tnewman5@radford.edu

Ryan Yeatts continues with tradition of Virginia Tech Remembrance run from far away

This weekends Relay for Life hosted by Radford University rose over $23,000 helping the fight against cancer. The American Cancer Society has been raising money to fight cancer for over 100 years. Relay for Life, an American Cancer Society event saves more than 350 lives a day.
Relay for Life first got started on May 1985, when Dr. Gordy Klatt walked and ran for 24 hours around a track in Tacoma, Washington. He raised a total of $27,000 to help the American Cancer Society; the event eventually became Relay for Life and has raised more than $4 billion to fight cancer. Relay events now take place worldwide with around 5,200 communities and 20 countries participating in the event.
On April 12 at 6 p.m. Relay for Life took place at the Dedmon center. The event was a community event as young and old met to raise money for the fight against cancer. The track was surrounded by team campsites that were decorated for the event. A lot of Radford sororities and fraternities helped with the event. At 8:30 p.m. a group photo was taken of the all the Greek life helping participate in the event.
The event had a total of 45 teams, 563 participants, and they raised a total of $23,352.42. Kate Wampler, Executive Director of Radford University’s Relay for Life said, “The money goes to research and events the American Cancer Society does. So many people are being helped from a small event.”
The event had many fun activities and ceremonies. The ceremonies included the opening ceremony, the survivor lap, the luminaria, and the closing ceremony.
The opening ceremony began around 6 p.m. on April 12. This ceremony brought everyone together to start off the event, inspire hope, and celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer. Relay for Life share their recent accomplishments and progress that they have made to help inspire those participating.
The survivor lap started at 6 p.m. Survivors and caregivers took the first lap around the track as they were encouraged by upbeat music. “We are the champions” by Queen played loudly as they celebrated their victory over cancer. Some survivors even held hands during this lap. The survivors and caregivers were also cheered on by other participants.
The stadium went completely black but was lit with luminaria’s representing people with cancer. The luminaria started at 9 p.m. Just as it started to get dark the dedmon center went completely black. Everyone stood next to the bag they wanted to represent, because the luminaria were dedicated in memory of someone touched by cancer. The white bags were filled with sand and lit by candlelight, many had names, photos, and even quotes in memory of someone. “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” played as a speaker talked about the luminaria.
The closing ceremony began around 6 a.m. on April 13th. This ceremony was to remember lives lost to cancer and to celebrate that participants had made a difference.
The event had DJ’S, Bra pong, Zumba, corn hole, and even a tap dancing performance. Bra pong is like beer pong but instead of using solo cups you use bras. Some people even attended to support their friends. Joanne Maria said, “I attended the event to support my roommates’ boyfriend.” Participants could also get pizza or frozen yogurt at the event as well. The event was lively and fun as people celebrated the fight against cancer.
Overall the event raised money to help fight cancer and to help remember and support those fighting cancer. The next Relay for Life of Radford takes place May 3 6 p.m. at the Radford Recreation Center.

Alex Winfree

wwinfree2@radford.edu

Radford University Baseball recorded its biggest win in program history Wednesday, April 3 after defeating the No. 4 team in the country, the University of Virginia Cavaliers. It was just the fifth loss of the season for UVA, and the eighth straight victory for the Highlanders.

It was RU’s first win over a top 10 team since defeating University of South Carolina in 2003.  The win also ties a school record set back in 1989 for longest win streak.

A three-run outburst in the top of the first was perhaps the biggest key to the win. Sophomore second baseman Josh Gardiner led off the inning with a walk. He advanced to second on a single to right field by junior catcher Josh Reavis.  Senior shortstop Jeff Kemp then reached on an error allowing Reavis to advance to second and Gardiner to third.

Redshirt freshman left fielder Zach Woolcock then grounded out, plating Gardiner in the process, granting a 1-0 Radford lead.  Junior first baseman Alexander Lee followed by driving in Reavis and Kemp with a single to center field.

Lee’s two RBI single was the last hit of the inning for the Highlanders, but provided the team with a three-run cushion against UVA’s high powered offense. UVA was unable to match RU’s offensive outpouring in the bottom of the first, but managed to scrap together a run on a sacrifice fly by center fielder Brandon Downes to make it 3-1.

RU had a stronger second inning, recording six runs on six hits. Kemp delivered a three-run homer to left field, Reavis recorded an RBI single and sophomore third baseman Hunter Higgerson drove in two with a double to make it 9-1, Radford.

