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

All content by Natalie Hyland
College of Arts and Humanities recognizes students and faculty

College of Arts and Humanities recognizes students and faculty

Natalie Hyland, Co-Editor
May 9, 2018

On Tuesday, May 8, students, staff and faculty of the College of Arts and Humanities (CAH) gathered in the SURC to recognize their peers for their exceptional work this year. In total, eight undergraduate...

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Men’s basketball selects alum as head coach

Natalie Hyland, Co-Editor
April 25, 2018

CWU officially hired Brandon Rinta as the men’s head basketball coach. Prior to being hired at CWU, Rinta spent seven seasons as the head coach at Lewis-Clark State College (LCSC). There, he accumulated...

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Observation Deck

Natalie Hyland, Co-Editor
April 25, 2018

Hey Wildcats, Natalie here again. As a very small portion of you know, I’m not just a journalism major. I’m a double major in public relations and digital journalism. I’m probably one of few...

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Observation Deck

Natalie Hyland, Co-Editor
April 11, 2018

Welcome back to another issue of The Observer. Natalie Hyland here again to give you a quick overview of some of the changes you can expect as well as a little shameless promotion of the paper that...

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Observation Deck

Natalie Hyland, Co-Editor
April 5, 2018

Welcome back and we hope you enjoyed your Easter. I say “we” because there are two editor-in-chiefs in the newsroom now: Myself (Natalie Hyland) and Eric Rosane. We also have an entirely new...

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Halle Irvine practices pole vault in the field house.

Irvine finds success close to home

Natalie Hyland, Co-Editor
April 4, 2018

For sophomore All-American pole vaulter Halle Irvine, family has always played a role in her choice to pursue a track and field career. “My mom did long jump,” Irvine said. “My brother [vaulted]....

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Sparling will not return for CWU

Sparling will not return for CWU

Natalie Hyland and Hanson Lee
March 7, 2018

After 29 years, CWU Athletics announced Tuesday that they will not be renewing Men’s Basketball head coach Greg Sparling’s contract following the end of the 2017-18 season. "After a thorough review...

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Winter sports take over CWU athletics

Winter sports take over CWU athletics

Natalie Hyland, Sports Editor
January 10, 2018

Graphic by Jack Lambert As many students left for the holidays, the winter athletes of CWU hunkered down and focused on their craft with the help of coaches, trainers and a new smoothie stand to fuel...

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Marc Rodgers

Injuries end Rodgers’ career

Natalie Hyland, Sports Editor
January 10, 2018

Senior point guard Marc Rodgers announced the end of his basketball career on Twitter Tuesday night, citing injuries that have plagued him throughout high school and college. During the Jan. 4 game...

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Austin Pernell carries the ball down the field ahead of a TAMUC defender.

Wildcats fall in the second round

Natalie Hyland, Sports Editor
November 30, 2017

  CWU fought hard, but fell just short in double overtime. The Texas A&M University Commerce (TAMUC) Lions took the game 34-31 in Ellensburg on Saturday. The loss ends CWU’s season and...

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Dillon Sugg runs for a touchdown at during a home game while his teammates celebrate behind him.

Wildcats axe the Jacks; clinch GNAC title

Natalie Hyland, Sports Editor
November 12, 2017

Wildcats axe the Jacks; win GNAC Natalie Hyland, Sports Editor   CWU football ended the regular season 11-0 with a 42-28 win over Humboldt State University in Arcata, California. The...

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Kevin Spaceys hit TV show House of Cards took a hit after Spacey faced sexual harassment claims. Photo illustration by Jack Lambert.

Spacey’s “House of Cards” comes tumbling down

Natalie Hyland, Sports Editor
November 9, 2017

Since Kevin Spacey was first accused of sexual misconduct a little over a week ago, more and more people have come forward saying they were abused by the actor, including former colleagues at the Old Vic...

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Reilly Hennessey (front) sprints past the Humboldt defense with the help of his teammates on Oct. 7.

Football tops Humboldt: Cummings out for season

Natalie Hyland, Sports Editor
October 12, 2017

The Wildcats remain the only undefeated GNAC team after beating Humboldt State University 55-27 on Saturday in front of a 6,000 plus homecoming crowd. However, all was not well as running back Christian...

