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ZONE is published annually by students in the University of West Alabama Integrated Marketing
Communications program. Stories and photographs that appear in ZONE are produced by these
students. Views expressed in the magazine do not necessarily express the views of the University of
West Alabama. The University of West Alabama is an Equal Opportunity Institution and welcomes
application for employment regardless of race, color, age, sex, disability or ethnic origin.
Editor-In-Chief
Writing Staff
Photographer
IMC Director
Faculty Advisor
Will Tittle
Nina Coleman
Myles Ellis
Trent Spruell
Summer Abston
Audrey Diekmann
Brianna Farley
Joe Chance
Dr. Amy Jones
Greg Jones
Tierra Dentry
Sarah Neill
Meet the Staff
from the
EditorAs editor of the University of West Alabama’s sports magazine ZONE, I was
challenged with the task of orchestrating and coordinating the construction of
this magazine. First and foremost, I could not have done any of this with out my
team. The constant support that we each had for one another was overwhelm-
ing. When it came to writing articles and designing layouts, we came together
and produced an amazing magazine.
As students, we dove in to this challenge with the guidance of our outstanding
professor Greg Jones. His knowledge and leadership ensured that we stayed on
track and met our deadlines. Without his real world experience and knowledge
of this business, we could not have finished.
I would like to give a special thanks to Joe Chance for providing us with his
images that really make this magazine stand out. He was always available and
ready to help in any way. Even when time was tight, he made an extra effort to
help us get it done.
Personally, after this expereince, I have grown as an indivudal and as a leader.
I have been truly humbled during my time as editor, and I hope I did not let my
team down. I hope as you read through this magazine, you can see all the hard
work and effort that was put into it.
Letter
Will Tittle
UWA Senior
IMC Graphic Design

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Livingston’s full-service advertising agency.
flyingpigbrand.com

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Sports Magazine4
Track and Field
Photo by: Joe ChanceTHE RABBIT
Winning races at the collegiate level
is not just about being fast. When ev-
eryone beside you at the starting line
is just as good as you are, it comes
down to strategy. For The Universi-
ty of West Alabama’s Sarah Graham,
strategy has become a major reason
behind her victory. Standing at only
5’ 1” and weighing 96 lbs has caused
her to create a unique way to lead the
pack.
Since second grade, Graham has
found herself above the rest when it
comes to running. Her father, Glen
Graham, was her P.E. coach through-
out elementary school. Realizing her
talent, her father began training her
and encouraging her to join the track
team in the seventh grade.
With her dad on her side and the
drive to become the best, Graham
took to the track. She started her ca-
reer at Isabella High School, a small
2A school in Maplesville, Alabama.
In order to keep her motivated, she
would set a goal of a specific time
every year. For her first year, she set
her goal time to be 6:30 for a mile.
During her first track meet, she
ended up running her time against
Hoover High School after running in
the mile and half mile. This is where
she realized that she was perfect for
the middle distance races. By the end
of her seventh-grade year, she was
running a 5:55 mile.
With years going by and only getting
faster, Graham never raced for the
junior varsity team. Instead, she ran
varsity. This is where she went on to
win four runner ups and one state
championship. By senior year, she
was running a 2:22 half mile. How
does she do this, though?
A big factor of becoming a better
athlete was her change in practice. In
high school, her coach Rex Littleton,
who was also a football coach, used
methods from both sports in prac-
tice. Graham would do man makers,
sleds, and running with parachutes
around the baseball field. In college,
she would train with specific work-
outs geared towards muscles used in
racing. Coming from a broad work-
out to a specific workout allowed
Graham to fine tune her training.
According to Graham, it is all about
getting out of the gate faster than
anyone else. “So me being my height

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is definitely a factor. I sprint through the
first curve, and ‘get out’. Then I settle in
about 100 yards in to set the pace for the
race.” This is where her nickname “The
Rabbit” comes from.
Graham’s father calls her the rabbit
because everyone is chasing after her.
Imagine a dog track where there is a
rabbit that runs around the track, ahead
of the dogs, to keep them going. “I try to
maintain being in front as long as I can
then hold on, and the last 200 meters of
the race shift, as in build up my speed
through the curve and give it all I have
left the last 100 meters.”
Along with jumping the gun, Graham
uses leg speed in order to maintain her
lead. Tall runners use strides with their
long legs, but being short, two strides
for Graham is equal to one of her com-
petitor’s. This strategy allows Graham
to gain the lead early, and maintain it
throughout the race. Her talent didn’t go
unnoticed after receiving a scholarship
to UWA to compete in not only track but
also cross country.
Due to several minor injuries, Graham
has not been able to not been able to
beat her old record of 2:22 in the half
mile. The injuries placed her out of com-
peting and practices. Not being able to
improve her stride and speed has hurt
her time.
Now that Graham is fully healed, she
looks to get back into running. With
training from her coaches and staff Gra-
ham looks to break that record in the
upcoming season.
Photo by: Joe Chance
Sarah Graham
POSITION: Distance
HEIGHT: 5-1
CLASS: Sophomore
HOMETOWN:
Clanton, Ala.
HIGH SCHOOL:
Isabella HS
BIRTHDAY:
Apr. 6, 1997
Daughter of Leah
and Glen Graham
and has one sibling:
Issac
Story By: Will Tittle

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Sports Magazine6
Football

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Sports Magazine8
Football
Raising the
standard
“Our expectations every year are the same: win the
GSC and compete for a National Championship,” said head
coach Brett Gillaland for The University of West Alabama Ti-
gers. In 2017, Gilliland led his team to a 10-3 season, ending in
the third round of the quarterfinals for the Division II National
Championship.
“To win 10 games for only the 3rd time in school history and
make it to the 3rd round of the playoff was a great accomplish-
ment, and of course, we wanted it to keep going, but I am proud
of our players and staff,” said Gilliland.
On Dec. 9, 2013, the former UWA quarterback was named
UWA’s 21st football coach. Before coming back to Livingston,
Gilliland served in coaching positions at Kennesaw State, Geor-
gia Tech, and Georgia Southern.
As a member of the UWA Hall of Fame, Gilliland knew that com-
ing back to the school, this time as a coach, would be different.
“It is a very special feeling to be back here at my university as
the head coach, and I am very humbled to be in this position.”
In 2016, the Tigers found their stride ending the season 7-4,
winning the most Gulf South Conference games many years.
Many have asked what changes to the program produced
such great results.
“It was a culmination of growing a deeper bond between our
players over the last three years and a group of very talented
players that completely bought into what we are trying to do as
coaches,” said Gilliland.
With a high expectation from Tiger fans for the 2018 season,
Gilliland and his team are ready to meet and supass
these expectations. But with such a great previous
season, how does a tight knit team recover from los-
ing great seniors such as Corey Davis, Tae Armstrong,
and Bob Myers?
“We lost several seniors, mainly receivers, defensive
backs, and linemen,”
he said. “This will
leave big shoes to fill
for guys returning and
new players who join
us, and I am excited to
see who all steps up to
fill those spots.”
Since arriving at UWA,
Gilliland has started off
each year by providing
his team with a season
motto. Fans saw the
2017 motto on the back
of the player’s shirts,
“Leave No Doubt”, and
for the 2018 year, Gilliland has chosen “Raise THE
Standard” as the team motto.
“We want to continue to strive towards excellence as
a program in all areas. We have had some success and
want to guard against complacency and continue to
strive to get better every day. ”
All eyes will be on The University of West Alabama
Tigers as they all strive to make it to Kansas City, Kan-
sas for the 2018 Division II National Championship
game.
“We have had
some success
and want to
guard against
complacency
and continue to
strive to get
better every day.”

