October is a busy month for Jewell’s fall sports. This year, the teams are looking at some crucial wins with a lot of talented players.

Football

Despite sophomore Tabren Yates leading a typically successful Cardinal Offense, the football team is sitting at a 1-5 record so far this year. There is no doubt that the “Agents of Change” have been showing signs of improvement every week — displayed by their win against Kentucky Wesleyan College a couple of weeks ago. With five more games to play, the team will hopefully utilize its talents well.

Volleyball

The volleyball team definitely has the talent to win a lot of games, whether it’s senior Haidan Baade recording her 1000th career dig at the team’s first Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) win this season or sophomore Bella LaPorta leading the charge with 284 kills. The team hopes to gain some traction within their GLVC standing in their upcoming Oct. 14 tournament against Lake Erie College.

Men’s Soccer

Currently the men’s soccer team is sitting at a solid 2-4-3 record with a three-way tie for most goals on the team between junior Cole Bulgren, junior Ethan Nichols and senior Carson Lee. They are looking at three remaining conference heavyweights at the GLVC with Quincy University, University of Illinois Springfield and Truman State University, respectively, for the rest of their season.

Women’s Soccer

Despite senior Corrine Hughes having an impressive eight goals so far this season, the women’s soccer team is sitting at a record of 1-11-1. The talent on the roster shows that it is entirely possible they turn their luck around as they face three conference rivals in the weeks ahead to round out the 2022 season.

Men’s Golf

It has been a rollercoaster of a season for the men’s golf team — having reached the heights of second place in the Kansas City Cup and third place at the Rockhurst Fall Invitational. Sophomore Aiden Sanders leads the team with the lowest score average of 75. The team has one final tournament in the form of the Oct. 24 and 25 Tulsa Cup in Oklahoma.

Women’s Golf

The women’s golf team received high placements at both the Kansas City Cup, third place, and Rockhurst Fall Invitational, second place. Senior Frida Hammarlund leads the pack with the lowest average score of 75.8 and was recognized as GLVC Player of the Week in late September. The team will play two more conferences this season: the Midwest Classic on Oct. 17 and 18 in Maryville and the Tulsa Cup on Oct. 24 and 25.

Men’s Cross Country

Performance for the men’s cross country team is high as they head into their final two competitions at the Baker Invitational and GLVC Championship. At the Oct. 8 Haskell Invite, the team placed fourth overall in the men’s 8k and five runners beat their career best time: senior Christian Santiago, sophomore Matthew Ingle, junior Harley Branch, sophomore Fabian Reyes and sophomore Samson Selleck. Santiago and Ingle both finished in the top 10 with eighth place and 10th place respectively.

Women’s Cross Country

The women’s cross country team is staying strong with two competitions left for the season at the Baker Invitational and GLVC Championship. The team placed sixth in the women’s 5k at the Haskell Invite with five runners beating their career best time: sophomore Lottie Vickers, sophomore Brooke Ware, first-year Lauren Flickinger, sophomore Carly Thacker and first-year Lillian Bogard. The team will face 15 college and universities at the GLVC Championship on Nov. 5, but overall their consistent performance should lead them to a good finish for the 2022 season.

Men’s Swimming

Having only started their season this past weekend, the men’s swimming team is off to a hot 2-1 start, having beaten both Maryville University, 226-31, and Truman State University, 121-83. The team scored four first place wins at the Truman State University competition: graduate student Austin Wolfe in both the 800 and 400 free, junior Conner Sawyer in the 100 free and junior Jose Carlos Sanchez in the 200 IM. The Cardinals will have to keep up their momentum through February to achieve their goals for a successful season.

Women’s Swimming

The women’s swimming team is showing signs of a winning season sitting at 1-1 after beating Maryville University, 187.5-59.5, in their opener. At the Truman State University competition, first-year Maddie Atwood placed first in the 50 free and sophomore Martina Torrent achieved first in both the 200 IM and 200 breast. It is no doubt this younger squad will have success throughout their season. 

Fall has officially begun with its beautiful colors and perfect temperatures. What better way to enjoy the outdoors than fun, friendly and competitive sports? 

There are a lot of great opportunities on the William Jewell College campus and in the surrounding community for people to watch and play games. Football, volleyball, cross-country, soccer and golf are in full swing competing for Jewell’s Cardinals.

While most sports will be on the road this weekend, women’s soccer will be at home Friday, Oct. 1 and Sunday, Oct. 3. Additionally, softball and baseball will have scrimmages throughout the fall season to watch, providing another opportunity for the community to support and enjoy Jewell’s athletics. 

Students and the community can play all types of games outside on the Jewell campus as well. By the baseball field, there is a nine-hole frisbee golf course, which is completely free to play and has some nice scenery too. 

Additionally, the Mabee Center is open on the weekends for students to play pickup basketball. Another fun activity is playing Ultimate Frisbee on the open practice fields by the fraternities. You’ll need at least 8 people to play, so get your friends together and enjoy the brisk weather! 

For those looking to find the thrill of competition and don’t play an organized sport on campus, keep an eye out for intramural games that have been brought back in full swing thanks to seniors Issac Stormes and Mitchell Elsnes. So far, Volleyball, Kickball, and Tug of War competitions have happened, with plenty more throughout the semester sure to come. 

Missouri weather is sure to show itself in extremes, but staying active in our community will create a sense of warmth that will last through the winter.

Looking for something to do on campus this week? Here are some of the events that are hosted by and for the Jewell community:

On Tuesday, Feb. 23, the women’s basketball team will be going up against Drury University at 6 p.m. This away game, as well as other away games, can be viewed on the William Jewell College athletics page. 

