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Ohio State Graduate School relaunches mentoring program, supporting professional and academic development
Lily Pace and Davis Beatty Managing Campus Editor and Campus Editor
For graduate students, navigating the changing world of academia while researching, writing a dissertation and working towards a degree can be difficult to face alone.
For Mary Stromberger, vice provost for graduate education and dean of the Graduate School, her lack of a personal mentoring experience helped motivate her to relaunch the Ohio State Mentoring Initiative (OSMI) in the Graduate School.
Stromberger was a first-generation student at West Chester University. When she decided to attend graduate school, Stromberger said she did not know what to expect and had no one to turn to for advice.
“It was definitely challenging at first, because you’re expected to be independent and you’re expected to figure it out, almost like that part is a test of how you’ll do as a scholar,” Stromberger said. “Research and figure it out.”
She said it would have been helpful to have had mentors to guide her through graduate school, to encourage her what to prioritize and how to advocate for herself.
The renewed mentoring initiative aims to make resources available for graduate students who need them, giving faculty the same opportunities as well to help them develop strong mentorship relationships, Stromberger said.
“We just wanted to make resources available to everyone so that there’d be greater equity in providing faculty with resources to help them be better mentors to graduate students and postdocs,” Stromberger said.
them with mentors who can help them develop skills before they step into their post-graduate career.
The Mentoring Initative was founded back in 2017 under the leadership of Marcela Hernandez, assistant dean for Faculty Affairs and Recruitment in the College of Engineering and Dr. Noah Weisleder, previous faculty director for the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, Brianna Johnson, assistant dean for mentoring and strategic initiatives said. The program hosted online workshops up until 2024 as they worked to find a home for it. As of summer 2025, the program was relaunched in the graduate school.
“The crux of the Ohio State Mentoring Initiative is to provide workshops on mentoring for faculty members that are working with graduate students and postdoctoral scholars and others across the university,” Johnson said.
Stromberger said the goal of the program is to develop a culture where the university values mentoring graduate and post-doctorate students, matching
Before being matched with mentors, students will explain what their career goals are and what skills they need to develop to best step into the field. They then will be matched with multiple mentors to create a more well-rounded student, Stromberger said.
“When you think about all the things that students and postdocs need to grow and develop as a scholar, it’s impossible for one person to be able to mentor a student or postdoc at all of the things that they need,” Stromberger said.
To reintroduce the program to Ohio State, Johnson said they took inspiration from the University of Wisconsin — which has a mentoring center. The first two workshops Ohio State decided for the relaunch focus on aligning expectations and effective communication to make sure mentoring relationships are productive, which are Wisconsin’s most popular classes, Johnson said.
“If those two pieces are not in place, then it’s really hard to talk about other things like professional development or mentoring plans,” Johnson said.
As the program has just resumed, the current mentors are faculty who have already worked in the OSMI program.
“We’re focused on supporting mentoring relationships that are already there, and it’s been really exciting to hear different people’s stories in that regard,” Johnson said.
Depending on the demand, the program may ask more faculty to participate, Stromberger said, but it currently is too early to tell. Stromberger said the mentorship program is also interested in expanding further to mentor communities and connect faculty with each other.
“There’ll be a variety of activities aimed at bringing people together from all across the university,” Stromberger said.
Within the mentorship program, students are encouraged to create an Individual Development Plan, where they will be tasked with establishing goals and reflecting on their career interests and how to prepare to become a strong candidate for the field, Stromberger said.
OSMI continues on page 4.
Mary Stromberger, one of the driving forces behind the revamped program. Photo courtesy of Stromberger.
The best advice for getting into law school — from people who’ve done it
Xiyonne McCullough Miller Special Projects Reporter For
students with dreams of becoming lawyers, getting into law school can feel like a maze of exams, essays and unknown expectations.
To help undergraduates navigate the process, former attorney and current Ohio State professor Esra Gules-Guctas, alongside Malila Bernard, a current Capital University law student and Ohio State alum, offered advice on how to stand out and stay grounded in the process.
