The Decree - May 2023

TheDecree NORTH CAROLINA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY, ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA 27804 since 1960 “of, by, and for the Wesleyan community.” May 19, 2023 Allison Wichrowski Photo courtesy of A. Wichrowski WRAL morning anchor Renee Chou, pictured with President Evan Duff, delivered the commencement address during Wesleyan’s graduation ceremony May 6 at Rocky Mount Event Center. Here is a breakdown of the 2023 graduates: 47 students earned an MBA; 20, a master’s in criminal justice; and 11, a bachelor’s in nursing (BSN). There were 339 who received B.A. or B.S. degrees from the traditional day and APS programs. Graduates came from six continents and 17 foreign countries. C. Lewis photo Bishop Profile: President’s Cup Winner Allison Wichrowski NC Wesleyan senior Allison Wichrowski, an exemplar of selfdiscipline, hard work and academic excellence, was named the recipient of the 2023 President’s Cup during Wesleyan’s May 6 commencement ceremony at the Rocky Mount Event Center. A native of Chatsworth, New Jersey, she finished her college career with a grade point average of 3.99 while majoring in psychology and criminal justice. Wichrowski has been busy while enrolled at Wesleyan. Since freshman year, she has worked 20-25 hours per week as a shift supervisor/pharmacy technician at the CVS on Benvenue Road. She was a setter on the volleyball team and earned Student Athlete of the Year in 2021-22. A member of the honors program, she served as a peer tutor in psychology for the Student Success Center. Among other activities and recognitions, she was a member of WAAL (Wesleyan Academy of Athletic Leadership) and a community leader at the Wesleyan Villas. Students and faculty alike praised Wichrowski’s efforts over the past four years. Dr. Lee Templeton taught Wichrowski in English and humanities during her first year. “Allison’s an intelligent and hard-working student who was always willing to challenge herself,” he wrote in an email. “Even when the course was difficult, she found ways to connect with the material and produce impressive work.” Professors Bill Yankosky and Fred Sanborn, director and assistant director of the Taylor-Crocker Honors Program, cited not just Wichrowski’s exceptional academic work but her organizational skills and self-discipline, noting her ability to balance school with a job and participation in sports and a number of extracurricular activi- ties. Dr. Yankosky, a mathematics professor, recalled the project Wichrowski completed in his honors class on cryptology. Noting that it focused on the author Edgar Allan Poe, he called her paper and oral report outstand- ing. “She exemplifies what it means to be a student-athlete and active member of the Wesleyan community,” he said. Mary Alice Butler, a volleyball teammate and a fellow member of the honors program, took many classes together with Wichrowski. She described her as “always engaged” in class and said that she enjoyed their class discussions, remembering, in particular, a class on Icelandic sagas. She related that the two often studied together. “She was always open to helping others. I would often turn to her with questions, and she would help without hesitation,” Butler said, adding “I’m very thankful for my friendship with Allie.” The Decree interviewed Wichrowski, a first-generation college student, at the end of the semester for the following profile. Q: Describe the area where you were raised in central New Jersey. A: We lived on a five-acre farm, and we owned several horses, chickens, dogs and many, many cats. My younger sister and I both competed in different riding events. Q: You also mentioned that you’re a first-generation college student. How did that affect you? A: I am a first-generation college student, and it came with its own unique challenges. Neither of my parents could offer application or loan advice, and many bigger schools rated me less capable than other candidates. Many high school (Eastern Regional High School) classmates were surprised to see I was going to college, let alone playing a sport. Q: What other colleges did you consider? And what was it that appealed to you most about NC Wesleyan? A: I considered several other schools as I was recruited to play volleyball. Bloomfield College (in New Jersey), Tennessee Wesleyan University, Mount Mary University (Wisconsin), University of Redlands (California), and others were all contenders. After interviewing with the professors here, meeting the administration, and finalizing financial aid, Wesleyan became the best choice for me. Q: Can you elaborate on your visit? What most impressed you? A: Meeting Taylor Stone and Wayne Sears had a positive impact on both me and my father. My father felt comfortable with Mr. Sears and how open he was about his security policies. Ms. Stone made me feel very welcome and a part of the Wesleyan family before I even finished applying to the school. She was eager to answer all my questions, even small ones. Coach Vicky (Gentile) made my experience feel unique by bringing me--and only a few other recruits- -to play with the team. Other visits would involve 10 or more recruits, and it felt like an obligatory invite rather than the programs expressing genuine interest. Q: What was it like going to school in the South? A: My parents weren’t able to see me play much, but sometimes watched the live stream. Both my parents came to Senior Day; that meant a lot, as my dad hadn’t seen me play since my senior year of high school. I’ve had to miss several holidays and birthdays back home, but I knew my parents were always supportive of my decision to come this far and I’ve built my own “family” while I’ve been at Wesleyan. I would say the biggest adjustment from living in the North is the pace of life. The South moves much slower and with less urgency. It was hard to get used to that. Q: What led you to study psychology and criminal justice? A: I’ve always enjoyed helping people, which led me to psychology. After finishing my psychology courses, I developed an interest in criminal behavior and the connection to psychology, so I added a criminal justice major. I also minored in visual arts; I enjoy pottery and have experience with wheelthrowing mugs, bowls, and plates. Q: Tell us about your favorite class. A: I had two classes that I enjoyed very much. My first is abnormal psychology with Dr. (Kim) Martin. This appealed to everything I love about psychology, from observation to diagnosis and treatment plans. My other favorite was my geology class with Mr. (Bruce) Harvey. He teaches with so much passion and truly cares for his students; he even makes students who don’t enjoy science feel confident. Q: And what was the hardest class? A: It was my first honors class during freshman year. I think I’ve studied every angle of “Beowulf” with Dr. Templeton. This class took most of my time as I’m not the fastest reader, and I had limited skills regarding interpreting themes in the text. Dr. Templeton helped me grow as a writer and even if the class was difficult, I can’t thank him enough for my development. Q: What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome in working toward your degree? A: I’ve been a busy student for most of my time here. During my sophomore year, my grandmother passed away, which hit both my sister and me hard because we lived with our grandparents. Volleyball took up a lot of my time and I began working at CVS in the spring of my freshman year—20- 25 hours per week. With all of these responsibilities, time management was the biggest challenge. Q: You're an excellent student. Describe your study habits? And what advice would you offer to Wesleyan first-year students? A: I’m a visual person and learn best by working with the material hands-on. I find it hard to listen to lectures and audiobooks. I like to create my own practice tests (shout out to Quizlet!) and use Kahoot learning games. My advice is to identify your learning style and design your tools based on that. I also recommend peer tutors as a resource to help with the learning process. Q: Describe your honors project. A: It was titled “Psychology and Societal Factors in Serial Killers.” I explored the history of serial killers and then selected several examples to perform a case-study analysis. I examined a list of specified factors and typologies and analyzed how each serial killer did or did not fit into each case study. For my project I studied Edmund Kemer, Arthur Shawcross and Ted Bundy. I looked at genetics, head trauma, and family environment. Q: Can you elaborate on what you mean by typologies. A: Typologies refer to the type of killer. For example, organized kill- ers plan their crimes in grave detail in advance and usually dispose of the body without leaving much, if any, evidence. By contrast, unorganized killers may kill spontaneously and not fully develop a plan for the murder. Q: Who’s your “favorite” serial killer? And what TV shows do you recommend for readers who share your interest? A: Richard Ramirez has always been fascinating to me, mostly due to his childhood experiences; the Netflix documentary, “The Night Stalker,” is about him. I also enjoyed the documentary about John Wayne Gacy and “The Killer Nurse,” which is about Charles Cullen. Q: What would you say was your happiest moment while you were at Wesleyan? A: I would have to say the last day of junior year; it was my birthday. As a child, I never had birthday parties and it was nice to have friends with me to play games and dance all night. We had all finished finals that day and could finally breathe some fresh air. We ate dinner at El Tapatio and we laughed at one of our friends for ordering chicken tenders at a Mexican restaurant. Then we went back to the house to play a board game that friends and I invented. It involved various activities, one on each square (cartwheels, truth or dare, sharpie tattoos, and shirt