Ball State kept their momentum from their final game as Toledo, as they beat the Jaguars 13-4 to rack up their second win in a row.

Ball State Head Coach Helen Peña credits the team's efficiency at the plate as one of the key reasons they came home with the win.

"[The] offense was very productive today at the plate and on the bases. They were disciplined with what they wanted to do, and I'm proud how confident we looked in the box. The dugout is always a fun place as our team rallies around each other every inning, and in that third inning there was a lot to celebrate about," Peña said.

The third inning was the key to the Cardinals victory today, as the team scored five total runs and five hits to extend their lead to 9-3.

The energy the team displayed is exactly what Peña wanted to see after they found momentum in the back half of their series against Toledo.

"Before the game, I made it a point to all be on the same page about how we viewed this game. This game wasn't just a road non-conference midweek game. It was an opportunity for us to compete in our processes and compete versus the game. I wanted us to realize how this game could serve us not just today but going forward. We weren't going into this wanting to start slow," Peña said.

This two game win streak could be the start of a winning streak for Ball State, as they head back home to host Ohio in a weekend series starting on April 3, and Peña has the right message for her squad.

"The message is how can we make the most of these two practice days and continue to level up our standard and improve our consistency within our systems and approaches. It's important to physically execute but the larger component is the mental piece and keeping things really simple: to remain steady and present-minded focused, to be confident in our ability to compete and win with our process, and play one pitch at a time," Peña said.

Contact Rylan Crum with any questions at rylan.crum@bsu.edu or on X @RylanCrum

Tonight: We will see a low of 50 degrees tonight along with a line of thunderstorms brought on by a cold front. No severe risk for the thunderstorms but gusty winds can be expected.

Tomorrow: Temperatures are going to stay around the low-to-mid 50s with widespread rainfall around the area. Showers should be lasting through most of the day ending during the evening hours the the cold front makes its way south. Variable winds can still be expected at 10 to 15 mph.

Seven-Day Forecast: Starting Wednesday we will see a quick cool down with temperatures as a cold front makes its way through the area. Thursday will warm back to the high-70s but gusty winds will be blowing around the area. The warm temperatures will continue to linger around the area during the weekend with partly cloudy conditions. We will take another dip in temperature to 50 degrees on Sunday, but then slowly warm back up going to the next week.

-Weather Forecaster Jonas Hinderer

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Today: More than a breezy day here in Muncie with sustained winds at 20 mph and gusts up to 30 mph. Our high temperature is 77 degrees, but these warm spring temperatures will not stick around for long, especially with so much precipitation in the near future.

Tonight: Expect rain starting this evening with spotty thunderstorms close to midnight. Precipitation totals are expected to be between half and three quarters of an inch. Tonight's temperature is going to drop to 55 degrees for our low tonight and winds will sit just below 20 mph.

Tomorrow: It is going to be a rainy spring day tomorrow with a 90% chance of rain for the day. Temperatures are going to drop throughout the day from 56 degrees at 8 AM down to 51 degrees at 5 PM. We may get a slight break from the rain later into tomorrow, but it should be persistent through most of the day.

Seven-Day Forecast: The next four day are going to feature quite a storm that will start-off bring us cold temperatures and possible thunderstorms, but on days two and three, we will get some warmer temperatures. Into the weekend the rain will slow down and temperatures are going to sit in the 70s until Sunday when we see a drop once again. Early next week will be clear and mild compared to the turbulent conditions that will show themselves for the next few days.

-Weather Forecaster Daphne Gibaud

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While Palmer Phillips and Camden Debyle don't play on the field, their impact is everywhere. These managers are essential to everyone in this dugout they found more than just a job.

It's a workload fans rarely see but the players feel it everyday Ball State Baseball's Head Coach Rich Maloney, says that the behind the scenes effort is what truly dines their identity on the field.

"They're a big part of the team and they do all the little things that really help the team that nobody sees. Well, some of the players see it but I mean, you know behind the scenes stuff," Head Coach Rich Maloney said.

Student manager, Camden Debyle, is the anchor in the shadows of the behind-the-scenes hustle. While the scoreboard records the runs, Debyle records the data and heavy lifting of supporting this team.

"Fans wouldn't realize I'm responsible for just like the behind the scenes stuff like tracking the pitches is my main job during the games. Also just like picking up during practice like helping out with BP when I need to, feeding machines during bunts, just a lot of practice work that fans obviously don't realize" Debyle said.

While they might not get cheers on the field, they're the glue that holds the team together and here, they're surrounded by players and coaches that appreciate their work in a dugout that feels just like home. For more information visit Ball State Baseball's website.

Contact Emma Bergman with comments at emma.bergman@bsu.edu.

Viveka asks Ball State students the Byte-ing Question, "which fictional location would you visit"?

Anchor: Viveka Fox
Video Editing: Ian Fraser
Camera-Person: Ian Fraser
Director: Ian Fraser
Thumbnail: Ian Fraser
Intro Graphics: Ryan Minter & Ian Fraser
Graphics: Taylor Sheridan, Evan Fischer
Music: Jack McGinnis

To navigate her recovery, Lester now uses resources through Little Red Door Cancer Agency, a nonprofit organization that supports cancer patients and survivors during all stages of treatment and remission.

Upon her initial diagnosis, Lester's doctors informed her of a large tumor they discovered in her brain, as well as numerous cancer cells spread throughout her body in the form of lymphoma, which Mayo Clinic defines as a cancer that affects the lymphatic system of the body.

After months of medication to prevent further seizures, Lester underwent an operation to remove the tumor from her brain. However, her doctor informed her that the surgery came with a sacrifice: she had to choose between keeping her hearing or her speech.

Her doctors said the operation would remove a significant portion of the tumor, and as a result, certain neural abilities could be affected.

To continue her work as a health advocate for Community Hospital, Lester chose to keep her hearing.

"I said I'd rather be able to hear because I can help people. I can hear their story, and I can help them," Lester said.

When her family visited her in the hospital after the surgery, her daughters surrounded her for comfort, as the surgery was completed without the loss of Lester's hearing or voice.

At that moment, Lester recalled how she raised a hand and said, "Thank you, Lord. I can hear. I can speak."

Since her surgery, Lester has been on radiation and chemotherapy for a year for the remaining Lymphoma in her body, but during the process, she sustained hair loss.

Before her treatments, Lester said she had never worn a wig before, but she was allowed to receive one from Michelle's Boutique, completely free of charge.

