Mount Hood

Q&A: How COVID-19 impacted athletics

Caity Healy |  Managing Editor

 

Christina Carney, Women’s Rugby

Senior, Early Childhood Studies

 

When and how did you find out your season was coming to an abrupt end?

I kind of figured our season was coming to an end once the governor announced that no more than 250 people can gather together, and it just started going down from there. I am also friends with one of the OSU rugby girls, and she informed me that the rest of their season was cancelled, so I kenw Western would be soon. Then, my coach officially confirmed that championships was cancelled, and that’s when I told myself, “Wow! My college rugby career is over.” I had hoped that championships would at least happen because my team and I were preparing for it and excited for this last game with the seniors.

 

What was your reaction? How did your team react?

My first reaction was that I was shocked. I could not believe that my last college rugby game would be taken from me. For my team, I could tell that they were sad, as well. On championship day, a teammate even said, “today would have been a lot better if we were playing rugby,” and it made me tear. But, as captain, I reminded them that we had an awesome season and I wouldn’t have wanted to spend my senior year playing rugby with any other team.

 

How do you think this will impact your team for next year?

I think my team will be impacted in the sense that they need to play every game like it’s their last. No one expected this abrupt end, so I believe they will want to play every game to their fullest with no regrets in the coming years.

 

How do you feel about your season overall?

Overall, this season was awesome. I had the best teammates, the best positivity, the best bonds and lots of champions. Everyone did so amazing and stepped up during practices and games. There was so much support and I am so proud of all of us.

 

Anything you’d like to add?

If my teammates are reading, and other athletes, I would like them to know that they should play every game like it’s their last, because you never know if that is your last game. Also, for people wanting to join a sport, rugby is the sport. I promise, you will never be on a team so welcoming. So many students had joined rugby and just absolutely loved it. Loved the community, the welcome, the team, and ends up falling in love with rugby. Go Wolves!

 

Kennedy Coy, Softball

Senior, Community Health Major 

 

When and how did you find out your season was coming to an abrupt end?

We found out on March 12. We had a home game schedule that day against MSUB. We had won our first game, and we were feeling really good for the second. During our break in between games is when our coach told us. Sarge said that this next game was gong to be our last one for a while.

 

What was your reaction? How did your team react?

I was in shock at first. It took me a few minutes to process what was happening. When I realized that the next game was very well going to b e my last, there was a lot of tears. I hugged my teammates and as a whole we took some time to gather our thoughts. We tried to keep the mentality of, “Hey, we have one more game. We aren’t done, so let’s finish strong.” It was a really emotional game, but we played well and ended up winning. During the second game, someone thought to go get flowers for us seniors, and at the end, we had a short, make-shift senior night. It was a really hard day because none of us knew what was going to happen.

 

How do you think this will impact your team for next year?

I think that the next year is going to be something really special. Not just for our program, but for teams across the country. We all had something that we love, something that we worked really hard for, ripped away from us without warning. I think that next year, no one will take a single day for granted. We are going to have to work hard, but I know that people will be happy they get the chance to!

 

How do you feel about your season overall?

It’s hard to judge our season overall because we had so little of it. In our preseason, we learned a lot and we were headed in the right direction! We had to overcome a lot of injuries and other obstacles in the preseason, but as a group we were just getting started. I’m really proud of this team, we had to work with smaller numbers this year, but people were stepping up to fill spots and get the job done! Even though our  season was short, we have a lot to be proud of.

 

Anything you’d like to add?

If I were to add anything, it would be a huge thank you to our coaches, trainers, and the rest of the athletic department. WOU athletes are blessed with an incredible support system. This is scary right now, but I can’t wait to see what’s in store for WOU.

 

Contact the author at chealy16@wou.edu 

Photo courtesy of Christina Carney 

Photo courtesy of Brian Kortz 

Campus Voices

Cora McClain  | Editor-in-Chief

Yasmine Saleem, First-year Chemistry major ; Soccer, because of the physical competitiveness and I just like kicking things.

 

Em Preuss, Junior ASL/English Interpreting major ; Color Guard, because I’m a member of Color Guard. It’s fancy, but also very physical and it just looks cool. We use flags and rifles and we dance.

 

Trenton Viloria, First-year Kinesiology major ; Football, because of the action and the different concepts that come with it, offensive concepts and passing plays makes the game exciting.

