Swinging Bridge Magazine: October 2019

THE

THE PULSE MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2019

TRAIL ENDINGS

REMEMBER WHEN...

18

RECIPES FROM

HOME

30

SPORTS

MESSIAH: THEN AND NOW

FORE-GOTTEN

8

11

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THE

SWINGING B R I DG E VOLU M E 1 0 7

EDITION 13

LETTER FROM THE

EDITOR

O C T. 2 0 1 9

STUDENT DIRECTOR

ASST. STUDENT DIRECTOR

DAKOTA VAUGHN

AMY LINT

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF CHARMAINE LIM ART DIRECTOR AMELIA MARKEY AUDIO & VISUAL MANAGER KAI YUEN LEONG

STUDENT LIFE EDITOR

CULTURE EDITOR

SPORTS & REC EDITOR

CELICA COOK

KENDRA SOMMERS

JORY HAGEN

BUSINESS MANAGER

DESIGN ASSISTANTS

WEB CONTENT MANAGER

SARAH BLESSING

ANDRE FRUEH

MADDIE CONLEY

ABIGAIL ZOEBISCH YEARBOOK MANAGER ABIGAIL ZOEBISCH

AUDIO & VISUAL ASSISTANTS

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER ALLYSON HUFFORD

JANELLE BARGERSTOCK RADIO MANAGER

KATHERINE CHAMBERLAIN

JOSHUA STANLEY

MUSIC MANAGER MATT DEKONTY

Monday - Friday | 1pm - 5pm 717-691-6081 1 COLLEGE AVENUE SUITE 3058

W

hen I thought about Homecoming, I was reminded of how nostalgic it can be for alumni to return to campus. Whether they graduated last year, five years ago, ten years ago, or 30 years ago, there are certain memories that come rushing back as they arrive on campus.

For some, it’s the familiar classroom. For others, it’s seeing how much things have changed since they were a student.

To me, nostalgia is incredibly powerful. I can hear music and think of childhood friends, eat food and remember favorite memories, read books and re-live young adventures. It doesn’t just remind me of the past, it also shows me how much things, and myself, have changed since then.

As we put together this issue, I wanted to use nostalgia as a way to show how much Messiah has grown over the years. We have new stories to tell, new adventures ahead and new ways to look at the things we’ve always known. I think it’s one of the best ways to celebrate the history we share as people who have walked this campus.

I hope you feel that sense of nostalgia as you read these stories and see this campus again.

MECHANICSBURG, PA 17055

(Downstairs South Wing of the Larsen Student Union) The Swinging Bridge Magazine is published through The Pulse: Messiah College Media Hub, run by students. The Pulse consists of Pulse Radio (90.7), The Clarion yearbook, and The Swinging Bridge Magazine. The Swinging Bridge staff strives to publish quality student writing, photography, and design.

To learn about job and volunteer opportunities, email thepulse@messiah.edu.

Charmaine Lim Editor-In-Chief

TABLE

OF

CONTENTS

STUDENT LIFE

CULTURE

SPORTS & REC

5

18

25

DISNEY THROWBACKS

RECIPES FROM HOME

DOWN MEMORY LANE

10 SONG WE ALL REMEMBER

6

20

CAMPUS CLOSET

THE REAL COLUMBUS DAY

8

22

TEACHING WITH STYLE

TRAIL ENDINGS

SAYING GOODBYE TO ADVENTURE EDUCATION

11

REMEMBER WHEN

15

EMILY, REMEMBERED

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OCTOBER 2019

HOME IS...

26

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

MIKE HELM, NCAA CHAMPION

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DOWN IN HISTORY MESSIAH ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME

30

FORE-GOTTEN SPORTS

STUDENT LIFE

DISNEY THROWBACKS 10 DISNEY CHANNEL SONGS WE ALL REMEMBER

BY APRIL HOOPER

4) “Introducing Me”

from Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam (2010)

1) “Breaking Free”

from High School Musical (2006) This climactic song embodies Troy and Gabriella’s struggle to defy the stereotypes that hold them back. It is the mark of our own childhoods as we followed their love story and hoped to break free just like them.

2) “What Time is it?”

from High School Musical 2 (2007) This song, all about the excitement of summer finally arriving, carries the nostalgic anticipation of counting down the minutes until school is out. The feeling that summer is the “time of our lives” fades as we age, so this song is a good reminder of the magic of our youth.

3) “Play My Music” from Camp Rock (2008)

Not only is this song from a well-loved movie, but it was also sung by the Jonas Brothers before they split. With the announcement of their reunion in early 2019, this double throwback has Joe Jonas helping us remember that all we needed when we were younger was a good song and a dream.

With its fast-paced and complicated chorus, this song about a boy introducing himself to a girl was like a dare to try to sing it as fast as possible without messing up. It is reminiscent of awkward first encounters and hopeless crushes that we all experienced in middle school.

5) “Today is Gonna be a Great Day”

Phineas and Ferb theme song (2007-2015) No matter what age you are, this theme song brings up memories of finding unique and creative ways to spend your free time during the 104 days of summer vacation, whether that be annoying your siblings or fighting super villains.

6) “Everything is Not as it Seems”

Wizards of Waverly Place theme song (2007-2012) Hearing this song is a fun reminder of how much we wanted to be part of this family of wizards and what we would do if we had magic powers.

7) “The Best of Both Worlds” Hannah Montana theme song (2006-2011)

The moment the first note begins, everyone is immediately transported back to their childhood of watching Hannah Montana and her journey as an undercover popstar. You cannot help but sing along to this catchy tune.

8) “Hoedown Throwdown”

from Hannah Montana: The Movie (2009) This song is associated with hours spent learning and performing the iconic dance that accompanies it and proudly showing off our skills to our friends. This movie also marks the end of the Hannah Montana era where she reveals her identity to the world, carrying a bittersweet feeling.

9) “Nobody’s Perfect”

by Miley Cyrus (2008)

This was every elementary schooler’s anthem and a positive reminder that everyone messes up, but that is okay. With its relatable lyrics, it was a popular feel-good song of the 2000s, but it can still boost your mood, even today.

10) “What Dreams are Made Of”

from The Lizzie McGuire Movie (2003) As the first of many Disney Channel original movies based off a TV show, Hilary Duff sings about living the dream. Even if you never saw the movie, most people can still sing along to this timeless bop.

THE SWINGING BRIDGE

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STUDENT LIFE

CAMPUS JAELYNN HARBOLD

SENIOR MIDDLE LEVEL ENGLISH EDUCATION MAJOR “I try to be very conservative since I want to teach middle school.

For the first few weeks, I’ll probably wear heels because a lot of the boys are taller than me, so I think it’s important to show that I have dominance in the classroom.

I like to wear long necklaces and dangly earrings. It’s my favorite way to make an outfit either dressy or not. I also love good shoes.

I’m pretty plain. I don’t try many new things.”

SENIOR SECONDARY LEVEL EDUCATION MAJOR CONCENTRATION: HISTORY

“I would say that my style is comfortable and breathable. I think the most important thing is being able to move around the classroom, so obviously I don’t want to be sweating. Usually, I wear lightweight things, especially during the warmer months. I try to always do long sleeves if I can, it just feels more professional.