Michelle's Boutique is one of the many services provided by the Little Red Door Cancer Agency, where every client is granted one free wig upon a cancer diagnosis.

At its Indianapolis office, Lester said the boutique resembles any other hairdresser's space. It is fitted with rows of wigs that are available to clients of Little Red Door. Clients with lymphedema are also provided with a comfortable garment used to compress tissue swollen from the cancer.

According to Mayo Clinic, patients with lymphedema will have swelling in areas of the body that are often drained by lymph nodes. These nodes can be damaged or removed during cancer treatments.

Clients can also try on as many wigs as they would like, and the agency does not require appointments in order to do so. The clients' photographs are also taken and displayed on the boutique's wall to commemorate the step in their survivorship journey.

"[Wearing a wig] gave me some confidence," Lester said. "If you have a cap on, you can see [people] know something's going on with you. I don't want to be treated differently."

Little Red Door has offices in Muncie and Indianapolis. At both locations, clients have access to Michelle's Boutique, as well as free nutrition-boosting drinks, paid ride services to doctor's appointments, exercise programs and trained oncology massage therapists.

Angie Simon, a massage therapist working at the agency's Muncie branch since 2024, said massage therapy is a popular service at Little Red Door.

Simon herself is a cancer survivor and was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. With more than 20 years of experience as a massage therapist, she was inspired to seek certification for oncological massage therapy after going into remission.

She said oncological massage therapy, in particular, is a form of pain relief requiring extra training to perform. Simon explained how caution and knowledge of the body's process of circulating substances used for chemotherapy are needed for it to be successful.

Any improper massage movements to the body can also move these substances unnecessarily fast and cause discomfort for the client, she said, which can intimidate some massage therapists from learning.

Still, providing services to those who are in the same or similar circumstances as her means "everything" to Simon.

She said she finds satisfaction in her work from the effect it has on her clients, as she believes it gives them "a moment of peace" on days filled with anxious feelings.

Simon said she also sees the restorative nature of her work, since it replaces the common discomforting feelings associated with touch in the medical process.

"With massage, it kind of gives back the positive to touch so it's not always a negative touch experience," she said.

One of her clients, Earlie Dewayne Davis, has been receiving massage therapy for more than two months. Davis was diagnosed with throat cancer seven years ago after doctors discovered cancer forming on the lining of the organs, known as a carcinoma, in the back of his throat.

After treatment, Davis's cancer went into remission five years ago. As a survivor, he still has access to all the services Little Red Door offers.

"I'm learning that this service is very valuable to the community, and it offers a lot of programs I think the community is not aware of," Davis said.

According to the organization's website, Little Red Door offers programs for patients at every stage of their diagnosis and remission.

Its "Door to Wellness" initiative includes massage therapy as well as restorative yoga, sound baths and its "Strength After Breast Cancer" program, where survivors learn exercise techniques to reduce the "onset or worsening of breast cancer-related lymphedema."

However, the extent of cancer's effect is not limited to adults. According to the American Childhood Cancer Organization, approximately one in 285 children in the U.S. under the age of 20 will be diagnosed with cancer.

Bearing the reality of the disease in mind, the agency also hosts a summer camp for children diagnosed with cancer, no matter the stage in their journey.

According to the agency's website, Camp Little Red Door is a five-day experience in which children can bring a sibling or friend and meet other children facing similar circumstances. Activities such as zip-lining, archery and boating are offered to participants as well as nurses and medical staff.

"We try to make [patients'] journeys easier as much as we can," Rebecca Owen, a client navigator working for Little Red Door, said.

In her position, Owen helps direct clients to the organization's services. She also provides referrals to other services that Little Red Door does not offer itself, such as services that offer assistance to clients struggling to pay their bills.

To Owen, survivorship is not a term designated only for clients who have entered the remission stage of their cancer. She said survivorship status should also be provided to clients at any point in their journey.

For clients who have been in remission for years, Owen said she believes that many of them still have "scanxiety" of their cancer returning, creating uneasy feelings about doctor checkups.

However, as someone in the process of survivorship, Simon said she believes Little Red Door takes charge in providing a service often overlooked by some service providers.

"I think there was a big step there that was missing where they didn't take care of [patients] after the cancer, which I think [Little] Red Door steps up and does," Simon said.

Contact Ryan Fleek via email at ryan.fleek@bsu.edu.

I was the kid on the playground that got pushed by his aide in his wheelchair, would talk to friends and see my siblings soar across the playground, being brave enough to be part of four square or being pushed on the swings from time to time.

I did not know it then, but I was being held back by a sense of not knowing my limitations. I was in a wheelchair and did not understand that I did not really fit in on a typical playground setting in elementary school.

I was a manager for my sibling's soccer team, sitting on the sidelines, cheering them on. I eventually went into adapted sports, like Miracle League baseball and TOPSoccer, but I did not really find a community of people who looked like me.

My younger self did not think that anybody I would meet would be able to get along with me because of the ignorance barriers a five-year-old mind might have in trying to depict a suitable playmate.

Traditionally, they do not come with images and depictions of what someone with a disability looks like compared to what your family looks. So, even facing that challenge as a child was not easy, and understanding the concept of a community was hard in the landscape of a kid's mind.

So, when I was not attached to my siblings at the hip and causing a bunch of ruckus, I found my anchor in community, shows, cartoons, sports and later, crime dramas.

I do not often see protagonists or athletes and heroes that look like me. As a person with a disability, I tend to take that as a challenge to prove people wrong.

I think instead of getting closer to some of my disabled peers when I was younger, outside of the barrier of intellectual differences, that I was trying to prove to myself, and others, that a disabled person could fit that mold.

It was not always easy to keep up the pace in my manual wheelchair, even though my younger self adored my glow-in-the-dark wheelchair and my other wheelchair that had hot rod frames on them, courtesy of my Uncle Lee. It was not until middle school that I got my electric wheelchair, which was a mind-boggling perspective change for a middle schooler to go wherever he wanted, without having to worry about someone else pushing him around.

It was not really until COVID where, for the first time in my life, people were socially isolated and could finally understand how I felt throughout middle school and high school. But after the pandemic, I was taken out of the special education rooms and put into resource rooms.

For the first time in my educational career, I did not have an aide by my side all day. I did not have an adult looking over my shoulder and I could finally get into some high school shenanigans with my peers. I got my chance to hold my own in high school without the weight of always trying to be the perfect kid in the eyes of my aides.

