Junior Mia Gallagher leads the football team onto the field carrying the Grove City College flag before Saturday’s game against the Allegheny Gators. The Wolverines defeated the Gators 58-7 in front of a crowd of more than five thousand. Read about the dominant win on page 12 and see the campus show up and show out in this week’s Photospread on pages six and seven.
Grove ranked one of the best in the region
Violet Whitmore News Editor
Grove City College once again stands out among higher education institutions according to this year’s rankings.
The College is ranked fourth in the Regional Colleges North according to U.S.
News & World Report’s 2025 Best Colleges for value, overall quality and undergraduate teaching. It also holds the number two spot for Best Value in the Northeast and was ranked second in the region for its undergraduate teaching programs.
The College was nationally recognized for its under-
graduate engineering and computer science programs based on peer reviews in U.S. News’ 2025 guide.
According to U.S. News’ ranking metrics, a “Best Value” school is affordable without compromising quality. The College earned high marks in overall quality based on graduation rates, fi-
Campus calls for concerts
Emma Rossi Editor-in-Chief
The College’s calendar is booked with on-campus concerts and performances this weekend.
From 7 to 10:30 p.m. to night, The Gray Havens are visiting the College to per form in Crawford Audito rium.
The folk duo is comprised of husband-and-wife Da vid and Licia Radford. The couple have an extensive discography, dating back to 2012. Their albums feature sounds of modern Christi anity with a folk rock bent.
The College is hosting the duo’s third show in their month-long tour perform ing in churches across the country.
Joining The Gray Havens for their show in Crawford is Joel Ansett ‘18. Ansett graduated from the College with a degree in history and took a leap of faith to pur
sue music after graduation. Ansett has visited his Alma Mater to perform for students in the past. From 7:30 to 8:30 to
College’s Symphony and Chamber Orchestras are performing their first concert of the year. The concert will feature the Chamber Orchestra’s performance of the familiar movie theme “Jurassic Park” by John Williams and “Irish Legend” by Robert Kerr arranged by Soon Hee Newbold, a haunting classic that tells a story of its own.
The Symphony Orchestra will play “Symphony No. 2” by Howard Hanson. Comprised of three-
nancial resources devoted to faculty and instruction, academic data, post-graduate earnings, low student debt and peer assessments from administrators and faculty at other non-profit, private colleges.
“The latest U.S. News
RANKED 3
2024 election on campus
Matthew Purucker Staff Writer
It seems like media pundits label each presidential election as ‘the most important in the history of our nation,’ but it is not a difficult stretch to suggest that the 2024 presidential race features the most tumultuous campaigns in recent history. Originally, this was supposed to be a rematch of the 2020 presidential race between former Republican President Donald Trump and incumbent Democratic President Joe Biden. However, after the latter’s poor performance in the June debate between the two, the Biden was forced to drop out of the race or face a presumptive landslide victory in favor of the Republican.
Then, in a scramble to replace Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris emerged on the Democratic ticket.
Now, after a debate between the current candidates and second attempted assassination of Trump, the polls are deadlocked and a few thousand votes in key swing states like Pennsylvania could decide the election.
Although a common-held belief is that debates have a significant impact on the election, Grove City College political science professor Dr. Michael Coulter approaches
ELECTION 3
Jennifer Gilliland passes away
Emma Rossi Editor-in-Chief
Jennifer L. Gilliland, director of the Stan & Karen Johnson Office of Global Programs, passed peacefully surrounded by her family on Saturday morning, Sept. 28 following a brief illness.
A memorial service for Mrs. Gilliland will be held at 3 p.m. today in Harbison Chapel.
Mrs. Gilliland came to the College in 2013 when she took on the role of Study Abroad Advisor for the Office of Global Programs. She served in this position for seven years, after which she was promoted to Director of
the Office of Global Programs in 2020.
During her time working as an advisor, she received her master’s in global leadership from Crown College. Prior to her work at the College, Mrs. Gilliland married her husband John L. Gilliland in 1991. She is survived by her husband and son, John L. Gilliland III, who now resides in Butler, Pa. Mrs. Gilliland’s passion was creating life-changing study and travel opportunities for students. Her dedication to the department was appreciated both by students who benefited from her tireless work and her coworkers within the office.
Professor of Mechanical Engineering Dr. Erik Bardy,
Award-Winning Grove City College Student Newspaper
LUKE PAGLIA
GILLILAND
TRUMP
HARRIS
From the Tower
New political climate, new poll
In a nation so divided sits a campus reputably uniform in its political affiliations and beliefs. With the presidential election approaching, the Collegian has put together a survey for students to take that will give us deeper insight into the political psyche of the campus.
Most of the College’s students, faculty and alumni could make a reasonable guess as to which candidate and party our student body is partial towards. However, there are still many questions surrounding these loyalties.
Are students one-issue voters? What is that issue? Are students satisfied with the candidates? Have students changed their political identity in wake of the past several years?
While the nation and, on a smaller level, this college campus wait in suspense as to who will be elected, this poll will answer the question, “Why?” Why do we, the student body, vote the way we vote?
By polling the student body, we hope to develop a clear picture of the political thought on campus.
Keep an eye on your inbox for The Collegian’s 2024 presidential election poll and complete the survey to give us an idea of how we’re planning to vote.
The results will be published in the Collegian before the election and used for comparison and for future articles. The poll will be sent to all student email boxes and is completely anonymous. Your participation will help answer these questions and potentially leave the door open for more.
Emma Rossi Editor-in-Chief
Collegian Staff
Editor-in-Chief
Emma Rossi
Managing Editor
Grace Scheller
Section Editors
News Violet Whitmore
Community
Emily Fox
Perspectives
Grace Scheller
Entertainment
Sports
Mia Gallagher
Photo Chief
Luke Paglia
Copy Chief
Kathryna Hoyman
Business Manager
John Remaniak
Copy Editors
Anastasia Brown
Olivia Emerick
Kendall Lambrecht
Bonnie Pittman
Hannah Williams
Sophie Spilak
Elizabeth Jenkins
Staff Writers
Dom Puglisi
Abigail Kengor
Brae Sadler
Matthew Purucker
Walter Smith V
Cat Runion
Madison Lynch
Staff Photographers
Tava Derr Mara Brak
Staff Adviser
Nick Hildebrand
The Collegian is the student newspaper of Grove City College, located in Grove City, Pa. Opinions appearing on these pages, unless expressly stated otherwise, represent the views of individual writers. They are not the collective views of The Collegian, its staff or Grove City College.
Comic gold: winners from Fall Fest comic competition 2024
At this year’s Fall Fest, the Collegian asked people to make their own comics. Here are the student body’s best efforts.
her home at the end of design night.