Bernard said her experience applying to law school went smoothly because she took time to ask questions and understand what would be expected before starting the applications.
“I don’t think there was anything I was really surprised about during the application process because I feel like I did enough research and asked questions to my advisor in undergrad so that I had an understanding of what to expect,” Bernard said.
Gules-Guctas suggested students begin studying for their LSATs early, as scores can significantly impact admissions decisions.
“At the end of the day, it all boils down to your LSAT score,” Gules-Guctas said. “A lot of students try very hard with their extracurriculars, but I suggest they focus a little more on the LSAT score and maintaining a good GPA.”
Bernard said she prepared for the LSAT on her own, using low-cost online resources such as Blueprint and Khan Academy, which provided the structure she needed to improve her score.
“Having tutors or paying thousands for live courses wasn’t in my budget,” Bernard said. “I used the free subscription on Blueprint up until I took the LSAT for the first time.”
Gules-Guctas said she also saved money by studying independently.
“I studied on my own, I didn’t enroll in a prep course, but I bought some used prep-course books and studied for months.”
She added that repetition and familiarity with the test format are keys to success.
“Start early and know that practice makes perfect,” Gules-Guctas said. “Take as many LSAT practice tests as possible.”
While gaining legal experience can be helpful, Bernard said applicants
shouldn’t feel pressured to fill their resumes with only law-related activities.
“Continue doing the things that you love rather than focusing on having the most legal internships and experience prior to going to law school,” Bernard said. “Those are the things that law school is meant to teach you.”
When deciding whether law school is the right path, Gules-Guctas said following passion over profit is the way to go.
“Don’t just go to law school to prove yourself, or for the prestige of it,” Gules-Guctas said. “You have to be interested in reading and also in practicing law.”
Bernard said her own scholarships cover about half of her tuition, which helped ease financial concerns commonly associated with attending law school. She advised undergraduates to think strategically when choosing law schools.
“I chose law schools based on where I wanted to study law, and if they had a good program in the field of law that I wanted to study,” Bernard said.
Although the road to law school can be a demanding and long journey, Gules-Guctas said the effort is worth it for those who remain determined.
“Law school is hard to get into, but easy to finish once you start,” she said.
Both Gules-Guctas and Bernard said that success begins long before applications open if prospective students remain persistent and believe that they can achieve their goals.
Ohio State alumna, journalist Erin Moriarty named 2025 Ohio State Alumni Medalist Award winner
Ally Wolfe Campus Senior Writer
Erin Moriarty, an Ohio State alumna who is a correspondent for CBS Sunday Morning and 48 Hours, has been named the 2025 Alumni Medalist Award winner, one of the highest honors bestowed by The Ohio State University Alumni Association.
The award is given to one alumnus each year who has “gained national or international distinction in their chosen field or profession — those advocates who have brought extraordinary credit to the university and significant benefit to humankind,” according to the alumni association website.
In 1997, Moriarty graduated from Ohio State’s College of Law, now known as the Moritz College of Law, where women were still underrepresented in the legal profession. She said she remains forever grateful for the chance the university
took on her as a woman entering that field.
“The law school, rather than just being, you know, a part of my life for three years, has been a part of my life for 40,” Moriarty said. “To me, getting an award like this, where the university says we’re proud of what you’ve done, it’s full circle, because it says as much about the university, maybe more about the university, than it does about me.”
While Moriarty once planned to be a litigator, she eventually discovered her true calling: telling the story behind these cases.
ERIN MORIARTY continues on page 10.
The Moritz College of Law at Ohio State.
JACK WESTERHEIDE | LANTERN FILE PHOTO
OSMI offers resources and workshops for graduate students
“It’s asking the student to reflect on what it is that they would like to accomplish this year, and in thinking about their careers, what are the competencies that they would like to develop to prepare themselves for the career,” Stromberger said.
