Welcome to Monmouth monthly a peek into the heart of the Willamette Valley. Each month we will bring you updates of the things happening in and around town brought to you by the people who helped make it happen. I am your host Sabra Jewell
and welcome back to Monmouth monthly want to thank everybody for joining us this week because we have two incredible guests. It is Western Oregon University focus because we are wrapping up our summer rapidly approaching towards fall. So I wanted to welcome a couple of folks who are going to talk about some of the things that are going to be going on in the fall so that you can come and get involved and all the things that are happening right in your backyard. So first, I would like to welcome the Director of Sports Performance Cori Metzgar and she is also the senior women's administrator at Western Oregon University. So welcome to Monmouth monthly Cori. Thanks for having me. Cori, tell me a little bit about how you ended up here in Monmouth, Oregon.
I grew up in southeast Alaska and got into sports early on in my life. And that kind of took me into college where I downhill ski race and played soccer at a DT University in Colorado. And then from there got the opportunity to be a grad assistant get my masters done at Western Michigan University as a strength conditioning coach. And that started my career went from Western Michigan University to Ohio State University, and then to Colorado State University as an assistant strength conditioning coach to Washington State University as Associate Director of strength and conditioning. And from there, Western Oregon University wanted me to start their strength conditioning program. And I thought it'd be here a year to start the program, get it on its feet and move on. But that was 12 years ago.
So you began the entire sports performance program at Western. That's That's all your work I did. That had to have been an incredible undertaking is that the first time in your career you had ever thought that I mean, had you ever worked on a sports performance program at a university from the ground up like that?
No, everywhere I've ever been, you know, I always got hired as an assistant. And so I didn't really know what I was getting myself into when I looked at this job and ultimately took it. I think that the challenge of starting the program was what really made me interested. And then I came on campus for an interview and really didn't think I was going to take the job. But once I came on campus, I just went wow, I really like it here. So there was really nothing in place. There was no policies, procedures, there was a quote unquote, weight room, it was a dump, it was awful, it was not taken care of. And so it was something that I really, at first didn't know what I was getting into. And then as the years have evolved, I look back at those years and it kind of makes me emotional, because it's, it's really, when I think back to those years, they you know, they'd never had any structure discipline. They'd never had anyone telling them what to do. You know, in the weight room, there wasn't a sports performance, it was just you go into the weight room and you lift a little bit. It's evolved immensely from you know, from the from weights to its whole entity. It's the sports performance. And we do you know, every facet of training for our student athletes, and it's it's so much fun. We just but looking back, there's days I left that first year I left Whoo, driving back to where I was staying and just went. I don't know, I don't know if I can do this. It was it was a lot and but 12 years later, I It's my baby. I love it here.
What outside of sports performance help sustain that relationship for you is that the community was at the university.
It's absolutely the community. Yeah, I grew up in a small town in Alaska and and I and then I went to a small town for college at a at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. And it had that same feel, you know, people know who you are. And I love that the first two years, I think that I was here I lived about 30 minutes away. And that was not that fun. You know, I realized that I really liked being a part of the community. And so now I'm raising my 10 year old daughter here, single mom, and it's a great place to raise her. We have some amazing people in this community that help and the support for Western Oregon athletics within this community as well is something that is so much fun. I just I love, love, love Saturdays and Thursday night games and you know all of it. It's so fun. I'm sure you're
aware of how loved and appreciated you are in the program. I don't know if you're aware of what people say about you and out in the community about your love of the students and that you give them All personalized workout programs, each one of your student athletes gets a very personalized workout program based on their needs, their abilities and their goals. Correct? Yeah, typical first sports performance coach, yeah, director to do that,
um, you know, it's different everywhere you go, every strength conditioning coach is different in how they perceive what their role is. And I think here at Western Oregon, something that I love so much about it is that you, you have a really direct impact on the kind of the growth of these student athletes lives and, you know, at a bigger university de wande, you know, you're, you're a little bit more just one piece of the puzzle. Whereas here, because we don't have the resources for all those positions, we play a little bit bigger role in their, in their lives, I think, and that's something that I love, I love seeing them grow and evolve and you know, not just get stronger, but you know, become more disciplined, become grow up, you know, grow up, and that is they become a part of my family, Rebus family. And that's something that I really love. So,
yeah, we are very lucky to have a town with a bunch of student athletes in it, because they really do create such a ripple effect of impact from their community service that they do. So many of our student athletes work full time, go to school full time, they're just they're made up of a very special fibers are absolutely so appreciate all the work that you're doing with them. Outside of creating these plans, what are some of the other day to day things that you're doing with the teams? Well,
a lot of it is we have 14 sports. So it's scheduling, you know, their their times in the weight room, it's managing my assistants, it's working with athletic trainers to make sure that the athletes that are injured are doing what they need to be doing to get back on the field or the court or the pitch. And then there's the nutritional side of it, because we don't have a sports nutritionist on staff that we meet with them with kids that need need a little bit more work with with that it's working with our administration to focus on what we can be doing better to, you know, to increase our resources, it's working with foundation, it's working with all you know, all facets of of the university to make sure our student athletes have everything that they need, and what
do they need that they're not currently getting right now? What are some of the the needs that if folks are interested in and helping this program or being a part of the success of this program, what are some ways that folks could help with that?
