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Show WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 7, 2016 7 ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: September 14, 2016 USD football supporters raise over $10,000 for the Hill family By JED JOHNS Sports Reporter Members of the “Coyote Brotherhood” and supporters of the University of South Dakota football program helped raise over $10,000 in support of Jay Hill, Weber State head football coach, and his wife, Sara Hill, who is battling Stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. On Sept. 10, Weber State traveled to Vermillion, South Dakota, to take on the University of South Dakota Coyotes. “The emotions of a lifetime” were on full display that afternoon as the Wildcats and Coyotes rumbled for hours. After Weber State lost a 21-point lead in the third quarter, South Dakota fought back to beat the Wildcats 52–49 in a double-overtime thriller. The USD Coyotes showed true grit on the field when faced with a seemingly insurmountable point deficit — but it was off the field where true Source: Brandon Garside / Standard-Examiner Jay Hill, Weber State head football coach, stands beside his wife, Sara Hill, who is battling Stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. heart and class won the day for both programs. “I think it is an unbelievable gesture from such a classy program,” coach Hill said in an interview with Brandon Garside of the Standard Examiner. “It’s amazing when you go through something like this — the outpouring love and support people are willing to give.” Dave Hultgren, former Coyote defensive end and proud Coyote Brotherhood member, spearheaded the fundraising effort on behalf of the Hill’s. Hultgren said he was not surprised by the community’s response to the fund raising efforts. “Our community is very caring, generous and compassionate … they understand the game of life — so the generosity was not a surprise,” Hultgren said. However, Hultgren was surprised how quickly the idea spread throughout the community members. “The idea for the fundraiser really only came together the Sunday before the game,” he said. “I was surprised at how fast the news about it spread.” Given the amount of vitriol and conflict present in the media today, Hultgren and the Brotherhood’s compassionate gesture struck a chord in the community for the right reasons. Hultgren said he felt “honored and humbled” for those calling him a hero for his efforts. “I am just so impressed with the Weber State athletic director, Weber’s football program and with meeting Jay,” he said. “I am a huge fan of the Wildcats after this experience. It’s a very classy organization.” Hultgren highlighted the experience of the fundraising efforts at the tailgating event prior to kickoff. “We were going around the dome with money bags and people were just shoving money in one after the next ... everyone was just cheering and had the best attitude about it,” he said. After the game, Hultgren was sitting in his Ford Explorer, trying to arrange the money into neat stacks, and people continued to throw money into his car windows. “Not kidding,” he said, “I’ve got an extra $200 - $300 at home in a pile that I found in between and under the car seats afterwards.” Though the world of sports is one of fierce competition, the human experience has once again transcended petty rivalry. “There is more to life than college football,” Hultgren said. “But without it, this wouldn’t have happened.” Comment on this story at signpost.mywebermedia.com ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: September 27, 2016 New blood hits the hardwood at WSU By HARRISON EPSTEIN Assistant Sports Editor Every year, there are changes to rosters — that’s the nature of college sports. The Weber State University women’s basketball team graduated three players last season and will be adding five freshmen to the 2016–17 roster. One of the newcomers for the Wildcats is Zharia Hale of Portland, Oregon. Hale is listed as a guard for the Wildcats. “I think this season is going to be about find- Congratulations! Tia Walker Your GEAR UP Team loves you! ing my role on the team,” Hale said, “seeing what position they’re going to put me at and knowing to always be supportive and cheer on the starters.” Danielle Craft comes to WSU from Shingle Springs, California. This is not the first time Craft has been around the Weber State women’s basketball team. She attended several of the team’s games in the Big Sky Tournament and was impressed with their performance. “They were crazy — It’s just such a different pace,” Craft said. “I knew I had to get more in shape — I had to work a lot harder. It’s way different than high school.” One of the major challenges that the freshmen will face this season revolves around last sea- son — the winningest season in school history with 23 wins. While this could be daunting for some players, it is nothing for freshman Payton Whitmore. The guard out of Mesa, Arizona, may be lacking height — standing at only 5 feet 6 inches — but she does not lack confidence. Heading into the season, Whitmore said her goals were to “make history again — 24 wins, 25 or maybe 26. Just keep building, and I think we have a lot of girls and a lot of potential to go further and further and win some championships.” Coming from Meridian, Idaho, is freshman forward Dominique Williams. She graduated high school as the career leader in rebounds at Meridian’s Centennial sophomore High School and intends joining to major in political Yarden Danan. “I feel I’ll be able to science. On selecting Weber draw some defenders State to continue her onto me and then be playing career, Williams able to kick it out to my teammates,” said, “I really like purple. fantastic It’s probably one of my O’Brien said. “I think favorite colors. Honestly, having a mix of small I really liked the coaches and tall players will be — Coach Ord was always good for us this year.” While there are many reaching out to me and always treating me like I goals the team has for the upcoming season, was family.” The last of the new at least one player has Wildcats has already her eyes set beyond started making an im- this year. “With five of us as inpact for the Weber State coming freshmen, we all team. Standing at 6 feet 6 have kind of formed that inches, Gina O’Brien clique with just us ‘cause is already the tallest we’re going to be here player in the history of and working together Weber State women’s for the next four years,” Whitmore said. basketball. O’Brien is coming to Utah from Melbourne, Australia, and will be Comment on this story at the second international player on the team, signpost.mywebermedia.com GABE CERRITOS | The Signpost Danielle Craft, Zharia Hale, Payton Whitmore, Dominique Williams and Gina O’Brien ( left to right) are the five incoming freshman for Weber State’s women’s basketball team. |