“The meet we do on Thursday is always fun. It shakes up our schedule a bit and lets us compete where we practice everyday making it feel like we have an advantage going into the meet,” said Kayla Braun.

Among those many PRs was Braun in the shot put with a throw of 14.00m. As of Thursday night, the throw placed her at no.4 in the country amongst D3 athletes, also earning her a national qualifying mark.

“Getting that national qualifying mark was a huge sigh of relief. I mean, we work towards competing the best at conference while still hoping to make Nationals. It was a goal of mine to return back there after making it last year and achieving that goal with a few weeks left in the season lets me enjoy the time I have left with my team and wearing a Fighting Scots jersey instead of feeling like I’m under so much pressure.”

With seven teams participating, the track meet is a lot smaller than what the Scots usually attend during outdoor season, but with 30+ personal records set, it’s no wonder that the annual Thursday meet is a continued tradition.

Jillian Toth also won the hammer throw with a season best of 52.71m, which jumped her to no.10 in the country as of Thursday night. She went to Drake Relays the next day and topped that throw with a throw of 53.78m for a new season’s best and moved up to no.5 in the country as of Saturday, April 25th. “It was an ecstatic feeling when the number was read off from the laser. I have been stressing the last few weeks about securing my spot for nationals, it was a weight lifted off my shoulders. I’m nowhere near done pushing my limits, but it was a great step for me,” said Toth.

Logan Morse won the high jump with a new season best of 1.91m and later went on to lead off a winning 4x400 relay.

Both men and women’s relays placed first overall, with the women’s 4x100 (Maddie Rusk, Sophie Kern, Hazel Hill, A’iyana Maxwell) setting a new season best of 51.93s and the men’s 4x400 (Logan Morse, Patrick Curry Jr, Anthony Arambula, and Adrian Outlaw) setting a new season best of 3:26 seconds.

“The vibes were pretty good, I got to run with my boy again in the 4x400 after over a year, and we ended the day off pretty strong. I enjoyed myself,” said Adrian Outlaw.

Jacob Blunk swinging for the fence. Photo by Billy Lopatto

The Pioneers showed their teeth early in the game when they tagged Monmouth starter Brandon Coats for four earned runs in the first inning and another in the second. They then tagged Scots reliever Dane Keevan for four more earned runs in the second.

The Scots struck back in the bottom of the second with Eric Campen’s home run to right center field, Zach Almauger’s RBI single, and Aidan Parkins’s sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to 9-3 at the end of two frames. But it was the Pioneers’ show from there on out. Grinnell scored three in the fifth and two in the eighth, while only allowing one Scot to score in the seventh, and shut the door on the Scots in the eighth inning to seal the run-rule victory 15-4.

After visiting the Augustana Vikings for a single game on Wednesday, the Fighting Scots baseball team will close the regular season with a three-game series at Lawrence University on May 2 and 3. Saturday’s games will begin at noon and 2 p.m., and Sunday’s single game will have first pitch at noon.

In the opener, it was Monmouth’s time to shine. Third baseman Mackenzie Gerard got the party started in the opening frame when she smacked an RBI single to left field, scoring lead-off hitter Karleigh Ashby. The Scots followed up in the second innings with RBI hits by Alexis Hardy, Ashby, and Savannah Powers, which grew the hosts’ advantage to 5-0 after two innings.

The Scots topped off the third inning when Ashby launched an RBI double to right-center field and scored on a throwing error. The Scots then held the Pioneers scoreless in the fourth and fifth innings and claimed an 8-0 victory in five innings.

Game two saw a more even start when both sides put up a run in the first inning. Monmouth added three runs in the third when Powers smacked an RBI single to the outfield, Gerard was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, and shortstop Ella Cunningham scored on an RBI fielder’s choice by Maddie Hepner. However, a defensive error by the Scots and a base hit to right field by the Pioneers paved the way for Grinnell to tie the game at four runs apiece in the seventh.

After three full extra innings, Liz Waymire emerged as the hero in the 10th inning when she launched an RBI single to left center field, scoring catcher Graci Guenther and winning the game for the Scots.