The Green Eyeshade Award
honors student contributors that demonstrate consistency and excellence in their work. the Green eyeshade award
This week’s Green Eyeshade Award goes to Photo Chief Luke Paglia for designing a stellar photospread, cleaning the office and waiting for Emma to drive
PAGLIA
Abigail Kengor & Angelica Hatke
Ryan Booher
Mackenzie Di Cello
Luca Cosentino
LUKE PAGLIA
from popular science fiction media like Star Wars and Star Trek.
CONCERTS
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movements, the symphony breaks the mold of traditional four-movement symphonies.
The energy, determination and boldness of the music makes it an audience favorite. David Arnold’s “Independence Day” is also on the setlist.
“The orchestra has
DEBATE
continued from 1
the idea with skepticism.
“Usually debates tend not to have a significant impact on presidential election results. Some of the polling after the debate seems to show a slight advantage for Harris, and so the debate may have helped shift some voters to Harris,” Coulter said. “Since there’s likely only one presidential debate this year, it’s possible that this debate will have more impact than debates in the past.”
With the Sept. 10 debate over, the focus turns to Election Day, which is now a month away, and Grovers are preparing to make (or have already made) their decision. Two decided voters shared their opinion of the candidates.
Sophomore Lin Blum,
worked incredibly hard to put this program together in four weeks. The skills of this year’s orchestra are evidenced by their musical expression and technical ability. I’m looking forward to sharing this music with our community,” Conductor Dr. Jeffrey M. Tedford ’00 said.
The Marching Band Festival begins at 7 p.m. tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 5 on
president of the College Democrats, believes that a second Trump term would be disastrous for the country.
“I truly believe that (Trump) and MAGA supporters are a threat to our democracy. January 6th and the surrounding events are a very blatant example of this,” Blum said. “I don’t agree with Kamala Harris on every issue or policy, but I believe that she would be a good, reasonable president, who will make thoughtful decisions.”
Sophomore Laura Heere, who is attempting to establish a Grove City College affiliate of Turning Point USA, disagrees and believes that Harris is a worse option than Trump.
“My main issue with Kamala is that she wasn’t elected; like, she was not chosen as the Democratic nominee.
Thorn Field. The Wolverine Marching Band will take the field to perform their halftime show, which is a journey through famous science fiction tunes like “Cantina Band” from “Star Wars: A New Hope” and the “Star Trek” theme song.
The festival is a collaboration with the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA). High schools
Why is she on the ballot? … and she’s literally a communist; it’s not even like she has communist ideals,” Heere said. “Her dad was a Marxist professor; she was raised in a household that glorified communism, and I don’t think that type of person should be running America.”
While Blum admitted that most students likely believe that Democratic values are antithetical to Christianity, she thinks that they align better.
“A Democratic political position is far from incongruous with a Christian worldview. … There will almost never be a candidate that we completely agree with due to the two-party system and the nature of primaries,” Blum said. “Our job as voters is to consider which possible reality we see as better for the
will also perform at the festival.
Next week, the Wind Ensemble will hold a concert from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 8 in Crawford Hall.
The Wind Ensemble is a smaller group led by music professor Dr. Andrew Erb.
country.”
Heere said that although Trump does not entirely embody Christian ideals, she believes he is a good candidate and will better represent Christians.
“I think a lot of students at Grove City do not like Trump because they don’t think he’s Christian enough, which I entirely understand,” Heere said. “You want your candidate to reflect your values. … I think it is our duties as Christians, and conservatives, to uphold values that God has put in place for us, and I think Trump tends to agree more with conservative Christian values than Kamala does. In fact, Kamala spits directly in the face of conservative (Christian) values,” Heere said.
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rankings highlight the value of a Grove City College education and validate our commitment to offering students excellent academic programs that ensure a strong grounding in the liberal arts, as well as a comprehensive understanding of their major areas of study. This approach, grounded in Christian truth, enables graduates to flourish in their lives and careers,” College President Paul J. McNulty ’80 said.
In a separate ranking from the Princeton Review in August, the Review also ranks Grove City College among “Best Value Colleges,” “Best Mid-Atlantic” and “Best 390 Colleges 2025”
The methodology for the 209 Best Value schools included on the list consists of investment rankings which cover career social impact and career salaries of alumni.
GILLILAND
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who worked alongside Mrs. Gilliland as Field Director for the Office of Global Programs, spoke of Mrs. Gilliland’s impact.
“I was always amazed on how much energy she had for traveling, it energized her. She also had a passion to provide opportunities for students to travel abroad. When we met to talk about school partnerships, she would liven up with a glow with the thought of providing students occasions to go abroad,” Bardy said.
“She was equally engaged in providing for our international students as well. She had a way of making personal connections when attending to their needs. She was patient, thoughtful and one of the steadiest people I knew. Working with her was an absolute pleasure and her absence leaves a great void,” Bardy continued.
Patti Bardy ’03, a Global Studies Assistant in the Office of Global Programs, worked with Mrs. Gilliland for almost 2 years.
“She consistently made herself available for both students and faculty, always going above and beyond to ensure everyone felt heard and supported. I had the privilege of getting to know her both professionally and personally; not only was she my boss, but she was also my friend,” said Mrs. Bardy.
“Her curiosity about the world was infectious. She loved her family deeply. Her upbringing and background were equally fascinating, filled with experiences that shaped her into the remarkable person she became. I was always amazed at the places she had visited, and she loved to share her travel adventures, inspiring many of us to explore the world beyond our own backyards. Jennifer’s absence is deeply felt in our community. Her kindness, commitment, and passion left an indelible mark on all of us. I am forever grateful for the time I spent with her, and I will carry her memory in my heart always.”
The marching band at the whiteout football game last weekend. Their perfomance at the festival tomorrow will feature music
Grovers get their fill of java and music
Modern ‘Mary Poppins’
Senior launches ‘Spit Spot’ dorm room cleaning and organizing service
Catharine Runion Staff Writer
As small as the College’s dorms feel, it can be awfully tricky to keep them clean.
One would think that the little square footage would make it easier to be neat and tidy, but this is far from the truth. Whether it’s dust, mold or just plain old clutter, Grovers don’t have much time, or many supplies, to keep their spaces spic and span.
Senior Grace Britton is offering her services to bridge this gap. Britton has an extensive background as a cleaner. She has been clean-
The guy I’m seeing keeps giving me the ick. There are certain mannerisms he has that I think are weird, but I’m not sure if I’m being unreasonable or not. Do I need to just get over it, or should I stop seeing him?
Sincerely,
High-strung Grover
Dear High-strung Grover,
I’m going to be real with you – it depends. There are some icks that I think are one hundred percent understandable and can be deal breakers. Other times? It may just be an annoying habit they have.
