The Collegian, Sept. 8, 2023

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Impact 150 brings big changes

Emma Rossi

Editor-in-Chief

Grove City College has successfully launched its Capital Campaign, Impact 150, which commenced this past summer when renovations to Rockwell Hall began.

The campaign, which is named in reference to the College’s approaching 150th anniversary, is comprised of three phases, each dedicated to improving campus facilities and increasing scholarship and financial aid opportunities. The campaign’s total is $185 million, with the first two phases carrying the most weight financially.

Impact 150 will not only improve aspects of academic, athletic and resident life at Grove City but will reaffirm the College’s mission as well.

“This historic campaign builds on our present strength and confidence that what we do matters,”

Student one of 5 under 25

Ayden Gutierrez

Managing Editor

Senior Luke Gilligan was named one of Pittsburgh Inno’s 5 Founders under 25 earlier this summer.

Pittsburgh Inno is an online outlet focused on the region’s tech and startup sectors. The site described the selected five as, “creative, young and driven.”

“Pittsburgh’s next generation of innovators is here, and they are poised to transform the way the world works,” said the outlet.

Gilligan said that he thought it was a joke when he was reached out to about the opportunity.

“I was shocked to say the least,” said Gilligan. “I have been working hard but it was an amazing feeling to be recognized for it!”

The distinction highlights the undergraduate CEO’s work establishing Resense, a company that produces and markets products to improve the lives of people with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers.

Gilligan and four other collegiate entrepreneurs identified by Pittsburgh Inno were profiled in the Pittsburgh Business Times.

“Getting this opportunity to showcase the work that I have done is encouraging and reassures me that I am on the right path. I am hoping this is also an opportunity to raise awareness of those with dementia and how we can help them in their journey,” he said.

In the profile, Gilligan says he became interested in the caregiving field through volunteering and working in nursing homes as a teenager. He said the way people with dementia were treated, often “like children,” broke his heart.

Resense was created during Gilligan’s freshman year in Entrepreneurship Professor Yvonne English’s Lean Launchpad class.

Professor English described Gilligan as, “a passionate and humble entrepreneur.”

“The team at the Center for Entrepreneurship + Innovation has had the tremendous honor of working with Luke over the last few years as he participated in every facet of our programming, and we’re excited to see him use his education and training to help and serve others,” said English. “We couldn’t be more proud.”

President Paul J. McNulty ’80 said.

Impact 150 will build on the College’s strengths, providing students with state-of-the-art amenities and updated resources to enhance educational pursuits. In true recognition of this anniversary, the campaign will further the College’s reputation within higher education and bring in more students to receive

an exceptional liberal arts education rooted in timeless truths.

Phase One is worth $90 million and is set to be completed by 2026. In addition to the renovations to Rockwell Hall, Phase One will see the construction of a new Field House on Lower Campus. Rockwell’s construction is the campaign’s largest undertaking, with renovations costing $48

million. The Field House is set to cost $26 million. It will be conveniently located on Lower Campus above Robert E. Thorn Field and will house locker rooms for football, men’s lacrosse and men and women’s tennis.

In addition to the updated locker rooms, coaches’ offices and conference rooms

Gilligan says it has been incredible to see his idea blossom into a business that receives national attention.

“I have been taught that Entrepreneurship can be a ‘grind’ sometimes,” said Gilligan. “It is easy to focus on the stuff that is going wrong or forget to look at the big picture. Through this 5 under 25 opportunity, I have been able to walk through the journey of Resense and remem-

The Award-Winning Grove City College Student Newspaper Vol. 109, No. 2

GRACE DAVID

Willie the Wolverine makes his semester debut at Saturday’s football game. The Wolverines took down the Westminster Titans with a 17-7 victory. Read about the football’s season-opener on page 11.

GILLIGAN

GROVE CITY COLLEGE

A rendered image of the new fitness center that will be part of the new fieldhouse.

Some things don’t change, they evolve

When I imagined writing my first official “From the Tower” of the semester, I imagined I would write something about how new semesters bring change, and how change is healthy and brings opportunity. Never did I imagine that change would come in the way it has.

Three weeks ago, my mom passed away unexpectedly. She was 57. She fell asleep and didn’t wake up. Between the night of Wednesday, Aug. 16, and the morning of Thursday, Aug. 17, my entire life was turned upside down.

I only got to have my mom for 20 years, but what she did for me in those years will stay with me for much longer. She was my main support system, my closest confidant and my biggest fan.

When I was little, I didn’t like to draw pictures like my brother and sisters. Instead, I would write “stories.” These stories were no more than crayon scribbled on computer paper I stole from my dad’s office. Despite their literal meaninglessness, my mom made my stories seem so special.

She would bind them using scraps from her sewing kit and help me design cover art. By the time I was old enough to write a coherent sentence, I already had a library full of books my mom had made for me.

I don’t know what happened to those stories. Knowing my mom, they’re probably filed chronologically in a bin somewhere, waiting to be found when we’re finally brave enough to look through her things.

My mom encouraged my writing for years, even when I had no idea what to say or how to say it. She was my first editor, my first dictionary and my first reader. My mother instilled in me a great love for language, and it’s with her encouragement that I asked for a job in the Tower two years ago.

My stories have changed since then, and as I originally intended to discuss, change is healthy and provides opportunities. While I’m sure there’s an audience for books comprised entirely of gibberish, the opportunity to write about this college and its students is a great one.

The Collegian is an institution of which I am proud to be a part. This staff has provided me with stability and friendship when I’ve needed it most, while managing to put a darn good paper on the stands in the meantime.

While everything in my life has changed for what feels like the worst, some things stay the same. Here I am, still writing stories. This time my words aren’t bound by fabric scraps and staples, they are printed on the pages of a newspaper I love.

Emma Rossi Editor-in-Chief

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

GRACE DAVID

Finding a cause bigger than yourself

Ayden Gutierrez

Managing Editor

Your cause is bigger than yourself. Last week I wrote about the opportunities that Grove City offers to students, and how God has blessed me with the ability to pursue a multitude of passions. Continuing my sentimental train of thought, I want to discuss an idea that has been on my heart lately: Your cause is bigger than yourself.

Collegian Staff

Photo Chief Grace David

Copy Chief

Hannah Welker

Business Manager

Maercy Campion

Copy Editors

Mia Gallagher

Staff Writers

Isaac Willour

Mia Gallagher

Staff Photographers

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.

This week’s Green Eyeshade Award goes to Perspectives

Editor Grace Scheller for her continued selflessness and commitment to the paper!

Within the GCC football program, we often say the phrase, “Look back for the sake of the future.” For us, our program just a few short years ago was referred to as the worst program in college football. At one point, there were football players at GCC who were 0-33. Yes, that means they played 33 total games without winning one. Today, my teammates and I have been blessed to be a part of abundant success, and have won four straight postseason games and amassed eight-or-more wins in each of those four years.

There are several reasons why the program has been able to turn itself around; improved recruiting, weightlifting and schematic decisions are the easy answer. And yes, that largely has played a role. Yet, I’d argue it’s because everyone started playing for a cause bigger than themselves.

