the
SUN FLOWER
Women’s golf places in Little Rock Classic | PAGE 4
May the best bot win MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2015
VOLUME 120, ISSUE 26
THESUNFLOWER.COM
Photo by Manny De Los Santos
Supporters of bidet installation continue discussion despite controversy CHANCE SWAIM
REPORTER
@chanceswaim
Wichita State hosts annual Robotics competition Senior Colby Johnson from Salina South High School maneuvers a robot through an obstacle course during the annual high school Robotics Competition, called Kansas BEST (Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology) Saturday afternoon at Hartman Arena. BEST is designed to inspire and motivate students toward careers in engineering, science and technology. The event featured 30 schools from across Kansas. Wichita Homeschool took first place in the competition.
Innovation Celebration features awards for faculty, staff, students LEVI YAGER
REPORTER
@sunflowernews
Twenty-six yellow and black light-bulb shaped trophies were awarded Friday to philanthropists and Wichita State faculty, staff and students leading the way for innovation at the first Innovation Celebration. The trophies were awarded to those who have helped with Innovation Campus endeavors or have made progress in new technology or services that related to WSU. The celebration was hosted by WSU Ventures. Elizabeth King, CEO of the WSU Foundation, presented two philanthropy awards to Verlon McKay and the Fred and Mary Koch Foundation, which donated $3.75 million toward the development of GoCreate, the community maker space being built as part of Innovation Campus. Ambassador Awards were given to Barbara Chaparro, associate professor of psychology, Janet Twomey, associate dean and professor of engineering, and the Training and Technology Team (T3).
SEE AWARDS • PAGE 2
Through the noise of the chapel debates, graduate student Ayesha Mosharraf continues her push for the installation of hand-held showers in the restrooms of three campus buildings. Some people have linked a petition for the inclusion “This is not of hand-held a religious bidets at issue like the Wichita State chapel. This to accusais a culture tions of an issue and “Islamic transforma- a hygiene tion” on issue.” campus in the Ayesha recent Mosharraf national WSU GRADUATE controversy STUDENT surrounding Grace Memorial Chapel. Eric Sexton, WSU vice president of Student Affairs and executive director of Athletics, said the two issues are unrelated, regardless of media reports. “With the chapel, we’re looking at creating a space that is open and welcome to all students to use in a way that they would like to use it — Christian students, as well as a variety of others,” Sexton said.
SEE BIDETS • PAGE 2
Community maker space added to plans for Innovation Campus LEVI YAGER
REPORTER
@sunflowernews
GoCreate, a new addition to Innovation Campus, was officially dedicated Friday. President John Bardo, along with WSU faculty, staff, students and community members met in the lobby of Donald L. Beggs Hall to unveil the logo and name of the building. Liz Koch, president of the Fred and Mary Koch Foundation, revealed the name of the future community maker space as “GoCreate.” The foundation contributed $3.75 million toward the space. Bardo said the name “GoCreate” was chosen because it implies inclusive involvement. “There’s an implied ‘you’ — it’s not ambiguous,” Bardo said. “It’s you being involved.” John Tomblin, vice president for research and technology transfer, said the building will include 25 hands-on instruction laboratories, with six of them designated as aerospace laboratories. “One year [and] nine months
Photo by Christopher Bardo
Liz Koch, president of the Fred and Mary Koch Foundation, speaks at the dedication of the Experiential Learning building. Koch revealed the name of the future community maker spaces as GoCreate.
ago, a team began shaping this,” Tomblin said. Scott Miller — a professor and chair of aerodynamics, who worked on the team — said the planning was a “classic example
of figuring out what we need and how to use that.” Miller said more space will become available for aerospace projects with GoCreate. “It creates opportunities not
only for students to do research, but also faculty and for them to do it together,” he said.
SEE INNOVATION • PAGE 2
Town Hall meeting Friday tackles chapel discussion Variety of backgrounds represented in conversation surrounding removal of pews; about 50 people attend ASCHA LEE
REPORTER
@aschalee
In response to the recent controversy surrounding changes to Grace Memorial Chapel, Student Government Association held a town hall meeting Friday for students, faculty and community members to engage in discussion about the issue. About 50 people attended. Eric Sexton — vice president of Student Affairs and executive director of Athletics — opened
the meeting with a brief history of events, and stressed the conversation would be structured and held in the most respectful way possible. “The opportunity to have these kinds of fruitful discussions in a healthy, positive, respectful way is what we do at universities and what our goals and objectives here at Wichita State University are,” Sexton said. “Tonight, we have a wonderful panel that embraces the breadth of perspectives that we need in order to have a
healthy dialogue.” The panel included SGA Sen. Taben Azad, concerned community member Lisa Ritchie, graduate student Chandler Williams — who was a proponent of the original SGA resolution — and the Rev. Christopher Eshelman, board chairperson for Campus Ministries. The discussion was led by moderator Jay Price, director of the history department, and facilitated by Sexton.