 

Contact the author at howleditor@wou.edu

Photos by Cora McClain

Track and field start outdoor season on the right foot

Hannah Greene  | Sports Editor

As the Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships approaches, the Wolves got an early start to their outdoor season. Two meets were held last weekend, March 6 to 7, at Willamette University and Linfield College.

Both meets met the expectations of the Wolves with multiple runners making the top 10 across several events. To start, Sawyer Heckard, a senior, ran a new personal best in the Men’s 10k with a time of 32:20.83 — placing ninth overall at Linfield. Another feat included Dominic Giordano, a senior, who won the Men’s 3k steeplechase with a time of 9:28.49, followed by senior Hunter Mosman with a time of 9:37.94.

In the Men’s Shot Put, the Wolves were able to take first and second, as well as fifth through seventh — Nick Sieber, a senior, led the pack with a throw of 47-5 feet. 

The Men’s 800 placed well and consisted of mainly Western Oregon runners as Trey Reed, a junior, and Bryce Mefford, a first year, took first and second place with times of 2:00.59 and 2:01.90.

First-year, Jillian Greene stole the Women’s 800 and 1500 meter runs with times of 2:22.71 and 4:54.92. Another robber of two races included Bethanie Altamirano, a sophomore, who ran a time of 27.20 in the Women’s 200 meter race and a 59.89 in the Women’s 400 meter race — not far behind Altamirano was senior Grayson Burke with a time of 1:00.57.

The Wolves have officially sparked the match and outdoor season has begun. 

Next up, March 13 through 14, four Wolves head to Birmingham, Alabama, for the NCAA DII Indoor Championships where senior Derek Holdsworth, senior Max Carmona, sophomore Gabe Arce-Torres and senior Justin Crosswhite will compete in the men’s distance medley relay.

 

Contact the author at hgreene18@wou.edu

Racking points for seniors during Women’s Rugby match

Hannah Greene  | Sports Editor

The gridiron was full of spirit, the seniors were ready for their game and their teammates ready to battle for them.

Saturday, Feb.29, the Women’s Rugby team held a home game against the Willamette University Wildcats for their Seniors graduating this upcoming spring term. 

The Wolves’ Seniors included Nelly Blancas, the captain and team president, Leslie Carrasco, Alexis Osborn, Christina Carney, Gha Ming Ng and D-Dré Wright who was unable to attend. 

This game represented the closeness the teammates have with each other and showed the power that women have.

This was a meaningful game for Women’s Rugby being that it was the last time a lot of these players would get to see each other on the field. 

“I’ve enjoyed my time as the president and as a player. The club is amazing! I have learned so much through the years. It’s always great seeing new players grow. And I hope the team (has) the best of luck for next year!” said Blancas about her Senior game with the Women’s Rugby squad. The enthusiasm that the club president has for this club is shared among the players, having brought home a cake of a win, beating the Wildcats 42-5.

Coming up the team will play Willamette University again on Sunday, March 8, International Women’s Day. They will also play University of Puget Sound on March 15, which will be their final and championship match, hosted on the turf field at Western.

 

Contact the author at hgreene18@wou.edu

Photos by Emily Prall

Western player spotlight: Gha Ming Ng

Hannah Greene  | Sports Editor

Highlighted this week is Gha Ming Ng, a Western Women’s Club Soccer player and newly Western Women’s Rugby player. Ming was part of the team that flew to Texas to participate in Nationals for club soccer and part of the rugby team that continues to dominate its opponents.

Ming “is a force to be reckoned with,” said D-Dré Wright, a teammate on both soccer and rugby. Though short, Ming makes up for size with her speed and aggression against any opponent, along with her undying passion to help her team succeed. Ming has been playing soccer for most her life and went from, “thinking that I would never play soccer out of high school, to being a part of a new club team,” said Ming about her excitement over being able to play soccer longer.

Currently, Ming is majoring in Psychology with a minor in Health. She was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, where her main sport was soccer. Ming decided to go out for Women’s Rugby this Winter Term and has been killing it since. Ming is also a supervisor in the Valsetz Dining Hall and a WOU Ambassador. 

Ming creates a positive atmosphere, both on and off the field, and is able to bring any heated player to an even tempo. She plays each second with tenacity and drive, proving every practice that she belongs on the field during game play. As a senior, graduating this term, she has shown her natural leadership skills and her ability to be a role model to underclassmen. 