When Coach DiDonato took over the program, he set out to build our culture on three distinct principles:

Vision, process and love. This applies to the spiritual, academic, social and physical aspects of our daily lives. Each of those four ‘bricks’ has a vision statement we all follow, and our program has an overarching vision statement: To glorify God in the pursuit of earning a degree, building lasting relationships and competing for PAC championships.

For us, our cause is bigger than ourselves. Nowhere in that statement does it say to do everything it takes to make Ayden Gutierrez the all-time passing leader. Nowhere does it say to Glorify God so Ayden looks good to his peers. It’s not built on the premise that the individual excels. It’s built on the premise that when the collective strives to excel together, the individuals will naturally excel during the process.

This is great and all, but there is one problem with this for me. I only have three months left of being a Grove City football player. Do I only have three more months of having a cause bigger than myself? Not in the slightest.

To me, the whole idea of the Christian faith is built on this principle. Nothing I could ever do would earn me a ticket to Heaven. It is only by the grace of God through the atonement made by Jesus on the Cross for my sins. To be a Christian is to be living for a cause bigger than yourself.

But how do I do this every day, you might ask? How do I have a cause bigger than my-

the Green eyeshade award Editorial Page 2 The award-winning Grove City College student newspaper, Sept. 8, 2023

Connect with us! S tay updated with our social media @Collegian_GCC @gcc.collegian The Collegian: The Grove City College Newspaper

Letters must include verifiable contact information, such as an email address. Anonymous letters will not be accepted. The author’s name will appear with the letter. Statement of fact and opinion in letters to the editor, editorials and commentaries are the responsibility of the author(s) alone and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of staff, the college, its faculty or staff or the student body. Letters must be received by

self in the workplace, in my relationships, with my loved ones and with my classes? I wholeheartedly believe that you can have a vision for your life that promotes this idea. If the football program has taught me anything, it is that I need to have a vision for my life. “You will either intentionally do something, or you will unintentionally do nothing.”

In the spring I ran for captain of the team, and I was tasked with crafting a vision statement for myself. My statement was, “I exist so that my teammates may see an example of service, love, and commitment, which in return will inspire them to follow suit.” Lately, I have pondered this statement, studying how it can apply to my life postgrad. I believe I simply need to change the word “teammate” and replace it with brother, wife, son, daughter, parents, coworkers, church, friends, etc. I firmly believe I have found a vision statement for my life that encapsulates living for a cause bigger than yourself. Through service, love and commitment, I can exemplify Christ to inspire my loved ones and my future coworkers to follow suit. Not so I look great, so others can live with joy so they can experience the love of Christ. Do you have a cause bigger than yourself? If so, how do you live that out every day? If you don’t have an answer to either of these, I urge you to do some serious thinking. It will greatly enhance your life.

To be accepted for publication, a letter must meet one of the following criteria: it relates to an article published in or issue discussed in paper; it contains information of interest to all, or a segment of our readership (alumni, parents, donors, students, faculty and staff); it relates to college news or policy.

We reserve the right to edit letters for clarity, correct grammar and punctuation, and length. We will not publish unsigned letters. We will not republish a letter that has appeared in another publication in part or in whole. Letters will be printed in the next edition of the paper in which space is available.

Finding a cause bigger than yourself allows you to celebrate others and their successes.

Letters to the Editor

Met by Love comes to campus

Violet Whitmore News Editor

A new chapter of campus ministry organization Met by Love (MBL) has made its way to Grove City.

Grove City College welcomes the national organization Met by Love to campus to promote a worship initiative that works to introduce students to the love of Jesus.

Met by Love was founded in 2018 by Joseph Brennan at Cornerstone University and has since spread to multiple Christian institutions across America. The College’s new chapter will bring students together to sing, pray and worship together every Monday night in Rathburn Great Room.

“I found out about the band, MBL Worship, when I was in high school. I love the MBL sound because it’s so simple and pure – it stuck out to me and stirred my affection for Jesus. From there, I started following the movement as a whole and have been ever since,” junior

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will also be built.

The College’s almost 600 student-athletes will have year-round access to versatile training spaces, with technological services for game strategy preparation. Light-filled weight rooms and ample space for team meetings will be available for the 24 varsity teams that comprise the Athletic Department.

In the midst of updating facilities, the College also

GILLIGAN

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ber where we started.”

Where it started was a period of extensive research; Gilligan and others interviewed loved ones, physicians, psychiatrists, nurses and caregivers. From that information, they conceived its lead product, the Connect + Comfort Kit, a toolbox of items and activities that target the five senses to utilize a

Grace Waggoner, a member of the worship team, said.

MBL thrives on the College’s Christian culture, and many students devote their Monday nights to the meetings.

“Where other places might lack in community prayer and worship, a specific urge to spur one’s faith to action or leaning into the tangible presence of Jesus, MBL provides that space. It also allows students to enter an environment where outward expression during worship is encouraged, and there are not many spaces like that on campus,” sophomore Sarah Sassaman said.

Though meetings officially start at 9 p.m., students gather at 8 p.m. for prayer and intercession over the night. The night can look different depending on what inspires the group, whether that means high-praise worship or personal testimonies.

“We break to communicate the heart of God in some way – whether that’s an MBL team member giving a quick word, splitting up into group

looks to increase its capacity for financial aid. Of the $90 million allocated to Phase One, $16 million will go towards financial aid.

65 percent of students receive financial aid, with 45 percent being need-based and 20 percent being meritbased.

This campaign will increase the resources with which the college can support its students.

Phase Two is worth $43 million, with $17 million of that total set aside for finan-

nuanced approach to therapy aimed at increasing brain health and eliciting longterm memories.

The group then joined the Center for Entrepreneurship + Innovation (E+I) at Grove City College’s VentureLab program and were able to test their toolkits in multiple care communities, develop their own products, build partnerships and launch in May 2022, according to Gilligan.

prayer with whoever’s attending or even testifying on the mic to what the Lord is doing in each other’s lives. We want people to leave encouraged in the heart of the Lord and reminded of His character,” junior Erin Venus said.

“After, we go back into worship and a time of response. Depending on what is communicated, this can look like a time of personal reflection, confession and prayer, or just straight praise and worship through song!”

Students involved in the group express great joy and satisfaction from being involved. The transformations witnessed and the community created make each meeting unique and impactful.

“There is nothing better than getting to experience others experiencing God. MBL has provided an amazing avenue for ministering to the campus. We’ve gotten to see the lost be found, the injured healed, and the student body fully pursue the heart of God,” junior Sam Hogue said.

cial aid. Phase Two will be a continuation of campus renovations. The Residents Halls will receive $20 million worth of updates and refurbishments, and Crawford Auditorium will be renovated for $6 million.

Phase Three, worth $32 million, will see the completion of the campaign through renovations to the Upper Campus athletic facilities, increased financial aid and additional renovations to the Residence Halls.

With support from E+I, seed money won at collegiate business plan competitions, and much hard work, Resense was able to market the kits successfully and develop another product. “We realized that many care communities do not provide newspapers to their residents. So, we came up with the idea of a dementia-friendly newspaper that would include completely positive news. We launched our paper, the

The new campus group aims to bring students closer to each other and God. Students from all walks of life are invited and encouraged to join.