Johnson also said that among the most exciting resources the OSMI program offers are toolkits for mentees, geared towards graduate students and postdoctoral students to help them develop. There are also toolkits for faculty members that would prepare them for a mentoring relationship.
“We really tried to make sure that it’s not just links and videos, but it’s also tangible things that people can customize and that can be useful, because we know we’re a broad and diverse community with many different sizes and types of departments in many different fields,” Johnson said, “so it’s never going to be one size fits all.”
The OSMI program has resources to help other departments who want to create a peer mentoring program for graduate students, which takes place in
surveys where mentors and mentees can fill them out.
“We also have an orientation that we provide to graduate student mentors and mentees to help them just get the basics of what mentoring looks like and what the expectations are,” Johnson said.
Stromberger said that people generally want to help others and mentors want to provide guidance because they were likely to have been helped by someone else and wouldn’t be where they are today otherwise.
“The vast majority of mentors out there want to return the favor and want to give back,” Stromberger said. “They are generally excited to talk with you, and are looking forward for the opportunity to make a difference from someone else, just as someone had made a difference to them.”
Johnson also emphasized the importance of a mentoring relationship through her own graduate experience, with a few mentors that come to mind.
“My dissertation advisor was a tremendous advocate and champion, and really helped me to shape my identity as a researcher and a scholar,” Johnson said. “She was effective in creating an environment on the research team where we all leaned on each other for support.”
Despite her mentor setting high expectations, Johnson’s mentor supported her through it all and she said that she will always hold that experience dear. Johnson also said that she now works as a peer with another mentor she had, where they are able to work on an academic piece together as colleagues.
“One thing I love about mentoring relationships [is that they] can last a long time and they can evolve over time,” Johnson said. “I’m very passionate about it. I think mentors are crucial to the graduate student and the student experience, and I’m happy to have the opportunity to pay it forward in this way.”
Brianna Johnson, assistant dean for mentoring and strategic iniatives. Photo courtesy of Johnson.
Campus Roundup: Career Fair edition
Lily Pace Managing Campus Editor
Career
fairs are a great way for students to meet potential employers, make professional connections and explore different industries. With the Autumn semester in full-swing, career fairs are following suit, connecting recruiters to current students and alumni.
Here are the rest of the career fairs for the semester.
Oct. 21 | BIG10 Academic Postdoc Hiring Fair
PhD students and postdocs can attend the BIG10 Academic Postdoc Hiring Fair virtually on Oct. 21 from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. to connect themselves to higher education institutes.
In 2024, there were around 1,900 MS/Ph.D./Postdoc registrations and 42 recruiting institutions that attended, according to their Handshake. However, this year the fair is focusing on Ph.D. and postdocs, due to feedback from previous fairs.
Graduate students can register through Handshake.
Oct. 22 | BIG10 Academia Faculty Hiring Fair
PhD and postdoc students looking for a faculty position post graduation can attend the BIG10 Academia Faculty Hiring Fair virtually on Oct. 22 from 12:00
p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
At last year’s fair, 42 different universities were recruiting, in a variety of different positions from research, tenure-track, teaching or professors. Universities that were in attendance ranged from Northeastern, the University of Notre Dame and the University of Oregon.
Graduate students can register through Handshake. To attend this event, graduate students must submit their resume by Mon. Oct 13 at 11:59 p.m.
Oct. 24 | 2025 College of Nursing Career Fair
For students in the College of Nursing, Ohio State is hosting a career fair at Heminger Hall Atrium — located at 1577 Neil Ave. — on Oct. 24 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
According to the university’s website, this fair is an opportunity for nursing students to find student employment, post-graduate positions or volunteer opportunities. Some of the employers who are attending include the Wexner Medical Center, University Hospitals and Mercy Health.
CAREER FAIRS continues on page 9.
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How to Prepare for Success: a guide for what students should know before heading to a career fair
Daria Smith Lantern Reporter
Students heading to campus job fairs this semester often struggle to stand out to potential employers, but experts said there are numerous strategies for students looking to turn the experience into an opportunity.