Through injury, Ming keeps pushing and never lets anything hold her back. 

“Ming is an endless source of energy on the field, whether it’s for soccer or rugby. Her perseverance on and off the field is incomparable,” said Wright, acknowledging her teammate’s power and recognizing Ming for her ability to step out of her comfort zone and join the Women’s Rugby team, “I wish I had joined earlier,” Ming said about her growing love for rugby.

“I am grateful that WOU has the options of intramurals as well as club sports where students can compete at different levels and overall just have fun,” said Ming about her time as an athlete at Western — getting the chance to continue her love and passion in soccer and now rugby.

 

Contact the author at hgreene18@wou.edu

Photos by Emily Prall

From the Sports Desk: You win or you lose, no inbetween

Hannah Greene  | Sports Editor

Currently, we are raising our children to have unrealistic expectations in life, that in turn, do not help our society grow or prosper. 

Growing up, trophies or ribbons were never given to anybody who got lower than third. Each team had to earn every part of that first place trophy, and if you failed you went to practice and worked harder than before to get there next year. Though sad, it taught me about failure, an experience and feeling we should all experience at some point in our lives, multiple times. In soccer, I learned that there will always be someone better, faster and stronger — but to never lose sight of what I was capable of or what I brought to the team. This allowed me to continue to grow as a player and realize where I belonged on the team — while also giving me hands on experience that I could translate into the “real world.”

My dad was very humbling. When I started track and field, ribbons were given out to every place up to eighth. Anytime I got one that was below third place with no personal best time, my dad would throw it away. I understood what this meant and it only enhanced the idea that I had to work for and earn that first place ribbon.

When we watch the Olympics, there is no fourth — if you didn’t get gold, silver or bronze, you didn’t do good enough. In the World Cup, there is no second place, there is only one World Cup trophy, for first place. 

By giving multiple trophies out we are teaching our future generations that they do not have to work hard or put in the time for something great — that they are deserving of something just because they wanted it and participated in it. We are teaching a behavior to children that will not get them far in life — a behavior that society accepted when they were children, but won’t when they are young adults. So why do we give out unnecessary nonsense? To make everyone feel included, like they have achieved something. In many eyes of parents this is a good thing, something that should be done everywhere. And thanks to these parents, it is everywhere. 

But, according to Dan Gould, a sports psychologist, “For rewards to work, they need to be earned” not handed out like a free-for-all. In life we will experience loss, watch someone else get what we wanted and know failure — and if we don’t when we’re young then we will be incapable of overcoming defeat in our futures.

 

Contact the author at hgreene18@wou.edu

Men’s Baseball win two of their four home games

Hannah Greene  | Sports Editor

Sunday, March 1, marked for a day of Western Baseball. From Feb. 29 through March 1, the Baseball team played against the Montana State University Billings Yellowjackets, a 4-game series. Saturday showed for a win-loss day, both the Wolves and Yellowjackets got a bite out of each other. 

The following day wasn’t much different; the first game going to the paws of the Wolves and the second and final game went to the stingers of the Yellowjackets. 

Each team showed great battles and entertained the spectators, with multiple runs and hits to bases. The Wolves were able to hold the Yellowjackets off in two of the games due to innings being shutout and runs being made. 

This weekend showed that the Wolves were able to hold their own and have the ability to have a strong season, but also gave them the insight they needed on what to work harder on and improve upon. 

Coming up, the Wolves head to Central Washington University in Ellensburg for two games on March 7 and 8. Their next home games are March 14 and 15 against Concordia University, with George Fox University coming to Monmouth on March 18.

 

Contact the author at hgreene18@wou.edu

Photos by Kay Bruley

Track and field take 6th and 7th at GNAC Championships

Hannah Greene  | Sports Editor

Over the last weekend, Feb. 21 and 22, the Men’s and Women’s Track and Field teams got on the bus to head to Boise, Idaho, for the GNAC Indoor Championships — a preview of what to expect for the NCAA Division II Championships.

The Wolves proved to be the powerhouse among the other competitors in this meet, finishing in the top-three in multiple races and events. Derek Holdsworth, a transfer senior, blew the competition out of the water in the Men’s 800-meter run and claimed the GNAC title, placing first in the final with a time of 1:54.20 — and not far behind was Max Carmona, a transfer sophomore from Ventura College, placing second with a time of 1:55.25. The Wolves were able to finish four runners in the top-five, with sophomore Adam Alnazer in fourth and junior Trey Reed in fifth — not leaving any space for the other opponents.

