The team is entering the 2017-2018 season with the triumphant momentum of a winning record of 10-8 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC).

“We did things really well last year,” said Head Coach Jill Slominski. “We made playoffs, and probably did better than a lot of people thought we would.”

At least some of that success can be attributed to William Jewell graduate Maddie Nelson, who was a first team, all GLVC conference player.

This year, Slominski is optimistic that the team can adjust to a new dynamic and a new winning strategy.

“Its been fun to see the kids stepping up, and not just looking to one person. This year, I think we are going to be a more well-rounded team,” said Slominski.

At the outset of this season, the team has 14 women, seven of whom are returning seniors.

“There’s a maturity with the team, and I am excited to coach them, and to see what they can do,”Slominski said. “And, it’s a really special group of seniors. They came in as a big group, and they stayed really close, so I think this season will be pretty special.”

One of those seniors is forward Adrianna Rodriguez, recreation and sports management major, and a native of Granada, Spain. Reflecting on her last season, Rodriguez was overflowing with positivity and affirmations.

“Our team is full of smiles. We definitely enjoy each other and love team bonding off the court, which is reflected by our chemistry on the court. We push and motivate each other, trying to get better every day,” Rodriguez said.

Photo courtesy of Jewell Athletics

“Our hope is to be competitive for a conference title this year,” said Head Coach Larry Holley. 

He certainly has the pedigree to set that goal. A graduate of Jewell’s class of 1967, Holley is entering his 39th season with the Cardinals and 47th year as a coach. Over the span of his career, he has received 14 Coach of the Year awards and has been inducted into five Halls of Fame. His 886 career wins currently ranks him as the number one coach among all Missouri four-year colleges. The very court on which the team plays is named after him.

Holley is under no illusions as to the trials that lie ahead. Last season, the team ended with a record of 5-13. The Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) preseason polls slate the team in fifth place in the West Conference.

“Well, we have struggled the last couple of years, and we’ll have our challenges this season,” Holley said.

One of those challenges is an apparent imbalance in the players’ positions. At the moment, the team fields one center, one power forward, and 12 guards. While this will likely shape the team’s defensive strategy, it will almost certainly throw opponents off balance.

“We are going to have times where our lineup will be five guards on the floor, and while that may be a challenge for us defensively, I think that’ll be a challenge for the teams we’re going to be playing with their defense, to try and match up with five guards on the floor,” said Holley. “I think if we stay healthy, and play to our potential, we’ll be in a position to be successful in every game we play.”

Easton Koch, a senior business administration major, played in all 26 games last season and echoes Holley’s optimism. A guard himself, he places more emphasis on the cohesion of the team overall than on any one player’s purported position.

“This season, I am getting to play with a lot of other players that play similarly to me, in terms of passing, cutting and sharing the ball really well,” said Koch.

There are seven returning players, and the rest of the team is new. Eysan Wiley, a first-year business administration major, started all four years of his high school career and shot an average of 85 percent from the free throw line. Despite a successful run in high school, he has noticed there are some different elements at the college level.

“Here at this level, people are a lot bigger, and a lot faster. You’ve got to adjust to that, in practice,” Wiley said.

Pharroh Gordon, a first-year psychological science major and native of Manchester, England, transferred to Jewell from The College of Saint Rose in New York. He was named to the Northeast 10 Commissioner’s Honor Roll. In coming to Jewell, he wasn’t quite sure what to expect but is happy to have made the transition.

“I used to like not really like basketball last year but now I’m enjoying myself again. It’s easy to get better here. The gym’s always open, we have an actual strength and conditioning program, and I’ve met a lot of great people,” Gordon said.

A winning season is unlikely based on preseason polls. The team is working in an effort to beat those odds. Of the 13 losses, eight were within 10 points. 

Emil Ostafiiciuc, a senior economics major from Moldova, has played all four years on the team.

“We do have a lot of strong players, and a lot of skills we bring to the table. Most importantly, though we have a lot of players with big hearts who are ready to go the extra mile to achieve the goal. In my opinion, that is what is most valuable,” Ostafiiciuc said.

