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The Award-Winning Grove City College Student Newspaper
Collegian
25 years ago...
Friday, Sept. 11, 20256 Vol. 112 No. 2
AI theme of E+I preview Liliana Shadlow
Contributing Writer
GCC
Students gathered at Harbison Chapel to mourn and pray on Sept. 11, 2001 after word of the terroristic attacks in New York, Washington D.C. and tiny Shanksville, Pa.
College reacts to a nation attacked As the news that both towers of the World Trade Centers had fallen, the Pentagon had been attacked and Flight 93 crashed into a field not too far from Grove City College spread, the campus responded with grief, prayer and, in the case of The Collegian, journalism. The student staff shifted from regular news coverage to chronicling history unfolding in the wake of an event that would impact Americans and the world for years to come. From student testimonials to photos that caught the shock to a presidential response, writers from every section gathered a story that was still unfolding to memorialize the day. On today’s anniversary, we remember their work and, in these pages, add to that record. Scan the QR code to see how The Collegian covered Sept. 11.
AI 10
‘Butler’ film seeks extras Matthew Purucker
- The Editors
Editor-in-Chief
and moral decadence from our politicians, as well as hostility towards Christians in some cases. Pence offered his own experience and showed how it is possible to be in public service and live out our faith well.” While Pence’s status as “professor” is still rather recent and many students will be meeting him for the first time this year, the vice president’s connection with the college administration goes back much further. Invited by former Grove City College President Paul McNulty in 2017, Pence gave
Mosser Casting is seeking paid extras for the film “Butler,” based on Washington Examiner journalist Salena Zito’s account of the attempted assassination of Donald Trump on July 13, 2024. The casting company is looking for background actors to portray characters, including rally attendees, event staff, Secret Service, security and vendors, during filming weekdays from Monday through Oct. 23 at locations mostly in Beaver County. The story is about Zito combating “media sensationalism, personal ethics and the entrenched political divide uprooting the nation,” in the aftermath of the assassination attempt, according to the Lawrenceville-based Mosser Casting. Zito published “Butler: The Untold Story of the Near Assassination of Donald Trump and the Fight for America’s Heartland” on July 8, 2025, and it debuted at No. 1 on the
PENCE 10
BUTLER 10
Pence returns
Former Vice President is back for another year Julia Kramer News Editor
For the third year in a row, former Vice President Mike Pence will teach classes about political science and faith at Grove City College. Grove City College President Bradley Lingo is happy to have his presence back on campus. “Vice President Pence has become a valued member of the Grove City College community through the wisdom, encouragement and personal investment he brings to our students,” Lingo said. “His example of faithful leadership and service to the common good is one that I hope in-
spires our students as we prepare them to serve and lead.” Serving as the college’s first distinguished fellow for The Center for Faith & Public Life, Pence will again be teaching toward the center’s goal of “advancing the vision and values that undergird American freedom.” “The stakes for America’s rising generation could not be higher,” Pence said. “Grove City College’s Christ-centered, world-class education is more important now than ever before, and I am humbled to continue to play a small role in training up future leaders who will impact our nation in faith and the public square.”
In previous years, Pence taught different “tiers” of classes, with a larger lecture class of 200 students and smaller, more exclusive seminars for students affiliated with the college’s Institute of Faith & Freedom. Brayden Rush, a junior political science major, attended one of the lecture classes in the spring semester of 2025 and observed Pence’s teaching approach. “He emphasized his experiences running for office and the mistakes he made and the lessons he learned from those mistakes,” Rush said. “So much of what we see in politics today is the corruption
Grove City students are divided on AI’s role in business and concerned that this ever-advancing technology will negatively affect their employment opportunities. Potential interns at the E+I Preview Night Sept. 3 came to find job opportunities and make business connections. However, the event became an educational experience for many, as students experienced AI’s increasing influence on the job market. Attended by a wide range of employers, Preview Night included businesses with vastly different approaches to AI use. From Ella and Roo Boutique, a clothing store built on giving customers a personal, attentive shopping experience, to Hardly, a platform used for writing resumes, cover letters and job applications entirely through AI, employers gave students a chance to see how both business methods could be practiced. Hardly’s approach, however, garnered a mixed response, with some students worrying that more AI would mean fewer employment opportunities. Mason Smiley, a freshman
‘Worth’ watching
Our finest countrymen
Seniors spark strong start
2020 film discusses Sept. 11 victim compensation
Flight 93 memorial sparks emotions
Men’s soccer begins season with lofty goals
ENTERTAINMENT 5
PERSPECTIVES 8
SPORTS 12
Editorial
Sept. 11, 2026
Page 2
From the Tower
Why we never forget During my senior year of high school, my newspaper advisor, Eric Schott, took The Oracle staff on a field trip to Somerset County, where Flight 93 crashed. I had visited there once before, but after spending the day learning from Stephen Clark, superintendent of the Flight 93 National Memorial, my perspective on the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks changed. As long as I’ve been able to understand, I’ve known that Sept. 11, 2001 was an incredibly dark day in American history, but until that trip, I only understood it as such: history. Like most, if not all, Grove City College students, I was born after the attacks happened. My parents hadn’t even met. Although we didn’t live through it as our parents’ generation did, that doesn’t mean our generation gets to forget it. That’s why that visit to the memorial was important: to see history alive. I will always remember when Clark picked up a handwritten note left that day at the Wall of Names, 22 years after the plane crash. It shared a personal story and thanked the 40 heroes on Flight 93 for sacrificing their lives to ensure the plane wouldn’t reach the nation’s capital. That visit showed me that when we look back at that tragic day and the rest of our history, we must never forget the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice. Their courage 25 years ago helped ensure the freedom we have today. So please, take a few minutes to learn about or remember the following heroes who sacrificed their lives on Sept. 11: Welles Crowther, the man in the red bandana, a 24-year-old who saved nearly 20 people trapped in the South Tower of the World Trade Center in New York and Todd Beamer, an account manager for Oracle (the company) who helped lead the 40 innocent passengers on Flight 93 to storm the cockpit. Get to know them, but don’t stop there. They were just two of the many who became heroes that Tuesday morning among the almost 3,000 who lost their lives. Try to get to know them, too. As Christians at Grove City College, we should be quite familiar with the importance of sacrifice, especially the one Jesus Christ made about 2,000 years ago, which gave us eternal life. Among many others, these men were Christlike; so, on this 25th anniversary of Sept. 11, let us remember their sacrifices and never forget their meaning.
Matthew Purucker Editor-in-Chief
Collegian Staff Matthew Purucker Editor-in-Chief
Luke Paglia
Managing Editor
Editorial Board
Art & Photography
Julia Kramer
Carson Brown
News Editor
Anastasia Brown
Community Editor
Randall Elvin
Photo Chief
Aidan Besneatte-Cullinane Comic Strip Artist
Entertainment Editor
Advertising
John Hatzis
Ian Schartner
Perspectives Editor
Natalie Hanna
Business Manager
Sports Editor
Advisory
Staff Writers
Nick Hildebrand Staff Advisor
Garrett Gess Reagan Thomas
Editing Olivia Emerick Copy Chief
Copy Editors Kendall Lambrecht Maddie Miller Jaci Morell Vivian Waner
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.
