Collegian
The
The Award-Winning Grove City College Student Newspaper
Friday, Sept. 18, 2026 Vol. 112 No. 3
Faith & Freedom press launches
Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek...
Liliana Shadlow
Contributing Writer
SAWYER AMES The time-honored tradition of creeking is a rite of passage for recently-engaged male Grove City College students. Friends of junior Bryce Peterson carry Peterson (center) to Wolf Creek, which has been witness to several creekings over the past week, after he got engaged to junior Maddie Lynch. As the college celebrates its 150th anniversary this year, this tradition, like many others, appears to not be going away anytime soon.
Too hot, hot dorms Dorm heat issue unlikely to be solved Maddie Miller
Contributing Writer With humidity reaching maximum levels across Pennsylvania, neither students nor college dorms are handling the heat well. From Aug. 29 through Sunday, nine nights of 14 reached 100% humidity. Grove City is experiencing heat so intense that not even sweat can evaporate. “Kind of feels like a bit of a sauna in there,” junior Hannah Jasko, a resident of Mary Anderson Pew Hall (MAP), said. “I do a lot of my work in the room, so it's my place where I get to focus. But since it’s so hot in there, that kind of impairs my focus. And also, especially at night, it’s the
most impactful when you're trying to go to sleep.” As no dorm has air conditioning, this sentiment is common throughout campus. “Sleeping with it is the worst,” senior Jack Davis, a resident of Ketler Hall, said. “It just makes living in the dorms uncomfortable, or just staying in there. I typically have to combat the heat through opening the windows; bugs get in, and that’s frustrating.” While unable to do anything about the weather, the college has heard the complaints. Susan Grimm, vice president for operations, offered guidelines to students to maximize nighttime cold air and keep out the afternoon heat. “At night when it's cool, if you open your window and put
a fan in it, it will draw in the cool air,” Grimm said. “During the day when you are at class (and it’s hot outside), close your windows and pull down the shades.” However, if following these guidelines does not sufficiently reduce heat, the only way to be allowed an air conditioning unit is through Disability Services. According to the air conditioning request form, “The student must submit current medical documentation from a pulmonologist, allergist or other relevant licensed medical professional, which supports the student’s medical need for air conditioning.” If students successfully follow this process, they still must provide their own air conditioning unit.
While renovations occur in other areas of campus, Jeffery Prokovich, vice president for institutional advancement, explained why air-conditioning systems will not be installed anytime soon. “Our residence halls are not designed for air conditioning, and, given their age, this installation would be extremely difficult and extremely expensive,” Prokovich said. Grimm agreed. “Even the addition of window units would be cost-prohibitive because the electrical requirements to support that effort would be very high. When the buildings were built, there were not as many electrical demands on the building,”
Grove City College’s newest publishing imprint, Faith & Freedom Press, is now lining bookshelves with original titles focused on preserving conservative and Christian ideals. Formed in conjunction with the Institute for Faith & Freedom (IFF), this imprint aims to perpetuate “Christian faith and the foundations of a free society” and provide writers an outlet to share those ideas openly. The inspiration behind it is to pick up the torch. “The publishing industry is really in turmoil,” Paul Kengor, IFF’s executive director and professor of political science at Grove City, said. “A number of really successful conservative publishing houses have gone out of business.” To combat this, Faith & Freedom Press wants to publish works that preserve the values on which Grove City was based: truth, light and liberty. The book “Born of Ideas: How Principles, Faith, and Courage Forged America” is the first product of the press. Written by Grove City alumnus Lawrence Reed, “Born of Ideas” compiles essays that highlight the principles of the American founding, such as religious liberty and classical philosophy. Readers can dive into the worlds of well-known and almost anonymous figures who shaped America in its earliest form. Although this initiative is still new, Grove City students are already formulating opinions about the new endeavor. “I think the IFF has already put out a lot of great articles from people they have on board, so the press is the
HOT 10
FAITH 10
Record-breaking fundraising Julia Kramer News Editor
Grove City College has broken fundraising records this year with a total of $75 million raised. Nearly 25 million more than last year’s “record setting” amount, this year’s fundraising will go to create more financial aid opportunities for students, while funding several long-awaited renovation projects. “Raising $75 million this year is both an extraordinary achievement and a reminder of the responsibility to steward this generosity well. I’m deeply grateful to our alumni and friends whose belief in Grove City College made this possible, and to our advancement professionals, whose
service is critical in this area,” Grove City College President Bradley Lingo said. While donor gifts have been more generous in recent years than ever before, Jeffrey Prokovich, the college’s vice president for Advancement, pointed to one gift in particular for making this year’s historic amount possible. “A large part of the success was do in part to the estate gift or legacy gift left by David Rathburn,” said Prokovich. An alumnus and former chairman of the board, Rathburn died in 2024 and left behind an estate gift of over $70 million. Although the final amount is still not certain, Prokovich said Rathburn’s contributions were now com-
FUNDRAISING 10
More than 70% of Grove City College students receive some financial aid funded by donors.
GCC
Secret identity
Getting commencement right
Late TD dooms football
Brown details complex summer internship
Speaker selection process needs overhaul
Wolverines take tough loss to No. 6 Mount Union
EDITORIAL 2
PERSPECTIVES 9
SPORTS 12
From the Tower
Wolverine wins coming soon Two of Saturday’s Wolverine athletic events juxtaposed an exhilarating win with an excruciating loss. The women’s soccer team played tough on the road against No. 11-ranked Case Western Reserve, and despite being outshot 12-8, the Wolverines won thanks to freshman Ava Soley’s two-goal game. Meanwhile, the football team also played tough on the road against No. 7-ranked Mount Union, and despite winning most of the game, the Wolverines lost thanks to an almost unbelievable last-minute touchdown pass. I put these two games together first to show how tough it is to win games against great opponents, because one play can change the outcome. But more than that, I juxtaposed these games to show that I believe we will see some great athletes and teams play their home games at Grove City College this fall semester. The women’s soccer team is undefeated, with three wins and a draw against strong competition to begin the season. As for the football team, it lost its first two games, but those losses were to two of NCAA Division III’s top 25 teams, and it played admirably in defeat. After watching those teams play multiple times, I am confident they can be elite if they can find ways to improve when it comes time to play similarly tough opponents later in the season. But those teams aren’t the only ones that can be elite. Men’s soccer is undefeated at 2-0-3, women’s tennis is also unbeaten at 2-0, women’s volleyball is 8-1 and the remaining “more-individual-focused” teams in men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s cross country and men’s and women’s golf have had athletes shine. The person reading this column may not call himself or herself a sports fan, and that’s fine. But I encourage you to attend a game or two and support your classmates on the field, court, course or green as they give their best effort to represent Grove City College in a Christ-like manner. Oh, and they should be great, too, so expect many Wolverine wins coming soon. This column may not convince you, so I invite you to check out the rest of this third issue of The Collegian. Along with a heavy-hitting sports section this week, news details hot dorm rooms and the Center for Rural Ministry Annual Conference. Community highlights feature swing dancing and astronomy clubs. Perspectives emphasizes the trouble with AI. And the entertainment section grapples with the definition of culture.