The scandal which led to Price’s resignation was broadly a case of misspent taxpayer funds. This was first reported by online news outlet Politico. Over the span of his 231 days, Politico reported that Secretary Price had “taken at least 24 flights on private charter planes at taxpayers’ expense.” The same article indicates that these flights were within the continental U.S., and that the expense of commercial flights to these destinations were markedly cheaper. A trip the Secretary took from Washington D.C. to Nashville, for instance, cost $17,760, whereas commercial fares for an identical trip hovered around $202.

After Politico’s initial inquiries reporters unearthed additional flights Secretary Price took throughout the summer on military aircraft. The expense of these flights exceeded $500,000. Collectively, Secretary Price’s 231 days of service amounted to an excess of $1 million in travel costs.

As the story continued to unfold in national media, President Trump expressed discontent with his Secretary, indicating his personal displeasure and assuring his constituents that he would examine the situation closely. Whatever examination occurred, it culminated in Secretary Price’s resignation and a vow to refund American taxpayers the cost of his seat on all privately chartered flights:  $51,887.31.

Rumors are swirling as to who might succeed Secretary Price at the Department of Health and Human Services, and delving into speculative coverage offers little certainty. Politico, in its continued coverage, offers nine potential candidates. Another online outlet, Axios, narrows that list to three: Seema Verma, responsible for overseeing Medicaid, Medicare, and components of the ACA; former Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal; and Scott Gottlieb, commissioner for the Food and Drug Administration.

President Trump has made no official announcements, so no prospective nominee’s appointment is certain.  

Photo Courtesy of CNN.

There was some anxiety about what the weekend might bring. This was clear at Cody’s Corner Store, the locally owned convenience store and ice cream haven down the street. Detecting anxiety in the typically relaxed store, I asked one of the employees how she felt about the upcoming festival.

One of many different food and drink stands.

“Maybe it will be fun for most people, but for us, this will be one hell of a busy weekend,” she said.

I revisited Cody’s during the festival. It was exceptionally busy, but employees seemed energized by the traffic.

The festival itself was a whirlwind of sensory intake.

There were children running, shouting and laughing with adults casually in pursuit. The streets were lined with booths, some crammed with trinkets for sale, others with activities and fun distractions. One stall simply had an assortment of colorful wigs, scarves and absurd accessories which people could try on and photograph themselves in.

One booth had license plate art for sale.

There was music blaring. A local band called Oxford Remedy, consisting of two female guitarists and one singing drummer, filled all of downtown with Cage the Elephant covers.

The smell and sight of food was everywhere. Corndogs, hotdogs, nachos, stir-fry, bloomin’ onions, cheeseburgers and funnel cakes were all available. Perhaps the most visually astounding and absolutely delicious culinary indulgence on offer was a massive brick of fried potatoes. It was perhaps a little larger than a human head and consisted of countless thinly shaved potatoes compressed into an imposing brick of starch. It was absurdly delicious.

The rides were small but nevertheless an exciting attraction for younger attendees. Lines were long, and the kids waiting could not conceal their impatience. Eventually, they would be whirled through the air on small benches or steadily whisked in a circle in big colorful automobiles or on the backs of adorned horses.

Local kids enjoyed the rides.

She spoke of the job and it’s routines with some fatigue.

“It’s kinda exhausting to be packing and unpacking every few days and hauling all this stuff around. Especially during the summer, when it’s so damn hot,” she said.

Certainly a lot of work, anguish and attention was devoted to the Fall Festival. For those that were able to indulge, it offered a simple and brief escape.

The Jewell Theatre Company and Concert Choir held booths at the Fall Fest.

“I liked the vibe, it was good. I bought a gourd, and was there for a bit. Aside from that, nothing really profound to say,” one Jewell student said.

For information about upcoming festivals in the area, including KC’s Renaissance Festival, pumpkin themed events and general fall activities, visit http://www.kansascity.com/entertainment/article97368852.html

Photos by Sofia Arthurs-Schoppe.