Sports – Page 6 – The Western Howl

Written by: Sadie Latimer | News Editor

Western’s dance team took to the field Nov. 2, during the halftime of a men’s rugby game. They danced to the song “7/11” by Beyoncé with a lively hip-hop routine that was choreographed by Vic Linne and Jo Bell, officers of the dance team. When the song finished, the dancers hit their final pose while the rugby crowd cheered. Each member of the team had a smile on their face as they waved to their audience and ran off the field.

The dance team also performed at the football game Nov. 9. It was their last performance of the Fall term. They danced to a mash-up of different songs and showcased the four seniors on the team. The seniors being recognized were Anna Martinez, Jo Bell, Diana Gray and Crystal Robertson. Another senior, Vic Linne, was also recognized but didn’t perform at the football game.

Abbi Duhart, an English and dance double major and sophomore at Western, joined the dance team Fall term of 2023.

“This is my sixth year of doing dance,” said Duhart. “I started when I was in eighth grade, but I did primarily ballet. It wasn’t until I got to college and I joined the dance team that I really branched out into hip-hop.”

Learning hip-hop pushed Duhart out of her comfort zone, but ultimately she was thankful she decided to audition for the team. “It was something I wouldn’t normally do, but … why wouldn’t I want to do something that might be fun or that I might be interested in?”

During the start of each term, the rehearsals are mainly focused on learning different techniques. Further into the term, the team focuses on learning choreography for their dances. It gets especially busy Winter term during basketball season, where they perform at the home games.

“Sometimes it can even be learning more than one dance in a day,” said Duhart. “It can get stressful, but everyone is really supportive and there for you, especially the officers. It’s a really good community to be a part of, and it’s a lot of fun.”

The dances are mainly choreographed by the officers of the team. “The president probably does the most (choreography), but they all contribute to different dances. In basketball season, it sometimes also opens up to anyone on the team that wants to choreograph,” said Duhart. Students on the dance team can not only learn techniques and hip-hop dances, but they also can get the opportunity to try their hand at choreography.

Auditions are held at the end of each term for students who are considering joining the dance team.

“(This Wednesday) is open practice. Anyone can come and practice with us for technique to get ready for winter tryouts, which are the following week.”

Auditions will be Nov. 18 and Nov. 20 from 5 – 7:30 p.m. in room 253 of the Health and Wellness Center. The team’s Instagram — @wou_danceteam — has a Google Form linked in their bio for students who are interested to fill out before auditions.

“I think people should audition if they have any inkling of being interested in dance and if they want to have fun with dance and learn new dance styles,” said Duhart. “Anyone can audition regardless of how you identify, how you look or your dance experience. Even if you’ve never danced in your life, you can audition. It’s open to anyone.” Auditions and rehearsals are both spaces that are always free of judgment.

“Just go for it if you think you might be interested,” said Duhart. If students audition and make it onto the team, they have the option of not performing if they don’t want to.

“It’s a good outlet for … getting away from school-related things,” said Duhart. She emphasized that the team is a great community, full of accepting and supportive people who want the best for every single member.

If students want to support the dance team, they can show up to football, rugby and basketball games and cheer on the dancers during halftime. Another way to support the dance team is to buy tickets to their showcase Spring term of 2025. “(The showcase) is where we perform all the dances from the whole year to showcase them. It’s specifically for the dance team, so it really shows support when people go to see it,” said Duhart.

Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu

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Meet Cori Metzgar

Written by: Quincy Bentley | Sports Editor

Cori Metzgar, the Wolves’ respected strength and conditioning coach, began her journey in sports at an early age. Growing up, the Alaska native excelled in sports, which initially introduced her to strength training. She continued her athletic career at Fort Lewis College, an NCAA Division II school in Colorado, where she further developed her passion for fitness and competition.

Metzgar’s early exposure to training started with her love for sports. At Fort Lewis College, Metzgar was a downhill ski racer as well as a soccer player. She competed in both sports from freshman to junior year, until a significant turning point redefined her path.

Going into her senior year, Metzgar suffered two broken vertebrae in her back, hindering her from continuing to participate in sports. During the recovery period, she began working under her coach at Fort Lewis College, assisting him for two years which eventually solidified her path toward a career in strength and conditioning. She also drew inspiration from her father, a cross-country and track coach, who instilled a deep appreciation for sports and training.