swapping, etc.). Watching the guys try to do cartwheels was a comedic experience. Q: What’s your best memory as a member of the volleyball team? A: Last year’s Scotland trip was an amazing experience for the teammates who chose to go. I spent most of my time with Mary Cat Davis and MAB (Mary Alice Butler) and had a very good time touring a different country. One of the funniest experiences occurred one night during dinner at a local pub. As the waiter took our orders, we all asked for the baked macaroni and cheese because we didn’t recognize the other items on the menu. The waiter looked at us and jokingly made a reference to us being Americans and we all busted out laughing. See WINNER pg 2 Baseball Team Sweeps Peace, Takes First Title since 2009 Zach Lyon drove in three runs and the Bishops took advantage of their opponent’s sloppy defense Saturday afternoon to win their second straight game over Raleigh’s William Peace University and claim their first USA South title since 2009. Winning their 15th game in a row, the Bishops improved their overall record to 35-8. The team placed first in the regular-season standings with 18-3 mark. Peace, led by former Wesleyan coach Charlie Long, finished in a threeway tie for second with Methodist and Greensboro at 13-8. With the victory, Wesleyan qualifies for the NCAA Division III regional playoffs. It now awaits word on its first-round opponent. Saturday’s 8-4 win followed a 9-2 drubbing of Peace Friday night in the opener, under the lights at Bauer Field. Leading 2-1 after five innings, Wesleyan exploded for seven runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings to secure the win. Five Wesleyan batters had RBI hits, as Peace committed four errors in the field, producing a total of five unearned runs. Wesleyan’s Payne Stolsworth, the conference Pitcher of the Year, extended his winning streak to 11 wins without a loss. He yielded five hits and a run in the first three innings, but then limited the Pacers to one hit and an unearned run over the next five. Relief pitcher Cullen Davis worked the ninth, striking out two batters in a non-save situation. “Payne just locked into what he’s been doing all year…getting the job done,” Coach Greg Clifton said. On Saturday afternoon Wesleyan was stymied through the first four in- nings by Pacer starter Jack McIntosh. “We didn’t do a great job with adjustments early. He kept us off balance with a lot of off-speed pitches just like the last time he faced us,” Clifton said, referring to McIntosh’s 3-2 win, a four-hitter, on April 10 in Raleigh (The Pacers took the three-game series, 2-1). The Bishops broke through in the fifth. Trying to spark a rally, Drifton Padgett dropped a bunt down the third base line for a single. Jean LaGreca attempted a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher’s mound, but McIntosh botched it for an error, putting runners on first and second. After a sacrifice by Luke Chung, the Bishops tallied their first run as Lyon singled to left, LaGreca holding at third. The next batter, Tyson Bass, lofted a fly to left field. See BASEBALL pg 4

Senior Staff Writers Mary Alice Butler Staff Writers Hunter Hopkins Layali Kasem Jean LaGreca Jordyn Matlock Gracie Wade Special Contributors Carl Lewis Andrew Stern Grace Wallace Faculty Advisor Dr. William Grattan 179 Braswell • Phone: 985-5336 Email: [email protected] staff The Decree since 1960 “of, by, and for the Wesleyan community.” 2 North Carolina Wesleyan University, Rocky Mount, North Carolina 27804 May 19, 2023 STUDENT LIFE WINNER from pg 1 Q: Will you continue to be active in volleyball after graduation? A: I do plan to continue to play through adult leagues and tournaments either in Raleigh or Greenville. I’ve played since I was 9 years old and it’s not something I could give up without feeling empty. Q: What’s one aspect of Wesleyan that you would change? A: I would try to build a tighterknit community in the Villas (16 housing units, located across the road from the athletic fields, that Wesleyan leases and then rents to students). The community leaders (similar to RAs in the dorms) occa- sionally hold events, such as a block party, but considering most staff and residents are athletes it can be difficult to come together. I would add a fire pit to build community; I’d also invite student groups (e.g., Fellowship of Christian Athletes) to hold events in the grassy areas. Asked the same question, I’m sure most students would respond that they would change from a dry campus, but since, realistically, that will never change, we need to find other ways to have fun. Q: Talk about your internship as well as your immediate postgraduate plans. A: I’m finishing the hiring process to be a probation/parole officer for Nash County. I’ll be supervising offenders within the community and monitoring their rehabilita- tive processes as well as ensuring the safety of neighboring citizens. While at Wesleyan, I completed an internship that indirectly led me to this job. I was a behavioral specialist intern for a non-profit, the Mephibosheth Project, in Goldsboro. I helped facilitate group therapy for juveniles on probation or released from youth detention centers. I enjoyed my time with the non-profit and felt I could apply the same skills I learned there to the adult population. With the help of Dr. (Gail) Marsal, I submitted an application to the state and was later offered an interview for the position. Q: What are your long-term goals? What do you want your life to be like at 40? A: I want to grow in my career, whether this means staying a parole officer or moving into a different position. If I choose to change posi- tions, I will likely apply to the FBI and would love to work at the BAU (Behavioral Analysis Unit) in Quantico, Virginia. Having grown up on a farm, I would like to own horses again and would like to help support a feral cat colony in my community. Q: Who will be at graduation with you? A: Both my parents; my boyfriend, Sean; and my sister, Sara. We don’t have set plans for celebrating. I just want to enjoy the time with my family before they go back home, and I want to hang out with friends before they leave. Local Student Finds Home after Tumultuous ECU Term By Gracie Wade (Editor’s Note: The following story was submitted early in spring semester). It was the 17th of August 2022. It was a warm, windy morning when I woke up with the exhilarating feeling of finally moving out of my parents’ house. At the young age of 18, I had graduated from high school and at the same time earned my associate’s degree from Nash Community College. I had always dreamed of attending East Carolina University, so that’s where I was headed. I had long wanted to go to ECU because that's the college attended by many of my family members, including my older brother, Jacob. And ECU has been a common theme throughout my life. That morning I was hit with the realization of loans, bills, and other life responsibilities that were soon to come my way. Although I had so much fear in the back of my head, I was still excited to start growing up and depending on myself without my parents right there beside me. I remember the green of the trees in my yard and the sight of my dog (a German Shepherd named Sarah) running around with her favorite red Frisbee and sniffing around the many bags and boxes in the driveway. The time came for us to pack my belongings into our cars and take the hour-long journey to my new school. When we arrived at ECU, I felt so welcomed and I couldn't imagine myself anywhere else. There were hundreds of staff members on hand, helping the new students; they were all super nice. We went to the large brick gymnasium, where I was given my student ID and dorm key. I got a lot of free items as well--an ECU can koozie, pens, bags, etc. After check-in, we drove to the dorm where I would be living for the next year of my life. I took a moment for myself in the parking lot because, even though I was keen to move away, I knew I would be saying bye to my parents and that that would be the hardest part. I remember that my parents and my younger sister, Anna Beth, helped me organize my entire dorm room and they were purposely going slow because they knew they would be leaving soon. When we finished, we walked out to the parking lot, and my mom hugged me and cried. My dad didn't show he was upset, but no father is happy about leaving his daughter at college (In the weeks ahead, I could always tell they missed me when I would come to visit on the weekends.). There are three dorm neighborhoods at ECU: West End, Central, and College Hill. West end is typically for honors college students, Central is for gender specific-dorms, and College Hill is for the kids who like to party. This is because the tailgate lot for football games is located in the College Hill neighborhood, with the stadium right behind it. Most students choose this place because it's convenient for game days and parties. Ballard, my dorm, is the newest building in College Hill. The older dorms have smaller rooms, with ugly pipes all over the ceilings and individual AC units in the windows. In Ballard it felt like a room at home; there were high ceilings and plenty of space. My walls were painted an olive-green and the air conditioning was modern and central. Fast forward to the first day of classes. Right away I recognized that I was in a much different learning environment. I remember walking into my chemistry class for the first time and seeing 250 college students in a lecture hall set up with retractable chairs. I knew it would be a big challenge for me because I was so used to sitting in classrooms with fewer than 20 people. I was also used to enjoying one-on-one relationships with my teachers (at Faith Christian School) and professors (Nash Early College).This intimidated me at first, and throughout the semester it made me more aware of my learning style. Despite the challenges, I convinced myself that I could