By Endya Gillard In March 2020, Xavier University of Louisiana announced they were launching a SoftballProgram starting in the Fall of 2020. The team’s first opening day was against Texas University-Texarkana and they did not look like a first-year program. Despite taking the Covid test twice a week, transfer Junior Mecolett Bradley is the team’s firstbaseman and she did not let Covid affect her. “When I am on the field, it doesn’t even feel like covid is a thing until we go back to the dugout and put our mask…
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New Year, New Season, Still COVID
By Mekayla Marshall Amid uncertainty for a complete athletic season last year at the Xavier University of Louisiana, the university launched a new softball program. Last year, Leslie Ballard and LSU standout, Shemaiah Sanchez, coached the first-ever softball team at the Xavier University of Louisiana. “Last year, we had a lot more challenges not knowing if we were going to play because of COVID,” Ballard said. “We’ve had a few scares, one that resulted in canceling a series of games.” Considering this is the first colligate softball program in New…
Read MoreXULA student-athletes face challenging work-life balance
By Karrington Stewart In the 2021-2022 school year, multiple athletes have complained about being overworked, burned out, and not receiving enough breaks to recover their bodies. The majority of sports teams in Xavier University attend practice early mornings about five to six times a week. “Being a student-athlete at Xavier is all about what you make it out to be. You have to give it your all or nothing at all,” said Kynnedy Turner, a Xavier track and field athlete. “I am homesick because of track. I haven’t been able…
Read MoreThe Women’s Athlete Perspective on the Disparities Between Men’s and Women’s Sports at the Collegiate Level
By Kiersten McCollum The U.S. Women’s soccer team has just settled their equal pay lawsuit after a six-year legal battle and yet discrepancies between Women’s and Men’s sports continue at a rampant rate. While inequity at the professional sports level is beginning to receive more national attention, these same issues at the collegiate level are still yet to be widely covered. despite collegiate athletics being the root of many of the problems seen in professional leagues. “Honestly, after looking at the numbers and stuff and being realistic, you can’t be…
Read MoreAtlanta Falcon’s receiver Calvin Ridley suspended for betting on games
By Jerin Minor On Monday, March 7, 2022, the NFL released a statement regarding the gambling scandal of Atlanta Falcons wide receiver, Clavin Ridley. The league confirmed that Ridley, 27, gambled on several games that occurred during the 2021 season while the athlete was taking time off for mental health reasons. The activities transpired over a five-day stretch in late Nov. 2021. This is the NFL’s first penalty for a gambling-related issue involving a player since 2019. “Your actions put the integrity of the game at risk, threatened to damage…
Read MoreXU Herald Sports – Jamal Allen
By Daylan Paige Jamal Allen is a junior Business Finance major from Birmingham, Ala. He is currently a right-hand pitcher on the Xavier Baseball team. In the future, he aspires to be an entrepreneur or an MLB pitcher, or an investor. The future holds no limit. Fun fact: He enjoys cookies and cream ice cream. What position do you play on the team and how do you think you impact the team? I’m a pitcher and I try to have a positive impact on my teammates on and off the…
Read MoreXU Herald Sports – Ja’Mya Rucker
By Daylan Paige Athlete of the Week, Ja’Mya Rucker was born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She is a graduating senior, majoring in Biology with a minor in Chemistry. “I plan to be an OBGYN in the near future. Hopefully, I will have my own practice right at home because I believe in pouring resources back into the communities I grew up in, instead of leaving those communities for better opportunities. I am a flyer on Xavier’s Cheer Team, as well as a Head captain. A fun fact about…
Read MoreXU Herald Sports – Lewis Wilson
By Daylan Paige Lewis Wilson is the Herald’s latest, ‘Athlete of the Week’. Wilson is a senior Psychology Pre-Medical major from Upper Marlboro, MD. He currently serves on Xavier’s Track and Field team as a thrower, with his main events as shot put and discus. In the future, he aspires to become a sports physician. What does the season look like for you? We have a couple of meets left for our indoor season but will soon be gearing up for our outdoor season. What events do you compete in…
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