George Jones IV (jr) told The Sojourn on Thursday that he will miss the remainder of the men’s basketball season with a torn right Achilles tendon. The Indiana Wesleyan University guard had been enjoying a stellar season before going down with the injury in the second half of IWU’s 72-70 Tuesday win over Saint Francis.

The win was the Wildcats’ fifth in a row, moving the team into a tie for first place in the MCC with No. 5-ranked Grace College. Three games remain on IWU’s schedule before the MCC Tournament begins Feb. 22.

“George has been obviously a significant piece,” Wildcats coach Greg Tonagel said Wednesday, before learning the extent of the injury. “What it means is we need somebody else to step up until George is back. I think that’s what makes a team special is when the next guy up is ready and we’ve got guys that are ready and they’re going to get their opportunity.”

Jones said he will have surgery next week and wear a boot for six weeks

Serving others occurs both on the main stage and behind the scenes. One Indiana Wesleyan University student does this through two of her passions: basketball and worship.

Jordan Brown (sr) played high school basketball in Bettendorf, Iowa, earning the position of  varsity captain her senior year. Coming to IWU as a psychology major with a worship minor, Brown said she knew playing basketball for the Wildcats wasn’t likely; she didn’t even think about the possibility. But she did get a chance.

“I was shooting outside one day, and Ashley Brooks [sr] and then another player who graduated a couple of years ago saw me, and they were like, ‘hey, you should try out for the team or try to be on our practice team,’” Brown said.

After conditioning with the team for a month, Brown thought she had a spot on the roster, but things turned out differently.

“I was actually really disappointed because when [coach Steve Brooks] called me into his office at the end of conditioning, I thought he was going to tell me ‘Sorry, it’s over,’” Brown said. “But he was like, ‘I appreciate your hard work and how you stuck with it, so if you want to be our manager, you can still hang around.’ That’s how Coach is. He hates it when people don’t get to be involved. He’s got a soft spot for people.”

About that time, Brown said she wanted to start with IWU’s praise and worship team. She taught herself how to play guitar as a freshman in high school when she and her family were serving as missionaries in the Philippines. After multiple years of experience in worship during high school, she thought leading worship at IWU would be easy.

“I came to Indiana Wesleyan with false expectations. I thought I was going to get involved right away. There’s going to be tons of opportunities, like I’ll play all the time. And that definitely wasn’t the case,” Brown said. “For me, it was kind of God being like, ‘No, you are not ready yet. You think you’re ready, but you’re not.’”

But as the years passed, many of Brown’s duties as team manager and opportunities as a worship leader grew.

As a team manager, she started filming away games and washing laundry. This grew into the head manager position by her junior year, keeping track of the shot chart and assisting with team devotions.

“She really cares about people and has a real passion for serving people, especially on our team,” Wildcats center Krystal Stoneking (sr) said. “If something’s missing, she is willing to go find it or get something for us if we need it. She’s very selfless and it shows every day.”

As a worship leader, Brown started by playing for student-led events off-campus as well as singing once in chapel. After a summer worship internship in 2011, she said this school year “blew up,” as she had the opportunity to play at Summit for the first time.

“She’s strong enough as a leader to be able to take authority for her [worship] team, make decisions, lead others, but she’s also very receptive to the encouragement and guidance of the dean of the chapel’s office, those on campus that she has to work with,” said Pat Hannon, assistant dean of the chapel. “Her overall commitment to our campus as a whole really is reflective in the attitude in the way she does everything.”

Brown said that leading worship and managing the basketball team taught her how to be a better servant for others. She said she appreciates the balance between her two passions.

“There’s a lot of stuff that goes on when it comes to leading music and leading worship that doesn’t get seen. The ministry to your bandmates and the prayer that goes behind it is unreal,” Brown said. “Nobody sees that, and that is completely fine. I’ve learned that because of basketball. You don’t need to be thanked, you don’t need to be praised for everything.”

Early mornings can only be made better with the breakfast of champions: Frosted Flakes. Well, according to Brooks Ayers (jr), that is. Being part of the Indiana Wesleyan University men’s tennis teams, Ayers knows all about being a champion.

His freshman year, the team won conference. His sophomore year the Wildcats tied for second place and this past season the team tied for third. Next year he’s looking for redemption.

But redemption does not come from laziness.

“Next year we want to win conference and go to NAIA Nationals in Alabama,” Ayers said. Our goal is to win a round of Nationals, which is extremely hard to do.”

With this as his motivation, Ayers is trying to make sure that he his in the best condition he can be in.

“It’s tough because there aren’t any indoor places,” Ayers said. “We practice right now two days a week, Tuesday and Thursday from like 9:30–11:30-ish at night because that’s the only time we can get in.”