“My favorite part is the fact that we gather in unity around the fact that we all love Jesus and want to lift His name higher. No matter where you’re from, your personality, your beliefs, or your denomination, we gather in the name of Jesus to see Him move in our heart and on our campus,” sophomore Christian Royer said.

For many, the worship allows them to take a step back from the stress and chaos of daily life and urges them to spend time fully devoting themselves to God.

“The first thing that comes to my head is that MBL’s a place where I can really eliminate all distractions and put all my focus on Jesus. It’s something I’m trying to work on at other times, but it is one of the few times when I can really set aside all other stresses and worries and just be present with God,” senior

Matt Telarico said.

Through MBL, every member is united through their love of Christ. This shared spiritual devotion creates a warm and inviting atmosphere that continues to draw more and more students in.

“It’s evident that everyone there is either there because they are completely and utterly on fire for the Lord and they just want to be immersed in His presence, or that they are curious and searching for more. Either way, everyone is fully welcomed and encouraged by the community, and it pushes not only me but others toward the Kingdom weekly,” senior Rachel Sullivan said.

“MBL makes me feel freedom. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom, and the Spirit of the Lord is working in and through MBL to reach God’s people on this campus. I feel encouraged to worship and to dive deeper into my faith, and I have never felt like I was doing it alone.”

Resense Register, in March of 2023 and it has entered over 400 care communities to date,” Gilligan said.

“Seeing it grow to where it is now just makes me proud,” said Gilligan. “I am proud of the team that got us here but also proud that we can raise awareness for a cause that is often overlooked or forgotten. This is just the start. We have big plans in the works to create and launch new products and I am looking

forward to seeing where Resense goes in the next year!

Up next for the startup is creating an online platform that will allow care partners of individuals with dementia to have online access to downloadable activities, resources and mentoring.

ERIN VENUS

A Monday night worship session in the Rathburn Great Room put on by the Met by Love campus group.

GROVE CITY COLLEGE

A rendering of the patio outside the future fieldhouse.

Upcoming Events... What’s fresh at the Grove?

SAE Club preps for Baja racing nationals

Mia Gallagher

Contributing Writer

Grovers, start your engines and kick your cheers into gear, as our very own Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Club prepares for their Nationals race.

The Sept. 6-10 competitions promise to provide the team with the chance to showcase their work.

Baja racing, an engineering design series organized by the SAE, allows college students around the country to put their design, teamwork and technical skills to the test.

The program holds three National races throughout the year, with colleges and clubs putting together smaller competitions as well. This year, the team will compete against 89 other colleges and universities.

“In Baja clubs around the country, students design, manufacture and build cars according to rules set by SAE. At Nationals, teams give an engineering design presentation on the car they brought to the event, and there are many different driving events

6 - 8:30 p.m.

with the highlight being a four-hour endurance race,” junior Sophia Whiteman, the club’s secretary, said. The College’s Baja team, which has been competing for roughly 18 years, heads into this year’s competition with confidence and excitement. Their vehicle, Red October, has been fashioned

with speed in mind and features the club’s first fourwheel drive system.

“A successful Baja car is a light and tough car. The lighter the car, the faster it will be, but it’ll be more delicate. A heavier car is tougher but slower. Engineers must design a car that finds a middle ground, one that is tough enough to last the endurance races and beyond, but that is light enough to be competitive,” Whiteman said.

While the more advanced capabilities of a four-wheel drive vehicle pose many benefits, challenges have also arisen along the way. However, the design team has met these trials head-on and is eager for a chance to put their improvements to the test.

“Because this is our first car with four-wheel drive, we are constantly making changes to the entire drivetrain. Over the last year, our focus has been taking weight out of the car, and we focused on the drivetrain. The durability of these new components has yet to be put to the test, but

we are confident going into this race,” Whiteman said. With the competition right around the corner, the team has been hard at work making necessary modifications and finalizing their design presentation. Additionally, the team conducted a test drive of their vehicle on Sept. 2, allowing them to assign key roles and make final adjustments.

“Every race team wants to win, but in this team, we try to make our focus on doing the best that we can. Uplifting our teammates, proving our work to ourselves, meeting new teams, and having fun are high on the list of things we want to achieve at Nationals,” Whiteman said. With high-spirits and a stellar vehicle at their command, it’s safe to say the Baja club will make the Grove City College community proud. To learn more about the club or to keep up to date with their accomplishments throughout the year, be sure to follow them @grovecitycollegeracing on Facebook and Instagram.

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Sept. 19

SOPHIA WHITEMAN

The SAE Club with “Red October,” their competition vehicle.

OLIVIA WHITEMAN

The Baja Team racing at the Butler Bash.

CALEB WARRICK

The SAE Club driving their car last year at the Butler Bash.

Center for Rural Ministry coming to Grove

Emily Fox Community Editor

Grove City College has officially announced the establishment of the Center for Rural Ministry (CRM), an initiative that received a $408,033 grant from the Lilly Endowment Inc. and looks to further the work of the Project on Rural Ministry (PRM).

The Center was designed to aid rural churches in overcoming challenges like finding a full-time pastor or declining congregation numbers.

As stated on the PRM website, “The PRM seeks to learn more about rural ministry from the very people who do it – pastors – and to facilitate various types of partnerships between college, church and community to determine the most effective institutional supports for ministry in the rural context.”

“By founding a permanent Center for Rural Ministry, Grove City is demonstrating a long-term commitment to pastors and congregations

in our area. It is also making a significant statement about its commitment to helping students get connected to the richness of a local church. Furthermore, the founding of a Center also positions the College to take additional steps toward being a regional – and perhaps national – thought leader in rural ministry,” CRM Executive Director, Dr. Charles Cotherman ’06, said.

Cotherman has long held a passion for churches in rural areas, moving to Oil City in 2016 from Charlottesville, VA to start a church in the area.

“I have always cared about small places and the people who call them home. I say frequently that I felt like most denominational and inter-denominational church planting organizations, in their rush to plant churches and platform leaders in large suburban and urban areas, seemed to have forgotten about the people who peopled my childhood memories. The PRM - and now the CRM – is an effort to specifically address this gap,”

Cotherman said.

CRM Assistant Director Dr. Adam Loretto ’05 said, “How many churches can consult with an expert like Dr. Farone on housing a beehive to help pollinate a church garden – and get a bee-based VBS curriculum on top of it? How many small rural churches can afford a consultant like Prof. Shannon Barrios or Prof. Ken Smith but can through GCC get high-quality data about their congregations because of one of their research methods or market research classes”.

“Rural Christian colleges concentrate expertise in dozens of disciplines through our faculty. If we are good neighbors to our surrounding communities and really work to understand the work of churches around us, there are so many connections we can make to pastoral and congregational needs,” Loretto continued.

The CRM will cater to problems faced by rural congregations, including a lack of new young members, addiction and feelings of lone-

Dr. Josiah Hall

liness and hopelessness. The Center will combat these issues through ICO trips and other initiatives.

“We are looking to expand our network of partners and friends in this season, and students can help. Even if a student is from a church that feels more suburban or urban, we may be able to partner in new ways in the new Center for Rural Ministry,” Cotherman said.

