The Collegian, Sept. 29, 2023

HOCO 2023 kicks off

Grace David Photo Chief

Last Tuesday, Java Jam launched the homecoming season here at the college with a night full of community, coffee and chorus. Free coffee was provided to students during the event by Urban Trail Coffee Co., and students enjoyed an array of musical performances by their peers.

“We get a good amount of student involvement for this event—we get different types of singers, some who have lots of experience and some who are just doing it for fun. I think it’s a good way to get the campus community together,” says homecoming committee member senior Rebecca Murray.

Brick by brick Wolverines sit atop PAC

Garrett Gess

Contributing Writer

Wolverine Football took down No. 14 Carnegie Mellon last Saturday in a 21-14 win. In the historic victory, the Wolverines snapped the Tartans 20-game regular season streak and improved their season’s record to 4-0.

An excited crowd dressed for the whiteout game and geared up for the 63rd battle of the Tartan versus Wolverine rivalry.

The last time Carnegie Mellon came to Grove City in 2021, the Wolverines held the Tartans out of the endzone, winning 13-6.

Last season, the Wolverines went into Gesling Stadium to face the Tartans but fell behind 23-6 early in the game. Grove City tightened the score to 23-20 in the 3rd quarter, but could not continue the momentum, losing

40-33. This year, Grove City knew Carnegie Mellon would be a college football heavyweight. The undefeated Presidents’ Athletic Conference champi-

ons had outscored their opponents 110-10 in just three games. Grove City still had momentum on their side. After defeating Westminster and

Waynesburg, the Wolverines took down Case Western on the road, in a 27-24 overtime thriller.

Grove goes against the grain

Isaac

White

Contributing Writer

While some Christian higher education institutions are learning to tighten their belts – or losing their shirts entirely – Grove City College’s fit is looking pretty good.

Several Christian colleges have bitten the dust after trudging through the pandemic and falling at the first stroke of a disastrous economy. Meanwhile, the college is pushing forward with the largest capital fundraising campaign in its 147-year history. Forty percent of colleges

that closed since the COVID-19 pandemic were Christian, according to data published by Higher Ed Dive.

Middle States Commission on Higher Education, which accredits the college, withdrew accreditation from two Christian colleges over the past several months: The King’s College and Alliance University, both located in New York City. The driving force behind both cases was rooted in significant financial difficulty.

At Marymount University in Arlington, Va., the board decided to cut several of its undergraduate programs back in February, citing lack

of active enrollment in those majors. Trinity International University in Deerfield, Ill., transitioned into a nearly online-only state this fall. Alliance and Trinity had student populations similar in size to Marymount and Grove City College.

Lee Wishing ’83, Grove City College’s vice president for Student Recruitment, said all colleges are facing one major issue. There’s “fundamentally less demand and more supply,” he said.

“Birthrate data anticipates an ‘enrollment cliff’ by 2025, a drop in the number of 18-year-olds due to the 2008 financial recession.”

More than 570 freshmen and 40 transfers joined the Grove City College community this fall semester, according to the college.

Admissions Counselor David Ake ’23 Ake said that it isn’t common to see a Christian college incorporate certain majors such as engineering, biology, and education with a liberal arts approach to higher education. Ake described the college as a place with a “variety of experiences,” which includes over 150 clubs, over 60 majors and 24 NCAA Division III sports teams.

Senior Lauren Border, who performed at Java Jam last year and is Senior Chair of the event this year, volunteered for the event because it’s the perfect combination of music, community and fun.

Later in the week Thursday evening, was the first annual Powder Puff Tailgate, bringing Coffaro’s Pizza as fuel for the long-awaited head-tohead match between the junior and senior girls.

The senior class found redemption in this year’s Powder Puff game, beating the

Awards honor 5 alums

Violet Whitmore News Editor

Five new Jack Kennedy Memorial Alumni Achievement Award recipients will be honored tonight by the Grove City College Alumni Association.

Annually, outstanding alumni are chosen by the college to be recognized for achievements in their respective fields.

The awardees will be honored at 7 p.m. in a ceremony at Harbison Chapel that is open to the public.

“On behalf of our Grove City College Alumni Association, I congratulate these alumni for the honor that they have brought to their alma mater,” said Senior Director of Alumni and College Relations Melissa (Trifaro) MacLeod ‘96.

“We are thankful for their contributions to their respective industries and to society. I encourage all to join us for this remarkable evening during Homecoming weekend

MAGGIE WILLIAMS

The Grove City College cheerleading squad rooting for the Wolverines last Saturday.

MAGGIE WILLIAMS

Senior cornerback Gabe Dunlap and Junior quarterback Logan Pfeuffer celebrate the night game victory against CMU.

BRICK 3

The award-winning Grove City College student newspaper, Sept. 29, 2023

Make the most of your time

David Zimmermann ‘23 Former News Editor and Editor-In-Chief

As someone who writes for a living, I found it incredibly difficult to pick a topic for this editorial. Normally, I write news articles or about subject matters that interest me, not reflect on the past four months since leaving Grove.

But here I am attempting to do just that.

I can’t say I’ve learned any profound lessons in my post-grad life yet, and I feel pretending otherwise would be disingenuous. However, one facet of life that has been challenging me lately is being purposeful in the day.

While in college, it was simple to form a working schedule around classes, clubs, sports and hanging out with friends all in the context of a small campus. Sure, it was stressful trying to fit all your commitments into 24 hours, but it was a straightforward routine. Because of that, time moved a lot slower, forcing you to be more intentional in how you spent it.

Since then, I’ve been living in Washington, D.C., the epicenter of all things political journalism, which has been great for my career. But the pace of city life is so quick that it’s easy to let time fly by if you’re not mindful of it. It’s almost overwhelming how frantically time moves here that it feels like I just started my summer fellowship yesterday. Now I’m one month into a full-time job, trying to keep up with the 24/7 news cycle that constantly morphs each week.

I’m thankful for this season that allows me to live and work in the hustle and bustle

of D.C., but I certainly miss Grove’s slower-paced culture, which I took for granted at the time.

To help me adjust to this new period, I’ve been slowly reading through Steven Garber’s “Visions of Vocation,” the book that my graduating class’ baccalaureate speaker recommended families give their grads for Christmas.

My parents, deciding to get ahead of the curve, gifted me the book last month.

Before cracking its pages open, I thought it was going to be another generic selfhelp book. But it’s been pretty impactful in shaping my understanding of how one’s vocation coupled with faith can shape their ordinary community amid a culture of mass cynicism and apathy.

“Knowing what you know about yourself and the world, having read what you’ve read, having seen what you’ve seen, what are you going to do?” Garber writes repeatedly, citing multiple examples of people who’ve answered that very question.

Its words have been incredibly encouraging to my soul as I’ve been uninspired lately in my work and daily routine, going from point A to point B without much thought or vigor. The book has allowed me to reflect on my time and energy, challenging me to prioritize certain commitments over others.

If I have any words of wisdom to impart, it would be to do what you want or need to do while cutting the useless parts out to purposefully live a happy and fulfilled day. Life is too short to do something that you personally don’t enjoy, and that’s one thing all of us need to learn at one point or another.

Make the most of your time.

Collegian Staff

Editor-in-Chief Emma Rossi

Managing Editor Ayden Gutierrez

Section Editors

News Violet Whitmore

Community

Emily Fox

Perspectives

Grace Scheller

Entertainment

Vince Clay

Sports

Joel Sledd

Photo Chief

Grace David

Copy Chief Hannah Welker

Business Manager

Maercy Campion

Copy Editors

Mia Gallagher

Melody Shilito

Kathryna Hoyman

Hannah Williams

Staff Writers

Mia Gallagher

Isaac Willour

Hunter Oswald

Staff Photographers

Megan Eisentraut

Naomi Walters

Lydia Gilanshah

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.

the Green eyeshade award

This week’s Green Eyeshade Award goes to Managing Editor Ayden Gutierrez for his dependability and willingness to help tackle any design night trouble.

The Green Eyeshade Award honors student contributors that demonstrate consistency and excellence in their work.

Definitely not jealous: A time before Chick-fil-A

Caleb West ‘23

Former Design Chief and Managing Editor

Alright Grovers, we get it. You’ve got a fancy new Chick-fil-A and now you think you’re so much better off than us plebians who slummed it with exclusively Bon Appetit. As an educated, cultured alumnus, I’d like to take a minute to remind all of you exactly what you’re missing and show why Chick-fil-A might not be the best thing ever.

We’ll start off with the obvious: the chicken. I think the fact that Chick-fil-A can’t even make every chicken sandwich look identical is shameful. A company of that size should have some quality standards at least. It’s almost like they just took the chicken breast, seasoned it and fried it. They call it “perfection.” I call that unacceptable.

I prefer my chicken sandwiches conforming to the uniform standards of the modern world. One thickness, all the way across, a perfect circle cut right to match the bun and so darn processed you didn’t even know it was chicken. That’s

HOMECOMING continued from 1

juniors 12-6.

“I think we went in as underdogs because we were a smaller team this year, but we all worked really well together,” says senior quarterback Emily Kmiec. “We were in it together for the whole game, but everyone was ready to play and have fun.”

Kmiec threw a touchdown pass to senior Liza Kearney to tie up the game 6-6 at fourth and goal. Kearney ran a touchdown on a trick play to win the game, keeping the annual streak of a winning senior class alive.

Junior Sophie Kirk wasn’t on the winning team but still had fun, nonetheless.

“Playing in the Powder Puff game was electric because the juniors were there to have a great time and our

the modern way, and for Grove City to embrace this regressionist idea of chicken, harkening back to colonial times, is just abysmal for its students.

Now onto the grilled chicken. Those cows think they’re so cool with their chicken cooked so that there’s actually some moisture left in every bite.

Grove City is soggy enough as it is, just let the rain and snow keep your chicken from drying out. The bone-dry dust of grilled chicken from Hicks was the perfect match for this campus and needs no improvement.

I’d also like to discuss what Chick-fil-A wants you to believe is a milkshake. It’s not, in any sense of the word. Those things are made with soft serve, not even milk and, according to their app, the milkshake is “handspun.” Spun? A milkshake should be shaken, not stirred like any classy British spy would tell you. Not milk, not shaken, it’s quite frankly a disgrace to society.