suc- ceed. Then there came a point that I needed extra study time for my biology class due to an upcoming exam in genetics. There were about 150 in my class and only one tutoring session available. A friend and I helped each other with studying, but I still struggled with the material and decided to attend the tutoring session, which was held in the purple-walled Pirate Academic Success Center. When I arrived that day, I found I was one of 75 students looking for help. The professor, a short, thin woman in her 40s, tried to do her best, but there were so many students, and many were unable to get assistance during the twohour session. The professor was overwhelmed; it was a disaster. Needless to say, many students did not do well on the test. The situation was even worse in my chemistry class. Once again struggling with the material, I went to my professor’s office hours to get extra help and ask some questions. The professor was a man in his 30s with a dark stubble beard and big brown eyes. As I walked into his office, I hoped he would care enough to help me. After realizing he didn’t recognize my face (out of class of 250), I felt overlooked, but I wasn't too upset about it. I just wanted him to be understanding. I asked him for help with the homework, and his response was, “We learned this in class and the notes are posted on Canvas; you should know how to do it on your own.” Then he asked me to leave. About three months later, I felt doubtful about passing my classes and I had a lot of personal issues going on back at home that affected me as well. My boyfriend, Brian, and I struggled a bit with the long-distance relationship at first (We soon agreed to trade weekends, with me coming home and him coming to Greenville). My grandad was in and out of the hospital for a few months and that took a toll. My parents didn't agree with some of my decisions, and that was the hardest part. I tend to seek their approval, so when they get upset with me, it will affect me in significant ways. (At one point my mom wouldn't speak a word to me for almost three weeks). Add in some financial strains and my inability to find a job in Greenville (My boyfriend had to pay for my gas all the time; my friends would be upset because I couldn't go out with them) and that just raised the stress even more. I also concluded that I didn't fit into the ECU culture. Walking around campus, a friend and I would constantly get weird stares. It happened mostly in the dining hall or in the library. College students tend to be very judgy because many think that they’re better than everyone else based on appearance or the clothes they’re wearing. This made me really uncomfortable. I admit I usually was a lazy dresser. Most days I’d wear my Hey Dude shoes, Nike sweatpants and a hoodie (It seemed that most days it was very cold and windy, and my dorm was a mile walk from all my classes as well as the library). My philosophy is that I have no one to impress and I would rather be comfortable anyway. Girls were definitely the judgmental ones there. They would wear Lululemon shorts/ leggings with tops that made their upper chest hang out. This is a typical Greenville female outfit, and I’m sure you can imagine why they dress that way. During that semester, perhaps the most serious issue—a recurring one—involved the boys that lived on my floor in the dorm. Nearly every night, there was a group who would bang on our door to get me and my roommate to come out and talk to them. After a couple of months of persistently telling them no, to leave us alone, they crossed the line. I lived on the fourth floor, and one night I took the elevator to my room after coming back from dinner. Two tall, skinny guys walked up to me and cornered me against the wall next to my door, bombarding me with questions. They repeatedly asked, “Where is your boyfriend?” or “Are you gonna be alone in your room tonight?” Luckily, I had a friend who lived a few doors down; she came in time to get them away from me. The next day I filed a harassment report to the cops and the school took action. My roommate and I had a no-contact order against the boys, and that took care of the situation. See HOME pg 6 First-year student Gracie Wade at her graduation last year from Nash Early College. G. Wade photo. Superstitions and Rituals Abound On Wesleyan’s Baseball Team By Hunter Hopkins Decree Staff Writer Baseball players have always been known as a superstitious bunch. The North Carolina Wesleyan baseball team is no different, as many Bishops follow a particular ritual because they feel it helps them to be successful on the field. One such player is Bishops firstbaseman Jackson Hobbs, who has just been named Player of the Year in the USA South Conference. Last year, his teammates gave him the walk-up song "I Need a Dollar" by Aloe Blacc after they discovered he always kept a dollar bill in a hat that his father gave him in high school. Hobbs considers it his "lucky dollar," as he is from Florida and feels like his father is right there with his dollar bill tucked inside his ball cap. Similar to Hobbs, pitcher Clayton Gilmore is well known on the team for keeping his "lucky penny" in his left cleat every time he toes the rubber. He started his supersti- tion during his sophomore year of high school, when, like Hobbs, his father gave him a lucky penny to keep on him as he prayed for good luck. Gilmore said he has forgotten the penny twice since starting the tradition, and each time it has resulted in a bad outing for him. To Gilmore, the penny gives him extra fuel to succeed on the mound. Next on this list is infielder Javier Quintana, who received a golden necklace from his grandmother on his 8th birthday. This necklace has a gold baseball pendant on it, and he has worn it ever since he received it. The necklace is superstitious to Quintana, as he feels as if his grandmother is always there to support him. During his senior year of high school, the necklace broke as Quintana dove head-first into second base in attempting to steal. After his necklace broke, Quintana had "the worst slump since his high school career started." After getting his necklace fixed, Quintana exploded in the playoffs, batting.380 throughout his team’s playoff run. Among Wesleyan players, a well-known ritual is pitcher Hunter Hill’s pregame breakfast every time he is slated to start. Since Hill arrived at Wesleyan, his routine has always been to hit Red’s restaurant for breakfast, always getting the same meal: Biscuits and gravy with two eggs and bacon. Last year Hill received the USA South Rookie Pitcher of the Year award and he’s been well known on his team for going to Red’s before games, a fact that earned him the nickname "Big Red." Despite eating the same meal every time, he claims he will never change that superstition since he received the prestigious award last year and the food is always “excellent.” Like Big Red, Damon Hardy also eats the same meal before every game. Unlike Hill, though, Hardy started this superstition when he was just a little boy playing recreation ball at the Harrison Family YMCA in Rocky Mount. see RITUALS pg 5

May 19, 2023 North Carolina Wesleyan University, Rocky Mount, North Carolina 27804 3 SPORTS Bishop Briefs: Men’s Tennis Continues Dominance, Softball Team Goes 27-13 The Wesleyan men’s tennis team grabbed its 14th straight USA South Conference title, won its first-round match in the NCAA regionals, but lost a tense match in the next round to Emory University. Led by junior John Falke, the Bishops rampaged through the conference regular season, win- ning six matches by 9-0 scores and one, over Methodist, by an 8-1 score. The team, playing on its new indoor courts April 27-28, then blanked Methodist (5-0) and Pfeiffer (5-0) in the conference tournament to claim the title. Falke, the USA South Player of the Year, anchored Wesleyan’s number-one singles position for most of the year and sometimes teamed with Luca Knese to form a dominating doubles tandem. In the confer- ence finals, the duo hammered Pfeiffer’s Dylan Masters and Michael Harancyzk, 8-3. Joaquin Cabello, a new member of Wesleyan’s team, has been impressed all year by the play of Falke and Knese. “Both have strong serves and good volleys,” he explained. “They complement each other very well, as they understand each other.” Tshepo Mosarwa/Diego Segovia won, 8-4, at second doubles, while Augusto Roca/Andy Fanzaga won at third, shutting out their oppo- nents, 8-0, to build the team lead to 3-0. Mosarwa (#2) and Segovia (#3) claimed their singles matches, providing the Bishops with an insurmountable 5-0 lead over the Falcons. The USA South championship qualified Wesleyan for the NCAA Division III regional playoffs. Playing host in the first round, the Bishops defeated Washington & Lee, 5-1. They took two of three doubles matches, with Falke shifting to the third pairing to team with Roca for a key win, 8-6. In singles, Knese led the way as he won at #2, 6-4, 6-2, over Will Kistler. “Besides Luca’s serve, what most impresses me is his fore- hand, that and his unique fighting spirit,” Cabello said. The match was clinched when Roca turned in a winning performance at #5 singles, 6-3, 6-3, and Fanzaga triumphed at #6, 7-5, 6-4. Emory was the next obstacle. The Atlanta university was once Wesleyan’s perennial nemesis, ousting the Bishops from the NCAAs seven times within an eight-year span (2011-2019). Would this be the year the Bishops got past the Eagles and advanced from regional play? Wesleyan got off to a promising start as it took two of three double matches. Knese and Albert Sitwell won at #1 doubles, 8-4, while Falke and Roca edged their opponents, 8-7 (7-5), at #3. Then Emory evened the team score by taking three of the first five singles matches, with Falke and Fanzaga winning their matches for the Bishops. It came down to the match at #3 singles. After losing the first set, 2-6, Mosarwa battled back to take set two, 6-4. He