The Fighting Scots softball team will end the regular season on May 1 when the Lady Blues of Illinois College visit town for a doubleheader. First pitches for those games are scheduled for 3 and 5 p.m.

The Pioneers took an early lead with 4-0 in the top of the first off Senior pitcher Roy Ralston, but the Scots quickly recovered, ending the first inning with a 13-4 lead, including a grand slam by senior Clayton Matkovic. The Scots continued to lead despite a strong fight by the Pioneers. Senior Jace Wilkerson made his 9th home run of the season, and sophomore Zach Alumager earned the first of his career in the fifth and sixth innings, respectively. Freshman Owen Alfred received Ralston in the 5th inning, and junior Will Baumgartner finished the game.

The second game kept the energy high, with Wilkerson and Alumager both hitting another home run each in the first inning. Junior Ethan Zaayenga pitched for the start of the second game, relieved by senior Weslee Frame in the 6th, then by freshman Blake Sierens. Sophomore Hunter Wheat hit his first career home run at the bottom of the 6th, and the 5th of the day for the Fighting Scots.

Sunday’s game was not as lucky for the Scots, with Grinnell winning 15-4 in the 8th inning. Junior Brandon Coats started the game before being relieved by freshman Dane Keeven. Monmouth recovered in the 3rd inning, with 3 runs, including junior Eric Campen with his first career home run. Despite a tough fight by the fighting Scots, they were unable to finish the series with a perfect sweep.

Held on Earth Day, the event explored how environmentalism has shifted from a historically bipartisan issue into a deeply polarized one. Nelson encouraged audience members to write to elected officials and consider environmental positions when voting, arguing that policy decisions today will shape the nation’s environmental future.

The discussion began with the origins of Earth Day, first organized in 1970 by former U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson, and examined how environmental awareness has evolved over the past five decades. Early environmental movements drew support across party lines, but modern debates increasingly divide along political and economic perspectives.

The central theme of the talk questioned whether nature holds intrinsic value or only matters when human interests are involved. Nelson pointed to legal frameworks that regulate human behavior even in outer space as evidence that societies recognize the need to protect environments beyond immediate human use.

Environmental justice was also highlighted, including the work of activist Hazel Johnson, whose efforts helped bring national attention to environmental racism and pollution in marginalized communities. Nelson referenced international examples as well, including a poisoning case in Nigeria, to illustrate the global scale of environmental challenges.

The lecture examined U.S. environmental legislation such as the Clean Water Act and debates surrounding air quality, including concerns about ozone depletion and worsening air pollution. Nelson also discussed recent policy controversies, including a Senate vote regarding mining protections in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, and argued that shifting political priorities have affected how the United States presents itself on environmental issues globally.

President Trump was cited as an example of changing federal environmental policy. Nelson referenced Trump’s criticism of environmental initiatives as a “green new scam” and his administration’s use of national security arguments to navigate provisions of the Clean Air Act.

Throughout the event, Nelson emphasized the connection between environmental policy and broader party platforms. He noted that environmental regulation is often viewed by conservatives as burdensome to business and government growth, while liberals have traditionally made environmental protection a core policy priority.

Concluding the session, Nelson urged attendees to stay informed and politically active, warning that scientific expertise is increasingly sidelined in public debate. “We are turning our back on science,” he said, adding that individual civic engagement remains critical to shaping the future of environmental policy.

“We wanted an event for students that was outside and low effort for them,” Eli Kelly, organizer of the event and class of 2024, said. “It’s a high traffic area at a high traffic time, with pretty easy events. We wanted to support pipe band and to just have a fun event.”

The two unscored games were the most played: Maide-leisg (lazy stick) with 30 competitors, and Tug of War came in second with 20. Shot put was also an available game and had 18 participants. Current students and faculty were not the only participants in the games, as the winner, with a throw of 35 feet and 11 inches, was a prospective student on a tour. The most anticipated event of the evening was the Kaber toss, with 7 people, including Dean O. The winner was freshman Ivan Iverson.

Where do you intern and what are your responsibilities?