Matthew Purucker Editor-in-Chief
The Collegian Staff Matthew Purucker Editor-in-Chief
Luke Paglia
Managing Editor
Editorial Board
Editing
Julia Kramer
Olivia Emerick
News Editor
Anastasia Brown
Community Editor
Randall Elvin
Entertainment Editor
John Hatzis
Perspectives Editor
Editorial Secret identity
Page 2
Sept. 18, 2026
Copy Chief
Copy Editors Kendall Lambrecht Maddie Miller Jaci Morell Vivian Waner Andrew Wang
Natalie Hanna
Journalism internship anxieties Anastasia Brown Community Editor
This past summer, I spent ten weeks in Washington, D.C., interning for a political magazine called The Spectator. Founded in 1828, it’s one of the oldest publications in the English language. It’s also primarily based in London, and the small D.C. “international” office, with its four desks, cramped recording studio, and two windows overlooking scenic back alleys, is reportedly much less glamorous than its UK counterpart. The primary role of the US reporters was to write on American politics – run-ofthe-mill behavior for DC. The unique element of this role was the audience. After all, since much of the readership was also British, there were many nuances of the current DC political scene that might not make sense – or feel relevant – to a reader on the other side of the pond. I didn’t know when I first arrived at the office complex in DuPont that my summer would begin to feel like a spy movie. I was even given an alias – a crotchety old British gentleman with strong opinions about DC news and gossip. Each day, I would hunt up a story – either while walking the streets of DC or attending a conference or event, or (more prosaically) while scrolling Twitter – and when I hit on something that balanced newsworthiness with a good dose of irony, I would get to work researching. Maybe I would dig through old internet archives, or maybe I would interview someone on the street at a rally. Whatever it took to paint a picture that would be engaging to an audience thousands of miles away. When I sat down to write out the story, I would shift my tone to match that of Cockburn – our fictional British correspondent with a wrung-outdry sense of humor towards just about everything. Crafting these stories was a much more creative exercise than any oth-
JESSICA LI
Senior Anastasia Brown stands in front of the U.S. Capitol. er type of journalism I have done before – my tone and focus and even my jokes had to be carefully adapted from my own style to something else entirely. While a good adventure, my undercover identity as Cockburn this summer had some drawbacks. Sometimes I felt a distance between myself and what I was writing – were these even still my opinions, or was I just trying to hit a snarkiness quota? Not having my real name on the pieces sometimes felt like a way to dodge responsibility – but it still hurt when I read hate comments under a piece I had written. (“It's just stupid... STUPID, Stupid” was one particularly illuminating comment under one of my columns.) “Understand your audience” – it’s a generic slogan of advice leveled at students in most writing and public speaking classes. But it’s a trickier balance than I used to think. How much do you let that audience then dictate what you say? After all, the goal of writing is to write something worth
reading, and so the audience’s preferences, opinions, and presuppositions must be taken into account. But the truth must prevail against the naysayers, and no piece of writing will ever be universally loved, so the audience can’t call all the shots. It’s something worth considering even here at Grove City, where hate mail is usually a bit less vicious than in our nation’s capitol. How can we best serve our community with our words? I think it’s going to require a tricky balance of honest, yet charitable reporting – being confident in our pursuit of truth while also being thoughtful in the ways we depict our fellow students, faculty, and surrounding community. And we’re always trying to draw a fuller picture of our audience here at Grove, so if you have any upcoming community events or exciting on-campus opportunities that you would like to see covered by the Collegian, don’t be shy – send tips to me at brownah21@gcc. edu.
Sports Editor
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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.
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Help Wanted: Photo Chief
This week’s award goes to copy editor Maddie Miller for submitting two excelent articles and editing a busy sports section. Keep up the great work, Maddie! The Green Eyeshade Award honors student contributors that demonstrate consistency and excellence in their work.
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MADDIE MILLER
Interested in taking photos for The Collegian? Enjoy designing and collaging photos? The Collegian is now hiring a Photo Chief for the 2026-27 academic year. If interested, please email your interest and some samples of your photography to Editor-in-Chief Matthew Purucker (PuruckerMT24@gcc.edu) and Managing Editor Luke Paglia (PagliaLR23@gcc.edu).
Community
Sept. 18, 2026
Page 3
Students pose with posters that express sentiments aligned with TPUSA’s core values at one of the GCC chapter’s tabling events last year.
One year later
TPUSA remembers Kirk in kickoff meeting Emily Addison
Contributing Writer Grove City College’s Turning Point USA chapter had its first meeting of the year from 7 to 8 p.m. on Sept. 10 in Staley Hall of Arts and Letters Room 110. Charlie Kirk founded TPUSA along with Bill Montgomery in 2012. TPUSA was founded with the mission of educating and training Americans to promote freedom. It
has grown to have over 3,500 clubs in American schools. The college’s TPUSA chapter was founded in the 20252026 school year. President Moira Donovan started the chapter in response to Kirk’s assassination. Donovan said she did not want Kirk’s work to be silenced. “I want to give students confidence to stand up and speak up for what they believe in a God-honoring way,” Donovan
said. Kirk’s assassination impacted three in 10 Americans to take some form of action according to a Barna survey. “Grove City has such a conservative student body. … I remember seeing so many things on the sidewalk the days after (Kirk’s death),” Donovan said. “Charlie Kirk was a huge inspiration to me, and he modeled a media path to follow on how to talk to people and how to approach different topics,”
junior political science major Ricky Andrews said. The TPUSA meeting began with the six executive members of the club introducing themselves. After introductions, the beginning of Jubilee’s “Liberals and Conservatives Are More Similar Than You Think |Spectrum” YouTube video was played. The group then performed an activity in response to the video. After the activity, two videos about Charlie Kirk’s lega-
cy were played, and the room opened for discussion about Charlie Kirk. “He was one of the most impactful people in my life,” freshman psychology major Lucky Springer said. “He was a fire in a dark forest.” The meeting ended with a devotional about Kirk’s personal motto, Isaiah 6:8, “Here I am! Send me.” “I don’t want the date of his death to be forgotten,” Donovan said.
New astronomy club takes off
Anna Nicholson
Contributing Writer
GCC
Grove City College has an observatory an hour’s drive from campus, in Cambridge Springs.
An astronomy club was formed on the Grove City campus this year that will allow students from all fields to enjoy the wonders of stargazing. Club meetings are every other Tuesday from 8 to 9 p.m. in STEM 376. Stargazing does not have a set time each week, but it is determined by how clear the skies are on a particular night. Club members voted on topics for discussion days. Isabel Paul, astronomy club president and founder, said these votes occur so club members need not sit through lectures. “This way, they can learn
what they want to learn about,” Paul said. There are some big plans for the future of the club, according to Paul. One of the club’s biggest plans is to go to Cherry Springs State Park, where it hopes to see the Milky Way with minimal light pollution. The club also has plans to host public stargazing nights, as well as private stargazing tours for the dorm hallways. Brendan Steck, vice president of the club, said the club plans on training its members to host these events. The process to make this club official took longer than anticipated, according to Paul. To turn this club from a simple freshman dream to something
campus could enjoy, Paul had to meet with the dean of student affairs, find an advisor and seek out other students willing to serve in leadership positions. At the end of the process, Paul said that she had to meet with the administrative council, including President Lingo. The club became official and was at the organization fair Aug. 28. The club constitution plans to be approved this September. “We hope this club will give members an awe for the universe and, by extension, God,” Steck said. “Also, (members can hope) to be the cool person at the party who can point out different stars.”
What’s Fresh at the Grove? In the Quad...
Also in the Quad...
In the Arnold Recital Hall...
Fall Fest
Joel Ansett and Jordy Searcy Concert
Concerto and Aria Competition
September 19 11-3 p.m.
September 19 6:30 p.m.
September 25 7 p.m.
It’s a classic, but this year the prizes (sponsored by SGA)
Two great Christian artists (Ansett is a GCC alum!) are
Music students perform high level pieces and are evalu-
are bigger and better than ever! Come out and try your
capping off Fall Fest with a free concert on the Quad!
ated by guest judges. The top 2 performers win the right
luck at some booths, and learn about campus groups!
Opening for them is student band 2 Girls and a Guitar
to perform with the Orchestra in a subsequent concert.