SEE TOWN HALL • PAGE 2
File photo by Xavier Mortenson
Student Government Association held a town hall meeting Friday to address issues and provide an open discussion about renovations to Grace Memorial Chapel, which were completed last spring.
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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2
PAGE 2 | NEWS
Gamma Phi Beta receives recognition for success in philanthropic efforts BRENNEN SMITH
REPORTER
@brennen19_26
Senior Clare Stewart said she got a figurative slap in the face four years ago when a Buckner Elementary student arrived to the after-school running program she coached as part of Girls on the Run (GOTR) and told everyone about her highs and lows for the day. Her high for the day was practice and her low was that her dad was in prison. For the sorority’s philanthropic effort — including Girls on the Run — Wichita State’s Gamma Phi Beta chapter recently received a letter of recognition from GOTR international because it raised $11,900 for the non profit organization in 2014, putting it among the top 10 fundraising chapters across the United States and Canada.
BIDETS
FROM PAGE 1 The petition advocated the installation of handheld bidets in the restrooms of the Rhatigan Student Center, Heskett Center and Ablah Library. Bidets are showerhead-like attachments used for washing after using the toilet — reducing the use of toilet paper and increasing cleanliness, graduate student Ayesha Mosharraf said. Currently, students rely on squirt bottles when using the restroom on campus in place of bidets. In September, Mosharraf gathered more than 600 signatures favoring the bidets and later met with Sexton to discuss
“Gamma Phi has about 180 chapters nationwide with many chapters three times our size, so it was amazing to be in the top ten,” said Stewart, president of Gamma Phi at WSU. GOTR integrates running and life lessons to inspire girls to be healthy, joyful and confident. The program has two seasons — spring and fall — for third through eighth grade girls. It ends with a 5K run celebration in November, which shows the girls how their efforts can pay off, Stewart said. Gamma Phi raised the money with its annual 5K run, the Gamma PhiveK, in the fall of last year, garnering $6,400 from the 357 participants at the event, said senior Karley Nelson, Gamma Phi philanthropy chair. The remaining money came from a pasta palooza event in spring 2014. On Oct. 18, Nelson said they
were able to raise more than $10,000 from 440 participants at the 5K run. Nelson said it was surprising so much was raised since the goal was only $7,000. “I think we raised so much money because there are a lot of people in the chapter who care so much about ... our philanthropies,” Nelson said. Christy Thomas, council director for GOTR in Sedgwick County, said 25 percent of Gamma Phi’s donations go to GOTR international to develop more curriculums, and 75 percent stays in Sedgwick County to help with scholarships for girls to participate. Nelson said because of the donations this year, 110 girls will be provided with scholarships, which is important because Thomas said 65 percent of GOTR participants are not able to pay for the program. Thomas said Gamma Phi
works closely with GOTR by working as coaches (like Stewart), running buddies and 5K volunteers for GOTR at health fairs and expositions. Community service was new to Stewart when she first moved to the U.S. in 2010 from England. “I went every other week with this girl and connected with everything they were talking about,” Stewart said. “[GOTR] kind of tied in with everything I was going through. It really helped me, as well.” Stewart’s younger sister is involved in the GOTR program, and Stewart said it is great to see the impact it is having on her. “Right now our chapter is on a high,” Stewart said. “They are excited about GOTR and more and more girls want to be involved with coaching. Being recognized by international just makes us want to do more.”