UVA attempted to use the long ball to creep back into the game. Left fielder Mike Papi hit a solo shot in the bottom of the fourth and designated hitter Derek Fisher hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth to make it 9-4.

The game did not see another run until the bottom of the ninth from UVA. Freshman pitcher Daniel Bridgeman started the ninth for RU, but loaded the bases without recording an out. Although, redshirt sophomore Michael Costello entered the game for relief, UVA was unnerved. Nate Irving drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to make it 9-5.  Jared King then drove in another Cavalier run with a single past Kemp to make it 9-6. Joe McCarthy then plated two more runs with a single to centerfield.

Finally, however, Costello buckled down, and with two outs and UVA runners on first and second, Costello forced clean-up hitter Brandon Downes to pop out to end the game. RU secured the narrow 9-8 victory.

Neverthless, RU’s eight-game winning streak was halted Friday night in extra innings, which began a tough weekend for RU baseball.  Just days after beating No. 4 UVA, the Highs dropped all three games of the weekend series against High Point.

The Panthers entered the series last in the Big South’s North Division, but came up strong against RU.

“When they needed big plays in crucial situations, they got them,” baseball Head Coach Joe Raccuia said.  “We didn’t do the things that we have to do to be successful.”

High Point kicked off the scoring in game one of the series. In the top of the third, Willie Medina tripled to center field scoring Dane McDermott.

RU answered back in the bottom of the third.  Junior outfielder Blake Sipe drove in freshman infielder Chris Coia with a single to right field to tie it at one. Lee’s single set-up Kemp’s two-run homer, his team-leading ninth of the year.

HPU made it 3-2 in the top of the fourth.  Spencer Angelis reached base on a Kemp error. He was then driven in by Cody Manzella’s double down the left field line.

RU added another run in the bottom of the fourth to make it a 4-2 game.  Senior first baseman Ryan Burgess led off the inning with a single. He then scored when Shane Johnsonbaugh’s sacrifice bunt was thrown past High Point’s first baseman.

HPU added a run in the fifth on a squeeze bunt and in the sixth tied the game at four with an RBI groundout by Manzella. The Panthers then took a 5-4 lead in the top of the eighth on Adam Barry’s sacrifice fly.

Sure enough, RU responded in the bottom of the frame with a run of its own to tie the game again.  Johnsonbaugh’s single to center field scored pinch runner Brad Keen.

Neither team could score in the ninth bringing the game to extra innings. RU struggled defensively in the top of the tenth, allowing six runs, only one of which was earned.  HPU scored runs on a throwing error, a bases-loaded walk and a balk.

The six run deficit was too much to overcome in the bottom of the tenth for RU.  Kemp led off with a double, but the next three RU batters struck out securing an 11-5 victory for High Point.

Game two was much like the opener of the series as HPU used a big inning to put RU away. With the game tied at five going into the top of the seventh inning, High Point exploded for four runs.

RU attempted to get a rally going in the bottom of the ninth. Sophomore pinch hitter Patrick Marshall led-off the inning reaching on a High Point error.  He moved up to second on a Johnsonbaugh groundout and was then driven in on a single by Josh Reavis to make it 10-6.

That was all RU could put together, however. Kemp doubled, but Woolcock flew out and Lee struck out to end the game.

Game three was much of the same again.  For the third straight day, Radford allowed a big late-inning rally.

HPU kicked off the scoring in the top of the first. RU responded in the bottom of the frame. Burgess drove in Kemp with a single to left field to tie the game at one.

RU picked up another run in the second on Reavis’ single up the middle. Kemp’s solo shot in the third gave the Highs a 3-1 lead.  It was Kemp’s tenth homer of the year which currently leads the Big South Conference.

Unfortunately it was the last run of the day for the Highs. HPU got RBI singles in the fourth and fifth innings to tie the game at three. The game remained scoreless until the ninth when High Point had yet another big late-inning rally.

The Panthers exploded for five runs in the top of the ninth and secured an 8-3 win.  Medina had a two RBI single down the left field line and Spano hit a three-run homer to put the game out of reach.

Marshall led off the bottom of the ninth with a single and he advanced to second on Higgerson’s single, but the Highlanders couldn’t capitalize.  The next three RU batters were retired in a row and High Point completed the three-game sweep.

“High Point applied the pressure on us all weekend and we were unable to respond like we have for most of the season,” Raccuia said.