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Photo by: Joe Chance
Story By: Brianna Farley

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Sports Magazine10
The 12th Man
Being an athlete is very hard work.
There are 6:00 a.m. workouts, prac-
tices every evening, and of course
game day Saturdays, but what most
sports fans fail to realize is that there
is a team out on the field that works
even harder than most players. This
team does not wear protective gear,
even though they are in the middle
of the action. They wear black and
white striped jerseys. They are the
referees.
Refs tend to receive a lot of back-
lash instead of praise for just simply
doing their job. If fans of the losing
team feel that a ref made a bad call
during the game, they will more
than likely blame their team’s loss
on the refs’ inability to make the
right call. In reality, referees have to
go through extensive training and
certification tests to even be able to
step foot on the field.
Jeff Maxwell has served as a ref-
eree for 12 years and he has had
to jump through many hoops to be
able to ref weekly high school and
college football games.
“When you first begin to offici-
ate, you are put primarily up on the
clock in the press box,” he said. “You
must learn the rules forwards and
backwards, and the rules change
from high school to college and NFL.
You are required to take a test at the
beginning of every season to make
sure that you have the fundamen-
tals and are up to date with the rule
changes.”
After spending a few seasons in the
press box, and proving their knowl-
edge of the rules, refs are able to be-
gin making calls on the field and get
a front row seat to all action. Sure,
watching 11 guys gun for each oth-
er’s throats every play is nice from
the stands, or on a flat screen TV,
but when one is just a few feet away,
it can be nerve-wracking at times,
even for a seasoned veteran.
“I personally have to have a pack
of Skittles before the game. It just
calms me down,” said Maxwell. “As
a crew, we all get together before
the game to watch game film for
both teams, and put everything else
out of our minds, except for what is
about to happen.”
Being a referee is not an easy job.
They have fans and coaches watch-
ing them under a microscope, and
questioning every call they make.
They have to miss anniversaries
and birthday parties. “Sometimes
if a game is another state, you have
to rent a motel, and you might not
make it back in time to see your kids
off to school,” said Maxwell. And,
of course, they miss other football
Football

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games that they really wanted to see. While there
are some downsides to the job, just like every oth-
er job, there are some upsides to the job. “You get
to see some of the hardest hits right in your face.
The money is also nice. I’ve been able to purchase
Christmas presents for my
family with the money from
calling games,” said Maxwell.
Another hard part? Remain-
ing neutral during the game.
Just as a judge must stay
unbiased towards the plan-
tiff and defendant, refs must
stay neutral to the two teams
out on the field. To have favor
for one team over the oth-
er, and make calls to benefit
them would be unethical, and
it could cost them their jobs.
Some may think this could be the easiest part of a
ref’s job, but according to Maxwell, it’s not always
as easy as it seems.
“I have been on the field when teams were play-
ing, and, yes, it is EXTREMELY HARD to not cheer
for them to win; however, you have to remember that fans,
coaches and the media are looking at us officials under a
microscope, and if they see us do somethng we shouldn’t,
they will hold it against you for the rest of your career.”
With referees being few and far between, refs are able to
work with the same crew more of-
ten than not. This familiarity allows
them to get to know one another,
and become a team of their own.
They create their own pre-game rit-
uals: “We put everything out of our
minds, except for what’s going to
happen,” and find ways to support
each other when the job gets tough.
“We have to find ways to keep each
other going, so sometimes we tell
jokes to have a good time to keep
the game moving along,” he said.
“We arrive as a crew and we leave as
a crew. Nobody gets separated, and
nobody gets left alone.”
It may seem at times that referees have the easiest job, but
in reality, the team in the black and white jerseys are work-
ing just as hard as the football players.
You might even say that a referee is the “12th man.”
“We arrive as a crew and
we leave as a crew.
Nobody gets separated,
and nobody gets left alone.”
Story By: Brianna Farley

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Sports Magazine12
soccer

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Playing soccer internationally is
something that was common for Jean
Baptiste Meyniel. Everyone grew up
living and breathing soccer. The com-
petition was intense and everyone
wanted the same thing. Playing profes-
sional soccer has always been a dream
for Meyniel.
Originating from Aurillac, France, JB
has always wanted to travel to the Unit-
ed States to play soccer. It didn’t matter
where he went as long as he was able to
play soccer at a competitive level and
win.
As Meyniel began his journey to leave
France, he sent out his highlight tapes
to different colleges. He knew he had to
have faith because he sent videos out
fairly late.
It was a waiting game for him to see if
he would stay in France or travel to the
U.S. To his surprise, he was offered a
scholarship to two universities. When
it came down to his final decision, JB
based his choice on the fact that The
University of West Alabama had won
a championship the previous year. He
knew that he could make a major im-
pact on a winning team.
When JB began his collegiate career
at UWA, it was no surprise that he ex-
celled tremendously. At the end of his
first season, he recieved 3 awards in
conference. He was 1st team all confer-
ence, 1st team of conference, and the
biggest award of them all was being
named a GSC men’s soccer champion.
In his first year in the U.S, Meyniel had
won a championship
Little did he know that for the next 2
years that he would continue to win 2
more championships.
Along with these two accomplish-
ments, he was also named MVP of con-
ference tournament in 2017 and 2nd
team all south region of 2017. JB had a
successful college experience, but he
still was focused on his goal to branch
out and play professional soccer.
After JB graduates, he plans to obtain
his visa and try to find a club to play in
so that he has a chance to go pro.
One quote that Meyniel keeps in mind
when he is playing on the field is “Not
here to play bingo.” Coach Matthew
Thorne of the West Alabama’s Men’s
Soccer team uses this quote to remind
the men that they need to focus and get
the job done, which is exactly what he
plans to do while he is on the grind to
become a professional soccer athlete.
If Meyniel does not achieve his goal, he
will find a way to still be involved with
professional soccer, either as a coach
or a scout. After he graduates, regard-
less, he will get his coaching license,
because it will be necessary in his fu-
ture if or when he decides to become a
coach.
The one thing Meyniel wants to do is
stay in the US and play soccer. He fell
in love with what the U.S has to offer,
and he enjoys meeting new people who
can challenge him to be a better soccer
player.
FranCE Meets USA
Soccer
Story By: Nina Coleman