the steps she could take after petitioning to install the hand-held bidets to bathrooms around campus. Sexton told Mosharraf to write a proposal. “This is not a religious issue like the chapel,” Mosharraf said. “This is a culture issue and a hygiene issue.” Sexton said the conversation about installing hand-held bidets is just getting started. Mosharraf said she will complete a preliminary proposal draft sometime this week. Part of her proposal will include data on international student enrollment numbers compiled by the WSU Office of Planning and Analysis. In countries with the most significant international student populations, including India and Saudi Arabia, hand-held bidets
in bathrooms are common. Since 2010, data indicates the international student enrollment at WSU has grown by 467 students. During that same time, the overall enrollment at Wichita State has grown by 197 students, according to enrollment numbers listed on the university’s website. “Wichita State has a lot of international students who would like to use [the bidets],” Mosharraf said. “[The bidets] will help make Wichita State more welcome to everyone.” Sexton said his next step is to read the proposal. “We will wait to see what the proposal looks like and then start the conversation [to see] if that is possible or doable,” he said. “We can’t make any decisions or any statements until
we know what we’re talking about.” Mosharraf said the hateful online comments about Muslims in response to the changes at the chapel were discouraging. “I stopped working on [the proposal] because I was like, ‘This is going to affect the bidets, too, because the chapel business is in their mind,’” Mosharraf said. She said she has other tensions with school and work, and she put the petition for bidets — already mired in questions — in the back of her mind. “I am the only one who was working on it, and now I’m exhausted, and now it’s like this isn’t going to happen,” Mosharraf said. “But I can’t give up.”
AWARDS
Bardo awarded Royce Smith, associate professor and director for the School of Art and Design, the President’s Innovation Award for bringing innovation and the community together to improve the university. Deans from each of the eight WSU colleges presented Bright Future Awards to students who have shown aptitude and hard work for furthering innovation. Graduate student Dominic Canare received an award as president and founder of a maker space in downtown Wichita, MakeICT. “It definitely was a surprise [receiving a Bright Future Award], and Dr. Chaparro had nice words to say,” Canare said. “It was a nice gesture for the university to recognize people, and it’s clear for the vision that Dr. Bardo and Tomblin have.”
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CLASSIFIEDS
INNOVATION
FROM PAGE 1
Miller also said there will be six to 12 multipurpose labs called “hubs.” These will be open to students or faculty of any engineering department. “The idea is to create this place where everybody can get together and learn,” he said. “It was a lot of hard work, but it’s a lot of fun to see what our students will have access to.” The dedication also allowed students to showcase their projects. Senior Thomas Staab exhibited his senior design project, Deployable Droneswarm, a swarm of small drones capable of collision avoidance. Sophomore Joshua Villa from the College of Health Professions drove “WuBot” through the crowd of people. WuBot is a small segway with
a mounted electronic tablet that includes a camera. It is controlled on a separate tablet connected through Wi-Fi. The user can see what WuBot sees through that connection. “It’s basically for kids that are autistic or have some kind of neutral disability that they don’t communicate very well face-to-face,” Villa said. “It gives them a chance to communicate.” GoCreate is set for completion by next fall, and will be available for full academic use in spring 2017. Junior Nathan Ruzzin, an aerospace engineering student, came to the ground dedication Friday. “The building is awesome,” Ruzzin said. “I plan to use it for my senior design project next year, and the maker space will allow more hands-on experience to compliment my in-class learning.”
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TOWN HALL FROM PAGE 1
The panelists were asked several questions regarding their stances on the controversy and were given a specific amount of time to answer. All panelists agreed that respecting all faiths was a top priority for them, no matter what their individual opinions were. “We can all agree that faith shapes who we are,” Williams said. “Other faiths, in my experience, can only help your personal faith grow stronger, not hinder it. We are finally exposing something that has been silent for too long. Disagreement is not a problem, but disrespect is a problem.” Ritchie disagreed with the renovations to the chapel. “I’m standing up for Jesus Christ,” Ritchie said. “I’m sad
that this Christian chapel has been turned into an interfaith building. I think she (Mrs. Harvey D. Grace) intended it to be a Christian church to point all creeds and faiths to Jesus Christ.” Sexton explained during his opening address that Grace intended for the chapel to be used by many different faiths for their worship. However, Ritchie said she thought Grace donated the funds for the chapel with the intent of it being a place for people of other religions to learn about and only worship according to the Christian faith. The rest of the panel appreciated Ritchie’s presence and input as a concerned community member, and audience members said they thought the different perspectives from the panel were productive. “I think it’s awesome that they got a diversity of opinions on the panel,” said Kiah Duggins, SGA chief of staff.
FROM PAGE 1
“The Ambassador Award is given to individuals and departments that recommend WSU Ventures’ services and capabilities to additional entities on and off campus, and who wholeheartedly embrace the innovation university concept,” said Cindy Claycomb, director of WSU Ventures. Visionary Awards were presented to President John Bardo and John Tomblin, vice president of research and technology transfer, for being driving forces behind innovation at WSU and encouraging research, creativity, cross-collaboration and entrepreneurship.