You guys think the lines for Chick-fil-A are bad, but there is simply no comparison to the lines at Hicks in its heyday of the post-Covid years.

I remember waiting in the blazing heat, cold rain and even snow in lines stretching all the way past the TLC

coaches came up with some sick plays,” says Kirk. “We are coming for the next class, and we will seek to keep the tradition alive!”

On Saturday, Fall Fest returned, where organizations and groups from all corners of campus put together different activities for interested students to participate in.

Tonight at 8 p.m. in the Student Union, the Homecoming Dance comes back in full swing this year with a casino theme.

Saturday is packed with festivities as per usual. The Men’s Soccer Alumni Game takes place at 10:3o a.m. on Don Lyle Field, right before the Homecoming Parade at 11 a.m. This year’s theme is video games and will fill the streets of Grove City with vibrant colors and characters.

Homecoming Court will be announced just before

nearly to Hoyt just for a chance to eat at that fine establishment.

Hicks was an oasis, unknown to the outside world. It was only for the enlightened few, the students of Grove City. Like Chick-fil-A, there was no competition within 40 miles, but even though nothing could compare to its quality, it was not plagued with outsiders.

Even from a purely cultural standpoint, Chick-filA takes a loss. Bon Appetit is French, promoting the thought of culture and fine dining. Chick-fil-A is nonsensical, represented by a cow who can’t spell, and a brand name similarly butchering the English language. That’s not the brand fit to represent a high-tier intellectual establishment like Grove City College.

So yes, there was a time before the campus was invaded by the red-and-white antics of Chick-fil-A. A better time, a classier time. A time when there was no need to worry about freshly cut, beautifully salted waffle fries, a perfectly cooked chicken sandwich topped with a pickle and a delicious sauce or even freshly made, real lemonade. And no, I’m not mad that I lived in that time. Definitely not even a little ticked.

the start of the football game against Washington & Jefferson University at 1:15 p.m. on Thorn Field. Both the Wolverines and the W&J Presidents are 4-0 before this weekend’s game.

This Homecoming weekend, Nu Lambda Phi will be celebrating its 100th anniversary.

“It’s really exciting to be a part of the 100th year being active. It’s awesome and I can’t wait for all the alumni to get here, especially the guys that graduated this past year,” says junior Nu Lambda Phi Kevin Carr.

The graduating class of ’18 will be celebrating their 5th anniversary, and the class of ’73 will be celebrating their 50th anniversary.

Homecoming festivities will come to a close on Sunday at 10 a.m. with a Worship Service in Harbison Chapel.

GRACE DAVID

Students stand in line as they eagerly await their Chick-fil-A order.

At last! Grovers celebrate CFA

Violet Whitmore News Editor

Not surprisingly, customers at the Grove City College Chick-fil-A are eating “mor chikin” than expected.

Business at the restaurant has been booming since its grand opening almost two weeks ago. According to Tony Ippolito, senior general manager of Parkhurst Dining Services at the college, sales have more than doubled their predicted amounts.

On its first day alone, the Chick-fil-A sold 850 chicken sandwiches and fry combination meals and averaged around 1,200 guest meal tickets a day. In total, the restaurant has already sold more than 10,000 meals to students and patrons. Students with a meal plan can use up to three meal swipes a week for meals.

Due to popular demand, the menu has recently been updated to integrate chicken nuggets into the meal plan and the addition of the kale crunch salad. Students can choose between three different meal options: a classic

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2023.

The 2023 Jack Kennedy Memorial Alumni Achievement Award honorees are Laura (Tarkett) Blumberg ‘85, Dr. David M. Hoganson ’98, Robert L. Hunter ’63, David J. Porter ’88, and Dennis R. Reidenbach ’76.

Blumberg is the vice president for Civil Space Enterprise IT and Cloud Solutions for SAIC, a Fortune 500 technology integrator that provides secure high-end solutions in engineering, digital, artificial intelligence and mission solutions.

In this role, she is responsible for the growth and execution of SAIC’s Civil Space portfolio of NASA and NOAA IT programs.

She has over 35 years of diverse experience providing government customers IT, software development and system engineering services, including supporting NASA customers for the last 21 years.

She earned a B.S. in Management Engineering while at the college and is a Phi Sigma Chi sorority alumna.

Hoganson is a faculty pediatric cardiac surgeon and medical engineer at Boston Children’s Hospital, with a clinical focus on neonates

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Wishing believes Grove’s “wholistically Christcentered” mission and rich Christian social life are main attractions for prospective students and families. He also credited President Paul McNulty ’80 and the college’s board of trustees for unifying in pursuit of this vision. Grove City College often boasts the advantages and rigor of a nationally ranked institution at a “value” price point in its marketing; but it

chicken sandwich, chicken nuggets or a cobb salad. Both self-serving kiosks and inperson ordering are available for use.

Senior Ainsley McHugh is a first-time student worker at the Chick-fil-A. “So far, things seem to be running pretty smoothly, if a little busy. It seems like on the whole, the community and the students view the restaurant as a positive addition, and that has made most of my interactions with customers pretty enjoyable,” she said.

Though business is booming, foot traffic is simultaneously heavy throughout the restaurant. “I think the main difficulty of the operation is that since the Chick-fil-A is open to the public, it’s hard for anybody, including students, to get their food in a timely manner,” McHugh said.

“I definitely understand the appeal of opening the store up to the general public, but I do think that it has transformed the student union from being a place for study and community to a Chick-fil-A dining area.”

and infants with complex congenital heart disease.

He has coled the development of workflows for patient-specific 3D modeling and computational flow simulation of complex cardiac disease to improve preoperative planning and intraoperative guidance.

His specialties are thoracic surgery and congenital heart surgery. Hoganson majored in electrical engineering, was a senior class officer and played varsity golf while at the college.

Hunter is past president and current chairman of the board of The Hunter Family of Companies and recently celebrated his 50th year in the trucking industry.

The Hunter Family of Companies has 18 locations with 10 full dealerships, five parts and service locations, three leasing facilities, a body shop, over 750 employees and annual revenues of $600 million.

An Army veteran, he served on the steering committee for the College’s Grove City Matters campaign and is an Adelphikos fraternity brother.

Porter is a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. He was appointed in 2018 by President

is not immune to the effects of the economy. Semester rates for tuition and room and board were raised by $450 and $360 respectively for the 2023-24 academic year. Wishing noted that the goal is to keep down operation costs, such as food and energy, while continuing to raise money for need-based financial aid.

“I think the distinctively Christian colleges will thrive if they manage their finances well,” predicted Wishing. The college operates on a budget almost entirely fund-

According to McHugh, however, all patrons have been respectful of each other and the space. “They’re all very friendly and polite. My

Donald J. Trump.

Prior to the appointment, he was a shareholder at Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney in Pittsburgh, where he practiced commercial and civil litigation.

He graduated from George Mason University School of Law and serves on the Board of Judicial Advisors of the Law & Economics Center at the Antonin Scalia Law School.

He is secretary of the Grove City College Board of Trustees. Judge Porter and his wife, Valerie (Verner) Porter ‘89, have six children, including David E. ’16, Alumni Council member John ’17, Benjamin ’20, Anna ’21 and Daniel ’27.

Reidenbach served as the northeast regional director of the National Park Service from September 2007 through retirement in January 2014.

He led a workforce of over 3,000 employees and over 80 National Park sites spanning 13 states from Maine to Virginia.

While at the college, Reidenbach majored in Political Science and Business Administration and was active in the Sigma Alpha Sigma fraternity and the Outing Club.

ed by student tuition, according to promotional material for the college’s ongoing Impact 150 capital campaign. With a goal of $185 million, the project seeks to renovate and build upon the campus, marking confidence in longterm survival.

One point in Grove City College’s favor is its high retention rate for students. According to UnivStats, the national average retention rate for four-year colleges is approximately 73%. The college’s is 89%.

only advice would be to just have patience - the lines are long and those of us behind the counter are working as fast as we can!”

The Chick-fil-A is open from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. It is, of course, closed on Sundays.

down on their next drive.

“To be in the position we are right now takes a whole team effort and it is awesome to see it all come together. Team strength is that we are all bought in. We all know what we must do and execute every game” said junior quarterback Logan Pfeuffer.

“CMU is a talented team and have been playing very well the past couple of years, but to get ready we will be who we are. We are going to live in our vision no matter who is on the opposite side of the ball.”

Unlike the 2021 high-scoring battle, this year’s match started out with a stalemate with neither team scoring early. A Grove City field goal was blocked, and CMU missed on their own attempt of a field goal.

Towards the end of the first half, Grove City got a drive going, capping it off with Pfeuffer diving in for a touchdown.

CMU sought a touchdown of their own on the ensuing drive but threw an interception to sophomore cornerback Boden Davidson. This gave Pfeuffer another opportunity as he scored a touchdown on a 20-yard rush putting Grove City up 14-0 at halftime.

Grove City did not let up after halftime, as Pfeuffer hit senior wide receiver Scott Fraser for a touchdown on the first drive of the half. Down 21-0, the Tartans came back strong, scoring a touch-

Still early in the fourth quarter, the Tartans had 2nd and Goal on the Grove City three-yard line. The Wolverines had a stunning goal-line stand to get the ball back, in big part thanks to linebacker Ryan Fleming’s tackle on 4th down.

Once CMU got the ball back, Grove City once again had a 4th down stop with about five minutes left in the game. Carnegie Mellon scored a touchdown on their last drive, but it was too late to continue their comeback.

The game was a defensive showcase. Junior safety Jason Muench led the team with 10 total tackles, with sophomore linebacker Jack Jollie ringing up nine.

Junior safety Shay Aitken dominated in his first career start on defense. Aitken had seven total tackles, a sack and an interception for the Wolverines.

The Tartans attempted a lateral play in the waning seconds, but Grove City stopped them securing the 21-14 victory. In eight seasons as head coach of Grove City, this victory was one of head coach Andrew DiDonato’s ‘10 most impressive feats.