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Sports Magazine14
Many athletes today grow up play-
ing multiple sports and have endless
weekends of competitive club prac-
tices and games. It’s an everyday job
that athletes have to adjust to at a
very young age. The one thing that
athletes can’t prepare for is injuries,
especially injuries that put a dramatic
hold on their ability to play.
Bailee Martin, a sophomore at The
University of West Alabama knows
all about how that feels. At the end
of Martin’s sophomore season, she
had participated in a soccer match
against Springhill University.
While playing, she noticed that some-
thing did not feel right with her feet.
The weather was at a high 90 with
100% humidity and her body reacted
by sending tingling pulses through
her feet all the way to her calves. Af-
ter she realized that the pain was
too much, she asked her coach if she
could have a substitution because the
pain affected her ability to run.
A few moments later, after Martin
was taken off the field, her trainer was
asked to take off her shoes. As soon as
the discoloration showed in her toes
and feet, the ambulance was called.
Bailee’s toes had turned purple from
lack of oxygen.
As she was placed inside the am-
bulance, Martin was not expecting
to hear that she had a condition that
stopped oxygen from flowing through
her feet. She was diagnosed with ex-
ercise-induced compartment syn-
drome, a condition resulting in in-
creased pressure in a confined body
space. For Martin, this meant that
she would have to make the decision
to have surgery on her calves or risk
only playing 5 minutes within a game
that could result in her losing com-
plete feeling in her calves.
The decision was simple for her; she
would have the surgery. Martin was
told when heading into her surgery
that the surgery could possibly not
work, and she would have to put a
hold on her soccer career entirely.
Knowing this, she went on with the
surgery and worked hard in her re-
habs to get stronger. “Not being able
to play was the hardest thing ever,
but watching my teammates made
me want to come back even stronger
after my surgery,” said Martin as she
strived to get back on the soccer field.
Recently, Martin has felt some pain
in her legs since she has started to
run again. Long distance running is
her biggest challenge because of how
tight her calves get as she runs for a
long period of time. This worried Mar-
tin as she realized that she needed
to be able to play in a normal soccer
game for about 90 minutes every sin-
gle game.
With this minor setback in mind, she
still fought to keep up with her team-
mates in team running and fitness
tests. She improved on and off the
field and was recognized in the weight
room for squatting more weight than
half of her teammates. This achieve-
ment helped Martin get her confi-
dence back and gave her a winner’s
mindset when it came to sticking out
the pain she felt in her legs.
As she approached the end of her re-
hab, she decided to play in a soccer
league over the summer to improve
her fitness and get back to the player
she used to be.
“If the pain in my legs doesn’t get bet-
ter, I will still play and fight through
the pain.” Soccer has always been
Martin’s first love, and she’s not ready
to give up on her time on The Univer-
sity of West Alabama’s soccer team
just yet.
Story By: Nina Coleman
Soccer
Finding her way back
Photo by: Joe Chance

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15Story By: Nina Coleman
it was a sunny day, the sky was blue,
and the grass was freshly cut as Se-
nior Taylor Brackin stepped out onto
the soccer field for her last season
in Tiger Stadium. Her hard work had
finally paid off. Countless hours of
working hard, passing fitness tests,
and proving herself to her team and
herself finally came to a head. She
had been honored as the only captain
of The University of West Alabama’s
Soccer team for 2017. From here on
out, she would be looked up to as a
leader and motivator to her fellow
teammates.
The Alabama native hails from Mo-
bile, Alabama, but that’s not the only
place she’s lived. Brackin’s father was
in the military, which meant travel-
ing. Brackin has lived in Alaska , Flor-
ida , North Carolina , Virginia, Wash-
ington D.C, and Texas. “Living in all
of these places made me very close
to my family, and if I hadn’t moved so
many times, I would’ve never met all
the amazing friends I have now along
the way. It’s honestly a blessing in
disguise,” said Brackin. Since Taylor
was so used to traveling, she knew
that wherever she went to play soccer
would be just fine.
Brackin’s dedication to her team as
a captain has made her even more
determined to set an example for her
team. “One day you will wake up and
there won’t be any more time to do the
things you’ve always wanted to do. Do
it now.” This quote inspires Brackin
whenever she needs that motivation
to do above and beyond when she is
out on the field.
What most people don’t know about
Brackin is that one day she dreams
of being a lawyer and is planning on
receive a bachelor’s degree in history.
The headstrong leader on the field
is also the brains off the field. When
Brackin isn’t on the field, you can find
her working in the history depart-
ment as well as helping others who
are struggling to understand history.
She enjoys helping others and better-
ing herself through the Lord’s eyes.
After obtaining a degree in history,
Brackin has plans to move to Scotland
to continue playing soccer and to also
get her degree in management.
A huge motivation for Brackin choos-
ing Scotland as her next location to
live has to do with former teammates
Kirsten Reilly and Katy Morris. These
two are both alumni UWA women’s
soccer team players who have also
decided to continue their soccer ca-
reers in Scotland. While on a visit to
see her best mate Reilly in Scotland,
Brackin immediately fell in love with
everything that Scotland had to offer,
especially the soccer. She has decid-
ed to spend a year there where she
will be open to a new experience, and
she can challenge herself both in the
classroom and on the field with wom-
en who live and breathe soccer every
day.
“Influence, don’t be influenced; show
God love through my role in leader-
ship; be an encourager,” Brackin says
in her head.
Brackin leads her own path and
doesn’t let anyone get in the way of
what she needs to accomplish. Her
teammates looked up to her for her
hard work ethic, speed, and leader-
ship when they chose her as captain.
She knows that Scotland is the place
where she can succeed and grow. With
the help of her former teammates,
Brackin is up for the new challenge
and is ready to start her new life.
BRACKIN’S SHOT
WITH SCOTLAND
After obtaining a degree in history, Brackin plans to
move to Scotland to continue playing soccer and to also
get her degree in management.

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Sports Magazine16

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How Cole Waites came to love baseball
and how he broke a 40 year old
record as a sophomore.

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Sports Magazine18
baseball
Cole Waites
POSITION: Pitcher
HEIGHT: 6-4
CLASS: Junior
HOMETOWN:
Lawrenceville, GA
HIGHSCHOOL:
Archer HS
BIRTHDAY:
June 10, 1998
Son of Chuck and
Linda Waites. has
one brother, Jordan
and two sisters,
Anna and Megan
Story By: Summer Abston
Leaning over the rails parallel to
the first baseline, 20-year-old junior
pitcher Cole Waites does not look like
he is fresh off a two-hour practice.
Instead, Waites is smiling and eager
to know what comes next. Cole, who
suffered from an antagonizing lower
back injury his freshman season and
then from a busted and swollen eye
that reduced his vision causing him
to sit out fall season, is freshly recov-
ered and ready to go.
The junior from Lawrenceville,
Georgia, struck out 18 total batters
on March 25, 2018, in Memphis, Ten-
nessee against Christian Brothers
University, breaking the University
of West Alabama record and tying for
3rd place in all time batters struck
out in a single game for the Gulf
South Conference. The record, previ-
ously held by Charlie Hobson in 1973,
has been virtually untouched by any
other Tiger pitcher since. Last sea-
son, the most Waites struck out in a
single game was 10 batters against
the University of North Alabama.
Do not expect Waites to ride on the
coattails of breaking the record for
forever. The following week, Waites
struck out 4 batters against North Al-
abama. In what he calls, “a humbling
experience to know that you can al-
ways do better,” Cole the following
week struck out 8 batters against
the University of Alabama Hunts-
ville. The record and high numbers
when it comes to striking out batters
comes from a “deep step across” mo-
tion that “just works” for him. So has
the motto, “just throw it.”
When it comes to goals, Waites says
his only goal is to “help the team
win no matter what.” Former Tiger
pitcher Jonathan Porter is to thank
for Cole’s attitude and outlook on the
mound. Waites says Porter’s work
ethic on the field and mentoring to
younger team members is what has
helped him grow this season. Cole
now has assumed Porter’s mentor-
ing role and says Porter taught him
how to not only “work harder,” but be
a “great teammate” as well.
While Porter helped him on the field
in Livingston, it is his father who
Cole claims got him into baseball in
the first place. “He is my biggest role
model. Definitely. He’s pretty awe-
some. Ever since he got me started
on the game, all I ever wanted to do
was play baseball.” Waites says he
found the Tigers from a former men-
tor, Coach Holcomb, who introduced
him to the team and the staff at West
Alabama.
Even though being far away from
home is “tough at times,” he does not
have time to miss home as much be-
cause Waites is, after all, a student
athlete. While the biggest challenge
is going from having “20-30 games
per season to around 60,” the rivalries
between the Gulf South Conference
teams make it interesting--Cole’s fa-
vorite rivalry? Delta State. “It is defi-
nitely my favorite rivalry we have; it
is very exciting.”
With a fastball that reaches speeds
up to 93 miles an hour and a stag-
gering 6’4” stance, it is no secret
that Cole Waites dreams of poten-
tially going pro one day. His dream
team? The Atlanta Braves to be close
to home. If Waites chooses to not go
pro, he dreams of coaching the next
set of greats who could break their
own school records in twenty years.
While West Alabama has Waites for
another two years, it will be inter-
esting to see what else he brings to
the mound. Until then, Waites can
be found enjoying time as a colle-
giate pitcher who occasionally does
homework on the bus en route to
away games or relieving stress by
watching his favorite baseball flick,
Bull Durham.
BEHIND The
BULLPEN-