then jumped to an early lead against his opponent, Nolan Shah, before losing the John Falke third set, 6-4, leading the Eagles to a hard-fought 5-4 victory and more heartbreak for the Bishops. Having just completed his first semester at Wesleyan, Cabello, a native of Argentina, was asked two final questions: Did he think that it was a disadvantage for the Bishops to play against teams in the less competitive USA South Conference? “I don’t think so,” he replied. “It’s an excellent opportunity to try different lineups or doubles teams.” Experiencing the top-flight competition among the Bishop players, wouldn’t Cabello rather play for a decent program with a greater chance of making the top six? “I would rather play on a team like this,” he said, “as the level is very good and I’m always motivated to compete for a spot in the top six.” Dule Leads Women to Title Sophomore Kristal Dule led a young women’s tennis team to a USA South title after it recorded a perfect record in regular season matches. Playing host for the conference tourney, the Bishops breezed through Salem, Brevard and Methodist by identical 5-0 scores to claim the title. On May 5, the team traveled to Lexington, Virginia, to face Washington & Lee in the opening round of NCAA regionals play. Against the 22nd ranked Gener- als, Dule teamed with Cristal Mendoza to take the #1 doubles match, 8-6, and Wesleyan’s Elisa Mariotti defeated her opponent at #2 singles. But it was not enough to advance to round two, W&L winning 5-2. Dule, a native of Italy, was interviewed by the Decree after the sea- son for the following mini-profile: Q: What attracted you to NC Wesleyan in the first place? A: I liked the fact that it’s a small college, so there aren’t too many people, and that there were a lot of internationals. I fell in love with the tennis facility. When I had my video call with my coach, he explained to me the team dynamics, the practices and how the team becomes your second family. That all made me realize that this is where I wanted to come. Q: Describe your hometown of Pove Del Grappa? A: It’s a town of 3,000 in the province of Vicenza, northeast Italy. The downtown is small, with two schools, a church, and couple bars/restaurants. The landscape is beautiful with all the mountains and hills. The people are really friendly, and everyone knows everyone. The region is a center for olive oil production. Q: What do you miss most about Italy? A: It’s spending time with my family and others back home. Yes, there are social media that help me stay in contact with them, but it’s very difficult not to physically be with them during birthdays, festivities, and especially during hard times. I’m used to it now, but there are still times when I think about this a lot. I also miss Italian food; I feel like the freshness and quality of Italian food is something that could never be found anywhere else. Q: What’s your major? What do you want to do after college? A: I’m doing a double major in mathematics and accounting and after college, my dream would be to become a professional tennis player. If that doesn't work out, I would like to find a job in finance. Q: How much do you practice each day? A: Usually, team practices last around two hours, sometimes a little more. Beyond playing tennis, I also do one hour of conditioning, mostly bodyweight workouts focused on rapidity, endurance, and strength. Before go- ing to bed, I spend 30-40 minutes doing yoga. Sometimes I put in an extra hour of practice by working on my serve, usually during the weekend or mornings when I don’t have class. Q: What do you consider the strongest part of your game? A: I would say that shot-wise, the backhand is my best shot and the one I prefer the most. I’m an aggressive player, and I always like to dictate the point, but I also have good running skills, so I’m able to defend when necessary. Q: It’s fair to say that the men’s team benefits from a deep roster (30 athletes)--the top six players face internal challenges in practice from teammates who want to take their spots. Do you feel that the women’s team--with seven on the current roster- -would benefit from more athletes? A: I believe we would definitely benefit from having more athletes; there are several reasons. First, if a teammate gets injured, having more players would make it possible to play all nine matches because someone else could take the place of the injured player. The other reason relates to competition. With more players, and more healthy competition, that would provide incentive for all the girls to give 100 percent in every practice. They would help each other get better every day while they try to retain their spot on the team. Q: What was the highlight of this past spring season for you? A: I would say it was winning the conference. Last year, unfortunately, we didn’t play for much of the season because of injuries. It was amazing to win the conference this year; all our hard work paid off in the end. Q: Do you feel that the lack of serious competition during the conference schedule hurt your team in the NCAAs? A: A little bit. During the conference schedule, we faced a level of competition that was lower than ours; this can affect us because you “get used” to that level. When it came to facing teams that, on paper, were bet- ter than us, we were disoriented. On the other hand, we played a lot of good teams on spring break and amidst our conference schedule. By the time we competed at the NCAA regionals, I felt like we were used to that level of play and our team spirit was higher. With a little bit more belief, I think we could have won the first round because there wasn’t a lot of dif- ference between the two teams. Q: You’re still a young team with only one senior. What makes you optimistic the Bishops can win the conference and advance farther in the NCAAs next season? A: It’s true that we’re a young team, but I’ve seen a lot of improvement in the team spirit and the willingness to fight in every match, both in me and my teammates. If we keep playing with this spirit, if we start believing more in ourselves, and if we keep working hard every day at practice, this will lead to great results next season. Softball Finishes 27-13 Season The Wesleyan softball team lost its first two games in the USA South tournament after finishing third in the conference during the regular season with a 12-6 record (27-13 overall). Playing in Greensboro May 4-5, the Bishops lost the first game of the tourney, 4-3, to Mary Baldwin. The Bishops built a 3-1 lead on an RBI single by Molly Alejandrino and two unearned runs. But the Flying Squir- rels took the lead in the top of the seventh, producing three runs with run-scoring singles. Emily Hum- phrey pitched a complete game for the Bishops and absorbed the loss. A day later, facing elimination, the Bishops took on a lower-seeded Methodist team (19-19). A pitcher’s duel, the game remained score- less until the fifth inning, when the Monarchs pushed across the game’s only run on an RBI single by S. Sizemore. Freshman pitcher Morgan Aycock took the loss, despite a four-hit complete game. The early elimination was hard for the Bishops to process. “I was proud of my performance,” Aycock said, “but it was devasting to know that our season was over.” Alejandrino concurred. “I think many people, including myself, were shocked that we went home from the tournament so early,” the third baseman said. “Morgan pitched a great game, but we didn’t have her back offensively. I was very proud that Morgan was able to do her job even as a freshman pitcher. Conference play is all about performing in every aspect of the game and unfortu- nately, our team didn’t execute.” Aycock finished with a 9-8 record and 3.46 earned run average and recorded 57 strikeouts in a team-leading 107.1 innings. Asked to identify the biggest difference between college and high school softball, the Clayton native said it’s the pressure to produce. “In college it’s well known that your academics come first,” she said, “but softball is a close second. You must perform well, at a high level. In high school, softball was done for fun with less stress and fewer consequences after losses.” Aycock said the second Methodist game, April 11, was her personal highlight as she threw a completegame, four-hit shutout, her first as a college athlete, as she led the Bishops to a 7-0 win and a two-game sweep. The performance earned her conference Rookie of the Week. “It served as a huge confidence boost and gave me a sense of clarity,” she said. “I came to realize I was doing what I needed to be doing in college even though I had questioned myself in the first year.” Despite the early exit in the playoffs, Alejandrino was pleased with the progress the team made in 2023, citing, in particular, impressive non-league victories over Randolph Macon and Waynesburg. With the young team gaining a year’s experience and Aycock and Humphrey anchoring the pitching staff for at least two more seasons, Alejandrino is optimistic about Wesleyan’s future. “I’m very excited for next year due to the success we had this year as such a young team,” she said, referring to a team loaded with freshmen and sophomores. “With a number of players return- ing and everyone working hard in the off-season, I’m confident that we’ll come back with more success in the tournament.” Statistical Notes: Humphrey, a sophomore, led the team with a 12-4 record, 60 Ks, and a 1.92 ERA (third best in the confer- ence). Alejandrino was the team leader in all major batting categories—8 homers, 38 RBIs and a .435 batting average (she was first in the conference in average and RBIs and second in homers). Savannah Thompson was tied for second on the team with 4 homers and second in RBIs (35), while batting .300 in her first season. Golf’s Patterson Places Third Paced by sophomore Myles Patterson, a young NC Wesleyan golf team finished fifth in a competitive field at the USA South Conference championship, held