I would not say I peaked in high school, but it was very beneficial for me to be integrated socially in a "typical" environment with my peers.

In my community, there will always be somebody that does not think they are going to be able to fit in. And to that person, I want you to know that you will find your people.

Last summer I was fortunate enough to meet a group of people that changed my perspective on what "community" means. Maybe your community will not look like this, and that is okay. Everyone has the wonderful opportunity, being their own person, to live their own life.

The community that I found myself in a couple hours away from home last summer, would have thrown my younger self through a few loops. The Fehribach community, donned by the interns that came before me, started as a pilot program here at Ball State University.

The program was started to try and combat the low number of college-aged individuals with disabilities that could not find internships that aligned with disabled students' aspirations after graduation.

A couple years after that pilot program, with help of Eskenazi Health, it turned into a full-on partnership and the Gregory S. Fehribach Center was born. Fast forward to last summer, the program had around 50 internships on Eskenazi campus, and divided them with local partnerships and remote opportunities such as Eli Lilly and State Farm, alongside BraunAbility.

Having these community partners take part in the initiative to close the gap of college-educated graduates with disabilities who need a bench to plateau their career offers, and it expanded across state lines to work with other universities, not just Ball State.

Learning about the program, I was regaled with stories about interns bonding and becoming a community, no matter where they came from, what school they went to or their disability. Nothing was going to stop them from being part of a bunch of disabled people chasing their dreams and wanting to be part of something bigger than themselves.

What was shocking to me was that I had never seen pictures or videos of disabled people collaborating and going through life together on this level while growing up. I was exposed to it a little bit during my first couple years of college, but nothing on this scale.

I was a little apprehensive because, of course, when it was my turn to be part of this community, our country's stance on the value of being different dramatically shifted. I was placed in Eskenazi's public relations department, and I did not know the first thing about public relations at the time.

All of the interns were housed at Indianapolis University, located directly across from the hospital, to create a sense of camaraderie and community within the interns. It took us a little while to mesh, but once we did, we were off to the races.

I met Mo Martrell, a student athlete who played wheelchair basketball. During my time there, Martrell was competing overseas with the U.S. in a tournament. I met Ian from Mizzou who was working in the pharmacy, Chris from Purdue and Maggie, who lived right across the road from where I grew up in Ohio, from Wright State University. I met Elora from Michigan who was attending Grand Rapids Community College, as well as interns like Anna, who was right here from Ball State and John, who graduated and was going to get a job in the Eskenazi compliance department and many others who participated in the summer program.

They all had their disability piece that fit into the greater community, but they helped make my time there special, and we wrote our names into the Fairbach program together in hopes to not only build a bond for ourselves, but future participants.

The center would not only have weekly educational sessions with partners and community leaders to help us build on resources that could help us in our future career endeavors, but we also had community engagements. Once, we even went to an Indianapolis Indians game, and those community engagements turned into fun, impromptu nights out on the town.

I have never been good at goodbyes. Even as a storyteller, I have never liked getting to the end of a TV show or book. So, it was hard to say goodbye to those moments and people that made my summer one where I did not feel like I had to put on a mask to fit in.

It turns out that I was a perfect fit for the public relations department, after all. I got to see a team unite together to tell impactful stories, not just to make the hospital look good, but to make a positive impact on people's lives every day.

One moment that stood out to me was with my coworker, Katie. At the Black Expo in Indianapolis, the biggest event that Eskenazi Health does, Katie offered to show me around. But at every booth we visited, I sensed an all too familiar tension - people talking to me in a baby voice.

On the way back, I told Katie that people seemed to think that she was either my caregiver or my parent, and she was surprised and claimed that she had no idea. It really showed me the genuine connections between departments and interns, extending beyond just the work in the office.

I want to say thank you to Todd, Julianne, Leah, Allison and other members of the team for letting me intrude on your office for three months, letting me get to know all of you and getting to make an impact together. Along the way, I hope I had an impact on the team, because you guys certainly had a positive impact on me and added to this center's rich history.

People will say the interns are inspirational. Still, it is a team effort, and the public relations department stood by me and told other intern stories. We even got to make a little movie showcasing the wonderful individuals who, no matter their ability, made the hospital the best it could be while we were there. In contrast, Eskenazi stood by the program at a time when standing behind differences was not always acceptable and sometimes even frowned upon.

This story is not only to show that people should not have to feel like they are outcasts, have to put on a mask to fit in or that they have to move a certain way to keep up. The Fehribach Center is an example that once we put our heads together, people with disabilities and those without can not only work together, but thrive together to improve our society together.

The center works with people who have varying levels of disability progression and who paved the way for me, and all the other interns this past summer, to thrive. Some of those people are no longer with us, and their lives serve as a beacon of what is possible for us, and future generations to come, that the Fehribach community can be more than just the exception in Indianapolis, but can become the rule for so many across the country.

Contact Dillon Rosenlieb via email at dillon.rosenlieb@bsu.edu.

Tonight: Strong winds blowing from the South Southwest help ensure temperatures tonight stay warm and consistent. To add to this, moisture will also help support these temperatures as it'll start to feel a little more humid. Surface winds assisted with strong wind gusts will blow you away tonight as these gusts only continue to strengthen into tomorrow - gusts as high as 40 mph. With all these warmer elements moving in, along with cooler upper levels from the past couple of days, cloud formation is more favorable. 

Tomorrow: Temperatures on Tuesday are really going to make some big leaps throughout the day as ridging remains stable. The main concern for midday tomorrow would have to be the wind gusts. Surface winds assisted with improved gusting shows a trend of increasing wind speeds throughout the afternoon into early evening hours, especially as a developing low-pressure system advances closer to our area. For our later hours, a temperature uprise assisted with increased moisture levels, all combined with a plowing cold front creates instability for our area. As of right now, Muncie is just barely out of a Level 2 (Marginal Risk) for severe weather. The further Northeast the low-pressure system moves, the higher chances that more severe storms will follow, giving high confidence that the Muncie area will not receive any severe weather. Note on General thunderstorms: All thunderstorms can produce deadly lightning, gusty winds and even small hail. Always stay weather aware.  