The program will launch a new ministry, Plowshare Ministry, where students will be able to travel to struggling churches and make key outreach connections. Students will have the opportunity to lend their gifts and efforts to the program through various internship opportunities and class assignments.

If you are looking to get more involved, the project will sponsor a free conference on Sept. 15-16 at Tower Presbyterian Church titled “Leading Like Jesus.” This year’s conference presenters are Sam Allberry, Duffy Robbins and Dr. Carl Truman.

What even is there to do in Grove City?

Brae Sadler

Contributing

Writer

The GCC community offers a range of activities each week on campus. But new students may be wondering, where do students go to spend time with their friends off campus when they need a change of scenery? Here are five of the most popular places in the Grove City area where students like to go off campus to relax after a long day in class.

Sheetz

Surprisingly, the number 1 recommended hangout location in Grove City is a gas station. Besides having plenty of gas pumps, Sheetz operates as a fast-food restaurant and 24/7 convenience store that is six minutes away from campus. Sheetz patrons can order food online and pick it up at the store. It also helps that they keep the bathrooms clean.

Katie’s Korner

Located at the intersection of George Junior and South

Center Street, Katie’s Korner is easy to pass by. However, it has some of the best ice cream in Grove City and 48 flavors to choose from. Sophomore Braeden Weigle said, “It’s very cool, has lots of nice employees, and good ice cream.” He was celebrating his birthday with friends over sweet treats. Katie’s Korner is open from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. each night, making it a convenient place to go after classes and only a fiveminute drive away. They only accept cash.

Beans on Broad and Collage

Broad Street is home to the two most popular coffee houses in town: Beans on Broad and Collage. Located in the heart of Grove City, both establishments are frequented by students. They are known for being good places to study, socialize, date and get your caffeine fix. Collage maintains a professional atmosphere while Beans is more laidback. These establishments are likely to be students’ best

Assistant Professor of Biblical and Relgious Studies

Abigail Joyner

Contributing Writer

What made you decide that you wanted to become a professor at GCC?

After a few years of working as an engineer, my wife and I really felt God’s call for me to go to seminary.

After working at Baylor, I applied to two seminaries and then Grove City. In deciding which job to accept, I talked to Dr. Byun who shared his passion for undergraduate students with me and shared the unique opportunity to teach in the Biblical and Religious Studies major and minister to a variety of students.

What is your favorite childhood memory?

A memory that was both important and enjoyable was when my parents took us twice on a 11-day camping trip in Kenya with other missionary families. Seeing the places that missionaries work and seeing the joys of missions really shaped my worldview.

What is the best book you’ve ever read?

As a BARS professor I’m probably supposed to say the the Bible. But I would also say Cry, The Beloved Country by Alan Paton ... Or The Princess Bride

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?

friends after long nights of studying.

Parker’s Parlor

Just a 16-minute walk away near the train tracks lies Parker’s Parlor on Broad Street. It’s a new business founded in 2021 by a Grover and his wife. Parker’s Parlor is renowned for its ice cream

and hot dogs. In fact, customers can get a foot-long hot dog for $5. Parker’s Parlor is closed on Mondays.

The Outlet Mall

Within a ten-minute drive, you can go to a market of the modern world. Grove City Premium Outlets has goods from big brands like Brooks Brothers, Lee and Wrangler and Ann Taylor. In the food court, there is Auntie Anne’s, Chinese food and many other options. Moreover, local favorites like Blackout Burger and Primanti Bros are located nearby. Most of Grove City’s hotels are within walking distance of the mall, so it is a great place to spend time with friends and family from out of the area.

Grove City might not be known as the most exciting town, but there are many hidden gems for students to discover if they look hard enough. Who knows, maybe there are more yet to be discovered!

I’ve always wanted to visit New Zealand. But I could easily name 15 other countries. Traveling and learning about other cultures is very important to me.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

Racquetball, watching and playing rugby or really any competitive sport. I also really enjoy fantasy fiction, baking bread and watching Korean dramas with my wife.

What is your favorite Fall activity?

I love apple orchards. This is really the first time our family has lived somewhere with a true fall and distinct seasons so we’re really excited to see that.

What are you most looking forward to this semester?

To be here in the fall and have a full academic year under my belt. I’m also really excited about the classes I’m teaching.

GRACE DAVID

The most popular destination off-campus is Sheetz!

In full bloom

Students enjoy the Flower Festival at Willow Fork Homestead

Amidst the short-lived hot and humid weather in Western Pa., GCC students take advantage of the many end-of-summer activities happening around the college.

The first annual Flower Festival hosted by the Willow Fork Homestead in Fredonia was one of those activities this past week.

Visitors had the opportunity to pick flowers and make a custom bouquets, taste homeade food and ice cream, and buy plenty of goods from local vendors and farmers.

The colorful addition of the bright botanicals are a great jump-start to the new semester. As classes begin to ramp up, its easy to forget to take some time to rest and enjoy peaceful activites.

Find joy in the little things, explore spontaneity! The semester is what you make it--so fill it with bright and vibrant memories!

by Grace David, Photo Chief

Barbie makes strong case for womanhood

Why the hot takes you read are wrong

Grace Waggoner

Contributing Writer

I have a confession: I liked the Barbie movie.

The highly-anticipated comedy from director Greta Gerwig dominated headlines and social media feeds for weeks leading up to its release, starting global trends that paraded women (and some men) of all ages to the theaters decked out in pink, and belting out the movie’s hit single, “I’m Just Ken.”

Less predictably, however, “Barbie” sparked a larger cultural discussion that not many expected from what at first glance appears to be a light-hearted hour of beach-themed sexual innuendo from a very blonde Ryan Gosling.

After being inundated with social media posts about how “Barbie” would be an affront to my beliefs and accost my view of womanhood, I headed to the theater, bracing myself for impact.

However, I didn’t leave feeling as though I had suffered through a dressed-up political speech. Instead, I left thinking about God’s design for humanity.

Contrary to what I prepared for, the “Barbie” movie doesn’t promote the idea that women should rule the world and men should be left in the dust. It doesn’t elevate the notion that the traditional concept of a “normal” woman who’s “maybe a mother, or maybe isn’t” is outdated or empty. And what it surely does not do is reject womanhood as something to be embraced.

Rather, the “Barbie” movie comes to its own conclusions. In what some called a rejec-

tion of traditional values,

Ken and Barbie don’t end up together – not because Barbie has transcended into a new wave of feminism where Ken is nonessential – but instead, where Barbie and Ken must find their meaning outside of each other. It asserts that men and women were not ultimately made for each other but for more.

Ken is not portrayed as a stereotypical, macho man who becomes the bad guy as he conquers women – in fact, he directly states he loses interest in the idea of patriarchy after he discovers it isn’t just about “trucks and horses.” Instead, the movie

leaves Ken believing that he’s just Ken, and that’s enough. It insists that Ken and men deserve an identity on their own as well and that finding that identity in women is a burden that both sexes weren’t meant to bear.

Even more fascinating, Barbie’s ultimate conclusion is her choice to become human. How does Barbie define what it means to be human? It means to suffer and to embrace her anatomy. In a personal moment with her creator, interestingly enough, Barbie is told to “just feel.”

