which will not exceed $1,000. Some scholarships, like the SGA & SLB Dreamers Scholarship, are put together collaboratively between SGA and Sigma Lambda Beta. “For our Dreamer scholarship, that’s a committee made up of myself, our Director of Public Relations, the Chapter president for Sigma Lambda Beta, their treasure, as well as our advisors,” James said. SGA can receive anywhere from $1,000 to $6,000 for the Dreamer Scholarship. Depending on the information they receive from applicants, they can divide the money to do two $3,000 scholarships each or six $1,000 scholarships. The Dreamer Scholarship is opened to every student, with priority going to undocumented and DACA-affiliated recipients. The SGA McKinney-Vento
Scholarship is open to students who qualify under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Act. This scholarship is designed to assist students who are homeless and are struggling financially. The James J. Rhatigan Leadership Scholarships is open to students who hold a leadership position, have leadership qualities or skills and can maintain a 3.0 GPA throughout the time that they have the scholarship. The Endowed Scholarship, Summer-Endowed Scholarship, and the International Student Scholarship are all need-based scholarships. “By awarding these scholarships, we’re doing as much as we can to give back to the student body to ensure that our students are able to get an education and not worry about paying for books or paying for a meal plan,” James said. “We as students, we know that paying for college is not easy,” James said. James said that SGA should be doing their part to give back to students as the highest ranking organization on campus. “We know that every student deserves an education, whether or not they can afford it,” James said. SGA receives money for these scholarships mainly from student fees and the Equal Opportunity Fund. “Most of the money from these scholarships come from student fees anyway, so essentially we are giving back and taking from the students to give back to the students,” James said. Applications for SGA Scholarships are due March 14, by 5:00 p.m.. “There is no harm in applying for a scholarship,” James said.“Better to apply and know, than to not apply and wonder what could have been.”
President Rick Muma gives a speech at the announcement event for the scholarships on Feb. 9, 2022. He thanked Sondra Langel, widow of Dick Smith, for her families generosity. | Photo by Monique Gaines / The Sunflower
Late Richard Smith gifts $11 million to KU and Wichita State for scholarships BY JULIA NIGHTENGALE news@thesunflower.com
Wichita State was gifted the sixth largest endowment in WSU’s history, in the amount of $5.5 million from the late Richard ‘Dick’ Smith. The money will be put toward full-ride scholarships for underserved, undergraduate students of any major. Smith, founder of Range Oil Co., died on January 21 at the age of 87 and left behind an estate gift of over $11 million split between KU and Wichita State. “Dick specified that the scholarships at both institutions cover all expenses related to college,” Elizabeth King, president and CEO of the Wichita State University Foundation, said. “So it’s tuition, fees, books, housing. These full ride scholarships are considered among the most prestigious a university can award.” King, who knew Smith for
decades, said that she remembers him telling her about being interested in dating Sondra Langel, his widow. She said he admired her dedication to volunteerism and supporting the community. Langel opened up her speech with a quote from Joseph Condrad, his favorite author. “These are the words of Joseph Conrad, his favorite author,” Langel said. “His books were with us wherever we went. I tell you some things because I think students who will benefit from these scholarships will never know the man he was, and he was a man worth knowing.” Langel described how he was a well educated man whose opinion was valued by others. He didn’t tell jokes, but had a knack for seeing the silliness and irony in everyday things. “Dick believed a college education could have an incomparable impact on the direction a child’s
life could take,” Langel said. “His family and friends join in celebrating the opportunities these scholarships will create for thousands of young Kansas students.” Rick Muma, president of WSU, thanked Langel for her family’s generosity and support to the universities, and discussed the benefit to Kansas families. “When we give people access to affordable higher education, when we open that window of opportunity for them, our students’ achievements and successes are remarkable and limitless,” Muma said. As the event ended, King said that investing in future generations is essential, and this gift does just that. “I have been dying to say this, we have an expression here at Wichita State, I’m just gonna adapt it a little bit. It is a great day to be a Jayhawk, it’s a great day to be a Shocker,” King said.
2 | THURSDAY, FEB. 10, 2022
NEWS
This week’s news in brief BY LINDSAY SMITH
STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION ELECTIONS OPEN The 2022 general election season has officially begun for Wichita State’s Student Government Association. Students who are interested in running for a position must declare their candidacy by 11:59 p.m. on March 2. All senate seats are open as well as the president and vice president positions. Students running for senate seats run independently and those running for the presidential spots must be on a ticket. To be a part of SGA students must either be elected to positions or be appointed later in the session.
WRITER LAWRENCE ROSS TO SPEAK AT WSU TODAY A wet floor sign in Elliott Hall. | Rachel Rudisill / The Sunflower
One mess at a time: Custodian is passionate to serve others BY SASCHA HARVEY saschaharvey68@gmail.com
Catherine Childs, a custodian at WSU for 22 years, has always approached the job with a positive perspective. Childs, who is better known as Cathy or for her red hair, worked at a hospital in Winfield, Kansas when a WSU supervisor told her to apply for the position. Childs got the job in 1999, and has been an important asset to the custodial team ever since. On a normal day, Childs works to clean and take care of an assigned building. After her assignment is taken care of, she and the rest of the team take care of any custodial problems that may arise, however intimidating the issue may be. “This is a difficult job,” Director of Custodial Services David Gomez said. “[Childs] never complains ... She always has a good attitude. If there’s a terrible mess somewhere, she goes with a
sense of purpose … and cleans it up without complaint.” Childs applies this “can-do” attitude to more than her cleaning habits, though. Her favorite part of her job is the connections she gets to make. “The best part for me is [that] I get a chance to interact with a lot of people,” she said. “It’s the relationships that you form and the services that you provide.” In one case, a car approached her on campus and the driver revealed that they were lost. After explaining their destination, Childs was able to help. “‘Follow me in my vehicle, I will lead you right to it,’” Childs said, recounting the event. “It’s those kinds of interactions that you really look forward to. You’re actually able to help somebody that may not be familiar with the WSU community.” Childs is diligent in maintaining a positive relationship with everyone around her. “Everyone has great things to
say about her,” Gomez said. “It’s a job like any other job. Sometimes people complain about a coworker but I’ve never had anybody say anything negative about her.” Childs recalls a service call in which a basement had been completely flooded after a rainstorm. She was able to stay positive, though, laughing with her coworkers. “I remember that we were constantly sitting there saying, ‘well, my shoes are wet. Oh, my socks are wet,’” she said. “By the time we had gotten done cleaning, the floor was dry but a lot of us went home with some wet socks.” Although some may think that working as a janitor is without reward, the positive interactions with others are what make the messes worthwhile for Childs. “You know going home that you’re providing a safe and clean environment,” she said.