With the sweep, the Highs have dropped out of first place in the Big South’s North Division.  They are now second and trail Campbell by 2.5 games.

Despite the tough weekend, there were some bright spots for RU.  Reavis extended his hitting streak to 14 games and Higgerson extended his streak to eight games.

The Highlanders will next host North Carolina A&T Wednesday, April 17 at 6 p.m.

skaroly@radford.edu

RU sweep series against Big South conference opponent Winthrop University 

This past Saturday Radford’s college of Visual and Performing Arts, in collaboration with the Department of Visual Merchandising put the work of some of the best and brightest student fashion designers on display in the annual fashion show in Preston. A panel of judges drawn from the local fashion community including Radford alumni, local designers, and representatives of local retail companies selected over a hundred pieces created by Radford students for the show.
It was the culmination of a great deal of work, perseverance, and vision forged with countless hours on the design board and in the studio all year. All 11 of the seniors’ collections were selected for showcase along with pieces from five sophomores and juniors and were modeled by fellow Radford students on the runway.
Amanda Podonsky, a senior fashion design student and entrant in the show says, “…it’s a pretty big deal” and that it was “pretty spectacular” that all the seniors were selected for showcase. She and her fellow design students had worked all year to present their collections to the panel of judges and were selected by merit to compete in a variety of categories like Formal Wear, Semi-Formal Wear, Career Wear, Day Wear, and Resort Wear. There were also nominations for Designer and Design of the Year, and the yearly Charrete competition, which is a 48 hour design competition in which every designer is given three yards of cloth and the inspiration of a selected artist, or idea, which in this case is the work of Dorothy Gillespe an artist whose work can be seen outside young on campus. Given this inspiration the contestants attempt to encapsulate, and idealize the ideas of Gillespe’s distinct style of sculpture and painting. “With beauty comes pain” says Podonsky and says that it was very intense with “something like 34 of the 48 hours being spent in a sewing room”.
For every designer entered there was distinctive style and flair , and all very mature and developed. Seniors Sarah Araiza, Brandi Berry Adele Chapman, Laura Divers, Kieran Donelson, Kati McCarter, Amanda Podonsky, Emily Turner, Nicolette Vaccaro, Maggie Wissler and Olivia Wright all presented their senior collections and the sophomore and juniors that were selected were Lindsay Fox, Rachel Frantz, Hannah Waldron, Thomy Owens, and Ashley Rosenbaum. The winners of the individual categories are to be announced at a reception later this month. The nominations are as follows; Semi-Formal- Adele Chapman and Kieran Donelson. Formal- Kieran Donelson and Rachel Frantz, Daywear- Laura Divers, and Katie McCarter, Resort wear- Kieran Donelson, Career wear- Rachel Frantz and Nicolette Vaccaro. For the senior collection category Keiran Donelson and Katie McCarter were selected, for Design of the Year only Keiran Donelson was nominated, and the final category of Designer of the Year is between Laura Divers, Kieran Donelson, and Katie McCarter.