After dethroning Carnegie Mellon, Grove City solidified itself atop the catbird seat of the PAC.

The Wolverines will face fellow undefeated PAC rivals, the Washington & Jefferson Presidents. A win over W&J, who was ranked 28th would lift the Wolverines to the Top 25.

GRACE DAVID

The first student entering the Chick-fil-A at the restaurant’s grand opening.

AWARDS

HOGANSON

HUNTER

BLUMBERG

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PORTER

REIDENBACH

GRAIN

GRACE DAVID

Despite national admission rates plummeting, GCC thrives.

11 - 11:45 a.m.

Sept. 30

Pine and Broad Streets

11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Sept. 30 Lower Campus Venture Village

12 - 3 p.m.

Sept. 30

Quad in front of Harbison Chapel

10th Annual Alumni Dance

7 - 11 p.m.

Sept. 30 Old MAP

Alumni giving back

Emily Fox Community Editor

GCC Mentor Connect has bridged the alumni and current student communities for the third year, matching 48 students with alumni mentors. Mentors are specifically chosen for each student based on their individual career ambitions.

Dr. Jennifer Mobley ’99 headed the program’s launch during the 2021-22 school year. Initially beginning with 25 student-alumni pairs, Mentor Connect has rapidly grown, this year almost doubling the number of participants from that first year according to program coordinator Amanda Sposato ’00.

“We have so many incredible alumni and one of the strategic objectives of the College is to better leverage our alumni network to enhance our students’ educational experience. The GCC Mentor Connect program is one great way we’re meeting this objective,” Sposato said.

Mentor Connect is open to incoming juniors of all majors, however, students must be recommended by a faculty or staff member and maintain a GPA of at least 2.8 to be considered eligible. Applicants must be dedicated to the academic year-long commitment according to Sposato.

Sposato reviews applications in May and then pairs students with alumni mentors based on their personal

majors and career aspirations. She sometimes takes their activities on campus such as athletics or Greek life affiliations into account. Sposato also considers where alumni live to provide students with the opportunity to meet their mentors in person. Pairs are connected through email the following August.

Student-mentor pairs are required to communicate at least five times for one hour at each meeting over the course of the program. This is usually done through video calls. Sposato recommends pairs meet in person at least once. Many mentors meet their mentees when they return to campus for homecoming weekend.

Students and mentors each receive instructions from Sposato regarding how to model their discussions through individual orientation sessions. They are required to complete a mentorship agreement form regarding what platform they will use to meet and how often they will choose to correspond.

Students and their mentors may discuss how to find internships and apply to graduate schools. Alumni can also provide their mentees with useful information regarding their particular area of study or share their career networks according to Sposato.

Junior marketing major Kaitlyn Sipes participated

in the program during the 2022-23 year. Sipes plans on working for a global mission organization in administration after she graduates. She was paired with alumna Nicole Randazzo ’08. Randazzo owns Map and Compass, an adventurous photography business in Texas. Sipes described how Randazzo guided her as she developed her resume.

“The main thing Nicole gave me advice on was my resume. She worked through the entire thing with me over multiple sessions, helping me reword each bullet point to present myself in the best possible way” Sipes said.

Sipes described how Randazzo guided her as she determined what she wanted her career to look like postGCC.

“She was also very intentional about asking me questions about how I envision my future job… As I would answer the questions, she would chime in with her experience and just practically talking through my thoughts with someone who has experience in the marketing field proved to be extremely beneficial.”

While the mentorship program provides students with career resources, students may also receive personal advice from their mentors. “It was so refreshing to have advice and wisdom given from someone outside the Grove City bubble and who is older and has seen more

of life. She encouraged me to take the opportunities I have here at Grove City, but also to remember that there is a whole world outside of college” Sipes said.

Mentor Connect also requires students to attend at least two professional development sessions tailored to career-oriented subjects. During these sessions, students hear presenters provide information such as how to develop a LinkedIn presence. Sessions may also include virtual panels of alumni mentors discussing subjects like work-faith integration according to Sposato. Sipes said of her experience in Mentor Connect, “I think the one-on-one mentorship, as well as the full group sessions, helped to create a more well-rounded picture of what the professional world looks like. I think I learned practical skills, like how to do better in a job interview or how to navigate Linkedin, but I also was able to develop a clearer picture of what I want my career to look like.”

The program is just as valuable to the alumni community as it is to the students it serves.

“While our students benefit immensely from having a mentor to guide them professionally, our alumni mentors also appreciate the opportunity to invest in our students, give back to the college in such a meaningful way and reengage with our community,” Sposato said.

How do I start dating my ZeeMee Crush?

Like most freshmen, I spent a good portion of my life over the last year on ZeeMee. One conversation lasted the whole summer, and I really started to like this person. However, when I saw them at the graffiti dance, I just couldn’t bring myself to even make eye contact. Do I just need to grow up and talk to them or has that ship sailed?

Dear Cyberflirting Grover, You are no doubt in good company in this position. It’s completely understandable to meet someone who is entering such a new and exciting stage of life and quickly bond with them. Many people meet this way and happily date each other,

but many others never interact and survive just fine on campus. Before you decide on a course of action, it is crucial to determine whether you truly know this person and like them,

or if you just like the idea of them and the excitement of meeting new people. Do you just know facts about them, or do you know them? Did your conversations revolve around Grove City College and what’s to come, or did you get to know each other’s history?

Additionally, you must decide whether this person is really someone you would like to get to know better or if there are red flags that make them risky to pursue. Are there any indications that you wouldn’t get along? Ask yourself what you are looking for in a relationship. If you just want to have a good friend, your next steps will look very different than if you are looking for a serious

relationship. Identify desires and expectations for yourself and then determine what is realistic to pursue with this person. Are they looking for platonic friendships or have they signaled they are interested in a romantic relationship? All these factors play in your decision of what to do next. I won’t lie, you do have your work cut out for you to redeem the relationship after all this time.

Depending on your expectations for the relationship, you can either be completely honest and put all your cards on the table about how you feel, or you can play it cool with a subtle text and work your way back to friendship. The conversation cannot help but be awkward given

the time that has passed. However, if you have a true connection and are committed to getting to know them, the awkwardness will be worth it. If you don’t feel that this is a lasting connection or a relationship worth salvaging, you might be better off not having the conversation at all. Ultimately, you must seek the Lord in all things and prepare your heart for His plan not your own. Auspiciously, Dr. Love

AMANDA SPOSATO

Patrick McGlennon ‘80 and Hannah Benoit ‘24

Microscopic molecules making massive impact

Mia Gallagher Staff Writer

The human genome, the foundational building blocks of life, spans an astonishing three billion units long, filled with thousands of genes that not only sustain life but make each person unique.

Understanding and mapping this vast expanse of A’s, T’s, G’s and C’s can reveal much about human traits and disease, and Grove City College alumna Amber Buehrle ‘20 has the incredible opportunity to explore this microscopic world daily. Buehrle, who works as a genetic counselor for Lysosomal Storage Disease and Clinical Trial Center at Emory University, has the unique opportunity to not only serve others through patient care, but further genetic research efforts as well. Within her discipline, she specializes in general/pediatric care and research, allowing her to treat patients of all ages–many of whom have genetic diseases that have known treatments.

“One of the things I like about my work is that no day is never the same and it never gets boring! My day is often a mix of patient care, pharmacy and insurance calls regarding treatment for my patients, clinical trial coordination, data entry and student supervision,” Buehrle said.

“As genetic counselors we are often self-described as ‘life-long learners’ and this is something that rings very true in my job. I am constantly reading up on new research in my field, attending conferences, educating clinicians and patients on new updates in genetics and learning new skills for the workplace.”

While at GCC, Buehrle not only fostered a passion for genetic research, but found a support network that would lay the foundation for her career success today. Through her experience as a biochemistry major and psychology minor, she discovered the field of genetic counseling. She also found mentors in Dr. Timothy Homan, Dr. Kristina Pazehoski and Dr.

Lisa Antoszewski who helped her achieve this goal.

This formative academic experience, coupled with a host of extracurriculars and leadership opportunities, aided Buehrle in her graduate studies at the University of Cincinnati and today in her work at Emory.

“My favorite part of my job is connecting with my patients. It is such a special moment to be able to talk with families who have never understood what was going on with their health, explain genetics, and help them find an end to their ‘diagnostic odyssey’. In my specific role, I see each of my patients on a regular basis which allows me to develop a relationship with them, and truly get to know and care for them,” Buehrle said.

“Some of the harder parts of being a genetic counselor come when the conditions you work with do not have treatments or cures. It can be challenging to give diagnoses to families that may mean their children have a life-limiting condition, will develop differently from

Seven questions with…

Logan Pfeuffer

other children or are at high risk for severe symptom onset later in life. In those moments, I feel grateful to get to be a listening ear to families, encourage them when I can and validate the pain they are feeling.”

The ‘diagnostic odyssey’ that Buehrle describes truly takes a determined soul with a servant’s heart to navigate–a title befitting of this incredible GCC alumna. Her advice to students considering a career in genetic counseling encourages them to learn more about the field from professionals or reach out to Buehrle herself.

“My advice to current students is to take advantage of all the opportunities GCC has to offer. I loved the fact that since Grove City was a small school, I was able to try out various extracurriculars, be in leadership on different boards and committees, and build meaningful relationships with my professors. Take advantage of the people who want to pour into you and mentor you both spiritually and professionally!”

25th annual career fair biggest yet

Emily Fox Community Editor

The Grove City College Career Services Office (CSO) will be hosting 160 institutions at the 25th annual Career Fair from 1 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 4 in the IM rooms of the PLC.

Students will have the opportunity to connect with representatives from a wide range of spheres in the pro-

fessional world, including government agencies, businesses, non-profits and ministries. Students will be able to interact with establishments for continuing their education post-undergrad such as graduate schools, seminaries and law schools according to Director of Career Services Renne Coyne.

“It’s set to be our largest career fair over the last five years. And we are excited to

welcome back around 100 alumni from our attending organizations,” Coyne said.

“We understand that not every student’s ideal employer may not be in attendance, but students could certainly be surprised to learn about some fantastic organizations that also work to create a culture and work environment similar to the culture at GCC,” Coyne said.