Five-year Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Plan put in place to help diversify campus BY JACINDA HALL jahall@shockers.wichita.edu
The university has developed a plan that includes prioritizing diversity hires, implicit bias training and focusing on student centeredness to create a culture that meets the needs of students, faculty and staff. WSU launched the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Plan on Dec. 8, 2021. This plan was put in place to help diversify WSU’s campus. The plan helps the university know how many students and faculty of color they have. It also meets the guidelines for sexual harrassment and workplace bullying. “It’s all wrapped up into one big plan,” Marche Fleming-Randle, Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer said. “We’re just trying to make sure that everyone is on the same sheet of music about it.” Fleming-Randle said she feels the university is moving in the right direction, after taking a while to get to this point. “I’ve been here since 2007
and we are just now moving that needle,” she said. “It’s moving slow but it’s moving.” She has also mentioned that the change in leadership, the pandemic and the shortage of teachers put a delay on the bill. “With the new leadership that we have, we’re in the right direction,” she said “Previous leadership was not supportive and [the] pandemic came that took away a lot of trying to recruit and retain [teachers] and do some things.” The plan is set up as a five-year plan, but Fleming-Randle said it would be expanded in the future. “Once you do the five-year plan we get everything order and [is] lined with the pillars of strategic planning, lined with the pillar of the university’s mission and vision, then you’ll want to continue to have that for years to come so all you’ll want to do is add to the document,” she said. “If we don’t have a plan in place, we can look for self-destruction down the line.” Before the university looks into expanding the bill, FlemingRandle said they need to work
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with what they have and focus on what the university needs. Fleming-Randle wants students and faculty to know that the university is trying to make a change. “Diversity is everybody’s business,” she said. “The reason why it’s important is because it wasn’t billed overnight but it sure was destroyed in one day.” Fleming-Randle mentioned that the bill is on the WSU website for the public to see. “I need everybody to get on that website and take a look,” she said. “Your voice matters.” The bill also received input from the Student Government Association. “SGA was very instrumental in us making sure that there was mandatory sexual harrassment training,” She said. “They helped push that wagon to get it to where we needed it to be.” For more information on the DEI plan, go to https://www. wichita.edu/administration/dei/ index.php
Author and lecturer Lawrence Ross will speak at Wichita State in the Rhatigan Student Center Ballroom on Thursday, Sept. 9 at 6 p.m. This event is a part of WSU’s Black History Month celebrations. It is sponsored by WSU Academic Affairs and the Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer. Ross is the author of the bestsellers, “The Divine Nine” and “Blackballed: The Black and White Politics of Race of America’s Campuses.” He has visited over 200 schools and asks the same question: “Students are ready to talk about campus racism. Are you?”
WSUPD COLLECTING DONATIONS FOR SHOCKER SUPPORT LOCKER THROUGH FEBRUARY The WSU police department will be collecting donations from faculty, staff and students throughout the entire month of February. Individuals can either drop off their donations to the police department’s campus location or they can call and have the donations picked up. The department is accepting canned food, dry food and hygiene products.
SGA appoints three new supreme court justices BY LINDSAY SMITH editor@thesunflower.com / @Lindsay_ KSmith
The Student Government Association appointed three new supreme court justices at their meeting Wednesday evening. Garett Butler is a junior majoring in business management and minoring in philosophy. He said one of his initial reasons for applying was to get more involved on campus. “I saw some of the things that happened last semester in the supreme court and realized how crucially important it is,” Butler said. SGA President Rija Khan said that Butler showed all of the needed qualities to be a supreme court justice. “In his interview he demonstrated qualities of being knowledgeable, confident and passionate about the supreme court and he has been one of those nominees that I would say I would learn from about the supreme court,” Rija Khan His goal is to treat people with dignity. “I believe that everyone has dignity and they should have dignity under the law, no matter what group they are a part of,” Butler said. “I want to make sure fellow students are treated with that dignity and that everyone has a fair shake when they’re having their case heard.” His appointment was approved by 27 in favor, six against and one
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abstention. Hanna Mannani is a freshman with an undecided major. In high school, Mannani was involved in debate and forensics. “I know there is a big difference between the pressure put on a debate judge and the pressure put on a supreme court representative, but seeing that they are kind of similar I know this won’t be an extremely new experience for me,” Mannani said. “I’m ready for the pressure.” Khan described Mannani as integral, eager to learn and open-minded. The motion passed with 28 in favor and six against. Trinity Sickles is a freshman majoring in criminal justice and minoring in psychology. Khan said she was confident in the appointment because of Sickle’s dedication to learn more. “She showed qualities of being an unbiased decision maker, having compassion and being a good communicator,” Khan said. Sickles said it’s important for her to keep up to date with what’s happening in society. “I have a very strong interest in the supreme court as well as politics … [and] student government, I spent some time learning about student government last semester … we touched base on some of the issues that were happening,” Sickles said. The bill passed with 16 in favor, 12 against and one abstention.
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Arts & Entertainment Affordable and fun Valentine ideas for all
HAVE A STORY IDEA? contact The Sunflower’s A&E editor, Kyran Crist arts@thesunflower.com
Ultimate Guide to Knitting and Crocheting
Sunflower reporter Jacinda Hall is a self-taught knitter and crocheter. | Photo illustration by Jacinda Hall / The Sunflower
BY JACINDA HALL jahall@shockers.wichita.edu
Illustration by Wren Johnson / The Sunflower
BY EMMIE BOESE opinion@thesunflower.com
Love, chocolate hearts, teddy bears and flowers galore – yes it’s all in the air as the beloved (or dreaded) holiday fast approaches. Due to this being a popular holiday in the United States, some people will still take the day to show and express how much they love and care for those in their life even if it’s not a significant other. Some may be hesitant to celebrate Valentine’s Day because they may not know how they can celebrate it without a significant other or a date, or because they don’t want to spend a lot of money and go all out. Valentine’s Day has always been a special holiday in my family. In the past I have been single on Valentine’s Day quite often. However, my family still took the time to show love to each member of the family. For example – my dad usually buys me a teddy
bear and a box of chocolates. Sometimes, he sends me money to get my nails done as a gift. I often clean something for my parents or make them a card on Valentine’s Day to show how much I care about them. Also, I’ve baked cookies for friends or enjoyed a movie night with them to celebrate our friendship. The holiday can be celebrated in many ways: single, taken, broke or wealthy. In the Wichita area, there are many options to choose from when it comes to celebrating Valentines Day. There are options for couples and singles. Some options to celebrate Valentine’s Day as a single person could be staying in and playing a valentines version of secret santa with your friends or family and putting a limit such as $15 on gifts. If you would like to stay in with your significant other for a date, cookie and cupcake decorating is an alternative for sweets instead of going out and buying expensive
chocolate. Another idea for staying in could be buying a few budget friendly gifts for your date and then doing a scavenger hunt around the house. Opting for the expensive dinner prices is also another option for going out. One idea could be going somewhere like Dave and Busters and playing arcade games. The cheapest option to play is purchasing 75 chips for $15. However, “The Arcade” in Old Town is cheaper if you are looking for something more affordable. “The Arcade” features games from the 80s and 90s. In order to play, all you have to do is pay $10 for an unlimited amount of games played and each arcade game is on free play. At the end of the day, the holiday is to be celebrated in whatever way is special to each individual. It is simply a day to be able to express how much you love and care for the people in your life.