THE GREEN EYESHADE AWARD This week’s award goes to entertainment editor Randall Elvin for filling his section despite a lack of writers and throwing together a great article in the last second when another fell through. The Green Eyeshade Award honors student contributors that demonstrate consistency and excellence in their work.
RANDALL ELVIN
GCC
Students enjoy fellowhip with eachother in a dorm room.
Don’t fret the fifteen
Stress and change struggles Julia Kramer News Editor
Here’s a little-known fact: freshmen gain weight at rates 5.5 times higher than the average person in the general population. As the semester begins, a word or two on this weighty subject is warranted. Known colloquially as the “freshman 15,” the phenomenon has been impacting first-year students ever since people thought an extra four years of homework was imperative for worldly success. While closer to seven or eight pounds, according to a Mayo Clinic article, the weight gain (or fear of it) can cause significant distress for many students hoping to hold onto any remnant of “normal.” This is, of course, excluding the lanky male population who seem impervious, despite their best efforts, to exceeding a BMI higher than their 14-yearold selves. But back to the point. Any frequenter of social media or current pop culture can tell you that “skinny culture” is back. From Ozempic downsizing favorite celebrities to the popular “heroin chic” aesthetic cluttering runways, now is not the socially acceptable moment to put on a few pounds. So what to do?
Current discussion around the issue primarily blames the vast amount of change involved in a student’s first year. Straight off the boat of a high school education, freshmen are told they are adults, and the habits and guidelines that higher powers used to decide are now up to them. Seemingly overnight, freshmen become the sole decision-makers when it comes to bedtime policy, pantry composition, video game allotment and club or sports involvement. It can be a lot, and healthy habits sustained with a parent’s accountability or a former lifestyle structure can easily crumble when those things are no longer present. However, doctors encourage anyone worrying about gaining the extra 15 to not worry about it. Worry, or stress, is another primary cause behind weight gain. Cortisol, the body’s stress hormone, often slows one’s metabolism to conserve energy. It also frequently increases a person’s appetite for things that are sweeter and fattier. While it is an ingenious survival response that would keep one going for longer in the wild, most freshmen are not, in fact, being chased by a bear or foraging berries for sustenance. Instead, they are wandering Hicks, enjoying chocolate milk on tap, hiding cookies in their backpacks and trying to meet
their protein goals with a hamburger gelatinizing in pools of its own grease. Freshmen may not know how to make the best decisions for their health immediately, but it’s unfair to put the full weight of responsibility on them. College life, from less sleep to more stress to 24/7 buffet-style consumption, seems designed to make sure first-year students gain weight. But is that so much of a bad thing? Freshman year is all about growth: growth in academics, social skills, faith. Why should it bother a person if their waistband joins the bandwagon a little? Complete disregard for bodily health aside, a student’s first year of college is so much more than maintaining the extent to which gravity acts upon. Rather than holding on and trying to control, freshman year is about opening up and letting go. Who you were in high school and what type of friends you had or type of grades you got are apt to change, and that’s OK. If Beyoncé can sing country music, and your grandmother can manage Instagram, you can allow yourself to change. And if by the end of your first 15 weeks at college the scale says you’ve gained 15 more pounds, don’t freak out. Chances are, you’ve grown in so many more ways than 15.
Letters to the Editor Space will be provided for Letters to the Editor. However their inclusion is at the discretion of the Editor-in-Chief and Managing Editor. Letters will be printed as submitted unless the editors choose to delete words or portions that are in poor taste, libelous or unnecessary to convey essential meaning. The editors may condense longer letters. 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 5 p.m. on the Monday prior to the publication. All letters to the editor will be considered for publication from students, faculty, staff and alumni. 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.
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Community
Sept. 11, 2026
Page 3
ASHER ALLEY
Dance the night away
Students dance the night away at last week’s Street Dance. This annual conclusion to the OB season brings together freshmen, indepenndents, and Greek groups.
Street Dance dodges rain, takes campus by storm Madelyn Taliaferro Contributing Writer
Grove City College held its annual Street Dance, bringing students together for an evening of dancing, music and community on Sept. 4. As the final event of the Orientation Board (OB) season, Street Dance is both a celebration and culmination of the events that have welcomed students to campus. The entire campus community is invited to take part in the festivities. Senior Molly Miller, an OB executive member on the Social Committee, which is responsible for planning Street Dance, explains that the “vision is that Street Dance would be a capstone for the OB season in which new students would be welcomed into the wider campus body.” With people from across campus gathering, the event allows new and returning students to celebrate the beginning of another year at Grove City. In the past, Street Dance has been the first event at which Greek groups could officially wear their letters, making it
DELANEY PARKE
OB members Abby Bonaquist ‘27 and Delaney Parke ‘27 enjoy the night in the IM rooms. something of a “coming out” event for campus organizations. The event was anecdotally known as a Greek event, as groups would rush in throughout the night decked out in their letters and colors. This year, however, groups were able to begin wearing their letters a week earlier,
starting at the annual Organization Fair held at the end of the first week of classes. Members have welcomed the new change. Panhellenic president Jocelyn Bolumen reported that members “have been excited to represent their groups and show off that side of their campus life sooner than in
years past.” As a result, while Greek groups still appeared together at Street Dance this year, they were no longer arriving in their merch for the first time, and new students had already witnessed Greek representation around campus. In its ideal form, Street
Dance is held outside in SHAL Courtyard. However, due to rain forecasts, the dance moved inside into the IM rooms in the PLC. An indoor Street Dance is collectively agreed to be not ideal. OB members Ainsley Bigelow and Liza Swan shared their takes on the indoor event, with Bigelow saying that “it’s so much better when it’s outside,” and Swan stating that the event was “loud and sweaty.” Despite the perhaps unfavorable setting, Street Dance still featured a large group of students dancing and enjoying the night. New student Sophie Mayfield said that it was “really good” and that she enjoyed the event, and attendee Caleb Detrick was amused by the presence of “weird bananas.” Even with some bumps in the road, at its peak, Street Dance continues to hold a unique place in Grove City’s campus culture. It “remains an important event to many groups on campus” and seeks to be a “rip-roaring good time,” according to Miller.
College radio station back in action Jasmine Hoagland Contributing Writer
Junior Hannah Schwartz was standing in the Chick-fil-A line, telling her friends she needed an on-campus job. Seconds later, Schwartz’s eyes fell on a “We’re Hiring!” poster for the Wolverine Broadcast Network (WBN). The Wolverine Broadcast Network is Grove City’s on-campus radio station that
“delivers a digital stream of audio programming created and curated by student DJs, featuring an eclectic mix of music, podcasts, live and prerecorded coverage of campus events, including sports, and more,” as stated on its website. Originally named WSAJ FM, Grove City’s broadcast network began over 100 years ago, in 1920, as the “first college to have brought to broadcast something out of
local level (sic)” months before Pittsburgh’s preliminary broadcast on KDKA, according to Schwartz. “We have a constant flow of music that plays on our station that you can tune into or access through an app called Live 365. … Student leaders have control of what music is played, can make playlists and feature them,” Schwartz
RADIO 4
The WBN has been broadcasting from Grove City since 1920.
What’s Fresh at the Grove? In the Library Lawn...
In HAL...
In the Quad...