I will list a few icks that should be a red flag to you (and to anyone else in the
ing houses professionally for three years and her boss, who is also her aunt, has taught her how to be a thorough cleaner and maintain good customer service. She’s now interested in bringing her cleaning skills to Grove City. In order to run businesses and offer services, the College requires students to talk to Student Life and Learning. If they determine that the business does not go against any of the rules in the Crimson, their business idea gets approved. It took some time at the beginning of the semester for Grace to get Spit Spot Cleaning verified, but now that she has gotten ap-
proval to advertise, she has put posters up and hopes to start cleaning soon.
Cleaning is a family affair for Britton. Not only is her aunt her boss, but her dad came up with the name for her business. “He came up with ‘Spit Spot Cleaning’ because of my love of, and theatrical history with, Mary Poppins. We thought it was a good reflection of who I am and what I aim to do,” Britton expressed.
There is an untapped market for cleaners at the College. The school’s custodians cannot clean individual rooms, and students are often too busy, or ill-equipped,
to clean for themselves. Grace is taking advantage of that space, using her cleaning skills to help fund her education.
“I thought this would be a good way for me to make some money while in school to help pay for my tuition, as well as providing a service for students, faculty and community members that I haven’t seen advertised before,” Britton said.
Britton offers cleanings for houses, apartments and dorm rooms. She has unique plans for dorms: though there is much less space to clean, she wants to work with fellow students to help with
He’s giving me the ick...
same boat).
This is a HUGE one for me: when they say they’re a man of God, but their actions don’t match that statement. We’re all human; we all fall short sometimes. However, we should always be striving to be the best versions of ourselves that we can be. If they constantly brush off their bad choices, they are
unwilling to consciously reflect on their actions and are closed off to growth.
Another red flag is if they don’t have a good relationship with their family or parents. Of course, this only applies if they SHOULD have a good relationship with them, but don’t because they simply don’t make the effort. There are situations where family tension might be there due to serious reasons, but if those serious circumstances aren’t present, what is he doing? Our families are the most precious people in our lives, along with our friends. If they purposely are trying to prove that they’re “independent” (i.e. making bad choices because they can), that can be seriously icky. It shows that they don’t take responsibility for their actions.
If they constantly act childish, insecure, cross boundaries or get angry too easily, it’s a big red flag. It’s an indicator that they aren’t ready for a relationship and should work on themselves instead of burdening someone else with all that unnecessary baggage.
Now, if they’re little icks, like cracking their knuckles too much, laughing like a donkey or tapping their foot whenever they get anxious, I’d say those aren’t that big of a deal. Those are things you could probably bring up that you don’t like, and I think they’d listen. But be prepared: they might come back with a list for you! (Obviously you and I don’t have any icks that they could talk about, so they’d be lying.)
laundry and tackle more difficult projects like bathrooms and organization. “I am willing to do any type of cleaning,” Britton said. That way, students can have a clean room and utilize their space efficiently without having to spend hours every week cleaning.
Her rates are $25 per hour for students and $35 per hour for non-students. To schedule a cleaning or to learn more about her services, text or call (585) 6296170 or email brittonga21@ gcc.edu.
On a serious note, if you find yourself getting ick after ick, then I think it’s time to reevaluate how you actually feel about this guy. It sounds like you are trying to convince yourself you are into this guy just because you had chemistry at the beginning. Deep down, you know he’s not the one for you, however well you two got along at first.
Auspiciously, Dr. Love Love M.D.
TAVA DERR
This past Tuesday, the Homecoming Committee hosted thier annual Java Jam event. Grovers gathered in SHAL Courtyard for free coffee and watched as their fellow students shared their musical talents. Above, sophomores Josh Hannas and Brayden Schrieber perform a set at the event.
Grove music goes viral
Emily Fox Community Editor
Four Grove City College instrumental and vocal albums have been streamed over 13,000 times in 63 countries since their release this past August.
The recently released tracks showcase the talents of both current Grovers and over 200 alumni voices, with three albums recorded during the 2023-24 academic year and one captured in 2014.
The 15 tracks of the first album were recorded live over the course of last year’s touring choir season across four states. Students performed in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Maryland before wrapping up the tour at the College.
The second group of selections includes six tracks produced by the Jazz Ensemble. Students traveled to Red Caiman Studios in Pittsburgh to record the songs under direction of Dr. Joseph Hasper.
The last album, including performances by current
Grove City students, features the Symphony and Chamber Orchestra and was recorded on campus in Ketler Auditorium. One of the two tracks includes solos performed by junior Emma Danielson and sophomore Sarah Altman.
“It’s important for our local and broader community to be aware of the excellence in music that exists at GCC. We have award-winning ensembles that have performed at state and national events and have received national awards, so it’s important for others to hear our quality,” Music Department Chair and Orchestra Director Dr. Jeffrey Tedford ’00 said.
Recording and releasing music not only allows students’ hard work and musical skills to reach the public, but it also helps them develop as musicians and performers.
“Recording forces students into another level of focus that allows them to evaluate their own individual and group performance from a different perspective. This is what professional musicians do all the time, so we
are creating a professional atmosphere where students are performing and self-evaluating,” Tedford said.
“My dissertation was on the reasons college freshmen (non-music majors) continue or discontinue music participation in college. The second most common reason was that they did not know whether the ensembles were good or not because they did not hear them. This gives us an opportunity to reach a broader audience of prospective students, alumni and
friends so they can be aware of what we offer at GCC,” Tedford continued.
The final 10 tracks put out this past August honor the 10th anniversary of the Dr. Douglas Browne Retirement Concert performed by members of the 2013-14 Touring Choir and the Alumni Touring Choir.
Students can listen to past, present and future recordings from Grove City College ensembles on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and YouTube.
Music Department Spotify Codes
Scan the codes to the right with your mobile device to listen to the four most recent Grove City College vocal and instrumental ensemble releases!
From top to bottom: Grove City College Touring Choir 2023-24 Grove City College Jazz Ensemble 2023-24 Grove City College Orchestra 2023-24 Grove City College 2014 Alumni Touring Choir (Live)
Local business serving healthy options
Brae Sadler Staff Writer
For a small town, Grove City has an impressive array of coffee shops.
Urban Trail, Beans on Broad and the two Collage locations are popular among students, each with its own unique appeal. However, there’s another noteworthy option. Grove City Nutrition, situated in Aldi Plaza, stands out for its dedication to health and fitness.