Pants are pretty easy, even the ones that are colored. It’s easy to pair patterns with those solid colors.

Ankle to head, I try to keep it pretty professional. Clean cut, pressed and sharp. I feel like the way you present yourself is important, so you keep the students focused. But I feel like socks are the one area where I let my style slide a little bit. I try to be a little fun and creative with socks. They would be the one area I take a little more liberty.

I feel like I experiment a little bit with different colored pants, but then I would keep the shirt pretty plain. For shirts, I would experiment with patterns like checkered or simple patterns. I would wear print if it was very subtle.

I’m a huge sucker for thrift stores. I’m always subtly on the lookout for teacher clothes because obviously, it’s harder to find. You need to kind of pick and choose, but every once in awhile, you find a good one.”

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OCTOBER 2019

ANDREW WALTERS

STUDENT LIFE

CLOSET TEACHING WITH STYLE

BY CHARMAINE LIM

JESSICA AVALLONE

SENIOR MIDDLE LEVEL ENGLISH EDUCATION MAJOR & TESOL MINOR “I would say I’m bold. A lot of teachers wear cardigans, comfy pants and comfy shoes. I just don’t love that style as a teacher. I want to teach in middle school, so I don’t like anything too tight. I love wearing fun things on my arms, which can sometimes be a problem because then I can’t put jackets on. Then I’m always freezing in the classroom. My feet are usually cold because I like cute shoes.

My favorite part about wearing dresses and skirts is wearing tights, especially patterned tights. I also love wearing little scarves.

I do love skirts. That’s probably one of my favorites because you can have so many combinations, as opposed to a dress. I would probably say that I have the most skirts. You can really pop your outfit with a cute skirt, and they have to have pockets. It’s a go-to in my clothing.

I like to try different combinations and color patterns. It’s my favorite way to experiment with my style. I hate matching. I like it to coordinate.”

DREW LAIRD

SENIOR MIDDLE LEVEL EDUCATION MAJOR CONCENTRATION: SOCIAL STUDIES & MATH

“I never put style above comfort, but I don’t just throw style away.

I make sure that I look presentable in every situation. I wear cool socks occasionally. I have polar bear socks. The most elaborate one I have is a pug riding a skateboard in the city. Those are probably my favorites. Most of my socks are from Target.

I have definitely experimented more recently [with style]. I don’t experiment a ton, I try to keep it pretty normal. Occasionally, I’ll go a little more blue. Lately I’ve been looking into more green.

Those are some colors I don’t incorporate very well.”

THE SWINGING BRIDGE

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STUDENT LIFE

BY MADDIE CONLEY

ENDINGS SAYING GOODBYE TO THE ADVENTURE EDUCATION MAJOR

R

aegan McClymont was a first-year student when she went on a spring break backpacking trip in the foothills of Georgia with the Outdoors Club. She loved everything about it - the hiking, the scenery, the company.

“Having time and space to connect with God in a new way, in that setting, was very different than what I had been experiencing in my relationship with Christ during that academic year,” she said.

At the time, McClymont was studying nursing, but she never felt comfortable in her nursing courses. It wasn’t until she laced up her boots and cinched her backpack straps that she discovered a major more fitting for the talents and gifts she already had within her.

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OCTOBER 2019

And so, she became Education major.

an

Adventure

Quickly she was immersed in the courses, connecting with the material in ways she did not in her nursing classes. Where nursing had left her unsatisfied, Adventure Education gave her fulfillment.

“I wouldn’t be in school if it wasn’t for this program,” McClymont said.

Two years later, in April, 2019, McClymont found herself crying in class as she heard the news that the program she grew to love would be cut and phased out after four more years.

COLUMBUS DAY

STUDENT LIFE

What’s Happening to Adventure Education?

The Adventure Education major began in the fall of 2004, 13 years after The Loft was started as a partnership between Messiah and the Coalition for Christian Outreach (CCO). Before the major was put in place, Dave Tanis served as the Director of Adventure Programs.

He later took on the role of professor. In the summer of 2007, Wendell Witter was hired and began directing the Loft, later instructing Adventure Education courses as well.

After a few job title changes, Tanis now serves as the Associate Professor of Adventure Education programs and Witter is the Coordinator of Cocurricular Adventure Ed programs. However, Witter has been told this is his last year and although Tanis was given two more years, he plans to leave after this year.

“Essentially there are two full-time people, Wendell and I, that help deliver adventure programming here at Messiah College both through the major and co-curricularly through the Outdoors Club and the Loft, and that’s going to be changed to one half-time person,” Tanis said. “That’s a pretty significant reduction in resources towards that kind of programming.”

The college has committed to continuing adventure programming outside the major, Angela Hare, dean of the school of science, engineering and health said.

She explained that the decision to cut the major was “related to low enrollment and not at all about the quality of the program.”

The academic department evaluated overall enrollment, including first-year students and transfers in the process of making the decision whether to cut the program or not. Their findings led them to believe that cutting the program would make sense based on the low enrollment issue.

Hare did note that current major students will still graduate with a degree in Adventure Education. However, the school is working to try and get students to complete major requirements by the end of the next academic year.

“If they’re going to make a judgement based purely on that specific standard of numbers and that’s the only criteria to look at, I can’t really argue with that,” Witter said. “I think there’s other factors that the school could choose to look at that determine the value of a major like Adventure Education continuing.”

Impact and Influence Senior Caleb Schluep hadn’t been looking at Messiah as an option a few years ago—at least not until he discovered the Adventure Education major. He decided to come for the major’s preview day. After meeting the professors and connecting them instantly, he decided to pursue his degree in Adventure Education.

“People in the major become like a family,” Schluep said. “We have really close connections that I have not observed in other majors.”

He’s now in his third year being on the Loft leadership team where he specializes in teaching canoeing. Schluep leads other activities such as team building for various leadership groups on campus.

“My ability to do that is because of the skills I’ve learned in the Adventure Education major,” Schluep said.

Tanis described adventure programming at Messiah as existing in three categories—recreational, educational and developmental. The recreational portion uses adventure activities so that students can simply have fun. The educational portion helps students develop skills and knowledge needed to serve as professionals in the field of adventure programming. Developmental programming is uses intentional activities to promote personal and communal growth, Tanis explained.

“Developmental and educational adventure programming requires a lot more skill and a lot more training,” Tanis said. “I foresee the adventure programming at Messiah moving away from developmental programming— which is primarily what the Loft does now— and more towards recreational, just because it’s easier to train.”

However, to students like McClymont and Schluep, personal growth is what has impacted them the most.

“The whole major is about influencing people.

It’s not about what activity you’re doing, it’s about what you’re learning,” Schuep said.

THE SWINGING BRIDGE

9

STUDENT LIFE Wilderness Encounter has been one of the developmentally focused courses within the major. Over J-term, students from the major and outside the major go backpacking in either Texas or Hawaii over the course of a few weeks. Their goal is to encounter God, creation, self and others in new ways. This comes through readings, discussions and exercises that the students participate in.

“It brings together people that would have never come in contact with each other,” Emma Stratton, who went on the Hawaii trip, said.

“For a lot of people, that’s their first encounter with deep, intentional relationships.

There will be one more Wilderness Encounter course in J-term 2020.