Many of us may think that knitting and crocheting is usually something that our grandmas like to do. But, thanks to the pandemic and quarantine, many people have taken up the craft and created several things with it. I am a self-taught knitter and crocheter. I have been crocheting and knitting since I was in middle school and got started by watching YouTube videos and reading books. If you are interested in starting knitting, crocheting or both, here’s a pocket guide on how you can get started.
TIP 1: START SMALL The best way to get started is to start small. When I first started crocheting, I started out by making accessories for Barbie dolls and making stuffed animals. If wanting to make garments, start out by making scarves or hats for yourself. Making these will help get used to the technique of knitting or crocheting and then experiment with different types of yarn with these projects.
TIP 2: PLAN AHEAD
It’s better to be safe than sorry
when it comes to knitting and crocheting. Since I have started making more garments recently, I have realized that it is better to plan ahead. This means that if you need to buy an extra thing of yarn of the same color you’re using for a garment, go for it. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck with an unfinished product if your local craft store runs out of the color you are using.
TIP 3: MEASURE
This is huge when it comes to making garments. Measure out your size. If you don’t, your garment will come out too big or too small. One way you can measure your garment size is to use a garment for reference. For example, if you wear a size extralarge in shirts, you can use a sweater you already have for your measurements
TIP 4: GET CREATIVE
The last tip I want to leave with is get creative. Look up tutorials on YouTube for help and references and put your own twist on it. Whether that would be changing up the colors on the stuffed animal or adding a design to the garment. Whatever suits you. The beauty of the craft is that it allows you to be creative and create your own style.
Record store showcases strong music selections for music lovers
The new and rarities vinyl collection is featured at the front of Spektrum Muzik. On Feb. 7 Rumors by Fleetwood Mac and Dolly Parton’s Greatest Hits were two of the most popular featured records. | Photo by Emmie Boese / The Sunflower
BY EMMIE BOESE opinion@thesunflower.com
Time travel exists at Spektrum Muzik. Reminiscing an old rock record – or picking up the ear crackling sound of a Kaey Musgraves vinyl – is like traveling back in time at Spektrum Muzik. I received a record player from my close friend a couple of years ago. The record player belonged to his late grandfather. With the record player came an abundance of vinyl records from different time periods and genres - including an original record from Def Leppard’s Pyromania album from 1983. Soon after receiving my first record player, my friend suggested I go to Spektrum Muzik, located
at 905 W. Douglass in the Delano District of downtown Wichita. At Spektrum, there are tons of records in several different genres, including, country, bluegrass, pop, hip-hop, rock and roll, metal, psychedelic rock, gospel, musical and movie soundtracks, etc. Records can either be purchased new or used. Spektrum has a large selection of used records which account for records from the original era it was recorded in. The store also sells mini vinyl records, used CD’s, cassette tapes, band T-shirts, record players and other band memorabilia. One of the neatest aspects of Spektrum is that they collect vinyls, cassettes and CD’s that are sold through a buy, sell and trade process.
Some of my favorite records I have purchased from Spektrum include Dolly Parton’s greatest hits, Love Gun by Kiss from 1977 and Off the Wall by Michael Jackson from 1979. However, as a country fan, I was disappointed about the small selection of records to choose from in that genre. To sell records at Spektrum, bring them into the store, or – call a store associate and have them come to pick up the collection. I would give Spektrum Muzik an 8/10 rating. The store has a unique setting and plenty of options to choose from between old and new records. However, there is only a small collection to choose from in the used Country genre.
Spektrum Muzik is located in the Dleano District of Downtwon Wichita. Many bussinesses in the Delano District are owned by local bussiness owners. in the Delano District are owned by local bussiness owners. | Photo by Emmie Boese / The Sunflower
In the front of Spektrum Muzik items such as letters, drawings and photographs are hung in a featured section. The belongings were found inside of the record sleeves when employees looked though the records -- after they purchased the records | Photo by Emmie Boese / The Sunflower
4 | THURSDAY, FEB. 10, 2022
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Opinion Street
HAVE AN OPINION?
contact The Sunflower’s opinion editor, Emmie Boese opinion@thesunflower.com
The Rhatigan Student Center should accept gift cards
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE VALENTINE’S DAY ACTIVITY?
TAYLOR TERPSTRA SENIOR, PSYCHOLOGY
“Either eating chocolate covered strawberries becuase they are yummy or cuddling with my signifcant other if I happen to have one.”
The Rhaitgan Student Center on Wednesday, Feb. 9 2022.| Photo by Emmie Boese / The Sunflower
Piper Pinetti Columnist piperpinnetti12@gmail.com
CLARENCE ALBURY GRADUATE STUDENT, CREATIVE WRITING
“What I do on Valentine’s Day is I do what everybody else do by treating myself. I go to lunch. I wine. I eat chocolate. I do all this for myself. I don’t want to be a party pooper or a downer on a day that’s supposed to represent love.”
My mornings begin with a grande iced matcha latte with sweet cream cold foam from Starbucks. Feeding my caffeine addiction brings me joy every morning and drains my bank account. I have dining dollars like a
The Winter Olympics are fascinating Melanie Rivera Columnist mrivera1047@gmail.com
ABIGAIL WEIHE SOPHOMORE, BIOCHEMISTRY
“I really enjoy baking like sweets to give to people, especially cookies. I just think that it’s nicer than giving a bought gift becuase it’s effort.”
ROBEL YOHANES JUNIOR, CHEMISTRY & PRE-MED
“I just like to go out on a date with my girlfriend, go to a restarunt and eat. Our favorite place is the italian restaurant pizza place on Rock Road and 21st.”
lot of other freshmen, but I try not to use those all at once because I’ll need them all semester. This past winter break, my family gave me gift cards to make sure I am eating enough and saving my money. I have about $75 for Starbucks, $25 for Freddy’s and $15 for Chick fil A. When I went to the Rhatigan Student Center at the beginning of the semester, I put on makeup and got dressed in my outfit for the day and went to get my daily caffeine.