Greg Colbeck Concert
Center for Rural Ministry Annual Conference
“Project Hail Mary” Outdoor Movie Night
The “Songs That See You” tour will be “reating sacred
September 12 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
September 12 7:30 p.m.
space where people are reminded they are seen and
Students, it’s absolutely free for you to attend these
Already a cult classic, this movie made waves in the
loved by God.”
sessions from pastors and ministry leaders!
spring; now come and enjoy it under the stars!
September 11 7:30 p.m.
Page 4
Sept 11, 2026
Campus commemorates agrarian literary giant
Doctor Love
Location, Location My girlfriend and I met at Grove in our first week of freshman orientation. Now, as seniors, we have been talking a lot about marriage, and I have even picked out a ring. The problem: I don’t know where I should propose. Grove is important to us, so I would love to pop the question somewhere on or near campus, but I don’t want it to be cheesy. Can you give me some recommendations? Dude … what a classic Grove City question! Congratulations on planning to take the big step. Grove is a place where you and your girl have, I’m sure, made so many memories. I know my boyfriend and I have taken plenty of hour-long Pinchalong walks. I know if this Dr. Love ever became Dr. Mrs. Love, the Grove proposal spot would be on that road. So if you’re set on Grove, don’t be afraid of being “cliché” – if there’s a place where you’ve spent countless hours together that you think she will love, then propose there! Authenticity should always be valued higher than originality. If you have a hidden cameraman (and you should!), then Rainbow Bridge, the Rockwell steps, the lower campus nature trail and the IM fields are great places to be both secluded and surrounded by cameraman perches. And, to be honest, your story is pretty cliché already. Met in the first week? You’re going to face those jokes from people anyway, so don’t let it dictate how you handle this situation. In fact, it’s so cliché you might just want to lean into it. I’d also add that the STEM school has a new dean who may not yet be aware that the Rockwell Tower is technically off-limits … maybe ask him to let you up there to propose. It certainly would be a one-of-a-kind experience! In the meantime, I wish you all the best as you prepare to pop the question – remember, your audience is the girl you love. If she can see the heart in it, it doesn’t matter if it’s cheesy! Auspiciously,
Dr. Love, M.D.
Jaci Morrell
Contributing Writer Students and faculty gathered in the Breen Student Union Monday evening to commemorate the late American author Wendell Berry. Berry, author of over 50 books of poetry, fiction and nonfiction, died in his Kentucky home on Aug. 31. He received many awards and honors for his work, including the National Humanities Medal and T.S. Eliot Prize. Berry’s writing dealt with the complicated ideas of environmentalism, community and religion. His depiction and exploration of the relationship between his Christian faith and way of life likely drew the admiration of many readers at Grove City College. The Grove City Literary Society (GCLS) and The Fugitives organized the memorial service and worked with the Department of English to celebrate Berry’s life and work. Several students and professors read selections from Ber-
ry’s poems, essays and novels and shared their experiences with the writer and his work. In addition to Berry’s writing, many also praised Berry as a person. Jeffrey Bilbro, a professor and prominent critic of Berry’s writings, said it is rare for an admirable writer to also be an admirable man. “(Berry) was appreciated across political (…) and religious lines,” Bilbro said. “No one else provokes such radical life changes.” Several other speakers echoed this idea, emphasizing Berry’s work had caused dramatic change in their lives. Calliope Leech, a junior who took Bilbro’s class dedicated to studying Berry’s work, spoke at the event. She said that reading Berry in this class helped her “make sense of life” and that his writing showed the “potential for restoration” in the world. After the end of the class, she wrote a thankyou note to Berry and received a reply from the author in January, which she read aloud to attendees.
GUY MENDES
Wendell Berry, photographed in 2012 on his Kentucky farm. Several professors also spoke and read at the memorial. Joshua Mayo, the English department chair, read a poem he wrote and dedicated to Berry, remarking on the impact the poet had on his life. Jason Edwards, a professor of education and humanities, described Berry as a “remarkable man” and referred to himself as a “student of Wendell Berry.” Professor of English Andrew
Harvey, who was called “the original Wendell Berry fan” at the event, recounted his experience meeting the poet in person and called him “a wise grandfather who you wish was your grandfather.” However, Berry’s admirers were not limited to the college. Hannah Bilbro, 11, recited Berry’s poem “Like Snow” for those present and said she “liked (Berry’s) style.”
President hosts his scholars
GRETA PAULDING
Freshman recipients of the President’s Scholarship were welcomed into the President’s home for a reception last Wednesday. The President’s Scholarship and mentoring program was introduced by President Lingo this year.
RADIO
continued from 3
said. “If musicians want to feature their music, they can also broadcast it on a real radio station. We also hope students will record podcasts so that the constant radio stream can be interrupted and feature a podcast.” The current leadership team
consists of senior Molly Miller, junior Hannah Schwartz, senior Nathan Devlin and sophomore Carson Brown. As the current assistant regional manager, Hannah Schwartz is “looking forward to training people to use the recording technology.” Schwartz was excited about events WBN has planned for this year.
“We are hoping to do Taco Tuesday trivia, which was an event last year where there were some great prizes and music-related trivia,” she said. “We are hoping to make that even better this year.” Rooftops is another event that WBN has hosted. Students can participate by providing live music. “Grove City is filled with
very unique people and unique views, and I think that it would be fantastic to be able to create more healthy conversation around that. I think WBN and the podcast platform can be a way to celebrate one another,” Schwartz said. “It can also be a way to spark more conversation, and I really want that. I want WBN to be a voice within the college and for the college.”
Word on the street What’s the most embarassing song that you know ALL the lyrics to? “Poker Face,” by Lady Gaga
Dallas Casciani ‘27 “The Schuyler Sisters” from Hamilton
Madelyn Taliaferro ‘27
The rap in “Baby” by Justin Beiber
Lily Wallaker ‘29 “All Star” by Smash Mouth
Jonah Camenga, ‘29
“Endangered Love (Barbara Manatee)” from VeggieTales
“Nobody’s Perfect” by Hannah Montana
Cameron Kennedy ‘29
Amelie Livingston ‘30
“It’s a Jungle Out There” by Randy Newman
PopularMMO’s Minecraft “Peanut Butter & Jelly Time”
Lindsay Byrd ‘28
Luis Mandel ‘30
Sept. 11, 2026
Entertainment
Page 5
WHAT’S NEW to review?