Like Wilderness Encounter, many aspects of the Adventure Education major have reached past the students in the major themselves.

What’s next?

There are a lot of questions about the future of The Loft and the Outdoors Club with the termination of the Adventure Education program. Will the Loft continue to exist as it has in the past? What about the Outdoors Club?

What’s next for Tanis? And what about Witter, who has lived on campus for over 10 years?

“I don’t know what’s next,” Witter said. “Most days I’m okay with that because I see God’s faithfulness over the years […] I’m confident that God has something good, even if I can’t see it at the present.”

“I’m so different than when I came into Messiah and I feel like most of that is because of The Loft and because of the major,” Schluep said.

Adventure Education has, and will continue to leave its legacy through the students it has prepared and sent out into the world. Thanks to the faithful direction of Tanis, Witter, and their commitment to their students, their work, and their God-given passions, students have been able to get closer to creation, find laughter and recreation amidst the stresses of their academic lives. Everyone they impacted could find peace and rest in the comfort of a solid community of people who appreciate the value of spending time enjoying the great outdoors together.

With all these questions comes sadness and fear, but it is evident that the Adventure Education major has had a positive impact on every student who has been through the program.

Stratton remembers when she first transferred to Messiah and was welcomed by Tanis.

“He invests in people more than just as a professor,” she said.

Although a communications major, Stratton participated in spring break and Wilderness Encounter trips, along with becoming Communications Executive for the Outdoors Club.

Seeing how the Adventure Education program has impacted her, she is concerned for what the rest of campus will miss out on once the major is gone.

“It impacts our whole campus and not just the people that enjoy the outdoors,” Stratton said.

F CHILDLIKE FAITH

BY HALEY MONG

aith is a gift given to us by God so that we may be saved by him (Ephesians 2:8). As we grow older, faith may become seemingly complicated, but God has already given us the ability to come to Him with anything so that He can simplify it through His truth. This is just as a child runs to their parents in complete trust, knowing they can be guided. God calls us to return back to the faith we had as a child – simply seeking him first and trusting wholeheartedly.

“And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you

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OCTOBER 2019

will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18: 3-4).

As image-bearers of God, we are His children.

Beyond that, He calls us to be His children.

We were God’s children the day He created us, but we also must choose to be His child and accept the gift of faith. Hebrews 11:6 says that God “rewards those who earnestly seek him,” and we do this by renewing our child-like faith, trusting that He has saved us.

STUDENT LIFE

Remember When...

BY CELICA COOK

WHAT MESSIAH WAS AND WHAT IT IS NOW

onstruction sounds seem to be part of everyday campus life now. Over the past 110 years, Messiah has grown and changed a lot. New buildings have gone up and new academic programs have been established. Yet, physical changes of campus haven’t done anything to change the spirit of Messiah and its core values over the years. Even as Messiah continues its transition into a university, there are students-turned-faculty who say that the core of Messiah’s culture and mission remain more or less the same.

a kid who grew up in the country, who went to a small Christian school, I realized that if I were to do two years at Penn State Allentown and then transfer to the main campus, that was just too big for me.”

Templeton described his household as a “Penn State” household, and he was not going to be the one to break that tradition.

“I never even went to the guidance counselor because I knew I was going to Penn State,” Templeton said.

Mark Templeton, ‘91, Director of Leadership Gifts in the Department of Planned Leadership Gifts remembers why he chose to attend as a student.

After visiting State College though, Templeton decided to give Messiah a try. After being on campus for just 30 minutes, he was ready to move in. “I knew it was where I was going to be comfortable. It would be home.”

“My first year was at Penn State Allentown,” Templeton said. “Within the first six weeks, we had taken two trips out to State College. As

A strong sense of community still remains intact on Messiah’s campus today as it did when Templeton was a student.

THE SWINGING BRIDGE

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STUDENT LIFE

It wasn’t that long ago that Messiah followed suit with the movie Footloose (1984) and lifted its dance ban. The occasion? The inauguration of Rodney J. Sawatsky, Messiah’s seventh president. The night started with swing music, then finished with contemporary Christian music. Before 1995, if you wanted to groove, boogie, or just get down, you couldn’t do it at the Student Union on a Friday, or in Hitchcock at Homecoming like you can today. Next time you bust a move on campus, remember you have President Sawatsky to thank!

NCE M E SS IA H D A 19 9 5 - FI R ST

Abby Book, Coordinator for Employer and Alumni Engagement and a 1998 Messiah graduate, recalls almost not attending Messiah because of the rules around dance. Until the late 90s, dancing was not allowed on campus.

Fortunately, the ban was lifted during her first year as a student.

Since dancing was relatively new to Messiah College, the dance major didn’t exist. To continue the pursuit of her passion, Book began teaching dance classes at the dance studio located in Grantham. In October of her first semester (‘94), she saw an advertisement for starting a dance company at Messiah.

“I went to a meeting and it was ‘Acclamation,’” Book said. “I named ‘Acclamation’ actually. I was artistic director for it my sophomore, junior and senior years.”

Book recalls having dance rehearsals at the racket ball courts until the dance group petitioned Dr. Rodney Sawatsky, the college president at the time, to give them the Witmer basement as a rehearsal space.

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OCTOBER 2019

Once the space was given to them, Book and her team of fellow dancers set to work on making the Witmer basement into a dance studio.

“We raised money for the floors. They were renovating Bittner, so we got the mirrors out of the bathroom and put them on the walls, and we got pipe for the bars,” Book said.

Since then, Acclamation has grown immensely and Messiah has added dance to the long list of majors students can choose from.

Much like the college students of today, Book remembers enjoying her time with friends both in and outside of the dorms. She recalls how she would sing in the shower room with her friends, go sledding in the winter and apple picking in the fall. She even recalls how campus smells the same to her now as it did when she was a student.

“My friend Lindsey, who I was roommates with, lives in Colorado now, so she hardly ever comes back,” Book said. “When she came back I brought her here, and she [said] it smells the same! And I agreed. Walking by the mailboxes, it still smells the same as it did when I was a student.”

STUDENT LIFE

"I still see students who value and want what Messiah says it offers. They desire education, mentorship, and relationships that are based around their desire to follow after Christ."

Much has changed since Book’s time as a student here, but evidently, the smells have not.

As buildings go up and generations come and go, the most memorable aspects of life at Messiah College remain intact.

Scott Frey, Head Women's Soccer Coach, graduated from Messiah in 1984. As a former studentathlete-turned-head-coach himself, he has seen how the athletic program at Messiah has changed since his time.

Frey was an active and involved student. His primary activity was, of course, soccer, but on top of that, he was a part of the track team, wrestling team and had a leadership position in SAB.

“It was just different back then,” Frey said.

“Back then, you didn’t train all year round.

It was just different. You had the ability to do those kinds of things.”

When Frey was a student, there was no traditional training season for student athletes.

This freed up some extra time for athletes like him to get involved in other activities on campus, hang out with friends and have some fun.

“Now recruiting is more organized,” Frey said.

“Training is year-round and scripted. There’s much more of a directed focus in athletics for athletes now.”

Since his time as a student, Frey claims that the student body as a whole has actually changed less than people may think.