“It’s a great time to talk

Wolverine Football Junior Quarterback

How are you feeling about Saturday’s game?

I’m feeling pretty good about the game this weekend. The practice has looked crisp, and we look ready.

How has being on the football team enriched your experience at GCC?

with representatives, gain confidence in sharing specifics about yourself, and find out more about the organizations” Coyne said.

Students planning on attending the fair should preregister on the Handshake app. There they can browse and learn about the institutions coming to the fair. Handshake allows students to examine attendees based on the majors and industries they are aligned with. Career Services has also provided students with information regarding how they can develop their resumes for the event on the app, according to Coyne.

Coyne said various CSO events being held prior to the career fair to help students get ready for the fair. One such event, “How to Work a Career Fair” will feature speakers from Hope International teaching students how to present themselves at the fair. The event will take place at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 2 in Sticht Lecture Hall and will cover information regarding how to interact with representatives at the fair.

Coyne recommends students be intentional about how they will present themselves to representatives. They should mention their academic skills and activities. Students should wear business professional or business casual clothing to the fair and come with multiple copies of their resumes printed on resume paper. It would also benefit them to have a notebook and folder to record notes and questions they may want to ask employers.

“We are excited to celebrate another milestone of career success with our students, staff, faculty and alumni.” Coyne said.

Being on the team has helped me get out of my shell and get to know more people. It was nice freshman year because you get all the guys on the team and then you meet their friends, so the social aspect has helped. And then feeling the support from the whole campus has been awesome. Professors are saying “good game” or “good luck” to me in classes. You can really feel the support and that helps the whole team out.

What other Homecoming events are you looking forward to this weekend?

I’m looking forward to seeing the alumni of the fraternity I am in, Epsilon Pi, and all the older guys that graduated that were on the team.

What are you involved in on campus other than the football team?

I am a part of the Epsilon Pi fraternity.

What kind of music do you listen to before games?

I listen to a wide variety of music. One song will be rap and the next one will be 2000s throwback.

What’s been your favorite class at GCC?

My favorite class here at GCC is Intro to Sports Ministry taught by Dr. Thrasher.

What are you most looking forward to this semester?

I am looking forward to our continued success on the field this year and to branching out more on the campus.

Homecoming Court

Name: Annalese Adderholt

Hometown: Wheeling. W. Va.

Major: Major: Biblical and Religious Studies; Minors: History and Classical Christian Education

Favorite Place on Campus: Any upper-level booth in Hicks Cafe.

Best College Memory: Going to Israel with Dr. Byun and an awesome group of people, including my fiancé; we learned so much and coming back to campus with that shared knowledge and experience is very special.

At Homecoming in 10 years, I will be: Lord-willing, I’ll be a mother of a few kids, living in Wheeling (and ideally some friends are with me too!); practicing law, starting/running a school, coaching soccer or a little bit of all of that.

Name: Caroline Garrett

Hometown: Durham, N.C.

Major: Biology

Favorite Place on Campus: Mrs. Byun’s office

Best College Memory: Exploring Israel with Dr. Byun and friends!

At Homecoming in 10 years, I will be: Excited about connecting with the future ICO Chattanooga leaders, tasting apples at Emmett’s Orchard with old friends, and hoping to gain some wisdom with one of Coach DiDonato’s speeches on vision.

Name: Lucy Martin

Hometown: Silver Spring, Md.

Major: Biology

Favorite Place on Campus: The fifth booth on the right when you first walk into hicks

Best College Memory: Playing in the first ever women’s varsity lacrosse game on Thorn field

At Homecoming in 10 years, I will be: Reminiscing with old professors, catching up with friends and teammates, playing in the lacrosse alumni game and getting a milkshake from Chick-fil-A

Name: Megan Mathes

Hometown: Charlottesville, Va.

Major: Biochemistry

Favorite Place on Campus: Upper Stacks in the Library

Best College Memory: 4 hour Biochemistry Lab with Dr. Shaw.

At Homecoming in 10 years, I will be: I will be reconnecting with old friends, going to the Women’s soccer alumni events to reconnect with old teammates and support the current team. I will definitely be exploring the big improvements that are currently being planned for in the next 5 years.

Name: Sierra Grissom

Hometown: Hingham, Ma.

Major: Economics, minor in International Business

Favorite Place on Campus: MAP Courtyard in the early morning

Best College Memory: Watching fireworks on the quad with most of campus. At Homecoming in 10 years, I will be: exploring the Rockwell restoration with my kids.

Name: Ari Campbell

Hometown: Memphis, Tn.

Major: Biology-Health Major with a Biblical and Religious Studies Minor

Favorite Place on Campus: The Chapel Balcony-

Best College Memory: Slip ‘n slide in Hicks with the boys

At Homecoming in 10 years, I will be: Excited to catch up with friends and professors, exploring the new and improved Rockwell, scoring bangers in the Alumni Soccer Game and getting an app sampler with boom boom sauce from Sheetz.

Name: Kris Sekera

Hometown: Level Green, Pa.

Major: Finance

Favorite Place on Campus: Harbison Chapel

Best College Memory: Floating down Wolf Creek on an air mattress during a rainstorm

At Homecoming in 10 years, I will be: A husband, father, and better disciple of Jesus Christ than I am now.

Name: Luke Mantzell

Hometown: West Middlesex, Pa.

Major: Finance and Entrepreneurship Dual MajorFavorite Place on Campus: Olivia Nicholson’s Apartment

Best College Memory: First week freshman year riding down wolf creek after a big rain on blow up air mattresses from Walmart with our freshman hall and RA.

At Homecoming in 10 years, I will be: Ten years older with my wife and hopefully kids telling stories of the crazy things we got to do at Grove back in the days.

Name: Matthew McCaslin

Hometown: Beaver Falls, Pa.

Major: Molecular Biology

Favorite Place on Campus: Rockwell/Stem: I am a science major, so I am required to love the science buildings.

Best College Memory: I love late night hangs and conversations with friends. I have also had a special chance to have at least one year of college with each one of my siblings (1 brother, 2 sisters). At Homecoming in 10 years, I will be: I am working on applying and going to medical school. So hopefully in 10 years I will be a doctor. Specifically, I am hoping to become an anesthesiologist.

Name: Michael Gomez

Hometown: Cranberry Twp, Pa.

Major: Electrical Engineering with Computer Engineering concentration

Favorite Place on Campus: Rockwell Stairs

Best College Memory: Midnight runs with the boys At Homecoming in 10 years, I will be: 10 years older, and not an ounce wiser

Heydays of Homecoming

Homecoming through the years from the shelves of the GCC archives

Students grow and graduate, but traditions remain constant at Grove City College. From colorful floats in the parade to the crowning of a new Homecoming Queen, festivities have highlighted the campus community for years.

Check out snapshots of what campus life was like in the 90s, 80s, 70s... and even the 30s! Experience a little piece of our history through these photos featuring a familiar joy from being together on campus.

On the bottom left of the spread, you might see some familiar faces! Parading through the streets of Grove City is the class of ‘13 at their senior Homecoming--they’ll be back on campus this year for their 10 year anniversary!

by Grace David, Photo Chief

Bub James 1938

Willie the Wolverine (1991 - 1992)

Dance - 1940s Prize

The quirky merits of studying abroad

Eleanor Lynn Contributing Writer

On Friday, June 30th, I departed on a long journey to Paris, where I would spend the month of July learning French and staying with a French family. While I impatiently awaited the beauty and adventure of Paris, I couldn’t have anticipated just how awkward my stay would be. Upon arriving, I was almost left at the airport because I couldn’t find the designated meeting place. Luckily, I was found, but the mishaps continued throughout July until they became comical.

Awkwardness is inevitable when you’re in entirely unknown surroundings and have the foreign language skills of a seven-year-old. Still, these realities are easily forgotten in the comfort of Grove City College.

Due to the size and culture of our college, we quickly learn to take ourselves far too seriously. After finding a major, exploring extracurriculars and getting integrated into the tight-knit social network of the College, we gain reputations that we live by. We know what to say and what to do to preserve these built-up identities, and eventually, we extend the social gravity to others, labeling them quickly by their friends, their clothes and their Greek organizations.

In stepping far away from this familiar community, everything gets jumbled. I would advocate for this jumbling as a very precious and positive experience. When you suddenly don’t know what to say, when the rules change and everything is different and strange, this is when the opportunity to let go of your pride and truly learn becomes available. The discomfort of studying abroad is one of the most important things one can experience.

My favorite miscommunication from July was the one that made me feel the most awkward. I had been sitting at the kitchen table alone doing homework when my host mother’s son popped out of nowhere to grab a snack. Realizing I needed my laptop to continue working, I started to step out of the room to get it, but he thought it was his fault that I was leaving. He assured me I could stay in the room to work, and I responded, “Oui, mais je dois ultiliser ma l’informatique.” I meant to communicate, “I understand, but I just have to get my laptop.” Instead, my flustered brain spat out, “Yes, but I must use my computer science.”

As I stood in the other room, laptop in hand, I realized how ridiculous and confusing my response must’ve sounded, and yet, I couldn’t help but laugh. The situation was too embarrassing not to be hilarious. As an English major—a master of communication in all its beauty and complexity—I felt I couldn’t have done worse.

Many Grove City College students don’t want to study abroad because they are rooted in this community and don’t want to miss the life happening all around them. Others fear the unknown and cumbersome experience of getting your bearings somewhere new. While the difficulty of being in a new place is a reality, it’s also a reality that those who stay rooted where they’re comfortable will miss out.

Studying abroad is an amazing opportunity to discover a new place and, most of all, an opportunity to let go of yourself, an opportunity we all need desperately.

When you’re finally flattened by newfound knowledge, it reveals your lingering ignorance, and you can laugh and then you can really learn. Grove City’s tight-knit community is a wonderful thing, but if you have the chance to study abroad, you should consider it. It’s an equally wonderful thing to step out of the bubble.

Age isn’t just a number

Rebecca Vezzosi

Contributing Writer

When asked a question on reelection, a blank stare into the camera is the last thing any citizen wants to see from someone who holds power in America.