Physical well-being is at the core of Grove City Nutrition’s mission. Like other coffee shops, it focuses on drinks, but with a twist. Its two main offerings are teas and protein shakes, available in dozens of flavors. Their teas are energy drinks that combine tea with immune system supporting nutrients, providing an energy boost without the high sugar content found in typical coffee shop beverages. Sophomore Isabella Dennison enjoyed her Mega-Tea.
“(I) found it very good, and I was impressed by the supplements,” Dennison said. Grove City Nutrition’s protein shakes are another highlight, with options like meal-replacement shakes containing around 25 grams of protein, while mega shakes offer up to 24 grams. Flavors range from Elvis to Buckeye, Birthday Cake and Oreo. Coffee is also on the menu, with prices ranging between $7 for a coffee and $13 for a mega shake. Additionally, all drinks are made with low sugar.
Understanding Grove City Nutrition’s mission, serving drinks aimed at enhancing health, is crucial. For instance, its protein shakes are designed to boost muscle growth. Mega shakes are best consumed post-workout since protein is the building block of muscle. While resistance training increases strength, muscle growth requires additional protein intake.
Grove City Nutrition’s
shakes provide this essential protein, crucial even for those not bulking up, as maintaining muscle mass is vital for lifelong health. The general recommendation is one gram of protein per pound of body weight daily, making these shakes an excellent choice. However, it’s advised not to drink a shake right after a meal, as it can be too filling.
Grove City Nutrition maintains a welcoming, modern and aesthetic atmosphere. There’s a bar for individuals to sit at and chat, alongside tables and couches for groups. It’s a perfect spot for students to hang out with friends, go on a date or study.
Sophomore Michael Chmura enjoyed both the drinks and the ambiance for an hour when he visited in September.
“Grove City Nutrition has a…comfortable and relaxing atmosphere,” Chmura said. “Everyone should go there at least once,” sophomore Mason Bennet remarked.
Lastly, Grove City Nutrition actively supports the local community. In early September, the business helped raise funds for a young girl named Avery, who struggles with level three Autism. Avery briefly went missing on June 15, and although she was found, her family incurred expenses. With Grove City Nutrition’s help, they raised money to build a fence around their house. Additionally, being a business owned by a first responder, Grove City Nutrition also supports causes like the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.
Grove City Nutrition is more than just a place for drinks, it’s an exemplary small business that prioritizes customer health, offers a welcoming environment and engages with the community, adding a unique charm to Grove City. No other business is quite like it and all students and locals should consider giving it a visit.
WHAT’S FRESH AT THE GROVE
In SHAL Courtyard... REC Fest
Oct. 4
1 - 4 p.m.
Stop by SHAL Courtyard today to learn about all the club sports teams and athletic opportunities on campus.
In Ketler Auditorium... Orchestra Concert
Oct. 4
7:30 p.m.
Come hear the Grove City College orchestra perform fan favorites from movies tonight in Ketler Auditorium.
Read more on page 1!
In Crawford... Gray Haven’s Concert
Oct. 4
7 p.m.
Come listen to Christian musical duo, The Gray Havens, perform their music in Crawford tonight
Read more on page 1!
Gustavo Velázquez Lazcano
Professor of Spanish
Why did you choose to teach at Grove City?
Because it was literally providential. I didn’t know that a college like this could ever exist, but I’m happy it does because I’ve met so many wonderful people in a very short time.
If there was a book about your life, what would the title be?
“Never Talk About Your Plans.” I have learned over the years that God always has better plans for us than we have for ourselves, which is why I keep laughing at the memories of my old plans. If you could participate in a TED Talk, what topic would you speak on?
The importance of studying children’s and YA literature in higher education. Sometimes people underestimate them because of their audience, but there are some books that are deep, complex and beautifully written, like “The Chronicles of Narnia” by C.S. Lewis, “The Hobbit” by J.R.R. Tolkien or “Harry Potter” by J.K. Rowling.
What is your go-to Chick-fil-A order?
Spicy Chicken Sandwich with extra pickles, Colby Jack cheese, Chick-fil-A sauce and a Coke. It’s the only place where I always order the same, unless it’s breakfast time and I order a Chicken, Egg and Cheese Biscuit with honey, coffee and orange juice.
Who is your biggest role model?
The apostle Paul. I have always admired his passion and determination to preach the Gospel, even when facing opposition, injuries or difficulties.
If you could pick the Superbowl half-time show headliner, who would you choose?
Luke Combs or Lee Brice. I like country music, and both of them have good songs that I can listen to over and over again. What are you most looking forward to this semester?
The birth of our first son. My wife and I are especially excited because he’ll be here in just a couple of months, in either November or December.
Saturday Night Lights
Wolverine football annual whiteout night game
Every year, Grove City College has a night game for the football team, alum and students. This game is one of the most anticipated and exciting athletic events of the year. The attendance of this year’s night game was around 5,200 people.
Students look forward to this game every year, not only becuase of the electric night atmosphere, but also because of the whiteout student section. The campus and surrounding community come out to support the football team in this year’s exhilarating football game.
by Luke Paglia, Photo Chief
The death of retail Grove City Starbucks set to close
Christa Bashinski
Contributing Writer
Students face the end of an era as the Grove City Premium Outlets announce the permanent closing of its Starbucks. Many cannot remember a time when the little coffee shop did not exist along Leesburg Road.
Now, facing fall and robbed of their seasonal favorites, many will turn to the surrounding alternatives.
Within a mile radius alone lie four separate coffee shops: Dunkin’, Collage Coffee, Beans on Broad and Urban Trail Coffee Co. This proxim-
ity may offer another explanation for Starbucks’ departure, as the students’ wallets are stretched between the competing businesses.
The leave of this coffee giant might mark more than a local loss, as it signifies a trend across the nation. Coresight Research reported that in the next 3-5 years, 25 percent of the country’s malls will have shut down.
Analysts at UBC forecast that 40,000 to 50,000 retail stores will be closed by 2027.
This is not surprising when the boom of online retail is considered. Aligned with that 2027 date, Forbes has found that e-commerce sales are expected to rise from their current worth of 6 trillion
to almost 8 trillion, signifying a significant shift from brick-and-mortar to digital. Amazon has largely dominated the market and has led the revolution in online shopping. Every year more people turn to technology for its ease and efficiency, but at what cost?
Coffee shops offer much more than monetary exchange. Unlike e-commerce, physical stores offer a personalized experience catering to the individual. Starbucks was a place for community to gather and a focal point of coalition. From providing a study spot to a morning pit stop, Starbucks offers the in-person interactions that people crave.
As malls close across the country, cafes and shops like Starbucks are lost to the rise of the digital market. The impersonal nature of technology takes away from the consumer’s experience.
This makes the above statistics alarming by signifying a switch in the way society now values the ease of the individual over the gathering of community. In the wake of the pandemic, many have adapted to an independent lifestyle far different from the bustling crowds that malls often hold.