“I still see students who value and want what Messiah says it offers,” Frey said. “They desire education, mentorship and relationships that are based around their desire to follow after Christ.”

Y IA H AC A D E M 19 5 1 - M E SS 19 85 - YO -Y O CL UB

No, those aren’t bowlingball-sized yoyos – those are actual bowling balls, lined up for visual effect in this page of the 1985 Clarion Yearbook. Presented as a fun way to destress from the pressures of college life, the Messiah College Yo-Yo Club (or “MCYY”) at one point had 23 active members, a newsletter, and five executive leaders.

Did you know Messiah had a high school on campus at one point? They even had their own competitive football team! Don’t get that confused with the college football team, though, active for just one season.

Head to page 30 to discover more discontinued sports at Messiah.

THE SWINGING BRIDGE

13

STUDENT LIFE

"Messiah will remain, however changed it may seem, strangely familiar."

Dr. Mindy Smith, Senior Lecturer in Applied Health Science and the Director of Student Wellness graduated in December of 2003.

Smith, a former student athlete and soccer player under the direction of Coach Frey, also grew up toddling around campus as the daughter of Professor Doug Miller.

“I loved being on campus and watching sports,” Smith said. “I got to know some of his students. I think I grew up with this really positive impression.”

side-by-side with her father, whose office happens to be right next to her own.

“I think Messiah for me was very influential in a positive way,” Smith said. “And so I think then, having experienced that as a student and to get to come back, there is kind of a cool connecting point to having been here.”

Generations of students will come and go as Messiah continues to provide a place of growth and opportunity for each new footstep that makes its way to campus. Memories will be made, friends will come together and Messiah will remain, however changed it may seem, strangely familiar.

For Smith, Messiah was familiar territory and a place where she had already made some of her own childhood memories. Now, she works

A special thanks to the

Messiah College Archives for providing photos and additional research for this issue.

Need help with a research project of your own? Archivists Glen Pierce (pictured left) and Devin Manzullo-Thomas (right) are ready to help!

Visit them at the MC Archives:

LOCATION:

Murray Library (turn right after

descending the stairs to the stacks)

HOURS:

Mon. & Wed. 9am-4am; Thurs. 9am-12pm

Want to hear more about Messiah back in the day?

We sat down with our resident archivists to talk more about lost Messiah memories.

Scan here to listen to the exclusive interview!

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OCTOBER 2019

STUDENT LIFE

R EM E M BE RE D LEAVING A LEGACY OF compassion,

love AND encouragement

BY DAKOTA VAUGHN

THE SWINGING BRIDGE

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STUDENT LIFE

PREVIOUS PAGE: Emily, Christine Koyler, and Rachel Sulonen Lowrie during one of their famous Thursday girls nights

Emily , Christine Koyler, Adelaide Mikec, and Kathryn Trice (center) are setting up for the movie on the lawn during family weekend sophomore year.

"I t was a

T

he scene opens on a group of girls gathered in a cozy apartment living room. It’s a school night at Messiah. They should be studying, but that’s the farthest thing from their minds. Instead, they are watching Project Runway, making DIY Harry Potter wands, and laughing riotously. At the center of the scene is Emily Ransil, serenading the group with a song from her favorite musical Rent.

Nearly a year after being diagnosed with stage four metastatic melanoma, Ransil passed away on Sept. 3, 2019. Her prognosis came the previous September when an MRI revealed a walnut-sized tumor in her brain, and a biopsy confirmed that she was positive for melanoma. For most college students, a cancer prognosis would be hard to comprehend, but Ransil was a nursing major, and had the unique ability to understand what was happening inside her body.

“She knew everything that they were talking about. She understood it at the medical level. It helped her cope...because she could make it less personal,” said Professor Kristen Slabaugh, Ransil’s advisor.

REGULAR OCCURRENCE to find Ransil singing show tunes while studying for her nursing classes."

WANDS GALORE The homemade Harry Potter wands made by the girls during girls nights

Nursing was one of Ransil’s passions, followed closely by a deep love for musical theater. The medical field and the theatrical stage may seem like opposite ends of the spectrum, but Ransil found a way to weave together her love for both. It was a regular occurrence to find Ransil singing show tunes while studying for her nursing classes.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that she will be remembered for her love of both,” said Rachel Sulonen Lowrie, one of Ransil’s closest friends. “I have memories of her singing and cooking on any Tuesday night.” Sulonen Lowrie described karaoke sessions led by Ransil in which each friend would pick a different part of a Hamilton song and sing simultaneously.

Ransil was a frequent attendee of Messiah College theater productions. Though not on stage herself, Ransil was a deeply involved audience member and fan. Before falling ill, Ransil was set to be on the Season Selection Advisory Board to help decide what productions the theater department should put on.

This year’s fall production of Wit was dedicated to Ransil by director Ed Cohn. The play follows the story of a professor battling stage four cancer.

DRESSING UP Emily, Rachel Sulonen Lowrie and Michael Grey at a Harry Potter convention

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OCTOBER 2019

“She always gave BEFORE SHE ASKED When not belting out musical numbers, Ransil was also known for the advice and encouragement she gave, and the deep conversations she often had with friends.

“There were many times that Emily and I would talk for hours about life and how things were going,” recalled Adelaide Mikec.

Other friends like Sulonen Lowrie, Kathryn Trice, and Abigail Schmalz recollected similar heart-to-hearts with Ransil. “Probably my favorite memories are talking late into the night about school, faith, guys, and life.

She would settle into these late night conversations and make everyone tea and popcorn,” said Trice.

“She always gave before she asked for help,” said Schmalz, who connected with Ransil because both women have parents who are Messiah professors. “We have lots of shallow friends, but she was a really good friend to everyone.”

Everyone that spoke of Ransil agreed that her driving force was her love for others.

Her friends, family, and Messiah community were precious to her, especially towards the end of her life. “She was afraid of losing her community here. She was really connected with everybody. That was what she most feared losing,” said Slabaugh.

STUDENT LIFE

for help.

90% of victims of human trafficking come into contact with a healthcare provider; Ransil planned to become one of those providers, specifically a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner.

“It takes a really special person to do that,” Slabaugh said. “She...was hoping to work in the ER so that she would have the opportunity to intersect with those patients”.

In speaking with Ransil’s friends and professors, there’s a sense that she was larger than life. She was described by some as the maternal figure of any friend group, by others as the person in the room who “made everyone feel comfy”, and by others still as “brilliant and driven, always looking for ways to learn and grow.”

To borrow a question from Rent, “How do you measure the life of a woman?” For Ransil, her life is measured by her love: The things she loved to learn about, the people she loved to encourage and support, the causes she loved to fight for, and the songs she loved to sing at the top of her lungs.

Ransil’s peers were just one of the groups she was strongly connected to. Another group that was close to Ransil’s heart were human trafficking victims.

THE HELPER Emily’s friend Rachel Sulonen Lowrie made a quilt, but Emily was the only one tall enough to get the whole quilt in the shot!

FAMILY PHOTOS from a cruise in June 2019.

CULTURE

S F RO M E P I C E R

BY JOY HAMMOND

F

ood holds a special meaning in our lives from the forbidden fruit partaken by Adam and Eve in the garden to the holiday gatherings with friends and family at home. Food is eaten for survival and eaten for comfort. It can reveal different traits about our personality and interests. Some people eat ice cream for an emotional release while others participate in food competitions for fun or prizes.

