Despite being one of the smallest liberal arts colleges in the country, William Jewell College has long been a well-regarded institution in the Kansas City area. This reputation is due not only to its high academic standards but also to its athletic prowess: nearly two-thirds of Jewell’s students participate in sports, making athletics a central part of student life and recruitment. 

However, the 2025-2026 academic year began under unusual circumstances. After years of financial difficulties, Jewell declared financial exigency during the 2024-2025 academic year, a rare and serious measure that reflects the severity of the challenges facing the institution. Although the administration emphasized that the situation remained manageable, the announcement plunged the university community into a state of heightened uncertainty.

For student-athletes, the impact is particularly pronounced. As the school was reevaluating financial priorities, the possibility of reshaping athletics and cutting specific programs seemed very real. As a result, the student athlete experience now oscillates between relative stability on the field and constant questions off it.

Jewell student athletes have always had to deal with busy schedules and high expectations, but in the spring semester of 2025, these pressures intensified. The athletic medical staff made a controversial proposal to increase student secondary insurance fees (special insurance for athletes designed to cover the remaining medical expenses related to sports injuries) by an additional $350 for student athletes. Although this fee was intended to protect players’ health and ensure they had medical coverage, it was perceived by many student athletes as an additional financial burden, particularly when combined with rising tuition fees and a temporary freeze on scholarships. In other words, no athlete will see their scholarship increased for the 2025-2026 academic year.

Compounding this unease, a wave of athletes transferred out of Jewell during the last semester. For those who remained, one question lingers at every practice and every game: What will athletics at Jewell look like next semester? Softball, for example, has faced one of the most visible challenges. The team’s head coach resigned at the end of last semester, leaving players in a precarious situation as the season approaches. However, the administration took an unusual and refreshing step: it directly involved the players in the interview process for hiring a new coach. Indeed, the players will have a say on the final hiring decision. This level of athlete involvement is rare at the university level and marks a significant shift toward greater student participation in program decisions.

Although the declaration of financial exigency cast a shadow over the athletic department, it also reignited crucial debates about transparency, resource allocation, and the future of sports at Jewell. The story of Jewell softball highlights the vulnerability of sports at small universities, where limited resources make athletic programs particularly sensitive to personnel changes and enrollment fluctuations. However, Jewell’s willingness to involve players in decision-making could also pave the way for new models of resilience.

For now, the semester seems too short to judge whether athletics at Jewell will emerge stronger or even more fragile. But what is clear is that the student-athlete experience at William Jewell is being reshaped, in real time, by the financial crossroads at which the university finds itself.

Photo by Sarah Elizabeth via Uplash.

With December fast approaching, the autumn sports season is drawing to a close. First and foremost, congratulations to all our athletes for a great season. You should  be proud that  you made it through. Being a student athlete is very challenging, whatever the results, it’s important to recognize your dedication and efforts. This article is a recap of the fall team sports season for our William Jewell Cardinals.

Football: What a season it was for the football team, which got off to a strong start with 3 straight conference wins. It’s worth mentioning that the Cardinals had their best season in 10 years, with an overall record of 5-6. Indeed, these very encouraging results bode well for the coming years, which will hopefully enable the Cardinals to have a winning record and reach the postseason phase. In addition, the Cardinals have also made a name for themselves this season with 4 GLVC player of the week awards won, as well as a career high of 1000 rushing yards in one season for our running back, Keaundre McCullough.

Volleyball: The women’s volleyball team had a difficult season with disappointing results. With an overall record of 7-22 and 1-12 in conference, the season failed to live up to expectations, despite a conference victory over Missouri S&T on Oct. 11. Although this season was marked by lack of success and doubt, Samantha Thompson and Bella Laporta showed exceptional leadership by leading the team with very strong performances. Thompson reached the impressive milestone of 2000 career assists, a huge achievement. As for  Laporta, she was very effective offensively, with 409 kills this season. Well done to them both!

Women’s soccer: Head coach Emily Key and her staff can be proud of the women’s soccer team that has had its best season since 2018. This season could mark the start of a new era for this talented team, which won 4 games this season. Although they did not win, these 4 victories are a clear improvement on previous seasons. In fact, this team is full of potential, driven by attacking talents such as Lux Sands, with 6 goals and two assists, and Riley Frasure-Smith, with 3 goals and 4 assists. Although they didn’t make it to the conference tournament, they can be proud of their season.

Men’s soccer: The men’s soccer team is one of the great success stories of the fall season. In a season marked by very promising results, the team came close to qualifying for the GLVC conference tournament.  It was head Coach Eddie Horn’s best season since he arrived at Jewell 5 years ago, as well as the program’s best season since 2012, with an overall record of 5-8-4. What’s more, this success is partly due to Zach Nichols, a very talented forward whose 6 goals and 1 assist led the team. Let’s hope this momentum carries the team to an even better season next year.

In summation, this fall season has been full of surprises with ups and downs for every team. But it’s important to recognize the efforts, despite the final results. Congratulations to all the student athletes who work hard every day to be as good as they can be – and good luck to all the sports preparing to compete in the spring. Go Cardinals!

