Aquapella is ready to sync and swim

By Mohammad Igbaria igbariam@grinnell.edu

All eyes certainly will be on Aquapella this coming Sunday when they debut their Britney Spears show.

Taking place on May 7 from 4-4:30 p.m. in the Charles Benson Bear `39 Recreation and Athletic Center Natatorium diving well, the synchronized swimming group will be taking to the waters for another of their semi-annual shows, but for the first time, they will be in matching team swimsuits.

Originally founded in 2018 as the Raykettes, the club faced some rough waters during the pandemic with only three club members returning to the team, according to Julia Tlapa `23 and Megan LeBlanc `23, the club’s leaders.

Since their return, the club has been able to stay afloat and eventually grow to be 16 members strong.

A student-led organization, the now co-ed group is excited to break the ice with their upcoming performance.

Marcy Cassidy-Mapp contributed reporting.

ISC brings recreational soccer to Grinnell

By Ashley Baek baekashl@grinnell.edu

If you ever find yourself walking past the Charles Benson Bear `39 Recreation and Athletic Center auxiliary gym, you might hear dull thuds of soccer balls hitting the walls and the squeak of sneakers coming from an International Soccer Club (ISC) scrimmage.

With a focus on recreational soccer, the members of the club play five-versus-five scrimmages at each of the group’s multiple weekly meetings. Teammates switch positions and players rotate in and out throughout each game, according to Hana Leonard `25, club co-president.

“I came to Grinnell with the intent of playing some rec or lowstakes soccer,” said Leonard. Having played soccer since she was just five years old all the way through the varsity level in high school, Leonard said she loves the game. “I know that college is one of my last chances to probably play, so I’m so happy to continue playing here,” she said.

Daniel Cho `25, one of the club’s members, said, “I’ve loved playing soccer since I was younger in South Korea.” He said that playing the game helps in relieving his stress and making new friends who have a common interest.

“There’s a great moment when you score a goal after running around for a while — it’s one of my favorite memories with the club,” he added.