During my internship, I was responsible for maintaining a cleaned and organized clinical environment by preparing and sanitizing patients’ exam tables and treatment areas. I assisted by gathering and setting up necessary equipment for physical therapy sessions, as well as preparing therapeutic modalities such as hot and ice packs. Additionally, I assisted by helping guide exercise sessions, by reading upcoming exercises, demonstrating proper form, and providing hands on.

What skills or knowledge have you gained from this experience?

I learned how to be flexible and adjust to the changes, whether it was modifying exercises or assisting with different patients... I became more aware of patient handling techniques and the importance of maintaining a safe environment to prevent injury for both patients and the healthcare providers...Overall, this internship helped me build strong communication skills, develop clinical knowledge and skills, become adaptable, and understand the importance of safety and documentation.

Mason Reed - Knox College

Where do you intern and what are your responsibilities?

I intern at Knox College, and I have quite a few responsibilities. Some of which are to wrap athletes, attend games and practices, and help around the room with tasks as assigned and many more

What challenges did you face and how did you overcome them?

One of the biggest challenges I thought I would face was being a Monmouth college student at Knox but that was never a challenge. The learning curve I experienced with how they run there training room and the equipment they have in it. At Knox college they have student workers who cover the day-to-day tasks which free up the trainers to help more athletes every day. The equipment they have is different than what I was used to here at Monmouth. They also approach rehab differently than we do which has helped me in a tremendous way to find out what I like from both training rooms I’ve worked in.

“Greek Week is so important because it allows both fraternity and sorority life to have a week to compete and celebrate each other,” said Addie Greene, member of Pi Beta Phi.

Members of the Alpha Xi Delta and Sigma Phi Epsilon team, Talon Hunter, Kent Huth, Natalie Morrow, Kaytlynn Taylor, and Lorenzo Ramirez, competing in tug of war. Photo from MC Flickr.

The first event started a week early this year with a community service event at the Jamieson Center. Members from all chapters got together to help clean up and place mulch around the center. Points were awarded for having up to 5 members present.

Greek Week officially kicked off on Monday with a Just Dance event hosted by ASAP. Teams of 4 from each chapter danced their hearts out to not only win Just Dance but also win Greek Week points for their chapter.

On Tuesday, Chapters participated in Captain America’s Field Day Challenges. One fraternity and one sorority teamed up to compete in challenges such as Hulk’s Tug-of-War, Magneto’s Metal Spoon Race, Captain America’s Shield Toss, and the Batmobile Race. The

The highlight of the night was the Batmobile Race, where teams of 12 rolled a table on their backs across the field while a chapter member rode on top of the table. Points were awarded to each chapter duo based on their placement in the individual events. The winner of the night was “The Phi Duo,” consisting of Pi Beta Phi and Phi Delta Theta.

The week continued with the annual Family Feud competition on Wednesday night. 5 members from each chapter competed in a standard game of Family Feud. The two teams with the most rounds won moved on to Quicksilver’s Fast Money.

On Thursday, chapter members were encouraged to attend the Twilight Special Track Meet and cheer on the Monmouth Track and Field team. Points were awarded based on each chapter’s overall attendance.

The philanthropy chosen for this year’s Greek Week was the Recharge Teen Center. Throughout the week, chapters participated in the Penny Wars competition to collect donations for RTC and earn more points for their chapters. The organizations collected a total of $595.55 throughout the week.

An additional ongoing event was the finding of the Hidden Super-Greek Week Directors that were placed on bulletin boards around campus. Each chapter could find its missing Greek Week director for extra points.

Each chapter also painted a banner relating to the superhero theme. The board of judges consisted of Aramark staff members who chose Pi Beta Phi as the winner and secured extra points for their chapter.

Greek Week concluded on Friday night with the Fraternity and Sorority Life Awards Ceremony. Awards are handed out to students and staff who have made a significant impact on Greek Life. The Greek Week Committee also nominates students and chapters that went above and beyond during the week for spirit awards.

The overall Greek Week winner was Pi Beta Phi with a total of 1,720 points. Phi Delta Theta came in second place with 1,670 points, and Zeta Beta Tau came in third with 1,520 points.