The friendly “hellos” as you enter a store are not present amongst the manual websites that control so many of America’s sales. The casual
conversations with a barista or employee have no place on the internet. The death of retail is not merely a statistic, but an indicator of the future. With a fourth of the nation’s malls closing in less than five years, one can imagine what the next decade holds. Grove City Mall’s Starbucks was likely prey to the data, as students now must drive to Slippery Rock for their iced pumpkin chai. America is forced to ask itself if the sacrifice of physical stores is worth the ease of online shopping and if the loss of interactions is worth the efficiency. Starbucks has closed and it is for a cost.
Is your brain in the gutter?
Sir Benjamin Treadwell Contirbuting Writer
It is astonishing the sorts of things that boys in a male dorm lounge will talk about. The topics of conversation drove me to do a little research on the Christian life, and I found Ephesians 5:34, which says,
“But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.” If we held
to that verse, it would mute a quarter of our conversations. But when I sat to think on this, I realized that the foolish talk was a symptom of the real problem. Our problem is that we’ve got gutterbrains, and we should fix that.
Hold on, what’s a gutterbrain? To quote Matthew 12:34b, “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” In other words, we spend too much time thinking on (or consuming media content about) all the stuff mentioned in Ephesians 5, and then we fill our conversations with that stuff. Our brains are in the gutter — or perhaps we’ve dumped a gutter into our brains. As Christians, do we re-
ally want our hearts and mind full of ungodly filth? Of course not! Don’t we want to “be holy as He is holy?” Don’t we want to be conformed to the image of Christ? If so, we must get rid of our mental trash and put some better stuff in.
How on earth are we going to do that? Well, first things first: ask the Holy Spirit for help. Then, we can “take every thought captive for Christ” -- exercise some mental discipline, banish those unholy thoughts, stomp them with a giant mental boot. But merely whacking our filthy thoughts is not enough. We have to replace those with something better. Fortunately, we already
have God’s advice on that front too. Philippians 4:8 reads, “Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy dwell on these things.”
The word ‘dwell’ is important here. It means more than just thinking about these things. It means really sitting and stewing on what is good and pure. We have to replace the unrighteous things in our lives with righteous things. It will help this pursuit to cut down on scrolling social media. Imagine all the spare time you’d have
if you reduced your social media scrolling to the same amount of time you spend doing studying the Bible! You would have less filthy or shallow input, and you’d instead be meditating on the things of God.
So shall we speak as we ought by thinking as we ought. And when we go to speak, if we find ourselves at a loss for words we perhaps should say something grateful in keeping with the end of the Ephesians verses. Go make certain you aren’t afflicted with a gutterbrain. Go make your speech pure. Go conform to the image of Christ.
SIMON PREMIUM OUTLETS
Kill ‘em with kindness
Abigail Kengor Staff Writer
Do you have any memories of being in kindergarten, insulting a bully and being punished for it?
That scolding probably felt like injustice until your parents explained the basic principle of the Golden Rule. As I grew up, I wondered why exactly the Golden Rule was true. After all, what if I don’t care what others do to me? And if others do ill, maybe that means they want ill done to them in return. I had two realizations in response to this view I used to hold.
The first is that people won’t learn to desire goodness if their evil is repaid with evil. They won’t understand what goodness is or why anyone would want to do it, if even those who oppose them don’t seem to love goodness enough to hold onto it in the face of opposition. That’s one of the hardest parts in life of Faith: fighting and approach-
ing evil without succumbing to it.
Secondly was the realization that people deserve respect inherently. People desire to have their dignity respected, and this is done by doing good to them. Even if their desires are disordered, the necessity of giving them respect remains. Even if they’re madly disrespectful to their own dignity, we must continue to respect God’s Image within them. Sometimes, such unconditional love can even restore that Image — the Evangelism of Love. What changed in our kindergarten souls to develop a disconnect between applying this rule to personal bullies and their intellectual progenies: politicians? Why is it that our political culture has lost this sense of respect for human dignity?
It’s simplest to analyze the political divide on abortion. One side is understandable: a political agenda supporting the destruction of innocent human life clearly misunderstands human dignity.
But for those who explicitly profess universal, unalter-
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Letters must be received
WHITEOUT
continued from 9
Wolverines at an astounding 51-0. The last touchdown for Grove City was scored by wide receiver Darviae Gray. With the successful kick, Grove City’s score was 58-0. In the last moments of the game. Allegheny made a last effort to score and unfortunately prevailed with only 00:38 left. The Gator’s kick attempt was good, bringing the final score to 58-7.
The Wolverines’ hard work
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was evident in their performance on Saturday. When asked how the team is preparing for their next game at Bethany College, Semelka spoke optimistically.
“We have the mindset going into the Bethany game to just treat it like any other game. From Monday to the conclusion of the game on Saturday, our only focus will be on beating Bethany College. As an entire team, we are very confident that we will step on the field at Bethany and dominate from the
able human dignity, how can we fail to honor the human dignity of those who seek to destroy it?
As hard as it is to treat those who serve evil with love, it is the only way to treat them.
This doesn’t mean being a pacifist or pusillanimous or denying the evil of an ideology or action. Rather, it means seeking to correct the sin from a spirit of gentleness. It doesn’t mean never shaming or criticizing a politician, rather, love means never defaming their character or mocking them. It simply means remembering every politician’s humanity, however much they may dishonor it.
After all, with any other type of sinner, how are we told to deal with them? Stoning? Shunning? Vehement and relentless insults? Consider how the Gospel frames these actions.
Yes, it is an egregious offense to lead people astray and abuse the power of government. Politicians certainly should have a deeply developed sense of prudence
and patriotism for the monumental responsibilities of public office. Therefore, serious and articulate criticism is vital in admonishing our fallible politicians when they fail. But this persuasion must be respectful. Our criticism should always be of a mind for their good, redirecting them towards God. A hateful Christian gives the impression of a hateful God, but the truth is that no sin can separate us from the love of God, and His Mercy is always the greatest hope for the greatest sinner.
Lastly, if there is no place for childish mockery in the public square, there is even less place for it in private. Again, mocking evil for its puniness isn’t what I oppose, but rather mocking people for their evil. The pastime of ridiculing politicians is simply sinful humor. Such actions hold no more acceptability than insulting the town crazy lady in the silence of your home, because both people are equally human and loved by God.
Perspectives Policy
The purpose of the Perspectives section is to give a space for student voices. Here, student writers have the space to critique, question and analyze the world around them.
Perspectives articles represent the views of the individual writer. They do not represent the views of The Collegian, The Collegian staff or Grove City College.