One of the most important things students can do before attending a career fair is research the attending employers and narrow down ones that fit their interests, Lori Bolton, a senior career coach in the Center for Career and Professional Success, said.
“Make a top five list of the employers they want to connect with,” Bolton said. Bolton said it is also important for students to review their resumes before the career fair to provide the most up-to-date information that applies to employers.
“Make sure it is strong and has a good format,” Bolton said. “A lot of students wait until the day before, and there’s not always enough time to make changes.”
Students without a resume or who need help with an existing resume can visit the College of Arts and Sciences’ Career Studio in Denney Hall to have their resume reviewed or get a template to set up a resume, Bolton said.
She suggested students also focus on what they wear, recommending business casual, khakis, nice dress slacks and a button-down shirt. A suit isn’t necessary. “If a student looks presentable, it will help them with how they carry themselves,” Bolton said.
A Capital Distinction.
At Capital Law, we know becoming a lawyer requires you to not only learn the law, but learn to practice law. Our location in downtown Columbus, Ohio places our students in the heart of Ohio’s legal community – and steps away from opportunity.
“Usually, if you feel professional, you are going to feel more confident.”
For students seeking professional attire, the Reid Family Career Closet in the Monda Student Resource Center collects donated professional clothing items, creating a free option for students.
Although career fairs can be nerve-wracking, Joseph Merkel, a second-year in finance, said it is essential for people attending to have a good attitude.
“All of the students there are nervous, and no one knows everything that is going on,” Merkel said. “Be approachable, be nice and smile.”
Buckeye Careers, a part of the Office of Student Life, is also a university-wide initiative that is designed to help students develop professionally, according to its website. This office hosts a variety of different services, including career preparation, career exploration and job search opportunities.
At Ohio State, students are also given access to Handshake, the university’s career service platform, according to its website. Handshake connects students to career recommendations, recruiters, events and workshops, on top of networking opportunities.
Students interested in attending upcoming career fairs can visit the Buckeye Careers website for information about future events and additional student resources.
ARTS & LIFE
On page 8
Ohio State cheerleader and her claim to fame.
Drag legend Sasha Colby talks Stripped II tour coming to Columbus Tuesday
Grayson Newbourn Managing Arts & Life Editor
Season 15 winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race and Miss Continental 2012, Sasha Kekauoha — best-known by her drag name, Sasha Colby — will stop at the Southern Theatre in downtown Columbus Tuesday at 8 p.m. as part of her Stripped II tour.
Following the success of the first leg of the Stripped tour, the drag queen has taken center stage again, expanding to 30 cities as opposed to the first leg’s 22. Colby said for this tour, she’s shifted the show’s content, drifting away from the original, more personal performance and moving towards a more creative interpretation of relatable narratives.
“I wanted to make it more not just about my stories, but touching universal stories — different stories that everyone can relate to or find some sort of similarities in their lives with, but we are definitely not as literal in storytelling as we were in the first one,” Colby said. “We’re taking in a lot of creative liberties. Every number is like a different world, different energy, different element, we’re playing a lot with, you know, the different elements of the earth and fire, water, air and just making it very magical.”
Colby said with the current state of the world, she wishes to create a space for people to relax and enjoy themselves amid the chaos.
“I feel like my sort of protest and my way of putting whatever I put out there is, at least not adding to the negative noise, but allowing people to escape for a bit and find some joy in the midst of our working hard and protesting for our humanity,” Colby said.
Colby’s tour will also feature a local drag artist performer. Interested participants had to submit a video tape displaying their drag skills, which Colby said she then went through and hand-selected for her show. She said there were a number of characteristics she was looking for when reviewing submissions.
“I want to see commitment to your number and your craft, and to see your artistry and how you connect with it,” Colby said. “I want to see your storytelling, even as a dancer, you know, being able to not just do all throwaway moves. Just do choreography, but do it intentionally and have a meaning. That always
stands out to me.”