Photo of Brownfield presenting on a career in criminal and forensic psychology. Photo from MC Flickr.

The event’s keynote speaker was Dr. Chad Brownfield, a clinical and forensic psychologist operating in Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin. Brownfield spoke on his time and career in criminal and forensic psychology, the importance of pursuing the field, and the steps to his career. He is currently an adjunct professor at St. Ambrose University and serves on the Human Rights Commission for Rock Island.

STEM ambassadors recording their podcast. Left to right, Alayna Earle, Nick Brown, Turner Plumer, and Kailey Cronin. Photo by Dawsyn Wilson.

One group of students from the STEM ambassador course created a podcast, Outside The Lab, this semester. During presentations, they interviewed various students at their table and went around with portable mics. Engineering students created an autonomous golf ball retriever after they surveyed the golf team and learned how long it takes to manually retrieve every loose ball.

In Petra Kuppinger’s Everyday Sustainability course had a table that showcased the various projects from the class. Over eight weeks, students worked on individual projects. “I personally decided to make my own paper using recycled paper that I received from classes. Majority of it coming from Petra’s class herself,” said Allie Glassburn. After a difficult process, Glassburn was able to use her recycled paper to write, draw, and paint.

Last fall, students Cole Pugh, Mathew Bright, and Izzy Seipold built a catapult in the Ancient Technology and Engineering class. The group had to refer to sources and pictures from class to replicate an onager, a Roman-style catapult. “We used two-by-fours, some plywood as a lever arm, and lots of paracord as our main mechanism for the launch of our projectiles,” said Seipold. Bright and Seipold launched ping-pong balls to showcase their catapult’s throwing distance.

The Scots went on to compete in one of their coldest track meets this season with extreme wind that made many events harder. High jump being one of them, usually the bar is set at a height, and the athlete has three individual attempts to clear it but because of the heavy wind the bar was consistently knocked over before athletes could attempt to clear it. “I think the team did good,” said Damone Johnson.

The throwers were the first to compete in these conditions. Kayla Braun moved into the top 15 nationally as of Saturday, April 18th with a throw of 13.48 meters in shot put. Two of the men throwers cracked into the top 10 in school history for hammer throws. Gunner Bryant broke his PR by 3.41m in the hammer by throwing 51.13m, and Blake Orwig threw 51.80m, breaking his previous record by .82m.

“It’s not the best conditions, I mean it has its benefits with some of the running events but, competing in the cold makes a lot of events harder,” said Johnson. Numbers agree with Johnson because the Scot saw 23 PRs.

Logan Morse attempts to jump 1.85m. Photo by Patrick Curry Jr

A lot of athletes overcame the cold and used it to their advantage. When running in heavy wind, the direction you’re running can help or hurt your time. If the wind is at your back pushing you, then you have a positive wind which make running easier, but if you’re running against the wind it’ll be a negative because it is going right into your face.

“We have Tashawn in the finals for triple jump. Our freshman Maddox Clark made finals in the 100 and ran 22 in the 200,” said Johnson.

There were three PRs in the 200m dash from Jerry Reed 22.83 seconds, Johnny York 22.68s, and Maddox Clark 22.71s. Clark also had a PR in the 100m dash with a time of 10.86 seconds.

The Rams took the first game 7-1 while the Scots emerged victorious in game two, 8-6. These results lift the Scots to 11-18 overall and 7-7 in MWC play, sitting in fourth place between Beloit and Lawrence.

The Fighting Scots baseball team confers between games. Photo by Billy Lopatto

Cornell dominated game one, finding their way onto the scoreboard first in the third inning when a throwing error by the Monmouth defense allowed two Rams to score. In the fifth inning, Cornell smacked a solo home run out to right field, growing the Rams’ lead to 3-0 after five innings. The Cornell defense held firm from there and earned a 7-1 victory in the opener. Cornell’s winning pitcher was Nate Pacetti, who tossed a complete game and fanned 10 Scots. Roy Ralston took the loss for Monmouth despite also fanning 10 Rams.