Both the men’s and women’s tennis teams pulled off victories against Big South Conference opponent Presbyterian College on Friday, March 29. It was the first set of matches played at the Radford University Tennis Complex this season.
The wins gave both teams a fourth overall victory and first conference victory of the season.
Sophomores Taylor Newman and Megan Napolitano took the first doubles match of the day for the women’s team, defeating PC’s Courtney Gardiner and Patricia Alves 8-2.
After RU failed to capitalize on the second doubles match on court three, sophomore Gemma Valls and freshman Hana Babic sealed the deal for the team with an 8-5 victory, and gave RU the first point of the match.
Newman took the first singles point of the day after defeating PC’s Greer Ransom (6-1, 6-2) at No. 1 singles, giving RU a 2-0 lead. It was the seventh straight singles victory for Newman, who is now 2-0 as the top seed of the team.
The Highs dropped the next point, but RU freshman Allison Michael quickly responded with a win over Lucia Leahy to give Radford a 3-1 advantage over Presbyterian.
Valls took the following match (7-5, 6-3) over Alves, ensuring RU a victory.
Freshman Taylor Fay won the last point for the team, defeating Krause (6-4, 6-7, 1-0 (10-7). The Highs won by a final score of 5-2.
Next, the women’s team will play at home against conference rivals Gardner-Webb University and Charleston Southern University on Friday and Saturday, April 5-6.
The men’s team pulled off an even more dominant performance against Presbyterian, coming away with a 6-1 victory in their home opener.
Just like the women’s team, the men went ahead 1-0 after winning the first two doubles matches against PC. Juniors Stijn Meulemans and Joe Mills won the first doubles match 8-6, and junior Nicholas Sayer and senior Thomas Dehaen clinched the point with an 8-6 victory of their own.
The Highs dropped their first singles match of the day, allowing Presbyterian to tie the overall score at 1-1. However, the team won every match after dropping the first singles point.
Sayer earned the first singles point for RU, dominating Danny Bruce and earning the (6-1, 6-0) triumph.
“I knew I could outlast my opponent,” said Sayer. “I just had to stay steady, keep the ball in and play solid. Overall I played consistently, it was a good performance, and I am pleased with the win.”
Mills also pulled off a victory in straight sets, extending the team’s lead to 3-1 in the contest.
“It’s much easier to play here on Radford’s courts,” Mills said. For the first couple of games the opponent needs to get used to the courts. I feel comfortable and I can dictate play much better when we play here than when we play away.”
After the Mills win, Dehaen gained the deciding point with a (7-5, 6-3) victory over William O’Connell. Dehaen is now 3-0 when playing the second flight.
Meulemans and junior Randall Carter won their singles matches for the day and gave the Highs the 6-1 win over Presbyterian. The singles victory for Meulemans was his eighth win in a row.
Despite the shaky start to season, the team maintains a positive attitude toward the Big South Tournament at the end of the year.
“It doesn’t take much to get the team to gel a bit more as we’ve lost a few matches only 4-3,” said Mills. “I feel like we can go into the Big South Tournament and win it even with our season so far.”
The men’s team looks to earn consecutive victories this afternoon as well. They will play on the road at James Madison University, and the match will begin at 3 p.m.

“When I got up this morning I was so sore I could barely walk” said Nicole Carty, a freshman at Radford University who was looking for a fresh, exciting way to stay in shape. Nicole thinks she may have met her match. Like many other students at Radford, Nicole has been attending the new “Insanity” workout classes that are being offered five nights a week in the basement of Peter’s hall.
The Insanity website describes the workout as “performing long bursts of maximum intensity exercises with short periods of rest, Insanity keeps you constantly challenged as you alternate between aerobic and anaerobic intervals preformed at your max.”
Insanity hit the market back in 2001 and flew off the shelves and into the homes of people looking to change their bodies for the better. People from all over the world are using Insanity and the results are almost too extreme to believe.
Radford didn’t offer any Insanity classes until last semester when instructor and success-story Heather Tackett began teaching it. Tackett is a junior at Radford pursuing a degree in Nutrition. Teaching the Insanity classes in just the start of what she hopes will be a career in personal training.
Tackett says she has always had a passion for staying healthy but that traditional workouts were getting stale and repetitive. “I started doing Insanity about three years ago because I hated running but wanted to get into better shape.”
After seeing the Insanity DVDs at the store, she purchased the set and began doing the workout in the blue workout room right next to Peters gym. After a while, people started to take notice. “People always came in and asked what I was doing. Everyone seemed so interested.”
After only three weeks on the program, Tackett saw a significant difference in her body. “My legs, sides and arms looked so different and more fit.” That success is what motivated her to start teaching the class.
Tackett’s Insanity class is held five times a week for an hour at each time. “ I really enjoy teaching the class and it’s only an hour a day so it doesn’t get in the way of my studies. I’m also getting paid, which is nice.” But she says that the most rewarding aspect is getting to see people’s progress and sharing their happiness over the results.
Tackett stresses that if in order to get those results, working out is not the only change one must make to their routine. Eating healthy and regulating portion sizes are the key parts to reaching your goal. According to Tackett, “it’s 80 percent nutrition and 20 percent working out.”
Struggling to stay in shape and maintaining a healthy diet are daily battles for many people, especially College students, many of whom are personally responsible for these aspects of their lives for the first time. Tackett knows first hand how hard self-control is. “Right now I am doing a Paleo diet, which consists mainly of eating only fruits, vegetables and meat. It’s hard but it’s worth it knowing that my body is getting healthier.”
Since she began teaching Insanity, Tackett has had many people come to her with questions curious about pursuing healthier habits outside of the class. Tackett is eager to share her tips and expertise with others. Brittany Cromwell, another student who attends the Insanity classes regularly, describes Tackett as “an awesome instructor,” “You can tell she is very dedicated to helping people get in shape.”
Tackett’s Insanity class is held Monday (8-9 p.m.), Tuesday (4-5 p.m.), Wednesday (8-9 p.m.), Thursday (7-8 p.m.), and Friday (10-11 a.m.). All classes are free and are held in Peters Hall C019.

tnewman5@radford.edu

Big South Player of the Week proving strong week in, week out

It’s no wonder being with the Radford baseball team has been the best time of redshirt senior short stop Jeff Kemp’s life. Not many college athletes would pass up a 31st round MLB Draft pick with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim to come back and play college ball for one more year. For Kemp, there was never a doubt.