Seven-Day Forecast: From Tuesday, conditions throughout this week look to be very wet and humid. As we take a glance at Wednesday, isolated rain showers will continue in from Tuesday evening. Wednesday's system looks a bit messier than Tuesday. Any energy supporting storm production has lowered, whereas the likelihood of more downpouring has increased. Winds continuing to blow from the Southwest continue to support warm air keeping temperatures & moisture levels pretty high. Flooding could possibly be an issue though, but with probability of isolated showers or continuous rainfall, is still being monitored. For Thursday, another low-pressure system moving from the Southwest will make its way towards our area supporting a more rainy environment throughout afternoon into early evening. With this, confidence is more high of precipitation occurring. Moving into Friday humid air continues to remain in the area, but with a lack of ridging or frontal assistance, there aren't enough elements to support storm development. Isolated rain showers are the likely trend for Friday. Saturday night looks to be the grand finale of everything as a cold front pushes through. With continuous humidity and warming winds throughout midday, the evening cold front will create more widespread rainfall than some of the previous days creating cooler temperatures. On Sunday everything will calm down, bringing our environment back into a high-pressured state. Skies will hopefully be clearing out making way for a sunny Easter.  

- Weather Forecaster Rachel Fulton

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Ball State made history last season. The Cardinals won the Mid-American Conference (MAC) for the first time since 2009, and only the second time in program history. But the departures of some of the players from that team left big shoes to fill.

Head coach Brady Sallee only brought back four players from the previous season, and a lot of people thought it would be a rebuilding season in Muncie. But Sallee said he "wasn't going to hear it," and that he knew the talent he had on the roster.

Despite a number of new faces on the roster, Ball State ended the season with a 26-7 record, and tied Miami (OH) for first place in the MAC with a record of 16-2.

Sallee said that when he steps back and thinks about what the team was able to accomplish, it is "mind-numbing."

"In a very short amount of time, they became one of the best teams we've had come through here," Sallee said.

The head coach said there are certain character traits that he and his staff look for when recruiting new players to bring into the program. Sallee said that in recruiting, he and his staff do not always "bat a thousand," but he said they did this season.

"You get a group of kids that want what comes with wearing this jersey, and they buy in so quickly to what comes with wearing this jersey," Sallee said. "It just kind of took off from there."

Senior forward Bree Salenbien decided to use her last year of college eligibility at Ball State, as the forward decided to come back from a year of injury for one more season. Salenbien said she is in "awe" of what the team was able to accomplish this season.

Even with so many new players, the Cardinals soared to a 26-win season.

"We really took that time to bond, and I think that's a really important part of basketball and team chemistry, especially when you haven't played with everyone," Salenbien said.

Norman came from Butler after entering the transfer portal, and she said she was looking for a place to win and a place to play for something bigger than herself.

"I definitely think I found that here," Norman said. "We might not have won the tournament, but we did win a lot of games, and we were super successful, and I think there's a lot more to come of that too."

Despite all the success the team had, the season did not end how anyone expected it to. The Cardinals fell to a Toledo team they had beaten twice in the regular season, 69-65, in the MAC semifinals, which ended their season.

After the game, Sallee, Salenbien and Norman said they were preparing to play more basketball, with them expecting an invitation to the Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament (WBIT).

But the team did not receive an invitation.

The game against Toledo effectively ended Salenbien's basketball career, and the forward said it was hard to swallow that the team was left out of the tournament.

"We do still not understand why we didn't get picked, and I think it'll forever go down as that," Salenbien said. "It was just sucky for it to end like that."

Although Sallee and his team did not agree with the NCAA's decision to keep the Cardinals out of the WBIT, the head coach said the team still had to look in the mirror and not become a victim.

"We talked about owning our part in it," Sallee said. "We didn't play well in that semifinal game and we certainly were in control of continuing our season."

The part Norman said was hard was that the team did not have closure on how the season ended. Although the decision was one that shocked the team, Norman said she has already talked to coaches and the rest of the team about how they can use it as motivation next season.

"They're trying to get answers, but sometimes there's just not an answer," Norman said. "Just using that motivation going forward next year."

The Cardinals have a lot to be excited about moving forward, as multiple key pieces are slated to return to the team. Salenbien is done due to graduating, and a few players have decided to enter the transfer portal, but for the most part, the team's key pieces from this season will be back.

Norman said it is a huge blessing that the team connected quickly this season, and the guard is excited for year two with the team, with the ability to only build on this year's success.

"We already have the foundation and all we have to do is build on it and keep getting better every day together," Norman said.

Although Salenbien cannot be part of the team next season, she said she is excited to see what the returning Cardinals can do next season.

"I think this year was such a good foundation for them to really bring them into the system, bring them into what coach Brady [Sallee] wants," Salenbien said. "I think they have a lot of big things ahead of them."

The closeness of the team is something that was evident in the way they played. Fans could see the fun the team was having on social media, whether it was in press conferences or videos from the locker room after games.

Sallee said throughout his career, he has coached some special groups, and he has seen almost year after year how close knit his teams can be. But the head coach said that this season, it was "transcending" to see how close the team was from the oldest players on the team to the youngest.

Most of the team this season was entering their first season in Muncie, and the primary returners, sophomore guard Grace Kingery and senior center Tessa Towers, were in new starting roles. Sallee said the commonality of the team made them bond together.

"I think that made it a little bit easier to connect and to be empathetic and sympathetic at times and understand what everybody was going through because we were all going through it together for the first time," Sallee said.

Salenbien will leave big shoes to fill for next season's team. All season, Sallee talked about how Salenbien was always a calming voice for the team during games, and how he saw her step in as a leader of the team from day one.

The forward led the team in scoring all year with 15.8 points per game. For a team that played through Salenbien so much, her absence next season will be evident.

"On top of having a great year and scoring a bunch of points, I think her legacy will be as much about her ability to lead 12 other brand new players and lead them to where she did," Sallee said.

Although it will be tough to lose an impactful player like Salenbien, Sallee is confident in his team's ability to keep winning. The head coach referenced when the program's all time leading scorer, Nathalie Fontaine, graduated in 2016, which left a hole on the team.

The Cardinals kept winning after that season, and Sallee has that same expectation even after Salenbien's departure.

"It doesn't mean the job's not big, it just means we know what to do and how to do it," Sallee said.

Sallee said that if he went out and tried to get a carbon copy of Salenbien, he would set himself up for failure. The head coach said players like that are special for a reason, because it is next to impossible to find a player like them.

He said the thing it comes down to is how the system is.

"I think the key is, can you have a system that you fill up with talent and then you figure out a way to use that talent," Sallee said.