Award recipients: Fred and Mary Koch Foundation, Philanthropy Award Verlon McKay, Philanthropy Award Bill Groutas, Patent Award Douglas English, Patent Award Sue Abdinnour, Trailblazer Award Vimotech, First Dollar Award Vis Madhavan, SBIR Award Barbara Chaparro, Ambassador Award Janet Twomey, Ambassador Award T3, Ambassador Award Jeremy Patterson, Catalyst Award Steven Skinner, Catalyst Award Chris Broberg, Catalyst Award Tonya Witherspoon, Pioneer Award Jibo He, Newsmaker Award John Bardo, Visionary Award John Tomblin, Visionary Award Royce Smith, President’s Innovation Award
Bright Future Award recipients: Alex Pennington Jeremy Sendall Hannah Hund Nam Lee Hassan Farhoud Dominic Canare Sean Hess Alex Landreth
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PAGE 3 | NEWS
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2
Finalists compete in Man, Woman of the Year competition
Photos by Manny De Los Santos
President John Bardo takes a photo with candidates for Man of the Year, right, and candidates for Woman of the Year, left, during Breakfast with Bardo on Oct. 22. The two winners will be announced at a banquet Friday.
Read two of the candidates’ stories; winners to be announced Friday CONNER CLAPHAM
REPORTER
@clapdaddy1
Taben Azad is a senior studying mechanical engineering with a minor in political science. A native of Wichita, Azad doesn’t consider himself anyone special. “It is really surreal…I honestly consider it a privilege,” Azad said about being chosen as a Man of the Year finalist. Four men and four women have moved into the final rounds of the annual competition, which awards a $650 scholarship to the two winners and $300 to remaining finalists. There were 45 applicants this year. Azad said his favorite thing about WSU is all the memories he has made as a student., including watching the Shockers compete in the Final Four in 2013. He said he loved seeing students filled with Shocker pride. Azad’s mom is someone who has always been there for him. More than just a parent, he considers her a mentor, helping him along the way and raising him to be the man he is today. “I told my parents that night, and they were really happy and really proud of me,” Azad said. He described his greatest strength as being a visionary. He said he always tries to keep the end in mind, always keeping a sense of futurism in addition to focusing on the present. “It’s not a competition,” Azad
said. “It’s whoever deserves it the most.” Kiah Duggins is a finalist for Woman of the Year. Duggins is a junior studying international business and economics. She is also working toward a certificate in Spanish for the professions. “I thought it would be a great opportunity … meeting President Bardo and getting to compete against other qualified finalists,” she said. Duggins said her favorite thing about the university is its ability to allow students to find what they’re passionate about and then apply those passions inside and outside of the classroom. Duggins’ parents are what she calls great mentors to her because of all they have sacrificed for her to go to WSU. “They have given me a lot of support and guidance throughout my life, and I am very fortunate to have them,” Duggins said. “Grateful” is the word she would use to describe herself the most. She is grateful for her parents, for her school and for everything she has. As a person, Duggins described her greatest strength as her ability to network and connect with people. “I’m very grateful to be a finalist,” Duggins said. “It’s a huge honor because I love Wichita State.” The two winners will be announced at a banquet at 6 p.m. Friday.
ABOUT THE CANDIDATES MEN
WOMEN
Year: Senior Major(s): Mechanical engineering and political science Involvement highlights: • Vice president of Muslim Student Association • Engineering senator for Student Government Association. • Recipient of the Gold Star Leader Award, and the first winner of the Convocation Shocker Spirit Photo Competition
Year: Senior Major(s): Economics and international business Involvement highlights: • Chief of staff for Student Government Association • Winner of Wichita State University’s Miss Black and Gold competition • Founder of the Princess Project
Taben Azad
Jerad Rogers
Year: Junior Major(s): Biomedical engineering and physics Involvement highlights: • President of Biomedical Engineering Society • Undergraduate research assistant in the Biomedical Engineering Department • Recipient of the Cessna Engineering and the College of Engineering Undergraduate Research Scholarships
Joseph Shepard
Year: Senior Major(s): Criminal justice Involvement highlights: • President of Student Government Association • President of Alpha Phi Alpha • Recipient of the Dream Chasers Award, Alpha Phi Alpha Brother of the Year, Greek Unity Award and the Advocate Award
Reid Williams
Year: Junior Major(s): Nursing Involvement highlights: • Vice president of programming for Sigma Phi Epsilon • Finalist for the Distinguished Scholarship Invitational • Volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Boy Scouts of America
Kiah Duggins
Amanda Johnson
Year: Junior Major(s): Finance and economics Involvement highlights: • Vice president of communications for Delta Gamma Fraternity • Dean’s List and Harry Gore Memorial Scholar • Volunteered with the Miss Kansas Pageant, Inc.