Metzgar began her career as a graduate assistant at Western Michigan University. After completing her master’s degree, she joined Ohio State University as a professional intern. Following a year at OSU, she spent the next five years at Colorado State University, serving as the head assistant for football while also overseeing training for volleyball, swimming & diving, softball, tennis and track. Metzgar then moved to Washington State University, where she worked for five years — first as an assistant and later as the associate head strength and conditioning coach — leading programs for baseball, volleyball, swimming, soccer and rowing. In 2011, she embraced the role of head strength coach at Western, where she has remained since.

A typical day in Metzgar’s role starts as early as 6 – 6:30 a.m. She runs training sessions for various teams every 45 minutes until about 11 a.m., followed by a lunch break. Her afternoons aren’t any slower though, packed with even more sessions from 1 to 3 p.m. Despite the demanding schedule, Metzgar still manages to carve out time for her own workouts, while also prioritizing her responsibilities as a mother. Her role requires a ridiculous amount of organizing, as she also has to fit everyone’s training schedules in cohesively. She develops and programs workouts for all the athletes she trains, which include Western’s football, men’s basketball, men’s soccer, baseball and softball programs.

When not immersed in her professional responsibilities, Metzgar lives an active and fulfilling life. When asked about what she likes to do with her free time, Metzgar shared, “I love to train, run and spend time with my daughter.” She also mentioned that she enjoys traveling, cooking and exploring local wineries such as Brynmawr, Ankeny and West Hills.

What truly sets Metzgar aside from other people in her field is her approach to coaching. “I think what leads to my success is that I’m very passionate about what I do and the people I work with,” she explained. Understanding the unique needs of each athlete, she tailors her training styles accordingly, recognizing that motivating a basketball player might differ from motivating a football player. Her priority is to establish trust: “I want everyone to know that I care. Once they know that you care, they’re going to trust you more.” She embraces the challenge of reaching every athlete, acknowledging that while it may not always be possible, it remains her goal.

Supporting Metzgar here at Western is Josie Boucher, a dedicated strength coach from Austin, Texas. Boucher’s career began with training high school athletes, eventually leading to a role at the University of Texas at Austin for seven months and then a year at Texas A&M. Now in her second year at Western, Boucher is motivated by her collegiate powerlifting days and a significant injury that sparked her interest in the science of training. “I wanted to be everything I didn’t have,” she says, inspired by a lack of guidance during her own athletic journey.

Boucher’s day often starts around 7 a.m., where she finalizes programming before going into training sessions with women’s soccer, freshman football, volleyball and track. Beyond the gym, Boucher enjoys spending time outdoors with her German shepherd, Roy, reading — currently the third Lord of the Rings book — and staying connected with her family in Texas.

When asked what advice they would give to someone aspiring to follow a similar path, both Metzgar and Boucher emphasized the importance of building connections. Metzgar advises upcoming strength coaches to volunteer and spend time in weight rooms to gain experience firsthand, while Boucher highlights the value of building relationships with mentors and continuous self-education in sports science. “Building connections with people who are willing to help and know what they are talking about is key,” Boucher adds.

Together, Metzgar and Boucher bring a great combination of experience, passion and mentorship to the Wolves’ strength and conditioning program. Their commitment to both the athletes and their craft makes them an exceptional team in collegiate sports training.

Contact the author at howlsports@mail.wou.edu

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Fellowship of Christian athletes

Written by: Quincy Bentley | Sports Editor

The Fellowship of Christian Athletes — FCA — is a nationwide organization that brings student-athletes together through a shared commitment to faith and sports. Its overall mission is to provide a space where individuals can connect and grow in their spirituality. At Western, FCA meets every Monday night at 7 p.m. at the Health and Wellness Center, offering student-athletes an environment of community and encouragement. Over the past year, FCA at Western Oregon has seen a remarkable increase in attendance. While last year’s meetings filled only about half the room, this year’s gatherings have drawn such a large crowd that the group had to relocate to a larger space — and even then it was overflowing.

A key figure in the success of FCA at Western is Scott Schindelar, the man who turned the idea into reality. Schindelar goes beyond just leading Monday night meetings; he regularly meets with small groups for deeper biblical discussions. Something that truly stands out about Schindelar is his genuine approach to connecting with students. He goes out of his way to greet newcomers and make sure everyone feels welcome, even those he’s just met. Schindelar and his wife, Adrianne, further grow the community by hosting dinners at their home every other Sunday, where as many as 70 athletes have gathered to converse over a home-cooked meal.