in Spartanburg, South Carolina, April 24-26. Playing at the Carolina Country Club, Patterson carded a 45-hole total of 185, or 5 over at the par-72, course. He tied for third place, 1 stroke behind Greensboro’s Andreas Huber and 12 behind medalist Cameron Cappuzzo of Methodist, the only player to break par. The tournament was shortened from 54 holes following a severe rainstorm. “Sunday began with a light rain,” Patterson related, “and then it became heavier, leaving casual water all over the course, even on the putting greens.” In a typical tournament, Wesleyan would have been represented by five golfers, with the lowest four scores figuring into the team’s total for each round. But, due to illness, the Bishops played one man down all three days. For Patterson, the individual highlight was the 2-under par 70 he shot on day two, tying him for the second lowest individual round of the tournament. He hit 14 greens in regulation and needed only 27 putts, or an average of 1.5 per hole. “My putting and ball striking were somewhat poor the first day,” he said, “but I settled down and then I made some important, momentum-boosting putts. After a rough start on day two, I struck the ball and putted well.” Patterson explained that the 6,800-yard course was challenging, with the change in the weather making a dramatic difference. “The layout was simple, tight, and scoreable, but you had to place the ball in certain spots,” he said. “The greens were difficult, quick and firm early in the tournament and then wet later, making them difficult to judge.” Patterson was followed by teammates Alvaro Toro (14th place, 17 over par), Lucas Perez (18th, +23) and Guido Guevara (21st, +29). Patterson and Perez are sophomores, while Toro and Guevara are freshmen. see BRIEFS pg 4 Kristal Dule Photo courtesy of K. Dule Myles Patterson finished third in the USA South golf tournament in South Carolina. The team placed fifth. SI photo

4 North Carolina Wesleyan University, Rocky Mount, North Carolina 27804 SPORTS May 19, 2023 By Hunter Hopkins Decree Staff Writer BASEBALL from pg 1 LaGreca broke for home, but, in a much-debated call, the umpire ruled him out. (It appeared the sliding LaGreca was tagged in the chest after his foot touched the plate). Then, in the sixth inning, the Pacers got to the Bishops starter, Hunter Hill, who had shut them out through five. After a leadoff single, Hill issued two walks to load the bases. A wild pitch scored Peace’s first run and moved the other runners up one base. The next batter then drilled a single to left; one run scored, but the second was erased at home on a pinpoint throw from Lyon as the runner tried to leap over LaGreca, who stood his ground and applied the tag. “Hunter worked hard to keep us in the game,” said Clifton, who replaced Hill with Danny Thompson (4-2). “He gave us a chance to win.” Then came the pivotal eighth inning. Lyon led off by sending a single through the right side of the infield. Jackson Hobbs, the conference Player of the Year, hammered a double into the leftfield corner, with Lyon scoring after a bobble by the outfielder. Davie Morgan was issued an intentional walk. Colin “Scooby” Scoggins then singled to left, scoring Hobbs. That restored Wesleyan’s one-run lead, 3-2, and chased McIntosh from the game. The onslaught continued as Alex Moskal hit a high bouncer to second and reached base on an error; that loaded the bases. Then Padgett lifted a floater past the shortstop into shallow leftfield for two more runs. After a strikeout and hitbatsman, Lyon came to the plate for the second time that inning. He stroked a pitch into right-center, the centerfielder mishandled it, and all three runners scored. Eighth inning tally: 12 batters, seven runs, five hits, three Pacer errors. Leading 8-2 in the bottom of the ninth, Clifton summoned Davis, the team’s strikeout spe- cialist (16.48 per nine innings), to close the game. But Davis soon found himself in a jam, as he loaded the bases on a single and two walks. He then struck out one batter and induced the next to fly out to right field. A walk and a single brought in the Pacers’ third and fourth runs. With the bases still loaded and the tying run at the plate, Davis caught the next batter looking at a called third strike. Bishops win…. Cue the dogpile. BRIEFS from pg 3 Patterson, a graduate of Apex Friendship High School, believes that with seasoning, the Bishops will be competing well against Methodist, a perennial national power on the links. Methodist took the team championship, with its four best golfers all placing in the top ten. Noting their rigorous practice schedules, Patterson said the Monarch golfers excel at different aspects of the game. “What makes champions like Methodist stand out is their ability to score whether they’re hitting the ball well or not,” he said. “Some guys can't putt, but they can strike the ball like no one else. Some guys can't strike the ball, but they’re excellent putters.” But it’s not just hard work and talent, Patterson said. “Team chemistry is huge. Methodist’s golfers feed off each other and always put together four good scores,” he said, adding, “Wesleyan is a young team. I believe within a year or two we can compete for a conference championship.” Women’s Sprinters Finish 1 - 2 Two Wesleyan sprinters turned in electric performances at the USA South women’s track and field championships at Brevard April 27-28, as the Bishops placed third in the team standings. Freshman Ahnia Cherry (12.15 seconds) and sophomore Mariah Brooks (12.66) finished 1-2 in the 100-meter race. The two runners duplicated the feat in 200 meters, with individual times of 24.79 and 25.36. In the 400-meter event, Brooks (59.98) and senior Teanna Bellamy (59.80) placed third and fourth. Cherry, Brooks, Bellamy teamed with Snejana Spinache to take first in the 4 x 100-meter relay with a time of 48.28; the four came in second in the 4 x 400 relay at 4:08.19. In the field events, Christian Van Norden placed third in shot put with a toss of 37 feet, 4 inches. Sports Memory: A High School Rivalry and a Bid for a No-No It was a blistering spring afternoon. The muggy weather made it feel like it was 95 degrees, as my team, the West Davidson Dragons, got ready to take on our rivals, the Central Davidson Spartans, for a spot in the conference championship game. The week prior to this, my coach, Ryan Hokanson, approached me and said, “Hunter, I need to save you for the semi-finals as you know it’ll be our best competition in this tournament. I need you to show up big for this game.” We had been preparing for this game all season, as the action always gets heated against the Spartans. That afternoon the stands were crowded. Fans came from all over the Lexington area to watch the rivalry game take place. Before the first pitch, I went to the bullpen to begin stretching and getting my body loose for the big game. I grabbed my foam roller and started rolling out my hamstrings, quads, calves and back. I always had earbuds in warming up so I could focus on the game and get in the zone to dominate the opposing team. I was listening to my go-to choice of music, a mix of AC/DC, Korn and some Eminem. After roll- ing out, I began doing my pregame hip mobility to ensure my legs were stretched. Then I proceeded to grab my resistance bands to get my arm ready to throw heat. As I finished my warmup, my catcher, Luke Bryant, approached with a menacing look in his eye. It was his senior year, and he took this season as a retirement tour. “Hop, I really need you to be big today,” he said. “I’m not ready to be finished playing baseball yet.” His words lit a fire under me and for the first time I understood what it was like to face the possibility of playing your last game ever. I had a feeling inside me that I have never felt in the past. I was now on a mission for my senior teammates. As we lined up along the foul lines and the national anthem played, I began by saying a prayer. When the anthem concluded, I took my final warmup pitches on the mound. I reached 84 mph on the first one, the hard- est I had ever thrown. Next pitch was clocked at 85 mph. I had no idea what was going on; all I knew was the catcher’s mitt was popping and my arm felt amazing. As we wrapped up warmup tosses, my catcher approached me and exclaimed, “Hoppy, it feels like you’re pumping it today!” The first inning went swiftly. I struck out two batters and the third grounded out to second on a slow roller. During the bottom of the first, my team came to the plate. After a three-up, three-down top of the first, it seemed like the energy was in our favor, but we couldn’t seem to produce. The leadoff batter struck out on four pitches, the second batter was walked, and the next two hit shallow flyouts to the outfield. I had a sinking feeling that this game would come down to the defense; not many runs were going to cross the plate. But for some reason this gave me even more drive to pitch well. I knew that I had to show up big for my team and now it was time to prove myself. I got through the second inning, but the third was a little rocky, with the first batter walking. Growing nervous, I felt like I was already losing my touch and started to overthink the game. On the next pitch, the runner stole second base. Then the Spartan slugger hit a drive to right field, which, thankfully, was snagged on an amazing diving play by Zac Story. The runner tagged and advanced to third with only one out. The next two outs were critical for me as I couldn’t let the runner score. It came to a full count with the next batter and then I threw a sharp, cutting slider that buckled his knees for a strikeout. With two outs the last batter hit a roller to the shortstop, and we escaped the third inning without surrendering a run and the dugout erupted in cheers. The game continued with the defense taking control as batters were making outs left and right. No one was able to score until the bottom of