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AD
softball

Page 20

Sports Magazine20
Photos by: Joe Chance
Leadership plays a major part in the
world of sports. Without a leader to head
a team, the team could easily fold un-
der and just lose without even knowing
what hit them. Most times people think
of coaches as the leader, which is usually
true. They are the first ones that teams,
players, and media will look toward for
answers to questions. Then you have
captains who are usually elected by
teammates, and sometimes they’re go-
ing to be seniors who have been through
everything a player for the team can go
through.
So, what does it say about players who
want to be leaders early on into their
playing career? What does it say about
a player who is from a completely dif-
ferent side of the country to come down
and try and help lead the team to victo-
ry?
What does it say about a player who be-
lieves since she plays a specific position
on the field, she believes that she has to
be a leader for her team?
It shows that Kierra Hague, a soph-
omore catcher from Springfield High
School in Holland, Ohio, wants to be in-
volved in leading the University of West
Alabama Softball Team to the GSC play-
offs every single year. She wants to be
remembered for being, as her walkout
song by Jaden Smith says, an icon.
“I want to be an icon. I want everybody
to remember Kierra Hague. I just want to
be remembered as a great leader, who
was her own person, who could lead
people into the right direction on and off
the softball field.”
Being a catcher, Hague feels that she is
one of the pieces on the team that holds
the most responsibility on the field.
However, as a freshman, she played in
the outfield for 41 games she started in.
“Honestly, now that I’m back in my nat-
ural position of catcher, the position I’ve
played since I was eight years old, I feel
more comfortable and involved in the
game.”
Hague’s transition back into catching
has helped her team’s infield play as
well. Last season, she only had a total of
29 putouts from her outfielder position.
In her sophomore season as a catch-
er, she has almost four times as many
with 104 putouts. “I’m talking in every
play, and I’m in charge of a lot more, so
it fits me more as a person. Transition-
ing back into catching from being in the
outfield all last season hasn’t stressed
me at all.”
As a freshman, Hague was called on for
her batting skills as she had 33 hits, 23
runs batted in, and two home runs, one
of which was a grand slam. Her sopho-
more season has seen smaller numbers
mostly because she is being called on to
become a more vocal leader than neces-
sarily a leader by example.
Catching
Up To Iconic
Catching
Up To Iconic
SOFTball

Page 21

21
Kierra Hague
POSITION: Catcher
HEIGHT: 5-8
CLASS: Sophomore
HOMETOWN:
Holland, Ohio
HIGHSCHOOL:
Springfield HS
BIRTHDAY:
Mar. 25, 1998
Daughter of DeJuan
and Triani Hague
and has two siblings:
Brenden and Kaila
Story By: Trent Spruell
“I think that if you’re not capable of be-
ing a leader, you’re not capable of being
a catcher for a softball team. You should
not put that gear on if you’re not capa-
ble of leading the other eight girls on the
field. You should be like a coach on the
field.”
Being all the way from Ohio, many
wonder how Kierra even knew about
UWA. Luckily, she had connections
from way up North. “I used to know the
assistant coach here. She used to coach
me when I was thirteen, so when I was
having trouble finding a school, she told
me that if I wanted to come down to visit
she’d love to have me.”
Hague came down during homecom-
ing week of the 2015 football season.
There she witnessed first-hand how
well Livingston treats their athletes.
“I was told it was going to be a culture
shock for sure. You’re going to go from
big northern city to small town. I real-
ly liked it. Coach told me that if I really
liked it, they could offer me a scholar-
ship, and I had no problem at all taking
the offer.”
Second year head coach for the UWA
Softball Team Carrie Dever-Boaz is pre-
paring Hauge and the rest of the team
to continue to grow as a program as
well as people too. “Coach Carrie is do-
ing a great job to adhering to everyone’s
needs. She is very good at knowing
each person individually. She seems
to be pushing us a lot harder so we can
ultimately reach the goals we want. We
haven’t reached them yet, but with her
as coach, I can tell we’re getting there.”
Dever- Boaz’s “life lessons,” as Hauge
describes them, are what helps the team
grow more and more as a program. She
is preparing them for more than just the
GSC Tournament every year.
“Obviously we want to make the tour-
nament, but we want every player to
become a better player, but also a better
person. That comes from a lot of coach’s
life lessons she tries to instill in us.”
As an elementary education major,
Hague’s leadership traits along with
Coach Dever-Boaz’s “life lessons” are
helping her get ready for a life of helping
young children in the school systems.
“My goal is to progress as a young
woman and as a leader. My main job
as a catcher is to be a leader, but I want
to be able to lead any group of people
at any time. Whether it’s eight girls on
a softball field, a classroom of kids, or
even an entire school district, I want
to be confident enough to have control
over something like that, and playing
softball here gives me that opportunity
to grow as a leader.”
With two more years of collegiate soft-
ball remaining for Hague, she is sure to
continue to grow as a leader on and off
the softball field.
She feels that whether she is a catcher,
teacher, principal, superintendent, ath-
letic director, she will have the ability to
lead whoever she is supposed to in or-
der to reach their potential.
Then she will be able to consider her-
self what she ultimately wants to be, an
icon.