This is a common theme in American politics. People in all branches of government, from Congress to the President of the United States, are blanking on common questions and becoming easily distracted to the point where they appear “lost.” Is this really who you want to represent our country? I know I certainly don’t.

The most recent incident happened with U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell, who has been in office since 1985. He was recognized as the longest-serving Senate Party

Leader in American history. Shocking? Not really. At 81 years old, his health is visibly declining. And in the last three months, he has had two notable incidents when being interviewed.

In July 2023, McConnell was doing a weekly news conference on Capitol Hill when he froze mid-sentence. He stared into the audience for about 30 seconds. Not only were the viewers uncomfortable, but by looking at his staff’s faces, it is safe to assume they were equally embarrassed and uncomfortable by the situation.

The same thing happened in August. When asked about reelection, Mitch McConnell froze once more without ever answering the question. He simply moved on as his aid suggested people speak up, even though the interviewers’ questions were perfectly clear.

This is a non-partisan is-

sue that everyone should be concerned about, no matter where you fall on the political spectrum. On both sides of the aisle, we see prominent figures with the same issues as McConnell.

President Joe Biden has had many incidents of a similar nature since he began his presidency in 2020. One notable example happened in July when Biden tripped and fell boarding the presidential plane. Could this be a simple loss of balance? Potentially. But these incidents happen multiple times a month. Some other incidents include randomly referencing royalty, confusing Iraq and Ukraine and walking off the MSNBC set. McConnell and Biden are around the same age. If two examples are not enough to show that this is too old, here’s one more.

Dianne Feinstein is the oldest member of the Senate and the longest-serving

female senator in the United States. At 90 years old, she has been facing several health problems which are affecting her job performance. This comes as no surprise. She has recently struggled with shingles, falling at home and disorientation. Some jobs are just too much to manage and representing the state of California in Congress certainly qualifies as too much.

How can we, as voters, solve this issue? It starts with being mindful of who you are voting for. The person you vote for in any office or position of power should be someone who lines up with your beliefs and is able to push positive change in our country. It is safe to say that when someone reaches an age where they can no longer coherently answer questions about their policies, they are too old to hold that position of power.

Hoodie-level work at a suit-level job

Isaac Willour Staff Writer

I am not generally a fan of overly formal dress codes. Maybe it’s the Gen-Zer or the remote work enthusiast in me, but I’m not generally predisposed to look kindly upon the idea of being forced to wear a tie to sit in an office all day and see nobody except colleagues. Maybe that’s a generational thing, but it’s the world we live in.

And yet, I also affirm the fact that what you wear projects more about you than your budget and ability to match different shades of navy and white. The social norms you choose to embrace or avoid reflect upon the nature of the respect you bring to the world. This leads cleanly into the topic of the day: hoodie man, Senator John Fetterman. Fetterman, the junior senator from Pennsylvania, recently made headlines by foregoing the

traditional business professional attire of the United States Senate in favor of a hoodie and gym shorts for official proceedings.

Unsurprisingly, criticisms came in droves, from Politico to the Editorial Board at the Wall Street Journal, accusing Fetterman of disrespecting his senatorial office by dressing down. And for what it’s worth, they probably have a point.

Like it or not, the United States Senate is an institution with a certain decorum about it, and it probably is fitting for Fetterman to represent more than the style preferences of his single 26-year-old male constituents. And yet, it begs the question: is the hoodie really the root of this problem? Or, like a sweat-stained t-shirt, is the hoodie just covering up a much more unsightly problem?

It’s no secret that trust in American politicians isn’t exceptionally high, especially among our youngest voters. This arguably has nothing to do with style choices, seeing as a lot of this eroded trust

occurred during the Trump reign. The man is a whitewashed tomb at best when it comes to curated facades versus private life.

And yet, this trend applies to hoodie man; Fetterman is not exactly doing the heavy lifting rhetorically or legislatively. A great deal of his time in the Senate has been spent either in the hospital or recovering from various medical problems, which is a definite confidence killer if you’re one of those psychos who want their elected representatives to get things done.

It’s not just the hoodie. It’s that the man behind the hoodie is doing hoodie-level work at a suit-level job. During his campaign, Fetterman ran as a man of the people, a sharp contrast to the slick, smooth-talking, way-toopolished Dr. Mehmet Oz. He wore hoodies all the time, bringing an element of “indie wrestler with mild speech problems” to the campaign trail that apparently clicked with people. By all accounts, it was a mix of carefully calculated optics and laundry days—and it worked.

Why did you choose GCC?

Lee Murray ’25

I chose Grove City College for the character and discipline

this school has instilled through generations. My brother attended Grove as well and seeing his development and application of learned excellence made Grove City College an easy choice.

Cameron Silvey ’26

The problem is maintaining any level of voter confidence requires more than relatability. Politicians want to be relatable—it’s obvious, from Mike Pence struggling to pump his own gas to Dr. Oz posing with produce and whining about tequila. And yet, politicians who win must create some sense of standing out—rising above their political peers and creating enough momentum to get their people to pull the lever a second time when election season rolls around again. Maybe Fetterman’s momentum is slowing, and it’s hardly a mystery why. But he’s 54 and incredibly physically unhealthy—this isn’t the “young buck defying old stodgy dress codes to chart his own path for a new and vibrant America.” It’s an old, sick guy in a hoodie. And if that really appeals to you, well, maybe it would be fitting for you to raise your standards… just a little. “Wearing pants to work” shouldn’t be that high of a bar to clear. Then again, “actually getting work done” shouldn’t be either.

Boebert booted from Beetlejuice

Hunter Oswald Staff Writer

It seems that every time we turn on the news, there is always some controversy that takes hold in our nation’s politics, further dividing people. Well, this view of American politics has been reinforced by two new controversies within the past few weeks.

Recently, U.S. Representative Lauren Boebert (3Colo.) was removed from a Denver theater by security for disruptive and inappropriate behavior during a performance of “Beetlejuice”.

During the show, Boebert disrupted others by singing, vaping, engaging in inappropriate conduct with her date and recording the performance.

Her actions were caught on video by the theater security, leading to greater criticism due to the disturbing nature of Boebert’s actions. Soon after the incident’s virality, Boebert released a statement

regarding her actions, stating, “I simply fell short of my values on Sunday. That’s unacceptable, and I’m sorry.”

In addition to Boebert’s conundrum, another prominent Republican, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, has come under fire for alleged immoral behavior. On Sept. 15, the New York Post published an article stating that evidence, via witness testimony, alleged that Noem has been having a “years-long affair” with former Trump advisor Corey Lewandowski.

In the article, the witnesses claim to have seen Noem and Lewandowski engaging in the affair in public, especially during the 2021 Conservative Political Action Conference. One of them stated that they saw Noem and Lewandowski “getting ‘handsy’ at the bar of the Hyatt Regency Orlando with between 100 and 200 others around.”

The article’s allegations of Noem’s affair have since generated major backlash from Republicans and Democrats alike for her hypocrisy as a politician who claims to be

focused on “family values.”

As political pundits on both sides of the aisle continue to engage in endless bickering over the controversies, I cannot help but be unsurprised by both situations. For decades, our nation’s political culture has shifted away from admirable principles such as integrity and trustworthiness to traits unbecoming of politicians.

It is not unusual to see politicians lie about their stances on critical matters or for them to engage in secret deals with others to secure their own financial gains or increase their political standing.

Some would say the Boebert and Noem scandals have not shown any level of deception, but that is not necessarily true. Prior to Boebert’s apology, she said that she didn’t vape during the show, but the video showed that she did.

Now, it is completely possible that she forgot, but how can we truly tell that she wasn’t intentionally misleading in her apology? How can we tell Boebert will not lie when it comes to a major

voting issue or tell if Noem is truly for family values and other conservative ideas?

The current state of decay within our nation’s political culture has not only incentivized deception from our politicians but has opened the gates to tyrannical rule.

I am reminded of what Samuel Adams said two centuries ago: “A general dissolution of principles and manners will more surely overthrow the liberties of America than the whole force of the common enemy.”

How do we know if a politician is truly for protecting American civil liberties when our system incentivizes exploitation?

Both parties often claim to be for freedom and human flourishing, yet they vote for policies that benefit them, not the American people.

While it may seem like our political culture is far from saving, we still have a chance to reverse course.

If we can manage to restore principled leadership in America, we can lay the way for a brighter future.

I felt a call from God to pursue college shortly after a major surgery on my spine. I was completely lost when it came to my future, but during recovery, I could feel God nudging me in a certain direction. Both my parents were alumni, and my brother was currently attending GCC. After praying about it, I decided to tour the college. It didn’t take me long to understand that this was where God wanted me to be.

David Willbur ’25

I first heard of Grove City College through both alumni and parents of alumni in my circles back home. After much deliberation, I chose GCC for two main reasons: One, I agreed with their morals and code of ethics, and two, I knew they would provide me with the best engineering program out of the two schools I was considering. Overall, Grove City has been a great fit for me, and I am reminded that I made the right decision nearly every day.

Kendall Lambrecht ’26

I chose to attend Grove City College because of the school’s morality. Morals such as a liberal arts education, a core Christian foundation and conservative views. The size of the campus as well as how beautiful it is has helped me to finalize my decision in choosing Grove City College as a place to learn and live.

Grant Smith ’24

The main reason that I chose to come to Grove City for college was family connection. Both of my parents attended here (my dad is currently a professor here), as well as a few other relatives. Also, because my three older siblings went to other colleges, I felt like it was my duty to come to Grove City.

‘Zach Bryan’

Dom Puglisi

Contributing Writer

A couple of weeks ago I was checking out the top charts on Apple Music and something shocked me.

Zach Bryan, a country singer I had heard of in passing, was dominating every slot, usurping popular mainstays left and right.

This led me to wonder, what was so special about this country star? Through listening to his newest LP, the self-titled “Zach Bryan”, I have come to understand his unique appeal.

Bryan’s country is different from so many others through his earnestness and believability.

From the outset, Bryan sings in a different way than other modern country stars.