‘Bring it on home’ Luke Paglia Managing Editor
NETFLIX/GETTY IMAGES
‘Worth’ watching Movie wrestles with value of life Randall Elvin
Entertainment Editor How much is your life worth? That question is the central aspect of “Worth.” This 2020 Netflix film stars Michael Keaton as Kenneth Feinberg, a lawyer put in charge of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund. His role is to determine how much money goes to the families of people
killed in the attacks. Calculating the monetary value of someone’s life is daunting. Feinberg initially tries to include factors like a victim’s earnings and potential earnings to get a dollar amount tied to their name. But the problem is obvious. If you make more money than other people, is your life worth more? How can you possibly quantify someone’s value? Numerous films tell stories
relating to these tragic attacks. Robert Pattinson starred in “Remember Me,” which ends by revealing the date — Sept. 11, 2004 — as a surprise twist. “Fahrenheit 9/11” is a political documentary that examines the Bush administration’s actions in response to the attacks. “Worth” is nothing like these movies. Instead, it investigates the greed, morality and uncomfortable side of the tragedy. Corporations are worried
about lawsuits. Lawyers stress liability. Families are desperate to receive enough money to keep living. All these different interests fight and provide no mutually happy ending. This conflict is the driving factor behind the movie. Through this movie, Keaton shows a side of himself not always shown in his other movies, including “Beetlejuice,”
WATCHING 10
NEWSMAX
Talk shows dying breed Randall Elvin
Entertainment Editor A studio audience, a comical host and a celebrity guest. For decades, television talk shows repeatedly used that formula. But the equation has changed. On Aug. 31st, the final episode of “The Kelly Clarkson Show” aired after seven seasons of success. The conclusion of another staple talk show represents a larger change rippling through the entertainment industry. Talk shows are declining, while online podcasts continue to rise. Clarkson premiered her talk show in 2019, taking on a new role beyond her original career as a singer. As a singer, Clarkson won the first season of “American Idol” and went on to win three Grammy
Awards and numerous other accolades. The show combined music, comedy and celebrity interviews, all centered around her personality. Her show accumulated 1,200 episodes and earned numerous Daytime Emmy Awards. Unlike some traditional talk-show hosts, Clarkson already had decades of experience as a performer. She could interview a musician and then immediately perform alongside them. Her ability to sing, joke and have emotional conversations with guests gave the show an identity that went beyond simply interviewing celebrities. However, her show concluding is no surprise, as other popular daytime and latenight programs have been ending as well. Stephen Colbert said goodbye to “The Late
Show” in May after 11 years as host and 33 years of the franchise. “Sherri” was canceled after four seasons. “The Steve Wilkos Show” closed its doors after a mammoth 19-season run. Compare “The Kelly Clarkson Show” to “The Merv Griffin Show,” which ran from 1962 to 1986. Celebrities like Muhammad Ali, Steve Martin and Jerry Seinfeld all appeared on the program. Conversations developed pleasantly and did not rush through a few minutes of promotion. Clarkson offered the same appeal by centering the show around her personality. Her humor, music and ability to connect with people made the show successful. For a long time, television was the best place to support that format, but not anymore. Podcasts have repurposed the
basic idea of the talk show while being able to make it longer and more accessible. Television blocks don’t constrict podcasts. They don’t need to cut to commercials. A conversation can last 30 minutes, two hours or anything in between. Podcasts such as “Call Her Daddy,” “The Joe Rogan Experience” and “IMPAUSLIVE” have found massive success in celebrity stories and getting to know the person behind the public image. Television has stopped being the best place for celebrities to talk. Entertainment doesn’t stay in one place. Radio gave way to television. Blockbuster gave way to streaming. And talk show television is giving way to online podcasts.
The Pogues that viewers watched run around Kildare County for years finally finished their ride after six years on the air. The teen adventure show “Outer Banks,” which first aired in April of 2020 and was an instant success, released its fifth and final season in August. For the past six years, “Outer Banks” has been one of Netflix’s juggernaut shows, with the fifth season raking in over 9.4 billion views worldwide in the first four days of streaming. It quickly jumped to Netflix’s No. 1 show worldwide. Following the death of the beloved character JJ at the end of Season 4, the long-awaited Season 5 picks up where Season 4 left off. The Pogues are stranded in Morocco after losing the treasured blue crown to Chandler Groff. Kiara, JJ’s significant other, is processing the death of her lover and is seeking revenge. Meanwhile, the rest of the crew are looking to get the blue crown back, and instead, they come across the clues to a new treasure, an ancient scytale, which, according to legend, can bring back the dead. Kiara wants to search for this treasure to bring back JJ, while the main characters, John B and Sarah, are trying to settle down and get ready to welcome their baby into the world. After 10 episodes, they manage to get the scytale and the blue crown, only to find out that it does not work and that the legend was just that: a legend. The Pogues return to their home in Kildare County only to come across the long-lost gold from the Royal Merchant they found in Season 1 and was stolen from them. With this newfound wealth, they settle down and live happily ever after. “‘Outer Banks’ has never not entertained. From a motorcycle chase on castle walls to a rockslide explosion, never say the show didn’t try something at least once,” critics from TheWrap said, discussing how Season 5 concluded the series. Season 2 of “Outer Banks” has the highest number of episodes with the best IMDb ratings. Season 5 has the overall highest-rated episode, with the series finale coming in at a 9.0. The end of this show means the end of an era for the many who started watching it when the pandemic took over the world. With the Season 5 release marking the series wrap, fans are sad to see these characters leave the screen permanently. “At its core — for the people watching and for us shooting it — (friendship) is what it has always been about,” Madelyn Cline, who played main character Sarah, said after the wrap of “Outer Banks” Season 5.
Sept. 11, 2026
Through the Lens
Page 6
Campus back in motion
Campus is in full motion once again. Grove City College is looking beautiful and lively as the sports games, events and college life ensue. The OB Street Dance marks the end of freshmen welcome but only the beginning of the semester. Students continue to enjoy outdoor activities daily as the weather cools. There is no doubt that this campus is full of life and motion. by Carson Brown, Photo Chief
Sept. 11, 2026
Page 7
Perspectives Remembering 9/11
Sept. 11, 2026
Amy Hutchinson
Page 8
2,977 victims but millions affected
Contributing Writer
I clearly remember the first time I learned about the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. It was my fourth birthday, Sept. 11, 2011, exactly 10 years after the attacks. A magazine with photographs from that day was on the table. I asked my mom why the skyscrapers in the picture were on fire, and she explained to me the horrible events of 9/11 in censored, careful language. Still, my little heart understood the tragedy. Tears welled up in my eyes, and I exclaimed, pressing an accusatory finger onto the page: “This is the biggest example of sin I have ever seen!” My impassioned, juvenile words continue to ring true for many Americans, 15 years later, on the 25th anniversary of the worst terrorist attack in human history. My sister lived one block away from Ground Zero when she attended college in New York City. A year later, after first learning about 9/11, my family visited my sister and went to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. I remember that visit well. On display were massive, contorted steel beams salvaged from the wreckage. My dad explained to me that his dad, my papa, was a draftsman who helped design the beams used to build the World Trade Center. He pointed to the smudged name on the beam, Alton Steel, the company my papa worked for, a steel mill in rural Illinois. Later, my
dad showed me the World Trade Center blueprints my papa had saved. I remember a room full of TV screens that my older siblings went into, while my mom waited outside with my little sister and me. She said I was too young to go in there and that one day I would understand. Looking back, I realize that was the room that showed footage of the jumpers, who decided falling to their death was better than suffocation or burning alive. There was a wall that looked a hundred feet tall to me, covered in thousands of squares, all different shades of blue. Each square represented one victim. 2,977 squares. 2,977 lives. I could not fathom that amount of death. In another room, a large screen displayed the picture and a short biography of the children who died. I focused on an 11-year-old named Asia Cottom. She died on Flight 77, when it hit the Pentagon. I couldn’t imagine dying. What I have realized about Sept. 11 is that everyone is connected to it. Many lost loved ones; others witnessed it. Adults alive at the time remember exactly where they were and what they felt when they learned the news. Even we, those who were not yet born, are connected to this national trauma. Sept. 11, 2001 permanently altered American history. A new age of warfare was born, air travel changed forever, security tightened to lengths unknown to Americans and suspicion and new fears were instilled in American life and politics.