Beijing is the home to the 2022 Winter Olympics. The games kicked off on Friday, Feb. 4 and will end on Sunday, Feb. 20. The athletes that participate in these games seem to be stronger athletes due to the fact that they train in the cold. The Winter Olympics highlight the idea of a completely different lifestyle. These athletes thrive in the cold, something that I know I definitely do not like. They cannot simply train wherever they would like or on any given day unless they live where there are cold temperatures — or access to snow and ice. The skeleton event, for example, is a sport where the athlete lays face down on a winter sled and goes down a winding and narrow frozen track. This is not me saying that I like the Winter Olympics more than the Summer Olympics, or that the summer olympians are less by any means. The Winter Olympics are underrated in the United States. Less and less Americans are watching the events. The opening day of the Beijing Winter Olympics only drew out 16 million viewers in the United States on television and
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streaming platforms. According to the Wall Street Journal, this is a 43% drop since the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. The Winter Olympics showcase sports that many did not know existed, such as curling, which was popular in the 2018 games. An advantage of watching the winter games is the idea that anyone can win since they are more unpredictable. These games give off a level of excitement that is borderline dangerous and keeps us at the edge of our seats. For example, watching Nordic Combined gives me anxiety due to the level of speeding and jumping without holding on to anything. The Winter Olympics of 1994 involved one of the biggest rivalries in sports and pop culture. The Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan scandal brought figure skating into the homes of many Americans. Regardless of if you watch these sports or don’t watch them at all, these athletes should be celebrated. They have worked hard to get to where they are at- to represent their names and their countries. They share inspiring stories that may bring out a tear or two. I encourage you to watch at least one of the events in the Winter 2022 Olympics that you have not heard of. It may surprise you.
In efforts to save some of my money, I planned to pay with my gift cards from Christmas. After I ordered my usual, I pulled out one of my gift cards and was ready to pay. The young woman taking my order informed me that the RSC does not accept gift cards. I was surprised and frustrated. I posted a poll on my personal Instagram and asked students a few questions. I asked how many people received gift cards to use at the RSC. Out of 114 responses, 43
percent responded yes. A majority of the participants received gift cards to Chick-fil-A and Starbucks. Sophomore Annah Turner is in her final year of school for elementary education with a minor in sign language. Turner tried to use a Starbucks gift card in the RSC to pay for her order and was turned down. “I don’t understand why they let us use dining dollars and our debit cards but not giftcards,” Turner said. “I ended up using it at a completely different location because I figured I’d get rejected again if I tried in the RSC.” The never ending loop of investing money into university tuition and trying to afford to eat is draining the little money college kids are scraping up. Between all of the extra expenses and bills college students must balance while keeping up with their studies, gift cards are the best present option for holidays. It allows them to save their money while still getting items they want or need. Although dining dollars do help save money, not every student can afford to have them in their meal plan. Allowing the use of gift cards would help students significantly. When using a gift card as a payment, a student is more likely to go and get food rather than starve because they cannot afford to get food at the time.
THE COURAGE TO COPE WITH FEAR IS AN IMPORTANT SKILL Emmie Boese Opinion Editor opinion@thesunflower.com
Confidence will replace the absence of fear — or so I thought, until that life-changing doctor’s appointment. The absence of fear most definitely was not something I felt after being told I have a mental health condition.
“I am confident that the fear I face as a journalist is only going to make me a stronger journalist.” Fear is scary. Fear can be dangerous. Fear can determine your future. These statements are all true. However, being fearful does not mean you lack confidence and it does not mean you cannot be a successful person. Fear is a powerful emotion that many of us face daily. Fear is an emotion but it is not a character trait. I have been criticized by many for feeling more fearful than others about landing a job interview, getting a good grade on an assignment or landing the internship I wanted. This can come off as an unattractive quality in today’s society. However, I pride myself in feeling fearful because having some fear can be healthy. It shows that I care about my goals in life.
Having a “healthy” fear helps me build character. Having healthy fears gives me good instincts about situations that scare me, but that will push me and still “keep me safe.” For example, journalism has given me a depiction of healthy fear. I am often afraid to talk to others about a story. I am fearful about looking silly when I am covering a game or writing a column I am worried nobody else will care about. I am confident that the fear I face as a journalist is only going to make me a stronger journalist. Some of the fearful thoughts I have had about interviewing certain wpeople have turned out to be some of the most efficient interviews I have ever conducted. Hearing the word fear may sound scary but from the advice of a former teacher, you are not striving for more if you don’t do something that scares you a little. I was scared to apply for The Sunflower. I hadn’t written a story in about a year when I applied. I was scared that I may not be good enough for a staff full of writers that produced award winning work and have gone on to have successful careers in the communication field Knowing I have fear encourages me to have confidence in who I am as a person. Having confidence helps me cope with my fear. Do something that scares you a little and I promise you will not regret it.
SUNFLOWER HOT TAKES The Sunflower staff gives their one-sentence opinions.
Rachel Rudisill: If Andrew Garfield doesn’t win an Oscar we need to riot. Jacinda Hall: Twilight needed to up their vampire game and not their soundtrack. Emmie Boese: Yellowstone makes me want to become a cowgirl. Julia Nightengale: This is Us is the best show I have ever seen. Kyran Crist: Nick Miller is the average college student.
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Sports
HAVE A STORY IDEA? contact The Sunflower’s sports editor, Sean Marty sports@thesunflower.com
‘I can’t have bad days’
Sophomore Tyson Etienne looks to pass the ball around an SMU Mustangs opponent on Feb. 5. Etienne led the team with 10 points during the first half of the game. | Photo by Mia Hennen / The Sunflower
Men’s Basketball’s road struggles continue with loss to Central Florida BY SEAN MARTY sports@thesunflower.com
Junior Dexter Dennis gives a thumbs-up during the game against Tulsa on Feb. 1 inside Charles Koch Arena. | Photo by Sean Marty / The Sunflower
Dennis’ defensive effort and energy continues despite offensive struggles BY SEAN MARTY sports@thesunflower.com
From the moment Dexter Dennis stepped on Wichita State’s campus, he knew that defense would get him playing time. Now in his fourth year with the Shockers, that’s the main reason Dennis is on the court when it matters the most. Dennis is averaging 8.5 points per game — the worst mark since his freshman season — but his defense is at an all-time high. During Saturday’s win against SMU, Dennis limited SMU’s Kendric Davis to a season-low eight points on 1-7 shooting. His coaches and teammates said they know how important Dennis’ defense is to winning games and his work hasn’t gone unnoticed. “Just to hold a guy like Kendric Davis to eight points is a tremendous job,” head coach Isaac Brown said. “I think Dexter is definitely the AAC Defensive Player of the Year.”
“I can’t have bad days where I want to lose hope and throw in the towel because it would be real detrimental to the team. It’s a big responsibility but at the end of the day, it is what it is.