I mean, giving every time you give to Western Oregon athletics, any in any way it can go towards scholarships, it can go to helping us with our travel, you know, football moved into the Lone Star last year, which has been amazing, it has brought our reach to, you know, to a broader area of this of this country, which is really cool. The athletes that we're now more that are now more interested in, in Western Oregon Are you know, Texas and Arizona. And it's just it's broadened our reach. And so more people know about us, which is really cool. This year, we have the biggest I think, the biggest incoming football size, this fall that we've ever had. But with that comes needs, we have to travel far, you know, these kids, we leave it to three in the morning on Friday mornings, and we don't get back till Sunday evening, sometimes, that's a lot of travel for them. So you know, the travel the food, I mean, even just, you know, just to feed them and you know, they don't get training table, they they feed themselves. And so giving toward just uniforms and food and scholarships. I mean, scholarships is, you know, a main area, but any any little bit helps any little bit helps
anything to alleviate all the work that they're doing on the field and in the classroom and at our local Dutch Brothers and our UCB stay, and all of our other eateries, restaurants and some of our other organizations around town. So you mentioned the football team joining the Lone Star. This will be our second season as part of that conference. We've got a new man men's soccer coach and on board, we got a new women's head coach, assistant coach basketball. What else is there to be excited about Coach? Well, I
mean, it is just I mean, I'm thrilled with with how this fall is going so far we have like you said Will Arne Ferguson did our last game of the season. It was a nail biter, but we got our 100th Man, he got his 100 100 when I should say, and that was super exciting. He is He is an amazing human, even greater coach, and I love working with him. He does a great job. And I think that the teams that we play at home this year, I think we have five home games that are going to be a lot of fun, really, really good talent that's coming here to play us and we have good talent as well to match that. And so that's going to be really, really exciting. People need to come out and watch that those games at MacArthur stadium because they it's a lot of fun, the tailgating the games themselves. It is it's a blast. Volleyball. We're in our second year with Coach Kayo and He is fantastic. He is so positive and upbeat. And I think he's going to really do some great things with that program. Men soccer coach Banik is rad. I mean, he's just rad. He is hilarious and intense. And he is going to take this program to the top for sure. And so I'm very, very excited about that, and the new group of men's soccer players that we have coming in, and then women's soccer, we're right on the cusp of like really being that you know, that next level and we have a great group of seniors that I'm going to be very sad to see go but hopefully we'll have a lot of success with them this this fall and then cross country. Zack Holloway is a fantastic now he's the new head men's and women's cross country coach. So that is exciting. That just was made official, I believe. And so he is a fantastic person and coach and so there'll be some fun races meats out out on Ash Creek course. So yeah, so those are some things that I'm very, very excited about and can't wait to watch many, many days and nights of of athletics this fall.