Food is an important aspect in every culture around the world. It has meaning wherever it comes from. I looked further at three multicultural students and what dish from their home country was their favorite and the meaning behind it.

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Mik Fenn,

a junior Human Development and Family Science major, is from Santa Lucia, Honduras, where she moved with her family at the age of nine to do missionary work. Honduras is a country in Central America with approximately 9.3 million people living there. At one point, it was home to many Mesoamerican cultures, like the Mayans, and known for their natural resources like minerals, coffee, textiles, and tropical fruit.

Fenn’s favorite Honduran dish is Plato Típica which consists of meat (chicken or beef), rice, refried beans, chismol (fresh vegetable salsa), tortilla, fried plantain, cheese,

CULTURE

Fatimah Jan is a junior

and cream. This dish not only reminds her of home but is also usually cooked in large portions for gatherings with family and friends. She has not had a chance to cook the dish at college, but she has made baleadas which is made of flour tortilla folded over mashed refried beans and sour cream.

Fenn states that when Plato Tipico is made “it means getting together because it’s a very relational culture. Food is a very relational activity [in Honduras].”

Social Work major and spent her early childhood years in Pakistan and the Philippines, and then moved later to Harrisburg with her family, but is still deeply rooted in her multifaceted culture. Pakistan is a country in South Asia with a population of 197 million people living there. Many ancient civilizations come from here, like the Indus Valley Civilization, the Indo Greek kingdom, and the Gupta Empire. Pakistan is most known for their textile and sports item industries.

a junior Politics and International Relations major, lived in the United States during his childhood, but spent most of his teenage years in Grenade, Spain. Spain is a country located in Europe with approximately 46.8 million people living there with Ancient Greek, Phoenician, Celtic, and Cathaginian influences from settlements that used to live there. Spain is most known for their music, dances, and food.

Jan stated, “Food is just important to me,” as she described her favorite dishes from home including chicken karahi (a spicy curry-based dish, named after the pot it’s cooked in), arroz caldo (chicken rice porridge), pancit (Filipino noodles), chicken adobo, and her mom’s spicy spaghetti. All these dishes remind her of home, especially when she is feeling alone and homesick.

She states that, “each food has a unique meaning. Even how you eat it means something.” Jan has made curry while at Messiah, consisting of a variety of spices, meat, and cooked vegetables.

Galyen spoke about his experience with Spanish food and said, “A lot of people who think about Spanish food think about Latin American food. They think spicy food.

True Spanish food is more like meat and potatoes. It’s very different from what people expect.” He explained that his favorite dishes from Spain are Spanish tortilla and egg potato omelet. Both of these dishes use egg, potatoes, and varying vegetables and spices. Galyen also loves his mom’s tacos which she makes with tortilla shells, meat, and vegetables. All of these dishes remind Luke of home and special occasions, like birthdays and hanging out with friends.

Food holds an important meaning to everyone and most importantly it reminds us of home. Each culture and family have a special dish that they enjoy and treasure from homemade recipes passed down from generations to childhood restaurants and food shops. It’s important for each person to explore the different recipes and dishes around them in order to experience new adventures. Each recipe holds a story. Everyone should go out, try new dishes to explore the world around them, and enjoy a small taste of home.

Luke Galyen,

"It’s important for each person to explore the different recipes

and dishes around them..."

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CULTURE

THE

Real

BY CONNOR CIGRANG & KENDRA SOMMERS

OLUMBUS AY

here’s an elementary school poem that goes, “In fourteen hundred ninety-two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue.”

This catchy poem has served as a reminder of the voyage Christopher Columbus made to the New World. Columbus’ accomplishments were significant, introducing the New World to Europe and claiming the land for Spain.

However, for years his legacy and celebration have come under scrutiny.

The reality is that the tactics and methods Columbus used are questionable, certainly by modern standards. History tells us that he used violence and fear against the Native Americans in order to gain control. Some have become so opposed to commemorating what Columbus did that they have protested his celebration in our nation’s capital, and so led the fight for changing Columbus Day. Dr. Jenell Paris, professor of anthropology, provided insight on this subject “I think in the past, Columbus Day was obvious. We’re celebrating us and we’re celebrating the beginning of our country. But if you expand your idea of ‘us’

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and you expand your idea of who belongs in ‘our’ country, then it gets really complicated.”

Christopher Columbus traveled to the New World with a goal of seeking an alternative water route to India by means of the West.

Records indicate that after first arriving in the New World (landing in what is considered the modern-day Bahamas), he ordered his men to seize six natives and wrote in his journal that he thought they would make good slaves1.

He forced labor on them and even sent thousands of Taino “Indians” overseas to be sold as property in Spain; a voyage that most did not survive. According to records, within 60 years of Columbus landing in the New World, only several hundred of what was thought to be 250,000 Taino were left on the island1.

Columbus acted in a common manner that would have been seen as appropriate during the 15th century, regardless if this considered a satisfactory justification. Of course, he was not the only person on his expedition, much less in Spain, who felt privileged in this way. Nevertheless, Columbus’ forced conversion methods and cruelty towards slaves introduced a precedent for how the New World’s foundations would rest1.

How then do we celebrate Columbus Day in 2019? What is being celebrated?

As Americans, we have always instinctually celebrated Columbus Day as a national holiday in order to celebrate the discovery of the Americas. This is all considering that Columbus was not the first explorer to discover or land in the Americas. Once you look past the surface and look at the reality of what is being celebrated, you can see how it is a multidimensional issue.

The many facets of the “Columbus controversy” stem from how Americans still celebrate the “birth of their nation” without acknowledging the methods used in an outdated process. Recently, it has broken into the mainstream, allowing more people to talk about the history of Columbus’ discovery. This is perhaps the biggest difference in how the holiday is viewed now, versus how it was viewed a few decades ago.

Dr. Paris echoed similar sentiments questioning, “How do we celebrate a country with a conflicted past and how do we celebrate political identity when our political history includes wonderful things, like democracy, but also slavery and taking indigenous land?”

Is the celebration for Columbus himself?

Can his accomplishments be separated from his actions?

CULTURE

People are beginning Dr. Andrew Hermeling, adjunct professor of history, said, “People are beginning to realize that Columbus didn't discover anything. Instead, this is the day that settler colonialism and trans-Atlantic slavery also arrived on the continent that came to be known as North America.”

If America is to continue to move forward as a nation, there needs to be a recognition of Columbus’ actions and a more intentional consideration leaving Columbus Day behind. This is especially considering the fact that there have not been any formal celebrations of the indigenous Americans that were persecuted and slaughtered throughout history.

Parts of the United States have already begun adopting a new version of Columbus Day Indigenous People’s Day. This day represents the heritage and culture of the American natives and the first origins of the United States.

It is a way to honor as well as celebrate the

to realize that Columbus

didn't DISCOVER anything. rich history and traditions of this nation’s native people. Rather than celebrate Columbus and his discoveries, this new version focuses on those whom he harmed and who were the true start to America. For the first time, the country is beginning to publicly acknowledge the issues with Columbus Day that have been ignored for far too long.