the 5th inning. That’s when the Spartans let up two walks and our centerfield Austin Musgrave blasted a huge double to right field, with both runners scoring. Our team celebrated as if we just won the World Series! The energy was unreal. As the inning ended, my coach handed me the ball once more and said, “Hop, now is your time to shine. I need you to be big right here and finish this game for us. You have some insurance runs, do your thing, kid.” I stepped onto the mound, eager to pitch this inning. Three batters came to the plate and quickly became three outs. The crowd was roaring. In the bottom of the sixth inning, we stranded a runner on third base and the score was still 2-0. The seventh inning passed without incident. In the top of the 8th inning, I got a quick two outs, with a popup to the shortstop and a strikeout on an up-and-inside fastball. I gave up a walk to the third, and the pressure was on me once more. But my first baseman made an incredible diving play on a grounder down the line, and I sprinted to the first base bag to cover for the out. Approaching the final inning I was still pitching and had not let up a hit. There’s an unwritten rule in baseball that you don’t speak or think about the no-hitter or perfect game, but of course it’s near impossible not to think about it when you see the zero in the hit column for the opposing team. I began the ninth inning by striking out the first batter, throwing a curve that he was not expecting. I whispered under my breath, “Let’s freaking go. Come on, keep shoving, stay in your rhythm.” The crowd kept roaring. The second batter popped out to our first baseman, and I was one out away from accomplishing a “No-no.” That was until the Spartans’ cleanup hitter came to the plate. I soon fell behind, 3-0, and had to throw a fastball. The fastball was whirling up in the zone and he hit it off his hands, leading to a bloop single over our second baseman’s head. The crowd’s cheers turned into agonizing groans. With a Spartan standing on first base, my coach came onto the field to both congratulate me and yank me in favor of our sidearm closer who worked his way to the final out without allowing the Spartans’ runner to score. We celebrated and stormed the field. We had just beaten our rivals to advance to the finals of the conference championship to face East Davidson High School. After the game I was given the game ball and congratulated on my performance. This game is still meaningful to me not only because it was against our rivals with playoff implications. I showed up big in one of the biggest moments of the year; I extended the season for friends who were seniors. Seeing the crowd’s reaction and the faces of my teammates, it’s a moment I’ll always remember and one I’m sure we’ll bring up at our high school reunions. Bishops Undertake Summer Workouts…or Not By Mary Alice Butler Senior Staff Writer Nadia Simmons is a forward for the women’s basketball team and wants to improve her endurance and ball control this summer. Her typical summer workout consists of running and sprint work with occasional lifting. Her head coach provides her with a summer workout program, but Simmons prefers to do her own. While she does not try to eat healthier, she states it happens naturally. “Homecooked meals help with that, instead of eating caf food all of the time.” From an endurance standpoint, Simmons said it’s evident during preseason which players work out in the summer and which do not. Assistant athletic trainer Alyssa Hammock stated that summer is a time for athletes to perform power lifts and gain speed based on the demands of their sport. “It’s very noticeable to see who did and did not work out over the break,” she said. She said that coaches should provide copies of workouts, with technique explanations, as well as a way to provide feedback to increase the team’s overall success. There are many reasons athletes fail to complete their summer workouts. Among the most common ones: lack of equipment/gym resources, long hours at summer jobs, or simple apathy. It’s worth noting, Hammock added, that not every team requires or checks in on summer workouts. While coaches can provide the guidance, it is up to the athletes to possess the desire to perform at a higher standard and then get their work done. The women’s assistant soccer and strength coach provides her athletes with a five-day-a-week program consisting of exercises to improve strength, agility, and endurance. Coach Vanessa Batchelor noted that, due to a lack of preparation in summer, many athletes get hurt in the preseason, which makes it difficult to recover once the season has begun. Batchelor related that a handful of her athletes complete the workouts, but the majority do not. This is evident through their fitness levels coming into training camp. “I see it when we go lift and they look at me like they’ve never seen that (equipment) in their life,” she said. Batchelor confirmed that the problem could be solved if the NCAA would change its Division III rules that prohibit mandated summer workouts. Until it does, she said, “it comes down to team culture and commitment.” Sophomore forward Caitlyn Butler said her summer soccer workout program includes speed and weight training. While she doesn’t always follow the weight training exactly, she does follow the speed and agility training. Along with her workouts, she attempts to limit fast food and add highly nutritious meals, as she knows it will affect her athletic performance once she returns to campus. It’s easy to see who did workouts over the summer and who did not. “You can tell when we run the timed mile in preseason that the endurance isn’t always there,” she explained. Like Butler, senior volleyball setter Desiree Walker spends four or five days a week lifting during the summer, focusing on different muscle groups. While Coach Batchelor provides her with a strength program, consisting of power lifts such as deadlifts, back squats, and bench presses, Walker prefers to follow her own plan. Her workouts are not volleyball specific; however, she notices a difference in her endurance level and overall strength when she returns to campus for the fall season. Unlike women’s soccer and volleyball, men’s basketball has a less structured workout plan for the summer. Head coach John Thomp- son gives his team a list of suggested weight training and basketball-specific exercises such as ball-handling drills. Since their season starts in early October, Coach Thompson says he does not need his men in top shape in August. But he stresses that they be active over the summer, and he can usually tell which ones were inactive by their inability to finish workouts during the preseason, not from lack of strength, but endurance. “We don't call the time from when our season ends to when it begins ‘off season,’” he said. “We call it ‘development season.’ Do something. Even if you don’t follow the program, at least tailor it to your needs.” see WORKOUTS pg 6 Freshman Ahnia Cherry. C. Lewis photo

North Carolina Wesleyan University, Rocky Mount, North Carolina 27804 SPORTS May 19, 2023 5 RITUALS from pg 2 One day prior to an 8 and under game, Hardy and his father stopped at McDonald’s to get a pre-game meal. Hardy ordered two McDoubles and a large Sprite. Following his meal, he went 6-6 at bat, recording two doubles, a triple, and three singles to lead his team to victory. Ever since that day at the YMCA, his dad made sure his son ate two McDoubles and a large Sprite before every game. After coming to college and assuming responsibility for his meals, Hardy changed his superstition only once and that resulted in what he called "the worst defensive performance of my life," as he led the team with three errors at shortstop. Second baseman Davie Morgan has a unique superstition, one that occurs in the batter’s box. The senior has taken the same approach to hitting since he was in 8th grade. Walking to the plate, Morgan flips his bat and draws a cross into the ground with the knob. Following this, he sweeps the dirt with his right foot in the batter’s box to make the box look clean. After sweeping the dirt, Morgan taps the barrel of his bat on home plate two times and gets ready to face the pitcher. Always among the team leaders in batting average and run produc- tion, Morgan started this habit after his dad suggested he read the Bible before his games. Drawing the cross into the ground before stepping into the box, Morgan felt like God was right by his side, blessing him with a good day of baseball. Morgan has never switched up this superstition, even in the worst of his slumps. He claims that "drawing that cross into the ground means more than baseball.” It’s a reflection of his strong faith as well. Lacrosse coach Evan Merrill huddles with his players. C. Lewis photo Bishop Profile: First-Year Lax Head Coach Evan Merrill By Mary Alice Butler Senior Staff Writer (Editor’s Note: Coach Merrill was interviewed earlier in the semester.) During my sit down with Evan Merrill, I learned more about the head lacrosse coach. Merrill is of average height with brown hair, wearing a Nike lacrosse pullover and athletic pants. If one were to join our conversation in his office, one would see a small office painted white with a blue and gold stripe running horizontally across each wall. Scattered with lacrosse sticks and game balls, it is clear this is a coach’s office with game plays, player statistics, and practice schedules pasted on the whiteboards. On his desk, he has pictures of his wife and kid along with miscellaneous papers and notebooks. A native of Westminster, Mary- land, Merrill was born on Novem- ber 16, 1994. He is the older of two brothers by two and half years, so he was able to have a built-in practice partner for lacrosse throughout his adolescence. He started playing lacrosse around fifth grade when his dad coached his team. Merrill’s biggest influence growing up was his grandfather, an