On Wednesday, Feb. 24, Gender Issues and Feminism (GIF) is hosting a discussion about Black feminism in room 112 of the PLC at 10:30 a.m. The discussion will center around a video about Black feminism in celebration of Black History Month. 

On Thursday, Feb. 25, in room 221/222 of the Yates-Gill Union, Black Student Alliance (BSA) is hosting their annual Jewell Kitchen event to honor local Black foods and Black culinary influences. Tickets for this event will be sold during Jewell Time in the Union until the day of the event, or until all tickets are sold.

On Friday, Feb. 26, GIF is hosting a Menstrual Product Drive in the Union. Students can donate menstrual products to GIF for their “Take One, Leave One” campaign. This campaign allows the club to offer free menstrual products to the Jewell community in various bathroom locations across campus. 

At 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., the softball team will be going up against the University of Nebraska at Kearney and Northwest Missouri State University, respectively. At 5 p.m., the women’s soccer team will be going up against Drury University, and the men’s soccer team will also go up against Drury at 7:30 p.m.

On Saturday, Feb. 27, the softball team will be going up against Upper Iowa University at 11 a.m. The women’s basketball team will face off against Rockhurst University at 1 p.m. At the same time, the women’s and men’s tennis teams will be going up against Missouri Valley College. At 3 p.m., the men’s basketball team will play Rockhurst University. At the same time, the softball team will be going up against Midwestern State University Texas and the women’s volleyball team will be going up against the University of Southern Indiana. At 6 p.m., the women’s volleyball team will be facing off against Maryville University. 

On Sunday, Feb. 28, the women’s soccer team will play against Missouri S&T at 12 p.m. The men’s soccer team will play against Missouri S&T at 2:30 p.m.

Photo courtesy of William Jewell College Volleyball Facebook page

Just a few weeks after their last match as college athletes, the seniors on the volleyball team talked to The Hilltop Monitor to share their thoughts on the William Jewell College volleyball program, their experience as student-athletes and their hopes for the future.

Three of the seniors confessed to not know much about the volleyball program before coming to Jewell, while Olivia Tolberd, senior mathematics and psychology major, said she knew the challenges that she would face. But, all of them were driven to come here because of Jewell’s academics.

“I honestly did not look too much into the program itself before I came here. I saw the campus, fell in love and enjoyed coach, and the fact that Jewell gives an amazing reputation once graduated,” said Jenna Rau, senior psychology and Applied Critical Thought and Inquiry (ACT-In) major.

“To be honest, I did not know about Jewell. I did my research on the school because I was looking for a good nursing program where I could also play volleyball competitively,” shared senior Raechel Meisinger, nursing major.  

“Before I came here I didn’t really have any initial thoughts, it was more the fact that I got to play a sport that I love while also coming to get the degree I wanted. So before I came I never really looked at their record – I just met the coaches and some of the girls and I really liked them,” said Stefanie Richterkessing, senior nursing and ACT–In major.

“Coming in I knew that it was going to be – start from the bottom and like kinda growing, like building something. So kinda like, ‘it’s a challenge,’” said Tolberd.

As any team, professional or collegiate, the volleyball team went through some tough times and it is unanimous that communication was key to solve the problems they went through. Being there for each other was also a major influence.

“We pushed each other, on and off the court, in the weight room and we were all on the same page about building this program from the bottom with Coach Raynes,” mentioned Rau.

After four years as Cardinals they agree about the progress the team has made and how proud they are to have been a part of it. Rau, Richterkessing and Meisinger shared their gratitude for how the program has changed them as individuals and taught them things they will take for the rest of their lives.

“Now I’m super glad I was a part of a program focused on the women we were becoming so that in the future we’re strong people who can face any type of diversity that arises,” said Richterkessing.

Concerning the future, they hope for the program to keep improving and for their younger teammates to maintain the standards they’ve implemented themselves. Tolberd shared her high hopes for the team and the freshman that still have a lot to learn.  

“My expectations for the future program is to hold themselves to our standard [CARDS], which is courageous, authentic, respectful, devotion and strength,” commented Meisinger.

Regarding the support they have had from Jewell as student-athletes, their experiences vary. Meisinger said she had amazing nursing professors that gave her a lot of support in the classrooms and courts. Tolberd and Rau said they had problems with professors that would doc points from them even if they missed class for volleyball or situations that a professor didn’t give the extra help needed or asked for.

“I think definitely it has [been given more support] more recently than it has on the past. More and more students are kind of bringing their concerns to their coaches and to their professors,” Richterkessing said of Jewell’s support for student-athletes.

With the future right ahead of them, these seniors shared what they’re going to miss about the volleyball team and their college experience as a whole.

“The continuous workouts, especially the 800, hanging out with my teammates and friends, my amazing nursing professors for their support and pushing through the volleyball and class challenges that have made me stronger physically and mentally,” said Meisinger.

“The non-stop love and support this team gives us. The lifelong friendships are what made me love this sport so much. I am going to miss turning to my teammates after each point in the huddle, cheering and yelling because one of us did something amazing, and seeing their faces light up because we are all doing something we love,” said Rau.

“I’m gonna miss the most the girls you know, you can’t really compare them to anyone else. I’ve learned so much throughout my journey here – the coaches also, just because their main objective for us was to find out who we truly are, so we can become the women we want to be. But also the goofy laughter, you know, being silly and knowing that no one judges you. Just the great atmosphere,” said Richterkessing.

“I’ll definitely miss the people the most. Because being on a team you just grow so close to those people. You literally share your life with them for how long you are in season and outside the season. You just grow through the hardships of being tired and all. But also just the feeling you get, like the adrenaline rush you get when you’re playing,” said Tolberd.