While pieces in Perspectives are subjective by nature, The Collegian has standards for publication. Articles submitted for publication are expected to provide arguments of substance that rely on fact and are void of foundationally emotional and biased arguments.
This is not a space to parrot party lines. Perspectives articles are expected to take original stances, and, where applicable, consider
opening kickoff to the final snap,” Semelka said.
Jollie holds a similarly positive view of the upcoming game.
“The mindset that we will carry this week is to grow deeper in vision. Vision is who we are and all we need to do is get better at what we are best at. So, the mentality this week is to get better at what we are already best at,” Jollie expressed.
What’s the most ‘Grover’ thing you do or have seen?
Hannah Garry ‘25
My boyfriend asked me to be his girlfriend on Rainbow Bridge. He doesn’t go here, so he didn’t know. I’ll give him a pass.
Madelyn Braho ‘26
I didn’t apply to any other colleges. I think that’s about as Grover as you can get.
Sarah Altman ‘27
Well, I can tell you the most grover thing I saw so far this year. OB hosted the Hoedown Throwdown in the first week of classes and one of the organized activities was learning new line dances. For one of the dances, the first time we practiced the dance with the music, the music featured a curse word at one point that must’ve slipped under the radar. Accompanied by hurried feet scuffing the bricks of Hal courtyard with step-ballchanges and pivot turns, the whole student body heard this word and erupted in gasps and shouts of “WHOAAA!”
Anna Dueker ’25
the interaction of faith within their topic.
This is a space where all voices can be heard. It is our goal as The Collegian staff that Perspectives reflect the diversity of thought represented on the college’s campus.
Additionally, The Collegian will not accept a Perspectives article if the topic has not been reported on by the newspaper. This means that the publication of a submitted or proposed article may be delayed so The Collegian can provide a factual, unbiased context for the paper’s readership.
If you would like to submit an article for publication or want further clarification of The Collegian’s expectations contact Editor-in-Chief Emma Rossi or Managing Editor and Perspectives Editor Grace Scheller.
SOCCER
continued from 12
overall Grove City sweep of the Gators on that day.
“I was very shocked but super excited to score this weekend. I’ve had three ACL surgeries in the last three years, so it’s truly all God’s work that I’m back and healthy,” Sheek said.
“Getting to score my first collegiate goal is a testament to God’s faithfulness and reassurance that I am fully back,” Sheek said
The most Grover thing I do is think about getting married in the chapel during Wednesday chapel.
Kenny Schley ‘25
My freshman year I emailed President McNulty and asked him what his favorite Christmas movies were. He replied and I watched all of them. I will literally email the president of the school before I study for finals.
Meg Daugherty ‘25
I never stay up late unless I’m going to study. I have a grandma bedtime.
Both teams returned to Don Lyle Field to host the Golden Tornadoes of Geneva College on Wednesday, Oct. 2. The women’s team defeated the Tornadoes 5-2. The men’s team fell to the Tornadoes 1-0.
They will then travel to Greenville, Pa. for another double-header at Thiel College tomorrow, Oct. 5. The men’s game will kick off at 12 p.m. with the women’s game following at 2:30 p.m.
FOXCHARLESTON
‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’
A movie where nothing makes sense and everything is fun
Walter Smith V Staff Writer
Tim Burton’s previous directorial effort was the 2019 box-office sensation liveaction remake of Disney’s “Dumbo,” and his new Beetlejuice sequel was perhaps summoned to exorcise that photorealistic big-eared elephant from our memories. And by bringing back most of the original cast and sticking to old-school greenpaint-and-fake-eyeball practical effects, he has mostly succeeded in doing so, even if the final product ends up being rather convoluted.
Winona Ryder returns to reprise her role as the worst character from the first movie, the goth-teen-turnednot-teen Lydia Deetz, who now spends her time hosting haunted-house reality shows and being a remarkably bad mother to her daughter As-
trid (Jenna Ortega). Problem: Lydia has been tormented by visions of Michael Keaton’s titular bio-exorcist as of late. Bigger problem: her father’s head has been bitten off by a shark and he has consequentially died. Meanwhile in the afterlife, Betelgeuse himself has an office job. Also, a bunch of severed limbs and a head staple themselves together into their former self (Betelgeuse’s earthly wife, who is out for revenge), and Willem Dafoe plays an afterlife police detective who is hot on her trail.
If that sounds like a lot going on for a 101-minute goth comedy film, that’s because it is. “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” fails miserably at tying up all of its plotlines in any meaningful way, which renders the film a bright purple-andgreen mess of domestic drama and afterlife hijinks. In other words, nothing makes
sense and it’s some of the most fun you’ll have at the cinema this year. The dead father’s gravestone is a shark fin! Betelgeuse’s assistant is a shrunken head named Bob! Lydia’s new fiancé hands out raw carrot sticks on Halloween! This entire “plot” is a calculatedly contrived excuse for wacky set pieces and goofy body horror gags!
The whole movie culminates in a showstopping wedding/warfare scene in a church set to a heavily reworked cover of MacArthur Park, and this is all about as emotionally affecting as it sounds (even if it is an absolute visual treat).
Adult Lydia might be Burton’s most dull and unsympathetic character yet, and her relationships that drive the film are likewise underdeveloped. Jenna Ortega’s character (forgot her name already) is about as cliché as teenage
daughters in movies get. Catherine O’Hara still shines as the artsy-fartsy matriarch Delia Deetz though, and Michael Keaton nails it again as the ghost with the most. All in all, the movie is a textbook example of style over substance in filmmaking, albeit an absolute triumph of style over substance that entertains immensely. It’s very funny! You will laugh!
“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” is playing in theaters nationwide. Good luck with that.
(DISCLAIMER: the author and editors of this review assume no responsibility for and are thereby unobligated to remedy any collateral damage caused by reading this review out loud. For further details, please travel into the future and consult further sequels, or review the “Handbook for the Recently Deceased.”)
‘Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’
Randall Elvin Contributing Writer
Scandals and drama have become all too common in today’s media, and “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” does not break that pattern.
Ever since these Mormon influencers went viral, they have been subject to heavy scrutiny in their newfound spotlight. These influencers on TikTok attracted so much attention it called for an even bigger audience in the form of a reality TV show.
On TikTok it started as “#MomTok,” a community that shared the lifestyle of Mormon moms giving advice on parenting. These eight moms talked about being religious in the modern day and the acceptance of new practices. When Hulu dropped “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” it became the most streamed show on the platform during its opening week, bringing in millions of viewers.