Game two saw a much better start for the Scots when Aidan Parkins responded to an early Cornell score by launching a 2-RBI double to right-center field that also let shortstop Hunter Wheat run home on an errant throw. Both teams traded scores in the next three innings to make the score 6-3 after seven frames. After a three-run surge by Cornell tied the game at six, two hits were all the Scots needed to take the game: a single by Eric Campen and a game-ending, two-run missile hit to right field by Jace Wilkerson.

The Scots will host the first-place Grinnell Pioneers for a three-game series next weekend, Saturday and Sunday, April 25th and 26th. Saturday’s first pitches are at noon and 2:30 p.m., and Sunday’s single game kicks off at noon.

After a season of improvement under head coach Michelle DeCoud. In the 2025-26 season, the team won three more games than they did in the 2024-25 season. The team seemed to be headed in the right direction.

Izy Todd coaching for U. North Dakota in a game at UW-Green Bay in Nov 2015 Photo by Ricky Bassman

But one of the key concerns was if they’d be able to build off their improvement heading into next season because they are losing so much of their core with eight seniors graduating this May. It seems like the Scots will have other questions headed into next season, “what new ways we can play together as a team?, and with us being a young team I know there’ll be some challenges so I’m excited to see how our coach is going to deal with that,” said Tiah Riggs.

This change has caught some by surprise, but Riggs had an inside track being part of the interview process. “It’s been really nice that we’re allowed to see everything going on and it’s cool that we get to have a say,” said Riggs.

Riggs isn’t the only one. “Having our opinion really matters because we’ll be the ones playing in the games,” said Jamaica Walker.

“She (Todd) was on the women’s team here a few years ago and said she experienced playing under multiple coaches. So, she knows what it’s like for us here on campus,” said Riggs.

Colin & Hannah. Photo by Gary Bonifer

“I had no idea, I forgot to say yes at first,” McGhee said. The pair met at Monmouth and bonded over their love of performing over the years. Being involved in theatre, chorale, and Greek life are just a few of their similarities.

“I started planning about four months ago. I was so nervous that she figured it out,” Kreipe said.

While this capped off the night, many Broadway hits from shows ranging from West Side Story to Cabaret to Little Shop of Horrors were performed by students and faculty.

Prof. Logan Mayfield sings “Maria” from West Side Story. Ray Shaul performs “Maybe This Time” from Cabaret. Shea Scott and Zoe Nizzia sing “Say No to This” from Hamilton. Photos by Gary Bonifer

Where do you intern and what are your responsibilities?

During my internship, I worked on integrating AI into an existing manufacturing/business system used by the company. Their operations were built around JobBoss, which was outdated and hard to use, and a SQL Server database, so a big part of my role was helping bridge modern AI tools with that existing infrastructure.

How has this internship influenced your goals and career path?

This internship significantly influenced my career goals. It showed me how powerful AI can be when applied to real business problems, and it made me more interested in building practical tools rather than just theoretical projects.

Jake McGarry

Where do you intern and what are your responsibilities?

I intern with Warren Achievement Center, and my responsibilities are to plan and coordinate receptions and product purchases (ex. Outdoor signs).

How has this internship influenced your goals and career path?

Working for a non-profit like Warren Achievement Center has shown me that no matter what career path I take, it should be something that I genuinely enjoy doing and then worry about the money later.

“For me, every month is National Poetry Month.” says English professor David Wright. “But in April, one of the things that a lot of poets do is they try to write or post a poem a day as a way of promoting poetry, so I try to write a poem a day every April.”

When asked where one could find these poems, Professor Wright said: “I’m hiding them. I’ll let them go into the world when they’re ready, okay?”

Junior English major Abby Zayas has always been fond of poetry and came to appreciate the art through the classes she’s taken. “I’ve always known that I wanted to write. That was the career path that I was striving towards.” said Zayas. “I think it’s a collaborative art form that can reveal a lot about yourself, more than you expect it to.”

Zayas’s favorite poem of hers was one she wrote for a class she had with Professor Wright. Wright had tasked the class with writing a poem that acted as a letter to an abstract concept, and Zayas wrote to grief, a poem she says helped her come to terms with the loss of a family member.