electrician and volunteer fireman. He enjoyed their summer visits, he said. “I always loved spending my summer in the fire department with him.” Merrill added that his travel coaches, Mark and Frank, also played a significant role in his life until he graduated from Westminster High School in 2013. Growing up, Merrill played both soccer and lacrosse. Lacrosse is a major sport in Maryland, so he often went to Division I, I and III na- tional championship games in Baltimore with his dad. “I think I transitioned into lik- ing lacrosse more at the start of high school,” he said. “I played soccer for so long that I was committed to it, but ultimately I liked lacrosse a lot more.” He had an offer to play soccer at the college level, but at that point, he was focused on lacrosse. Merrill graduated from Virginia Wesleyan University in 2017 with a degree in business and a concentration in accounting. He spent his college career playing defense and long-stick midfield for their lacrosse team, earning recognition as “Freshman of the Year.” He was named Old Dominion Athletic Conference All-Academic from 2015-2017. As a senior, he started all 16 games as the leader of the defensive unit. Merrill’s most memorable college game was a 17-15 victory over Roanoke College during his sophomore year. “They were one of our biggest rivals, so we always had intense games against them,” he said. “Our defense got a stop in the last 30 seconds of the game. As I was clearing the ball up the field, I heard the final whistle sound.” Merrill has wanted to be a coach since he was in high school. After sustain- ing a sprained ACL/PCL knee injury as a high school junior, he realized that playing lacrosse at a DI level was out of the picture. When entering college, he did not know that there were degrees in coaching, so he took the business route as it was applicable to anything he wanted to do. After graduating from college, Merrill became the men’s assistant lacrosse coach at Davis & Elkins College, a DII institution in West Virginia, for the 2017-2018 season. The following three seasons he spent as the head coach. He was named NC Wesleyan’s assistant coach in the summer of 2021, and he became the head coach this past summer after former Head Coach Bridget Walker left the program. Merrill said that he took the Wesleyan job because he felt a need to change. During his time at his previous job, he helped with their women’s lacrosse team, which made the transition from men’s to women’s sports seam- less. “I think my coaching style fits better with women’s sports,” he said. “Men tend to need a more ‘drill-instructor’ leader, and that’s just not my style.” Merrill explained that it is different coaching DII versus DIII lacrosse. In DII, he is allotted more time to work with the team year-round, including both on-field and off-field experiences. Because it is a higher NCAA affiliation, sports are more of a job in DII; everything is mandatory with repercussions for the student-athletes if they fail to uphold the standards. At Wesleyan, he enjoys the freedom to run the program the way he wants. “If there are things I want to do for my program, and the funding allows it, I’m able to do so,” he said. On the downside, college tuitions continue to rise, making it challenging to recruit athletes to a DIII program when they may be offered athletic scholarships to DII schools. With only three seniors on the current roster, Merrill says they have a lot of potential for the years to come. “It takes time to learn the pace of the game at a college level,” he said. “It just takes time to put the pieces together and gain trust among teammates. Nonetheless we have a much more skilled team than we’ve had in the past.” As head coach, he hopes to grow the roster size. To field a more competitive team, he feels that the program needs around 20-25 players. Merrill is grateful for his players as they’re the main reason for his promotion to head coach. He feels blessed to engage his athletes on a personal and professional level, and he is looking forward to seeing the growth of the players that have been with him at Wes- leyan for the past two years. If he were not a coach, Merrill could see himself working in financial or retirement planning where he could use his business and finance degree. He said he could also see himself owning a restaurant. When he is not coaching or playing lacrosse, Merrill can be found playing golf or going on day excursions with his family. He has been married for three years to Colleen, whom he met during his sophomore year at VA Wesleyan. The couple has a 2-year-old son, Landon, and another child on the way. When asked what word he would use to describe himself, he answered “growth.” “I don't believe in being complacent,” he said. “There’s always room to grow and do more work.” Merrill added that his friends would describe him as composed and level-headed. He said he’s most proud of how he and his wife are building their family together. I asked him to identify one thing about him that only a few people know, and he said he was addicted to competi- tion. “Whether it's college sports or tic- tac-toe,” he said, “I’ve got a need to win.” Harley Finishes NCW Lacrosse Career As Second All-Time in Goals with 79 Wesleyan’s lacrosse season ended with a 20-0 loss May 2 to eventual champion Meredith in the first round of the USA South Conference tournament. Dating back to 2006, Wesleyan lacrosse has seen three incarnations, spread over 13 seasons. The latest began in 2018 with former head coach Bridget Walker’s first year at the helm. In 2022, the Bishops set a program record with four wins, all recorded in consecutive matches. This year, Evan Merrill’s first as head coach, the Bishops were 2-7 in the conference, 3-12 overall. The season’s highlights were victories over William Peace (10-6) and Greensboro (13-2) as well as a non-conference win over Warren Wilson, 9-8. This marked the final season for senior midfielder Blaire Harley, who ranked second on the team in goals with 20, 7 behind team leader Lailah Espinal. Harley ends her career with 79 goals, ranking her second on the all-time list behind Ali Cucinotta’s program record of 195 (2018-21). Harley, a native of Owings, Maryland, was interviewed by The Decree after the conference tourney. Q: What’s your best memory about playing at Wesleyan? A: I would say it was our Huntingdon game my sophomore year; we won in overtime. The game was explosive from the jump, with each team fighting hard. We got to the end of the game, and we were winning 11- 10 when Huntingdon’s defense gained possession and moved to our defensive end to score, tying the game. We went into overtime and after Huntingdon had a controversial near goal, we moved the ball to our offensive end, where (then - Assistant) Coach Merrill called a timeout and devised a solid play. We went back on the field, ready to execute. It ended with me on the 8-meter (about 25 feet from the goal), as one of Huntingdon’s defensive players fouled me. Then it was me one-on-one with the goalie. The whistle blew, I shot, and the ball was in the net. I ended that game scoring 7 of our 12 goals but what really mattered was seeing the seniors run to me with tears in their eyes; they had never won against Huntingdon. That game started our four-game win streak, the most in lacrosse history here at Wesleyan. Q: Wesleyan’s lacrosse program has struggled to find it footing since its introduction in 2006. Did you ever think about transferring to a new school to play your sport there? A: Every year I thought about leaving the program. I strongly considered transferring to Meredith following my sophomore season. Leaving has always been on my mind; it isn’t just the losing that was difficult to face; it was also some of the players. While I hope to remain close with some teammates, there were others who showed a daily lack of commitment. It can be discouraging to see athletes disregard the sport (don’t show up to practice on time, argue with the coaches, don’t try). These actions made me want to go to a team where all players expressed commitment and drive. Losing is always going to happen; that’s how a program begins. Wesleyan’s lacrosse team is only six years old, so it’s a very new program. Around campus many people know we aren’t successful, yet they fail to realize we’re one of the newest programs. No new program is going to be successful until it has time to grow and build its roots. I’ve stayed motivated knowing that every win contributes to the growth of this program. By staying and working hard, I know that the program can grow, and I try to spread that to my teammates. Q: What's one move Wesleyan can make to improve the program moving forward? A: Wesleyan could work on campus life. It’s not located in or near a large city (within 30 minutes). Wesleyan needs to make campus life more appealing to students. Another key factor, one that even coaches have discussed, is tuition. Wesleyan tuition is expensive and continues to rise, yet no improvements have been made to student life. As a captain, I hear a lot of complaints from teammates, and no one is satisfied with the cafeteria. Complaints vary but I seldom hear a positive remark about it. As for the athletics, the school should create a program that brings more students to watch our teams play. Football (even with a losing record), baseball, basketball, and vol- leyball all get great turnouts at their games. Less popular teams seldom get an audience. The athletics program needs to incentivize students and fellow athletes to attend more games. Q: Do you plan to remain involved with lacrosse? A: I do hope to continue playing lacrosse. Our team is always low in numbers, so I plan to attend fall ball practices to be an extra player. After I graduate in December, it will be the time for high school lacrosse. Then, I plan to apply to be an assistant at one of the local high schools in my county and maybe join an adult league.