Page 4
Sept. 18, 2026
Doctor Love
Friend group dynamics My roommate started dating a girl two years ago, and I’ve now become good friends with the girlfriend and her roommate. I think the four of us get along really great, and now I’ve started to wonder if I should ask the roommate out. I’m not sure I’m interested in her, but we get along really well as a group. How confident do I need to be about the possible relationship before I ask her out? All inquiries to my desk are sent forward anonymously – my generous editor curates for me a question every week based on what she receives. Nonetheless, I suspect I know who wrote this submission. And I am sorry, dude. She does not feel the same way. Her heart is after someone else. (Sorry to have to break that to you in such a public setting as The Collegian, but sometimes the best medicine is raw transparency.) Nevertheless, I think it’s worth making a few things clear about dating within friend groups. The first is: make sure you know what you are doing before you ask a member of the group out. When I was a freshman, I found myself in a nice friend group. Some of its members started dating each other. They broke up. The group no longer hangs out. By beginning a romantic relationship within a friend group, the dynamic of that group changes, whether you like it or not. If you ask her out and she says no, things will not be the same. That is not necessarily a bad thing. I would much rather have you be rejected and take comfort in your honesty and freedom to take an interest in someone else than burn inside with passion. But take heed before you blindly ask someone out merely because you enjoy their company in a group. Have you ever spoken to him or her one-on-one? Have you ever hung out with him or her with different people than that friend group? Remember, you are dating a person, not a group. If you are sure, go for it! And if he or she says yes, fantastic! But you must keep in mind a second part of romantic relationship and friendship management: your time with your friend group is time with your friend group, not a date with hangers-on. You should be spending significant time with the person you are dating, independent of the friend group. During your time with the group, your focus should be on joking around with and attending to all of them, even if the person you are dating is who you are chiefly with.
Auspiciously,
Dr. Love, MD
GARRETT HEATH
Pastors, students and ministry leaders worship together in Sticht Lecture Hall during a morning session.
CRM Conference inspires college and community Maya O’Dell
Contributing Writer The campus was filled with worship and encouragement this past weekend as pastors and church staff from around the area gathered at the Center for Rural Ministry’s annual conference. The conference was held on campus Friday and Saturday and welcomed attendees from rural churches across five nearby states. Coming from a myriad of denominations, these ministers of the body of believers sat under keynote speakers and workshop sessions on an array of topics concerning the conference’s overall theme, “Rooted: Cultivating Faithful Presence.” Faculty and staff, Grove City College students and Center for Rural Ministry (CRM) partner ministries also gathered to glean from conference presenters. This year’s keynote speaker, Scott Sunquist, was from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, where he is a professor of missiology. The conference also featured plenary speakers Joel Seymour, the super regional
BAKER PUBLISHING
Cotherman published this book.
leader for Vineyard USA, Bill Sukolsky, a CRM pastor liaison, and assistant professor of biblical and theological Studies Charles Cotherman. Workshop tracks were also offered in a variety of spheres, including Community Formation & Resilience in the Early Church and Rooted Youth Ministries. Churches in rural areas face many challenges unique to their place. Pastoring as a profession and calling can be lonely and isolating, and pastors in a rural church context face not just the challenges of their body but the challenge of lacking a community of sup-
port that may provide wisdom and encouragement for facing those challenges in a biblical and godly way. The CRM conference offers a way for these pastors to build friendships with their fellow laborers. Adelia Matson, the CRM administrative director, pointed out that one of the most impactful ways CRM can bless the conference attendees has been to recognize and celebrate the work God is doing in rural contexts. “I think one of the best things that happens is that rural pastors are encouraged that small places matter and that it doesn’t just matter to us and to each other and even to the ministry, but it really matters to Jesus,” Matson said. Whether conference attendees were Grove City College students looking to widen their Kingdom perspectives or local rural pastors seeking encouragement in the God-given calling placed on their families and them, the conference had something for attendees. Anastasia Brown, a student fellow with CRM, said her father, a rural pastor in the area, has been immensely blessed by the friendships he has been able to form and continue be-
cause of the annual conference. “It’s always, at its root, this opportunity for pastors to connect and be encouraged,” Brown said. Along with the blessing of relational connection, Brown emphasized the beauty of speakers and attendees coming from different denominational backgrounds. “It’s across denominational lines entirely. And the speakers and everyone who’s attending, it’s such a spectrum,” Brown said. “And the thing that brings us together is that we’re involved in rural ministry.” Another student fellow, Madelyn Taliaferro, echoed this sentiment, extending it to include the benefit for college students who attend the conference. “Being at the annual conference has given me a greater appreciation for churches that don’t necessarily teach the same things that I grew up with, and it was really encouraging to see a group of people unified, in Christ, but also with their specific calling in their place, not necessarily their denomination or church tradition,” Taliaferro said.
Fall Fest Dr. Love Contest Do you love reading the outrageous questions that Dr. Love gets asked every week? You can submit your own burning questions in need of relationship advice from Dr. Love. Come to The Collegian’s table at Fall Fest Saturday and submit a question to Dr. Love. The best submission will be featured in the Oct. 9 issue of The Collegian.
Word on the street What is a strange dining hall food combination that you swear by? Baja Blast: 5 /12 Sprite 1/3 Yellow Mellow 1/4 blue Powerade.
Black coffee and orange juice.
Calliope Leach ‘28
Peter Hasse ‘27
Siracha sauce with cottage cheese.
Hannah Su Kurien ‘28
Pickles dipped in lemonade.
Sabrina Herold ‘29
Chili, rice, potato soup, chicken from Spoon and Fork and a hint of barbecue sauce. Jonah Camenga ‘29
If you take burgers into the sandwich line they can put them on the panini press (patty melts). Ben Foster ‘28
Cottage cheese and beans! (An Austin Zeilstra classic!)
John Hatzis ‘27
Entertainment Can’t cancel culture
Page 5
Sept. 18, 2026
Kanye untouchable in Chicago
The Emmy Awards recap
Randall Elvin
Entertainment Editor Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, returned home to Chicago, and Soldier Field was sold out. Around 71,000 fans packed the stadium on Sept. 3. Then he did it again for night two. According to Pollstar, his twonight concert grossed $29.8 million. For an artist who has faced severe public backlash and controversy for the last several years, the 142,000 fans who packed the concert seemed to tell a different story about his “cancellation.” Chicago showed up for its hero, who has defined hip-hop music for more than two decades. Ye grew up in Chicago, and the city has remained an important piece of his identity. Soldier Field hosted his “Donda” listening event in 2021 and his last appearance in the Windy City. Multiple Grove City College students and alumni attended. “Sitting there watching this man who had done so many great things in regard to very good music and coming back to his hometown and performing in front of so many people was so cool,” senior Max Turner said. “And I got the sense of what he talks about all the time, saying we can do great things and be the best you possibly can be.” That message was reflected throughout the performance. The second night became even more of a Chicago celebration as Ye brought out a collection of artists connected to his career and the city. Chief Keef, another Chicago
Randall Elvin
Entertainment Editor
BILLBOARD
Kanye opening his hometown performance. rap icon, joined Ye for “Love Sosa” and “I Don’t Like.” Young Thug, Travis Scott, Kid Cudi, Rick Ross, Common, Lupe Fiasco, Twista, Big Sean, 2 Chainz and others also appeared during the two-night run. The guest list alone showed the influence of Ye’s career, with such big names making appearances for him. Travis Scott, one of the biggest names in music today, shared the stage with his longtime idol. Also, Kid Cudi, who had a fallout with Ye in previous years, returned alongside him for their first appearance together in a long time. “It was electric having all the guests, and then with even
more coming out like Chief Keef, Young Thug, Travis Scott and Kid Cudi,” junior Jed Arico said. Longtime fans could hear songs from various stages of his career, which showed Ye’s connection with fans, as he got the loudest reaction from the crowds when he sang “Heartless,” which was released in 2008. “‘Heartless’ drew the loudest singing, and the talk box Andre Troutman freestyled over ‘Heartless.’ That was amazing,” Turner said. Ye’s return still had huge controversy due to his antisemitic remarks, although he did apologize for those comments, saying he had “lost touch with
reality.” Despite that, the Anti-Defamation League worked with staff of Soldier Field to recognize hate symbols and antisemitism. The organization expressed concern about Ye’s rhetoric and his influence, while also insisting it wasn’t trying to determine what speech he could express on the stage. Even so, 142,000 people attended his performance and joined together to listen live to the music they love. Ye showed love to his fans and proved he’s still very much alive and that the Bully tour will be far from a flop. He proved once again that “cancel culture” can’t cancel the culture.
