Amanda Self, senior catcher, tags out a Lindenwood opponent just before she reaches home plate on last Sunday afternoon. With an overall record of 33-16, the Lady Hornets face Northwestern State in the MIAA conference tournament tomorrow in Overland Park.
Will Austin/The Bulletin

Every year, seniors come and go, leaving their mark on their school even when they’re gone. Some stand out more and leaves bigger marks in their university. This year’s seniors on the softball team are some of those seniors.

These five seniors include two conference tournament champions and a couple All-Americans, have been a part of three MIAA regular-season championships and have won 167 games and counting.

Last Sunday, Karley Scmelzer, Amanda Self, Jessica Brewer, Katie Huffman and Lauren Sharp took the diamond of at the Trusler Sports Complex for the final time in their careers. When they left, they walked away with a series split against Lindenwood, winning the first in an 8-0 mercy ruling victory.

“You always want your seniors to have a big day on senior day,” said head coach Julia LeMaire. “Karley was pitching very well, Amanda made some nice throws behind the plate, Katie has had a great season, Jessica had made some great plays, hopefully they feed off this going into post season.”

In the first game, Schmelzer got the start and continued her stellar senior year on the mound with six complete innings, striking out 9 batters and even retiring 12 straight batters, pitching four straight 1-2-3 innings between the second and the fifth.

Schmelzer got the help of a buzzing bat led by senior Amanda Self, who capped a four-run inning in the fourth with a two RBI single to put the Lady Hornets up 7-0.

“For three years now, I have seen seniors have this honor. Now, it was finally our turn. It was disappointing – we didn’t get the sweep – but we are just going to continue to work hard,” Self, a biology education major, said.

After mercy-ruling Lindenwood in game one, Sharp got her chance in the circle on her senior day. After being shut out through the sixth in the first game, Lindenwood got two quick runs in the first.

Schmelzer came in for relief in the third and then allowed only one more base runner the rest of the game. But the damage was done, and despite having a hit in every inning, the Lady Hornets couldn’t bat their way into a comeback, taking a 2-0 loss in the nightcap.

“It was bitter sweet,” Schmelzer, an elementary education major, said. “This is the last time I will play here, but not the last time I will play. Hopefully, we can bring it all together in conference play.”

Despite the senior day split, the Lady Hornets still sit at the fourth seed heading into the conference tournament. First-round game will be against Northeastern State on tonight at 6 p.m.

At 11 a.m. on Sunday, the 16th Annual Super Custom Car Show was held on Commercial Street. The show, sponsored by the ESU Karate Club, hosted car aficionados from all over Kansas and other states, who entered their cars to be judged in several categories.

Tino Camacho, member of the Majestics Car Club of Kansas City, competed in the show. Camacho, along with other members of the Majestics, competed in the lowrider competition, as well as the hydraulic hop competition, which utilized the car’s aftermarket hydraulic system to see which car could “jump” the highest.

Camacho said that he, along with nine other members, came to the show after hearing about it from a potential new member.

“We have a guy prospecting for our chapter, and he let us know that this event happens here,” Camacho said. “It’s close to Kansas City, so we are just out here to back him up.”

Gilbert Rodriguez, senior painter with ESU facilities, hosted of the event. Rodriguez said the show has grown over the past several years, and this year saw entries from as far away as California and Texas. Rodriguez also mentioned that the proceeds from the day were donated for scholarships for ESU students.

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“All this money is going toward the ESU general academic scholarship fund, and a little goes toward the ESU Karate Club. A majority goes towards scholarships, though.” Rodriguez said.

This year, there were 16 different categories, as well as individual trophies for categories such as paint, graphics and interior.

Beny Rodriguez and Sammy Zuniga, two local business owners, judged the show. Rodriguez, who owns Shop Auto Repair, said they had been contacted by Rodriguez to judge.

“We look for cleanliness, paint, body and modifications, wheels and any other aftermarket parts they put on,” Rodriguez said. “There’s some pretty good quality cars here today. We’re pretty happy with the level of (competition).”

Brent Simmons, junior business major, said he came to the show after hearing about it from a friend.

“It was a chance to see some cool cars, see people and their creativity,” Simmons said. “It’s inspired me to do something nice, if I ever get the chance. It’s a nice event. People like it, and kids enjoy it.”

The show continued on into the early evening, ending with a parade of the vehicles that competed.