This October, look at making strides towards equality. Instead of celebrating Columbus, commemorate those who endured him.

minister

teacher

Theologian What does it mean to be created in the image of God? Why does it matter? Navigating through scripture, context, and the plurality of past and present voices, Dr. Marc Cortez brings clarity to today’s important theological questions. Be inspired, challenged, and equipped by Dr. Cortez and our 27 other expert Bible and Theology faculty when you pursue the M.A. in Theology.

wheaton.edu/MA-Theology Dr. Marc Cortez Professor of Theology Author, ReSourcing Theological Anthropology

CULTURE

Home Is...

BY NATE CASTELLITTO, CELICA COOK, AMY DEPRETIS, & KENDRA SOMMERS

O

ctober is considered as Global Diversity Awareness Month, a time to celebrate our differences, become more understanding and aware of our underrepresented communities, and learn from our diverse experiences and perspectives. For this Global Diversity Awareness Month, a student from each continent represented at Messiah, spoke on what home means to them, while being thousands of miles away from their original, physical home.

RUBÉN LANGSTON Costa Rica, North America “I was born in San José, Costa Rica [the capital city] …Then we moved down to the Pacific coast to a little town called Nosara,” explained Rubén Langston. Nosara is a village with a mixed community of both Americans and Costa Ricans. And now, after moving to America for college, Langston continued, “In a lot of ways Costa Rica still is home. [But] living in both places has kind of created a divide in some ways. There are different cultural norms that are either Costa Rican or American, but I have both, so I feel at home and out of place in both.” Despite this constant pull in both directions, one thing Langston appreciates about his Costa Rican culture is their community-oriented society. “As a whole, America is a very individualistic society,” he explains, “Family is super important in Costa Rica, so that’s one thing that has kind of stayed with me from Costa Rica.”

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DANNA RAMIREZ-GOMEZ Colombia, South America If anyone knows how to make a home away from home, it’s junior Danna Ramirez-Gomez. Born in Colombia and emigrating at eight years old, Ramirez-Gomez grew up with two homes. “As a kid who immigrated... it’s just very conflicting,” she says, “I should start feeling like this is home completely, but I can’t.” Ramirez-Gomez will always cherish her Colombian heritage - from the jersey displayed on her wall to the photos and letters from family. And speaking her native Spanish with friends is a must! Ramirez-Gomez is also an R.A. this year and feels that her experiences uniquely qualify her to welcome residents, while helping them to embrace their own transitions. Building a home anywhere requires

hard work, but Ramirez-Gomez says that its hard-working nature is one of the things she admires most about her Colombian culture (besides the food!) Ultimately, Danna says that her heart will forever be split between her two homes, but she wouldn’t change this for anything. “I have found the true meaning of hogar (home) in the arms of my family,” she says, and the sense of pride she has built “is a reminder that I have been able to love and keep embracing my Colombian culture, while still thriving in this new place that I call home.”

CULTURE

SHARING CULTURES, RE-DISCOVERING SENSE OF SELF AND OWNING THE DIFFERENCES

YANA AVDEENKO Russia, Europe

JIREH BAGYENDARA Uganda, Africa

Yana Avdeenko, originally from Russia, spoke about how moving to America for college changed her perspective on the idea of home.

Avdeenko began, “When I lived in Russia, it [home] was more of a place with my parents, but when I moved out, I wasn’t sure what home would mean for me...I was so far, and I couldn’t just come home every week, every month, so I realized home is a place where someone is waiting for you, even if it’s just cats right now for me.” She continued by explaining that one of the things she learned from Russia was she liked taking care of cats and they don’t require a lot of work, so she carried that passion with her to America. Another way she incorporates her Russian home while in America is by dressing up. Aveenko explains, “Dressing up, not necessarily by occasion…because a lot of people in Russia dress up…so not following the causal standards all the time.”

Senior Jireh Bagyendara is from Kampala, Uganda. When asked what home is to him, Bagyendara immediately began, “Home is a lot of crazy driving. It’s like driving in New York City except the cars are like a third of the value.” Home for Bagyendara is also where he developed personality and values like, “Being open,” he continued, “and asking questions that some people would say cut too deep…A[nother] big plus to Uganda is just how warm everyone is,” which is how Bagyendara believes he developed this sense of hospitality and brought it with him to Messiah, always having friends over at his apartment. Bagyendara also speaks on the struggles of being so far from Uganda, now that his immediate family is no longer close by: “Having to be intentional about reaching out to your family has been a struggle…now it weighs heavy on me to miss out [on their lives].”

"Home is a place where someone is waiting for you, even if it’s just cats."

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CULTURE

"Home is knowing how to get to the closest grocery store."

YANA AVDEENKO Malaysia, Asia

HYE LIM JUNG Papua New Guinea, Oceania

Tjia Yi Lau is a sophomore digital media major from Selangor, Malaysia, called Petaling Jaya.

Lau spoke about her experience of home being a sense of comfortability. She said, “Home to me is where I find family and a sense of familiarity in things…It’s the little things, for example, home is knowing how to get to the closest grocery store, sending my mom to and from work every day at a specific time, getting to scare my little sister when she comes home from school, seeing my church group every Friday night, smelling the smell of garlic being fried almost every night.” Now that Lau is far from her home, she said, “I really hope that if anything, I’d been able to share a bit of my country’s story, and the beauty of our culture and languages with the people I’ve met here.”

Originally from South Korea, freshman Hye Lim Jung, spent the majority of her childhood growing up in Papua New Guinea. Jung’s idea of home comes from her unique upbringing as she explained, “Home is…number one where the family is, and then number two is I have little pieces of home.” Jung said she has little pieces of home in both Papua New Guinea, Korea, and now with her new experience at Messiah. She spoke a little to the challenges of conceptualizing home saying, “My struggle with the idea of home is I don’t feel like I can fully, one hundred percent fit into a place…I think that’s one of the challenges of being multicultural. But a way that I try to overcome that is to look at it from a positive view. I might not be able to fit in perfectly, but I know how to adapt and I’m more flexible because of life experience that I’ve had. “

“MY STRUGGLE WITH THE IDEA OF HOME IS I DON’T FEEL LIKE I CAN FULLY, ONE HUNDRED PERCENT FIT INTO A PLACE."

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And we are challenged and enriched as we explore the broad range of beliefs we bring to the table. Join us!

Academic Programs: • Master of Divinity • Master of Divinity with joint degrees (including law, social work, and pubic policy) • Master of Arts • Graduate Certificates

1-800-451-4194 www.pts.edu/Messiah OCTOBER 2019

SPORTS & REC

DOWN MEMORY LANE RE-VISITING MESSIAH'S BOWLING ALLEY AND SNACK SHOP

BY MARIO CONSENTINO If a Messiah student wanted to go bowling on a Friday night, they would have to hike to their car and make a fifteen minute drive to get to Trindle Bowl or ABC West Lanes. However, this wasn’t always the case.

In the ‘70s and ‘80s, students had the luxury of walking to an on-campus bowling alley located in the Eisenhower Campus Center. On the lower level of the building, in the current location of the Textbook Express, was a fourlane bowling alley. And in the place of the Falcon was a snack shop, popular for students who wanted to grab a milkshake or burger.