‘Star Wars’ returns
Jed Arico
Contributing Writer A 31-year-old man is in the middle of the Tunisian desert, a place he’s wanted to be for a long time. It’s the first day of filming his new movie. This creation has been his dream for years, but obstacles have been everywhere. Before filming even started, props broke, actors quit and the weather didn’t cooperate in the slightest. The most pressing challenge has been the limited budget. Almost every studio in Hollywood rejected this director, with only 20th Century Fox hesitantly agreeing to finance it. And the funding is meager: an $11 million budget for one of the most ambitious movies of all time. It’s not enough, but he knows it will have to do. Without another word, George Lucas pans the camera towards the scene and calls “Action!” It’s been 50 years since that day in the desert. In that time, “Star Wars” has bloomed into one of the biggest franchises of all time. When it hit theaters in 1977, the first movie was a smash hit, with eager moviegoers lining up around the block to see this new creation. As viewers left the theater, few seemed sad. People were buzzing with excitement and optimism at what they’d just seen, and there’s a lot to love. The main character is remarkably relatable, the story is wonderfully charming and the film’s
WHAT’S NEW to review?
George Lucas stands with his creation, Darth Vadar. universe draws the audience to full immersion. History had been made, and yet the journey didn’t stop there. Since 1977, “Star Wars” has released 11 more theatrical movies, over 20 television series and hundreds of books. As a result, the franchise has gained millions of lifelong fans. What truly puts “Star Wars” in its own class, however, is the incredible cultural relevance it has gained. Though most people haven’t seen it (it’s estimated that 1 billion people, or 15% of the world’s population, have watched at least one Star Wars movie), [OE1.1]the so-
cietal influence the franchise has had globally is like nothing else. Compared to other films, few wouldn’t instantly recognize Yoda; it feels like almost everyone could likely place Darth Vader’s iconic breathing. And who hasn’t heard the phrase, “May the Force be with you[NW2.1]?” One thing is for sure: the impact “Star Wars” has made on the modern world is hard to overstate. The fact remains, however, that swathes of people have never seen “Star Wars.” If you are one of those people, perhaps you enjoy missing out on one of the greatest cinematic creations humanity has ever
DISNEY
achieved, remaining in your ignorance. But if you want to experience the magic that has captivated millions over the decades, then this is the perfect time. For its 50th anniversary, “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope” is being re-released in theaters, so younger generations can get the same experience their parents had in the 1970s. Soon, a theater near you might be playing the most impactful movie of the century, and it is not something to pass up. See it when you can! And of course, may the Force be with you.
The 78th Emmy Awards were filled with records being broken. It was filled with emotional tributes. In case you missed it, the biggest moments are highlighted below. As far as records go, Jean Smart was one of the biggest stories of the night as she made television history. She plays Deborah Vance in the hit show “Hacks”, in which she secured her fifth Emmy for the role. She won the award for every season of “Hacks”, making her the first performer to win the acting award for every season of a show’s run. Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Cloris Leachman, two television legends, need to watch out for their record being stolen from them. Smart won her eighth career Emmy, tying her with Louis-Dreyfus and Leachman for the most acting Emmy wins in history. For fans of “Seinfeld” and “Veep”, seeing Smart enter the same record books as Louis-Dreyfus makes the achievement even more impressive. But the Emmys were not only about trophies. Michael J. Fox received the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award. Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at 29, went public with his diagnosis in 1998 and spent decades advocating for and raising funds for Parkinson’s disease research. He later founded the Michael J. Fox Foundation, which became one of the major organizations funding Parkinson’s research. For those efforts, he received a standing ovation before and after his speech, creating one of the most emotional moments of the night. But the main tribute was to the legend and queen herself: Dolly Parton. The Emmys were among the first major award ceremonies to honor her after her death on Aug. 25 at the age of 80. Country and television star Reba McEntire performed a tribute to Parton, while Sally Field, who starred alongside Parton in “Steel ‘Magnolias’”, also participated. McEntire performed Parton’s “Appalachian Memories,” which brought many to tears. The 2026 Emmys took the approach of looking at moments that are greater than acting awards, they celebrated the people who made real impact.
THE EMMYS
Jean Smart claims her award.
Sept. 18, 2026
Through the Lens
Morning on campus
A crisp early fall morning on campus
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Sept. 18, 2026
Whether your morning is slow or more fast paced, our campus is full of working students and staff. Students use their mornings to finish work, gather for morning prayer and share breakfasts. Our staff prepare food, keep our campus running, and prepare for class lectures. Though our campus is often very lively, it is easy to find a quiet spot in the early mornings on campus. By Carson A. Brown, Photo Chief
Perspectives AI debate continues Sept. 18, 2026
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AI and what makes life worthy
Anastasia Brown Community Editor
“As we begin this new academic year, together we face a question that is both new and old,” President Lingo said to students and faculty in the chapel Aug. 26 during his Convocation address. He drew comparisons between the essay “On Living in the Atomic Age” by C.S. Lewis (the freshmen are being introduced early on to our patron saint) and our own 2026 concerns with the AI Age. In the essay, Lewis uses the same logic as Lingo — human history is full of people facing unprecedented change but somehow carrying on with everyday life. Plagues, Vikings, cancer — they could have defined historic ages. But the men and women we remember in our history books usually aren’t the ones who cowered in fear, but the ones who carried on living, creating and discovering. It’s a call to action. My favorite quote from the short essay comes at the end. “If we are all going to be destroyed by an atomic bomb, let that bomb when it comes find us doing sensible and human things—praying, working, teaching, reading, listening to music, bathing the children, playing tennis, chatting to our friends over a pint and a game of darts—not huddled together like frightened sheep and thinking about bombs,” Lewis says (and Lingo quoted in his speech), “They may break our bodies (a microbe can do that), but they need not dominate our minds.” Lingo’s call to the college was to actively refuse to let AI
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dominate our minds. “As I told our students, that paper matters. But the person our students are becoming in writing the paper matters more. AI has great promise to accelerate calculations and help with research and invent breakthrough technologies, but it can’t tell a student what is worthy of their life,” President Bradley Lingo said later in the week to WKBN First News, which came to the college to survey the campus about perspectives on AI usage. The WKBN segment also mentioned our dearly beloved The Collegian and the AI survey we conducted last spring,
which showed that almost 50% of the student body has negative associations with AI. WKBN also interviewed several students, including senior Elleri Bayhan, whose thoughts have stuck with me. “I think that (AI is) a blessing, but it’s also kind of a curse,” she said. “Like, we’re made in the image of God, and we really want to use our creativity because we know that God is creative.” Of course, AI can’t take away our ability to be creative. We must first give it that power over our lives. But AI does make the implicit claim that creativity is cheap and worth sacrificing on the altar of effi-
ciency. This joke from author Joanna Maciejewska has made its rounds on social media. “I want AI to do my laundry and dishes so that I can do art and writing, not for AI to do my art and writing so that I can do my laundry and dishes,” she said. But then we use AI to “help us brainstorm” a project for class. We use AI to create our posters for campus events. (I am looking at you, Theater Department.) We use AI to understand our homework problems rather than popping into a professor’s office hours. (We know that professor talks a lot, and we don’t want to pause from the grind.)
Are those uses of AI inherently evil? No. Most likely, nobody will kick you out of school for plagiarism or give you a failing grade. Sometimes, it might even prove helpful. But where will we draw the lines for ourselves? When are we truly using the technology to aid us in the pursuit of knowledge, and when are we prioritizing completing a paper before a certain deadline over the creation of our own souls that is happening as we write (or don’t write) that paper? It’s a compelling question for all of us, no matter where we stand on the AI question. Thanks, President Lingo and St. Lewis!