9/11 MUSEUM
America was both strengthened and weakened by the events of 9/11. Immediately after the events of 9/11, America experienced a unanimous surge of unity. As a country, we rallied in solidarity with one another. As kids who grew up during the COVID-19 pandemic, witnessed the “Summer of Love” BLM riots and lived through the age of social media, national unity seems an impossible, idealistic fairy tale. If a tragedy such as 9/11 happened today, could our country unite, or would we find a way to further the divide? For many, it is hard to be
optimistic. We can imagine the voices that believe America deserves to be attacked, and we can imagine the people who would rather debate conspiracies than deal with facts. As we remember 9/11, we cannot allow these divisions to cloud our compassion. Debate the conspiracy theories, discuss geopolitics, converse about ethics and endless wars — tomorrow. Today we remember the victims. Our fellow American citizens who died in horrific, heroic ways. 2,977 lives. Take a moment of silence, watch a witness interview, read an article from that
Our finest countrymen
day, plant flags. Speak reverently about the events just for today, out of respect for the 2,977 victims who died and the millions more who were and are affected. Remember, almost everyone you see today has been, in some way, impacted by that fateful day. Let us not, however, go to bed tonight in despair or dread. Let us instead meditate on Psalm 46:5-7: “God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”
The heroes of Flight 93
John Hatzis
Perspectives Editor
This past summer, I had the joy of working at Summer’s Best Two Weeks at the Que. The moment I stepped onto the summer camp for the first time, a butterfly flew right past my face. From that moment on, I was convinced that Summer’s Best had an angel-in-residence. There is this sense of peace that comes over those at the camp and quiets the soul. On one of my days off at camp, I made an early morning visit to the Flight 93 Memorial. The memorial, like the camp, had a quietness, but an uncomfortable one. I walked the two-mile trail adjacent to the field where Flight 93 went down: the empty field stared me down, gripping my attention. I entered the museum commemorating Flight 93. The screens by the entryway played recordings of news anchors somberly reporting on the collision of the first plane with the first tower (which they presumed was accidental) – and their shock as they watched the second plane crash. America watched the Twin Towers fall on live
television, in perhaps the most traumatizing event ever experienced on a global broadcast. The passengers on Flight 93 received wires and phone calls informing them of the attacks. Al-Qaeda terrorists had already diverted the plane intended for Los Angeles. As they felt the plane turn around, they knew their plane was not heading for LA – and quickly figured out the pieces together. The most grueling section of the museum was the recordings of voicemail messages passengers left on the answering machines of spouses and family members. A wife tells her husband that the plane has been hijacked, but she hopes they will see each other soon. A mother tells her husband she loves him and asks him to say goodbye to her children for her. An elderly lady calls her sister to give her the password to her safe and breaks down halfway through. By the end of the recordings, I realized I was crying. It was an instinctual response to the passengers’ awareness that their death was imminent. But the passengers faced that imminent threat with courage paralleled only by the greatest of men. They deliberated, strategized and then attempted to reclaim
GCC
the plane. Recordings of the pit captured shouting and gunshots. When it became clear the passengers were succeeding, the terrorists brought the plane down, shouting “Allah is the greatest!” If the passengers had waited only 20 minutes longer to reclaim the plane, Flight 93 would have reached our nation’s capital. Following the crash, a massive all-volunteer army of firefighters and first responders rushed to the scene. Upon their arrival, it was clear there would be no survivors. Remembering 9/11 always filled me with rage toward all (and, yes, I mean all) the governments and
organizations responsible for the attack, and all (and, yes, I mean all) the governments and organizations who used the attack as a pretext to implement their insidious foreign policy agendas. But the Lord tells us, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” My experience at the Flight 93 Memorial showed me why the Lord instructs this. I had become so wrapped up in hating those responsible for the attack that I forgot who mattered most: the victims. Vengeance dwells on the wrongdoer, not the wronged. The vengeful man does not weep or mourn. He does not reach out to the afflicted but swings at the afflicter.
The empty field where Flight 93 crashed reminded me of the afflicted. We can take heart that all who have evaded justice following 9/11 cannot evade it forever. They will be punished; some already have. Our calling, on this day, is to weep and mourn over the deaths of thousands. But we cannot, in our lament, lose sight of the true heroism displayed on 9/11, most especially by the passengers on Flight 93. Those 40 people stared down death and true evil. They faced it with bravery and saved countless lives. Their courage is worthy of our praise and remembrance. They are our finest countrymen.
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Sept. 11, 2026
AI can improve spiritual life Brae Sadler Staff Writer
“We must therefore learn to use powerful tools without outsourcing our intellectual or spiritual formation to them.” — President Brad Lingo AI influencing our intellectual and spiritual development is unavoidable and can even be good. During commencement, President Lingo advised professors and students to use AI wisely. AI can be a tremendous tool, but its use should not come at the expense of the education of the human soul. President Lingo is right that Christians must be wise when using AI. LLMs can dull our minds and lead us away from God if used unwisely. At the same time, the relationship between spirituality and technology
“There is a way to integrate new technologies that deepens our relationship with God.” is not as simple as the decision to “outsource” or not. Technology shapes our spirituality. In fact, the spirituality Grove City encourages — seeking the presence of God — is the result of advances in technology. Before the invention of the printing press in the 1450s, books were a status symbol. Back then, new books had to be copied by hand. For big books like the Bible, copying could take weeks to months. The time-intensive production process meant books were always in low supply. So much so that most people had little use for reading — the majority of Europe was illiterate. The implication: most people did not encounter the Word of God. Today, we take the Bible for granted. We can pray the Psalms or
read the Gospels anytime we want. All Christians value devotion to reading Scripture. Grove City requires all students to take Bible classes so we can understand it better. Back then, personal study of Scripture was impossible. Imagine a world where most people could not read. Before the printing press, commoners did not study the Bible. They never read of Jesus’s birth, ministry, death and resurrection. The average person never studied God’s Word. The printing press changed the equation. Movable type reduced the time to produce a book from months to hours. Books became cheap and commonplace. Literacy rates steadily climbed over the next 300 years. By 1800, 54% of Britain and 85% of
the Netherlands could read. The implication: hosts of people could read the Bible. The printing press changed Christian spirituality by making Scripture accessible to most believers. Today, the full Bible has been translated into 807 languages. None of that would be possible without the printing press. The printing press demonstrates that technology can improve Christian spirituality. The outsourceor-not dichotomy is false. There is a way to integrate new technologies into our spiritual lives that deepens our relationship with God. The question is: can AI do that? Yes, AI can improve our spiritual lives by being a modern-day printing press. It can decrease the barriers to information and make spiritual truths more accessible. One promising area is biblical translation. 1.5 billion people — one in five
— do not have a Bible in their language. AI improves biblical translations by providing early drafts. AI is enabling people to read the Bible. Another area is scholarship. In the developed world, we can access the Bible at any time. Still, the academic scholarship that helps us understand Scripture can be too technical for non-specialists. AI can distill academic articles into lay-friendly insights. Far from diminishing Christian spirituality, AI can improve it. As with the printing press, the innovation of AI is here to stay. We cannot turn back time to before AI. Christians should seek to integrate this new technology as they did with innovations in the past. Technology is not the enemy of Christianity; it’s a complement.
