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By the students, for the students of Central Washington University

The Observer

By the students, for the students of Central Washington University

The Observer

By the students, for the students of Central Washington University

The Observer

Jared Galanti

Jared Galanti, Sports Editor

Sports Editor - Spring 2022

Sports Editor - Winter 2022

Sports Editor - Fall 2021

Staff Reporter - Fall 2020

Senior Reporter  - Spring 2021

All content by Jared Galanti
Senior Goodbyes: What team? Wildcats!!!!!!!

Senior Goodbyes: What team? Wildcats!!!!!!!

Jared Galanti
June 1, 2022

Well I guess this is it. As a senior who is graduating in just a couple weeks, I want to take some time to reflect on my college experience. Looking back at myself going into my freshman year I thought...

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Avery Fisk defends her discus title

Avery Fisk defends her discus title

Jared Galanti, Sports Editor
June 1, 2022

Senior Avery Fisk won her second consecutive discus throwing title at the GNAC Outdoor Track and Field championships.  After trailing the competition by 0.42 meters going into the final throw, Fisk...

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Adam Fahsel named baseball GNAC player of the year

Adam Fahsel named baseball GNAC player of the year

Jared Galanti, Sports Editor
June 1, 2022

Junior centerfielder Adam Fahsel was named baseball GNAC player of the year for the 2022 season. Despite CWU having a 14-35 record this season, Fahsel had a career individual season in which he had career...

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Donte Hamilton (pictured) is ready to go from defensive captain to assistant coach this fall.

Going from students of the game to teachers

Jared Galanti, Sports Editor
May 18, 2022

Former wide receiver JoJo Hillel and linebacker Donte Hamilton have decided to return to the football program as graduate assistant coaches for head coach Chris Fisk’s 2022-23 staff. Hillel will be a...

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CWU baseball ended their season by losing three out of the final four games to the Montana State Billings over the weekend.

CWU baseball loses final series of season

Jared Galanti, Sports Editor
May 11, 2022

CWU baseball lost three out of the four games in the final series of the season against Montana State University Billings (MSUB) this past weekend. CWU (14-35) finished the year in fifth place in the Great...

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Courtesy of CWU Athletics

Football hires new offensive coordinator

Jared Galanti, Sports Editor
May 4, 2022

Football found its next offensive coordinator Mike Ferriter after a long search, that included their original hire leaving after only a couple weeks.  Ferriter said because he was a football fan since...

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ROTC and CWU softball to host gold star event

ROTC and CWU softball to host gold star event

Jared Galanti, Sports Editor
April 27, 2022

A gold star family is someone who has a family member or friend who passed away that served in one of the branches of the military. This member doesn’t have to die in the line of battle for them to be...

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Erica Cabanos begins her triple jump attempt

Erica Cabanos named GNAC athlete of the week

Jared Galanti, Sports Editor
April 20, 2022

After tying her season best mark in the triple jump at 11.15 meters and setting a personal best in the long jump with a 5.26 meter jump at the Whitworth Peace Invitational last Friday, sophomore Erica...

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Men’s rugby took care of business in the first round of the 1A championship tournament with a 62-17 win over Cal Poly.

Men’s rugby opens championship tournament with win

Jared Galanti, Sports Editor
April 13, 2022

CWU men’s rugby opened the Division 1A championship tournament with a 62-17 win over Cal Poly University (Cal Poly) at Tomlinsion Stadium on Saturday. CWU (7-4) opened the tournament as the number four...

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Senior Rhaney Harris (Pictured above) tossed three complete games for CWU softball during the Tournament of Champions over the weekend. CWU won all three of those games.

Softball travels for Tournament of Champions, wins three of five games

Jared Galanti, Sports Editor
April 6, 2022

Over the weekend CWU softball finished the 19th annual Tournament of Champions with a 3-2 record. The tournament was held in Turlock, California hosted by Stanislaus State University.  On Friday, April...

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Courtesy of GNAC

Women’s basketball wins GNAC championship

Jared Galanti, Sports Editor
March 9, 2022

Women’s basketball won their first Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) championship last weekend, edging out second-seeded Western Washington University by score of 57-46. Against WWU in the...

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CWU announces 2022 football schedule

CWU announces 2022 football schedule

Jared Galanti, Sports Editor
February 23, 2022

CWU announced the 2022 football schedule on Friday, Feb.18. With this being CWU’s first season in the Lone Star Conference (LSC), some intriguing matchups are official.  CWU will start the season...

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Courtesy of Pexels.com

The MLB lockout needs to end

Jared Galanti, Columnist
February 23, 2022

The Major League Baseball (MLB) owners locked out the players as the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the two sides expired, on Dec. 2, 2021. This is the ninth work stoppage in MLB history...

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CWU men’s basketball falls to WWU

CWU men’s basketball falls to WWU

Jared Galanti, Sports Editor
February 9, 2022

CWU men’s basketball fell to Western Washington University (WWU) on Tuesday Feb. 8 by a score of 97-86. CWU (12-6) kept the game close through the first six minutes of the game, at one point taking...