Statistics is the best math
Madison Miller Contributing Writer I like statistics, and no, I’m not mentally ill. But if you (understandably) wanted to make sure I’m not mentally ill, you’d use the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. If statistics forms the foundation for the book that guides diagnosis and treatment for mental health crises, I’d say it’s pretty great. And I am not the only one who loves statistics. From 2015 to 2024, the estimated number of students taking AP Calculus tests fell by 1% (from 415,000 to 410,000), whereas the number of students taking the AP Statistics exam increased by 28% (from 195,000 to 250,000). High schools are gradually placing more value in statistical thinking over other types of math. Why the shift? R-squared, hypothesis testing, random assignment and p-values. Some might wince with painful memories just reading that and prefer to keep such terms far from their awareness. Those dull concepts from stats classes, they think, shouldn’t touch the average person’s reality anyway. But statistics interlocks with reality often. It’s why our college is still open, as accredi-
tation requires a lot of stats. It’s how you know you’re supposed to get eight hours of sleep, how TikTok shortens attention spans and if you have a mental disorder. Statistics has woven itself into much of society’s most valuable knowledge; it forms the threads of all psychological research and understanding. Statistics is an inherently human math. Every data point in statistics reflects a person, a tiny piece of their life put into a number (at least in psychological research). Statistics takes the randomness and chaos of human behaviors and quantifies it, so we can gain insights about the epitome of God’s creation. “You’re reducing people to numbers, wow!” That’s what my roommate cried out when I first proposed this. But I’m proposing the opposite. I’m elevating the numbers to people and giving the math its due respect. When I took Advanced Statistics, I had a data analysis project. Dr. Welton gave the class an expansive (and de-identified) data set on Christian youths’ answers to a lengthy questionnaire, and we could do anything we desired with the numbers. It was a daunting prospect at first, but I decided to investigate whether kids’ closeness to their fathers predicted their closeness to God (because it could help with the conceptualization of
ELOQUI
the Heavenly Father). Someone could get addicted to inputting variables into statistics software, hitting “run” and getting an output. The brain begs to know how the numbers turned out. Are they statistically significant? Are the results what I expected? I promise it’s a thrill. I missed a poetry recitation meeting with Dr. Bilbro because I was having too much fun in SPSS. The results were not what I expected: kids’ closeness to their mothers predicted better than closeness to fathers whether they were close to God. There are several theoretical means of interpreting these results, but the point is that at the end of my time with statistics, I had a better grasp of human functioning. I discovered a tiny piece of human
experience. Other kinds of math have different goals. At the end of my pre-calculus homework, I had a page of abstract numbers. Other maths might reveal truths about machines or the laws of the universe, which are extraordinary and helpful, but people are the single part of creation made in God’s image. That’s why stats is my favorite math, as it’s the math of people. I know I couldn’t even type this article without all the mathematical advancements that led to the creation of the computer, so other maths have a definite, essential purpose. There’s a reason, however, that more students are taking the AP Statistics exam. Only statistics provides insight into what parenting style
creates the happiest people, or what impact social media has on developing brains or what programs help the most people recover from drug addiction. Statistics gives pointers in suicide prevention and was revolutionary in the early stages of cancer research. It saves lives and can improve them incredibly: according to statistics, people of faith are happier. I don’t expect statistics to be everyone’s favorite math, and it doesn’t need to be. It does not, however, deserve all the slander and dread I hear about it. Students could go into a stats class with a little less boredom and a little more appreciation, and that way, I might find a p-value below 0.05 for the title’s alternative hypothesis.
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Sept. 18, 2026
A Christian approach to gender Joseph Fossa
Contributing Writer If you spend just five minutes scrolling through social media, you’ll encounter two drastically different visions for what men and women should be. On one side sits a cultural landscape that treats gender as completely fluid or irrelevant; on the other lies an online reactionary movement preaching rigid caricatures of hyper-muscular dominance for men and “clean girl” passive aesthetics for women. Our culture forces us to pick a stereotype and embrace it as our identity, but Scripture offers a clearer picture of how men and women can honor God simply by stepping into who he has made them to be. So, what does it mean to be a gentleman or lady in 21st-century America? And more spe-
“When Scripture outlines the calling of men and women, the ultimate standard is always Christ.” cifically, what does that look like when walking across the quad at Grove City College? To understand Christian manhood and womanhood, we must completely bypass both historical tropes and modern secular trends. Scripture begins with creation. Genesis 1:27 lays the foundation: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Neither sex is complete without the other, as both reflect different facets of His character. When Scripture outlines the calling of men and women, the ultimate standard is always Christ. For men, Ephesians 5:25 commands us to “love (our) wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” True biblical manhood, and
the literal definition of a gentleman, defies the unemotional, nonchalant or aggressive behavior the world defines us by. We’re created to love sacrificially, lead in service and protect with the strength God’s given us. Jesus washed His disciples’ feet. On biblical womanhood, Proverbs 31 and 1 Peter 3:34 redefine dignity for women. Does it reduce a woman’s dignity down to her stock of Rhode products or social media aesthetic? Or teach us that women are only as valuable as their careers are successful? No. Instead, Scripture highlights wisdom, inner strength, initiative and a quiet, steadfast spirit. A biblical lady is characterized by moral conviction, intellectual vigor and faithful stewardship of her gifts. But how does this apply to
us as college students? Let’s look at the roles of men and women from outside our Christian bubble. Hookup culture, radical feminism, extremist masculism and alcohol-fueled socialization plague every campus in the U.S. Students, who are at the most pivotal growth point in their lives, are blinded by these cultural trends and are losing what it means to be chivalrous and nurturing. Grove City offers a unique environment that rejects these sinful tendencies, giving students a chance to practice healthy, biblical manhood and womanhood so that when they step outside this bubble, they can confidently reflect their God-given identities wherever they go next. Christian men, be intentional in conversations, encouraging in speech, quiet in service and strong when standing up for your faith. Ladies, pursue academic excellence, know
that your worth comes from God and foster Christian-centered community in your dorms. It’s easy for a Christian campus to turn “being a gentleman” or “being a lady” into a superficial performance, and while politeness is never a bad thing, Christ calls us far deeper. In the broader United States, where public discourse about gender roles is often hostile and divided, Christian students have an opportunity to reflect the true meaning of stepping into their masculinity/femininity. A real gentleman isn’t defined by his power, but by readiness to lay everything down for others. Similarly, a real lady isn’t defined by her outward appearance, but by her wisdom and compassion. As the semester continues, let’s shape our understanding of gender on the selfless, servant-hearted model of Jesus Christ.