The topics covered on the show range from swinging scandal, morals, religion and dealing with media. None of the main characters follow traditional Mormonism and they received majorly
disapproving comments and backlash from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The church found the characters’ display of Mormonism to be misrepresentation of the beliefs of the religion and a misinterpretation of the Word. This sparked the church to issue an official statement saying that “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” does not reflect the actual views of the Latter-
day Saints. The wives claim that the show portrays the “reality” or the “truth” of the religion. It’s obvious there is a disagreement between the two parties. Overall, it depends on what the viewer is looking for.
In the show, the characters routinely take turns sharing their life drama, which even in the first episode included covering topics of addiction, abuse, divorce, friendship fallout and topics that are
Perry’s ‘143’
Ana Geike Contributing Writer
If you’re presenting yourself with confidence, you can pull off pretty much anything,” Katy Perry once stated. And while “fake it ‘til you make it” can be an efficient way to work up the confidence to ask that cute guy out to coffee, Perry has learned that it doesn’t work quite as well in releasing a new album.
Perry released “143” earlier this month, painting it as equal parts comfort blanket and electric chair — an album bearing a soothing weight of happiness with an undercurrent of energy that jolts listeners into a state of motivation.
“143” is Perry’s “angel number,” a sequence of numbers that numerically spells “I love you,” which she sees as a captivating and comforting message from the universe. However, while Perry has turned her eyes to the stars crafting this vision, the quality and reception of the album give the impression that she blindly shaped it from a completely different wavelength than that of the world today.
“Woman’s World” represents part of this disconnect between vision and audience. It’s a central song marketed as the next female-empowerment anthem, yet the lyrics give mere cries of “Girl power!” On top of that, the song was a collab with Dr. Luke, an artist who has only recently been cleared of assault charges against Kesha. This has obviously garnered harsh criticism and, as referenced in the music video, it fell from a steel beam in the sky and fell face-first on the sidewalk below, along with the rest of the album.
sexually explicit.
With so much covered in the first episode, it set the stage for a multiplot reality TV series that covers a diverse range of topics. For viewers who love drama, this series offers a true attention grabber. Hot topics like religion, swinging and social media pressure are taken on headfirst with real life examples of each, providing a binge-worthy show.
Viewers who don’t enjoy brutal honesty and heavy details on such topics shouldn’t rush to Hulu to watch this series. The show utilizes cliffhangers and plot twists in the storyline strategically, and includes its fair share of captivating subject matter.
If these factors pique your interest, then maybe you are the type of viewer that the show caters to. If you read the summary above and can only think “yikes,” then surely this show juggles too much drama and conflict for you to enjoy.
And if you read all of this and you find yourself asking “Where is the Mormon aspect in this show?” then you’ll be happy to know that everybody else is thinking the same exact thing.
Motherhood is a different facet of female empowerment that is rarely brought up in the music industry, yet Perry has given it a clear focus since the recent birth of her daughter Daisy Bloom. In an interview with Audacy, Perry expressed a bit of her expirience of raising a daughter. “I have always respected my mom, but then after having a family, I’m like, ‘How are we alive? We didn’t even have iPads…And you raised three of us! Are you okay?’” Perry said. Still, this sentiment remains underdeveloped in her lyrics, all because of a vision that comes across as baffling to listeners.
“It’s one of those records that…influences you, like ‘Get up! Get off your phone! Stop scrolling, get ready, let’s go out and get in the energy!’” Perry said.
Perry clearly knows who she is writing for — an audience stuck in the crippling mindset and lifestyle of postpandemic doom-scrolling. Her address of this societal nosedive is admirable, but she certainly shouldn’t be praised for her almost repelling response to the issue. All “143” leaves them with is bouncy pop instrumentals and cheaply written lyrics.
For being Perry’s supposed ticket back onto the stage of fame, the album shows no trace of leaving a lasting impression. It is only what “143” leaves to be said and the response it has garnered that speaks volumes.
VARIETY
Sports
Tennis keeps rolling after sweep of Houghton
Mia Gallagher
Sports Editor
Women’s Tennis continued their dominant 2024 campaign last week with two 7-0 match sweeps.
After a PAC statement performance against Thiel last Thursday, Sept. 26, the team traveled to New York for a non-conference match-up against Houghton on Saturday, Sept. 28.
There, they served the Highlanders a swift defeat, adding their clean sweep of the singles and doubles matches to an immensely successful Saturday of Wolverine Winners.
Sophomore first singles Peyton Joines kicked the day
off for the Wolverines with a quick 6-1, 6-2 victory over Highlander opponent Alexandra Leary. Freshman Anna Poranski and senior Emily Ivory put up equally impressive performances from the second and third singles slots, both tallying a 6-0 set in the process.
From the fourth singles position, freshman Iris Kiehl talentedly delivered two 6-0 sets to secure another team point for the Wolverines. Rounding out the singles line-up were junior pair
Courtney DeCarlo and Julia Ehrenberger, who both chipped in match victories to put Grove City up 6-0 for the day.
The Wolverines were able to secure swift successes in
the doubles performances as well. First doubles pair Ivory and Poranski led the charge with a 6-3 win over Houghton’s Arjia Grant and Leary.
DeCarlo and Joines recorded another win for the team from the second doubles slot, defeating their Highlander opponents 6-2. Securing the nine-match sweep for the Wolverines were Ehrenberger and Kiehl, who shut out their third doubles opponents with a dominant 6-0 win.
After squaring off against PAC opponents Washington & Jefferson and Westminster on Oct. 2 and 3, the Wolverines will host the Yellow Jackets of Baldwin Wallace tomorrow, Oct. 5 for their final non-conference match.
Women’s Lacrosse welcomes new head coach Emma Olson
Emily Fox Community Editor
The women’s lacrosse team has kicked off their fourth season under fresh leadership.
The Wolverines are gearing up for the 2024 season with hopes of taking home their second PAC trophy with the guidance of new Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach, Emma Olson.
Olson is from Beaver, Pa., which is just under an hour away from Grove City. Following her graduation from Beaver County Christian School, she scored 138 goals playing lacrosse while earning her degree in therapeutic recreation from Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Mich.
After receiving her diploma in 2021, she went on to coach two seasons at Calvin and then served as the Assistant Women’s Lacrosse Coach at the University of Detroit Mercy. She led the team to compete in the MidAmerican Conference Tournament for the 2023-24 season before joining the Grove City College team.
“Emma is a coach with the rare combination of Division III, Division I and high-level club coaching experience in multiple states, a decorated playing career and most importantly, a deep-rooted faith that is apparent in how she approaches her coaching
“It’s a new program, but they’ve really hit the ground running, and my hope is to keep the momentum going with what they’ve already accomplished and win the PAC and get farther in the NCAA tournament,” Olson said.
and her life,” Athletic Director Todd Gibson ’01 said.