‘Lake Ontario’ washed away Hannah Mallonee Contributing Writer After over 300 years of the famous name of Lake Ontario, this Canadian American lake was renamed to Lake America last August in an executive order by President Donald Trump. The name Ontario was first used to name the lake because of the indigenous people who lived near the basin of the body of water. President Trump’s infamous decision to rename the lake to Lake America is analogous to his decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America. While I appreciate the president’s love for America, I question whether this change is necessary. History is important, and while rewriting it can be for the better, in this scenario, it may be the opposite.
The meaning of the word Ontario is “lake of shining waters.” Another meaning of the word is “great lake.” The name fits perfectly with what the body of water is, but President Trump renamed the lake because of his trade war with Canada. The name with over 300 years of history between two countries should not change because of a trade war. Even though the president renamed it officially, Canada announced that it would still be calling it Lake Ontario, and I also believe many Americans will. Ontario Premier Doug Ford is declining the name change, saying, “Long before President Trump, this lake was called Lake Ontario. Long after President Trump is gone, it will still be called Lake Ontario.” It is interesting and uplifting to see that the love for this lake has not diminished and will stay firm when this matter of the renaming is at hand.
BRANDSYNARIO
There’s a lot of history behind Lake Ontario, so to just throw it away because of a new name hurts me and my fellow Americans and Canadians. Lake Ontario was a homeland for indigenous people. The famous lake was also a trade route
and was opened for global shipping to connect to the Atlantic Ocean. The world knows about the significance of all five of the Great Lakes: Lake Huron, Lake Ontario, Lake Michigan, Lake Erie and Lake Superior, so the re-
naming of one of them won’t let the American love for these monumental landmarks dwindle. Although its original name is gone, the memories and history of Lake Ontario shall remain forever, no matter the name.
“Theophony” by Aiden Besneatte-Cullinane
Perspectives Policy The purpose of the Perspectives section is to give a space for student voices. Here, student writers have the space to critique, question and analyze the world around them. Perspectives articles represent the views of the individual writer. They do not represent the views of The Collegian,
The Collegian staff or Grove City College. While pieces in Perspectives are subjective by nature, The Collegian has standards for publication. Articles submitted for publication are expected to provide arguments of substance that rely on fact and are void of foundationally emotional and
biased arguments. This is not a space to parrot party lines. Perspectives articles are expected to take original stances, and, where applicable, consider the interaction of faith within their topic. This is a space where all voices can be heard. It is our goal as The Collegian staff
that Perspectives reflect the diversity of thought represented on the college’s campus. Additionally, The Collegian will not accept a Perspectives article if the topic has not been reported on by the newspaper. This means that the publication of a submitted or proposed article may be delayed so The Collegian can provide
a factual, unbiased context for the paper’s readership. If you would like to submit an article for publication or want further clarification of The Collegian’s expectations contact Editor-in-Chief Matthew Purucker, or Perspectives Editor John Hatzis.
News
Sept. 11, 2026
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WATCHING
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CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INNOVATION
AI
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business economics major, said AI is “a big issue” within the realm of business. “Part of business is the personability,” Smiley said. “I feel like (AI) would take away jobs from people who need them, and I don’t know if I’m necessarily on board with that.” In contrast, some attendees, such as Juan Carlos Bravo, a senior double major in business management and communication arts, see AI as an inevitable addition to the workplace. “AI is here to stay, and I
think it’s best to embrace it,” Bravo said. While Bravo acknowledged that he didn’t always think so and worried it would become a “liability” that people would become dependent on, he concluded that “AI has good potential.” Junior Joseph Xu, a computer science major, agreed. “From my view, I think every company should implement some sort of AI because of how much better it is for their productivity and overall work environment,” Xu said. This strong mix of opinions can make it difficult for employers to gauge how the
future generation will handle working in an environment saturated with AI. Roger Harris, the CEO and co-founder of Hardly, feels that many people, college students included, don’t understand how the business world uses AI. “(As a programmer), a lot of people think you can just use AI to build you an app, and it will work perfectly,” Harris said. “That’s not necessarily the case. … It’s more figuring out how to use AI as a tool to better assist you.” Harris acknowledged that AI would replace some jobs, but he also asserted that the
use of AI would open a whole new job market. “Once AI does take over these jobs, there’s going to have to be someone to manage the AI,” he said. While whether Preview Night will ever feature openings for “prompt engineer” or “algorithm specialist” is uncertain, it is clear discussions on AI in the job market are far from over. Students who attended Preview Night should apply to the E+I Fellows Program by Sunday to be eligible for an internship interview with the organizations present at the event.
MOSSER CASTING
BUTLER
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New York Times bestseller list. “(Pensé Productions) asked to see an early copy of the book,” Zito said on The Sean Spicer Show in July 2025. “They were interested. They thought this was a really pivotal moment in history. And they read the book and went crazy for it.” Academy Nicholl Fellow R.J. Daniel Hanna co-wrote the film version of “Butler” and is directing it. The Pittsburghand Los Angeles-based Pensé
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PENCE
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the commencement speech for the college’s graduating class as a personal favor. Initially meeting in political circles in Washington, McNulty and Pence became better acquainted through their families’ involvement at Immanuel Christian School in Springfield, Va., where their kids attended and their wives worked. McNulty stressed that the event was not “political” but that the Pences were doing it “as friends.” The 2017 commencement, however, received a mixed response. Some students objected to his connection with the Trump administration and critiqued the college for bringing him to speak. While this concern has largely lost relevance
Productions is producing the movie, which has an “anticipated” nationwide theatrical release, per Mosser Casting. The film uses the book, as well as congressional testimony and other first-hand accounts for inspiration. “That is great news, because this must-read book on the untold story of Donald Trump in Butler would be a must-see movie,” political science professor Paul Kengor wrote in his review of the book in The American Spectator in July 2025.
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on campus, people outside the college have continued to loudly post their objections toward Pence on social media for his failure to support Trump’s bid to overturn the 2020 election. Pence has continued to teach on campus and has remained a professor despite McNulty, his co-teacher, retiring in 2025. Although precise details about course registration and who he will be teaching with this year are still in the works, Pence voiced his enthusiasm to be back. “I am honored to return to Grove City College’s classrooms this fall as a distinguished visiting fellow for the Center for Faith & Public Life and look forward to my third year as part of this truly unique Christian college,” Pence said.
The Wolverine Marching Band performs its pregame show Saturday.
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hood in our offense.” The comeback effort reflected adjustments made at halftime after a sluggish opening half. Hollomon said execution, rather than strategy, was the primary issue. “We had what we wanted. Our coaches put a phenomenal game plan together,” Hollomon said. “Halftime was a gut-check, and after an electrifying speech from coach DiDonato, we came out of the locker room with nothing to lose and a tenacity we were missing in the first half.” Senior running back Chase Rankin paced Grove City’s ground attack with 83 yards on 26 carries as the Wolver-
ines finished with 359 yards of total offense. Defensively, junior linebacker Danny Franco recorded a game-high 12 tackles while junior safety Mason Clouse added nine stops. Although Hollomon’s debut produced impressive statistics, he emphasized that the program’s culture prevents players from measuring success solely through individual numbers or wins and losses. “Football was never meant to fulfill us. Christ fulfills us,” Hollomon said. “So whether we win or lose, we are full. Our morale doesn’t change based on the outcome because our purpose is bigger than football.” The Wolverines also view the season opener as an important step toward their long-
Former Vice President Mike Pence speaks in Sticht Lecture Hall.