Tears roll down her face, and she embraces the discomfort, pain and beauty

of being human in a fallen world. The movie’s final scene shows us how Barbie is faring in the real world after becoming a real woman, and the proof is not in her political action, a cheesy line about feminine power, or anything of the kind.

The definitive proof that Barbie has become human is found in the final line: “I’m here to see my gynecologist.” Audiences are left with Barbie embracing her true female anatomy as the definitive marker of her womanhood and humanity.

If Barbie and the reaction to the movie showed me one thing, it’s this: we are far too

easily angered, and our moral imaginations are far too brittle.

We waste our anger on things like the Barbie movie when, in reality, there’s so much good to be pulled from it. We become known more for the trivial things we’re supposedly against rather than the beauty we’re for. In Christ, we have the ability to see the beauty in things that remain hidden to the reactionary and quick-to-anger eye.

With a baptized imagination and a patient, gracious disposition, perhaps we can pull beauty from even the “Barbie” movie. Sublime!

The Real Losers of the Republican Debate

Hunter Oswald Staff Writer

Well, round one is over!

On August 23, the first debate of the 2024 Republican primary, hosted by Fox News, came to a chaotic close as major candidates, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Vivek Ramaswamy, Former Ambassador Niki Haley and others clashed in the hopes of becoming the party’s presidential nominee.

According to Forbes, the first the debate got close to 12.4 million views, despite the absence of Donald Trump, who decided to do a pre-recorded interview with Tucker Carlson on X (It’s really Twitter) instead.

As political pundits across

the right and left continued to debate about who they believed won and lost. There seems to be an unsurprising silence between two bigger losers during the debates, the Republican National Committee (RNC) and Fox News.

Now, this may come as a surprise to some, especially those who were more focused on the actual candidates or those uninterested in the debate at all, but the RNC and Fox News made some great miscalculations when it came to their handling of the first debate.

First, let us address the elephant in the room, Donald Trump. There is still ongoing debate about whether it was or wasn’t a good decision for Trump to be absent, but the fact of the matter is that Trump’s campaign and Trump himself saw the opportunity to make a power move against Fox and the

RNC. The message was simple and was somewhat effective as the message from Trump was, “The RNC and Fox News need me, not the other way around.”

This move should not come as a surprise, especially the fact that Trump and many Republican Party insiders absolutely hate each other’s guts and that he is currently leading the primary by 38.7 percent.

It was quite clear that Fox wanted Trump there, as demonstrated by the questions regarding Jan 6. and the 2020 election, which would have put pressure on Trump and made him the essential focus.

This miscalculation about Trump made the debate a bit awkward, especially when Fox asked, “Do you believe Pence did the right thing on Jan 6?” which was a waste of time that could have been

better used for questions that address the issues that voters care about.

Besides Trump’s absence, the RNC’s regulations, including its loyalty pledge, sends a message of weakness rather than strength for 2024. The RNC’s loyalty pledge states that if a candidate wants to be on the debate stage, they must affirm their support for the eventual nominee and cannot run as a third party or write-in.

Now, there are some requirements that I can understand, but when you push them down candidates’ throats, this looks like the actions of a weak elementary school bully. If you want party unity, let the candidates be themselves and let the voters decide.

It also goes without saying that Fox News clearly did not want a debate at all but rath-

er a cage fight. Watching the debate itself was more akin to going to a hockey game just to see a fight break out.

Fox seems to care less about informative discussions and more about having short clips of candidates bickering at each other and name-calling.

Suppose Fox wanted to inform people about what each candidate stands for. In that case, they should adopt the Summit model, where candidates are individually interviewed and asked the hard questions without any distractions from the other candidates.

It may be early in the show, but if Republicans wish to win in 2024, then the RNC and Fox need to clean their act and focus on the prize.

Normal people north of Richmond

Isaac Willour Staff Writer

If you listen to music with any regularity, chances are you’ll find the following sequence relatable: you listen to a song, and initially, you’re not a fan. Then, upon a second listen, you realize, “oh, this isn’t as weird as I thought.” Then, upon a third listen, you eventually get to the zen-like state of “This isn’t my first choice, but I see how people vibe with it.”

That’s more or less been my journey with “Rich Men North of Richmond”—the hit song that’s racked up almost 60 million views in a month and ignited a whole slew of debates about what normal people believe.

There’s that term: normal people. In case you haven’t noticed, those of us who ‘do politics’ in any sense are obsessed with talking about normal people, figuring out what they believe and using the club of “just be a normal person” to hit our opponents over the head. And yet, I don’t think a lot of people in my industry are really prepared for what actual normal people are like.

Such has been the case with the mind and voice behind Rich Men: Oliver Anthony, a plain-spoken singer from Virginia who actually

might be one of these normal people we’re all desperate to find out about.

Strumming his guitar in what looks like a Dick’s Sporting Goods commercial set, Anthony lays out his case against America’s cultural elite, personified in the song’s title phrase. “Living in the new world with an old soul,” he croons. “These rich men north of Richmond, Lord knows they all just want to have total control.”

In those moments when I can step out of the political bubble I live in, I won’t pretend this doesn’t sum up some of my raw feelings on the red-blue dumpster fire we’ve been living in, and I’d suspect it does for you, too. We’ll get back to that part.

To many on the right, “Rich Men” plays like a damning call-out of every indictment of the left that’s transpired since before the rise of Trump: burned-out ordinary Americans, politicians being part of an in-club that hates normal people and a nostalgia for a past we secretly want but ultimately know we can’t have.

And yet, to many on the left, the song rings true to a slew of issues on the right that the Trump era only exacerbated: burned-out ordinary Americans, politicians being part of an in-club that hates normal people and a nostalgia for a past we secretly want but ultimately know we can’t have. Seem unsparing?

Just wait until you hear Anthony’s take: After “Rich Men” was brought up at the GOP debate, Anthony responded in incisive fashion: “That song’s written about the people on that stage.” And then he said the left got it wrong, too. What’s wrong with him?

Turns out, Oliver Anthony’s far worse than partisan. By all accounts, he might just be exactly what he seems to be: a normal man with normal frustrations, stepping into a political world that’s oh-so-abnormal. “Rich Men

What’s your generic question?

Malachi Abbott ‘24

Parkhurst is off to a good start, with more variety and fresher food. I don’t think the backpack thing is the move, though. Hopefully, for the sake of space, that changes soon.

Emmy Eide ‘25

North of Richmond” is not a watertight report on the state of the economy, a political dissertation or a QAnon anthem (that’s for you, think tank wonks and NPR writers).

It’s, wait for it, art. Packed full of raw, frustrated emotion. Anthony is resonating with millions of Americans who can sense there’s something deeply wrong with this country, even if they can’t articulate all of it perfectly. We’d do well to consider why exactly they’re listening.

The Maui wildfires – why no warning?

Etienne Pienaar

Contributing Writer

The Maui wildfires grabbed my attention because of the extraordinarily high death toll and the apparent lack of warning to the residents. Although I deeply distrust the government, I have attempted to treat government officials as innocent until proven guilty.

I have purposely avoided any social media reporting because of the difficulty of separating influencers and sensationalists from true Maui residents and, therefore, have only examined primary source material.