Salenbien said that Ball State's system was a huge part in her finding her role on the team. The forward's game grew significantly in her year at Ball State after a handful of injury riddled seasons at Gonzaga.

"The system here has something to do with it as well," Salenbien said. "You're not trying to fit players into a system here, you're really fitting the system to the players you have."

There is a lot to be excited about for what is brewing in Muncie. If the Cardinals won 26 games with a nearly brand new squad, it seems the sky is the limit next season for Sallee and company.

Contact Kyle Stout with questions via email at kyle.stout@bsu.edu or on X @kylestoutdailyn.

Senior Maria Nevins, the general manager of WCRD radio at Ball State University, oversees all the work done in each of the studio's departments and runs meetings for new and upcoming members. Senior Zack Vance, the assistant manager, helps disperse new members into different departments and assists with technical issues in the studio.

The non-profit student-run organization hosts various shows during the week that cater to a variety of audiences.

WCRD has two studios, Studio A for live broadcasts and shows, and Studio B for podcast or student project recordings. Both studios provide flexibility for students in creating content, and they are able to join the club as a means to use the space.

The antenna they use to deliver radio frequencies (RF) is atop the Teacher's College, and it reaches audiences like students, faculty and community members within a 30-minute radius.

Unlike typical radio stations, WCRD doesn't have a set type of standards for how they run or what shows they play.

"I just love the freedom of being able to come and you can have any show you want, any type of music you want," Zack said.

Music played over the station has a wide diversity with tracks dating back to the 50's, the same decade when the studio first originated.

Originally owned by students of the Muncie Community School District, the station was known as WWHI until it was bought by Ball State in 2004 for a single dollar that is proudly framed in the office today. In 2022, Ball State bought the license to officially call it WCRD.

The call sign for WCRD stands for "Cardinal Radio Dave," attributing the credit to David Letterman, who helped fund the AM carrier current in the 1980s until it became FM, as it is today.

Before AM broadcasting existed for WCRD, cables were set up in each dorm building and the radios were mounted inside the walls. This provided easy access to students who wanted to turn the radio up or change the station.

WCRD first started out with only four student members after being officially named in 2022, but when they decided they needed to focus on documentation and consistency like their predecessors, the small number grew to 81 in three years.

Zack has been with the station for four years, and Maria for three years, and both students are set to graduate in May of this year. Their positions will be taken by undergraduates at the end of the spring semester.

Student life balanced with work life can sometimes be complicated, but it does come with its benefits. Both Maria and Zack still love what they do and receive course credit for their work.

They both hope to see WCRD grow in numbers, as well as the industry itself.

"That's what I'm going to school for. I want to work in the radio industry, so I'm just hoping to see it grow," Maria said.

Students hoping to follow the path of professionals in the radio industry not only need to know the structure of radio stations, but also the science behind the equipment as well.

According to ScienceInsights, "Radio frequencies are invisible waves of energy belonging to the electromagnetic spectrum that travel through the air at the speed of light." These waves power every wireless device or system, like Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, television and radio.

Stan Sollars, host of Indiana Public Radio's (IPR) morning show, plays a part in the newscasting and weather reports of IPR. As a second job, he is a senior lecturer in the Department of Media at Ball State University and teaches students about vocal performance and sound design.

Stan said in the IPR station, the staff converts spoken words into electrical signals through microphones and into analog receivers. Then, a signal known as the studio-to-transmitter link is sent between transmitters across an area to receive sound as it is produced.

In this case, IPR covers areas from the southwest side of Fort Wayne to the northeast side of Indianapolis, including Delaware County.

The RF they use is turned up high, so no other radio can tune in unless a radio engineer has a special device.

Then, the high-frequency currents are received from the IPR station at the Muncie antennas and transmitters, and finally amplified into a voice. It is essentially a ping-pong game between antennas and transmitters with the sound waves.

Most frequencies have to be modulated for proper travel, and then demodulated for the voice to be understood. According to the American Electronics Association (AEANET), "The demodulation process reverses the modulation, converting the varying amplitude, frequency, or phase back into the audio or data signal."

Despite the audio being recorded with older technology at IPR, there is a unique way to preserve and transfer recordings to digital.

Stan has a collection of digital cassette tapes from a former show on the NPR network called Rock and Roll America. He was able to transfer the audio in a digital audio tape machine, and after the magnetic tape was spliced as needed, it was transferred to the computer and saved on the new tapes.

"I've got magnetic tape in there that I've transferred over to digital. And so we've got to keep moving our work forward in formats that will survive," Stan said.

As the digital age continuously develops, it's important for radio stations to understand current audiences.

In local radio, it is important to promote what interests the public, as well as respect their time and the energy that they have in listening to a certain radio program.

"I hope that those of us in mass media, including podcasts, will remember to respect the audience. Know that the audience is busy and that the audience is worthy of our best work," Stan said.

As hope sparks within FM radio, the retail demand for radio has seen growth in recent years.

Mark Osborne, owner of RadioShack/Osborne Electronics in Rushville, Indiana, began working for an official RadioShack store in 1979, eventually establishing a franchise store a decade later.

He sells various consumer electronics, including radios, batteries, cables and portable devices.

Radio as a hobby is a topic Mark frequently discusses with his clients, and there is currently a trend to collect radios or older technology.

"The memory of radio has kind of drifted through to the newer generation, and they're interested in it. There [are] a lot of kids today that like to pick up Goodwill finds and turn them into working devices," Mark said.

All devices are connected to radio waves, but there is a span of difference between each device in terms of their frequency levels.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) website includes information on how people can look up what radio frequency their devices are on, which can inspire and inform hobbyists going into radio collecting.

Shortwave radio, radios that are only 3 to 30 mHz and used portably, is a fading medium that used to be more music-centered. The current demand for talk radio and the weaker range of shortwave radio cause the loss of their spark for radio users.

Despite this, Mark is adamant that radio will not become a medium that comes to pass.

One of the newest recurring trends in radio is the General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS), a two-way short to mid-range communication system that allows families or friends to talk when phone service isn't available, such as in emergencies. Citizens Band Radio (CB) is also popular, but doesn't require a license like GMRS.

Radio is an educational hobby; it holds value in the real world because a young radio hobbyist can someday become a radio engineer or a radio host. Radio as a medium of entertainment and practicality is a long way from becoming obsolete.

"I don't think it's going to become obsolete or [stop]. It will continue to go on the level it's at, or maybe slightly higher," Mark said.