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Larry Schwarm, professor of photography, discusses a student’s image in his Photography II class Wednesday. Schwarm will retire at the end of this semester.
Jordan Storrer/The Bulletin

Emporia State provided him his “most life-changing experience.” And after 25 years of teaching, Larry Schwarm, professor of photography, will retire after the spring semester.

“The most life-changing, single experience I’ve had was the first sabbatical that I ever took,” Schwarm said. “I took three months off, traveling through Europe completely by myself, not knowing the language and taking thousands and thousands of photographs and looking at art historical sites, and that would never have been possible without university support.”

Schwarm said his work has given him many opportunities to further his own art, as well as interact with many different people.

Amanda Hatfield, senior photography major and one of Schwarm’s students, has many fond memories from her time in Schwarm’s class. She said it was his class that inspired her to change her major and aspire to be a photographer.

“I admire lots of things about Larry,” Hatfield said. “I admire his knowledge, passion, and teaching of photography, his patience with me over the years and all of the fond memories and lessons I have learned in his classes. The thing I admire most, though, is him pushing me to become better each time I snap a shot.”

Dan Kirchhefer, professor of drawing and printmaking, has known Schwarm even before coming to ESU. He said they met at the Spencer Museum of Art at Kansas University, where Kirchhefer worked and Schwarm had photographs on display – photographs Kirchhefer said he was quite taken with. He remembered fondly the time he had spent working with Schwarm, especially traveling.

“Larry and I have taken students all over the country,” Kirchhefer said. “You couldn’t ask for a better travel companion or one who works so well with students. He’ll definitely be missed here as a friend and colleague.”

Following his retirement, Schwarm will do limited work with graduate students at Wichita State, but he will primarily pursue his own work. He said he’s looking forward to being able to devote all his time to his art, but he will miss ESU.

“The thing that I’ll miss most will be my colleagues and my students,” Schwarm said. “One of the things I love about ESU and undergrads is that we get people coming in that know very little or nothing about art, and we get to watch them grow in those four years and come out sophisticated artists. That does my heart good.”

Both students and colleagues expressed their hope to keep in contact with Schwarm. Considering Schwarm said he has some big projects already underway, it’s clear that this is not the last ESU will see of him.

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Students and community members scarfed down glazed doughnuts and ran two miles – a challenging feat for even those with strong stomachs – in the second annual Doughnut Dash Saturday.

This year’s Doughnut Dash raised $277 to benefit education programs for children with special needs in the community. Alpha Sigma Alpha hosted the event.

The challengers had to consume the baked goods then run a two mile route beginning at the ASA lawn, looping around to 15th and Garfield Street, where they had to eat more doughtnuts, and ending back at the ASA lawn. Participants could also choose to walk and only eat a doughnut or two, instead of taking the challenge. Registration was $20 for students and $25 for community members.

“Doughnuts are delicious, and that (was) my fuel for the race,” said Steven Fox, freshman communication major and Doughnut Dasher. “This is my first time doing this, so here it goes.”

Fox said he was not worried about “tossing his doughnuts” during the race.

“Well, as long as I finish the race before the doughnuts, then I’ll be fine,” Fox said.

Elizabeth Ross, sophomore business marketing major and philanthropy chair for ASA, was in charge of coordinating the dash.

“This event is for philanthropy,” Ross said. “This year, the funds raised are going to a cause that is off campus, but affects our community.”

Sadie Pile, sophomore elementary education major, said that 20 dozen doughnuts were provided by Reeble’s County Mart and that ASA members sold doughnuts left over from the event on the corner of 12th and Merchant Street.

“It’s a fun event, and it helps kids that really need it,” Pile said.

Taylor Zordel, sophomore infielder, jumps toward home plate April 5. The Lady Hornets beat Pittsburg State in a double-header, 6-1 and 3-2.
Will Austin/The Bulletin

After coming off a loss on the road against St. Mary’s, the Lady Hornet softball team swept back-to-back double-headers at home, taking down Pittsburg State Friday and Missouri Southern State Saturday.

The Lady Hornets started their first double-header against Pittsburg. After letting them get the lead early, scoring a run in the first inning, the Lady Hornets held them scoreless the remainder of the game, while scoring six runs to retire the first game, 6-1. In the nightcap, the Lady Hornets found themselves down 2-1 going into the seventh and final inning, where they scored two runs to come out on top, 3-2.

Following their sweep of Pittsburg, the Lady Hornets kept up the momentum, ending their next game in five innings, shutting out Missouri Southern, 10-0. Both teams were made contact in game two – Missouri Southern had 11 hits and seven runs but were nudged out by the Hornets, who only had nine hits but scored eight runs.