There is no fake or exaggerated accent here. Rather on songs like “Summertime’s Close,” he sounds so yearning, so emotional, so real that it is almost as though he is singing from the soul.

Bryan also does not sing about trivial things like cold beer and pretty women, but rather about his actual struggles, hopes and fears.

He sings of lost military comrades on “El Dorado” and the destruction of alcoholism on “Jake’s PianoLong Island.”

He clearly loves the country, yet he is not in a hurry to over-romanticize it. He writes of reality for better or for worse. It is lines like this one from the song “Smaller Acts” that attract people to Bryan: “There ain’t a grand thing a man can do, she’ll only love you for you.”

In a music sphere filled with indulgence, wealth and luxury, Bryan portrays a woman satisfied with the simple things. Bryan is not chasing life’s vices or a way to change who he is.

Rather, in “Hey Driver” and “Oklahoman Son,” he sings: “Hey, driver, the boys are gambling with more than just their cards, with their bottles, and their drugs, and their Bibles, and their hearts,” and “You can find and fiend and sell your guns, but you’ll always be the Oklahoman son.”

Bryan is unapologetically himself; what he sings about are not things that he hopes will be popular, but what he believes are true.

This is what sets Bryan apart from countless other country acts: he is real.

While everyone else sings about what people want to hear, Bryan charts his own path.

In “Tradesman” he sings, “So give me something I can’t fake, that rich boys can’t manipulate. Something real that they can’t take ‘cause Lord, I’m not your star,” and the people love it.

Everything is jazz

Vince Clay Entertainment Editor

It’s a sunny September afternoon, and the city of Pittsburgh is alive with activity. Hundreds of people from all backgrounds are walking along the riverside, eager to arrive at their destination.

If you listen closely, you can hear where these crowds are headed: a jazz festival.

Over the weekend of Sept. 14, Citizens Bank hosted the 13th annual Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival. Over the course of four days, the festival sought to explore the brilliant sound of Jazz and all of the forms it has taken: Jazz colored with classical, pop, flamenco, bachata, R&B and soul.

The setlist featured the likes of piano virtuosos like Howie Alexander and Bob James as well as outstanding vocal acts like Kurt Ellings and PJ Morton. Beyoncé collaborators Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis were featured acts as well as saxophonist Chelsea Baratz, who has worked with Aretha Franklin and Kali Uchis. This cross-cultural setlist is unsurprising, given Pittsburgh’s illustrious and thriving Jazz history. The genre itself developed out of the experience of black people in the south, but Pittsburgh quickly became a hotspot for the Jazz and Opera scenes in the centuries after the industrial revolution. The city has produced some of the

most talented and iconic jazz pianists of all time, like Walt Harper, Earl Hines and Errol Garner. It is fitting then, that so many bright faces are headed to Highmark Stadium to see the brilliant performers of today.

In the mid-afternoon sun, everyone’s eyes are drawn to the stage. Foregrounded by the Monongahela River and the skyline of the city, legendary jazz pianist Bob James elegantly sits down at the grand piano on stage and begins to play. The scene is deceptively unassuming; James is one of the most sampled artists in Hip-hop history, with over 1,700 samples credited to his name. The set moves into the more upbeat numbers, and the crowd is fixated upon the

band as they throw out improvised melodies like confetti into the air.

The backing bands for each performer are diverse in age and background but are united in their skill and respect for the craft. At one point, the entire backing band slowly gets replaced with new members, showing Jazz’s fluidity and freedom of personal expression between the notes of the songs. That excellence can most certainly be said of Bob James’s primary drummer, James Atkins.

At one point during one of the up-tempo numbers, the melody drops through, leaving Atkins alone for an epic drum solo. Within the silence, Atkins weaves through rhythms, loops and breakdowns with knife-sharp precision. The crowd can only gaze in wonder, while some festival vets give a resounding “Whoop!” as Atkins furiously dashes across the drum set, his braids whipping in the air. Those standing backstage are in awe; it’s like the sound he is producing is beyond human.

The 28-year-old is humble and deeply thoughtful. When asked how long he has been playing the drums, he takes a moment to think before recalling his answer. “My mom used to say that every day in her stomach she could feel this constant rhythm, so I guess since before I was

JAZZ

The Equalizer 3: Espionage in Italy

David Smith Staff Writer

It has been a long time since we have seen Robert McCall in action. After each of the previous two “The Equalizer” films, it is presumed that McCall’s vigilante work is over; however, it is not.

Since giving up his life as a government assassin, McCall, played by Denzel Washington, has found comfort in restoring peace on behalf of the oppressed. He now lives in Southern Italy and has fallen in love with the environment and people.

However, he quickly realizes something is amiss in this quaint Mediterranean town.

McCall discovers friends are under the influence of the Camorra, an Italian mafia, and he assumes his “Equalizer” role by taking on crime face-to-face.

Directed by Pittsburgh native and “Training Day” filmmaker Antoine Fuqua, “The Equalizer 3” just might be his crown jewel in the film series. Regardless, it is Washington who ultimately stands out above the rest—and he should. Denzel’s depiction of Robert McCall in this iteration is comparable to horror film villains, such as Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees. He seems immortal, unstoppable and persistent. Early in the film, McCall has all the bad guys believing he is just

an average man living a monotonous life. His dive back into tactful and impenetrable vigilante is seamless.

However, there are some drawbacks to “The Equalizer 3.” Although it may very well be the best in the franchise, the film basically follows a formulaic plot: bad guys do bad things to good people and the hero does bad things to the bad guys to make it stop. Despite its predictable trajectory, “The Equalizer 3” is a fun and enjoyable popcorn flick that is similar in nature to a spy thriller.

The international element of the film provides a captivating backdrop that renders a James Bond feel. This aspect is augmented by the

great Robert Ricardson, who serves as the cinematographer and second-time partner to Fuqua. The ethereal and warmth of the film’s texture works well. It functions as Fuqua’s portrait or vision of Italy.

VIOLET WHITMORE

VIOLET WHITMORE

War Thunder takes files by storm

Joel Sledd Sports Editor

How far would you go to help improve your favorite video game? You could give recommendations to the developers and report any bugs you may find, or perhaps you can post classified military documents in the online forum to improve the accuracy of the gameplay.

Unfortunately, for the European video game developer Gaijin Entertainment, their player base has a repeating issue with the latter. Gaijin’s most successful video game is War Thunder, and the players have a nasty habit of posting classified information in forums.

War Thunder is a military vehicle combat simulator filled with hundreds of planes, tanks and warships from many different

countries. Players can control these vehicles in battles against each other.

The developers pride themselves on modeling these vehicles as closely as possible to their real-life counterparts. However, they are not always accurate.

Players can use War Thunder’s online forums to point out inaccuracies in the hopes that developers will fix the issue.

However, some players have resorted to posting classified documents in the forums to improve accuracy.

In the past four years, there have been at least 10 instances of players leaking documents containing classified information on military vehicles in War Thunder’s official forums.

Information, especially on military equipment, can be priceless to other nations. When a defense contractor

introduces a new vehicle, a lot of details are redacted. Certain information, like materials used in its construction and performance statistics, are usually kept very secret by the government. This is so opposing nations do not develop counter-weapons or new strategies to destroy allied vehicles.

Even some older and outdated vehicles still have plenty of details classified. This information is extremely vital in the military-industrial complex, so this is why leaks of classified documents are such a big deal within national intelligence agencies, like the CIA or MI6.

The first recorded incident of a leak took place on May 18, 2020. A user posted a classified document detailing information about a Bangladeshi variant of the type 69 Chinese tank.

In the most recent inci-

dent, one player released the classified flight manual of the Eurofighter Typhoon, a European jet fighter. The post was taken down shortly after it was uploaded.

This issue is so common, it has been a running joke within the community. Official War Thunder social media pages have even been poking fun at its own players leaking documents to the forums.

After another incident earlier this year in January, War Thunder’s official Twitter page released a statement online pleading with the player base to stop leaking classified documents. They stated they are not able to use the leaked documents claiming it’s “turbo-illegal” and it could get them in serious legal issues with government organizations.

There have been many instances where a supposed

leaked document was actually declassified, but just hard to obtain. For example, on Sept. 12, 2023, a user posted the flight manual of the American F-117 Nighthawk. However, the documents were in fact declassified.

Rumors started circulating among the community that War Thunder players were being flagged as a security risk among the government and defense contractors. However, these rumors were denied when defense contractor Raytheon publicly released a statement confirming the rumor to be a hoax.

War Thunder is a testament to the lengths people will go to see their favorite video game improve. While it may cause headaches for Gaijin Entertainment and defense contractors alike, it is rather amusing to see these kinds of events unfold.

Mitski’s new record ‘The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We’ released

Vince Clay

Entertainment Editor

“So I checked out Mitski,” my dad texted me one day, “she likes horror movies, cats, and privacy… she’s also a vegan.” While none of that concerns her music, in essence it actually does. Mistki

Miyawaki’s bold personality seeps into nearly every aspect of her craft.

She’s been called “the most advanced American songwriter”, and for good reason. Her songs are gut-punches of cynicism and Juvenalian satire. Her ability to use dramatic irony and poetry is what sets her in an echelon all to herself in the “sad indie girl” scene.

Any given Mistki song about heartbreak isn’t just about heartbreak- her relationships are tightropes of bloody knives and blissful ignorance.

Her best songs are short,

JAZZ continued from 12

born.”

The answer is valid, especially as we found out it was his mother who had gifted him his first drum set for Christmas.

Eventually, he found Jazz in the 9th grade, and the rest

sing-song like motifs, written in easy keys with easy melodies to allow listeners to sing along.

The keyboards are always bubbly and colorful, like they could belong in a Studio Ghibli film. The guitars vary between sweet and raw, always carrying a punk energy.

These ideas burst forth

is history. But why Jazz? “Everything in music is Jazz,” Atkins says without thinking.

“Bob (James) has always said that Jazz is freedom, so I’ve been playing that since I’ve started,” he says with a smile.

At the end of the day, no matter what level of skill is presented, that’s what a Jazz Festival is all about. It’s that

on records like “Puberty 2”, “bury me at makeout creek”, and arguably her magnum opus, 2018’s “Be The Cowboy”.