With over 20 lively performances in just this academic year, The Cardinal Sound has become an essential part of William Jewell College’s school spirit. Since its creation, the band has captivated audiences and energized campus events with its enthusiastic performances.

“I was hired in part to help launch the athletic band. We started it from absolutely nothing but an idea,” shared Dr. Dorothy Glick Maglione (Dr. GM), who has been working full-time at Jewell since 2019. She was central to the founding of the Cardinal Sound and has served as its faculty director from its beginning. Dr. Glick Maglione reflects on the athletic band’s journey, highlighting milestones such as the introduction of a color guard and invitations to perform at the 2024 Achievement Day dinner.

“While I’ve been teaching for almost two decades at this point, starting The Cardinal Sound has been an absolute privilege,” Dr. Glick Maglione recounted. “Selecting the uniforms, purchasing instruments, composing music and creating traditions were all aspects of this new venture. I am honored to have had students who bought in, and I have been blown away by their dedication. Throughout this process, I have really learned how precious moments are with people. Four years goes by quickly, and it is such a joy to get to see the students go from high schoolers to starting their careers.”

Along with Dr. Glick Maglione, the Monitor interviewed three graduating students who have been in The Cardinal Sound all four years: Brynesha Griffin-Bey, Alexis Harper and Jolia Bernal.

Brynesha Griffin-Bey, who plays clarinet and aspires to become a music educator, spoke about her love for music: “Band is a beautiful thing to me. Band has taught me to be disciplined and strong (through procedures, practicing, leading the ensemble in multiple ways and just being a member of something where my presence matters), but it has also created an environment where I can be my true authentic self in front of others, and I want to take all of those things with me into my career and future.

“My favorite memories revolve around the people in the ensemble!” Griffin-Bey reflected. “I have made so many friendships and close bonds through performing and practicing with these members over the years, and that is truly unforgettable to me and will be the things that I will look back on once I graduate from Jewell. Performing under the direction of Dr. Glick Maglione has also been the best! She had inspired me and mentored me so much over the years, and that will also stick with me.”

Alexis Harper, a graduating senior who plays flute and piccolo, reflected on the influence that The Cardinal Sound has had on the fans at Jewell sporting events. “It is special to watch and support the WJC athletes in a way that incorporates my passion for music,” Harper said. “I remember a stark lack of enthusiasm from the crowd during the first football game The Cardinal Sound ever performed at. Four years later, a full crowd pumped their fists as we played the William Jewell College fight song at our last performance of this season.”

Harper also shared about her recent new experiences in The Cardinal Sound. “The Shenanigans Concert on March 24 was a downright goofy display of the talented people in the William Jewell College Performing Arts Department that was constructed by WJC Choral Director Dr. Anthony Maglione and actor and comedian Dave (Gruber) Allen. The atmosphere both on and off stage was different from any other performance I have done, and it was great to be a part of it with The Cardinal Sound.”

Jolia Bernal, a graduating euphonium and trombone player, explained how The Cardinal Sound has impacted her life. “Playing at the college level has given me the opportunity to push myself in my playing abilities. My biggest takeaway from my experiences in Cardinal Sound would be that you can create a home away from home with common interests and the people that you surround yourself with.”

Bernal, while involved in The Cardinal Sound, has also been a founding member of The Crown Jewell color guard. “Winter guard is a sport of the arts that involves flags, sabres, rifles, dance and interpretive movement. Our show this year was titled “Let In The Light,” and it was about new beginnings and kind of represented the start of this new team and legacy at Jewell.” she explained. “I was very excited to help start this team as a part of Cardinal Sound, and we had a very successful season as well.”

The Cardinal Sound is made up of 24 students this year, and the program is expected to grow in the future. While Griffin-Bey, Harper and Bernal prepare for graduation, their legacy as founding members of The Cardinal Sound’s will be maintained by returning members and newcomers.

Third-year trumpet player Carson Krop described how his experiences in Cardinal Sound have influenced his interactions with teamwork and dedication: “It provides a lot of structure and companionship. College band has a set time to meet and you can count on your peers being present at rehearsal,” he explained. “There were countless rehearsals that we have had that were tedious, but that tedious and persistent work that we put in consistently showed during our performances. If it weren’t for those small details that we perfected in rehearsal, no matter how tedious, then we would not sound the way we do nor have the reputation/name recognition on campus and throughout the community.”

For second-year percussionist Ali Thatcher, the athletic band offers opportunities for exploration and growth. “There are higher expectations in collegiate level band, but I also get to try a ton of new stuff that I haven’t done before,” Thatcher shared. “You can usually try something new and experiment if you just ask! The worst [a director] can say is no.”

First-year guitarist and drummer Caden Powell shared his journey of adaptation within the ensemble: “Something I’ve learned would definitely be mixing sound with everyone, and having to change the sound I usually use to something that cuts through the mix a bit more. My favorite memory would have to be playing at the Achievement Day dinner, everyone locked in with each other and Dr. GM let me turn up a little and just let it rip. It was so much fun.”