Page 22

Sports Magazine22
Spirit
Programs

Page 23

23
Cheerleading
According to the American College
of Cardiology, among Americans,
an average of one person dies from
Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) every
40 seconds. Coronary Heart Disease
(CHD) accounts for the majority of
CVD deaths, followed by stroke and
heart failure. More than 90 million
Americans carry a diagnosis of CVD.
A red riibbon is worn for the Cardio-
vascular Heart Disease cause.
Mrs. Latonya Crawford, mother of
Niyah And Rian Crawford, unfortu-
nately suffered a fatal heart attack in
her home on November 3, 2017.
Rian Crawford, 18, was in Birming-
ham at the time and didn’t know un-
til her sister called and told her the
news.
“Well Rian, did dad call and tell you
what happened? You know mom’s
gone,” said Niyah.
For some, the death of a loved one
can be overwhelming, frightening
and a painful experience. For the
UWA freshman, this experience was
very real. Losing someone like your
mother is an unimaginable feeling.
Rian, also known as “Baby Ri,” is a
Criminal Justice major and cheer-
leader here at West and her cheer
mates have been very supportive of
her along with the students and staff.
Mrs. Crawford was a cheerleader at
Pell City High School and the cheer
stick was passed down to Niyah and
now Rian. Knowing that she contin-
ues doing what she loves and also
what her mother loved makes Rian
feel special and close to her.
She chose to attend UWA because
her sister, Niayh, goes here. She plans
to finish her undergrad and become
a probation officer after college but
does not plan to cheer professionally.
“I don’t plan to go pro with cheer.
I’m just going to do it in college, and
that’s it,” said Rian.
Through the tragedy, Rian and her
teammates dedicated themselves to
honor her mother by winning at The
National Cheer Association Champi-
onship (NCA) in April. The girls won
fifth in the nation.
Most cheerleaders would not be able
to handle long practice hours, rigor-
ous stunts, remembering choreogra-
phy and staying on top of schoolwork
and having a social life after losing a
loved one.
This is why Rian Crawford is such
a captivating individual. She took on
all those tasks and more while still
remaining true to herself.
“It is hard, but my family has always
been there, so that makes me happy,
and that’s how I can keep pushing
forward,” said Rian.
Getting to this point in her life was
not an easy, but life tends to mold us
into who we are. Abraham Lincoln
said, “In the end, it’s not the years
in your life that count. It’s the life in
your years.”
This means to some that it doesn’t
matter how long you live, what mat-
ters is what you do while you’re alive
and what you leave behind when
you’re gone.
Mrs. Latonya Crawford left a great
legacy behind for her family.
On November 21, 2017, Rian got a
tattoo of “Forever Changed” on her
forearm in honor of her mother. Her
life has forever changed, but her
mother will always remain with her.
“It is hard, but
my family has
always been
there, so that
makes me
happy, and
that’s how I can
keep pushing
forward.”
-Rian
Crawford
Forever
Changed
“The most beautiful people we have known are those
who have known defeat, known suffering, known
struggle, known loss, and have found their way out
of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a
sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them
with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving con-
cern. Beautiful people do not just happen.” said Dr.
Elisabeth Kubler-Ross.
Mrs. Crwaford will truly be missed.
Story By: Tierra Dentry
Photo: Niyah C.

Page 24

Sports Magazine24
Cheerleading
This
girl
is on
FIre
Photo by: Joe Chance
Photo by: Carnaggio
Story By: Tierra Dentry
“I chose UWA because I am from
a small town and love being able
to have the ‘family feeling’ here at
UWA,” said University of West Ala-
bama freshman Bailey Anderson.
“It is great to be able to speak to our
professors and ask them questions,
being treated as a person and not a
number.”
Anderson was born in Hurley, Mis-
sissippi. She lives with her parents,
Eddie and Shelley Anderson and
brother Alex.
“My parents are very proud of me
and have always supported me 100%
in all of my dreams and aspirations,”
said Anderson.
The 19-year-old nursing major has
participated in many extracurricular
activities on campus, such as cheer-
leading, competing in Miss Paragon,
Miss UWA, and Miss Alabama Col-
legiate. She is also a part of Sigma
Honor Society, President’s list, Phi
Eta Sigma Honor Society, and Lamb-
da.
“I chose to compete in Miss UWA
because I love this school and every-
thing it stands for,” said Anderson.
She was first runner-up in the Miss
UWA pageant back in 2017. She then
went on to compete for Miss Alabama
Collegiate and won the title.
“I was overwhelmed with emotions.
It is such a surreal feeling to work
hard and achieve a goal that you set
for yourself,” said Anderson.
Her next pageant will be in the sum-
mer at Little Rock, Arkansas. She will
be representing Alabama in the Miss
Collegiate America pageant.
“I am currently working with a coach
on my walk and interview skills to
prepare for the pageant,” said Ander-
son. “My platform for the pageant is
B.R.A.V.E.—Building Respect and Val-
ue for Everyone. I devote my time to
speaking to classrooms and giving
assemblies in order to give my ex-
periences and speak about this an-
ti-bullying platform.”
Bailey has also competed in Miss
Paragon, back in April, and won the
title. “The emotions running through
my mind were of pure shock,” said
Anderson.
Around campus, you can catch An-
derson with a smile on her face or
with her cheer mates on the mat
during practice.
“I started cheering at the age of five. I
knew I loved it when I made my mid-
dle school cheer team and was able to
cheer on the Hornets.”
When she decided to tryout at UWA,
she already knew a few of the girls
who were on the team. They took her
under their wings and trained with
her.
“I instantly fell in love with the pro-
gram,” said Anderson.
Although she loves to cheer, she
does not plan to cheer professionally.
In April, the cheerleading team took
a trip to Daytona for competition. The
ladies came in fifth place out of seven
teams that attended the competition.
“We prepared for competition by
running our routines full-out hun-
dreds of times and performing in
front of crowds,” said Anderson. “It
does get very stressful to keep up
with my grades while being a col-
lege cheerleader, but I learned how to
manage my time.”
Throughout her cheer career, she
has not injured herself during a game
or any performance. That is more
than some cheerleaders can say to-
day.
You can say she’s determined or
charismatic, but Bailey Anderson is
simply on fire.

Page 25

Choctaw General Hospital’s staff is highly trained to suit senior
citizen needs through recuperation and rehabilitation services.
A Division Of Rush
Inpatient and
outpatient X-ray
Inpatient and
outpatient CT
Inpatient and
outpatient lab
A community health
education auditorium
A full-service dining
room
Emergency
Department
401 Vanity Fair Avenue
Butler, AL 36904
205-459-9100
J.W. Cowan, Administrator
Inpatient care
Swing bed program
Inpatient and
outpatient
rehabilitation