Radio is a vital field in today's society. Though it is commonly thought to be overshadowed by modern technology trends, how radio affects people's careers and livelihoods is not something to be ignored. Radio is far from dying; it is simply riding the waves of life as it disperses.

This article is a part of Ball Bearings Spring 2026 magazine: Waves. Read more stories online at ballbearingsmag.com and pick up the print edition of the magazine across Ball State's campus April 16.

Spring Festival

Join the Residence Hall Association for good vibes, great food, and fun with friends! The first 150 attendees get a FREE food item from any vendor! Don't miss out on music, food trucks, and a perfect spring evening.

• Price: Free
• Location: North Neighborhood Firepit
• Date and Time: Monday, March 30, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Bob Dylan: Rough and Rowdy Ways

Come see Bob Dylan's Rough and Rowdy Ways tour! Bob Dylan is one of the greatest songwriters of all time. As a musician, he has shaped popular music in innumerable ways - from inspiring the Beatles and bringing folk-rock into the mainstream to proving that electric guitars could be as revolutionary as acoustic ones. Bob Dylan's career has lasted the better part of sixty years now! This show will be a phone-free experience. All phones will be secured in Yondr pouches at the beginning of the event.

• Price: Adult: $149.50, $134.50, $89.50, $59.50
• Location: Emens Auditorium
• Date and Time: Tuesday, March 31, at 8:00 p.m.

Facing Recovery Listening Circle

Members of the Recovery Café in Muncie will share their stories of recovery from challenges such as substance use disorder, homelessness, domestic violence, disability, and grief. Attendees will receive a free copy of the book, Facing Recovery (volume 2), a Facing Project co-authored by students in Dr. Kathryn Ludwig's immersive first-year writing course, "Writing for Change." The evening offers an opportunity to learn about recovery and reflect on the healing power of storytelling.

• Price: Free
• Location: Minnetrista Museum and Gardens, Indiana Room
• Date and Time: Monday, March 30, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Anti-Procrastination Night

Get a head start on the end-of-semester crunch! Join Bracken for focused productivity sessions, and get help with research, writing projects, presentations or public speaking, and math assignments. This event will help you tackle final projects and papers - and leave with your work well on its way to done. There will also be free food and prizes!

• Price: Free
• Location: Bracken Library
• Date and Time: Monday, March 30, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Ball State went 1-2 on the weekend, dropping the first pair of games before a dominant 6-2 win the cap off the weekend.

Although the weekend did not go as planned for the Cardinals, Head Coach Helen Peña still has immense faith in this squad as they get into the thick of conference play.

"I want the team to keep fighting, keep showing up and responding the way they have been. The goal is to uphold our standards on and off the field and continue to stay process-oriented in these moments. If we can stay true to who we are, stay committed to our values and systems, we'll start to build momentum," Peña said.

As the weekend series did not go entirely in the Cardinals favor, one of the bright spots was senior infielder and pitcher Ella Whitney, one of the team's key leaders this season.

Whitney currently has a 5-3 record on the mound this season, with her last outing being game one against Toledo where she let up eight hits, the same amount the Rockets gave up. On the offensive side, Whitney recorded three hits and two runs scored on the weekend.

"Ella is a true team player, and that's exactly what you want to see in a senior leader," Peña said. "She enjoys her teammates' success as much as her own, and her heart and selflessness are what also make her a great asset and teammate."

The biggest thing to get out of this series for Peña was momentum. Even though Ball State dropped the first two games, they came out and dominated in the third, setting up a whole lot of momentum for the team heading into next week's slate of games.

"That's exactly what we want right now is momentum, and to build and learn from our tough moments so that we can be better because of them. If we can keep it simple, compete pitch to pitch, and trust our body of work, then we'll get there," Peña said.

Looking ahead, Ball State will travel to Indianapolis on March 31 to take on in-state school IU Indianapolis.

Contact Rylan Crum with questions @rylan.crum@bsu.edu or on X at RylanCrum.

"I am really excited about that as a coach, you can't really teach that, to want them to want to play baseball, they just want to. That's such a cool thing for me. I think we got a lot of guys that want to get really good at the game and that on its own just really excites me," Van Pelt said.

The upperclassmen on this roster know what it takes to win big, but Senior shortstop Everett Linn still believes in prioritizing the small details.

"I'm focusing on the little stuff. Picking balls, playing clean, barrelling baseballs, the simple stuff that translates to the game and wins championships", Linn said.

The Eagles are in for a potential sectional three-peat this season. Even with the thought of winning three in a row, Van Pelt recognizes how important it is to focus on the now.

"Yes, that's in the thought process because you want to be champs, but I think if you're solely focused on the future and not what's right here in front of you, that could cause some problems too," Van Pelt said.

Delta will travel to Guerin Catholic for their season opener on Monday, as they start their quest for more hardware.

Contact Aidan McNally with questions or comments at aidan.mcnally@bsu.edu

The program partnered with local Muncie business "Made in Muncie", which is a pottery studio and art gallery that allows artists to make their own art.

ADA vice president Alyssa Tedeschi says events like this one are opportunities to teach students about accessibility and how it can be used in any circumstance.

"We organize these events for students all across campus to come together and show how accessibility can be shown everywhere," Tedeschi said.

This stress on accessibility is one such challenge students and other people with disabilities face. Services like ramps and elevators that they use could be blocked off or out of use, which could be a challenge.

"Not a lot of people think about the students that need those opportunities to get places," Tedeschi said. "Some students don't feel like they're hurt as much."

Yet, she believes these events can help change how students see and think about disability and awareness. It can be done not just in transportation and getting around, but also in the way we speak.

"Just be aware of how you say things, how you talk, especially outside of events like this," Tedeschi said. "There are lots of things you could say that could be taken the wrong way."

So, whether painting a pottery turtle or sharing the elevator, we can all do our part to make everyone feel included in everything we do. One action at a time.

Contact Evan Shotts with comments at evan.shotts@bsu.edu.

When I was in high school, I was in a district with two schools: my high school, Hamilton Southeastern (HSE), and our rival, Fishers High School. While the rivalry was incredibly intense, there was one area where the schools differed.

During my time there, HSE was known as the athletic school, while Fishers was known as the academic school. Fishers put more resources into their academic programs, clubs and extracurriculars, whereas HSE funneled more energy into its athletic programs.