However, on 2022’s “Laurel Hell”, the singer contemplated retirement and the music ultimately reflected that. The songs were overproduced and featured blasé

freedom, that inherently and irrevocably human expression that breaks down all barriers.

During the Spanish Harlem Orchestra’s act, one beautiful Latino couple began to dance.

It was a stirring moment, but before long the entire grounds were filled with

lyrics. It was a disappointing end for fans and critics alike.

However, Mitski is back in action. “The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We,” her 7th album, is a bold and rich tapestry of distinctly American stories set to the deeply American sounds of Country, Jazz, and Folk.

She wastes no time getting back to business. “As I got older, I learned I’m a drinker / Sometimes, a drink feels like family,” she sings thirty seconds into the opening track, “Bug Like an Angel”. The song is severely hushed, like it is trying to pass by under her breath in the presence of cold strangers. But when the choral vocals pop in on the hook melody, her feelings explode into the open, unable to contain themselves.

The best song on the album, “My Love Mine All Mine”, carries the reverent candlelight of a Jazz stan-

dancing festivalgoers of all kinds, silhouetted by the sunset behind Fort Pitt. That kind of cultural harmony was a sight to behold, spirits were high, and suddenly, nothing in the cold reality of the world seemed to matter.

Experiences that come through art like Jazz are intertwined with the human

dard, painting a personal moment of bliss in a dreary world. It is here that Mitski displays her uncanny knack of writing a song listeners feel like they’ve known their whole life, even if they’ve only listened to it once or twice.

On “I’m Your Man”, she sings, “You believe me like a god / I destroy you like I am / I’m sorry I’m the one you love”. Like the rustic promotional pictures for the album, this record is full of everyday people minimized to dogs, fighting for goodness in a bleak reality.

But, even if the land is inhospitable, so are we, and Mitski is back to rally us all to continue forward together. See the heart-wrenching “Star”: “Remember when we met? / We acted like two fools / We were so glad / So glad to have found it.”

mind yet wholly beyond it. Experiences like these transcend AI, political factions and ethnic barriers in a way that other mediums cannot. As long as art like this is fostered, humanity has a reason to keep beating the drum, continuing the kick that started before we were born.

STEREOGUM

Women defend on home court

Wolverines keep clean record in conference play as crucial games approach

Joel Sledd Sports Editor

Grove City Women’s Tennis is steamrolling their opponents this fall season. The Wolverines are now 7-2 on the season so far. With wins against every President Athletic Conference opponent they’ve played this year, the Wolverines are on top of the conference with Allegheny.

The women remain undefeated in the conference after playing Geneva College at home on Sept. 27. Defeating yet another conference rival with a score of 9-0, the Wolverines are second in the PAC.

On Sept. 21, the Wolverines swept McDaniel College, winning 9-0. Almost all six of the singles starters went 6-0 in both of their sets. Those six athletes would then pair up together and win all three doubles matches against the Green Terror. McDaniel College was their last nonconference opponent of the regular season.

On Sept. 18, Grove City traveled to face PAC rival Westminster. The Wolverines handed Westminster their first and only conference loss of the season so far, with a final score of 6-3. Two of the three Grove City doubles partners beat their opponents. The night would close with four of the six singles matches ending in victory for Grove City.

The freshmen have been

a welcoming addition to the team. Led by head coach Nathaniel Horner, the women enter another season-winning mindset and a strong culture.

“All the returning players and the freshmen are doing exceptionally well. Not just in the lineup, but deep into the roster,” says junior Alyssa Good. “I think overall, our team culture plays a big role in the success we have.”

The Wolverines have a difficult schedule ahead of them. With three matches left in the season, there is still an opportunity to make a statement in the PAC. The Wolverine’s next opponent, Allegheny, is the reigning champion winning the PAC Women’s Tennis Championship in 2022. At the moment, Allegheny is ranked first in the PAC with four conference wins. Although Grove City also has four conference wins and more wins in the regular season, Allegheny has a better win percentage of .833 (5-1).

Following the Allegheny matchup is the 2022 PAC runner-up Franciscan. Franciscan is 2-1 in conference games, placing 5th in the conference. The Wolverines enter the game with a chip on their shoulders, as Grove City lost to Franciscan last year in the PAC tournament.

“Allegheny and Franciscan will be our toughest competition, but we can compete and do well against them,”

Freshman Nicolette Rosati readies for a serve against Fredonia State

said senior Kelsey Coleman. “We’ve been performing well. I know we have some tougher matches coming up, but I’m pretty excited about those. We’ve been working

hard throughout the season, so I’m excited to show how far we’ve come and how far we’ve grown, and I think the results will show that.“

The women will play Al-

legheny College on Tuesday, Oct. 3 at 4:30 p.m. in Meadville, Pa.

The regular season will finish on Oct. 12 at Saint Vincent.

Volleyball rules rankings; tops in PAC

Garrett Gess

Contributing Writer

The Grove City volleyball team will enter the President’s Athletic Conference play in October with a solid 14-4 record, led by fourthyear head coach Leo Sayles.

Last weekend at the RoseHulman Tournament, the Wolverines fell 3-0 to their host, Rochester Institute of Technology, but took down Asbury 3-0 and Anderson 3-1 the next morning.

Grove City started off hot, with a 10-1 record, and dominated at the Penn State Behrend Tournament, defeating Utica, PSU Behrend, Fredonia State and Alfred State, all in 3-0 victories. At the St. John Fisher/RIT Invitational, the Wolverines cooled off in losses to Rochester 3-0 and Trine 3-1.

Grove City finished the tournament strong with a win over RIT 3-1 and defeated Westminster 3-1 in the next week.

Senior middle blocker Anna DeGraaf, who is leading the Wolverines with 159 kills and 57 blocks, commented on team performance, recalling, “Coming into the season we talked a lot about the mental focus we need to bring to every practice and rep if we want to really excel as a team. Our focus has been to give more than we think we can give, and not lose focus, regardless of circumstance.”

“We have incredible players on the roster this year with really diverse skills, and it has been exciting to see how everyone’s hard

work in practice has been showing in some incredible games. While we have had a few losses, they have taught us important lessons and we are gearing up to come out strong in the upcoming conference matches.”

Right behind DeGraaf in kills is freshman outside hitter Alexis Standford, with 129 kills. Standford has proved to be a formidable force in just her first season. Junior setter Kennedy Kerr leads the Wolverines in assists and aces, with 331 and 42, respectively.

Senior libero Gabby Lucas leads the team in digs with 293.

Sophomore outside hitter Bella Costa and sophomore setter Brooklyn Wirebaugh, were among Grove City’s five “Players to Watch” in the PAC Poll. Grove City placed just behind Bethany in the PAC preseason poll, with four first-place votes, 86 in total, compared to Bethany’s six, 90 in total.

Last season, the Wolverines were seeded 2nd in the PAC, after starting 0-5 and going 18-4 the rest of the way. In the PAC playoffs, Grove City was stunned in a home semifinal loss to Bethany, who were the eventual PAC Champions, even after defeating them 3-1 on their home court during the regular season.

During the playoff semifinals, Grove City had a 2-1 lead and were up 19-16 in the fourth set and all pointed towards a trip to Theil for the PAC Championship.

However, Bethany fought back hard, going on a 7-1 stretch, eventually winning

the set.

Grove City trailed 10-6 in the fifth set but came roaring back to take an 11-10 lead.

Bethany then tied the match and took the lead with con

court.

secutive serving aces, securing the victory 15-13.

This 2023 season serves as an opportunity to rewrite the string of last year’s misfortunes while keeping focus on

one game at a time. The Wolverines will play at Geneva College tomorrow at 1 p.m. tomorrow, then they will start their conference play on Oct. 4.

GRACE DAVID

LYDIA GILANSHAH

Sophomore setter Brooklyn Wirebaugh on home

Sports at a Glance

Results

Football (4-0):

Sept. 16, Win @ Case Western Reserve (27-24)

Sept. 23, Win vs. Carnegie Mellon (21-14)

Steelers WR picks up yardage in loss to 49ers in week 1.

Overreacting to NFL

Joel Sledd Sports Editor

We’re three weeks into the NFL, and we have already seen some great, and terrible, performances. Some of these teams have made very drastic changes in the offseason.

Unfortunately for Steelers fans, one thing did not change. Matt Canada is back for another year as the offensive coordinator, and he brought his stale, repetitive offensive scheme with him. The Steelers’ offense ranks 30th in points per drive and dead last in average plays per drive.

While the Steelers were able to hold on to the win in week two against the Cleveland Browns, the crowd displayed their distaste for their coordinator, chanting “Fire Canada” after another failed drive during the game. Despite this, the Steelers currently sit at 2-1, tied with the Browns and the Baltimore Ravens for the AFC North.

Sitting in last place in the division is the Cincinnati Bengals. The AFC North seems to be up for grabs as the Bengals, who were favored to win the division this year, look rather incomplete on the field.

Joe Burrow’s five-year $275m contract seems too expensive for his performance so far this season.

Burrow ranks 24th in passing yards and 28th in quarterback ratings with a rating of 38.1.

His mediocre performance can be drawn up to a calf injury he suffered earlier this year, but the Bengals’ offense has fallen far from grace.

Every offense in the AFC

continued from 16

GCC history. He even participated in the United States Olympic Trials during his junior year. Courage was the first men’s swimmer to win a national title and he finished his swimming career earning the title of College’s Sportsman of the Year.

Mike Kashurba Kashurba excelled as a multisport athlete, leading Wolverine’s baseball and football to conference titles.

On the diamond, Kashurba contributed to the first conference title in Wolverine’s baseball history. He started at shortstop for all four seasons while playing in a total of 126 games, which set a program record. He held the program record for most career runs scored with 108 throughout four seasons. For football, Kashurba was a defensive end for most of his career, earning All-PAC honors in 1998 and 1999. He also

North seems to be struggling in some way. The Ravens are no exception, losing multiple star players on both sides of the ball due to injuries, and the Browns are stuck with quarterback Deshaun Watson while premier runningback Nick Chubb recovers from a horrific injury.