“Batman,” “The Founder,” “Birdman” and “Spider-Man: Homecoming.” “Worth” is an incredibly serious movie outside his usual superhero or comedy genre. Feinberg goes through a drastic shift in his life as he initially believes a mathematical formula could solve the problem with no questions asked. Throughout the film, he slowly realizes that grief cannot be reduced to a simple number. Keaton shows the development excellently. However, the movie isn’t for everyone. There are plenty of scenes filled with lawyers talking about money, seemingly endless policies and long board meetings. The movie watcher who loves action would not be satisfied. But the slower pace is exactly what the directors wanted. The aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks was not a fast recovery. Paperwork takes years to resolve in the movie and in real life. That’s why you should watch this movie on the 25th anniversary. Most Americans know what happened. Most have seen the footage. But “Worth” shows what happened as a result. Greed can exist even in the worst situations. So, if you want to know how much your life would be worth on paper, “Worth” is worth the watch.
LUKE PAGLIA
term goals. “We are serious about competing for PAC and national championships,” Hollomon said. “I’m thankful for Saturday not because of the score, but because of how much we’ll learn from it. Playing a top 25 team in Week One will help us in the long run.” Now, Grove City turns its attention to another nationally recognized program as the Wolverines travel to Mount Union Saturday for a 1:30 p.m. kickoff in Alliance, Ohio. “I’m so excited for next week because there are so many ways to improve,” Hollomon said. “It’s about trusting reads, playing fast, full and free, and bringing a game-like intensity to every rep of practice.”
GCC
Sports Wolverines persevere in loss
Page 11
Sept. 11, 2026
Reagan Thomas Staff Writer
The Grove City College football team opened its 132nd season Saturday afternoon with a 28-18 loss to No. 23 Cortland at Robert E. Thorn Field. Despite the loss, the Wolverines showed resilience by battling back from a 25-point deficit against a nationally ranked opponent. Making his first collegiate start, sophomore quarterback Mike Hollomon threw for 276 yards and two touchdowns while completing 20 of 40 passes to eight different receivers. Although the result was disappointing, Hollomon said the game provided valuable lessons about himself and the offense. “I personally grew in understanding how vision frees us to get our eyes off of ourselves,” Hollomon said. “After a first half where I didn’t play up to the standard, I was able to step out of the way in the second half and let the vision take over.” The Red Dragons built an early lead behind senior running back Ethan Gallo’s 28yard touchdown run and two rushing scores from junior quarterback Mike Rescigno. With the score 21-0, sophomore kicker Brady Lane opened Grove City’s scoring in the second half with a 34yard field goal. After Cortland extended its advantage to 28-3 late in the third quarter, the Wolverines began finding their rhythm offensively. “Despite being down 25 at one point, there were no complaints or negativity,” Hollomon said. “Everyone was bought in to executing the next play regardless of how the one before went. We live by the phrase, ‘normal to be challenged, wrong to be defeated.’
LUKE PAGLIA
Quarterback Mike Hollomon (12) throws to running back Chase Rankin (24) during Grove City’s loss to Cortland. Saturday showed me that our guys refused to be defeated.” Hollomon connected with junior receiver Sam Penna on a 14-yard touchdown pass with 12:41 remaining in the game before finding senior Daniel Sullivan on a 47-yard scoring strike later in the quarter. Hollomon’s two-point conversion cut the deficit to 28-18 with 8:33 remaining. Late in the fourth quarter, the Wolverines had an opportunity to narrow the score further after reaching the Cortland 34-yard line. However, Cortland senior cornerback Nazair Jean-Lubin intercepted a deflected pass with 2:44 left to secure the victory. One of the biggest bright spots for Grove City was the chemistry displayed throughout the passing game. Hollo-
mon spread the ball to eight different receivers, including Sullivan, who finished with four catches for a team-high 69 yards, and Penna, who totaled six receptions for 48 yards. “It is such a blessing to have the guys I have to throw to,” Hollomon said. “Not many teams are able to get eight people the ball with confidence in each one of them. We have playmakers all over the field.” Hollomon credited not only the talent of the receiving corps but also the close relationships formed off the field. “I truly mean it when I say I love these guys and would not rather throw to anyone else,” he said. “It’s more than football. There’s a deep brother-
Sports at a Glance Results
Football (18-28): L, Cortland (1-0)
Men’s Soccer (2-2): T, Calvin (1-1-1)
Women’s Soccer (10-0): W, Mount Aloysius (0-2-0)
Women’s Volleyball (0-3): L, Muskingum (4-1)
Men’s Golf:
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4th/10, Malone Invitational
Women’s Golf:
2nd/8, Mount Union Fall Invitational
Men’s Cross Country:
2nd/6, Westminster Invitational
Women’s Cross Country: 1st/7, Westminster Invitational
Upcoming Football:
Sept. 12, 1:30 p.m. at Mount Union
Men’s Soccer:
Sept. 12, 2 p.m. at La Roche
Women’s Soccer:
Sept. 12, 2:30 p.m. at Case Western Reserve
Women’s Volleyball:
Sept. 12, 12 p.m. at Brockport State
Men’s Golf:
Sept. 13-14 at Penn State Altoona Toftrees Invitational
Women’s Golf:
Sept. 12-14 at Penn State Altoona Toftrees Invitational
Women’s Tennis:
Sept. 12, 10 a.m. vs Westminster GCC SPORTS INFORMATION
Emily Horst celebrates with Ady Waters and Kiara White. The Wolverines beat Lycoming 6-0 on Sept. 4.
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shot to the near post, scoring past the diving goalkeeper. “I was thinking the whole time that I had to place it in the corner, near post there, and yeah, it worked out,” Horst said. The Wolverines maintained their comfortable 3-0 lead into halftime. To open the second-half action, Horst scored again in the 54th minute off a Stevenson corner. Just four minutes later, senior defender Meghan Tischler, in her 30th career start, perfectly placed a cross to Stevenson in the box. Ste-
venson volleyed the ball in the air and over the keeper for the goal. The Wolverines tacked on one more score in the 87th minute. A corner kick and resulting save by the Lycoming keeper dropped to freshman midfielder Ava Soley. She popped it up to herself and volleyed it into the top right corner for the first goal of her career, closing out the 6-0 win. The Wolverines outshot Lycoming 22-7. Grove City also won eight corner kicks to Lycoming’s one. Stevenson ended her opening two matches with an incredible five goals and two assists. Horst’s two scores built on the three she logged during her freshman
campaign. “With the freshmen coming in, it’s been really great to see our team chemistry meld together really nicely,” Horst said. “They blend in really well, and we’re holding them to the same standards we hold ourselves to. But yeah, it’s just been really great, and I’m happy to see the way things have been going so far.” Grove City went on to blank Mount Aloysius 10-0 on Saturday. Stevenson, Soley, junior forward Kiara White and senior forward Hannah Plunkard each logged two goals. The Wolverines will resume action at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Case Western Reserve.
