March 11, 2022
SPORTS Established 1874
Volume 151, Number 14
Oberlin Sports Teams Hold Traditions Close to Their Hearts
The Black Student-Athlete Group and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee held their first-ever Black History Month basketball tournament on Sunday. Courtesy of Maggie Balderstone
BSAG and SAAC Host Black History Month Basketball Fundraiser Adrienne Sato Senior Staff Writer Last Sunday, Oberlin’s Black Student-Athlete Group and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee worked in conjunction to host a Black History Month basketball tournament. The tournament raised money for Black Girls Smile, a nonprofit aimed at providing mental health resources and support to young Black women. Participants were split into 16 teams and competed in the five-on-five single-elimination tournament in Philips gym. The tournament was open to all students, and BSAG and SACC encouraged the teams to be coed. To keep the competition fair, the organizers only allowed two varsity basketball players on each team. According to second-year Alyson Jefferson, the BSAG and SAAC representative who organized the event, evenly distributing the varsity athletes kept the tournament fun and inclusive. “It wasn’t only for already-known athletes on campus,” Jefferson said. “We also got the rest of Oberlin kids involved. The teams that came out — they weren’t only varsity basketball or varsity baseball. … It was people who you never would’ve thought wanted to play basketball.” Each team was encouraged to donate to Black Girls Smile. Jefferson said that BSAG chose this organization from a list of nonprofits that align with BSAG’s mission statement and support Black people. The Atlanta-based organization provides mental health education and resources to young Black women with the goal of helping them feel supported. The tournament raised a total of $435 for Black Girls Smile. Second-year Taylor Gwynne, the SAAC secretary, also helped organize the event. She said that the tournament was a lot of work, but it turned out to be a huge success. “It was really competitive,” Gwynne said. “There were a lot of people that came, and it was a lot of fun to watch.” The tournament ran through Sunday morning and afternoon. After eight initial games, four quarter-final
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games, and two semi-finals, two remaining undefeated teams were set to face off in the finals, The Avengers and The Tallest Team. The Tallest Team took home the championship, walking away with the grand prize of new Oberlin College Crocs. Jefferson said that the tournament was popular enough for them to continue the tradition in the future. She noted that after hosting the tournament, there were some things that she would like to consider for next year.
Each team was encouraged to donate to Black Girls Smile. Jefferson said that BSAG chose this organization from a list of nonprofits that align with BSAG’s mission statement and support Black people. “Initially planning it, we weren’t really sure what to expect, but after going through it … there were just so many things we could do,” Jefferson said. “We could have half-time games, or we could get shirts.” Gwynne has ideas for potential improvements as well. “I think it would be really cool for the next tournament to have a place to donate at the door for spectators who are coming to watch, or encourage teams to donate even more,” she said. SAAC and BSAG plan on hosting similar events later in the semester. They are still accepting donations for Black Girls Smile and students can donate via Venmo to @OCAthletics with the memo line “Black Girls Smile.” Students can also donate directly to Black Girls Smile through their website.
Second-year field hockey players Ruby Schreiber and Susan Robinson-Cloete smile at Teamsgiving, a yearly tradition on the team. Courtesy of Amanda Phillips
Andrea Nguyen Traditions have always been a big part of team bonding at Oberlin. From formals to game day rituals, unique traditions bring the teams closer together. This week the Review asked College varsity and club sport team members, “What is a tradition for your team?” This is what they had to say. Fall Sports Volleyball: Each year, the volleyball team throws a fall formal called Volley Ball. Teammates bring a date, dress up, and take pictures just as if it were a school ball. In addition to this major team event, third-year Lucy Myers described a smaller-scale tradition: whenever the team goes to away games, each athlete is paired with a “psych buddy” during the trip. Before getting onto the bus, they give each other a gift such as a note or a snack or as Myers puts it, “something to hype them up.” Cross country: Third-year Chase Sortor spoke about an event where teammates anonymously submit a crazy story from their life to be read while roasting marshmallows over a fire for s’mores. After one person reads a story aloud, the rest of the group must try to match the story to the teammate. “It’s confusing, and you learn insane stuff about people, such as riding their bike naked,” Sortor said. “It’s a fun one.” Football: Big Brother/Little Brother is a tradition that second-year Jack Diskin adores. At the beginning of the season, each teammate is assigned a big or little brother. “When one guy gets knocked down, we are there to help them up, and it teaches us to appreciate the relationships we have within our team,” Diskin said. “It allows us to be vulnerable with someone else, which is hard for football players to do, and that alone helps strengthen our bond, making it easier to trust one another on and off the field.” Field hockey: Second-year Ruby Schreiber’s See Teams, page 15