Although I did not have a bad experience in high school, I still felt a bit left out. Fishers has a robust show choir, one of the best in the country, and countless other nationally recognized extracurriculars like Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA), speech, debate and other academic ventures.

I wanted to be a part of those, too, but the fact that HSE chose to focus on sports left me feeling stranded.

This is just one example of the prioritization that athletics has over academics in education. This affects not only high schools but also universities and higher education, meaning that the pursuit of profit from athletic ventures can dilute the focus of these institutions.

Even though the American college experience, which includes college athletics, has been romanticized, that does not mean athletics should be the sole focus of these universities.

According to figures from the Knight-Newhouse College Athletics Database at Syracuse University, the highest-valued collegiate athletic program in the United States is the University of Texas at Austin, valued at $1.4 billion. These universities are pouring huge amounts of money and resources into their programs, which raises the question: Why is just one part of the college experience - sports - placed on such a high pedestal when there are so many other just as meaningful activities on campus?

I have always been an avid reader and media consumer, and one of the genres that I turn to most often is romance. More recently, college-aged stories - or books that fall under the New Adult genre - have exploded in popularity, especially in the subgenre of sports romance.

From hockey to soccer to Formula One racing, sports romance is an exploding niche. Readers, including myself, flock to the books where girls our age are swept off their feet by athletes in sweaty gear.

But as college athletics continue to come more into the public eye, its prevalence makes me want to turn to the opposite. Where are the stories about the speech kid declaring their love as part of an original program? About the co-stars of a school-sponsored musical? About the debate tournament that brings two unlikely partners together?

While romance novels are not necessarily related to the college experience, they do highlight another place where sports are starting to "take over." According to a study done by George Mason University's Institute for Immigration Research, 63.7 percent of respondents in multiple metropolitan areas watched or attended a college sports event in the last year.

Why can that level of attendance not transfer into activities like theater? Sports are fundamentally different from the arts, but that does not mean they are not equally important.

I was always a person who felt like I was in both worlds. I did a lot of academic extracurriculars, like speech and debate, and I was in the drama and choir spaces, as well. But I also love hockey, baseball and even football, thanks to my dad's teachings while I was growing up.

Because of my passion for both sides, I noticed that in the eyes of many people, sports were the most important aspect of the college experience. Everyone talked about tailgating, who was going to win which game and whether this player was a "bust" because he did not score as many points as he had the game before.

These were largely enjoyable experiences, but I found myself wondering whether the same logic could be applied to my other hobbies. Could we discuss theater performances like this? Speech techniques?

Above it all, I really wanted to get back to what college is at its core.

According to a 1983 journal article published in The Role of American Colleges in the Nineteenth Century, which focuses on the history of colleges in North America, the first iterations of secondary education in the United States were religious institutions designed to train ministers; they were modeled after Oxford and Cambridge universities in England, as well as Scottish universities.

In the nineteenth century, secular colleges were established to help transition young men from the agricultural workforce of the past to the industrial labor of the time.

While there may have been extracurricular activities then, they were more likely focused on current events, given that men were expected to work and provide for their families.

This balancing of education and preparation for life after school is what drew me to college in the first place. Both of my parents have multiple degrees, and I was always encouraged to go after as much knowledge as I could. Even when I was feeling overwhelmed after getting my first failing grade on a test in the fall, they reminded me that one failure was not the end of the world and would not stop me from pursuing my dreams.

And, if I am being honest, I did want that just-like-the-movies feeling. Sunset-soaked walks on the quad, laughing with my friends, always having plans for the night; college athletics colors a lot of those experiences. Who does not like being part of a group working together towards a common goal?

Humans are inherently social creatures. We want to be in a pack, so that we have the best chance of survival and emotional enrichment. Sports enhance that feeling. According to an article from George Mason University's Center for the Advancement of Well-Being, sports serve as a social catalyst, bringing us together in settings like stadiums, sports bars and dorm rooms to share the experience of watching a game.

Today's digital age also means that social media platforms have amplified this connectivity, allowing fans to interact in real time. The sense of shared experience extends beyond the event itself, creating long-lasting social bonds and a sense of belonging.

However, the arts and intellectual pursuits also bring this same community. In a 2019 article from the Americans for the Arts, Maureen Smith, chief creative officer of 4421 Productions, said that her grief over her mother's passing was lessened by the art she was making and the art community that surrounded her.

Even in my own experience, whenever I was struggling with something, my friends in the arts always reached out to me and told me that they would be there for me.

I am not trying to say that participating in the college athletics experience is not incredibly meaningful. It was, and is, for me, and it will continue to be for many people on college campuses everywhere. I ask only that we go back to the books and the arts sometimes.

Buy a ticket to a local arts performance. Choose to focus on schoolwork. Do the public speaking that scares you. You might find you benefit from it.

Contact Ella Humbert via email at ella.humbert@bsu.edu.

The citizens of Muncie gathered together March 28 for the city's 'No Kings' rally in order to protest the current U.S. administration - President Donald Trump and his Make America Great Again (MAGA) agenda.

The bridge itself was full of protestors before the 11 a.m. start time and organizers encouraged people to spread farther, so that they might reach Minnetrista Museum & Gardens.

Muncie citizens, crossing a generational span, gathered together and sported a variety of homemade signs with a diverse range of slogans ranging from "the wannabe emperor has no clothes" to "hate never made any nation great."

Ball State student Taylor Perry, a fourth year accompanied by two recently graduated Ball State alums, shared what had brought her out to the protest that cold March morning.

"We just need to speak out. We need to show that we are exercising our rights and that together we're stronger," she said.

Many of the protestors shared the belief that their visibility would create an impact, including Muncie resident Austin Bristor.

"Even though a lot of people are kind of waking up to the reality of what's going on, I just thought it was important to continue to come out here and exercise my rights and encourage other people to exercise theirs," he said.

Carter Minton, accompanied by his grandparents, including 72-year-old Dan who had joined for his first ever protest, shared similar sentiments.

"This is the second 'No Kings' protest in Muncie I've been to. I think it's very important that we exercise the rights that we have at a time when our rights are dwindling. Freedom of speech varies depending on our time in history, and at this time, it is being definitely heavily restricted, and so, if we don't come out and demonstrate and stand in solidarity, then our rights will slowly get watered down and watered away."

Several other community members also showed up to demonstrate their support, with flags, posters and costumes alike - including a bald eagle, blow ups and even Trump dressed as a clown.

