Don Weast | ESU Bulletin

Don Weast, the assistant athletic director for Media Relations, talks about his experiences at ESU and what his job entails. Jon Coffey/ The Bulletin

Don Weast, the assistant athletic director for Media Relations, has been working with Emporia State since 1986, spending the last 11 years in his current position.

“Even back in high school, helping out with teams as student manager, one of the jobs back then was calling into newspapers and giving them results and telling them the stats… I always knew I wanted to be involved in athletics,” Weast said.

After graduating from Emporia State, Weast worked for the Topeka Sizzlers, a semi-pro basketball team as an athletic trainer. Weast then moved back to Emporia and worked as a sports supervisor at the Recreation Center, before returning to Emporia State to get his degree in communications.

A typical week for Weast during the athletic season involves taking stats for Emporia State athletics, traveling to various away games and coordinating the media by scheduling interviews. In addition, Weast is responsible for updating the Emporia State Athletic web page after the conclusion of each game.

“Generally during the season (we work) around 50 to 60 hours probably including travel. There are times it will be worse than that,” Weast said.

Josh Slaughter is the assistant director of Athletic Media Relations and the director of Athletic Publications. Along with Weast, Slaughter helps out making the media guides and game notes for selected sports.

“I think when you have a team win a national championship, or when you go to the postseason with a team and you get to see players play in the postseason, that’s to me the most rewarding thing,” Slaughter said.

In addition to his regular duties, Weast also travels with the football team and both men’s and women’s basketball teams and various other teams during the postseason.

Students are also involved in helping with stats for Emporia State Athletics. Matt Kochenower, junior marketing major, helps take stats for the media department as well as the game calling to make sure Weast has all the stats in the computer. Kochenower is responsible for traveling with teams on occasion as well as being present at all home games.

“Getting to watch all the games really close, and kind of that interaction you get with the players sometimes (is rewarding),” Kochenower said.

Weast also recognizes the benefits to taking stats at Emporia.

“That’s the fun thing, is being a part of a national championship team last year. You’ve got that connection with the teams… I really love Emporia, I love Emporia State. I can’t see me doing this in too many other places,” Weast said.

Brandon Schneeberger

Williams

Samuel Williams, junior business management major and member of the ESU track team, was found dead late yesterday afternoon. Williams was thought to be missing and was last seen at 11 a.m. on Sunday at his residence.

Authorities reported in a release that Williams lost control of his motorcycle north of Emporia on K-99 and Lyon County Road 150. His body was located one tenth of a mile off the roadway.

Williams was an international student from the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) and was 24 years old.

Don Weast, assistant director of media relations, said Williams was an All-American on the Emporia State track team, running the 60-meter, 200-meter and the 4-by-100 meter relay.

“We’re dealing with this individually and as a team,” said David Harris, head track and field coach. “That’s all that I want to say right now. We will be ready to talk in the morning but we need to deal with this as a team right now.”

His teammates had only good things to say about him.

“He was just a great guy,” said Kenton Lonberger, junior communication major and member of the track team. “He was really loyal and had great values. He stood up for what he believed in and that reflected in every aspect of his life. He was always there as a friend and he was a great guy to be around.”

Williams held several records for ESU including a 4-by-100 meter relay record acquired in May at the NCAA Championships. Lonberger is on the record holding team.

“On the wall downstairs, he has a record in the 60; he has a record in 4 by 1,” Lonberger said. “He was one of the most gifted athletes I’ve ever been around and been a teammate with. The guy had more talent than most people dream about.”

Although he had no family who lived in the U.S., Lonberger said that Williams’ teammates more than made up for that.

“It’s like losing a brother,” he said. “We were so close, all of us. It’s really like losing a family member. We’re struggling now but we’re going to overcome this. He was from France so he didn’t have family here. He had family, but not blood.”

A candlelight vigil for Williams will be held at 8 p.m. tonight in Welch Stadium.

———UPDATE———

According to a statement released by President Lane’s office, the candlelight vigil for Williams is being planned by the ESU track team. Visitors are asked to enter on the west side of the stadium. During the memorial service, photos of Williams, his uniform and spikes will be on display. A starting block will also be on the track and 20.99 seconds will be on the stadium clock, Williams’ time in the 200 as an All-American. There will also be a short prayer by Damon Leiss and Coach Harris will speak. The clock will then be run down to zero.