Those attributes must align with local drag queen Maya Bizness, who previously opened with other local artists for Chappell Roan — queer pop superstar and drag daughter of Colby — in June 2024 at KEMBA Live! and has now secured the spot for Colby’s Columbus date.
“I’m genuinely humbled and honored to have been selected,” Bizness said in an Instagram DM. “I know so many of my amazing sisters that submitted, and I was genuinely excited for any one of them to have been selected, due to the fact that I hadn’t heard back.”
Bizness said she’s looking forward to performing alongside Colby and bringing her drag to a larger audience.
“I’ve been lucky enough to open and host openings for [Roan] and [drag performer] Alyssa Edwards,” Bizness said. “It’s nice to be able to take the silly and pretty drag that I love to do and present it on a larger stage/ platform for friends, family and new friends in the crowd.”
Colby will not have the queens open for her as typical performances go. Instead, Colby said the selected artist will perform mid-show while she steps aside to change and watch the performance. Colby said her reasoning behind including a smaller artist in this manner is because she wants to give back the same opportunities she was granted at that point in her career.
“I feel like I wanted to [feature local drag artists] … honestly just because it was done to me, it was given to me,” Colby said. “A lot of opportunities to work in really special places with some of the people that I looked up to, and it gave me so much confidence and wanting to be better and do my best, so I wanted to give back in that same way and also, I want to see fun drag, you know?”
SASHA COLBY continues on page 9.
Sasha Colby will bring her Stripped II tour to Columbus Tuesday. Photo courtesy of Preston Meneses.
Will It Waffle Mini, the Ohio State Cheerleader behind the waffle iron
Preston Shields Lantern Reporter
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, then-high schooler Gabby Krenitsky joined a TikTok trend, stuffing random items into a waffle iron and taste testing the results.
What started as a quarantine experiment has now turned into a personal brand, business and balancing act between college and social media.
Krenitsky, a second-year in marketing and Ohio State cheerleader, is the face behind WillItWaffleMini — her TikTok account, which quickly gained attention and now has nearly 550,000 followers and 28 million likes.
“I had only posted for a few days before the account blew up … I think of the account as a wonderful branding opportunity and a chance to build something bigger,” Krenitsky said.
Since going viral, Gabby has embarked on a new journey at Ohio State as a student, cheerleader and a full-time influencer. She’s using the new name, image and likeness regulations to leverage her online presence into a profitable investment.
The NIL policy allows college athletes to earn money from their personal brands while remaining eligible to compete in NCAA competitions — something that previously would have disqualified them.
Her content has featured Columbus favorites, waffle-ironing Mikey’s Late Night Slice and Buckeye Donuts, as well as collaborating with companies such as Krusteaz, a baking and pancake mix brand. Krenitsky said she’s also in regu-
lar contact with other prospective partners.
“You should see my Canvas calendar right now — it’s crazy,” Krenitsky said.
Between waffling and studying, the multi-faceted creator also has the pleasure of cheering in front of tens of thousands of Buckeye fans in Ohio Stadium throughout football season — an experience she describes as monumental.
“Being in front of that crowd every single Saturday just means the world to me,” Krenitsky said. “So many hours were put into that.”
Mini continues on page 11.
Waffle
Gabby Krenitsky, the Ohio State student behind the famous TikTok account, WillItWaffleMini. Photo courtesy of Krenitsky.
Career fairs this semester
Nov. 7 | 2025 Arts, Creative & Design Career Fair
For Ohio State students interested in visual, written or performance art, this career fair is the first of its kind at the university. This fair is open to all students and recent graduates and takes place Nov. 7 in the Ohio Union Great Hall from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Students who are majoring in art, communications, dance and film design are just some of the many few listed as a featured major, according to the university’s website.
To register for the career fair, visit Handshake.
Nov. 10 | 2025 HireOhio Alumni Career Fair
This fair, hosted by The Ohio State University Alumni Association, connects alumni from Ohio State, Otterbein University, Capital University and more.