Page 26

Sports Magazine26

Page 27

27
Golf

Page 28

Sports Magazine28
Any Time
is Tee Time
Moving to a new city might seem scary
for some people, but what about mov-
ing across the country to a new school?
There’s a certain feeling you get walk-
ing onto campus and having no idea
where to go and the fact that every-
one thinks you’re a freshman from not
seeing you around campus. Each year,
thousands of students transfer from
schools across the world to come to
America to possibly live the “American
dream.”
Some transfer students don’t go to a
different school for academic reasons
or because their parents went there.
USA TodayCollege gave 12 reasons as
to why students transfer, which include
love, being close to family, weather,
vibes, and sports.
Most of those students who do trans-
fer from other countries are athletes,
like University of West Alabama’s golf
player, Ye Uon Ja-Oo. The 21-year-old
sports management major didn’t start
off playing golf but was actually a Tae-
kwando martial arts student until she
suffered a leg injury.
“When I got hurt, I had to rest for a few
months, and so my dad, Jin Won, took
me to my first golf course. I tried it, and
I was starting to like it more and more,
so that’s kind of how I became interest-
ed in golf,” said Ye Uon.
Ye was born in South Korea but moved
to Spain when she was younger.
“Leaving my family in Spain was very
hard, but I know they are proud of me.
One of my goals was to keep playing
golf in college because in Spain you
have to choose between studying or
playing a sport, which is really hard to
choose between the two,” said Ye. “In
the states, you can be a student-ath-
lete, which allows you to do both, and I
really like that.”
She also has an older sister, JJ, 24, and
a younger brother, Felipe, 13. When she
was home, she would often play golf
with Felipe and Jin.
“My mother, Kim, and sister didn’t en-
joy golf like I did,” said Ye.
When it came to golf, she has set high
standards for herself.
“I wanted to hit the ball high and far,
so I kept hitting the balls until I did, and
once I got the hang of it, I couldn’t stop
playing. That’s when I realized I en-
joyed it so much,” said Ye.
With golf being a universal sport,
players of all ages and around the world
can participate. Kids as young as eight
years old learn how to play.
During her years at UWA, Ye has re-
ceived many awards and honors like
placing top 10 and top 5 several times.
In 2017, she was named a GSC confer-
“Golf is a tough sport.
Golf players need to
have a strong mind if
they want to succeed.”
Golf
Jin conquers course at
full force
Photos: Joe Chance

Page 29

29
ence winner. She won this conference
individually shooting a total of 219 in
three days with scores of 72, 74 and 73.
With long strategic practice hours, it
could put pressure on her to really per-
form her best during a game. One 18-
hole game can take up to four hours to
play with a team of four.
“Golf is a tough sport. Golf players need
to have a strong mind if they want to
succeed. It’s really hard to not have
breakdowns,” said Ye. “With my family
being back in Spain and not here by my
side, it is really hard and that made me
realize how much I appreciate and miss
them.”
Ye Uon plans to graduate in December
in hopes to get a job somewhere before
trying to be a professional golfer.
“I am trying to turn professional, but
I’m not in a rush because golf has no
age limit on when to turn pro,” said Ye.
Although Ye Uon doesn’t know what
her future holds, she remains optimis-
tic and determined to continue making
her family proud and achieve her dream
of becoming a professional golfer. Ye Jin standing with Head Golf Coach Brian
Williamson at Callaway Gardens
Story By: Tierra Dentry
Ye Uon JinWomen’s Golf:
HEIGHT: 5’1
CLASS: Senior
HOMETOWN:
Murcie, Spain
HIGH SCHOOL: Jose
Luis Castillo Puche
Birthday: Oct.
23, 1996
Daughter of Kim
Yeun and Jin Wong
and has two siblings:
Jung and Felipe

Page 30

Sports Magazine30
Football
NOREST
ZONE
Photo by: Joe Chance
Keeping the elite Wide Reciever
unit a threat on Saturdays.

Page 31

31Story By: Summer Abston
Fresh off a Gulf South Conference Championship
and a spot in the NCAA Division II playoffs, the Uni-
versity of West Alabama football program has a good
reason to celebrate. For the elite wide receiver core,
resting is no option.
With the likes of Tyreek Hill of the Kansas City
Chiefs, and go-to playmakers Donta Armstrong,
Corey Davis, and Bernard McGee preceding them,
UWA’s Dominique McNealey, Seth Knotts, and Bayley
Blanchard have some shoes to fill. They are not shy
about the work it takes to ensure the position stays
stronger than ever, not to mention gaining the title of
playmaker, something they claim is earned and not
given.
Even though all three men knew they wanted to
play college football, they had no idea how fast the
game would change. While McNealey and Knotts
both agreed the hardest part about coming to West
Alabama was how different high school and col-
lege football are, while Blanchard had other worries.
“Coming in, I had only played one year as a receiv-
er,” said Blanchard. “I was a defensive back all during
high school, and due to team needs I was moved.”
The trio now has nine combined years of experience
under their shoulder pads next to the watchful eye
of those who came before them. Now that Knotts,
Blanchard, and McNealey are older, the pressure to
uphold the standard remains. “We have been in the
system so long, we know what is expected with the
coaches as well as the other men on the team. It is
time for us to step up and be leaders on the team,”
said McNealey. Knotts agreed, while Blanchard add-
ed how “learning from the older guys is important. It
is important to take what they gave you and give it
back and then apply it to the game.”
Do not expect the boys to buckle under pressure.
Wide receivers who came before Knotts, Blanchard,
and McNealey still help them frequently. From
watching their spring film and texting them some
pointers to going full-on “football dad” mode, former
Tiger receivers are helping all they can to make sure
these guys have the confidence they need to go out
and not just play—but perform.
In addition to former players reaching out, they
insist they have the best receiver coach out of all
schools nationwide. While they claim “it is not easy,”
they said Coach Seward gives them all the materials
in an orderly manner and shows them how to work
out their formations in a clean fashion. Blanchard,
McNealey, and Knotts claim to be “hungry guys” with
the motivation to “grind” coming from themselves,
which is “reinforced by Coach Seward and our old
and new teammates,” said McNealey.
Bayley Blanchard, Dominique McNealey, and Seth
Knotts also know the expectations after the Fall 2017
winning season. After the Tigers made it to the 2017
quarterfinals for the first time since the 1970’s, all
eyes are on the Tigers when they take the turf next.
“We did not meet out goal, and we want to raise the
standard even higher,” said Seth Knotts. McNealey
added, “We have a set foundation to go on this sea-
son. We have learned the system and are ready to
‘Water The Bamboo,’ a phrase meaning simply work
harder for growth. I want to say I gave it my all no
matter the outcome.”
Blanchard insists the Tigers are on their way to
bringing a national title back to Livingston for the
first time in nearly 50 years.
Whatever the future of Tiger football may be, one
thing is certain: the three are willing to give their all
and nothing less. “If we want it hard enough, we will
make it,” said Knotts. Blanchard and McNealey im-
mediately start nodding their heads in agreement as
motivation for the new season shines clear through
focused eyes.
Seth Knotts, Dominique McNealey and Bayley
Blanchard are ready to be playmakers. Hungry for
success, these three are not letting anything get in
their way to another winning season and a title. Most
importantly, they are already grooming the next set
of receivers with the help of those before them and
Coach Seward, ensuring the position stays famed
and respected on Saturdays for years to come.