This offseason has obviously not been a walk in the park. With tennis practices twice a week and almost daily 45-minute runs, it’s been busy.

The tough workouts help keep Ayers physically strong, but he is also mentally strong, proving to be a leader on the tennis team.

Men’s tennis coach Keith Ruberg describes Ayers as reliable.

“Basically he follows up,” Ruberg said. “Whatever he says he follows up with. And unfortunately a lot of leaders today don’t do that. The most effective leadership is by example.”

With Ayers helping lead the tennis team this spring and next fall, there’s no telling where the squad will end up.

Heading into next year.

Mornings don’t come easily to everyone though. Kylie Dial (jr) of the IWU women’s soccer team prefers to get her workouts in other ways.

“I am like a zombie in the morning,” Dial said. “I just don’t function.”

Fortunately, she finds other ways to get in her workout. She spends two sessions every week with the team working on skills and the rest of her workouts with a group of two other young women. In these groups they are responsible for weightlifting one day and working on overall fitness the next.

Wildcats coach John Bratcher explained what productivity can look like when the team isn’t playing games.

“Growth in the offseason can be measured in many ways,” Bratcher said. “It can be technical, tactical and/or physical. We want to be better players, teammates and have better match flow or chemistry in order to be a more successful team the following season. This also involves the growth of leadership for the upcoming seniors.”

Dial’s work ethic and determination do not go unnoticed by her coach.

“[Dial] demonstrates one of the highest work rates in any women’s player I have coached,” Bratcher said. “At the same time, she is aware of her teammates and can give them a verbal encouraging word, instruction or admonition to pick it up.”

Despite the name, “offseasons” can be stressful. Losing players to graduation, the pressure of classes and papers to write is enough to test the toughest of athletes. But Dial uses her soccer skills to relive her stress and sharpen her play. Her favorite stress reliever? Juggling a ball between her feet.

“Juggling is a big stress reliever for me,” Dial said. “I’ll usually just grab a racquetball court and juggle and listen to music.”

While all  the physical preparation does Dial good there is also a mental aspect that she enjoys. Working out with her team strengthens the Wildcats’ bonds and helped Dial step into a greater leadership role. A roll that may be vital to a team looking to make waves with a new coaching staff.

Behind the quiet persona of this senior athlete lies a strong leader. She is making an impact on and off of the court, all while maintaining a humble demeanor. Krystal Stoneking (sr) is that leader.

The Newark, Ohio native developed a talent for basketball at a young age and began to translate that talent into a passion during her early years of high school. After playing ball throughout high school, she developed as an athlete and Indiana Wesleyan University took notice, recruiting her to play for the Wildcats. Even then, head coach Steve Brooks saw her talent as a potential key role for the team’s future.

“She’s played at a high level from day one,” Brooks said. “I think she’s come in, she’s been incredibly motivated. Teams are setting up to stop her and she’s still finding ways to help our team, whether it’s through her rebounding, through scoring or defending. She’s finding ways to help the team win games.”

Stoneking has improved each year on the court.  Freshman year, she averaged 4.9 points per game and 6.2 as a sophomore, but kept working.

In her third season, Stoneking averaged 12.3 points and now, two-thirds into her final year, that number is up to 17.7.

According to some of her teammates, Stoneking’s statistics have improved because of her dedication in the hardest time for some athletes to find motivation: the offseason. Working behind the scenes has become a secret advantage for Stoneking’s success.

But the most noticeable trait about her might be her humility amid success. In her Wildcat career, Stoneking has scored more than 1,000 points, collected more than 500 rebounds and is currently ranked third highest in the NCCAA Division II in field goal percentage (61 percent).

Along with her impressive statistics, Stoneking’s selfless attitude has made an impact on the team.

Wildcats team manager, Jordan Brown (sr), echoed this idea.

“She’s not about herself,” Brown said. “She couldn’t care less about her. It blows me away. She really is a servant on the team. It doesn’t matter if [Brooks] sees it or if anybody else sees it, it shows in her game.”

The leadership that is influenced by coach Brooks and carried out through the team comes from on and off the court. Off the court, Stoneking has formed strong friendships with her teammates.

“Everyone just gels really well,” Stoneking said. “We’re all just kind of close and it’s fun; I love it.”

Along with the encouragement of her teammates, Stoneking was also impacted by Leah Whittaker. The Wildcats’ teammate lived by Deuteronomy 31:6, the “be strong and courageous” verse that is now well known throughout IWU athletics and the university as a whole.

Stoneking uses that same verse as a life goal to pursue. The friendship she had inspires Stoneking to do the best she can for her team and make the Wildcats better.

“She’s been that type of person … that builds that bond as a team that you really want,” said Brooks.