Schindelar believes that FCA is essential for student-athletes at Western. “These are your people,” he says. “This is a group going through the highs and lows of being a student-athlete. We also tackle life’s greatest questions like, ‘Who are you and what is your purpose in life?’” Jessy Hart, a member of the women’s track and field team, shared, “FCA offers a sense of family and community, and a space to grow in your faith.”

Aliyah Taba, also from women’s track and field, added, “FCA provides a safe space for everyone to come together and gather as followers of Christ.”

Their testimonials show how FCA serves as more than just a meeting; it’s a place for student-athletes seeking spiritual growth and a like-minded community.

Occasionally, FCA will invite a guest speaker to share their personal testimony and offer advice to the athletes in attendance. This week, the group welcomed Lauren Becraft, a junior on the women’s soccer team at Western Oregon University. Lauren transferred from Montana State University Billings and embraced her new journey at Western with determination, setting a personal goal to make a name for herself by having a breakout season. Reflecting on this ambition, she shared openly with the group, explaining how she had hoped this would be her time to shine. “I came here with that intent, but things have not panned out,” she admitted, adding that her playing time hasn’t been what she envisioned, and the challenges she’s faced have been unexpectedly tough. At this point, it was evident that Lauren’s story resonated deeply with the audience. Not many athletes are willing to talk about struggles with playing time, especially when they’re in the midst of it, and her vulnerability showed the audience they weren’t alone.

Lauren’s story was more than just an acknowledgment of a tough season, it was a reminder of a deeper truth. “As I’ve been going through this, I have learned an important aspect. You’re not going to find your identity in your sport; the only way you’ll be able to find your identity is through Jesus.” As her testimony drew to a close, the room began to applaud, as the athletes found comfort in her message. Moments like these highlight why guest speakers are so valuable to FCA; they remind struggling athletes that they’re part of a larger community that understands their challenges and supports them in their journey. The consistent turnout and engagement at FCA meetings are a testament to the impact of this faith-centered community at Western. Athletes face a lot of pressure from the demands of their sports, but FCA is able to provide a space where they can openly share these experiences and lean on each other through faith. For those considering joining, remember to arrive early, as the space fills up quickly.

Contact the author at howleditorinchief@mail.wou.edu

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Boise State phenom

Written by: Quincy Bentley | Sports Editor

Boise State University running back Ashton Jeanty is taking the college football world by storm with his consistent record-breaking performances throughout the 2024 season. Not only is he the top contender for the Heisman Trophy this year, but the junior running back is also on pace to break Barry Sanders’ legendary single-season rushing record of 2,628 yards in one season. Jeanty’s sporadic play has brought him and his team national attention, with fans and scouts taking note of his ability to make plays from anywhere on the field.

The 20-year-old from Jacksonville, Florida, has proven himself to be an absolute weapon on Boise State’s offense, averaging a whopping 9.9 yards per carry in only six games. He also has racked up 126 rushes for 1,248 yards and 17 touchdowns this season, leaving him as one of the top rushers in the nation.

Other than his speed, another aspect of Jeanty’s athletic ability that stands out is his strength. The 5-foot-9-inch junior can bench press 320 pounds, power clean 300 pounds and even squat 600 pounds. Boise State head coach Spencer Danielson stated, “He once did 605 like it was nothing and he had to be cut off.”

Much of Jeanty’s success is attributed to his strength and conditioning work off the field. The statistics that he has put up this year are nothing but a testament to the hard work he has put in on and off the field. This level of physical fitness is rare among college running backs and has truly made him a nightmare matchup for opposing defenses.

Boise State currently holds a record of 5-1, with their only loss being to No. 1 University of Oregon. Although the Ducks came out of the game with the win, containing Ashton Jeanty was something they struggled with. Even against the powerhouse University of Oregon, Jeanty ran for 192 yards and scored three touchdowns. His performance almost allowed Boise State to pull off the upset, but instead, they gave Oregon their second-closest game, losing by only three points.

For now, Jeanty has made it clear that he is focused on one thing and one thing only: winning. No one has been able to stop him, and he doesn’t look like he’s slowing down anytime soon. The real question is will college teams continue to allow the Boise State running back to spoil their season?