Along with Holdsworth, Boise saw Dominique Loggins, a first-year on the track team, steal the Men’s 60-meter run title with a time of 6.86 — this only being Loggins’ second indoor meet. If Loggins is able to bring his time down to a 6.72 he will qualify for the NCAA Division II Championships. 

First-year and standout, Maya Hopwood, had a plate full with the Women’s 60-meter and 200-meter dash — placing second in the 60 with a time of 7.64 and seventh in the 200 with a time of 25.25, just .01 seconds away from the next runner.

Kalulusno Ngaida, a junior jumper, jumped a new season best in the triple jump with a mark of 38-7.5 and came in second. Ngaida has proved to be a dominant jumper among the Wolves claiming sixth place in the high jump with a mark of 5-3.75.

Last week’s star, senior Justin Crosswhite, just barely missed the top-three in the mile, taking fourth with a time of 4:16.73. Along with this, Jillian Greene, a first-year, ran a new season best in the mile with a time of 5:10.69 — and moved herself into ninth on the all-time WOU record book.

The GNAC Championships made for a sweet, high-scoring trip — with the Men’s team placing sixth overall and the Women’s team placing seventh overall. 

Next up, the Wolves head to Seattle, Washington, to run their best time in the SPU Last Chance Qualifier. There will also be two meets closer to home on March 6 at Linfield College in McMinnville and at Willamette University on March 7.

 

Contact the author at hgreene18@wou.edu

Photos Courtesy of Rick Edelman

Varsity and Club Sports March calendar

Hannah Greene  | Sports Editor

Local Games Only

Varsity Men’s Baseball:

    March 1 @ 12 p.m. vs. Montana State University Billings

    March 14/15@ 1 p.m. vs. Concordia (tentative)

    March 18 @ 2 p.m. vs. George Fox University

    March 27/28 @ 1 p.m. vs. Northwest Nazarene University (tentative)

Varsity Men’s Basketball:

    All away

Varsity Women’s Basketball:

    Feb. 27 @ 5:15 p.m. vs. University of Alaska Anchorage

    Feb. 29 @ 2 p.m. vs. University of Alaska

Varsity Women’s Softball:

    March 13 @ 1 p.m. vs. Montana State University Billings

    March 14 @ 10 a.m. vs. Montana State University Billings

Varsity Track and Field:

    March 7 @ Willamette University, Salem, OR

    March 14 @ Pacific University, Forest Grove, OR

    March 21 @ Lewis and Clark College, Portland, OR

    March 26 @ Lane Community College, Eugene, OR

    March 28 @ Willamette University, Salem, OR

Club

Men’s Lacrosse

    March 1 @ 12 p.m. vs. Pacific Lutheran University

    March 14 @ 1 p.m. vs. Humboldt State University

 

Contact the author at hgreene18@wou.edu

IFC planning to cut 5.5% from Campus Recreation, your activities

Hannah Greene  | Sports Editor

Intramurals are a way to get out and be active; they happen all year long with multiple teams one can join each term. Not only do students actively participate in Intramurals, but the league also provides jobs for more than 25 students, from referees to scorekeepers to supervisors. 

Currently, the IFC, Incidental Fee Committee has released a preliminary decision to reduce the Campus Recreation Department budget for next year by 5.5%, amounting to about $61,000. 

What does this mean for fellow students? As of right now, Volleyball during spring would no longer be offered, multiple free tournaments would be taken away — golf and bowling for example — and the champions of the Rogue tournaments would no longer receive a free Championship shirt. 

Right now, Campus Recreation is hoping that students will share their voice to help reverse these proposed budget cuts. There will be one more hearing this month where Campus Recreation is encouraging students to attend the final open hearing to speak about their experience with Intramurals and the Campus Recreation Department in an effort to curb the finalization of the preliminary decision. On Feb. 27, an Open Hearing is scheduled for 4 p.m. in the WUC Pacific Room; a sign-in sheet will be provided for those wishing to speak, as an individual or as a group. There will also be smaller group discussions where one is able to speak to a smaller crowd — these will take place after the hearing. 