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CWU football welcomes new Wildcats

CWU football welcomes new Wildcats

Jared Galanti, Sports Editor
February 2, 2022

The National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) football national signing day has come and passed. CWU had a total of 23 new recruits put pen to paper to commit on Wednesday Feb. 2.   According...

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Courtesy of Caleb Dunlop/CWU Athletics,

CWU men’s rugby holds on in season opener

Jared Galanti, Sports Editor
February 2, 2022

CWU men’s rugby team held off the Seattle Rugby Club 26-24 on Friday Jan. 28 to capture their first win of the season, thanks to a missed penalty kick in the final seconds of play. After being down...

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Courtesy of CWU Athletics

Wildcats’ triple win after return to Nicholson Pavilion

Jared Galanti, Sports Editor
January 26, 2022

The CWU men’s and women’s basketball teams returned to Nicholson Pavilion and won three straight games combined this past weekend, after having to postpone home games earlier in the month due to COVID-19...

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CWU women’s basketball finds new recruits

CWU women’s basketball finds new recruits

Jared Galanti, Sports Editor
January 19, 2022

With COVID-19 still being a concern throughout the world, colleges have had to get creative with their recruiting. For some colleges this could be a concern, but it seems that CWU hasn’t been hindered...

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Photo courtesy of www.cwu.edu_emergency_vaccination-information.

Athletic Department following school vaccine policy

Jared Galanti, Sports Editor
January 12, 2022

The COVID-19 booster shot is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to help protect against the new omicron variant. According to Director of Athletics Dennis Francois,  while CWU is highly...

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First outbreak leads to two basketball games being postponed. (Kassidy Malcolm)

Basketball games canceled due to Health and Safety protocols

Jared Galanti, Sports Editor
January 8, 2022

CWU’s men and women’s basketball had their regular season games for Jan. 8 against Northwest Nazarene University (NNU) and Alaska Fairbanks University (AFU) canceled due to COVID-19 health and safety...

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Battle of the Pies

Battle of the Pies

Jared Galanti and Addie Adkins
November 24, 2021

It’s a debate as old as time: which pie is better, apple or pumpkin? As we head into the holiday dinner season, it’s time to settle this debate. It’s time for the battle of the pies.   Apple...

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Football set to join LSC as affiliate member

Football set to join LSC as affiliate member

Jared Galanti, Sports Editor
November 18, 2021

In coordination with the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC), CWU football will be accepting a multi year affiliate offer with Lone Star Conference (LSC) starting in 2022, according to a press release...

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CWU football make playoffs

Jared Galanti, Sports Editor
November 15, 2021

There will be playoff football this season for the CWU football team for the first time since 2017. Last Sunday, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) announced the final division two rankings...

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Clarification on women’s sports in CWU lacking staff members

Clarification on women’s sports in CWU lacking staff members

Jared Galanti, Sports Editor
November 11, 2021

The Observer story from the Oct. 28 issue titled “Women’s sports in CWU are lacking staff members” has been removed from our website due to inaccuracies in reporting and the story's inappropriate...

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Courtesy of CWU Athletics

Wildcats thump Lincoln, break multiple school and conference records

Jared Galanti, Sports Editor
November 4, 2021

The CWU football team came to play last Saturday, Oct. 30 blowing out Lincoln University 92-0. Multiple school and Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) records were broken along the way.  According...

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CWU basketball welcomes Gary Payton back to PNW with beating

CWU basketball welcomes Gary Payton back to PNW with beating

Jared Galanti, Sports Editor
November 4, 2021

The CWU men’s basketball team hosted Lincoln University Friday Oct. 29 for their first exhibition game of the season. However, this was no ordinary exhibition game as Lincoln’s head coach is none other...

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Logo courtesy of WSU

WSU football head coach fired

Jared Galanti, Sports Editor
October 21, 2021

Washington State University (WSU) football coach Nick Rolovich along with four assistants were fired Tuesday after refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine. This was Rolovich's second season as head coach.  WSU...

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The 2021 CWU Wildcats continue to have high expectations for themselves even after nearly a full year off due to COVID-19.

Football expectations remain high after a full year off

Jared Galanti, Sports Editor
September 23, 2021

After a full year off from their regular scheduled season, the CWU football team is once again playing in the fall. They are off to a pretty good start. The Wildcats have started the season 2-1 with...

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Courtesy of cwu.edu | After a year without them, fans will be welcomed back to Tomlinson Stadium. All fans in attendance will be required to wear a mask regardless of vaccination status against COVID-19.

Rules for fans as they return to live sports

Jared Galanti, Sports Editor
September 22, 2021

After a full school year of no fans allowed at sport games, CWU is welcoming fans back for the 2021-2022 school year. However, in order to enjoy live sports again fans will have to follow one major rule. All...

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CWU Athletics | Senior Jaymie Woodfill (#15)  scored the only goal for the Wildcats as they fell to WWU 3-1 to end their season with a 2-3 record.

Wildcats reflect on short season, look to next year

Jared Galanti, Senior Reporter
June 2, 2021

After winning their first two games of the season the soccer team ended the season with a 2-3 record. While the season may have been cut short, the team is looking towards next year when it looks like...