- Dexter Dennis
Dennis has put countless hours in the gym to break out of his worst shooting slump of his career. The Baker, Louisiana native is shooting 27.1% on three-pointers — his worst mark in his college career. When it comes to his offensive struggles, Dennis has a quick memory. He’s been able to “control the controllables” and compartmentalize his offensive performance with his defensive energy and effort. “Effort, energy and enthusiasm,” Dennis said after last Tuesday’s win against Tulsa. “That’s something you can always
Junior Dexter Dennis shoots from deep during the game against Tulsa on Feb. 1 inside Charles Koch Arena. | Photo by Sean Marty / The Sunflower
control, whether you’re having a good day or not. I try to bring that every day.” Dennis’ career has been marked by those three principles — which has transformed him into one the top Shocker defenders in recent years. WSU still has more work to do after their slow start in conference play, but the team views this recent two-game winning streak as progress. Dennis realizes how valuable his defense is to the team and how he still has more to give. “Sometimes (bad shooting) might affect me, but I can’t show it because I have a big role on defense on this team,” Dennis said. “I can’t have bad days where I want to lose hope and throw in the towel because it would be real detrimental to the team. It’s a big responsibility, but at the end of the day, it is what it is. I gotta do more, I still gotta do more.” No player has questioned his value in crunch time because of what Dennis brings on the defensive end. Freshman Ricky Council IV said he’s never seen his defensive effort be impacted by his offensive performance. “I can’t recall a game in the two years I’ve been here where he’s slacked off on defense,” Council said. “He’s usually guarding the best player and shutting them down every night.” Part of what makes Dennis successful on the defensive end is his unique size and athleticism. Early on in his Shocker career, Dennis
was known for his highlight reel dunks but he’s now utilizing that leaping ability to block shots at a high rate. He currently has a 3.9% block rate and has 21 blocks this season. Sophomore Tyson Etienne said he likes to go against Dennis in practice because of how tough he is to score on. “He’s an athletic, taller guard. He can move his feet,” Etienne said. “If you beat him with a counter move, he’s athletic enough to beat your second move. That’s really hard to score against. He just wants to play defense, he really wants to play hard.” Dennis delivered another solid defensive performance on Tuesday against UCF, switching on Darrin Green Jr. and Darius Perry. Both players struggled to create open looks against Dennis, shooting a combined 7-21 from downtown. The Shockers will need more defensive perfromances like Dennis has been delivering all season, as they continue their climb up the standings. “The month of February is always the month you need to get hot in because it’s going into the conference tournament, it’s the latter part of your season, you should be cleaning up all your mistakes and the guys are excited right now,” Brown said. “They’re playing with a lot of confidence, and we’ve got to be able to take that on the road in order to be successful.”
After rallying from a 16-point deficit in the second half, the Shockers fell short against Central Florida, 71-66 on Tuesday. The loss snaps a twogame winning streak, as WSU falls to 3-6 conference play. It was the first time that UCF beat the Shockers since WSU joined the AAC in 2017. Brandon Mahan led the charge with 19 points. The Shockers opened up the game on an 11-2 run, but the Knights outscored them 41-18 to close out the half. UCF’s lead grew to 16 points but Tyson Etienne led a second half comeback to keep WSU close. With WSU down by eight in the final minutes, Etienne nailed two triples to make it a one possession game. Etienne scored 17 of his 26 points after halftime and went 5-12 from beyond the arc. After a missed opportunity to tie the game, Mahan converted a tough and-one layup to push the game out of reach. Head coach Isaac Brown said prior to the game how important a road win for WSU would be. The Shockers are now 0-3 on the road in AAC and haven’t won away from home since Dec. 1 against Oklahoma State. “It would give us so much confidence to be able to go on the road and get a win,” Brown said. “We came close at Tulane. We didn’t finish the game. That would give our team a lot of confidence. “I think those guys are really starting to grow, they’re staying together, they’re trying to figure out how to win games by not turning the basketball over and continuing to take good shots, play the right way and they’ve done a good job of that. It would be huge for us to go on the road and get a win.” The Shockers finished the game shooting 41% from the field and 42% from deep. Dexter Dennis added 11 points and six rebounds, while Craig Porter tallied 14 points, six rebounds and five assists before fouling out in the final minute. WSU’s bench struggled in the contest, scoring a combined seven points. After scoring a career-high 31 points in the first meeting with UCF, Ricky Council IV was held to five points on 2-9 shooting. Council also turned it over twice. The loss comes after the Shockers’ best performance of the season on Saturday, defeating second place SMU. That
AAC STANDINGS 1. HOUSTON – (9-0) 2. SMU – (7-2) 3. TULANE – (7-4) T4. TEMPLE – (6-4) T4. MEMPHIS – (6-4) 6. CINCINNATI – (5-4) 7. UCF – (6-6) 8. WICHITA STATE – (3-6) 9. SOUTH FLORIDA – (2-7) 10. EAST CAROLINA – (2-8) 11. TULSA – (1-9) victory featured one of WSU’s best defensive performances this season. Shocker players noted how connected they felt at that end but that wasn’t the case on Tuesday. UCF shot 41% from the field and 38% from deep in the win. “It felt great to be out there and we just felt connected, all on the same point,” Council said after the win against SMU. “A couple times they just had to throw up something because they really had nothing else to do.” Entering Tuesday, the Shockers had built a double-digit lead over their opponent in six straight games but have struggled to finish off games. The Shockers are 3-3 in those games and UCF’s comeback win was another case of those struggles. The Shockers have placed an importance on finishing these games, but have still run into problems holding onto leads consistently. WSU felt that Saturday’s win was another step in the right direction in protecting these double-digit leads but took another step back on Tuesday. “We’ve learned enough from what we’ve been going through, it turned into wisdom and understanding,” Etienne said. “I believe that we are making a turn, those two games back to back where we had a nice little lead but now we had the wherewithal to protect it.” Up next, the Shockers return home for a matchup with South Florida on Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPNU.
6 | THURSDAY, FEB. 10, 2022
SPORTS
INDOOR DOMINANCE
Freshman Hudson Bailey competes in the long jump event. The track and field meet was held in the Heskett Center on Feb. 4 and 5. | Photo by Mia Hennen / The Sunflower
Track and Field wraps up home indoor season with Herm Wilson Invitational BY SEAN MARTY sports@thesunflower.com / @TheSeanMarty
Senior Michael Bryan practices throwing weights during the Herm Wilson Invitational on Feb. 4. | Photo by Mia Hennen / The Sunflower
The Shocker Track and Field program finished with an event winner in every field event during the Herm Wilson Invitational this past week. In the first day of the meet, Tanner Brown recorded a personal best in the high jump with two meters. Brown finished in fifth place in the penthalon after also recording a personal-best 12.81m/42-0.5 in the shot put. “It was really fun watching him jump,” head coach Steve Rainbolt said in a statement. “Right away in the warmup, it was evident that he was high jumping well. He’s a wonderful athlete, and he’s learning so much about all of these decathlon events.” In the women’s pentathlon, Anna Heacock was the lone Shocker to compete, placing fourth overall in the event. Heacock ran the fastest 60-meter hurdles race of the field with a time of 9.17. In day two of the event, the Shocker women performed well in the long jump, with WSU athletes playing in the top four spots. Maria Romero finished in first
Fred VanVleet selected to first All-Star Game
Women’s Basketball’s losing streak extends to three games
BY SEAN MARTY
BY RACHEL RUDISILL
sports@thesunflower.com / @TheSeanMarty
rtrudisill@shockers.wichita.edu
Former Shocker Fred VanVleet has been selected as an All-Star, it was announced by the NBA on Thursday. VanVleet becomes the second WSU alum to be selected, joining Xavier McDaniel, who made the 1989 All-Star Game. VanVleet is in the second year of $85 million contract — the highest ever for an undrafted player — and is enjoying a breakout season. In 44 games played, VanVleet is averaging a careerbest 21.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 7.0 assists. The 6’1 point guard is shooting 39.1% beyond the arc for the second-highest mark of his career. He’s also leading the league in time on court, averaging 38.6 minutes per game. VanVleet is just the fourth undrafted player to make an All-Star team, joining John Starks (1994), Ben Wallace (2003-06) and Brad Miller (2003-04). The All-Star Game will be held in Cleveland on Feb. 20 and will be broadcast on TNT.