Contact the author at howlsports@wou.edu

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Western falls short

Written by: Quincy Bentley | Sports Editor

Following an eventful homecoming week, Western students and fans were eager for the highlight of the weekend, the homecoming football game. The Western Wolves took on Texas A&M Kingsville in a high-stakes, much-anticipated match. With both teams entering with strong records — Wolves at 5-0 in conference play and Kingsmen at 3-2 — this game was set to be an exciting showdown that would test each team’s grit and endurance.
Jordan McCarty started the game off with a 6-yard run into the end zone, while freshman kicker Keaton Emmett finished it off with an extra point, adding a total of seven points to the scoreboard for the Wolves. It wasn’t long until the opposing offense responded though, as the Kingsmen followed up with a touchdown and extra point of their own.
Going into the second quarter, the score was tied at 7-7. Both teams were getting stops on the defensive end, but Andrew Simpson’s impressive interception midway through the quarter shifted momentum in the Wolves’ favor. Things were looking great for Western, as they continued to gain yards and attention from fans, but unfortunately, they weren’t able to capitalize off of Simpson’s play. The possessions continued to go back and forth, but the Kingsmen were able to score seven points right before halftime, making the score 7-14 in Texas A&M’s favor going into the half.
In an intense third quarter, the Wolves faced an uphill battle as their opponents widened the gap with a touchdown and extra point. This set the score to 7-21. However, a strong run from redshirt sophomore Jermaine Land revived the Wolves’ offense, putting them in position for a much-needed touchdown. Soon after, the Wolves struck, with a crucial touchdown pass and a successful kick to narrow the Kingsmen’s lead to just seven points. Their defense held strong, stopping the opposing offense and leaving the Wolves trailing 14-21 as they headed into the final quarter.
The fourth quarter started with a bang as the Wolves pulled off an impressive series of plays. A well-placed throw found senior wide receiver Damon Hickok, who made an acrobatic catch for a massive gain. Another pass to Hickok set the Wolves within 20 yards of the end zone. The next play, redshirt sophomore Kainoa Sayre had a strategic run, placing them only three yards from tying the game. Despite their efforts, a costly fumble on third down turned the possession over. Yet shortly after, the Wolves’ defense kept the dream alive, capped off by an outstanding interception from redshirt junior Daron Ulrich Jr. However, they couldn’t convert on their final chances, even after blocking a critical punt. Ultimately, Texas A&M ran out the clock, leaving the Wolves just shy of a comeback.
The Wolves — 5-3 overall, 5-1 Lone Star Conference — have a chance to redeem themselves next week as they travel to take on Midwestern State in Wichita Falls, Texas.

Contact the author at howlsports@mail.wou.edu

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Ohtani’s dominance

Written by: Quincy Bentley | Sports Editor

Shohei Ohtani’s recent performances have been nothing short of historic, solidifying his status as one of the most versatile players in modern baseball. The Japanese-born superstar has gained fans worldwide with his incredible achievements as both a hitter and a pitcher — a feat that’s rarely seen in the game.

In the 2023 season, Ohtani showed the world what a dual-threat player looks like. As a hitter for the Los Angeles Angels, he led the entire league in home runs for most of the season, establishing his spot among the best sluggers in the MLB. Ohtani’s power and precision were demonstrated with each swing, as he consistently launched balls out of the park and delivered clutch hits in high-pressure situations. He finished the 2023 season with a league-leading 44 home runs, while also striking out 167 batters, despite an elbow injury that limited his playing time toward the end of the season.

After the 2023 season, Ohtani took advantage of his free agency and decided to stay in Los Angeles, signing a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers. His contract went down in history as the largest deal in North American sports.

Right when people thought he couldn’t get any better, Ohtani shocked the world in the 2024 regular season. On the offensive side, Ohtani nearly captured one of the MLB’s most coveted awards, the Triple Crown. This award recognizes players who lead the league in three major categories; batting average, home runs, and runs batted in — RBIs — a feat that hasn’t even been touched since Miguel Cabrera in 2012. By the end of the season, Ohtani had a .310 batting average, which was just short of the league leader, Michael Harris II. Nevertheless, Ohtani dominated in home runs and RBIs, truly showcasing his ability to hit for power and precision. Ohtani also is the first baseball player in history to have 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in one season, and the ball he set this record with was sold for 4.4 million dollars. In his first year with the Dodgers, he won the National League Most Valuable Player award, led his team to the World Series and recorded the highest home run count by a Dodgers player in a single season.

Ohtani’s impact goes beyond his statistics. He has reignited global interest in baseball, especially among fans in Japan. In a sport where specializing in one position has become the norm, Ohtani’s ability to excel as both a pitcher and a hitter has defied conventional wisdom. His skillset goes hand in hand with his relentless work ethic, proving that hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard.