Right and just so many returning coaches as well. Like you mentioned Zach and Casey being him and her soccer team in West West for the men's basketball program. We're just we're really lucky to have all this stuff right here mom met so many great sports, indoor, outdoor, you get it all. And like you said that tailgating should not be missed. Oh, I know Wolf's club is coming up being able to participate in that I know that that's Randy line items. Program. Do you have any details on Wolf's club about when people should be looking out to get that going for themselves if they are have already been a member or if they'd like to become a member?
Yeah, get joined up anytime. That's that's a really neat way to get involved. You get a parking spot for tailgating, you get gear you get behind the scenes info and action with the with meeting the student athletes. So you know that money goes towards raising money for our program, which is which is really needed and you get something out of it. So that's on, I think just google.com and you can sign up there.
Excellent. And if you haven't been inside of the basketball gym, there's a new floor in there. It's relatively new. It's almost a year old. I paint so eight
bright new lights. It's such a great atmosphere in there. It's great.
Yeah. So highlight all those folks that have also so many good local sponsors that have come in there and taken care of the athletics program. So Cory are people able to go ahead and get football tickets? No, not all sports. Athletic tickets are available right now. But are the football season tickets
available? Yes, football season. Tickets are available. I believe the Soccer Bowl soccer's are available. And I don't know, women's and men's basketball are out yet. But for sure. Football and the soccers tickets are available.
All right. So you heard it here. First, everybody, it is time for you all to get signed up for the wolf's club for the upcoming fall sports seasons. But Cori, thank you so much for joining us today on Mon myth monthly. And we look forward to being a champion out in the stands for you. And I will definitely be tailgating. I am buying a spot this year. And I'm looking forward to it. So thank you so much for being a part of this today. Thank you for having me. All right. And our next guest right now a mom with monthly is Andy Moring and Andi is the director of Smith Fine Arts. I had the pleasure of working with Andy when I was at Western Oregon University at that time, she was the assistant to the director of Smith Fine Arts. And she was a lifesaver a million times over we were working on the Wu athletic auction. So it is a delight to have her in this position and welcome her today to Monmouth monthly Andi. Welcome.
Hi, Sabra. Thank you.
I gave away a little bit of your history and the people already can tell that you're a woo graduate but let's let's do a little deeper dive what brought you to Monmouth and what's going on now that you're here?
Yeah. So I grew up in Marietta, California and came to Western Oregon University for the American Sign Language Program. And then promptly like very promptly decided that interpreting was not for me and switched my major to theater and math education, and then also learned that education was not for me and switch to I'd graduated in June of 2022 with my degree in theater and math with a minor in ASL, so I really enjoyed my experience it whoo it was a big move from home. That drive is like 18 hours and I've only made it once but yeah, I'm really happy with my experience it whoo I started at inside of the Wu foundation. I started as a gentle house student representative in 2018. That fall and was promoted to the general house student manager when the person who had that role left and then after that I took on the job as program assistant for the Smith Fine Art series and held that job for two years until I graduated so I started with the Smith Fine Art series in March of 2020. My first day was supposed to be the first show that got cancelled in March of 2020, which was So a weird time. Yeah, it was super strange. So that's me. Yeah. And
that's about the time I started at Western as well. And it was definitely an interesting time to be in a new place. Theater math, it's quite a combination of skill sets. I hear that a lot. I was about to say that this is not the first time you've heard that. What how do you use math in your theater work now or in your job now? Or do you,
I don't really, it was just something that I enjoyed, I was passionate about math, I really enjoyed it all through high school, really, it was just something that I was good at and decided that I wanted to take more classes and learn more about it. And that's also how I chose theatre, I had no intention of following a career in theatre, nor in math. And so it was really just about I need to get some sort of degree. So I might as well do the things that I enjoy. And theatre and math were that and I really my math classes, were just some of my favorite that I've taken here.
Maybe it's not so strange. Maybe you're just a balance person. And the rest of us need to get more balanced. I think that's what I always say. And so you came across theater and the arts. I remember, I think when I met you, you were doing some like combat blocking classes that I thought was super cool.