Page 32

Tigers Aroun

Page 33

d The World

Page 34

Sports Magazine34
Rodeo
The Unseen
Cost
Imagine playing a sport—working hard day in and day
out, then within a blink of an eye, that hard work pays of
with a scholarship to college. Now imagine going to col-
lege with that same scholarship, but having to pay for all of
your gear and equipment. Would you still play? For any ro-
deo goer, that question would not phase them,
for they have done this sport ever since they
could walk.
Gus Maraman, a senior on the UWA rodeo
team, was quick to respond when asked about
all the expenses that come along in deciding to
take on rodeo as a sport.
“When you are not winning, rodeo gets very
expensive as far as truck and trailers go, but I
have always had supporting parents that have
helped me along the way. If you have the pas-
sion for what you do in this sport, then the mon-
ey comes easy.”
Not many people think twice about rodeo
and all the extra expenses that come along with
riding a horse. Prices vary depending on the quality of
equipment as any other sports equipment does.
In aid to the expenses of being on a rodeo team, every
rodeo hands out a cash prize to riders who place. When
talking about individual earnings, Maraman mentioned,
“That’s the reason we go, because we not only try to win
first, we try to win money to help out with our expenses.”
Maraman has won as much as $3,200 in a single roping
event and $1,200 in an actual rodeo.
Along with the gear and equipment, each rider travels
on their own to each rodeo. The farthest UWA Rodeo travels
is to Marshall, Missouri, making that a 10-hour
drive for any normal driver, but for someone
with a horse trailer, the drive can be around 12
to 13 hours.
Riders have to stop for gas just as anyone
would have to. However, they stop more often
to walk their horse around or feed them. Mara-
man made it clear about walking his horses
every few hours to make them feel comfortable.
Once the riders make it to their destination,
they either pay for a hotel room, or they have
their own trailer they can set up at the rodeo
grounds and stay in.
Because the rodeo team is not part of the
NCAA, riders can compete in pro and amateur
rodeos, which has a fee per run. Also, this helps them have
the ability to win money at rodeos.
Being a part of a college sports team is a major com-
mitment, but being a part of rodeo is another commitment
that not many people think about. If you have a passion, it
should come easy.
“That’s the
reason we go,
because we
not only try to
win first we try
to win money
to help out with
our expenses.”

Page 35

35
Cowboy Hat
$80
Cowboy Boots
$250
Horse
$10K-$45K
Horse Shoes
every 6 weeks
$100
Horse Boots
$100
Saddle
$2K-$3K
Bridle
$70
Ropes
$50
Additional
Costs
Horse Food
Gas
Vet Bills
Hotel or Trailer
Trailer
Entry fees pro rodeo
$32 per week on average
$80
$80
$100 or $50
Steel $2,000-$10,000 Aluminum $20,000-$100,000
$100 per run
Estimated Costs
Photo by:
Joe Chance
Story By:
Audrey Diekmann

Page 36

Sports Magazine36
softball
Play Like it is
your last
Photo by:
Joe Chance
Story By:
Audrey Diekmann

Page 37

37
Playing the first season of a college sport is
nerve-wracking when it is a whole new ball game from
high school. Starting as a freshman is a big honor because
the countless hours have finally paid off and all you want
to do is do your job.
In 2016, Sarah Miles, just in her freshman
season for the UWA softball team, was catch-
ing when she got a concussion during the
Delta State series. Most athletes take a few
weeks off when getting a concussion and
come back ready to keep playing. Lit-
tle did Miles know that this concussion
would cause her more trouble down the
road.
Miles was cleared after her concussion
and finished her freshman season. With
three more years to go, Miles was ready to
perfect her catching skills for her second
season. During her sophomore year after the
fall season, the symptoms of her concussion started
coming back. Ever since then, her symptoms have never
gone away.
“The fall of my sophomore season was my last time I
played in a game.”
After going to a few different doctors about her symp-
toms, Miles was getting no answers about what was wrong
with her. Finally, Miles was diagnosed, first with post con-
cussive syndrome and later with Meniere’s disease.
Meniere’s disease is a disorder of the inner ear giving
the victim symptoms, such as recurring episodes of verti-
go, hearing loss, tinnitus, a ringing in the ear, and a feeling
of fullness or pressure in the ear.
The Ervine, CA, native started playing softball at the
age of 5, and she was not about to give up on the sport she
grew up to know and love. Miles helped out softball team
by keeping books her sophomore season as she was
medically redshirted.
Miles was itching to get back in her uni-
form to be able to block and frame a ball.
Once January 2018 came and the UWA
Softball team started practicing, Miles fi-
nally got the go-ahead to practice again.
She practiced like she did not take
anytime off. After a few practices, Miles
started experiencing symptoms: “I start-
ed experiencing what seemed to be a type
of hypothermia, but wasn’t. So after that,
no one knew what it was, and it led me to
not be able to practice anymore.”
Miles proceeded to go back to the doctors
to figure out if there was anything new that popped
up in the symptom’s book. “The doctor who made the final
decision was a Birmingham neurosurgeon, and I almost
could not make it out of the doctor’s office before I started
crying.”
Devastated by the news, Miles had a hard time fac-
ing the fact that something that was so special to her has
been taken. “The biggest advice I could say is to take care
of your body, and listen to your body. For athletes to never
take your sport for granted because you never know when
it will be taken away.”
“The biggest advice I could
say is to take care of your
body and listen to your body.
For athletes to never take your
sport for granted because you
never know when it will be
taken away.”
“The fall of my
sophomore
season was my
last time I played
in a game.

Page 38

Sports Magazine38
UWA sports
watchlist
Kendall, also known as KJ, is a sophomore from Tuscaloosa County High School.
Johnson posted a .277 batting average last season and a .959 fielding percent-
age. For the next three years, she will be a threat in the UWA Softball lineup.
If Kendall was stranded on an island, she would bring her phone so someone
can come get her.
Kassandra, also known as Skeeter growing up, is a sophomore on the volleyball
team. During her first year at UWA, she was 4 time GSC Freshman of the week
along with GSC Freshman of the year. When she prepares for games, Till likes to
listen to Enter Sandman by Metallica.
Kate, a sophomore from Nuevo León México, played #1 for the women’s tennis
team last season, earning GSC Freshman and Player of the Week Febuary 28,
April 11, and 18, also earning herself All-GSC First Team. Two adventures still left
on Kate’s bucket list are riding in a helicopter and going to the White House. With
the superpower of teleportation, Kate will be able to mark off the White House on
her bucket list.
Oisin is a junior from Dublin City University, running for both the cross county and
track team. During his 2017 cross country season, O’Gailin was selected for GSC
All-Conference First team and USTFCCCA All-Region team. He also earned him-
self ALL-GSC First Team for Track and placed 2nd in the Men’s 1500 meter at the
GSC Championships. O’Gailin started running because his mum did not want
him to be on the boxing team. Cookies and cream ice cream is his go to flavor
when enjoying a nice treat.
Kassandra Till
Kendall Johnson-
O’Gailin, Oisin--
Katia de la Garza-
UWA
Photo by: Joe Chance
Story By: Audrey Diekmann
Volleyball-
softball
Tennis-
Cross Country and Track

Page 39

701 N. Washington Street
Livingston, AL 35470
(205)- 652-9840
Open Every Day, Every Week.
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Sports Magazine40
Teach
Learn
lead
Located in Spieth Hall
Hours of Operation:
Monday-Friday: 8am-10pm
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Sunday: 1pm-10pm
Peer Mentoring Program
Mentor Handbook
Fall 2016/Spring 2017

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41
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Livingston, AL 35470
205-652-5750