With each member contributing their unique perspective and talents, The Cardinal Sound continues to evolve, embracing new challenges and opportunities.

Alongside Bernal, Avalon Autrey, a second-year at Jewell, also contributes her talents to The Crown Jewell color guard team. Collaborating with The Cardinal Sound band at athletic events, Autrey fondly recalled their favorite moments from their inaugural season. “My fav event so far has been homecoming! It’s also my favorite memory from how large the crowd was and the energy they brought, and winning the game made it even better!” Autrey reflected. “Dr. GM and my guard coaches have taught me that it is okay to be the last one to leave practice sometimes, especially if you’re the last one to get to practice in the first place!” 

After attending and winning their first Mid Continent Color Guard Association (MCCGA) State Championships at Willard High School on April 6, The Crown Jewell winter guard came home with five first place, and one second place, finishes in the six competitions in their inaugural season. With their first show “Let In The Light,” The Crown Jewell won the title of Independent Regional A Champions of 2024 against six other college independent color guards: Beautiful City Independent, Wildcat Winter Guard, Divine Light, Elegante Independent, Parkway South-West Winter Guard and Queen City Independent.

If you’d like to learn more about The Cardinal Sound or The Crown Jewell, you can reach out to Dr. Glick Maglione at maglioned@william.jewell.edu or follow @williamjewellbands and @thecrownjewellguard_wjc on Instagram.

Cardinal Sound 2023-24 Performances
9/2/2023 Jewell Football vs. Fort Lewis
9/9/2023 Jewell Football vs. Kentucky Wesleyan
9/30/2023 Jewell Football vs.Upper Iowa Homecoming
11/4/2023 Jewell Football vs. Southwest Baptist
11/14/2023 Jewell Women’s Basketball vs. Newman University
11/16/2023 Jewell Hoops vs. Washburn University
11/18/2023 Jewell Hoops vs. Newman
11/21/2023 Jewell Hoops vs. MO West
2/8/2024 Jewell Hoops vs. Southwest Baptist
2/10/2024 Jewell Women’s Basketball vs. Drury University
2/17/2024 Jewell Women’s Basketball vs. Rockhurst University
2/17/2024 Jewell Hoops vs. Rockhurst University
2/29/2024 Achievement Day Dinner
3/2/2024 Jewell Hoops vs. MO S&T
3/8/2024 Jewell Hoops vs. Truman State 2024 GLVC Tournament
3/24/2024 Shenanigans 3

The Crown Jewell Competitions & Scores
2/3/2024 Blue Springs South – First Place – 61.12/100
2/17/2024 MO State University – Second Place – 67.14/100
3/2/2024 Lee’s Summit West – First Place – 73.99/100
3/9/2024 Belton – First Place – 79.27/100
3/23/2024 Lee’s Summit North – First Place – 80.40/100
4/6/2024 Championships at Willard – First Place – 82.22/100

The Jan. 28, 2024 fight for the NFC Championship title came down to the San Francisco 49ers and the Detroit Lions, as they battled it out at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, the home field of the 49ers. Things were not looking good for quarterback Brock Purdy and the 49ers, as they found themselves at a 17-point deficit by halftime, but they persevered and performed a miraculous comeback, outscoring the Lions 27-7 in the second half. The 49ers clinched the NFC Championship with a final score of 34-31, advancing to the Super Bowl.

The Kansas City Chiefs faced off against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore for the AFC Championship game. Many people doubted the Chiefs’ ability to stop the Ravens’ explosive offense, but the Chiefs’ defense, coached by Steve Spagnuolo, was able to put pressure on quarterback Lamar Jackson and hold the Ravens to 10 points, tied for their season low. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes along with tight end Travis Kelce made an unstoppable duo, with Kelce scoring the first touchdown of the game to give the Chiefs an early lead. The game ended with a final score of 17-10 with the Chiefs claiming the AFC Championship title and moving on to compete in the Super Bowl yet again.

As Super Bowl LVIII approaches, we can look back and see what happened the last time the Chiefs and the 49ers competed against each other in Super Bowl LIV. Patrick Mahomes became the Chief’s starting quarterback in 2018 and has since led his team to the Super Bowl in four of the previous five seasons, winning two of them. Super Bowl LIV was Mahomes’ first appearance in the Super Bowl, and though the Chiefs were down early, Mahomes’ offense scored 21 unanswered points in the 4th quarter to win 31-20. 

This will be a challenging matchup between two teams led by talented young quarterbacks and two of the league’s top ten defenses, with both teams proven to be able to handle comeback situations. Chiefs fans hope to see their team win their second consecutive Super Bowl, while the 49ers aim to win their first Super Bowl since the 1994 season. Super Bowl LVIII will be played at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada on Feb. 11 at 5:30 p.m. (CT) with Reba singing the National Anthem and Usher performing for the halftime show.