I would also like to extend my deepest condolences to any Hawaiians on campus who have lost loved ones or know friends who have lost loved ones.

The first primary source I examined was the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, which was aware that Hawaii was at high risk of wildfires before this incident. Clearly, something in the protocol or implementation of those systems failed.

I also examined the press conference given by Governor Josh Green on August 16, 2023. I noticed three key details from this conference.

Emergency response director Herman Andaya explained sirens were not sounded because they were usually used for tsunamis. Fearing the sirens might have confused residents and made them seek higher ground, bringing them closer to the fires, they were not used. Instead, text alerts to phones were used because they were considered the most effective way of sending emergency messages.

So why did so many residents receive no warning?

Governor Josh Green said Hawaii would invest in underground power lines, clearly implying the origin of the fires, which destroyed critical telecommunications infrastructure. As a result, the text alert system failed in most cases, explaining why many Maui residents only knew about the fire once it was in their backyards.

The chief of police, John Pelletier, confirmed there was a roadblock for emergency vehicle access. He did not address whether lives were lost because of that roadblock, instead making

a lengthy and passionate speech about his love for the people of Maui.

An article from the Associated Press confirmed police had blocked the main road out of Lahaina. According to eyewitness testimony from the AP article, many of those who turned back perished, while those who disobeyed first responders and continued on by car or on foot survived.

If any person or agency is to blame for the high death tolls of these fires, it would fall on three agencies, the Hawaii Emergency Response Agency, the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources and the police and first responders. The Hawaii Emergency Response agency, particularly director Herman Andaya, is responsible for underestimating the speed at which fires can travel and destroy telecommunication infrastructure.

They are also responsible for not having a backup plan if the text alert system fails. Although sirens were concentrated at the coastline and could have been mistaken for a tsunami warning, any warning of an emergency would have been better than no warning.

The Hawaii Department of

Land and Natural Resources is responsible for not reducing the fire risk posed by large fields of invasive grasses in Hawaii. I believe these fields of invasive grasses contributed significantly to the fast spread of the fires with 80 mph winds from Hurricane Dora. If small-scale controlled burns of grasslands had been implemented in high-risk areas before the fires, they might have spread slowly. Less fuel means less fire.

Police and first responders are responsible for blocking the exit from Lahaina without providing an alternative exit route. The roadblock may have been necessary to allow emergency vehicles through or to prevent deaths from downed power lines, but the failure to create a secondary escape route led to death.

I hoped my distrust of the government would be proven wrong in this story, but unfortunately, that didn’t happen. This is just more evidence that governments cannot be relied on as infallible protectors of life during times of crisis. They are just as capable of mismanagement, incompetence or plain stupidity as the general population.

The food and service provided by Parkhurst thus far has been excellent, with various items on the menu that have genuinely impressed me (tender turkey at the new Carvery station, baked sweet potatoes, and vegan cornbread, to name a few). Parkhurst has, however, undertaken much with the new “market” areas, “Garage” and, of course, the Chick-fil-A. I’m anxious to see how well they’ll be able to run so many changes on top of serving GCC for the first time.

Annalina Brant ‘26

The food from Parkhurst has been amazing so far this year. They offer so many classic options that everyone loves. They added food stations such as Bravo and fun new elevated options.

Etienne Pienaar ‘24

Sunday evening through Tuesday this past week, the food quality was less than Bon Appetit. However, since Wednesday, the quality increased significantly, and now it’s better than Bon Appetit (with the exception of the long breakfast lines due to hot breakfast only being served at Hicks). I personally think it would save time and personnel if they let us make our own sandwiches instead of having an attendant make them.

Ashley Beauchamp ‘24

I think the food is better, but there’s an issue of the lines being crazy because only Hicks has good food right now.

Joey Guida ‘24

Parkhurst Dining supplies us with something that was foreign to our previous food supplier. Flavor. Sadly, remnants of the prior year remain: breakable and non-environmentally friendly plastic cutlery and empty/broken drink dispensers. One Bite Rating is a 7.6, though, for Parkhurst Dining.

‘Get Up’ Vince Clay Entertainment Editor

Finding The Heart Within

Dominic Puglisi

Contributing Writer

“Asteroid City” embodies Wes Anderson’s style more so than any of the renowned director’s catalog thus far. All his tropes are present: pastel-colored sets, deadpan delivery and complex plot devices are all present in full force.

The movie centers around a government-sponsored science fair where genius adolescents gather to display their innovations. The crisis of the film comes when an extraterrestrial appears in his flying saucer and sends the camp into chaos.

The Steenbeck family takes center stage in this plot as the father, Augie, awkwardly reveals to his three daughters and genius son that their mother had passed away from cancer weeks before.

Augie is lifeless, wandering about, taking pictures constantly with only his career as a photographer keeping him sane. Then comes the twist- all of this is

Vince Clay

Entertainment Editor

a play. The movie “Asteroid City” is a play.

Occasionally, the color drains from the screen, and the characters revert to actors trying to get this play off the ground. Amidst sarcasm, alien invasions and constant meta-analysis provided by the switching between theatre and reality, this movie seems too pretentious to have any heart. This is completely false, as one scene bathed in fourth wall breaks and brilliant cinematography serves as the film’s emotional core.

Jason Schwartzman, cast as Augie, cannot figure out how to play his character’s sadness correctly.

So going out onto the theatre balcony, he looks across to the neighboring theatre and sees Margot Robbie.

Robbie originally played Augie’s wife in the play, a character who we have never seen as she is dead in the play. Schwartzman starts to talk to her about how she originally did have a part in

the play where Augie speaks to her ghost.

Robbie explains this scene was cut for time, but Schwartzman asks her if they could recite it together to get him in character. The camera focuses on both of their faces as they talk, illuminated in the monochrome light. Suddenly, the whole meta idea of the film fades away as Robbie and Schwartzman adopt their roles in the play of husband and deceased wife having one final conversation.

Augie pleads with his wife, begging her to come back as he feels he cannot care for his kids as well as she did. In a gentle whisper, she explains that she cannot come back, and he’ll need to carry on himself. As he cries, he takes one last picture of her, finding solace in the one piece of control he has left. As gentle piano keys play, Robbie tells him that she hopes the picture will come out, to which he replies that it always does. The film then displays the picture Augie

took of her when they first met.

These photographs Augie takes are his life, and they always come out. Augie will persevere through this sadness and become a better father; Robbie fully believes that. This scene shows the whole cycle of their relationship as we see the first and final pictures Augie has taken of his wife.

The power of black and white, the heart-rendering music and the gentle loving whispers of the dead tear into our hearts. We love Wes Anderson for his quirkiness, dry humor and complex plots, all of which Asteroid City possesses.

But without heart, all of this means nothing. Ultimately, this high-art story is not about all those trappings and decorations but rather loss and moving on. That is what makes this movie great, an aesthetically pleasing, quickwitted indie film, that, by the end, may leave you in tears.

Doja Cat Needs ‘Attention’

Something is up with famed pop superstar Doja Cat.

On June 16th of this year, the singer debuted the first single from her upcoming album, “Attention”, and was met with a nearly universal “meh”. You could say that the song failed to attract the very thing it was named for.