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Streubel gets new perspective on football

Natalie Hyland, Staff Reporter
May 31, 2017

In 2016, football player Nick Streubel only played in one game for CWU. The offensive lineman broke his hand in two places during the Wildcats’ first game of the season against Portland State University...

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Behind the ball: Marc Rodgers

Behind the ball: Marc Rodgers

Natalie Hyland, Senior Sports Reporter
May 17, 2017

While many students—specifically athletes—are excited and ready to return to action as their season gets underway, junior point guard Marc Rodgers considered not coming back to CWU in the months before...

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Head b-ball coach named in wake of resignation

Head b-ball coach named in wake of resignation

Natalie Hyland, Senior Sports Reporter
May 3, 2017

Interim head coach Randi Richardson has been officially named head coach of the CWU women’s basketball team. Richardson is now the fifth female head coach in CWU history and the first female head coach...

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CWU Basketball says farewell to Harada

CWU Basketball says farewell to Harada

Natalie Hyland, Senior Sports Reporter
April 26, 2017

On April 17 it was announced that Jeff Harada, coach of the women’s basketball team,  had resigned from his position and accepted a job at California State University Fullerton as its head coach. After...

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Rodeo heads to Ellensburg this weekend

Rodeo heads to Ellensburg this weekend

Natalie Hyland, Senior Sports Reporter
April 19, 2017

Rodeo teams from all over the Pacific Northwest will gather in Ellensburg this weekend-- from Friday, April 21 to Sunday, April 23-- for a chance to qualify for the College National Finals Rodeo in Wyoming. The...

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#8 Rory Graf-Brennen hi-fives #31 Yi-Fan Pan after rounding the bases.

Baseball continues hot streak vs. ‘Cavs

Natalie Hyland, Senior Sports Reporter
April 5, 2017

Wildcat baseball looks to improve on its win streak and potentially advance in the GNAC standings in Portland on April 8 against Concordia. The Wildcats are currently 17-12 overall with an 11-8 conference...

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The CWU Volleyball team mixed business with pleasure. Touring the historic sites of Italy by day, while playing volleyball at night when the Italian players finished their jobs.

CWU women’s volleyball scores trip to Italy

Natalie Hyland, Senior Sports Reporter
April 5, 2017

Over Spring Break, the CWU Volleyball team went on the program’s first foreign tour to Italy. While overseas the team played three matches, visited landmarks, bonded, and indulged in authentic Italian...

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Head Coach Mike Larabee gives a prep talk to his players before practice.

Softball preps for doubleheaders

Natalie Hyland, Staff Reporter
March 8, 2017

The Wildcat softball team will begin their GNAC title defense with back-to-back doubleheaders Friday and Saturday against Northwest Nazarene in Selah. The Wildcats are unable to open their season at home...

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Jasmin Edwards drives to the basket during a 84-76 win against Northwest Nazarene.

Wildcat women punch their ticket to playoffs

Natalie Hyland, Staff Reporter
March 1, 2017

The 2017 women’s basketball team fought hard all season, and after an intense final two games and a stressful weekend of waiting to see how other games would pan out, they’re in the GNAC playoffs....

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Grattic shines on her senior night win over NNU

Grattic shines on her senior night win over NNU

Natalie Hyland, Staff Reporter
February 22, 2017

In their final regular season home game, the Wildcat women fought off the Northwest Nazarene Crusaders in overtime 84-76. The game was a must-win situation for the Wildcats, but they didn’t shy away...

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CWU lacrosse player Justin Abercrombie runs across the Nicolson Pavilion Fieldhouse during one of their late night practices. Their season gets underway this weekend.

Lacrosse looks for repeat playoff appearance

Natalie Hyland, Staff Reporter
February 15, 2017

After eight years without making it to the postseason the CWU Men’s Lacrosse club finally made it to the playoffs last season. On top of that, the team broke a four year slump of one-win seasons last...