Getting commencement right
John Hatzis
Perspectives Editor It is with trepidation that I rehash Senator Rand Paul’s roundly mocked 2026 Commencement address, “The Case for Optimism (Regarding Artificial Intelligence).” I hesitate to write this piece. President Lingo already rebutted Senator Paul’s case with thoroughness and clarity at convocation. I fear criticism may further align me with Grove’s “complaining culture,” a culture that lacks the eyes to see this place as a foretaste of heaven. I only touch on this college’s embarrassing moment to make the case that for commencement next May, Grove City should consider different criteria for a graduation speaker than a well-known politician, even one as principled as Senator Paul. The graduating seniors I spoke to last May mocked “workeasies” and Paul’s rambling economics lecture, while also noting with disturbance that Paul, despite his manifold references to Artificial Intelligence and work, never once mentioned God, family
“The death of leisure is the true threat to the Class of 2026, which made Paul’s ‘workeasies’ theme tone-deaf to the problems his audience faces.” or friends. Student speaker Ashley Van Dixhoorn, on the other hand, beautifully articulated her Grove “love story,” in a speech full of gratitude and hope. The difference between Van Dixhoorn’s message of deep hope and Paul’s shallow “optimism” was stark. And the thematic choice of the importance of work betrayed Paul’s writing team’s lack of research into our student body. “Grover-achiever” is an infamous catchphrase on campus for a reason. The kind of people who will actually listen to a commencement speaker (instead of, say, scrolling on their phones or mocking the speech live in group chats) are exactly the kind of people most tempted to Grover-achieve. With respect to Senator Paul, the disappearance of work is not a pressing threat to the Class of 2026 – they have got many decades of it ahead of them. An imminent threat, however, is the disappearance of work’s counterpart, leisure. Grove City College is up against statistics that say most graduates will waste years of their lives scrolling on social
Campus Cartoons by Elijah Faris
media, will never read an old book again and will be lonely — perhaps even without a single close friend. It is not work that is disappearing, but rest, culture and friendship, and these goods are being replaced by the sad substitutes of social media, sports gambling, pornography and politics. The death of leisure is the true threat to the Class of 2026, which made Paul’s “workeasies” theme tone-deaf to the problems his audience faces. My problem with Paul ran deeper than just his choice of topic. His theology of Artificial Intelligence went far beyond techno-optimism into techno-obsession. Paul’s scriptwriters seemed unaware that a The Collegian poll found less than a quarter of the Class of 2026 had a favorable view of AI. Paul’s response to the graduating class was clear: stop being loony “Luddites” and let the market do its holy will. In the closing of his speech, Paul charged Grovers to become “masters of AI,” a perfect actualization of the “change
the world” mindset that baccalaureate speaker Ethan Magness so beautifully debunked. Paul, it seems, is urging Grovers to join the rat race of AI technocrats attempting to defy death and become masters of the universe. The technocrats will fail, praise God. Jesus Christ, the King of Kings, remains the true master. Technocrats cannot change the unshakeable truth that God is more powerful than any machine. A commencement address should impress upon the graduating class the true, good and beautiful. Senator Paul’s address, in its own way, did so: it impressed upon his listeners the truth that even good things can become idols. For many, the government or the self can become an idol. For Paul, the “invisible hand” of the market was revealed to be his dumb idol, empty and hollow. I have no grounds to condemn Senator Paul. It is an incredibly arduous task to avoid idol-worshipping, particularly of good things. It is a task that can only be accomplished with the overwhelming grace of God. Avoiding idolization must be an especially arduous task for a Washingtonian like Sen-
ator Paul, working in a place where idols of vice are worshipped in perpetuity. Speaking for myself, I fail to avoid idol-worship daily. I would absolutely benefit from advice by an older Christian on how to successfully set my mind, to quote the Apostle Paul, “on things above.” Perhaps this topic would be a good fit for a commencement address. Many Christians who have visited Grove City before could speak beautifully on it. Besides, celebrity commencement speakers have only been a trend this century. I see little reason for Grove to play our culture’s game. To riff on Chairman Breen’s classic commencement remark, Grove City ought to “march to the beat of a different drum” when looking for a speaker. I am not here to suggest a particular name for a commencement speaker, but to suggest a countercultural criterion in the selection process. For my graduation, I’d be happy with a retiring professor, overjoyed parent or just about anyone on the Grove City Alumni page who loves God and their children. But as for the politicians, I urge our college to pass them by.
News Faith for Life kicks off
Sept. 18, 2026
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Lingos speak during first lecture event of semester Jack Davis
Contributing Writer The Faith for Life Lecture series had its first event Sept. 9, calling students to pursue Christian discipleship. Hosted by the Christian Formation Office and attended by President Bradley Lingo and his wife Yvonne, the event centered around educating students how to achieve their spiritual callings while creating a campus united around building one another up. Dr. Don Opitz, Senior Director of Christian Formation, began the lecture by talking about spiritual calling and sharing the Discipleship Quad model, also known as the Walking the Quad model. The model, which was first introduced during Wednesday chapel, is based on the biblical principles of learn, love, lead, live. Each built on the other, these principles make up a circular pattern that challenges students to learn from Scripture, serve God and others, and live faithfully. According to Opitz, the Walking the Quad model is meant to help guide Grove City College students through their academic
years and eventually carry into post-graduation life. “There is a calling from the first page [of your life] to the last,” Opitz told the audience. Opitz elaborated on this point by explaining how calling can be fully understood through a walk with God. He explained how callings can be dynamic and change during life stages yet still reflects God’s will. “It is love on the move,” Opitz said. The lecture continued as Opitz interviewed President and Mrs. Lingo on how different stages of life impacted their faith, namely their early and college years. The Lingos emphasized the role of community within spiritual growth. Each one of them spoke on how their community contributed to the development of faith in their lives. They particularly highlighted mentors in their spiritual growth journeys during transitional periods in their lives. Mentors, according to the Lingos, helped them realize their spiritual calling. The Lingos encouraged students to find purpose through their spiritual calling and discipleship, as it glorifies God.
President Brad Lingo and First Lady Yvonne Lingo welcome students into their home. “Discipleship is not a manmade idea: it comes from the Lord,” Yvonne Lingo said. “Look to be discipled; look to disciple.” Daniel Snoke, the worship coordinator, and Virginia West, the director of Christian formation, ended the talk by promoting other ministries on campus, the foremost being Red Box Global Outreach, a program that funds shortterm outreach projects. GCC
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students were encouraged to donate to this longstanding ministry and help support missionaries and their goal. Snoke and West also reinforced the need for community in calling, emphasizing how community nurtures spiritual growth. They highlighted the relationships between classes, where upperclassmen mentoring the underclassmen as they are mentored by the staff. “Discipleship happens in
community,” West said as she ended her speech. For students like Sophomore Noah Morgan, the lecture motivated a desire to pursue more intentional relationships; relationships where one could both be blessed and bless others. “There’s definingly been some upperclassmen who have mentored me,” Morgan said, “I’d hope that I can do the same for others.”
FAITH
FUNDRAISING
next logical step for them. … I’m interested to see how the research the IFF has already done takes off,” Abby Ramaley, Institute for Faith & Freedom scholar and freshman philosophy major, said. Ramaley also highlighted that the press has an opportunity to reach a new audience. “We’ve reached the point where we aren’t just catering to people who already agree (with our beliefs),” she said. “It’s us making steps to get out into the broader world.” Intending to publish at least three books a year, there may be plenty of opportunities to appeal to a wide variety of interests both within and outside Grove City. Faith & Freedom Press will appear on platforms like Amazon and Google Books. Faith & Freedom Press joins other Grove City College publications, including The Collegian, The Echo and The Quad. Faith & Freedom Press, however, will be the first publication to focus on full-length books. Two additional books the press will soon publish are “God and AI,” by Brian Dellinger, and “Ronald Reagan and Race” by Kengor. Both authors are Grove City College faculty writing from their specific fields of computer science
parable to that of the Pew family, who donated heavily to school and funded multiple extensive construction projects. “David really believed in Grove City College, in our mission and in our education, we provide,” Prokovich said, citing how Rathburn purposefully designated 75% of the funds toward increasing financial aid and merit-based scholarships. Because the college does not accept any federal taxpayer funding, student loans or grants, college funded scholarships are essential to many students’ ability to attend. “I left Grove City College largely because there was not enough financial aid provided to be able to stay,” said former student Olivia Massucci. “While I am no unhappy with my choice, there are so many friends I had to leave behind and so many memories I could have made.”
Massucci hopes that this year’s fundraising will keep current students from having to choose between their finances and friends. However, increased financial aid and scholarships does necessarily mean that yearly tuition increases will cease. “In recent years, we have more financial aid to give to students directly than ever before,” Prokovich said. “But actually, if you look at the economy, our costs continue to rise greatly.” Prokovich compared it to a difficult balancing act; one where every year, the college must decide how to meet increased food and energy costs, without putting an undue burden on students. Impact 150, the college’s multiyear initiative to raise $ 225 million “to address top campus priorities and ensure a solid financial foundation for the future,” is one-way the college is addressing the issue. The initiative has already raised over $90 million for
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Grimm said. The electrical needs of modern devices and appliances make adding air conditioning more unfeasible, Grimm said. Most of the dorms were built 50 to 100 years ago, and Jasko and Davis live in the two oldest halls (89-year-old MAP South and 94-year-old Ketler) [MME1.1][MP1.2]. The dorms’ brick structure and summer’s seemingly unrelenting humidity collaborate to turn rooms into insulated, cooling-resistant chambers. For students struggling to get the eight [NH2.1]hours of suggested sleep, these conditions can be particularly harmful.