The teams in this division have had some ugly performances these past three weeks, but one team performed so poorly, that it took all the negative media coverage off every other team.

The Denver Broncos’ defense may have had the worst single-game performance in the Super Bowl era. Last Sunday, the Broncos’ defense allowed the Miami Dolphins’ offense to score 70 points. At the receiving end of this historically bad performance is Broncos’ defensive coordinator Vance Joseph.

Joseph was previously fired from the Broncos in 2018 but was hired again when new head coach Sean Payton took over the team earlier this year. Now, Broncos fans are once again calling for him to be fired after the historic loss.

The Dolphins put 726 total yards of offense, which is the second-most yards for a single game in NFL history. They are also the first offense to score 70 points since 1966.

The Chicago Bears received a similar punishment, albeit less severe, from the Kansas City Chiefs, losing 10-41. The Bears are now 0-3, and the high expectations QB Justin Fields received in the offseason have been shattered.

One could reasonably assume Fields hasn’t received much help from the Bears’ lackluster roster, but Fields

earned first-team All-PAC his sophomore year, totaling four interceptions and 85 tackles. After returning from an injury in the 2000 season, Kashurba switched to quarterback where he started all 10 games and led the team in offensive yards.

Jim Poole Poole was another multisport athlete, succeeding in the Wolverine’s wrestling and football programs. For wrestling, Poole held a total record of 33-11 before he graduated in 1970. He held the second most wins for the Wolverine’s wrestling program. On the football field, Poole was a formidable linebacker, assisting an impressive Wolverine’s defense. After he graduated, Poole worked as a science teacher and a football/wrestling coach for the Grove City Area School District.

Tim Whitbeck

Whitbeck contributed greatly to the men’s swimming dynasty in the early

hasn’t really contributed a lot to the team either. Throwing four interceptions and only three touchdowns so far this year, Fields ranks 29th in passing yards at the end of week three.

With Bears defensive coordinator Alan Williams departing from the team due to a huge scandal, it may be time for Bears fans to panic as it seems the whole organization has collapsed in on itself.

In a cruel twist of fate, the Broncos and Bears just happen to play each other this Sunday.

In what could possibly be the worst game of the year, this matchup of a stoppable force versus a moveable object may determine who the worst organization is this year.

It is still early in the season, so it is possible these teams can turn it around, but some major changes would need to happen soon.

The New York Jets continue their treacherous journey through quarterback purgatory with a newly acquired quarterback Aaron Rodgers suffering a major injury just four plays into his first game. While quarterback Zack Wilson steps back into his role, the Jets’ season seems to be over as their offense can’t find their rhythm and Rodgers won’t return in the foreseeable future.

The Jets did sign Veteran quartback Trevor Siemian, to add to their roster.

There are still 14 more weeks left of the season, so a lot can change. But, these organizations must act and cut off the dead weight in order to see improvement.

2000s. Whitbeck finished his collegiate career as a 14-time Division III All-American. He recorded a winning time at the 2007 NCAA Championship and placed third nationally in the 50-meter freestyle in 2008 and 2009. Whitbeck would also earn the PAC Most Valuable Performer in 2008.

The athletic department is catching up on the Hall of Fame after missing a couple of years due to the pandemic.

“The toughest thing about a HOF is that for every person you put in, someone does not get in. We’d love to do more per class, but we feel that we cannot give the proper amount of attention to those who are going in, so we have to limit the amount of inductees,” said Gibson.

These athletes were honored before the annual night home football game against Carnegie Mellon on Sept. 23.

Women’s Soccer (?-?):

Sept. 16, Win vs. Susquehanna (2-1)

Sept. 20, Win @ Chatham (5-1)

Sept. 23, Tie vs. Franciscan (3-3)

Sept. 27, Win/Loss @ Westminster (-)

Men’s Soccer (?-?):

Sept. 16, Tie vs. Buffalo State (1-1)

Sept. 20, Win @ Chatham (4-2)

Sept. 23, Win vs. Franciscan (3-1)

Sept. 27, Win/Loss @ Westminster (-)

Women’s Volleyball (14-4):

Sept. 15, Loss @ Rochester (2-3)

Sept. 16, Loss @ Trine (1-3)

Sept. 16, Win @ R.I.T. @ (3-1)

Sept. 22, Loss @ Rose-Hulman (0-3)

Sept. 22, Win @ Asbury (3-0)

Sept. 23, Win @ Anderson (3-1)

Women’s Tennis (6-2):

Sept. 16, Win vs. Fredonia State (9-0)

Sept. 18, Win @ Westminster (6-3)

Sept. 21, Win @ Mcdaniel (9-0)

Sept. 21, Win/loss vs. Geneva (-)

Men’s Cross Country

Sept. 23,19th/35 @ Lock Haven Invitational

Women’s Cross Country:

Sept. 23, 23rd/37 @ Lock Haven invitational

Men’s Golf:

Sept. 19, 2nd/7 @ Bethany Invitational

Sept. 24-25, 7th/13 @ Allegheny Invitational

Women’s Golf:

Sept. 11, 4th/9 @ Thiel Invitational

Sept. 16, Win @ Franciscan Invitational (404-416)

Upcoming

Football:

Sept. 30, 2:00 p.m. vs. Washington & Jefferson

Women’s Soccer

Sept. 29, 7:00 p.m. @ Oberlin

Oct. 4, 4:30 p.m. vs. Thiel

Men’s Soccer

Sept. 29, 7:30 p.m. vs. Point Park

Oct. 4, 7:00 p.m. vs. Thiel

Women’s Volleyball

Sept. 30, 1:00 p.m. @ Geneva

Oct. 4, 7:00 p.m. vs. Waynesburg

Women’s Tennis

Oct. 3, 4:30 p.m. @ Allegheny

WOLVERINE WEEKLY HONORS

Cayla Lawrence Women’s XC Newcomer of the week

Camden Thomas Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week

Daniel Sullivan Football Newcomer of the week

Gabby Lucas Women’s Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week

Britta Lagerquist Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week

JOEL SLEDD

MSOC undefeated in PAC

Joel Sledd Sports Editor

Men’s soccer began their conference play last week defeating three President’s Athletic Conference opponents in the span of a week.

The Wolverines are now 3-24 on the season with no conference losses. These wins place GCC at the top of the PAC as they are currently the only team with a 3-0 record against conference opponents.

Men’s soccer improved their record defeating PAC opponent Westminster. With a final score of 2-0, the Wolverines are undefeated against conference teams this year. Fifth-year defender Matt Kimmich scored the first goal at the 20:56 mark. The second goal would go to

junior forward Jordan Rebsamen, who was assisted by junior midfielder John-Luc Harbour. As of now, Grove City is the only team in the PAC to defeat three conference opponents.

Scoring three goals in the first half, the Wolverines would shut down Franciscan College in a 3-1 victory at home.

The former conferencewinning team would fail to stop Grove City’s high-powered offense in a lopsided match on Don Lyle Field. Sophomore midfielder Aiden Eck scored the first goal off a penalty kick early in the first half.

Eight minutes later, sophomore midfielder Camden Thomas would score again with assists from senior forward Hunter Hardin and

5 alums enter Hall of Fame

Joel Sledd Sports Editor

On Sept. 23, Grove City College inducted five new alumni athletes into the Wolverines Hall of Fame.

Hall of Fame inductions were put on pause due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The most recent Hall of Fame class was in 2019.

“We looked at restarting the HOF several times, but first were dealing with unknown Covid situations,” said Athletic Director Todd Gibson ’02. “We were more focused on making sure our current student athletes’ experiences were at the highest level possible.”

The 2023 Hall of Fame class consists of Kristen Schafer ’09, Caleb Courage ’09, Mike Kashurba ’02, Jim Poole ’70 and Tim Whitbeck ’09. These five alumni set records, won championships and led programs during their athletic career at Grove City.

Kristen Schafer Schafer may be one of the most accomplished crosscountry runners in the history of Grove City’s athletic program. In 2007, Schafer placed 26th overall in the NCAA Division III championship. Her success also transferred to outdoor track and field, where she would win five individual titles and set a conference record in the

Kimmich. Freshman midfielder Noah Grey would then seal the game with a third goal at 38:27. Franciscan would score once in the second half, but the Wolverines defense prevented any more points. The Wolverines held a total of 15 shots and 5 shots on the goal, vastly outperforming Franciscan in every offensive statistic. Their first win of the season came against their first PAC opponent Chatham. To say the Wolverines merely beat Chatham would be an understatement, as Chatham’s defense was completely overwhelmed throughout the whole match.

Winning 4-2 over the Cougars, the men had an unbelievable offensive performance nearly tripling Chatham in almost every sta-

tistic. The Wolverines had 27 total shots compared to Chatham’s 7 and an astounding 19 shots on the goal by Grove City’s offense.

At the forefront of this amazing performance was Thomas and senior defender Ari Campbell. Thomas had one of the best individual performances of the year with two goals and an astounding seven shots on the goal. Campbell also scored two goals and contributed another four shots on the goal.

Chatham’s defense crumpled under the weight of Grove City’s aggressive offense, giving the Wolverines their first win of the season.

The PAC is a competitive conference for men’s soccer. In the last three years, three different teams would

win the PAC championship. Since 2016, six different schools have won the championship.

The only team to win multiple championships since 2016 was Washington and Jefferson when they won in 2019 and the spring COVID season in 2021.

“Every year is going to be a dogfight. We know we’re good enough to beat everyone, but we’ve just got to play well. We lost some really good players from last year, but our team culture is the same as last year,” said Eck.

The Wolverines will play their last non-conference opponent for their next match. Grove City will play Point Park College today at 4:30 p.m. at home on Don Lyle field.

GCC ATHLETICS GCC Athletics Hall of Fame class of 2023 before the annual night football game.

1500-meter race. After her college career, Schafer would qualify and compete in the United States Olympic Marathon Trials in 2012 and 2016.

Caleb Courage Courage participated in

and won multiple swimming and diving events. He would win three separate Division III national titles throughout his college career, as well as winning 11 individual conference titles. Setting five con-

GRACE DAVID

Junior midfielder John-Luc Harbor in action vs. Buffalo State.