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Alaska Anchorage outpaces CWU

Alaska Anchorage outpaces CWU

Natalie Hyland, Staff Reporter
February 12, 2017

The Wildcats battled hard against the University of Alaska Anchorage, but in the end the Seawolves pulled away with the 69-48 win. From the start the game took on a quicker pace than normal for the...

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Wildcats hold off Nanooks

Wildcats hold off Nanooks

Natalie Hyland, Staff Reporter
February 10, 2017

The Wildcat women’s basketball team fought hard against the University of Alaska, Fairbanks from start to finish, coming away with a 69-66 victory, and picking up a win in the standings Thursday night....

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The pool got a makeover over break in order to accommodate CWU classes, clubs and also community members. One club that has been liking the upgrade is Water Polo.

Pool repairs bring joy to Water Polo

Natalie Hyland, Staff Reporter
February 1, 2017

While the students and faculty were away this winter break, the Aquatic Center’s pool received some much needed repairs. The last time the pool was repaired was over seven years ago, according to Pool...

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Junior Ali Anderson is looking to get to nationals in the 800-meter after earning a national provisonal time of 2:15.99 over the weekend.

‘Ali’-around athlete hits her stride

Natalie Hyland, Staff Reporter
January 27, 2017

With the indoor track season only a few weeks in, junior Ali Anderson is well on her way to reaching goals she never imagined. At the WSU Open this past weekend, Anderson posted the fasted GNAC time so...

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Wildcats snap losing streak

Wildcats snap losing streak

Natalie Hyland, Staff Reporter
January 20, 2017

On Thursday night the Women’s basketball team overcame a four game losing streak, defeating the Western Oregon Wolves 77-63. The Wildcats took an immediate lead and never looked back, jumping out...

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Track gears up for indoor season

Track gears up for indoor season

Natalie Hyland, Staff Reporter
November 30, 2016

When Track and Field Coach Kevin Adkisson first started his coaching career at CWU 25 years ago, there was no way he could have predicted what kind of Track and Field he would be coaching in the coming...

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Baird fits right in with the Wildcats

Baird fits right in with the Wildcats

Natalie Hyland, Staff Reporter
November 17, 2016

As a junior in high school, Taylor Baird was diagnosed with junctional ectopic tachycardia, a heart condition that caused her heartbeat to rapidly accelerate, sometimes to the point where she would faint. Baird...

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Basketball prepares for road trip

Basketball prepares for road trip

Natalie Hyland, Staff Reporter
November 10, 2016

The CWU Women’s Basketball team faces off against two strong California Collegiate Athletic Association teams, the Stanislaus State Warriors and the Cal State Monterey Bay Otters in Portland, Oregon...

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Wildcat blocks her way to the top

Wildcat blocks her way to the top

Natalie Hyland, Staff Reporter
November 3, 2016

When CWU senior Sabrina Wheelhouse started playing sports, she didn’t originally start with volleyball. The 6-foot-3 middle-blocker tried her hand at basketball first, but was turned off by the aggressive...

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Runner Gomez hits stride at CWU

Runner Gomez hits stride at CWU

Natalie Hyland, Staff Reporter
October 27, 2016

When senior Elena Gomez first came to CWU two years ago, she knew one thing for sure: she wanted to run. A swimmer in high school, Gomez first started running by herself during her freshman year of college...

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Swim club looks to make waves

Swim club looks to make waves

Natalie Hyland, Staff Reporter
October 18, 2016

CWU Swim Club is hosting two home meets this year, as opposed to only one home meet last year. Swim advisor Sarah Olden believes a great deal of the increase in home meets has to do with the recognition...

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CWU kicks competition

CWU kicks competition

Natalie Hyland, Staff
October 13, 2016

So far this season, the CWU women’s and men’s club soccer teams are off to an admirable start. According to CWU women’s volunteer coach Eddie Olivera, the goal for the team this year is to effectively...

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Wakeboard places fourth in nationals

Wakeboard places fourth in nationals

Natalie Hyland, Staff Reporter
October 6, 2016

Neither CWU junior Cole Osborn nor CWU Wake Team President Tyler Starks had much wakeboarding experienced before joining the group in college. Osborn, a snowboarder, grew to feel right at home on a wakeboard,...

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