Lady Hornet softball was set to hit the field at Trusler Sports Complex last night to take on Newman, but the game was postponed due to rain. They are still set to hit the road tomorrow to take on Central Oklahoma.

Sakura Choir members rehearse the Japanese traditional song “Sohran Bushi.” The JA Sakura concert is Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in Davis Theatre at the Emporia Arts Center.
Lingzi Su/The Bulletin

The Japanese Association Sakura Choir will present a concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Davis Theatre at the Emporia Arts Center, 815 Commercial St. Admission is $3 for the public and free for students.

The JA Sakura Choir was first started in 2011 to create support and earn funds for the victims of the 9.0 magnitude earthquake that hit Japan that spring. Originally, the choir consisted of only Japanese students at Emporia State but has recently expanded to 15 members – nine from Japan, three from South Korea, two from the United States and one member from China.

“I think that them raising money for the victims of the earthquake in Japan is very respectable,” said Nick Burgoon, junior secondary education major. “I am planning on attending the concert on Friday to show my support for their cause because bringing awareness of that tragedy to the campus makes students much more culturally diverse.”

The choir was also created to help bring the music and melodies of Japan to ESU to make students more culturally aware. They still perform many Japanese pieces, but they have altered their setlist to include music from Korea, China and the U.S.

The choir has performed multiple concerts on campus, as well as special appearances at local churches in the Emporia area. They have also performed on the Kansas University campus and in Osage City.

“I have heard of the choir multiple times but have yet to check out any of their concerts,” Chase Rich, local Emporian said. “I hope to make the show this Friday and am excited to hear what they bring to the table.”

One of the choir’s greatest accomplishments was when it was invited to sing in Kansas City at the Greater Kansas City Japan Festival.

The choir’s contributions to the community of Emporia and their efforts to help the victims from Japan were recognized by Emporia Mayor Bobbi Mylnar last year.

“Being recognized by the mayor was definitely something I will remember for a long time,” said Juri Tokuda, manager of JA Sakura Choir. “It is very gratifying to know that we have touched someone with his position of power.”

Tokuda said that regardless of the turnout, the choir knows that it will be a successful show because anytime they have an opportunity to showcase their talent and the musical styles from around the world, they take advantage and give it all they’ve got.

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Last Thursday night was the first official meeting of the Emporia State Nerf Nation. After getting all their formalities in order, the group had their first Nerf war as an official Recognized Student Organization in Visser Hall.

The group was founded by Derek Wilson, freshman biology major.

“I started this club by coordinating events,” Wilson said, “and it eventually went to the point that I wanted to show that we were more than just a bunch of hooligans running around with Nerf guns.”

What inspired them to create the club, he said, were the stories he’d heard about freshmen in the Towers Complex being disruptive with their Nerf games. He wanted to bring together students who wanted to have fun but show that they could still be organized and respectful to the campus and the community. Already, their reputation around Towers is changing, thanks to Wilson.

“I just thought to myself one day, ‘Why not make it an RSO?’ and I went and talked to a bunch of different people, including ASG and different faculty members, and they said it sounded like a great organization,” Wilson said.

Wilson isn’t the only one happy with the way the RSO turned out. Keely McCabe, freshman elementary education major, is very excited to be a part of it.

“I needed extra-curriculars, and it was super fun to have a game I could play with everyone,” McCabe said. “It’s good to get a chance to get all hyped up and excited about it.”

With their approval as an RSO, the group hopes to have access to many locations across campus.

“We’re used to having it one-on-one in the basement at Towers,” said Nathan Peck, freshman history education major.

This was something Wilson said he wanted to change.

“One of the main things I wanted to do with becoming an RSO is branching out into other facilities of ESU, such as Visser or the library,” Wilson said. “I have plans and ideas for Camp Alexander, the Rec Center or even the Memorial Union.”

As for their first night as an RSO, members said it was a huge hit. The multi-hour war ran late into the evening. They played two rounds of a game called Team Death Match, two rounds of Hostage and two rounds of Hunger Games.

“The game was set up by putting all the guns towards the middle with the better guns in the center and everyone started on the walls,” Wilson said, explaining the new Hunger Games portion.

Wilson also said he often picks up Nerf guns at thrift stores to provide for anyone who doesn’t have one of their own. Every Thursday is, he said, “Nerfsday,” and anyone is free to join in the club.

“Just be ready to have fun,” Wilson said. “All you have to do is show up and be ready to play honestly.”