The Wichita State’s women’s basketball team squandered an eight-point halftime deficit, falling to Tulsa, 65-58 on Sunday. The two programs first competed with each other in 1978 and the Shockers have won 21 of the 26 match-ups. The Shockers had won the last four matchups, but the Golden Hurricane earned their fourth victory over WSU, since they joined the American. The Shockers played with a strong defense against Tulsa. Tulsa lead the American league with three-point percentage, but WSU’s half court trap was effective in the first 20 minutes. Tulsa went 1-19 from deep, after entering the game shooting 40.7% on triples. The Shockers’ fast breaks, rebounds and patience with the ball earned them an eight-point lead, 30-22, at halftime. “Us being aggressive on defense is how we gotta play, so
with a jump of 5.47m/17-11.5. Semaj McGhee, Jalen Milligan and Nerea Quiros completed the sweep in the event. Michael Bryan launched a season-best 20.94m/68-8.5 to win the event at the men’s weight throw and placed in No. 25 in the nation. Brady Palen collected his second high jump win of the season after clearing 2.05m/6-8.75. Amanda Kakoulias picked up a win shot put with a throw of 13.84m/45-5, while McGhee was busy claiming the triple jump title with a leap of 11.41m/37-5.25. Margaux Thompson cleared two personal-best bars in the pole vault, winning the event with her 3.86m/12-8 clearance. On the track, Yazmine Wright entered her fifth WSU all-time top-10 list at No. 8 with a 9:36.62 in the 3,000 meters. Romero and Sydney Johnson recorded top-three finishes in the 60-meter hurdles and 60 meters, with Romero tying her personal-best time of 8.77 and Johnson racing a new PB 7.77. In the men’s 800 meters, Bryce Merriman and Britte Magnuson went 2-3 with new personal bests of 1:56.76 and 1:56.98.
Men’s Tennis falls to No. 22 OU BY SEAN MARTY sports@thesunflower.com / @TheSeanMarty
Nhug Busch Duran looks to pass during the game against Tulsa on Feb. 6 inside Charles Koch Arena. | Photo by Lena Alhallaq / The Sunflower
that was a positive,” head coach Keitha Adams said. Heading into the second half of the game, the Golden Hurricane’s adapted to the trap. TU’s Temira Poindexter went 2-2 on three-pointers at the start of the third quarter. On the other side of the court, WSU managed to go 0-2 from deep in the first five minutes into the half. “When we were patient, we were able to get the ball inside,” Adams said. “When we were patient we were able to drive, so it’s like we didn’t learn from
what was good in the first half.” Mariah McCully finished with nine points, while not reaching double figures for the second straight game. The Shockers shot 35.7% from the field as a team, but Asia Strong was a major bright spot offensively. The senior forward finished with a team-high 15 points on 5-7 shooting and 1-2 from downtown. Up next, the Shockers take on SMU on Saturday at 2 p.m. The game can be seen on ESPN+.
Kristof Minarik picked up a hard-fought win at No. 3 singles but No. 22 Oklahoma came away with a 6-1 win in Norman on Friday. WSU also falls to 0-2 in ranked matches this season. The Sooners started strong with wins at courts one and three to snag the doubles point. The Shocker duo of Nicolas Acevedo and Luka Mrsic lost their first doubles match of the season falling 6-4. Minarik and Richards were up 6-5 at No. 2 doubles when play was stopped, following the Sooners’ clinching doubles victory. OU went on to win five-straight singles matches in straight sets. At No. 3 singles, Minarik battled to a 7-6(1), 4-6, 1-0 (10-5) victory to finish the match on a positive for WSU. The rest of the Shockers lost in straight sets to conclude the match. Men’s tennis is back home next Friday at 1 p.m. to face Creighton (1-3). The Bluejays are fresh off their first win of the season against Grand Canyon on Saturday. The match will be held at Genesis Health Club.
SOFTBALL PREVIEW
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P L L A TB
W E I V RE
8 | THURSDAY, FEB. 10, 2022
SOFTBALL PREVIEW
‘She’s always prepared’ Composure helps sophomore shortstop prepare for upcoming season BY EMMIE BOESE elboese15@gmail.com
Receiving Hi-chews for home runs was something the softball team was known for last season. However, Sydney McKinney is well known for getting a lot of base hits, and a calm determined presence on the field while diving for ground balls. “The difference with Syd is that she’s always prepared,” Head Coach Kristi Bredbenner said. “She’s in great shape. She understands what it takes to be successful and do those things to sacrifice a lot to be the best” McKinney’s commitment to the softball program has led her to be one the top hitters in the nation. Last season, McKinney had 56 total runs, 31 RBI’s, seven home runs and only struck out four times. She was also named American Athletic Conference player of the year and NFCA Third Team All-American. Prior to the 2022 season, McKinney was named Softball American Preseason Third Team All-American. McKinney said the accolades she has received have boosted her confidence. However, she said it is not something that is used as a motivation to carry the team on her back this season. “I let it be what it is,” McKinney said. “I’m going to go out and I am going to play but if I have a good day or a bad day I’m still going to have a next game so I think just having that mindset of stick to
what you know and don’t overthink it is what I stick to.” McKinney’s confidence on the field has helped her build trust with the pitching staff as during her time in the softball program. Right handed pitcher Caitlin Bingham said playing with McKinney behind her makes it easier to focus on each pitch. “So I have become accustomed if there’s a ball that’s on my right side I’m letting it go because she’s going to get it and I think that that’s a huge part of the defense we have is I don’t have to worry about getting every ball because they are back there and their going to catch it,” Bingham said.
“The difference with Syd is that she’s always prepared. She’s in great shape. She understands what it takes to be successful.”
- Kristi Bredbenner
Prior to joining the softball program at Wichita State, McKinney started off her collegiate career at Mizzou. Zoe Jones, who is a transfer from Texas Tech this season, shares a similar college experience with McKinney due to being a transfer as well. “She’s so fun to play next to and it’s really easy,” Jones said. “It was easy to mesh with her because sometimes you never know how
CAREER ACCOLADES 2022 Softball America Preseason Third Team All American 2021 NFCA Third Team All-American 2021 Softball America Third Team All-American 2021 NFCA All-Central Region Second Team 2021 AAC All-Tournament Team 2021 American Player of the Year
Head Coach Kristi Bredbenner talks to sophomore Sydney McKinney during the game against Tulsa at last year’s AAC Tournament on May 14, 2021. | File Photo by Khanh Nguyen / The Sunflower
2021 First Team All-Conference you are going to play with a new team and stuff and she just made it really easy to learn the ways of Shocker softball and how things flow here. Especially being in the same grade it helps.” While some players are nervous to start the season off, McKinney said she’s still staying calm for the Shockers first series at the Bearkat Classic in Huntsville, Texas this week. “I mean even if I don’t start off the first game great that doesn’t mean that I can’t finish the weekend off great so I think that’s the best part about softball and those long weekends is that you get so many chances to show what you got,” McKinney said.