WOLVERINE WEEKLY HONORS
Cayla Lawrence Women’s XC Runner of the Week
Josie Jones Women’s XC Newcomer of the Week
Kendra Klusch Women’s Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week
Ryan Merrick Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Jake Kimmich Men’s Soccer Goalkeeper/Defensive Player of the Week
Tori Stevenson Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Sports
Sept. 11, 2026
Page 12
Volleyball sweeps
Wolverines win four in weekend tournament Garrett Gess Staff Writer
Grove City College’s women’s volleyball team went undefeated last weekend, winning four matches at the Saint Vincent Bearcat Challenge in Latrobe. The Wolverines took down Wooster and Penn State Behrend on Friday and swept Carlow and RIT the following Saturday. Grove City is now 5-0 to start the season. Last year, the Wolverines flew under the radar throughout the regular season, going 9-7 in conference play and entering the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) playoffs as the No. 4 seed from the North Division. Once in the postseason, Grove City went on the road to knock off W&J in the quarterfinals before sweeping Thiel in the semifinals and Hiram in the title match. After winning their first PAC title since 2001, the Wolverines now hold all the aces to compete for this year’s championship. The team is led by a star-studded senior cast, including outside hitters Sarah Hart and Alayna Dorst, middle blocker Kendra Klusch, right side/outside hitter Lily Lagaras and setter/defensive specialist Sarah Harris. This year’s squad is looking to take another big step after last year’s success. “The senior class this year is unique in our ability to lead because of our experience with the various highs and lows of our careers here in the pro-
gram,” Dorst, last year’s PAC Tournament Most Outstanding Player, said. “We have been at each step of the process and know what it takes to succeed in the PAC and beyond, so we’ve been able to speak into the younger players and emphasize what we believe to be crucial for a successful culture and court. The most important aspect by far: keeping Christ as our focus.” Grove City is hitting .269 as a team, with 187 kills and 53 service aces. Hart, Dorst, Klusch and Lagaras lead the Wolverines in kills, each with more than 20. Sophomore outside hitter Taylor Ripple has 19, junior middle blocker Lily Pool has 14 and sophomore outside hitter/defensive specialist Annie Atwood has 13. Junior setter/right-side hitter Brooke Manfull leads in assists with 63, followed by Harris with 49. Sophomore setter Eliana Porta has contributed 19 assists, and freshman defensive specialist Reagan Riordan has recorded 10. The Wolverines’ defense has held strong, surrendering only one set through five matches, and holding opponents to a .039 hitting percentage. Junior defensive specialist Lily Wojtala leads the team in digs with 50. Freshman outside hitter Caitlin Penola follows with 34, and Manfull and Dorst tally 27 and 25 digs, respectively. At the net, Klusch has led the Wolverines with 10 solo blocks. Pool has four, followed by Ripple and Lagaras with three each. Grove City has the momen-
DAVE MILLER/ADM PHOTOGRAPHY
Setter Brooke Manfull sets the ball. In this file photo. The Wolverines dominated at the Saint Vincent Bearcat Challenge last weekend. tum to build on last year’s success as the competition intensifies throughout the season, which can give it an edge, especially once PAC matchups begin. “Our training since last fall, both on the court and in our mental game, has centered around three things,” Dorst
said. “First, remaining diligent in our training and not being complacent, knowing we achieved our goal last season. Second, holding fast to what ‘our game’ is, what Grove City volleyball does and is about, and not trying to do something extra or outside of what we know works for us. Third, and
Seniors spark strong start Sam Fetherlin
Contributing Writer After its first Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) title in 20 years, Grove City College men’s soccer team earned its first win of the season Friday night with a 2-0 victory over Baldwin Wallace. A pair of first-half goals from senior forward Ryan Merrick, both assisted by senior midfielder Noah Gray, secured the victory for the Wolverines. Merrick gave Grove City the lead at the 11:56 mark by tapping it home at the near post after Gray beat his man down the left. Twelve minutes later, Gray collected the ball in midfield, turned and delivered a through-ball to Merrick, who slid it past the goalkeeper, sparking celebrations from the bench. Grove City outshot Baldwin Wallace 17-9 and held a 9-3 advantage in corner kicks. The Wolverines’ control grew after the Yellow Jackets received a red card at 54:08 for denying a goal-scoring opportunity. Neither team scored in the final 36 minutes, and the Wolverines took home both the win and the shutout. After the game, coach Mike Dreves said he was pleased with his team’s effort, especially after a 0-0 draw against Carnegie Mellon three days earlier. “I wanted to have a lot of energy tonight,” Dreves said. “I thought it was a bit of a slow start, but then we got a bit more energy and the end of the first half was great. And we were all over them, scoring two goals.” The seniors were on the scoresheet again on Saturday
most importantly, keeping God as our central purpose, motivation and identity.” The Wolverines began a long road stretch Tuesday at Muskingum and will travel to Brockport, N.Y. this weekend for a tournament, facing St. Lawrence, Brockport State and Hilbert.
Women’s soccer blanks Lycoming Christopher Shaw Contributing Writer
GCC SPORTS INFORMATION
Midfielder Christian Garcia controls the ball during the men’s soccer draw against Calvin. night as the Wolverines hosted Calvin University. The two schools faced off in a rematch of last year’s NCAA Division III Championship Tournament first-round matchup, where Calvin bested Grove City 1-0 in double overtime. This time, Calvin went up 1-0 again, converting a penalty kick after two minutes. Grove City struck back at 26:41 with a spectacular shot by Gray, who delivered a first-time, looping effort into the far side of the net. The game was still tied at halftime, but Merrick added another goal to his season tally soon after the second half began. At 53:11, Gray sent in a corner kick from the left side,
and Merrick guided the ball home to give the Wolverines the lead. As the clock wound down, it looked like Grove City would hang on for a second successive victory, but Calvin equalized with just two and a half minutes remaining. A free kick delivered from the right was not dealt with properly, allowing Calvin to secure a 2-2 draw. The seniors’ continued contributions echoed comments Dreves had made following Friday’s match against Baldwin Wallace. “We have 35 guys on the roster, eight of them are seniors, so we’re pretty balanced,” he said. “The seniors, those guys
all contribute. They’re culturally great, and I think they’re great players.” Dreves also elaborated on the challenges ahead. “We don’t take anything for granted. I talked to them about this before the game: there’s no guarantees, so we have to fight,” he said. “We just have to earn it. I’m excited for the guys; we’ll see how the conference plays out, but we have an opportunity.” The Wolverines will travel to La Roche University Saturday, and the game will kick off at 2 p.m. The team will then return to Don Lyle Field for its first conference game against Bethany College Wednesday at 4:30 p.m.
After its season-opening draw at Penn State-Behrend, the Grove City College women’s soccer team, defending PAC champions, returned to Don Lyle Field for its first two home games. The team faced Lycoming on Sept. 4 and Mount Aloysius on Saturday. The Wolverines quickly took control of what was Lycoming’s season opener. The 4-3-3 formation turned quick results for the Wolverines as freshman defender Taylor Leary played a beautiful through ball to freshman midfielder Ana Hahn, who attacked to the left before her defender fouled her in the box, drawing a penalty. Senior midfielder Tori Stevenson, who took the penalty, shot to the left and scored, putting Grove City up 1-0 less than two minutes into the match. In the 15th minute, sophomore forward Emily Horst placed a perfect pass to the top of the box. Sophomore midfielder Ady Waters handled the ball in stride and chipped it past the charging goalkeeper. The Wolverines took a 2-0 lead. In the 28th minute, Horst pushed a misplayed ball down the left, creating a one-on-one opportunity with her defender. She brought it outside and
SOCCER 11