“I think it was just a perfect storm,” said Zayas. “We have been doing all this practice with form and this letter type of poem in class already. Then, there was this personal high energy, and the two of those mixed together creating something I was very proud of.”

For aspiring poets and people who just write poetry for fun, Zayas offers the following advice: “Just sit down and do it” and “get out of your own head.”

“I started finding that I wrote some of the best poetry that, I feel that I’ve done, has been not based on an extreme emotion, a moment of high stress, or high excitement. Whatever it happens to be.” said Zayas.

The month concludes on April 30th with “Poem In Your Pocket Day,” where poets write original poems, keep them in their pockets, and read them aloud to anybody throughout the day.

Understanding U.S.–Latin American relations, he argued, requires seeing both the historical roots of U.S. involvement and the present-day challenges facing the hemisphere. “Twenty-five percent of the population lives on less than $6.25 a day,” Arrenius said.

The presentation traced the relationship back to the early 19th century and the origins of the James Monroe-era Monroe Doctrine, which declared the Western Hemisphere off limits to European colonization and interference. Arrenius walked the audience through major turning points, including the Mexican–American War, the Spanish–American War, and the Roosevelt Corollary, which justified U.S. intervention in Latin America and led to projects like the Panama Canal.

Still, U.S. involvement remained significant during the Cold War, with military interventions and political influence shaping the region from the 1950s through the 1990s. Arrenius concluded the historical overview with the creation of the North American Free Trade Agreement, emphasizing how economic ties have become a defining feature of modern relations.

Arrenius presenting at the lecture. Photo by Seamus O’Sullivan

Turning to the present, Arrenius discussed the rapidly changing political landscape in Venezuela and the dramatic capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro by the U.S. in early 2026. The unprecedented operation shocked the international community and has raised questions about democracy, sovereignty, and the future of the region.

Arrenius noted that while remnants of the previous regime remain influential, there are signs of cautious optimism. “Economists are now more free to express dissent towards the government. Civil liberties are being increased. Hard to say for sure, but I believe the next elections will be free and fair,” he said.

The conversation also touched on the volatility of U.S. relations with Cuba. Arrenius explained how policy has fluctuated depending on which party controls the White House, creating uncertainty in the region. He noted that Cuba has recently experienced massive blackouts after oil shipments from Venezuela were cut off, illustrating how interconnected Latin American economies remain.

Finally, Arrenius addressed the growing global competition shaping the hemisphere. China’s expanding presence in Latin America has become a major concern for U.S. policymakers. For example, China shifting its soybean imports to Argentina during the U.S.–China trade war shows how economic rivalries between major powers ripple across the region.

The presentation closed with a reminder that the story of U.S.–Latin American relations is far from finished. As Arrenius prepares to continue his academic career studying the region, students left the session with a deeper understanding of how history, economics, and geopolitics continue to shape the Americas today.

Arrenius recently studied abroad in Uruguay and plans to pursue a PhD in comparative politics and methods at the University of Maryland with a focus on Latin American politics.

MC Staff celebrating the 10th year of Scots Day of Giving. Photo from MC Flickr.

On April 15, five projects were highlighted: the Monmouth Fund, Fighting Scots Society, Senior Class gift, Loyalty scholarship, and new Marching Band uniforms. “The Draves Double” is a new initiative that encourages donors to support a pair of these causes. The goal was to reach 1,000 donors and at least one donation from every state.

“Scots Day of Giving is...a day when our campus community and alumni from all across the country come together to support students and the programs that shape their experience,” said Hannah Maher, the Vice President for Development and College Relations, “What I love most is the collective impact - how thousands of individual acts of generosity (giving, volunteering, promoting Monmouth) add up to something truly transformational.”

Monmouth Police responded to two different reports of thefts at the Huff Athletic Center over two days, April 8 and 9. Several individuals’ belongings were stolen from locker rooms during late evening practices. “This situation has been incredibly frustrating and upsetting. The items stolen—my volleyball shoes and team bag—were both expensive and recently purchased for the season,” said Zoe Nizzia.