Wichita State sophomore Sydney McKinney looks over plays during the Regional Final game against OU on May 23, 2021. | File Photo by Khanh Nguyen / The Sunflower
SOFTBALL PREVIEW
THURSDAY, FEB. 10, 2022 | 9
Who’s replacing Perrigan? Filling in for Madison Perrigan will be ‘the biggest toss up’ for the Shockers BY RACHEL RUDISILL rtrudisill@shockers.wichita.edu
The question every Shocker fan has been asking since last summer is “Who will replace Madison Perrigan?” Perrigan was one of the biggest threats for the Shockers last season. Due to COVID, she was granted an extra year of eligibility as a fifth year senior for Shockers. “I think that (Perrigan) is probably one of the ones we miss the most,” head coach Kristi Bredbenner said. “Madison was behind the plate for five years. You just can’t replace, quickly, that type of leadership and experience, but the three girls are working hard.”
“That’s probably going to be the biggest toss up spot that you’re probably going to see the most fluctuation.”
- Kristi Bredbenner
Perrigan started all five years behind the plate at catcher for the Shockers. She stacked career honors during her time in the softball program. Perrigan was named as the Wichita State All Time Home run and RBI leader last season. She also picked up three American Athletic Conference (AAC) honors and made five all teams. Perrigan finished last season
with .297 batting average and also launched 21 home runs, with three coming in last year’s NCAA Tournament. “It’s definitely an area where we are going to be working out some kinks and figuring out what is going to be the best for us back there,” Head Coach Kristi Bredbenner said. The Shockers will have options to replace Perrigan, with Bredbenner naming Lainee Brown, Jessica Garcia and Cassie Passwaters as possible replacements. Brown and Garcia were both on the roster last spring, while Passwater is fresh on the roster after graduating high school in December. She joined the Shockers early in January to add more depth to the lineup. Garica brings the most experience to the lineup, after hitting .242 and starting five games last spring, while playing more in a utility role. “That’s probably going to be the biggest toss up spot that you’re probably going to see the most fluctuation,” Bredbenner said. “Laniee Brown, Jess Garcia, Cassie Passwaters, it’s a big one.” Bredbenner is yet to make a decision for the position but feels all three players can make an impact in different ways. “They all kind of bring different elements to the field, so we have to figure out which one is really gonna be the most important and make the biggest impact,” Bredbenner said.
Wichita State senior Madison Perrigan runs home during the game against Texas A&M in last season’s NCAA Tournament on May 21 in Norman, Oklahoma. | File Photo by Khanh Nguyen / The Sunflower
Bredbenner ready to build off last year’s success BY RACHEL RUDISILL rtrudisill@shockers.wichita.edu
Wichita State senior Caitlin Bingham throws a pitch during a game against Kansas on Sept. 25 inside Wilkins Stadium. | Photo by Sean Marty / The Sunflower
Bingham takes leadership role on Shocker pitching staff BY EMMIE BOESE elboese15@gmail.com
Caitlin Bingham had a goal in mind the minute she stepped on to campus. Her goal was to make herself a leader that can have an impact on others. Bingham is the President of the Wichita State Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for the 20212022 year. She is also a fifth year senior for the softball program. Bingham helped play a role in last season’s pitching staff during the regular season and postseason. After the graduation of American Athletic Conference Second Team pitcher Bailey Lange, Bingham and Erin McDonald are serving roles as upperclassman pitchers on the pitching staff. Bingham said each freshman pitcher on the roster this season has the ability to perform well in the circle. However, getting ready to throw against talented division one hitters is a different ball game. Bingham said having great hitters to throw at in practice has helped significantly for each of the freshmen. “I think that that is a really good way to prepare for that and to kind of give them this sense of you can
get anybody out,” Bingham said. “You can get an all American out, you can get anybody out. And I think that it’s the mindset training that we kind of have helped them with most.” Bingham said being a fifth year has forced her to think outside the box due to opponents seeing her pitch multiple times last season. “We’ve got something new to get you out just as much as you’ve been working to hit us,” Bigham said. “So I think that the experience side of it is how do I evolve and how do I remain calm in the circle and how do I go at a batter but how do I do it in a different way I’ve never done before.” The Shockers collected 103 home runs total as a team last year. However, Head Coach Kristi Bredbenner said the offensive dominance that the Shockers had last season overshadowed how well they did in the circle which Bingham was a part of. “I think the nice thing for us counterbalancing them(McDonald and Bingham) a little bit is three freshmen in the circle that nobody knows about,” Bredbenner said. “Between the five of them I think that’s an area of improvement in our program and something that we are pretty excited about.”
Saturday starts the beginning of the 2022 season for the Wichita State softball team. Head Coach Kristi Bredbenner enters her 11th season leading the Shockers. Before Bredbenner began coaching, she grew up in O’Fallon, MO. She attended college at Truman State University in Kirksville, MO, on a softball scholarship. As a Bulldog, Bredbenner won multiple records including career and single season record for games played, at bats, hits, doubles, home runs, total bases, RBI’s, walks, batting averages and slugging percentage. She is also tied for the fourth all-time Division II single game list as she hit three homeruns on April 7, 2000. After graduating with a business and marketing degree, she attended Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, California to get a masters degree in physical education. After graduating, Bredbenner coached Emporia State University — a Division II school — where she became the winningest softball head coach. She led ESU to six back to back postseason appearances and two national
championship appearances. In 2012 Bredbenner left ESU, to coach the Shockers. While coaching, she has led the Shockers to three NCAA Regional Appearances, two NCAA Final Appearances and two conference tournament championships. She also helped 33 student-athletes earn all-conference accolades and 11 NFCA All-Region honors. Because of COVID-19, Bredbenner became well known for throwing Hi-Chew candies to each of her players that hit a homerun. Until last season, Bredbenner had no idea what a Hi-Chew was until sophomore Madyson Espinosa. “She came in and she’s like, ‘these are my favorite candies,’” senior Caitlyn Bingham said. After one of their games last season, Espinosa performed well, so Bredbenner decided to buy her a giant container of Hi-Chews. After each of the players tried a piece of the candy, they wanted to be a part of the action as well. “With COVID, you try to avoid a little bit more hand contact, so we went with Hi-Chews last year,” Bredbenner said. “It worked, so we decided to keep it going.