Realistically, this is completely okay. Some songs will strike a chord with audiences and others will not. However, there is much more to this failure than meets the eye.

The singer initially began making headlines in 2022, when she began posting occult-styled images and selfies to her Instagram account seemingly to promote her upcoming album.

Again, this is typical star behavior; rock musicians have been eating bats on stage and scandalizing MTV for decades (hello Ozzy Osbourne). However, Doja Cat’s recent conversion to the dark side falls into a recent and annoying pattern of the past couple of years in which a musician completely ditches artistic merit in exchange for one thing: media revenge.

Mainstream musicians bucking against entertainment standards make up a great majority of some of the best pop music of the past

few decades. Avril Lavigne’s

“Let Go” was a huge success in the era of the pop diva, Billie Eilish and FINNEAS brought creepy minimalism into the maximalist EDM age and Playboi Carti’s jarring

“Whole Lotta Red” contrasted perfectly with the sluggish mumble rap of the time.

What makes these projects tick is that they broaden the musical discussion and offer a new perspective with creative, original songs that are made up of a variety of influences and reference points.

However, issues occur when the musician confuses the target of their ambitions.

In Doja Cat’s case, it’s easy to see. Her newest singles, “Paint the Town Red” and “Demons”, are middle-ofthe-road rap tracks filled with bland melodies and overstuffed with lyrics about

haters and fans and critics.

The songs are adorned with foreboding album covers and feature downright demonic music videos.

The issue is two-fold: audiences don’t care about headlines enough to listen to a superstar complain about them, and the instrumental and aesthetic ideas presented are trite and overdone.

She’s not alone. When Kanye West dissed Taylor Swift in a lyric, she wrote “Reputation”, an album that will undoubtedly age like milk in the coming years with its weird rap beats and cringe-inducing lyrical jabs.

Another in this category is Lil Yachty’s rock album “Let’s Start Here.” Billed as an album meant to transform Yachty’s career, it breaks a lot of rules that are better left unbroken. Who is he try-

ing to impress? As a rapper, is he moving into rock music to appease “old, white record executives”? Lil Yachty’s previous displays of talent are not enough to convince audiences he can pull off a psychedelic rock album. Yachty certainly isn’t playing the instruments and certainly cannot sing.

The fact of the matter is that mainstream music delivers messages and creative expression best when it is made with an awareness of its demographic and importance. It would be beneficial if this recent tide of musicians spent less time on Twitter and more time doing their job which is making good, substantive music. With the release of Doja Cat’s new album slated for September 15th, we will soon see which option she chose.

To the average music listener, K-pop offers an ultimatum: some of the catchiest songwriting and most flawless marketing, for its constant shenanigans. Between the obnoxious bass drops, nonstop energy and hypersexualized performers, it is easy to see why much of the American population has been wary of welcoming K-pop groups into the mainstream.

However, there is a new K-pop girl group on the scene with intentions to break all preconceptions. The self-professed “So fresh, so clean” NewJeans recently dropped their second EP, “Get Up” in late July.

From the jump, this group is like no other Kpop group out at the moment. Gone are the technicolor explosions and ratchet energy of groups like BLACKPINK and BTS. NewJeans dropped onto the scene with a tame media rollout and sleek, modern branding.

The music doesn’t disappoint. Instead of chasing aged EDM and trap music tropes from five years ago, the girls command bassy, grooving and effervescently cool beats. Building on the promise of last year’s fan-favorite song “Ditto”, the EP is built on sounds of house music, breakbeat and electronica of the nineties.

Lead single “Super Shy” is a jack-in-the-box of glittering melodies and sparkling synths, set to a club-ready breakbeat. “Cool With You” and the subsequent interlude “Get Up” show the girls in ballad mode, singing sweetly over deep, resonant bass and watery keys, punctuated by minimal dance grooves. In terms of volume, this group is a muchneeded breath of fresh air in a scene that decidedly has no chill.

The standout track “ETA” may just be one of the best songs NewJeans have put out. The song stands as proof that the group can still follow Kpop trends and succeed. Overtop a trumpet sample that BLACKPINK would be proud of, the group rattles off catchy pop hooks overtop a complex club groove. For every box the group checks off, they also find ways to innovate- on closer “ASAP”, the girls deliver a cute ballad overtop percussion- which happens to be a sample of someone whispering “tick, tock”.

For music fans of all kinds, this EP finds ways to charm and surprise. Listening to this innovative group is a win- but putting down preconceptions and jumping into the glittering world of K-pop is an even better experience.

IMDB

TOOFAB

MSOC starts ‘23 season with nonconference slate

Joel Sledd Sports Editor

After an exceptional 2022 season, the Grove City Men’s Soccer team takes the field once again to compete in a very talented conference. The men are 0-1-2 on the season so far, facing three non-conference opponents.

On Wed. Sept 6, the men tied with Oberlin College in another scoreless outing at home.

Sophomore midfielders Aiden Eck and Camden Thomas led the team with three shots each. Thomas and sophomore midfielder Daniel Sharp each had one shot on the goal.

The Wolverines’ defense stepped up and only allowed one shot on the goal, which was blocked by Sophomore goalkeeper Teddy Almeter.

The men’s first and only loss was against Mount

Union College on Sept. 2 with a final score of 0-2. With 37 seconds left in the first half, Mount Union scored their first goal.

They would then score again late in the second half. Eck led Grove City with four shots and one shot on the goal, while Thomas had three shots with two shots on the goal.

On Sept. 1, the Wolverines finished the evening with a 1-1 draw against Lancaster Bible College. Lancaster Bible scored after five minutes into the second half.

With roughly nine minutes remaining, the Wolverines scored with a kick from Eck. Almeter had three saves for his debut for the men’s soccer team.

Head Coach Mike Dreves ’97 returns for his 18th year as the Wolverines men’s soccer coach, ready to face another season. A senior class

of 14 athletes will lead the team, which now includes eight new freshmen. With 9 returning starters, there is a lot to hope for this season.

After going 10-0 in the regular season against conference opponents last year, the men will be going for the championship.

The Wolverines will play nearly a whole month consisting of only conference opponents.

However, Grove City men’s soccer will not play a PAC opponent until Chatham on Sept. 20

“The conference is super competitive. There are new coaches in the conference and a lot of new rosters,” said Dreves.

Until then, the men have three more non-conference games. The Wolverines play Denison tomorrow at 7:00 p.m. at home on Don Lyle Field.

Wolverines topple Titans

Emma Rossi

Editor-in-Chief

Wolverine Football set out on their 2023 campaign for the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) Championship in the season’s inaugural game this past Saturday.

Grove City took down Westminster Titans 17-7 in the first half, showcasing a well-oiled offense and dominating on defense in the second half. This was the teams’ first season-opening meeting since 1897.

The Titans were first to put points on the board, scoring on their first drive of the game, but that was all Westminster’s offense managed for the day.

Junior quarterback Logan Pfeuffer and the Wolverine offense took the field at the 9:57 mark of the first quarter and answered the Titan’s call, taking it down the field one gutsy run at a time and evening the score.

Junior running back Nico Flati earned 114 rushing yards, leading the team on the offensive charts.