Students soon went to Yik Yak. Anonymous posts questioning their presence and situation. One student posted: “Did the locker rooms get raided or something? Who tf is going into lockers stealing stuff?” Another post raised concerns about potential student IDs stolen to be used to enter residential halls.

After one student pinged their phone location, Knox County Sheriff’s Deputies were able locate a car owned by Smith with a bag containing six phones inside it. Monmouth Police contacted some of the other student victims, who were also able to ping their phones to the car’s location. Security cameras identified a car matching Smith’s vehicle parked on campus. Also, officers identified Smith walking downstairs in the Huff where the locker room is located and ten minutes later entering the parked car leaving campus two minutes after that.

Officers obtained a search warrant and found the stolen items in his car, home, and a safe located in his bedroom. “Inside the safe (were) ten cellphones that were wrapped in a black piece of clothing. The cellphone belonged to the victims of this case. Also, inside the safe (were) IDs, credit cards, SS cards that belonged to our victims,” Investigator J. Kramer wrote in his report.

After police the stolen property was identified, nine cell phones were returned. “I told all students that had credit cards and debit cards stolen to report their cards stolen to their banks and to report any fraudulent activity to Monmouth PD” Officer Boyer said in his written police report.

According to the police report, Smith admitted during an April 14 interview to taking the shoes, wallets, and phones but no cash during the two separate incidents. Upon his release from Knox County Jail, Monmouth police arrested and booked Smith for burglary.

The incident has raised concerns about security measures in the Huff. “This incident raises serious concerns about locker room security. Currently, there appears to be no effective measures in place to prevent unauthorized access. Anyone—whether a student, coach, or outsider—could potentially enter the volleyball and swim locker rooms at any time. This is not only a property issue but also a significant safety concern,” said Nizzia.

Aidan Parkins led off the game with a walk and moved to second on a 1-out wild pitch. Clayton Matkovic put the Scots on top with a single and Eric Campen singled with two down. However, the Scots left two on base and Brandon Coats kept Knox off the board in the first.

Aidan Parkins yells out in celebration after big play. Photo from Monmouth College Athletics page by Caiden Crites

Zach Almaguer led off the second with a single. He moved to third on a sac bunt and flyout. Parkins walked again and as he stole second, Almaguer came home on an errant throw. Midwest Conference Player of the Week Jace Wilkerson walked but the Scots again left two on base.

Knox got on the board with a leadoff solo homer. They tied the game in the second with two walks, a ground out and sacrifice fly.

Hunter Wheat walked in the fourth and with one out, Parkins singled to put runners on the corners. With two down, Matkovic doubled home both runners for a 4-2 lead. He stole third and scored on a single by Aiden Scott for a 5-2 lead.

Leading 5-3, Jacob Blunck doubled and moved up on a grounder. Wheat put the Scots up 6-3 with a single before Knox got out of the inning.

Coats hit two batters in the bottom of the seventh and Knox tied the game with a 2-out, 3-run homer. Coats walked the next batter and gave way to reliever Owen Alford who got out of the inning.

Neither team scored in the eighth before the Scots left two runners on base in the top of the ninth. Dane Keeven took over on the mound for the Scots and gave up a lead off single before picking the runner off and getting out of the inning.

Parkins led off the 10th with a walk and Matkovic walked with one out. They pulled off a double steal but a strikeout and groundout ended the inning. Knox also left runners on in the bottom of the inning as the game moved to the 11th.

Blunck started the 11th by reaching on an error and Almaguer singled. Knox changed pitchers and pinch-hitter Logan Straube walked with one out. Parkins doubled to right-center to clear the bases and he also scored when the relay through was wild for a little league grand slam.

Knox loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning on a hit batter, single and walk. With two outs and the tying run at the plate, Keeven got a strikeout looking to end the game.

Coats took a no-decision as he allowed six runs on four hits over 6 2/3 innings while hitting three, walking three and striking out five. Alford allowed one hit over 1 1/3 shutout innings. Keeven (3-0) picked up the win with three shutout innings. He allowed four hits, struck out three and walked two.