Head Coach Kristi Bredbenner talks to junior Zoe Jones during a game against Emporia State on Oct. 9, 2021 inside Wilkins Stadium. | Photo by Sean Marty / The Sunflower
Hi-Chew, high five. The girls enjoyed it and they get into it, so anything I can do to get them to hit home runs, i’ll do it.” Hi-Chew heard about the Bredbenner giving out candies after an amazing performance, so they decided to return the favor by sending them a giant bucket of candies for the upcoming season. “Hopefully we’ll see a lot of Hi-Chews this year,” Bredbenner said.
Glover named GM for the Sunflower Softball League BY RACHEL RUDISILL rtrudisill@shockers.wichita.edu
The 2022 season will not be the end of senior Wylie Glover’s softball career. Last week on National Girls and Women in Sports Day – Feb. 2 – Glover announced she accepted an internship for the Sunflower Softball League. The league allows for college softball athletes to continue working on their craft. The athletes get a little rest from hour practices, but they still have GLOVER the opportunity to get those reps in. The program runs from June 17-July 17. They are expected to play about 30 games on college campuses in the
Wichita area. The league was created by Casey Walkup – Wichita State alumni and baseball player. He reached out to Glover about the internship. She consulted with Walkup late in 2021 to help give ideas about the program. The league hopes to include up to 100 players. The only summer league for collegiate softball players is the Florida Gulf Coast League, which Glover attended in summer of 2021. With so many players competing for a spot in only one league, the odds of getting into the FGCL is difficult. Walkup wanted there to be another option for players. “Casey Walkup reached out to me and asked if I wanted to be involved. I knew I wanted to
stay in softball somehow,” Glover said. “I just didn’t know who I was going to do it. I just thought it was a good opportunity to kind of ease my way out of softball.” Glover is a business and human resource management major who is set to graduate in spring of 2022. While she would love to continue her softball career as a player and travel overseas, the pay is not enough to make a living. Instead of giving up on softball altogether, Glover hopes she will continue working with sports. “I want to stay in sports for sure,” Glover said. “Softball is something I am familiar with, but I also think branching out and learning about the operations of other sports and how they work and function is something I am not opposed to.”
SOFTBALL PREVIEW
10 | THURSDAY, FEB. 10, 2022
AAC FROM PAGE 1 that we lost in the class last year,” Bredbenner said. “I think a lot of people forget about that. Those girls played almost every game in their entire career here, and we’re gonna put players in those positions that don’t have as much experience in the game. They’re great players, but as far as in-game experience they’re missing a little bit of that.” The returns for the Shockers are predicted to make a big impact on the new athletes. The Shockers played an extraordinary offensive – hitting over 100 home runs in the season – however, their defense was overshadowed. Returning seniors Erin McDonald and Caitlin Bingham earned an s-era of 4.79 and 3.00. They’ve been working hand and hand with three new pitchers – Kenzie Schopfer, Alison Cooper and Jordyn Pipkin – as well as Presley Bell – former graduate assistant and new assistant and pitching coach. “Counterbalancing them a little bit are three freshmen in the circle that nobody knows about,” Bredbenner said. “They really did a nice job for us in the fall and have really worked hard and gotten better. I think between the five of them I think that’s an area for improvement in our program.” Having new players who have never touched the field is important now more than ever for the giant target the Shockers carry on their backs. Since last season, teams all over the country have watched film on the pitchers and the rest of the team. Nobody knows these players. No other team knows how they play or the advantages they bring to the Shocker lineup. “I’m excited,” Bredbenner saide. “I think offensively we look strong. I think Coach (Elizabeth) Economon’s been doing a great job with the team as far as hitting and understanding that to be successful at this level. Defensively we’ve got some really great players coming in.”
UPCOMING GAMES FRIDAY, FEB. 11 WSU vs Dayton 2:30 p.m.
Huntsville, Texas
WSU vs Sam Houston 7 p.m. Huntsville, Texas
SATURDAY, FEB. 12
WSU vs South Dakota Huntsville, Texas
WSU vs Houston Baptist 4:45 p.m. Huntsville, Texas
‘I’ve been having a blast’
Senior Arielle James celebrates after hitting a double against Kansas on Sept. 25, 2021 in Wilkins Stadium. | Photo by Sean Marty / The Sunflower
Junior Zoe Jones cheers after an out against Fort Hays on Oct. 17 in Wilkins Stadium. | Photo by Rachel Rudisill / The Sunflower
Transfers start new chapters at WSU BY SEAN MARTY sports@thesunflower.com
After six seniors departed following the conclusion of the 2021 season, the Shocker softball program added two impact transfers from high-major programs during the offseason. Zoe Jones, a transfer from Texas Tech, comes to WSU after a three year career with the Red Raiders. Jones was named NFCA All Region-Third Team and All-Big 12 Freshman Team in 2019 with Texas Tech. She had an overall career batting average of .283 and tallied 14 home runs, 11 doubles and 59 RBI’s. “It’s definitely a very easy transition. Everybody’s very welcoming with open arms,” Jones said. “I really like Coach (Bredbenner). I’ve known Coach B for awhile and out of high school obviously I chose Tech, but now I’m glad I’m here. “I’m glad for the change.
The culture is very competitive. Everybody’s competing for a spot every single day and everybody is really good. With Jones’ experience at the Division-I level, she feels that her experience can be beneficial to the younger players on the roster.
“It’s so much fun, I’ve been having a blast so far. I think any transfer will say the transition’s a little difficult but it was almost seamless.”
- Arielle James
“Definitely playing power five my first three years has helped a lot with experience and from the people above me so I just want to be able to let the younger ones know what I’ve learned like playing teams like Arkansas, or OU, or OSU,” Jones said. “Just passing down what I’ve learned
throughout the year.” Head coach Kristi Bredbenner said she’s been impressed with Jones’ offense since arriving. “Really been swinging the bat well and again will compete at third at a high level,” Bredbenner said. The Shockers also added Arielle James, a graduate transfer from the University of Houston. At Houston, she was a three-time All Conference selection, named to the first team twice, and a two-time NFCA All - Region pick. James had an overall career batting average of .364, 10 home runs, 39 doubles, 79 RBI’s, and 118 runs scored. James has not played collegiately the past two seasons after redshirting in 2020 and opting out of last season. “It’s so much fun, I’ve been having a blast so far,” James said. “I think any transfer will say the transition’s a little difficult but it was almost seamless with this team. I
love their work ethic, I like the way Wichita State plays, since I’ve been in high school. So, it’s been really fun to come and be a part of the team this year.” James said that Bredbenner was a key reason she decided to become a Shocker and feels coaching style suits her game well. “She’s really aggressive and she’s really hard working,” James said. “She stresses a lot that we’re a blue collar team. The way she coaches, it’s a lot different than what I had at Houston and I really appreciate it.” Both transfers will have to wait over a month before they get to play in Wilkins Stadium for the first time. WSU is slated to play 29 straight road games, before their home opener against Kansas on March 23. James said it’ll be worth the wait. “I’m so excited, I’m counting the days,” James said. “I cannot wait.”