In the second quarter, the Wolverines upped the tally on their side of the scoreboard by finding the endzone on the quarter’s opening

Sports at a Glance

Upcoming Wolverine Athletic Events

Football:

Sep. 9, 1:00 p.m. @ Utica

Women’s Volleyball:

Sep. 8, 5:30 p.m. @ Utica

Sep. 8, 7:30 p.m. @ Penn State Behrend

Sep. 9, 11:00 a.m. @ Fredonia State

Sep. 9, 3:00 p.m. @ Alfred State

Men’s Soccer:

Sep. 9, 1:00 p.m. vs. Denison

Sep. 13, 7:00 p.m. @ Penn state Behrend

Women’s Soccer:

Sep. 9, 2:00 p.m. @ Wooster

Sep. 13, 7:00 p.m. @ Carnegie Mellon

Women’s Tennis:

Sep. 8, 4:00 p.m. @ Waynesburg

Sep. 9, 9:00 a.m. vs. Grove City Invitational

Sep. 12, 4:00 p.m. vs. Ashland

Women’s Cross Country:

Sep. 9, 10:00 @ Bethany

Men’s Cross Country:

Sep. 9, 10:00 @ Bethany

Women’s Golf:

Sep. 11, 1:00 a.m. @ Thiel

Men’s Golf

Sep. 14, 1:00 a.m. @ Grove City Invitational

WOLVERINE WEEKLY HONORS

drive thanks to a 28-yard connection from Pfeuffer to Fraser.

The Titans and Wolverines took it back and forth with no success until the end of the half when sophomore kicker Caleb Kuechly put the ball through the uprights and made the score 17-7.

Sophomore linebacker Ben Bladel made his year two debut memorable, sacking

Westminster quarterback Ty McGowan twice and forcing a fumble.

Bladel finished last season earning PAC Newcomer of the Year and began this season earning the conference’s defensive player of the week.

The Wolverines are on the road for the next two weeks, facing Waynesburg tomorrow and Case Western Reserve the following.

Lydia Bennett Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Week

Alexis Standford Women’s Volleyball Rookie of the Week

Ben Bladel Football Defensive Player of the Week

GRACE DAVID

Junior forward Jordan Rebsamen dribbles the ball up the field during an early season contest.

GRACE DAVID

Senior wide receiver Scott Fraser catches a TD on Saturday.

Can you dig it?

Women’s volleyball dominates in season start

Joel Sledd Sports Editor

The women’s volleyball team started their season 6-1 against seven non-conference opponents.

The women played multiple double headers and participated in a tournament that fielded very tough opponents for the Wolverines. Suffering only one loss compared to their six wins, the women start off strong to a hopeful new season.

In a doubleheader against Allegheny and Thiel, the Wolverines won both matchups, solidifying their reputation as a formidable opponent.

On Wednesday, Sept. 6, the Wolverines defeated Allegheny College, winning 3-1. Senior middle blocker

Anna Degraaf scored 11 kills and junior setter Kennedy Kerr received 22 assists. Kerr would also be accredited with 4 aces.

The women would then go on to sweep Thiel for another 3-0 victory.

Freshman outside hitter

Alexis Standford led the team with 3 blocks, while DeGraaf and freshman outside hitter

Julia Fisher led with eight kills each.

Kerr contributed to the victory, leading both teams with 17 assists.

For the Wolverines home opener on Sept. 5, the women defeated Chatham 3-1 at home. The women won the first, second and fourth set to seal the victory for their home opener.

Standford led Grove City with 12 kills followed by Degraaf with 10 kills. Sophomore setter Brooklyn Wirebaugh got 23 assists and tied with senior libero Gabby Lucas with two aces.

The women started the season at the Great Lakes In-

vitational held at Cedar Point on Sept 1 and 2. This two-day event featured D3 opponents Bluffton, Baldwin Wallace, Case Western Reserve and Hiram.

On Sept. 1, the Wolverines swept their first opponent, Bluffton, winning the match 3-0. This match also presented Head Coach Leo Sayles with his 300th career win with Grove City College.

After this victory, the women handed Coach Sayles with his 301st victory in a comeback against Baldwin Wallace. After winning the first set, the Wolverines would lose the next two sets in a close competition. However, the women rallied to win the following two sets finishing the match 3-2.

Alexis Standford’s exceptional performance in the tournament earned her the title of PAC Rookie of the Week.

Coach Leo Sayles hit a huge milestone with his 300th win.

“To win 300 just made the entire weekend one to remember,” he said. “Someday I will sit back and reflect more on this, but for now, we have several matches to prepare for this week as we continue to pursue the PAC championship.“

On Sept. 2, the Wolverines suffered their only loss of the invitational to Case Western Reserve. The women would then beat Hiram with a final score of 3-1 to close out the day.

“I am very pleased with our performance this weekend,” said Sayles. “Our 3-1 record is evidence of the good work. Even our loss to an elite team like Case Western gave us some great moments and also revealed areas of our game to improve. I hope we can build on our success going forward.”

The freshmen have been

contributing a lot to Wolverines’ success in volleyball. Coach Sayles reveres the new class, stating, “We have a tremendous freshmen class, and they are already making an impact on the program.

record.

We selected this group because they fill key holes in our team from last year and give us much-needed depth, which we needed.”

The Wolverines will participate in the Penn State Beh-

rend Tournament, a fourgame tournament in Erie, PA lasting two days. Grove City will start the series by playing Utica tonight at 5:30 p.m. at Penn State Behrend.

Women’s tennis off to hopeful start

Joel Sledd Sports Editor

The women’s tennis season starts off strong this fall, beginning 1-1 in the season.

The women’s tennis team started their season with matches against Carlow University and PennWest Edinboro.

For their season’s second match, the women played Carlow College on Wed., Sept 6. The Wolverines completely swept Carlow, winning 9-0.

The Wolverines opened their season last week with a 5-2 loss in an away match against the PennWest Edinboro Fighting Scots. Because PennWest is a Division II school, the teams used the seven-point scoring system used in Division 2 tennis,

where the team that wins most doubles matches earns one point.

The women won two out of the three doubles matches but only won one single match.

Freshman Catherine Petrovich and junior Alyssa Good won their match 6-3, while Junior double partners Emily Ivory and Janal McCray won 7-5.

Ivory also secured another team point with her singles match.

“We had three big wins over scholarship players, which is super exciting. That match could have gone either way. We had chances on every court, and that’s all you could ask,” Says Coach Horner. “We had the chance to win. It didn’t fall in our favor, but

I’m extremely proud of the women and the way they stepped up.”

The Wolverines welcomed five new freshmen to the team for the 2023 season.

Coach Horner was excited about the opportunity of training the future of Wolverines tennis, stating, “A couple of them are in the starting lineup. We had a really good recruiting class, so it’s exciting to see them get playing time.”

The relatively young team will be led by seniors Lexi Chappel and Kelsey Coleman. Chappel earned AllPAC recognition last season with her performance in singles and doubles matches.

Grove City will play its first conference opponent, Waynesburg, today at 4:00 p.m. at Waynesburg College.

Junior Alyssa Good sets to hit the ball over the net.

LYDIA GILANSHAH Women’s volleyball pulls ahead in 2023 season start with a 6-1