Contact the author at howlsports@wou.edu

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Hoop & Howl

Written by: Quincy Bentley | Sports Editor

Western men’s and women’s basketball programs shared the stage for the Hoop & Howl event Oct. 11. The night started with player and coach introductions, with the crowd raving in response. Notably, senior guards Bella Pedrojetti and Jason Gallant received favorable ovations from the audience as they walked onto the court to their selected songs.

Fans were able to watch and even join in on some of the events on Friday night. The men’s and women’s basketball teams competed in a series of events — skills challenges, a three-point challenge and a dunk contest.

During the skills challenges, players from each team were instructed to choose two individuals from the stands to help them take home the win. The fans that were chosen were happy to be picked and also spread a competitive spirit throughout the gym. They started by making a layup, a free throw and one three-pointer. From there, they began dribbling around a series of cones and then had to finish with another three-pointer to solidify the victory.

After the skills challenges finished, Wolfie, Western’s school mascot, decided to get in on the action. Two fans from the audience were chosen to race Wolfie to halfcourt and back and, let’s just say, Western’s spirit animal took a big tumble. To wrap up the first sequence of events, the winners ended up leaving with more than just a smile on their faces — they were given an exclusive Hoop & Howl shirt for their performances and willingness to step up.

The second half of events involved a three-point shootout. The men’s team was on one side of the court while the women’s team was on the other. The players were given five shots on five different spots around the three-point line, with one of these spots being a money ball rack. Each made shot counted as one point, but the money ball rack was especially important because the shots made at that spot counted as two points.

On the women’s side, freshman guard Brianna Badonie got off to a hot start, scoring 15 points in the first round. Shortly after, senior guard Bella Pedrojetti responded with 15 points, forcing Badonie and Pedrojetti to compete in a tiebreaker. Both players chose two spots on the court to shoot from and attempted five shots from each. It was a close battle, but Pedrojetti took home the win after making six out of her ten total shots. On the men’s side, junior guard Carson Frinke scored 17 points, allowing little room for any of his teammates to combat. Freshman Mario Williams Jr. put up a fight, but nobody was able to reach Frinke’s score, declaring him the winner.

The dunk contest, the most anticipated event of the evening, included contestants junior forward Anjay Cortez, junior guard Makaio Mims, sophomore guard Makaio Morphy and sophomore forward Hawthorn LaPierre. Although there were four competitors, one was able to shine above the others. In round one, the six-foot-eight-inch forward, Cortez, threw down a 360 alley-oop dunk from his teammate Gallant. This received a total of 49 points out of 50, making it a tough score to beat. Morphy and LaPierre showed off their impressive jumping ability in round one, but Mims threw down a reverse dunk that allowed him to surpass the two sophomores. The final two contestants boiled down to Mims and Cortez. Mims received a score of 45.8 after stuffing in a 360 off the backboard alley-oop that left the crowd in shock. Surprisingly though, his score was not enough to match what Cortez brought to the table. For his final dunk, Cortez performed an under-the-legs dunk that was so impressive it led to a perfect score of 50 from the judges. After a great showing from the contestants, the high-flying forward Cortez took home the dunk contest title.

Lastly, the winner of the men’s three-point contest battled against the winner of the women’s three-point contest to showcase the better shooter. Carson Frinke and Bella Pedrojetti are both sharpshooters from long range, but only one of them could come out on top that night. The same rules applied — five shots at five spots with a money ball rack — and the two shooters proceeded to go at it. Frinke was on fire, only missing three out of his first ten shots. In contrast, Pedrojetti started slow but began to heat up around her second spot, and from there she didn’t slow down. Despite finishing with a score of 18, Frinke came up short and Pedrojetti’s insane performance of 20 points led her to victory.

When Alex Saindon, the assistant coach for men’s basketball, was asked about his thoughts on the event, he stated, “I think it was a great experience. Hoop & Howl is an important tradition here at Western, and I’m excited to see it grow from here … go Wolves.”

Overall, Hoop & Howl was a great way to generate more fans to come out and support both the men’s and women’s teams as they start their seasons.

Contact the author at howlsports@wou.edu

Western Oregon University’s Land Acknowledgement
Western Oregon University in Monmouth, OR is located within the traditional homelands of the Luckiamute Band of Kalapuya. Following the Willamette Valley Treaty of 1855 (Kalapuya etc. Treaty), Kalapuya people were forcibly removed to reservations in Western Oregon. Today, living descendants of these people are a part of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Community of Oregon and the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians.

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Dance at Western

Meet Cori Metzgar

Boise State phenom

Western falls short

Ohtani’s dominance

Hoop & Howl

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