Beginning the long stretch of countless throws and at-bats, Kemp first got the urge to play baseball when he was just 4-years-old. Following in his older brother’s footsteps of competing in the sport, Kemp learned from his dad, who played coach at the start of his early career.

It wasn’t before too long that Kemp began playing in local Bowie leagues in his native southern Maryland town. He eventually progressed to a travel team when he was nine and then competed on the Archbishop Spalding high school team.

Kemp’s brother continued to act as a role model for young Jeff, playing ball as a Division I collegiate athlete for the Hoosiers at Indiana University. For his brother, the outstanding achievements kept adding up when he decided to keep playing ball after college, competing two years professionally with the Texas Rangers.

In an effort to shine like his brother, Kemp applied himself and worked hard to excel with the Highlanders. Although a little unlucky at times with injuries, he was able to exceed expectations.

“I’ve been through it all,” said Kemp. “I had both of my shoulders operated on after my freshman year, sat out basically my entire sophomore year, which was pretty bad, and then turned things around after that.”

In Native American, the meaning of the word “tala” is wolf, this signifies strength and power. On Feb. 13, hours before entering a life changing surgery, a 16 week-old German shepherd was named Tala, a term dignified and with meaning to define the long journey that she has ahead.
Tala was brought to the Radford Animal Shelter after the community stepped in to make sure that the puppy would be adequately taken care of. She is a beautiful canine with a great spirit and energy however; she was unable to use her hind legs. The cause or reason behind the condition was unknown; all that was apparent was that she needed immediate care and therapy to have a life with mobility.
Dr. Emily C. Lawrence at West End Animal Clinic operated on Tala for a low cost and the Radford Humane Society covered the bill. Tala’s right hind leg had to be amputated because there was absolutely no mobility and significant nerve damage. Her right leg was affecting her use and muscle development in the left hind leg which left her body suffering. The lack of use of her legs gave her scoliosis, which is an abnormal curving of the spine.
Her journey has only just begun and she has already touched the lives of many within the Radford community. Tala’s story was shared through Facebook by Adele Katrovitz, the only full-time Animal Control Officer at the Radford Animal Shelter. By sharing Tala’s story on Facebook, about $900 was donated toward Tala’s care.
“The community support is awesome,” Katrovitz stated, “one lady alone has donated over $500, toys, and food, we’re so thankful.”
“With the Facebook page and knowing the people in the Radford community, I knew that we would come up with the money,” Katrovitz stated. Katrovitz has devoted her time with Tala as a foster and care provider until she is ready to be adopted.
“She’s an angel coming out of herself,” Katrovitz stated, “she’s learning what toys and treats are now.”
Sharing kisses and love, Tala cuddled in her dog bed with a girl scout that stopped by the shelter. Her health condition has not put a damper on her great attitude towards life. Tala has been out of surgery for over three weeks and is receiving free physical therapy from Cindy Kolb a therapist from the Appalachian Canine Therapy.
“When her time is ready she can be adopted and I don’t know when that will be,” Katrovitz stated.
The Radford Animal Shelter usually operates on a first come first serve basis. “When an individual is interested in adopting a pet from us and their application hits my desk first, then we usually let that person adopt,” Katrovitz said. However, Tala’s adoption will be more difficult because of the care that needs to be provided to her.
“We will look at applications and probably have a board meeting and interviews to see who is the best to take on this challenge,” Katrovitz continued, “this is a 24/7 job, I know she’s cute and full of life but there is a lot that goes into taking care of her.”
It has been over three weeks since Tala’s surgery and although she is improving, she still has a long road of recovery ahead of her. “Every day is different, some days she will walk on her left leg, others she won’t,” Katrovitz noted. Tala is a loving, playful, energetic dog that doesn’t know that there is anything different about her from the next four-legged-friend.