“When you combine those attributes with her recruiting experience and her vision for what a successful lacrosse program looks like, we believe that the trajectory of Grove City College women’s lacrosse is pointing up,” Gibson said.
Olson’s faith was a major factor in her decision to coach for the College. She hopes to integrate her values into her coaching.
“The biggest thing is that I was looking to have that Christian culture again,
Men’s and Women’s XC: Oct. 5, at Lehigh Paul Short Invitational
Women’s Golf: Oct. 5, 11 a.m. at Penn State Altoona Invitational
Men’s Soccer: Oct. 5, 12 p.m. vs.Thiel
somewhere I could openly talk about faith and have it be the foundation of everything we do here,” Olson said.
“The first thing is to get to know the girls as people and not just players. That way I can support them in all aspects of their life. Coach Em and I have a prayer list of things that we’ll be praying for them continuously throughout the year. We encourage the girls to make mistakes and continue to practice new things. We’re kind of just going back to the basics and then building off of that. I’m excited to see these girls continue to grow on and off the field,” Olson continued.
Olson has high hopes for the Wolverines this season. This year they’ll strive to follow up last year’s PAC win with another championship.
“It’s a new program, but they’ve really hit the ground running, and my hope is to keep the momentum going with what they’ve already accomplished and win the PAC and get farther in the NCAA tournament,” Olson said.
Women’s Soccer: Oct. 5, 2:30 p.m. vs. Thiel Football: Oct. 5, 1 p.m. vs. Bethany Women’s Volleyball: Oct. 5, 1 p.m. vs. Chatham Women’s Tennis: Oct. 5, 1 p.m. vs. Baldwin Wallace
WOLVERINE WEEKLY HONORS
Bayley Herman Men’s XC Newcomer of the Week
Caleb Hawke Men’s XC Runner of the Week
Caleb Brubaker Football Defensive Player of the Week
Grace Smith Women’s XC Newcomer of the Week
MARA BRAK
Freshman Raelle Wilshire prepares to serve the ball.
DAVE MILLER
Freshman Anna Poranski tallied a 6-0 set in her second singles match against Houghton.
EMMA OLSON
Greater than the Gators Wolverines dominate in annual white out game
Nedilynn Bowser Contributing Writer
The Grove City College football team secured another victory against Allegheny College on Saturday, with a pulverizing score of 58-7. While the game seemed to be a cakewalk for the Wolverines, the team still prepared like any other game.
Junior co-captain and linebacker Jack Jollie discussed the team’s plan to capitalize on Allegheny’s weaknesses and find success in the game.
“The only weakness we saw, as a team, was that they didn’t have much of an identity. We saw them trying to do too many different things. So, we just planned on living in who we were and planned to be the more disciplined football team,” Jollie said.
Echoing Jollie’s sentiments, junior defensive lineman Joseph Semelka emphasized the team’s goal to stay sharp and disciplined.
“We needed to be disciplined in our run game and our coverage principles to successfully limit Allegheny’s offensive production,” Semelka said.
Starting the Wolverines off strong, junior running back Ian Demeri scored the first touchdown with 07:41 left in the first quarter. With a successful extra point from sophomore Daniel Sullivan, Grove City went up 7-0.
Less than a minute later, junior linebacker Caleb Brubaker picked off the Allegheny quarterback and snagged a pick-six for the Wolverines, allowing them to jump out to a commanding 14-0 lead.
The Wolverines opened the second quarter with Sullivan putting a career-best 41-yard field goal through the uprights, bringing the score to 17-0.
With 08:14 left, senior
safety Shay Aitken recorded Grove City’s second interception, taking it 70 yards downfield for yet another touchdown. Two more touchdowns and one successful extra point closed the first half of scoring with a Wolverine lead of 37-0.
“We knew that we started the game fast, but we couldn’t let up and we had to keep playing faster than we did in the first half. It didn’t matter to us what the score was, we knew that we had to keep executing at a high level to secure the win,” Semelka said.
With their sights on taking home the win, Sullivan scored the lone points of the third quarter, taking a 33yard reception from senior quarterback Logan Pfeuffer
to the house. With a successful
the
44-0.
Starting with more mo-
another touchdown for
Wolverines’ soccer doubles down in Meadville
Mia Gallagher Sports Editor
In a weekend of successful outings for the Wolverines, both the men and women’s soccer teams advanced to 2-0-0 in the PAC after an impressive sweep of the Allegheny College Gators.
The men’s team opened the day’s activities with a 1:30 p.m. kickoff in Meadville, securing a hard-fought
2-1 win over the Gators with a last-minute, game-winning goal.
The goal, put away by senior midfielder John-Luc Harbour, broke the 1-1 stalemate at 84:25 in the match and allowed the Wolverines to clinch this key PAC victory. Harbour was assisted by graduate defender Connor Huson.
“It felt great to get the game-winner. I didn’t do anything special; I was just in the right place at the right time. But I’m just happy I could be there to help the team get the win I felt we deserved,” Harbour said.
Defensively, junior goalkeeper Teddy Almeter tallied a career-high 10 saves, fending off an aggressive Gator offensive front who outshot Grove City 19-11.
“We started off a little slow in the first half, but after the halftime break we came out and played like the better team. I think the way we will find success in the PAC this year is by playing to glorify God,” said Harbour.
“Glorifying God should be the ultimate motivation to play hard and compete at
100 percent every time we step on the field,” Harbour said.
At 4 p.m. the women’s team took the field and put up an equally impressive showing against the Gators, scoring four unanswered goals through the first 80 minutes of play.
Senior forward Emma Herrmann opened the offensive campaign with two key goals in the first half of play. Herrmann added to her points tally at 2:25 into the second half, aiding senior forward Natalie Merrick in burying the third goal of the match. Scoring the final unanswered goal was junior midfielder Natalie Giunta, who buried the ball unassisted at 54:04 in the match.
After Grove City conceded a goal to the Gators at 79:57 in the match, junior midfielder Maddie Sheek recorded her first collegiate goal five minutes later, with junior midfielder Anna Williams lending the assist.
Sheek’s goal secured a 5-3 for the women’s team and an
kick,
scoreboard read
mentum in the fourth quarter, junior runningback Alec Raffa rushed five yards to gain
the Wolverines. Another successful kick landed the
DOUG NASHTOCK
Junior Caleb Brubaker earned PAC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in Grove City’s 58-7 defeat of Allegheny.
LUKE PAGLIA
Juniors Jack Jollie and Ben Bladel work together to stop the Allegheny offense in their tracks.
LUKE PAGLIA
Senior Erin Venus passes of the ball in file
photo from their Sept. 14 game against Dickinson.
LUKE PAGILA
Men’s Soccer huddling before beginning a new half of play.