The event begins at 10:00 a.m. with an employer panel in the Student Alumni Council Room in the Ohio Union that lasts until 11 a.m. Following the panel, the career fair will go until 2 p.m. in the Archie Griffin Ballroom.
Stripped II tour stops in Columbus
After her historic win on Drag Race — she’s the first ever trans woman of color and first native Hawaiian contestant and winner in the show’s 16-year-run — Colby was thrust into the limelight, opening the door to a new level of opportunities for the artist.
“I wake up wondering, ‘What am I gonna do next?” Colby said. “And it’s always really cool.” Now with an elevated platform to spread her art, Colby has also been granted the platform to be the voice for marginalized communities and serve as a role model for those who may feel unseen or underrepresented in media.
“I've always relied on my storytelling as the basis of my art and that's a lot to do with where I'm from, my culture, my queer family and my chosen family,” Colby said. “All of those things that I speak about and end up really getting to uplift. I also get to pave a little way for, you know, some queer kid in Hawaii who's just in the country like I was, thinking and dreaming. Seeing someone like me that they can relate to allows them to dream more.”
As a prominent activist force in the LGBTQ+ community and model among young, queer-identifying or questioning individuals, Colby said it’s
important for others to listen to themselves and tune out the external voices telling them who they should or shouldn’t be.
“I always encourage people to kind of silence the noise, even the doubt in your head — all the things that are telling you or giving you anxiety — and really just think about what you want as a person, how you want to go through life [and] how you want to feel comfortable,” Colby said. “For me, that's what it was about. I felt so uncomfortable in my skin during my adolescence and just knowing that I felt different, and being able to see trans representation. It wasn't all over the place when I was growing up, so when I finally found some trans representation, I knew that that could be something that I could do. It was a lot easier for me to really step into the way that I can feel comfortable going through life.”
Colby said she’s excited to be bringing the Stripped tour to stage for the Columbus community to see.
“I can’t wait to go to Columbus,” Colby said. “This will be the first time I get to bring my show there, so I’m really excited to see the turnout. We’re going to have a great old time. Stripped II, here we go!”
How far a graduate degree can take you
As a correspondent for CBS and 48 Hours, in addition to hosting her own true-crime podcast "My Life of Crime," Moriarty has built a successful career that has contributed to the release of 12 wrongfully convicted people through her reporting, earned her nine Emmy Awards and taken her inside some of the American legal system’s biggest stories — including the trials of O.J. Simpson and the investigation into the death of JonBenét Ramsey, according to a Moritz College of Law article.
Moriarty’s path into journalism began when she auditioned for a part on the Columbus-based show PM Magazine. When she realized she could use her legal expertise to tell stories, Moriarty said she knew she had found her purpose.
“I learned how to be aggressive and put myself into situations where I might not be welcome,” Moriarty said. “Asking a lot of questions, all the things that lawyers do. Journalism and practicing law are so similar, and when you're in a courtroom trying a case, you're telling a story, just like I'm telling a story when I'm covering the trial.”
After nearly four decades of reporting, Moriarty said it's the stories and the opportunities to change people’s lives — rather than awards — that stand out the most.
Moriarty said nothing is more exciting and more emotional than seeing someone walk out of prison who never should have been there. One man in particular, Ryan Ferguson, stands out for Moriarty.
Ferguson was wrongfully convicted for the 2001 murder of newspaper sports editor Kent Heitholt. Moriarty said there was lots of physical evidence within the case, but none of it matched Ferguson — so she was stunned when he was convicted.
After covering the case multiple times on CBS, a defense lawyer saw one of
her reports and decided to represent him. Ten years later, he was freed.
“When I think of the high points, I think of Ryan Ferguson walking out of prison and all of us standing outside,” Moriarty said. “It’s late at night. It’s dark. I’m with a producer. We’ve been working, you know, for years on this and we are there. Then the next morning, we get to talk about it live on air.”
Moriarty also spoke of the more challenging times that come along with being a journalist, such as covering failed cases or staying unbiased in a world of fake news.