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FAITH & FREEDOM PRESS
“Born of Ideas” marks the first product of Faith & Freedom Press. and political science, respectively. Readers can expect both Kengor’s and Dellinger’s books to be published within the next school year. Kengor will assess the 40th president’s history and the controversy surrounding his As National Sleep Foundation research has found, colder temperatures tend to encourage quality sleep more than hotter temperatures do, and sleeping too warm “can increase wakefulness and interrupt important phases of your sleep cycle.” Such interruptions can cause memory issues, difficulty focusing and emotional dysregulation[JK3.1], according to the National Institute of Health. For Jasko and Davis, a plausible fix seems unlikely. “Other than implementing air conditioning into the buildings, I’m not sure that anything else would really help,” Jasko said. “I just really hope there is a solution,” Davis said.
views on race. “I’m writing the book defending Ronald Reagan on the issue of race, an issue where Reagan has really been wrongly maligned, vilified and even demonized,” Kengor said.
PagliaLR23@gcc.edu
KramerJR24@gcc.edu
The age of dorms like Lincoln Hall make it all but impossible to install air-conditioning.
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Sports
Sept. 18, 2026
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JASON KAPUSTA
JON HOLTZ
Cayla Lawrence (left) and Colsen Frank (right) both came in first at the Fisher Invitational, with the women’s team placing first overall and the men’s team placing second.
Cross Country dominates at Westminster Eli Hatfield Contributing Writer NEW WILMINGTON — The Grove City College cross country teams opened their seasons with an overwhelming victory for the women and a close second for the men. The teams competed at the Westminster College meet Sept. 4. Despite the muggy conditions, both teams competed well. The course was 5,000 meters long and around West-
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dent going into play,” freshman Sarah Bookmiller said. “When we play our own game, no one can stop us.” Freshman Reagan Riordan recorded her first collegiate kill along with two aces. “I honestly just love how there’s no selfishness, and everyone just wants each other to become better and to glorify God in our play,” Riordan said. “I think that’s really important when you’re coming into a new team and you have no idea
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performance on both ends of the field. “I think we played together as a team really well instead of playing individually,” Soley said. “Everything we did, we did together. Whether we pressed up in attack or dropped back to defend, it was always together, and I think that was one of the things that really helped us seal the win.” The significance of the victory was not lost on the Wolverines, who entered the match looking to overcome the program’s previous struggles against the Spartans. “Going into this game, there was a lot of doubt just because of the history Grove City has
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verines wanted to win time of possession and won it by eight minutes in the first half, according to DiDonato. “Knowing how important it is to run the football and win time of possession, we didn’t want to deviate too much from that,” DiDonato said. “We did throw it a little more, but we still tried to run the ball. And some guys stepped in and had some nice runs.” Sophomore kicker Brady Lane opened the scoring with a 31-yard field goal, capping off Grove City’s first possession of the game, a 17-play, 56-yard drive that lasted over
minster’s Brittain Lake. Seventy-five men and 76 women competed. The women’s team scored only 22 points, and senior runner Cayla Lawrence finished first with a time of 19:34.6. Freshman Josie Jones finished with a time of 19:40.5, junior Rebekah Burger had a time of 19:59.8 and junior Juliana Lindberg completed the race with a time of 20:57.3. The three of them took second, third and fifth place, respectively. In addition, sophomore Eri-
ka Doolittle finished in 21:29.7, good for 11th, junior Abigail Nelson took 16th with a time of 21:40.6, sophomore Lydia Wheaton finished 19th with a time of 21:59.1 and junior Maggie Mollenauer crossed the finish line at 21:59.9, coming in 20th. “The women had a very strong meet overall; they took control of the race early and persevered well to maintain it,” Grove City cross country coach Paul Collier said. “Hopefully, we can keep this going.” The men’s team also per-
what’s going to happen.” Freshman Caitlin Penola also played in all three sets, logging nine digs and an ace. “Our freshmen have immediately bought into the team culture we had already established last year,” Hart said. “They are all super hard-working and just really want what’s best for the team, which helped improve our culture even more.” The Wolverines, now 8-1, will wrap up non-conference action this weekend with a home invitational. Grove City
faces Marietta and Mount St. Joseph Friday. Albion and Penn State-Behrend follow Saturday. “We’re very excited to be at home this weekend and play in front of our fans. I think our mindset is to continue building off this past weekend in Brockport and keep competing at a high level,” Manfull said. “There are some good teams coming this weekend, and we’re really looking to improve with every match we play so we can prepare for our upcoming conference games.”
had with Case, so I’m really proud of our team’s skill, effort, and determination,” Soley said. “I’m honored to be a part of this team and to have been able to experience a win like this with them. “I know that we aren’t successful through our own efforts alone, but through the strength that the Lord gives us, and I think that plays a huge role in our overall success. This win is a reminder of what we can accomplish when we play for an audience of One, believe in each other and leave everything on the field.” The upset victory boosted confidence as the Intercollegiate Women’s Soccer Organization for Coaches’ No. 20-ranked team prepares for Presidents’ Athletic Confer-
ence play. “I think this win taught us that if we play our game and trust in each other, we can have success no matter who we play,” Soley said. “We’ve gained the confidence we needed moving forward, but we also know that we can’t become complacent. We have to continue working hard, trusting God and giving it our all for each other. I think this win gives us the momentum we need to be successful and hopefully go the whole way again in the PAC.” Grove City began conference play on Wednesday against Bethany and will look to carry that momentum into further PAC matchups when it faces Saint Vincent at 6 p.m. Saturday in Latrobe.
nine minutes. Junior wide receiver John Perry caught a 29-yard touchdown pass after senior wideout Seth McGroerty unintentionally deflected it to him late in the first half, giving Grove City a 10-7 halftime lead. McGroerty increased the lead to 17-7 with a 3-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter. McGroerty and Perry combined for 106 yards and two receiving touchdowns. Minner paced the Purple Raiders on the ground with 98 yards and caught a touchdown pass from Maloney late in the third quarter to cut their deficit to 17-14. Bo Bokman scored Mount Union’s first touchdown on a 10-yard run in the
second quarter. Ashby led all receivers with 100 yards on five receptions. Safeties Ryan Montgomery and Dominic DiNinno, along with sophomore cornerback Cameron Epps, and freshman linebacker Brayden Gurst had the other Grove City interceptions. The Wolverines have a bye week, then they will head to PAC newcomer Saint Francis Sept. 26 at 1 p.m. “Just excited for the bye week now — two top teams in the country, two great games and a lot we can learn from,” DiDonato said. “I think the bye week’s coming at the perfect time.”
formed exceptionally well, taking second and scoring 37 points. Sophomore Colsen Frank took first overall with a time of 16:16.0. Also placing in the top ten were sophomore Kaiden Williams, who earned seventh place with a time of 17:01.3, and Carson Witt, who came in eighth with a time of 17:03.3. Freshman Isaac Burt finished in 17:10.5, which earned him 11th, sophomore Tyler Davis finished 12th with a time of 17:12.8, sophomore Same Elston earned 13th with a time
of 17:18.7 and senior James Yoho came in 14th with a time of 17:19.6. “The men’s team had a strong opener. I got to see a clearer picture of where we are, as well,” Collier said. “Now, with some small tactical tweaks, I think we can take a strong step forward.” Looking at the rest of the season, Collier believes the teams are in a strong position. “My hope is they’re encouraged by this early result and excited to see where they can go from here,” he said.