The IFC will have a table across from the bookstore where one is able to voice their thoughts and concerns to their peers — Feb. 26 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Feb. 27 from 12 to 3 p.m

 

Contact the author at hgreene18@wou.edu

IM Basketball scoreboards

Hannah Greene  | Sports Editor

Women’s Wednesdays

Team Wins Losses Ties Total
Big Baller$ 5 0 0 15
HOOP THERE IT IS 3 2 0 9
KAUAI BALLERZ 1 4 0 3
Alpha Chi Omega 1 4 0 3

 

Men’s Competitive Wednesdays

Team Wins Losses Ties Total
Backdoor Buddies 4 1 0 12
Cade and Company 4 1 0 12
Mamba Forever 1 3 0 3
The Mandos 1 4 0 3

 

Co-Rec Mondays

Teams Wins Losses Ties Total
Retired 

Basketball Players

 5 0 0 15
Ball Don’t Lie 4 1 0 12
Public Safety 4 1 0 12
EXS Squad 3 2 0 9
Narps 3 2 0 9
Kawhi So Serious? 1 4 0 3
Wolverine 0 5 0 0
Nothing but Net 0 5 0 0

 

Men’s Rec Tuesdays

Teams Wins Losses Ties Total
Shot Blockers 3 1 1 10
The HC’s 3 2 0 9
Hot&Fluffy 3 2 0 9
Sport Balls Basket Hoops 3 2 1 10
The IA 2 3 0 6
Tod and the minions 0 5 0 0

 

Contact the author at hgreene18@wou.edu

USWNT beats every opponent on path to 2020 Oympics

Hannah Greene  | Sports Editor

Since January, the United States Women’s National Team for soccer has been competing in games to qualify for the 2020 Olympics. On Jan. 28, the USWNT kicked off against Haiti, beating them 4-0, and two days later annihilated Panama with a score of 8-0. The final matches before the Semi-Final and Final, the USWNT played against Costa Rica, winning 6-0, another score that didn’t allow for any goals against them. 

The USWNT played against the young Mexico team and were able to beat them 4-0 to get to the Final vs Canada. In the past, Canada has proved to be a challenging team, making the USWNT work hard for every ball, teardrop, sweat, play and goal. Luckily, the USWNT was able to put three points on the board and not allow any goals, making the final score 3-0 — clinching a spot in the 2020 Olympics and setting them straight on a solid path to the She Believes Cup, starting in March, where they will compete against England, Spain, Japan, Australia and Brazil — multiple teams that confronted the USWNT during last year’s World Cup in France. 

Heading into the Olympics, the USWNT have a new coach, Vlatko Andonovski, who has made some changes to the lineup and called up multiple new players to join the squad. Alex Morgan, USWNT forward, has not been competing, but standouts Lynn Williams and Christen Press have changed the attacking game.

The next game for this team will be held on March 5, where England will meet the United States in the Exploria Stadium in Florida. 

 

Contact the author at hgreene18@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of ussoccer.com

Women’s Basketball falls twice more

Hannah Greene  | Sports Editor

Over this last weekend, Feb. 13 and 15, the Women’s Basketball team held two matches that ended in losses. Thursday, Feb. 13, the Wolves played against Seattle Pacific University, a team that beat the Wolves in a previous match by almost 20 points. This game was not the same, the Wolves were able to work together and keep within the Falcons’ score. Throughout the first quarter, the Wolves were able to dominate the play and outscore their opponent, but this was the only quarter the Wolves were able to do this. The Falcons held the lead in each following quarter, but never gained more than four points ahead of the Wolves. With the final buzzer approaching, the Falcons were able to put in one last basket and not allow for the Wolves to come back, making the final score 55-53 — a close battle with the luck in the Falcons’ talons.

For the next match, the Wolves took on Saint Martin’s University — a team that beat them 71-64 in their last match up. The first quarter of the game made for a tie, with both teams scoring 11 points — the lowest scoring quarter of this game. The Saints had some members who were able to put away multiple field goals in a row without a response from the Wolves. Later, the Wolves were able to come back slightly and bring their score a little higher, but this didn’t help with the amount of turnovers they gave up to the Saints. In the final stretch of the game, the Wolves were trailing by three points with only 10 seconds left in the game — sadly, they were unable to take advantage of the time and score. This concluded the game, Saints won 62-59, making this the Wolves’ 10th consecutive loss.