Page 42

Sports Magazine42
THE GIRL WHO
DOES IT ALLAnna Sikes is not your average teenager.
For starters, she enjoys the thrill of being thrown
in the air and gives a surprising number of hugs
and high fives.
The petite 17-year-old has Down syndrome, and
she does not let it define her.
The University of West Alabama Cheerleaders
asked the Silas native to become a member of
their collegiate squad on the sidelines of home
football games, and Anna said yes.
Team Captain Tia Lang says UWA Cheer heard of
Anna through their Coach Jason Gardner, who is
familiar with the area and where she is from.
“He sat us down and told us a little about the girl
who does it all. We share a love of cheerleading
with Anna. With cheerleading being a huge part
of our college career, we wanted to share our ex-
perience with her.”
To raise awareness for Down syndrome, Lang
says they each shared a little bit about their own
personal relationships with Anna through social
media. UWA Cheer also wore crazy colored socks
to National Cheerleading Association Nationals
practice on March 21, National Down Syndrome
Day in honor of Anna, which can be found on the
UWA Cheerleading Instagram page.
UWA Cheerleaders support Anna by attending
events at her school. Several UWA cheerleaders
attended a fun-fashion show of Anna’s in De-
cember.
Anna knows exactly what she wants to achieve
and doesn’t give up on her dreams.
“I believe Anna does look up to us. We try to be
good role models. We believe that Anna makes
more of an impact on our lives than we could ever
make on hers. She is a huge ball of sunshine. She
has so much determination and doesn’t let any-
thing get in her way from what she wants.”
The UWA Cheerleaders gained a sweet soul to
their squad. Anna gained forever big sisters.
“She is always the smiling girl that we need in
the toughest moments. We will always be there
for her if she needs us.”
Anna will continue cheering with the UWA
Cheerleaders for home football and basketball
games.
“She never failed to put on a show on the side-
lines.”
Cheerleading
Story By: Sarah Neill

Page 43

43
Atheletics Dir
Lettered in high school
football, baseball,
basketball, and track
3-year starting defensive
back at Mississippi State
University
40-year coaching career
28 years as a football Head
Coach
3 consecutive Division II
national championships as
head coach ’93, ’94, ’95
Winningest coach
in GSC history
GSC and Div. II
Coach of the
Quarter Century
1972-1997
3x National
Coach of the Year
Division II
Hall of Fame
GSC Hall of Fame
7 GSC Championships
Bobby Wallace
Comes Home

Page 44

Sports Magazine44
It was the best day of Kennedi Sanders life. Joining the Stars
of Alabama Dance Team was the fulfillment of a lifetime am-
bition—the adrenaline keeps her on her dancer’s toes.
Dancing since the third grade hadn’t prepared Sanders, now
22, for the stress of her professional circuit.
Sanders, a senior psychology major, was recruited by former
dance coach at The University of West Alabama. She says she
came to UWA for dance.
Along with dealing with the countless amount of schoolwork,
Sanders is under a great deal of pressure while enduring a
new coach and a new atmosphere to dance at The University
of West Alabama.
New Coach, Arianna Hodges, from Delta State is experienced
with ballet and is classically trained.
Sanders says she likes to think of this year as a transition
year with the new coach, Jason Gardner, and for the team as
a whole.
“We have grown and learned so much as a team. This is the
most technical we’ve ever been.”
The Stars of Alabama Dance Team is moving forward with
more performances, such as the Serendipity Talent Show,
and showcasing their physical skills on the sidelines of foot-
ball, basketball, and volleyball sporting events. These college
athletes are obtaining agility, stamina, and strength.
“We’re always learning something new. We are always on the
dance floor going over something. It can be very hard and tir-
ing during football season.”
Sanders says the dancers meet outside for practice and work
on their techniques. She also says they go to lunch together
every day and they hangout outside of practice.
This collegiate dance team is becoming more like one. Danc-
ers are athletes, but also artists, and it is a combination that
makes for a stunning emotional and physical performance.
“We are going to compete in the future, and we are going to
compete with the cheerleaders and band to stimulate a ‘real
game day’ atmosphere to show what it’s like
on an actual game day in Tiger Stadium.
These athletes can feel the emotional pres-
sure of being seen at every angle now. They
cannot hide. They must know the routines and
make sure to perform them well.
“I think that it’s good we are more on our own.
We have to be on point at all times and make
sure we have good quality dancers.”
Sanders sees the team in 10 years doing what
a D1 school does, that they will have more of a variety of uni-
forms, and it will grow tremendously and will be more com-
petitive.
“I have seen all the changes and seen how much it has grown.
Hopefully my passion about dance has shown Jason Gardner
how much I care about this team, and I want nothing but the
best. There’s nowhere for us to go but up.”
Sanders participates in several organizations on campus
as well. Along with dance, she teaches four group exercise
classes, three yoga classes, Zumba, and Hip-Hop classes in
the UWA Fitness Center every week. She is an ambassador for
the University, and she is the reigning Miss UWA.
Sanders says three words that most de-
scribe her are outgoing, caring, and ambi-
tious, and that’s what drives her to be her
absolute best. “It feels surreal to actually be
Miss UWA after competing for the title for
the last three years. “It’s like a dream come
true.” This past year, Kennedi served as Miss
Greenville 2017 and had the opportunity to
compete in Miss Mississippi. “The first thing
that came to my mind was how much work it
was going to take to compete in Miss Alabama, but I was still
excited and up for the challenge,” Sanders stated.
Although her reign has been short, Sanders says she has
gained several lifelong friends and the confidence to feel like
she can do anything. “Girls Can” is Sanders platform which
promotes confidence in young girls. Sanders stated, “I have
a list of plans for the future, and I want to make a difference.”
WHEN BEAUTY AND
TALENT COLLIDE
Story By: Sarah Neill

Page 45

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Sports Magazine46
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Page 47

47
Intramurals
For many high school students who
were not offered scholarships for ath-
letics in college, competing in sports
was over. After years of hard work and
striving to be the best, their path comes
to an end where they must choose to go
to college or work. However, for those
who decided to enroll into the Univer-
sity of West Alabama, they found an
outlet where they can continue their
passion for sports in the challenging
athletics of Intramurals.
Intramurals are organized recreational
sports, that are usually in education-
al settings, where individuals create
teams to compete. For many of these
former high school athletes, it is a place
where they can once again shine and
enjoy friendly competition. The sports
that are available range from flag foot-
ball, softball, and even video games
like Mario Cart. Matt Moss, a student
at UWA mentioned, “it’s just a way to
get people that are not a part of a team
sport here at UWA involved in friendly
competitions.”
Competitors come in all forms on cam-
pus. Wether you are an athlete, greek, or
an average student, there is something
out there for you. Among Greek Life,
the competition is much greater. They
fight for bragging rights and points for
Intramural champions among greeks.
Greeks must attend all intramural
sports to obtain points and gain more
points if they win. At the end of the year
at the annual Greek Banquet, the win-
ner of the intramural cup is announced.
For some people, intramural games
are just as important as a D1 Satur-
day football game. For others, they are
just a fun way to have fellowship with
friends on campus. Football, softball,
and basketball are the three major
sports that bring out big competitors.
Teams are formed specifically based
on skill. Wether you are friends or not,
teams look at recruiting the best possi-
ble player to have a better advantage in
the game.
During these games, you can find a
large crowd there to watch. During the
basketball tournament, you can find
the gym packed out with people cheer-
ing on their friends. “I think its cool that
we have big turnouts for intramurals,
they’re looked at like real games some-
times and people take it seriously,” said
Tyler Bobo, a UWA student. When you
look at the teams they are not just your
average students, but students that
could have played in college. Essential-
ly, you can go to one of these games and
watch a game just as good as a college
game.
While these students are not actively
training and practicing through out the
year like regular college athletes, they
still meet up during season on week-
days to practice.
Intramurals allows all types of stu-
dents to be active for what ever reason
they have, whether its for the fun of the
game or to be the best on campus.
Last Chance Photo by: PR Office
Story By: Will Tittle

Page 48

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