“I would tell my younger self, you’re gonna have a really rough time,” Moriarty said. “That’s the bad news. The good news, it’s never been more important. And you don’t become a journalist or a lawyer to be liked, sadly. You hopefully become a lawyer or a journalist to do the right thing.”
Erin Moriarty, the recipient of 2025 Ohio State Alumna Medal. Photo courtesy of CBS News.
Ohio State student influencer Ohio State newcomers settling in early to the locker room
Krenitsky said she tries to keep her perspective clear and take things as they come.
“Juggling three major parts of life isn’t always easy, and it brings a lot of stress,” Krenitsky said. “I try to view it as something that I get to do every single day, instead of something that I have to do. Not everyone gets to have this opportinity.”
Krenitsky credits her TikTok to helping her form strong bonds with teammates, friends and especially her younger brother, Nate. He ap pears in many of Krenitsky’s videos and is now a featured member of the account.
them suggest things to throw at her.”
Nate said his sister is the one who thinks of most of the ideas, but he tries his best to add his input when they’re brainstorming. He said one of his sister’s ideas in particular stood out to him.
“I came down after finishing homework to see her in a leprechaun costume making a St. Patrick’s Day waffle,”
Nate said.
Nate said that kind of creativity is a symbol of his sister — and of how WillItWaffleMini has transformed Krenitsky’s life. One day, she was doing homework in the middle of a pandemic and the next, she had 500,000 eyes watching her create wacky waffles.
“He’s more like my business partner on WillItWaffle[Mini],” Krenitsky said. “His ideas and energy on the account are so fun to see.”
Nate connected with the fan base immediately after hopping onto another TikTok trend — throwing objects at his sister while she’s blindfolded, then making her guess what she was hit with.
“My friends all think it is super funny, and a shocking amount of kids at my school have told me that they have seen me on their ‘For You’ page,” Nate said. “Most of
Gabe Eaker Lantern Reporter
New teams often need time to find their rhythm, but not this year’s Ohio State men’s basketball squad.
With seven newcomers arriving this offseason, the Buckeyes have wasted little time building bonds that will hopefully bring them success this season.
The Buckeyes added Christoph Tilly (Santa Clara), Gabe Cupps (Indiana), Brandon Noel (Wright State) and Josh Ojianwuna (Baylor) in the transfer portal, along with freshmen
A’mare Bynum, Mathieu Grujicic and Myles Herro.
Head coach
Jake Diebler said he was impressed with how well the returning players and the new additions from the transfer portal have connected.
Nate said he’s thought about his future and the possibility of branching off from his sister’s internet fame, pursuing his own media presence, but he’s unsure about the direction that would take him.
Krenitsky said she encourages others not to be afraid of trying new things. For her, it was following a trend — one that ended up shaping her career, she said.
“It brings so many opportunities that could rock your whole world,” Krenitsky said.
have been here last year have been through a lot with this program. They know what Ohio State basketball is,” Tilly said.
A recurring response amongst the newcomers, returning players and Jake Diebler was the sight of getting back to the standard of making the NCAA Tournament in March.
Guard Gabe Cupps, part of an Indiana team last year that was also on the bubble, missing out on the tournament, talked about the hunger of the whole team sharing a similar goal. “This team is super competitive and we want to win for each other,” said Cupps. “When you’re doing it for the guys next to you it becomes all that more important.”
Returning guard
“I have been amazed at how close and connected a group can be in a short amount of time, and we certainly have that here,” Diebler said.
Center Christoph Tilly was one of the centerpieces added this offseason, especially since the Buckeyes lacked size in the middle last season.
Tilly had a standout sophomore season, averaging 12.5 points and 4.9 rebounds for the Broncos. He said the Buckeyes’ enthusiasm on and off the court has motivated him.
“There’s so much energy, and there’s always a good atmosphere in the gym every time we practice, so it’s been really fun,” Tilly said.
Returning Buckeyes Bruce Thornton and Devin Royal have been clear leaders and steady voices in the locker room, Tilly said.