Yeah, we, we did a lot of stage combat classes, there was about one a year sometimes two, depending on how the schedule all worked out. And those were incredible, they were so much fun. The only problem was that I would have to change each day because then I went to my office job and the glue Foundation. And it's it was just so much fun, we learned how to safely combat each other. The only problem is one of the things that one of the perks of taking a stage combat class is that then you're able to test in that weapon or hand to hand. And if you don't test, then you're not allowed to put it on your resume that you are an actor combatant. In that skill, you can put that you took a class in it, but you can't put that you're officially certified. And all of our combat tests were scheduled for March of 2020. So that never happened for me. But I do have training in sword and shield, rapier and dagger, and Broadsword.
Wow. Okay, and what are some of the other classes that you took that had an impact that would had an impact on me? And I didn't even take it. But what were some of the ones that you really remember, I love
my favorite class, or the class that I referenced when I'm asked what my favorite class was, is geometry, actually, and I hated it in middle school. It was not fun, I did not enjoy it. But this class, we we learned Euclid axioms. And we kind of built geometry from the base definitions up. And I just love learning how things work. So that was a really incredible experience for me. And then another class that stands out is Ryan Dickerson's philosophy class. And Ryan's actually a Smith Fine Art series subscribers. So Thanks, Ryan. But I just had such a blast in that class ethics in particular was just a really good time to learn about and that that class was so enjoyable. And Ryan's been such a big supporter of mine. Personally, he's attended a lot of the plays that I've been in. He's a Smith Fine Art series supporter, which that started long before I was a Smith Fine Art series employee. But yeah, so that was a really great experience for me as well.
So now that you're the director, it's pretty exciting because you are responsible alongside your board with the organizing the series ahead.
Yes, yes, I am. So we have a really incredible series lined up. We've got la dama coming in on October 6, they are a Latin alternative band for women from four different countries that come together to create music. I'm super excited about them. And then on December 2, we have never come down. They are a local Oregon group. So some of you might recognize them already from seeing them in bend or Eugene or wherever. And and then in January, January 19, we have rainbow Dance Theater. Coming back to grace our stage again, I saw a snippet of the show. They'll be bringing at the Spring Dance Concert in the spring at Wu and they have a robot dog that will be joining them and I'm just so excited for everyone to see that and get to experience that like I did. So yeah, they're coming on January 19. And then we have and then Saturday, March 16. We have Lila Bialy, and she is a singer songwriter slash Jazz Pop artist. This is another jazz vocalist that we've had a couple in the last couple of years that have just been really incredible. And they bring a lot to our audience and yeah, I think I think that she's gonna be really great. And then April 6, we have reverie road there another Celtic group, which Celtic groups are just so popular with our audiences. And I think everyone is just excited about Celtic music right now. They are kind of a mash up of a couple former Celtic bands that have some popularity. So reverie road is coming on April 6, and we're Super excited to have them with their eclectic Celtic combinations and then June 8, we have the maca Hassan's coming from Hawaii and they have traditional Hawaiian music they're probably the ones that I've listened to the most from this upcoming season because just their music makes me feel so good inside I just feel calm and happy and yeah I've really been enjoying listening to them so that's that's our full season we've got a really incredible season lined up and I'm I'm really looking forward to it
sounds awesome at and those shows are Saturdays at 7:30pm is that curtain for those there are a couple that
are Fridays. Yes, those are all 7:30pm in the rice Auditorium on Western Oregon University's campus
fantastic and you can buy season tickets in advance or individual tickets in advance at the box office or online
you can buy both and always season tickets are now on sale. So if you'd like to purchase a season subscription, you can either go onto our website at Smith fine arts.org or contact us at Smith fine arts@blue.edu And we can make sure to get that set up for you or you can buy single tickets online as well at this point some of the seats are currently blocked off for our season subscribers who are returning to get their typical seats but if you become a season subscriber this year, you will have guarantee that you will get to keep your same seats next year or have priority to pick new seats moving forward.