Hoosiers from around the state were also present due to their desire to show up for not only the city of Muncie, but also the United States. This included congressional candidate for the fifth district, Tara Nelson.

"I think we need justice. We need to protect our constitutional rights. And I'm happy to see so many people out supporting this cause," she said.

While the streets were filled with chants of dissent such as "no ICE, no KKK, no fascist USA," joy still reigned supreme as those throughout Muncie, both young and old, surrounded themselves with community, some gently blown bubbles and the hope for a better democracy.

Contact Kyler Effner via email at kyler.effner@bsu.edu.

"Can we make the whole thing happen on a transcontinental train journey in 1908? from Chicago to San Francisco, and what would that look like? And you've got the main car to play in, and then the end platforms on either side of the train that they can play," said Co-writer and Co-Director, John Marsh.

John and Jenni Marsh are a local playwriting and directing duo. Some of their past works include Fixing Up and the Cats Pajamas. The West Wind is their 3rd play and its being debuted in the Casazza Family Studio Theatre at Muncie Civic.

"There is something very special about being able to do something that's new. Like this is the first debut performance of this show written by the directors as well. And I... like being able to be the most extreme version of myself," said Stephen Hamilton, who plays Benowitz in the West Wind.

Although this is built to be a comedy, the play has an undertone of something a little deeper.

"It has a lot of heart to it. There are people going through some really painful and challenging situations, and the humor is right alongside some of that drama," said Co-Director and Co-Writer, Jenni Marsh.

The Muncie Civic has been supporting local artists and playwrights since 1931. The West Wind, Hello Dolly, and the many other shows happening this year make up its 94th season.

"We are very grateful for Muncie's attention to arts and culture. Art and culture create greater empathy and understanding of the human condition and relationships, and the more you expose yourself to stories and culture, the more empathy you have," said Jenni Marsh.

Tickets for the closing weekend are still available on Muncie Civic's website.

Contact Abby Urban with comments at abigail.urban@bsu.edu.

Mitchell described the head coaching search as thorough and thoughtful, and that still left him with a candidate pool of 45 head coaches just a couple of weeks after firing former head coach Michael Lewis.

That pool went from 45 to 16, then 16 to 10. 10 candidates for the position became three, and after long-drawn out conversations, Mitchell landed on Chris Capko.

Mitchell made sure to address the crowd directly when talking about Capko.

"Make no mistake, Chris Capko is a winner," Mitchell said.

On the North Quad of Ball State's campus sits the bronze statue of Beneficence, something that represents the university's enduring values that Mearns spoke about in the press conference. He said he saw Capko possess those values in their first conversation.

So, it was no surprise to Mearns that almost two weeks before Capko was announced as head coach, he and his wife had their third child and named him "Benny."

"We're pretty darn sure that we found our guy," Mearns said.

As Mearns and Mitchell's introductions concluded, Capko was brought up to the podium in the midst of a standing ovation. The 21st head coach in Ball State Men's Basketball program history addressed the crowd with gratitude and emotion.

This is Capko's first head coaching gig, and he said the moment walking up to the podium was "surreal."

"I've been dreaming of this moment for a long, long time," Capko said.

Capko began his career at Marshall as a graduate assistant, and after two years, he landed his first assistant coach job at Stetson. That job took him to Georgia Southern as an assistant coach for two years, and after that Capko spent two years at the University of Southern California (USC) as director of operations.

After a short one-year stint as an assistant coach at Florida International after that, Capko returned to USC, where he spent his next eight years as an assistant and associate head coach, contributing to four NCAA tournament appearances and one trip to the elite eight.

His time at USC took Capko to Southern Methodist University (SMU) as associate head coach for two seasons, which then helped him land at Ball State.

Capko said he realizes the weight of the next step as head coach after zero years of prior experience in the position. He joked that he has been told he does not have head coaching experience more times than he has been told "no" by his wife.

Although being a head coach can be a daunting position in college basketball, Capko said he has been given all the confidence he needs from Mearns, Mitchell and other staff to lead Ball State as their next head basketball coach. Capko said there has never been an individual or team to accomplish something special that did not have confidence or belief.

"As a coach and a leader of young men, I am in the business of inspiration," Capko said. "It is my job to instill confidence as well as conveying to my student athletes that I believe in them in order to inspire them to the best of my ability.

Roster construction begins pretty fast for Capko, as the transfer portal opens in just a few weeks. The priority for the head coach is to try to see what players from last season's team want to return. Capko said every player from last year's team is welcome back as long as they want to be in Muncie.

"I want guys that want to be here," Capko said. "I think there's some pretty talented players on last year's team that can help us this year, if they want to be here, and they're the right person and they have the right character."

Capko said it will be important to figure out what players will return for next season, because then he can build around what he already has when it comes time to use the transfer portal. In the meantime, Capko said he is "fielding as many names as he can" while he settles in as head coach and continues to build his staff.

"The portal doesn't open until [April] 7th, so it gives me a little breathing room of just trying to track as many names as possible," Capko said. "Once I can finally get some of our staff here, [then] I can have more intimate conversations."

A handful of players from last season's team have already declared their intent to enter the transfer portal when it opens, and one of those players is redshirt sophomore guard Davion Hill. Hill averaged 14 points per game on just above 46 percent from the field last season.

Capko said while he wants everyone back from last year's team, he has had multiple conversations with Hill to try and get the star guard to return to Muncie.

"I do want to try to retain Davion Hill," Capko said. "I've talked to him every day since I got the job."

A big thing Ball State struggled with this past season was its ability to consistently score points. The Cardinals ranked last in the MAC with 67.5 points per game. Capko said he wants to bring an exciting style of basketball that produces a lot of points.

The head coach wants every player on the floor to have the ability to shoot the ball; he wants to have a true point guard who not only looks to score but also looks to set their teammates up with open shots and he wants to spread the floor out with his offense.

"When you watch one of our teams, I want you to see a team out there that can score," Capko said.

To close the press conference, Capko had a simple message to Ball State players, both former and current: "I need you guys." He said he wants to hold the university to the standard it deserves, and he said that starts with bringing back former players to talk to current and future players about what it means to represent Ball State and its community.

One thing Capko realized after his first conversation with Mearns was that Ball State can be a top program in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). He realized Ball State can be the program that fans in the community expect it to be.

"Why not us? Why not now? Why not in the future?" Capko said.

Contact Kyle Stout with questions via email at kyle.stout@bsu.edu or on X @kylestoutdailyn.