Beside the bowling alley was a game room where students could play ping pong, table shuffleboard or pool. The game room, snack shop and the bowling alley were one of the social hotspots on campus in the 1980’s.

While it might be difficult for current students to imagine what this would look like, there are still some people on campus who remember the snack shop and the bowling alley in all its former glory.

Michael Strite, Associate Director of Financial Aid, recalls working in the snack shop during his time as a student at Messiah. Strite said that he “became very familiar with that part of campus” and admits that he probably spent a

little too much time in the game room.

Over time, the lanes deteriorated and they were used less frequently.

“Friday and Saturday evenings often saw students go to the Snack Shop for a milkshake, spend time with their friends or perhaps even a date,” Strite said. He said that he spent most of the time playing ping pong because it was free, but remembers his highest round of bowling took place on Messiah’s lanes.

“The bowling alleys needed to be repaired quite a bit,” Lerew said. “So I don’t think they were used a lot.”

Although many students spent most of their time in the alley on Friday and Saturday nights, it was not initially built for recreational purposes.

The bowling alley and the snack shop were soon replaced by the Falcon and the Textbook Express, but their memory still lives on and can be visited by going down memory lane.

Lerew believes that these issues, along with the need to expand the Falcon, led to demise of the bowling alley.

Falcon cashier Joann Lerew, who also worked at the snack shop, said that the bowling alley was actually built for physical education classes.

Lerew started working at the Snack Shop in 1988 and she continued to work there when it changed into what we now know as the Falcon. She worked at the snack shop during the day and would go bowling when she wasn’t working.

While many students might question the validity of bowling as a physical education course, Lerew would say, “Have you ever bowled? Try it sometime, there’s exercise there.”

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SPORTS & REC

A LU M N I S P OT L I G H T:

MIKE HELM

BY BRIAN SHERMEYER

w

ith all of the national championships that Messiah has won since the turn of the century, the winning had to start somewhere.

Look no further than a humble man from Poughkeepsie, New York. Mike Helm secured the first national championship in Messiah College history by way of a 5-1 decision in the 2000 NCAA Division III national wrestling championships.

“He informed me that his purpose and goal was to disciple me in Christ and to coach me in wrestling,” Helm said.

Unlike most of the wrestlers on the current Messiah wrestling team, Helm did not step on the mat until ninth grade. This led to him having to work harder than everyone else in order to be successful and reach his goals.

“I learned to train smarter and harder, and yearround rather than just during the season,” Helm said. This newfound training style propelled Helm to become a three-time All-American beginning his sophomore year.

Helm found that wrestling was not easy and felt the weight of a steep learning curve to try to catch up.

He found enough success in high school to keep him on the mat but fell short of his goal of becoming a state champion.

“He was one of the first wrestlers that really bought into the process,” Stephen Maloney, a current senior wrestler, said. “He became successful because of it.”

Helm was attracted to Messiah because of head coach Neil Turner.

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MESSIAH'S FIRST NCAA CHAMPION OF THE 21ST CENTURY

OCTOBER 2019

Upon coming to Messiah in 1996, Helm did not really know how to train like a serious college athlete.

Learning from upperclassmen like Mike Gaugler, Helm was able to push himself to his full potential.

In his first opportunity to become an All-American, Helm wrestled his favorite match of his career.

SPORTS & REC

“I was a sophomore wrestling at the NCAA championships in Waterloo, Iowa,” Helm said. “I lost my first match on Friday in the pigtail round, so I had to win 3 matches before I reached the ‘blood round.’ This was the round where the winner was an All-American and the loser went home. I was wrestling a senior from Wartburg in front of the Wartburg fan base. It was a knock-down-drag-out fight and I ended up winning by only a point or two.

Because Augsburg and Wartburg were rivals for the NCAA Championship, I had more fans than I ever did in my life, most of which were from Augsburg.

It was exciting.”

wrestle,” Helm said, looking back at winning the national title.

That statement gives you a glimpse into the life of Mike Helm. He is a man of God before anything else. Every day, even during wrestling season, he would devote time to reading and meditating on the Bible.

“As a believer, my faith ties into everything I do,” said Helm. The prayers before and after meets and tournaments would always remind him why he wrestles.

Helm wrestled all the way back to a sixth place fin- Being a Christian athlete, Helm knew that his ish that year. In his junior year, he would slide one trophies and accolades from his wrestling career spot and finish seventh. During his did not bring him value. His senior year, Helm would make his advice to current student ath"IN 50 T O 100 mark in the record books.

YEARS, NO ONE letes: “Do everything you can to prepare for your competition, WILL CARE Helm owned the majority of reand let Christ glorify Himself WHAT CHAMPI- through you.” cords for Messiah College wrestling, including takedowns and ONSHIP I WON. near falls, by the time nationAfter winning the NCAA title, THIS...HELPS als came around his senior year. “realized that in 50 to STEER MY PER- Helm His records have only been 100 years, no one will care what SPECTIVE IN passed by a select few. Those inchampionship I won. This greatclude national champions Lucas THE RIGHT DI- ly influences the importance I Malmberg and Ben Swarr, as well put on accolades and helps steer RECTION, T Oas Stephen Maloney. my perspective in the right diWARD CHRIST rection, toward Christ himself.”

HIMSELF." Going into matches, Helm always held the same mindset: “I was go“He shows that Messiah means ing to out-wrestle my opponent. If he was going more to him than just the place where he wrestled,” to be victorious over me, I was going to make him Maloney said. “He continues to come back and help work extremely hard to do so,” Helm said.

Coach (Bryan) Brunk whenever he needs it.”

In the 2000 157-pound national championship, Helm wrestled Ryan Ciotoli from Ithaca College.

Helm scored two takedowns, one in the first period and one in the third, to knock off Ciotoli 5-1.

In his life after college, Helm spent two years as an assistant coach at Messiah. He then got married and began teaching and coaching in Newport, North Carolina.

Although overwhelmed, Helm quickly gained his bearings and did exactly what Coach Turner had taught him to do: be a disciple of Christ.

Every summer since he has graduated, Helm has returned to Messiah to help Coach Turner and Coach Brunk run a wrestling camp for kids of all ages.

“It gave me a platform to share with athletes and the public about my life, who Jesus is, and why I

“He has been a faithful servant to the Messiah wrestling program,” Maloney said.

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SPORTS & REC

DOWN IN HISTORY MESSIAH HALL OF FAME ATHLETES AND THEIR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS

BY JORY HAGEN

M

essiah College is full of student athletes that have expressed a love and dedication to not only their studies and ministries, but into

Messiah athletics. Coaches, players, managers, and fans have left their blood, sweat, and tears on the floor, grass, turf, and dirt of Messiah College.

Thousands have competed at a high level and valued their teammates over themselves, but only a select few have their names engraved in the Messiah Hall of fame. We selected a few "hall of famers" that had profound impacts on Messiah College athletics to nostalgically highlight.

LUKE DRESCHER • Inducted 2017 •

Luke Drescher, a sports administrator at Messiah, may have had the greatest impact on Messiah sports as a whole than anyone else to ever walk the campus. Drescher served as Messiah’s first ever Athletic Director, and Sports Administrator, from 1961-70.