“I lean on Bruce and Devin. Those guys that
John Mobley Jr. brought up the importance of bonding outside of the hardwood, specifically how team dinners can help bring a group closer together, especially with so many new faces on the team.
“I know it’s tough sometimes when you have a long practice, but just being about it is how you get closer,” Mobley said.
Mathieu Grujicic, a shooting guard who came overseas from Germany after playing two years with FC Barcelona Básquet’s under-18 team in Spain, described the transition to joining a new locker room culture at Ohio State.
“I feel like it just came very easily,” Grujicic said. “The first day I came here, they embraced me.”
The Buckeyes will continue to ramp up practices before taking the court in their first exhibition game at home against Ohio on Oct. 26.
Krenitsky finds ways to balance athletics, academics and social media in day-to-day life. Photo courtesy of Krenitsky.
Ohio State junior guard Gabe Cupps speaks to the media Oct. 1.
BRAILEE RATHBURN | LANTERN PHOTOGRAPHER
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From runner-up to resolute: Women’s hockey reloads
Ally Wolfe Campus Senior Writer
The scoreboard read 18.9 seconds, and the Buckeyes could practically feel the championship trophy in their hands.
Moments later, Wisconsin lined up for a penalty shot, and the rest became history.
The Ohio State women’s hockey team ended up losing the game and the national championship title in overtime. Head coach Nadine Muzerall had the number 18.9 sewn into the shoulder pads of her players’ uniforms, a constant reminder of how close they came to glory.
Muzerall also hopes that heartbreak is a motivator for a young team that lost seven seniors, including its captain and starting goaltender.
The new-era Buckeyes will instead look for contributions from an impressive incoming class that features eight freshmen, five of whom have international experience.
“I do believe wholeheartedly they’re the most impressive freshman class,” Muzerall said.
The younger players are being mentored by veterans, including senior defender Emma Peschel and Amos, who will take over the captain role from recent graduate Jenna Buglione.
Junior forward Joy Dunne is also back on the ice and will serve as assistant captain with senior forward Sloane Matthews.
The Ohio State women’s hockey team sings the alma mater, “Carmen Ohio,” after the game against Durham Sept. 21. The Buckeyes defeated the Lords in an exhibition game 6-2. Credit: Brailee Rathburn
Among the new faces are forward Hilda Svensson and defender Jenna Raunio, Swedish standouts who played most recently at the national level. Forward Sanni Vanhanen from Finland began playing on her country’s senior national team at age 16.
Other international players to this team include forward Maxine Cimoroni and defender Leah Wicks, both from Canada. Forwards Macy Rasmussen and Taylor Kressin both hail from Minnesota and forward Kassidy Carmichael is from Massachusetts.
“When you watch them out there, they don’t look like freshmen,” junior forward Jocelyn Amos said. “They’re ready to go, ready for the NCAA.”
Muzerall said the more experienced players are lighting a bright path for the newcomers.
“They lead by example,” she said. “Our players gravitate to them because they’re so welcoming. Badass on the ice, but very welcoming and sister-like off the ice.”
Peschel, who, along with Dunne, was among five players named to the 2025 All-Western Collegiate Hockey Association team, said the Buckeyes will not let the championship loss slow them down. Instead, it’s a motivation.
“We’re coming back even fiery,” Peschel said. “We’ve been mentioning it here and there, and I think all the returners and even the newcomers know how big of a deal that loss was and how we’re still feeling it.”
Success is already evident with the Buckeyes’ 2-0 start, and they look to continue their winning ways Friday at 6 p.m., hosting Bemidji State. Muzerall said no matter how far they are into the season, she expects them to look at that 18.9 on their shoulder.
And when they look, she wants them to remember how close they came.
“That’s how far away we were from the gold medal, a national championship,” Muzerall said. “Quite honestly, that [second place] trophy hasn’t been taken out of the bag. No one’s touched it.”
BRAILEE RATHBURN | LANTERN PHOTOGRAPHER