Oh I love that perk about being a subscriber that's one of my favorite things is getting to know that your seats are taken care of you don't have to worry about it you can enjoy it for the whole season. And the shows are all ages are acceptable to these shows that these family friendly events
they are all family friendly this year Yep, we have had some shows in the past that aren't totally family friendly. But these these shows are all all ages are welcome and encouraged and it's not a sit in your seat and pay close attention. We have people up in the aisles dancing standing right down in front of the stage dancing and it's a it's a really incredible experience to be a part of.
And so students at Western Oregon do they get access to free tickets?
They do yeah as a as a perk of being a Western Oregon University student all EU students get access to free tickets and then non EU students so anyone K through college, as long as they show a student ID they receive $10 tickets fantastic discounted price
that is wonderful. And it's worth every penny Smith Fine Arts in the series is a gym, alongside Western Oregon University's athletics. It's just one of those great benefits of having a college in your backyard. I cannot stress that enough ad. You're also an actor yourself. I am you just wrapped up Winter's Tale at YOLO winery? Do you have any other projects coming down the road for yourself personally that we could look forward to I
do not and I wish I did. But as the season gets rolling, I'm going to be far too busy to be able to participate in anything like that. It's true
with rehearsals and everything some a bet part of you will look forward to getting to the other side of the series so you can can scratch that itch on performance yourself. So we've mentioned ways to get involved to be a subscriber is a great way to help the theater and the Smith fine arts programs. What other ways can people help support your program?
Well, we have this this really incredible fundraising event that we host every year it is the embrace the music auction, and it has been online last couple of years due to COVID. And just not being able to when I stepped into this position the person left shortly before the auction was supposed to be scheduled for so we ended up doing another online auction this year. Despite having plans for an in person auction in just two months. We have our live and in person Smith finite series auction, it is November 12. It's going to be a really incredible event. It's the first one in person since COVID. Where is that auction going to be held. It's going to be held in the Pacific room in the Warner University Center on campus. And you can find more information on our website at Smith Fine arts.org. And learn more about how you can support that auction with your attendance with your donations with your purchasing items online because we will have an online auction leading up to the event the week prior. So there are all kinds of ways to support if you're near or far. And yeah,
I think about your auction and I think about all the desserts I hope there's going to be pies and cakes again this year because truly that is all I bid on our pies and cakes. So we will be
bringing back the desert dash and I've you are not the first person who has asked me that. So we're super excited for it.
I'm telling you, you you're missing out. Well thank you, Andy for being a part of Monmouth monthly we are looking forward to the season ahead. Just to remind everybody about what we talked about today. There's so much going on with fall at Western Oregon University as there always is when our students return. But the beauty of having all this is that it's the activities are not just for our student population. It's for our entire community. And just a reminder, you can join the wolf's club or attend at any of the Western Oregon University Athletics events, just by visiting Whoo wolves.com You can get your tickets you can get signed on to be a part of the wolf's club and learn more about all of the different programs that we have the returning coaches and some of our brand new coaches well, just to remind you, Smith Fine Art series does kick off on October 6, with Le dama. You can also catch Smith Fine Art series on December 2, January 19, march 16 April 6, and it will close out on January 8, please don't hesitate to visit the Smith Fine Arts website to learn how to be a subscriber so that you can secure your tickets year after year, or if you just want to purchase individual tickets to a certain show that's caught your eye and he would love to challenge everybody to come out and hear something different this year something they've never thought they would experienced before and take a ride and smell Fine Arts and see how you like it. Also, don't forget there's ways to support Smith fine arts so their auction on November 12 You can come and be in person at the Pacific Room in Western Oregon University. So go to the Smith Fine Arts website to learn more about how to get tickets, how to be a subscriber and how to participate in that event. Again, thank you for tuning in to Monmouth monthly don't forget to rate subscribe, tell a friend and also don't forget to tune in next month we're going to be talking history and mystery with Marilyn Morton, and also Amy Lemco as part of our historic commission about some of the things that we are going to be doing in October that are spooky fun for the whole family. Again, thank you for listening and we will see you next time.
Thank you for joining us for Monmouth monthly My name is Sabra Jewell. Our music is catching up by chill steady and we record it in the comments which is a co working community and independence Oregon. Please find us wherever you find podcasts rate review, tell a friend and we will see you next month.