Under Drescher’s leadership, Messiah College adopted its name and mascot, The Falcons. It was also under his leadership that most of Messiah’s athletic programs moved from the club/intramural level to the varsity level. However, Drescher was more than just an Administrator and Director; and actually

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OCTOBER 2019

spent at least one year coaching six different sports. During his tenure, Drescher coached men's soccer, men's basketball, women's basketball, track & field, cross country, and baseball. All of these sports were in their first year of varsity level status under Drescher's leadership. Fittingly, Drescher is also known for his book titled "New Beginnings and Transitions", a historic review of the early days of Messiah physical education, intramural, and intercollegiate programming. Luke Drescher certainly poured his heart into Messiah Athletics, and was no doubt a gigantic part of the formation of Messiah Athletics.

SPORTS & REC

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MESSIAH COLLEGE ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS

DANAE (CHAMBERS) HOLLENBACH, '16 • Inducted 2016 •

Hollenbach’s (Chambers during tenure at Messiah) plaque also signifies her greatness at the National level in its first sentence. Her plaque states “Chambers is arguably the most accomplished and skillful field hockey player in NCAA Division III history.” At the very least Hollenbach’s time at Messiah will be remembered due to her offensive talent and contributions to the field hockey squad. Hollenbach knew how to pad her own stats, as well as her teams, as her 297 career points helped Messiah to four Conference Championships, three trips to the Division III Final Four, and two

finishes as the National Runner-Up. Although Hollenbach never won a National Championship, she is admittedly the greatest talent to ever go through the Messiah Field Hockey program. Individually, she was a four-time NFHCA First Team All-American and was named the 2004 National Player of the Year. She was also four-time First Team All-Conference, and won the Conference Player of the Year award in each of her final three seasons. Most prominently, Hollenger is a National scoring leader, and to this date her 297 career points stands at second all time at the National DIII level.

CHRIS BOYLES, '02 • Inducted 2013 •

Chris Boyles impact on Messiah athletics can be understood at a quick glance at his hall of fame plaque. The first sentence on his plaque reads “[Chris is] considered one of the most accomplished student-athletes in the history of the Falcons.” Boyles, debatably the best track and field player in Messiah history, holds plenty of Falcon records. Upon induction, he ranked first all-time for Messiah in the Decathlon, indoor and outdoor High Jump, indoor Pentathlon, and indoor 55-meter Hurdles. Boyles also accomplished a great deal outside the realm of Messiah sports

as well, as he has been recognized on the National and Olympic levels. He set the standard for post-Messiah athletic achievement; Chris was an Olympic Trials Finalist in 2004 and 2008, and was ranked 14th in the world in the Decathlon in 2007. Those achievements all came after Boyles finished his run at Messiah with two national championships.

His first came in the 2002 Decathlon, and his second… in soccer. That’s right, Boyles also played for the Men’s soccer team, where he added another national championship to his hall of fame resume.

JENNIFER (WENGER) THUMA, '98 • Inducted 2012 •

The Messiah Softball program has flourished over the course of its history, but Messiah softballs success may have never been as profound than during Thuma’s time in centerfield. Thuma (Wenger at the time) was a force to be reckoned with in centerfield and at the dish. Thuma owned almost every softball record there is at Messiah when she was inducted in 2012. When Thuma was inducted, she remained first all-time in single-season atbats (160), hits (72), and on-base percentage (.594), and first all-time in career runs scored (137), hits (231), and stolen bases (92). Not only did Thuma pad her own statsheet, she led

Messiah to three straight MAC Championship teams in 1996, 1997, and 1998. During her time manning centerfield, the Falcons advance to their first-ever College Softball World Series. Thuma left her stamp theras well and led the tournament with a .636 batting average. After her stellar tournament performance she would be named to the World Series All-Tournament team that year. Thuma’s impact on campus still exists to this day, as she helps coach the softball team, as well as teaching courses on campus.

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SPORTS & REC

FORE-GOTTEN SPORTS Re-visiting the final days of Messiah's golf team

BY MARK LEACH & CHARMAINE LIM

I

t's no surprise that Messiah has had many

sports programs come and go over the past 110 years. But not every one of these programs have lasted through the generations of students. Most recently, Messiah dropped the golf program as a varsity sport on campus.

The discontinuation of the team left Messiah with 22 NCAA Division-III teams in 2018.

Messiah College’s golf program was discontinued in 2018 after 30 years of competing in the MAC Conference. Messiah’s first official NCAA varsity match was played on Apr. 5, 1988, against both Albright University and Franklin & Marshall College, with the last weekend of the program being on Apr. 28, 2017, at the MAC Championship in Hershey, Pa. Former golfer and current senior Ryan Kirk was able to reflect back on his two years on Messiah’s golf team and how its disbandment has impacted his life since. Rather than mourn the team, Kirk chose to remember the two years he did have while the team existed.

When he began playing on the team, Kirk had not expected it to be terminated at the end of his sophomore year.

“Our coach built a culture that made it seem as though this program would never be discontinued,” Kirk said.

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OCTOBER 2019

Head Golf Coach Troy Boone seemed to have the most impact on the golf program during his 12 season career at Messiah. His decision to return as head coach in 2006 allowed him to bring almost immediate success to the team. Under Boone’s coaching, the team won their first MAC Championship in 2010 and two conference titles in 2014 and 2015.

His mentorship can be seen in Justin Sisson Messiah’s best ever individual finish in 2015 in the NCAA Tournament, tying for 21st overall.

Kirk was coached by Boone his freshman year.

His memories of their relationship were not limited to the golf course, but also outside of practice.

“He was already around when I came in as a freshman. [He] was a very personable coach that connected to us and mentored us even outside of practice and matches,” Kirk said.

SPORTS & REC

One of Kirk’s examples of the team relationship built by Boone involved a trip to Florida during Kirk’s freshman year. Boone set the team up to match with other schools for the week.

“Every day in Florida was either the beach or golf course,” Kirk said. “Coach took it upon himself to set us up with schools to play against, and it was nothing but a great experience.”

After Boone’s resignation, Coach Pete Micklewright came in to finish out the golf team’s final season at Messiah. Though Micklewright had high expectations, there was some uncertainty as to how he would fill Boone’s shoes.

Though it has been nearly two years since the team was discontinued, there are many great memories to re-live. The team’s record of three MAC Commonwealth Championships, three top three finishes, and many more individual player awards show how passionate and dedicated Kirk and his teammates were.

It may not be as well known as Messiah’s other varsity teams, but their success will be remembered for years to come as a celebration of the hard work and strong leadership.

“Coach Micklewright was put in a tough spot where it seemed as though he was unsure how close he should be to the team, considering the precedent coach Boone had set prior to his succession.” Kirk said.

Despite the change in coaches, Kirk remembers the great leadership the team was provided that made it more enjoyable. This leadership also made Kirk’s own transition from the high school level to the collegiate level much easier.

MORE LEFT-BEHIND LEGACIES (Left) The short-lived freshman football team of 1951 (still undefeated!) goes over their plays. (Right) The cheerleading team saw quite a few uniform changes over the years. What do you think of their '65 fits?

THE SWINGING BRIDGE

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THE HEARTBEAT OF MESSIAH COLLEGE