Gracie Palmer
Year: Senior Major(s): General studies of chemistry Involvement highlights: • Member of Delta Gamma Fraternity, Shockerthon, Pre-Medicine Student Association, Mortar Board, Golden Key Honor Society and the American Red Cross Club • Former WSU cheerleader • Dean’s List
Emry Woelk
Year: Senior Major(s): Management and human resource management Involvement highlights: • President of the Panhellenic Council • Summer Leadership Institute mentor, freshman and transfer peer mentor and marketing intern with the Wichita State Athletics Department • Finalist for the Distinguished Scholarship Invitational
FALL MUSEUM HOP
File Photo by Kevin Brown
Engineering student Rayan Ibrahim Baba was found Aug. 8 in a Fairmount Towers parking lot with multiple gunshot wounds.
Suspect charged with murder in student’s death CHANCE SWAIM
REPORTER
@chanceswaim
A suspect in the Aug. 8 shooting death of Wichita State student Rayan Ibrahim Baba made her first appearance last Wednesday at the Sedgwick County Courthouse. Eboni Fingal, one of two suspects initially arrested for first-degree murder — but later released from charges and from a probation violation in September as the homicide remained under investigation by the Wichita Police Department — was officially charged with first-degree murder during the commission of felony-aggravated robbery. Fingal, 20, was also charged with failure to appear, no proof of insurance, driving on a suspended license, inattentive driving and prostitution as a result of her Oct. 27 arrest, according to Sedgwick County jail records. Fingal’s preliminary hearing is set for Nov. 12. Isaiah Copridge, 23, the second suspect connected to Baba’s death (also released
from the charge of first-degree murder) is being held at Hutchinson Correctional Facility on a parole violation, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections website. The violation stems from marijuana use while on probation, said Adam Pfannenstiel, a spokesman for Kansas Department of Corrections. Pfannenstiel said in an email Copridge will be released from KDOC on or about Nov. 18. If charged in connection with the murder of Baba, Copridge will be sent from KDOC to Sedgwick County to face pending charges. “He would go from one incarceration setting to the next,” Pfannenstiel stated. On the morning of Aug. 8, Baba, an electrical engineering student from Saudi Arabia, was found in the parking lot of Fairmount Towers at 21st and Hillside, suffering multiple gunshot wounds and died in the hospital later that day. Fingal and Copridge were originally arrested Aug. 9. Baba’s death was the first homicide on the WSU campus in more than 20 years.
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PAGE 4 | SPORTS
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File Photo by Evan Pflugradt
The Shockers go up for a hit against Missouri State on Oct. 2 at Charles Koch Arena. The team lost that game 3-1, but swept the Bears in three games Saturday in Springfield, Missouri.
Shockers defeat Bears, remain No. 1 in MVC MEGAN LOOPER
REPORTER
@meglooper
Wichita State’s volleyball team is at the top of the Missouri Valley Conference after the women swept the Missouri State Bears on Saturday in Springfield, Missouri. The team’s record is 19-6 overall and 10-1 in the MVC. The Shockers took the match with scores of 25-14, 25-20 and 25-21. With a team hitting percentage of .331, Katie Reilly led WSU with 13
kills, Jody Larson led defensively with 18 digs, and setter Emily Heibert gave 27 assists. The Shockers jumped out on Missouri State early, earning an early lead in the first set and ending on a service ace from Dani Mostrom, followed by a kill from Abbie Lehman. The second set wavered until the Shockers went on a run, but the Bears fought back with a score of 17-14. WSU was able to win the set 25-20 after a kill from Reilly.