6 North Carolina Wesleyan University, Rocky Mount, North Carolina 27804 CAMPUS LIFE May 19, 2023 HOME from pg 2 It was last December that I realized I needed to make a change, a serious change. I went back home for Christmas break and talked to my parents to get their honest opinions of what they thought I should do. I was upset during the decision-making process, as I was watching a lifelong dream get crushed. After discussing it with my parents, I heard the typical “You do whatever makes you happy” talk. So I took a week to research different universities for me to attend. At first I was hesitant to consider Wesleyan. Despite all the problems at ECU, I was still somewhat reluctant to give up on my “dream school.” Plus I had lived in Rocky Mount my whole life, and ECU had been appealing, in part, because it meant not living at home with my family. But in time I saw that Wesleyan was the right place after all. The moment I stepped foot onto Wesleyan’s campus for a visit, I felt so welcome. The admissions director recognized me and knew one of my teachers at Nash Early College. She was nice, and everyone was able to answer my questions as I was getting situated. After a few weeks, I completed orientation, registered for spring semester, finalized my loans, and began classes. I realized how much I enjoy the beautiful campus with the big trees and historic buildings. I have become so much happier with myself and my life. I’m able to talk to my professors and meet with them to discuss my progress in their classes; all my professors know me by name and talk to me in the hallways. I now know that this is the learning environment that I need. NC Wesleyan feels so homey. I also live in the comfort of my own home, and I am no longer doing a long-distance relationship with my boyfriend, which has made a big difference in my life. I have noticed such a great difference in my attitude and my performance, especially at my job (I work at a local car wash) and in my home life. This school has changed my life in so many great ways in such a short time frame. I’m excited to see what the future holds for me here at Wesleyan and I couldn't be happier with my choice. WORKOUTS from pg 4 Austin Manley likes to take the first couple weeks off from basketball to relax. He prefers to stay active in the summer through weightlifting and finding pickup games to play. Manley likes to eat more during the summer due to the number of calories he burns playing. While his coach gives ideas on what to work on, he likes to do his own thing. Similar to his coach, he said it’s easy to identify which teammates were not active over the summer. “They’re tired after one or two games of open gym, or they play poorly because they didn’t work on their skills,” he explained. As a shooting guard, Manley knows it’s vital that he keep up his game even during the summertime. In contrast to Coach Thompson, women’s Coach Artina Trader provides her players with a 12-weeklong workout program once created by an exercise science student intern. Over the years, Trader has adapted and recycled the program, supplementing it with video explanations. Not all players follow the plan, she said. “I think sometimes the mentality is that they can get in shape through preseason,” she said. “They think they don’t have to work out and build endurance in the summer. That’s just wrong.” Football’s Aeon Blake, defensive line coach and strength and conditioning coordinator, relates to Trader’s frustration regarding the lack of participation in summer workouts. “Winter and spring they lift, and their body will change in definition or bulk,” Blake stated. “When they come back from summer, they’re not as toned.” The football team’s summer program lasts two months and consists of four-week cycles. If Blake adds a new lift to their routine, he provides a video link explanation or offers an alternative that can be completed with or without gym equipment. He wishes there was more accountability within the team, more drive among the players to check up on teammates throughout the summer. From a coaching standpoint, he would like a way to track and receive feedback from summer workouts. Nick Burns is an outside linebacker who enjoys working out. While Coach Blake provides the necessary tools for an effective summer exercise program, Burns is confident enough in his lifting background to follow a personal workout routine tailored to his specific goals. Whether it’s increasing overall strength with power lifts or focusing on agility after coming back from a hip injury, Burns likes to lift throughout the summer, as it helps when he returns for preseason in the fall. “Lifting weights is an important ways to improve performance and make yourself a better athlete.” Like his colleagues in the athletics department, Coach Mark Bowman can spot when his men's soccer players don’t complete his team’s summer program. There are more players who suffer from muscle cramps and soft tissue injuries in the pre-season. After neglecting their summer fitness programs, he said, some players will even try to avoid their preseason fitness test. The second-year coach, a former Wesleyan assistant, said he’ll typically get several emails in the weeks leading up to the season with players claiming to be injured. “I think we’re getting to a point in the culture of our program that most do complete the programs,” Bowman said. “There's always going to be a group of guys that don't think they need to work out or are fit enough not to do the program.” Michelle Chalmers and President Duff at graduation. Photo courtesy of M. Chalmers Graduating Senior Set to Move across Street to Pfizer Michelle Chalmers, a new Wesleyan graduate, looked back on her time at Wesleyan and described her new position at Pfizer, the pharmaceutical company located on North Wesleyan Boulevard. A native of Oak Harbor, Washington, Chalmers attended Southern Nash High School in Bailey. A first-generation college graduate, she majored in biology and minored in environmental science. As a commuter student, she was involved in a number of extracurricular activities, including Future Farmers of America, the Anime Club, the Poetry Club and the Science Club. She was interviewed for this profile in April. Q: What other colleges did you consider before deciding on Wesley- an? And what was it that appealed to you most about this school? A: I considered Nash Com- munity College and ECU. But I preferred Wesleyan over ECU because it was closer to home. And I was often told that the Wesleyan community was like a family. After I began to attend, I saw this first-hand. I could see it in the activities held on campus; and I liked that all the professors knew their students on an individual basis. No matter what, Wesleyan is in it together. Q: What led you to study biology? A: It was my high school biology teacher, Mrs. Mitchell. She would make sure you understood the material and, if you didn’t, she would provide extra help. I liked the way she taught us about cells, genetics and evolution. It pushed me to want to continue in biology. Q: What was your favorite class at Wesleyan? A: I would say it was Biology 330: Global Water Issues. It’s my favorite because of the out-of-class experiences it provided. We would go outdoors to different places, such as a creek in Battle Park, and collect samples to test back in the lab. It was a good way to learn about water issues. Another memorable field experience occurred on campus; the professor had us take soil samples from various spots, and we tested their pH, nutrients and texture. Q: What would you say was your happiest moment while in college? A: That’s a hard one; I’ve had many moments. I would have to say my number-one happiest mo- ment was meeting my significant other, Gary Arreaga (He majored in accounting and now works for a software company while studying for his master’s at NC State). He was a senior during my fresh- man year. We started talking and before the end of my first semester he asked me to be his girlfriend. Gary and I have been together since that time. We’re still going strong—a Wesleyan Couple. Q: What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome in working towards your degree? A: I have two answers. One was taking general chemistry class; I found the course material very challenging. The other was balancing work and school. I always like to stay busy. I worked part time, at different jobs, at different times, all four years. I was employed at grocery store in Zebulon as a deli/bakery clerk, at a Rocky Mount non-profit, Peacemakers, as a fifth-grade tutor, and as a server at the Rocky Mount Cracker Barrel. All my jobs helped me with my time management skills and taught me lessons about responsibility. Q: What’s one aspect of Wesleyan that you would change? A: I have two suggestions. First I would try to hold more school events and activities at more convenient times. Sometimes commuter students get excluded from events because of the time. I would suggest eliminating classes between noon and 1 p.m. and scheduling activities for that slot. I’d also make changes at the cafeteria, because sometimes with the food it makes me want to skip meals, which is not healthy. I think the caf food is not only lacking variety but flavor. Maybe they could get some new recipes; better yet, have students write down their favorite food and submit the recipe. Q: Tell us about your new job at Pfizer. A: I’m an environmental moni- toring analyst. In my day-to-day duties, I’ll be collecting air, water and surface samples, looking for bacterial contaminations around the facility. If its products are going to hospital patients, Pfizer wants to make sure that all their medicine is safe. Winners Selected for Academic Writing Contest Dr. Doreen Thierauf, assistant professor of English, has announced winners of Wesleyan’s 2023 Academic Writing Competition. Entries were judged by a panel of Wesleyan faculty from all four academic divisions: Drs. Dimitri Blondel, Jarrod Kelly, Jackie Lewis, Chad Ross, John Temple, Lee Templeton, and Shane Thompson, as well as Library Director Rachel Roy. Winners will be published in the 5th edition of the online maga- zine “Omnium.” FIRST-YEAR COMPOSITION 1ST PLACE: Why Does Studying Abroad Improve Education? by Lara Mezger 2ND PLACE: Same or Different? Finding the Basis of Discrimination by Victoria Seggiaro Parma 3RD PLACE: Whole New Ballgame: The Evolution of Business in Soccer by François-Xavier Bouin HUMANITIES 1ST PLACE: The Paradoxical Nature of Heroism by Layali Kasem 2ND PLACE: Critical Masculinity in Predator (1987) by Sierra Alexis Joyner 3RD PLACE: When the Treatment is Itself the Disease: “The Yellow Wall-Paper” by Layali Kasem SOCIAL SCIENCES & EDUCATION 1ST PLACE:Exploring Age-Related Differences in Work-From-Home Preferences by William Speight 2ND PLACE: An Education Paid in Blood: Tactical Developments and Evolution of the British Expeditionary Force from 1914-1918 by Elijah Myers 3RD PLACE: Childhood Effects on Memory: A Literature Review by Britney Tippett BUSINESS & COMPUTER INFORMATION SCIENCES 1ST PLACE: Research Marketing Analysis: CAIA Cosmetics by Vendela Dolsenius 2ND PLACE: The Ethical Implications of the Commercialization of Human Genetic Material by Perla Garcia 3RD PLACE: Libertarianism vs. Utilitarianism: Economic Distribution and Distributive Justice by Nicholas Parrish NATURAL SCIENCES & MATHEMATICS 1ST PLACE: Instar Duration of Dragonfly Nymphs in Relation to Different Food Quantities (Odonata: Anisoptera) by Perla Garcia 2ND PLACE: The Effects of Thyroid Hormone on Tadpole Metamorphosis by Jordyn Matlock 3RD PLACE: Role of Physical Activity in Sickle Cell Anemia by Mayan Amitay Exercise science major Tristan Vansteene presented his research in a poster at Wesleyan's annual student science symposium as well as at a recent conference of the Southeast American College of Sports Medicine. His work was titled “The Effect of Physical Activity after Concussion on Concussion-related Sleep Problems." Photo courtesy of S. Crowley