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Courtesy of CWU Athletics | McCall Dechenne

Fall sports expected to return on time next year

Jared Galanti, Senior Reporter
May 26, 2021

Director of Athletics Dennis Francois said with classes returning to in-person instruction, sports may be able to start on time in fall with very few restrictions. Last fall, CWU, along with others...

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Pandemic hurts not only CWU wallets, but future dreams

Pandemic hurts not only CWU wallets, but future dreams

Jared Galanti, Senior Reporter
May 21, 2021

With the COVID-19 pandemic still going strong, it hasn’t just hurt the financial side of the sports season, but also the dreams of one day making it to the next level. This year's low attendance and...

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Jeff Evans WWU Athletics Communications |  Samantha Steinfield pitched 6 solid innings in Game one of the Wildcats Doubleheader on May 3.

Wildcats split double header with Vikings, Clinch 2nd seed in GNAC tournament

Jared Galanti, Senior Reporter
May 12, 2021

The CWU Wildcats softball split a doubleheader with the Western Washington University Vikings on Sunday May 2 winning 4-1 in game one and falling 5-1 in game two. With the one win, they clinched the 2nd...

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Courtesy of Alexander Lee

Gyms open up more as Washington moves into phase 3

Jared Galanti, Senior Reporter
May 5, 2021

As Washington State starts to get a handle on COVID-19, restrictions on gyms have been  loosened across the state.  On March 11, Gov. Jay Inslee announced that all counties in the state were eligible...

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Baseball games canceled due to positive COVID-19 test

Jared Galanti, Senior Reporter
April 28, 2021

The baseball team was scheduled to play four games this past weekend against Western Oregon University, but a positive COVID-19 test caused those plans to change.. The next four games scheduled for...

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With no traveling this year, the Tennis Club has been sharpening their skills in hopes that tournaments will start up again next year.

Tennis club to host club tournament for members

Jared Galanti, Senior Reporter
April 22, 2021

With COVID-19 the CWU tennis club has gone through some changes this year. Gone are the trips to other schools to compete in tournaments, and in their place are practices on CWU tennis courts to sharpen...

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How to balance life as a student athlete

Jared Galanti, Senior Reporter
April 14, 2021

Balancing life as a college student can be a lot to deal with. Adding sports on top of keeping grade point averages at a level where they are eligible to compete leaves some student athletes with a hectic...

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Head Coach Cristopher Fisk talking to his team during practice. The Wildcats are getting ready to play their first game in over a year on April 10 vs the Montana Grizzlies.

Football team’s COVID free streak up to 9 weeks

Jared Galanti, Senior Reporter
April 8, 2021

With COVID-19 testing happening every Tuesday and results getting back Wednesday the football team has made it nine straight weeks without a single positive test.  Head coach Christopher Fisk said...

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Why this is the season the mariners will make the playoffs

Why this is the season the mariners will make the playoffs

Jared Galanti, Columnist
April 7, 2021

Once opening day comes around every year, the same words come out of every Mariners fan's mouth: this will be the year that they make the playoffs. The Seattle Mariners have the longest active streak...

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Students clue in on the best food on campus

Students clue in on the best food on campus

Jared Galanti, Staff Reporter
November 10, 2020

For many students who live on campus the choice for what they want to eat on a particular day has many options. Through experience students have found the best places to eat on campus. Whether that’s...

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Violations of health guidelines, including parties of over 10 people, may lead to fines

Violations of health guidelines, including parties of over 10 people, may lead to fines

Jared Galanti, Staff Reporter
October 31, 2020

In any college town there are bound to be parties found somewhere either off-campus or on campus, especially during Halloween. Dan Hansberry, the operations captain of the Ellensburg Police Department,...

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Students readjust to life after isolation

Jared Galanti, Staff Reporter
October 16, 2020

When spring break came around last year, very few people could have predicted that many around the country would be forced to be stuck in their homes for months with no one to hang out with except for...

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MLB hits home run with playoff format

MLB hits home run with playoff format

Jared Galanti, Columnist
October 13, 2020

The MLB’s current playoff format that they created due to the COVID-19 pandemic is a great one. In the past, MLB has changed up its playoff format to give more teams an opportunity to get into the postseason....

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Ellensburg’s “The Patch” will be open this fall, complying with COVID-19 regulations

Fall activities in the ‘Burg

Jared Galanti, Staff Reporter
October 6, 2020

The sights and sounds of fall are once again upon the city of Ellensburg. Leaves are falling off the trees, pumpkins are being displayed and the overall feeling of school starting is here once again.  Hilary...

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A mixed media portrait done by Bianca Sanchez in an attempt to maintain her mental health.

Students rediscover old hobbies, find new ones during quarantine

Jared Galanti, Staff Reporter
October 1, 2020

Being alone in a house when going outside and seeing friends is not allowed can be rough for some people. However, just because students are stuck at home doesn’t mean they can’t get anything done. Nathan...

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Students react to potential TikTok ban

Students react to potential TikTok ban

Jared Galanti, Staff Reporter
September 22, 2020

TikTok, the social media sensation that has over 800 million users throughout the entire world, may not be available in the United States for much longer. The popular app has given users some of the most...

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