Up next, the Wolves leave home to play against Central Washington University on Feb. 20 and Northwest Nazarene University on Feb. 22.

 

Contact the author at hgreene18@wou.edu

Wolves’ track and field get ready for GNAC finals

Hannah Greene  | Sports Editor

This past weekend, Feb. 14-15, the Wolves left homebase to compete at the Boise State Challenge in Boise, Idaho and the Husky Classic in Seattle, Washington. 

The Boise State Challenge showed for a solid competition with first-year Maya Hopwood, who competed on the 60-meter dash — running her second best mark of 7.58 seconds, and got a mark in the 200-meter dash with a time of 25.17, .01 seconds off the school record and now #2 of all time at Western. Another feat from the Boise State Challenge included Bennen Sorah, first-year, who competed in the 800-meter dash, placing 10th and 31st overall with a time of 2:15.00.

At the Husky Classic, Justin Crosswhite, senior, ran a 4:04 in the men’s mile and almost solidified a qualifying position in the Indoor National Field, as well as moved up on the Wolves’ All-Time list to take #2. Kalulusno Ngaida, a junior, had her best triple jump score so far. Jumping a mark of 11.66 which also got her into the finals during this Husky Classic. Another result from the Husky Classic included a junior, Neal Cranston, who ran a time of 1:55.80 in the men’s 800-meter dash.

This next weekend, Feb. 21-22, the Wolves head to Boise Idaho for the GNAC Indoor Championships where they will attempt to break their PR’s, marks and make the podium. Last year saw Gabe Arce-Torres, sophomore , place sixth with a time of 50.19 in the men’s 400-meter dash; Curt Knott, junior, take second place overall in the men’s 800-meter dash with a time of 1:55.06 and Max Carmona, sophomore, with a 1:56.00 — not far from Knott. Fans are able to view results from the GNAC sports website or on the stories of the WOU XCTF on Instagram.

 

Contact the author at hgreene18@wou.edu

Photos courtesy of Rick Edelman

Men’s Basketball win both home games

Hannah Greene  | Sports Editor

Men’s Basketball brought home some dubs after this last weekend, Feb. 13 and 15, when they played against and beat Western Washington University and Simon Fraser University. 

On Thursday night, the Wolves came out ready for a challenge and the desire to beat the second-place team — the Vikings. Throughout the entirety of the match, the Wolves were able to keep their momentum and their points, never allowing the Vikings to take the lead. While the Wolves’ offense scored, the defense shut the Vikings down, making the team a force to be reckoned with. The fourth quarter buzzer rang off and the Wolves got their first win of the weekend, beating the Vikings 89-72.

During the next game the Wolves came in hot and ready to beat our foreign challenger, Simon Fraser University. The Wolves got an early lead during the second half which propelled their momentum going into the following quarters. Overall, the Wolves shot well and persistently, kept their lead, and never allowed Simon Fraser to come back. The final quarter allowed the Wolves to sail through, making their second win of the weekend a good one — beating Simon Fraser 76-64. 

Up next, Men’s Basketball leaves for Washington to take on the Central Washington Wildcats on Feb. 20.

 

Contact the author at hgreene18@wou.edu

Men’s Lacrosse lose to Montana Grizzlies

Hannah Greene  | Sports Editor

Winter means Men’s Lacrosse is back and running, ready to get work done. Saturday, Feb. 8, the Wolves hosted the University of Montana Grizzlies, who are nationally ranked in the top-10.

Currently, the Wolves are ranked 25th nationally by all Division II coaches — making for an entertaining game against the Grizzlies. 

Throughout the beginning of the match, the Grizzlies held the majority of the possession and remained ahead of the Wolves. The Grizzlies defense tested the Wolves’ offensive strength and didn’t allow them to gain closer to their score. 

During the second period the Grizzlies stepped ahead, scoring in the first 15 seconds — but the Wolves were able to shove back and bring the score 14-9, Grizzlies ahead, before the period ended.

The Wolves continued to allow multiple shots and offensive attacks by the Grizzlies, but lucked out after the Grizzlies missed multiple chances given to them. 

Towards the end of the game, the Grizzlies held their offensive attack and bombarded the Wolves’ goal, scoring again in the last seven minutes.

Final score, 18-11, left the Wolves with a sour loss and the Grizzlies with a fresh win.

Men’s Lacrosse will have their next home game on March 14, further details will be shared.