The Bears led the last and closest set until the Shockers retaliated and took the lead. Kills by the Shockers increased that lead to 14-8. A Shocker error brought the score to 22-18, but WSU was able to secure match victory and the sweep. The Shockers compete next against Southern Illinois t at 7 p.m. Monday in Carbondale, Illinois. The 16-7 Salukis are 7-3 in the Missouri Valley and led by Head Coach Justin Ingram. As a team, they hit .254 percent, while their oppo-
nents are hitting .192. The biggest offensive threat and player to watch is Andrea Estrada, averaging 3.4 kills and 3.26 digs a set. Leading the overall series 39-19, the Shockers look to maintain their elite status in the conference against No. 3 Southern Illinois. The two teams met in November of last year, which resulted in a sweep by WSU. Junior outside hitter Jody Larson has had a strong season with six rotations during the last five games,
contributing to a 5-0 record. She is averaging 3.42 kills and 3.16 digs and earned career-high 19 kills and 24 digs against Illinois State last week. Historically, every other time WSU has started MVC play 9-1 or better, they have won the regular-season title. Moving forward 10-1 with the upmost momentum and an eightgame winning streak, this year looks optimistic. Tune in to ESPN3 Monday or follow the game online at goshockers. com/watch.
Cross Country finishes on top in conference tournament EVAN PFLUGRADT
REPORTER
@evpflu
Photos by Tarun Bali
(TOP) Bryce Schroeder practices at Crestview Country Club on Thursday. (BOTTOM) Schroeder takes part in a group activity on the golf course Thursday. The Shockers will continue in the Little Rock Golf Classic with the second round Monday and finish the final round Tuesday. This tournament will conclude the fall season for the Shockers.
Strong start places women’s golf fourth in tournament REECE BURNS
SPORTS EDITOR
The Academy for Effective Teaching
@reeceburns14
The Wichita State women’s golf team is in fourth place after playing the first round of the Little Rock Golf Classic Saturday in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas. Meghan Schuetz, who is tied for fifth place with an even-par 72 on her scorecard, leads the Shockers. Senior Bryce Schroeder is not far behind Schuetz, who shot a one-over-par 73 in her first round, tying her for eighth place. Head coach Tom McCurdy gave a quote regarding the first round to goshockers.com “The course was very wet,” McCurdy said in the article. “We had chances but had some issues with bunkers. I’m happy with how we fought for every stroke. All in all it was a good start to the tournament.”
The Wichita State women’s cross country team finished Saturday as the runner-up in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament, and the men finished third. The Shockers finished second to the pre-meet favorite Bradley, 54-76. Wichita State Junior Sidney Hirsch led the women with their best conference finish since 2012. Hirsch placed seventh in the 5K race with a time of 17:18.79. Freshman Rebekah Topham followed in eighth place at 17:18.87. Hirsch and Topham were recognized with First Team All-Conference honors. Topham was also named Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year. “I’m very pleased to see Rebekah honored with the Freshman of the Year award,” head coach Kirk Hunter said. “I was also pleased to see Sidney lead us through to a second place finish in a tough race.” Other finishers for the Shockers were Kayla Deighan in 16th (17:38.90), Lycia Holton in 18th (17:41.55), Emilea Finley in 27th (17:56.48), Paige Wells in 41st (18:27.42), Jordan Maestas in 42nd (18:29.12) and Sarah Wright in 50th (18:44.30). Bradley’s Caitlin Busch took first for the second-straight season, 16:54.20. The men took third place after losing a tiebreaker to Illinois State, tied at 78. Illinois State won the battle after comparing times with the top-five finishers for each team. The Redbirds finished better
against four of five comparable Shockers. Bradley won the men’s tournament scoring 67, their first conference win in school history. Indiana State’s John Mascari won the 8K race for the fourth time in his career with a time of 23:39.06. Mascari is the first to win four times in the tournament’s history. In the men’s race, junior Brady Johnson led the Shockers with an 11th place finish in a time of 24:25.72. Ugis Jocis followed with a time of 24:32.98 for 12th. Other finishers for the Shockers were Kyle Larkin in 16th (24:38.24), Paul Raymond in 19th (24:48.17), Dray Carson in 20th (24:49.87), Gage Garcia in 24th (24:59.32), Nathan Wickoren in 25th (25:02.56) and Reno Law in 34th (25:26.02). “We were disappointed to get third,” Hunter said. “Our guys came here to win, not get third.” The Shockers were pre-ranked third in the conference polls for this tournament. Their third place finish was their best since 2012. “In this meet you have to win the small battles in the last mile of the race,” Hunter said. “We didn’t do it this time.” Wichita State finished all seven of their runners ahead of all competitors’ fifth-runner, which Hunter added is an impressive accomplishment. “It’s an exceptional overall team performance,” Hunter said. The top five finishers for the Shockers finished in the top 20, the best of any team. The Shockers travel for the NCAA Regional Tournament on Nov. 13 in Lawrence.
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