Sports at a Glance Results
Football (17-21): L, Opponent (1-1)
Men’s Soccer (3-0): W, La Roche (2-1-1)
Women’s Soccer (2-0):
W, Case Western Reserve (4-1)
Women’s Volleyball (3-0): W, Hilbert (2-6)
Men’s Golf:
13th/16, Penn State Altoona Toftrees Invitational
Women’s Golf:
5th/9, Penn State Altoona Toftrees Invitational
Women’s Tennis (7-0): W, Westminster (0-2)
Upcoming Men’s Soccer:
Sept. 19, 3 p.m. at Saint Vincent
Women’s Soccer:
Sept. 19, 6 p.m. at Saint Vincent
Women’s Volleyball:
Sept. 19, 12 p.m. vs Albion
Men’s Golf:
Sept. 20-21, 9 a.m. at Allegheny Kuhn Memorial Invitational
Women’s Golf:
Sept. 20-21, 9 a.m. at Allegheny Kuhn Memorial Invitational
Women’s Tennis:
Sept. 19, 12 p.m. vs Waynesburg
Men’s Tennis:
Sept. 19, 4 p.m. vs Mount Union
WOLVERINE WEEKLY HONORS
Luke Gronbeck Men’s Golf Golfer of the Week
Ava Soley Women’s Soccer Newcomer of the Week
Colton Hudson Men’s Soccer Goalkeeper/Defensive Player of the Week
Sports
Sept. 18, 2026
Page 12
Safety Dominic DiNinno runs between two Purple Raiders after an interception. The Wolverines suffered a narrow loss to No. 6 Mount Union Saturday.
ALEX DIVITTO
Late TD dooms football
Wolverines lose to Mount Union in final minute Matthew Purucker Editor-in-Chief
ALLIANCE, Ohio — The Grove City defense was excellent for much of the game, intercepting five passes from Mount Union quarterback Mikey Maloney. That effort, though, was not enough to secure the win. With 12 seconds left, Maloney fired a pass between two Wolverines to wide receiver Mason Ashby in the bottom-right corner of the end zone for the game-winning touchdown, as No. 6 Mount Union squeezed past an upset-minded Grove City 21-17 at Kehres Stadium.
That touchdown, Maloney’s second of the game, completed a 70-yard, 33-second drive. The Mount Union junior had an up-and-down performance, impressing by completing 18 of 31 passes for 247 yards, but his five picks often set up the Grove City offense in prime position to score. “We have a set identity of what we want to do on defense. The key thing is we don’t throw (out) a ton of different coverages,” Grove City coach Andrew DiDonato said. “It’s more; we do what we believe in and want our guys to play fast and free. … Our guys were flying to the ball, and every chance they had to make a
play on it, they did. So, I was very proud of our defensive effort.” However, Grove City (02) struggled in the red zone, scoring two touchdowns in four red zone possessions. The Wolverines also failed two fourth-down conversions from the Mount Union 10-yard line or closer in the second half. “As soon as we see the film together, they’re going to see we had some things that we would want in those situations,” DiDonato said. “And I think the more times those guys are in those situations, they’re going to convert and execute those things.” Mount Union (1-1) also had
trouble inside the Grove City 20. In the second quarter, Wolverine defensive linemen Dave Cowher and Caleb Kuhl stuffed Purple Raider running back Kayden Minner on fourth-and-goal at the Grove City 1, forcing a turnover on downs to end Mount Union’s first drive. Cornerback Noah Wheeler also intercepted a pass in the end zone with 2:04 remaining. During the ensuing possession, the Wolverines recorded one first down, but they punted after freshman Nico Casciato rushed the ball five straight plays, including on a third down and 7. A first down on that play would have won the
game for Grove City. Wolverine sophomore quarterback Mike Hollomon went 12-for-31 for 148 yards, with two touchdown passes and one interception. Hollomon completed one pass in the fourth quarter, missing on his last five attempts. Senior running back Chase Rankin ran for 82 of Grove City’s 123 rushing yards on 23 carries before leaving the game due to injury during Grove City’s first drive of the third quarter. Rankin’s injury status was unknown as of Monday morning. Entering the game, the Wol-
Christopher Shaw
then contributed to our success as a whole this weekend. Our focus in practice helped us stay consistent on the court throughout the weekend.” The Wolverines took down Brockport 25-23, 25-16, 19-25 and 25-20. A 5-0 Grove City run in the fourth set helped close out the Golden Eagles. Hart led the Wolverines once again with 13 kills. Senior Alayna Dorst also added 10 along with Pool’s eight. Manfull and Harris once again recorded double-digit assists — 18 and 17, respectively. Harris’s four service aces also tied her career best. “We did really well at adapting to the other team and coming back from dropping a set. In both the Brockport and St. Lawrence games, we came back after dropping a set and beat them decidedly,” Hart said. “This will be especially important for PAC games since the other teams will attack our weaknesses from the start, so it will be important that we know how to adapt.” In the final match, Grove City swept Hilbert 25-12, 2517 and 25-18. The Wolverines held the Hawks to a low .066 hitting percentage and rotated players throughout the match, allowing 15 of their rostered 18 to hit the court. “I think we’re really confi-
Volleyball triumphs in Brockport Contributing Writer
MATT DURISKO/MAGNOLIA MEDIA PA
Goalkeeper Maddie Mills receives the ball. The Wolverines earned their first-ever win against Case Western Saturday.
First ever win against Case Western Reagan Thomas Staff Writer CLEVELAND — The Grove City College women’s soccer team earned a historic 2-0 victory over No. 11 Case Western Reserve at DiSanto Field on Saturday. The win improved the Wolverines to 3-0-1 and marked Grove City’s first victory in five all-time meetings with the nationally ranked Spartans. Senior goalkeeper Maddie Mills recorded her first full shutout of the season with three saves, as the Wolverines secured their third consecutive shutout victory. Freshman midfielder Ava Soley gave Grove City a 1-0 lead in the 31st minute with her fourth goal of the season,
her first game-winner, off an assist from senior midfielder Tori Stevenson. “Honestly, it just didn’t feel real,” Soley said. “After I shot the ball, I didn’t even process what had happened. Going into the game, I was pretty nervous because I knew Case Western was a very talented team and that it was going to be a tough fight. Once I went in, I just tried to focus on playing the game that I love and not let the nerves get to me. “I’m really grateful that I was able to overcome that fear and play with confidence, not confidence in myself, but confidence in the Lord and in what He has given me the ability to do. I truly believe that the first goal was exactly what we needed to win the game.” The Wolverines continued
to defend effectively throughout the match before another Soley goal added insurance in the 80th minute. “I think it started with our team doing a great job of switching the field and moving the ball up,” Soley said. “Kiara did an amazing job of playing the ball into the corner and winning the foot race. I knew I had to get into the box, and she placed the cross right on my foot. From there, all I had to do was finish the shot. It was ultimately a great team effort and a really exciting goal to secure the win.” While Case Western held a 12-8 advantage in total shots, Grove City finished with a 5-3 edge in shots on goal and displayed a disciplined, unified
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BROCKPORT, N.Y. — The Grove City College women’s volleyball team bounced back from its first loss of the season at Muskingum with three wins at the Brockport Invitational. Grove City defeated St. Lawrence 3-1 Friday. The team took down Brockport State 3-1 and swept Hilbert Saturday. Grove City won the first two sets 25-21 and 25-11 against St. Lawrence and then dropped the third 21-25. The Wolverines stormed back to take the final set 25-11 and win the match. The Saints were outdueled, .114 to .268, in hitting percentage. Senior Sarah Hart led the team with 16 kills. Sophomore Taylor Ripple and junior Lilly Pool added another nine and eight, respectively. Pool’s hitting percentage of .583 was especially impressive on 12 chances. Junior Brooke Manfull topped the Grove City stats with 21 assists, while senior Sarah Harris contributed 14. Senior Kendra Klusch also tied her career-high with three service aces. “This week in practice, we were really focused on each teammate getting at least 1 percent better every day,” Manfull said. “I think that really helped us improve individually, which
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