 

Contact the author at hgreene18@wou.edu

Photos by Kay Bruley

Men’s Rugby take another L over the weekend

Hannah Greene  | Sports Editor

A streak unlike before, Western Men’s Rugby continued the tears as their last home game on Saturday, Feb. 8, brought another loss. 

The Wolves held a home game against Pacific University Boxers, and boxed out the Wolves were. The Wolves’ defense struggled to hold any attack from the Boxers, which allowed for a great deal of scoring by the Boxers. On the other side of the playing field, the Wolves’ offense had no vision and was unable to find any way of scoring — every space was covered by the Boxers defense. Both sides of the ball continued to push, but not hard enough to take hold of the game at any point.

Similar to their last game against Oregon State University on Feb. 1, the Wolves had to borrow more players from the Boxers to be able to continue the game without being down any men.

The Boxers proved to have great ball movement and were able to find another scoring opportunity with only 12 minutes left in the game.

Though there were many great tackles, runs and plays made by the Wolves, winning was out of sight. The final score of the game ended with the Wolves at five points, trailing far behind the Boxers’ 43 points.

This game concluded the Men’s Rugby season of squads of 15 versus 15, and move on to play seven versus seven. Their next home game will not be until April 18, where the Wolves will be holding the League Championships for the seven versus seven teams.

 

Contact the author at hgreene18@wou.edu

Photos by Kay Bruley

Power couples that win

Hannah Greene  | Sports Editors

Highlighted power couples throughout professional sports, that continue to break barriers and add medals and gold to their closets.

 

Zac + Julie:

the Ertz Power Squad

NFL Champion for the Eagles + USWNT two-time World Cup Champion.

These two bring elite athlete power couple to an entirely new level.

 

Megan Rapinoe + Sue Bird:

the Dominators 

One USWNT player, one USAB player, both professionals in Washington, winning medals.

 

Amanda Nunes + Nina Ansaroff:

the Lionesses that Shred

Two fighters that bring power to the name behind female UFC fighters. 

 

Contact the author at hgreene18@wou.edu

Wolves’ Softball Hit Home Two Wins

Hannah Greene  | Sports Editor

Last weekend on Saturday, Feb. 8, the Wolves’ softball team held two games against Eastern Oregon University Mountaineers. 

The Wolves were able to hold the Mountees still, and take home a win during both matches. Due to the excellent pitching by sophomore Maddie Mayer and senior Chandler Bishop, the Wolves contained the Mountees and only allowed one run and several hits. 

Wolves showed for an entertaining game, hitting two home runs by two juniors, Tyler Creach and Sydney Bowers. Western was hitting so well that they outhit Eatern almost 7-1; hopefully this preview is a good teller for the upcoming season.

Each inning the Mountees trailed far behind the Wolves, barely able to find a way to score or even get a run in. 

The Wolves took both wins, 9-0 and 5-1. Softball hits the road for their next game on Friday, Feb. 14 to play against Texas A&M – Kingsville. 

 

Contact the author at hgreene18@wou.edu

Photo by Kay Bruley

Men’s Rugby lose match versus Oregon State University

Hannah Greene  | Sports Editor

This past Saturday, Feb. 1, the Men’s Rugby team held a friendly match against the Oregon State University Beavers — a team they beat during the 2019 season.

The first half, the Wolves were challenged, showing more exhaustion by every passing minute. With only 26 more seconds left, the Beavers persisted on, getting a few more points — Beaver forward juked out multiple Wolves and broke through to finish and score, making the score 21-10 at the start for the second half.

The Wolves showed great power and strength coming onto the field for the final half — dominating on the defensive end and stopping the Beavers attack. However, the Beavers were able to catch the Wolves off guard and score, and made the score 28-10.

As the game continued, more and more Wolves got injured and lost energy. Luckily, the Beavers showed great sportsmanship and sent one of their own to join the Wolves. 

Twenty minutes into the second half, the Wolves finally scored, bringing themselves within six points of the Beavers.

As the clock counted down, it was easy to tell who was going to win this match — the Beavers kept knocking at the Wolves’ door with no fight back from the Wolves.

Beavers were able to walk away with a 47-22 win, a 25-point difference.

The Wolves’ next home game is on Saturday, Feb. 8 versus Pacific University. Go out and support this club team.

 

Contact the author hgreene18@wou.edu

Photo Courtesy of Emily Prall

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