The Bachelor, 9/5/2025

September 5, 2025

Advancement surpasses 2024-25 fundraising goal

JAMES WALLACE ’26

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Working year-round, the men and women of the advancement team start their yearly cycle on July 1, just a month before students start trickling back on campus. An important arm of the institution, the team focuses on garnering philanthropic donations that are crucial in the fiscal operation of Wabash.

In particular, a key item on the balance sheet of the college every year is the Annual Fund, a collection of donations collected from July 1 of every year until June 30 of the following year.

“Everything given towards the Annual Fund is unrestricted giving,” said Emily Vetne, Associate Director of Advancement Initiatives. “We can spend it on anything. So theoretically, if a student has an emergency and is $300 short on tuition, the Annual Fund could cover that.”

Last year, Vetne and her colleagues, Director of Advancement Initiatives Susan Dyer and Associate Director of Advancement Initiatives

Hugh Vandivier ’91 were tasked with raising $3.75 million, which accounted for around 7–8% of the last year’s annual budget. However, the team managed to surpass this goal, raising just over $3.98 million, exceeding the expectation by over $230,000.

What is arguably more impressive is that the team managed to accumulate donations from 40% of current alumni for the 12th consecutive year.

“We can count on one hand the number of schools that are above 40% [of alumni],” said Vandivier.

“We started June 30, the last day, with around 150 alumni to reach, and by dinner time we had met our goal. It’s an effort, but we managed to do it because we’re Wabash.”

One of the most important efforts in reaching the Annual Fund goal on a yearly basis is the yearly Day of Giving, a daylong event that the advancement team banks on to return results.

“This past Day of Giving raised $1.8 million of the total $3.98 million,” said Vetne. “So about half of the Annual Fund was raised in one day alone.”

The 2025 campaign, dubbed “Sing Thy Praises,” saw over 8,270 gifts to the College in the 24 hour event on April 30, with over 3,400 unique donors making a contribution to the College.

The importance of events like the Day of Giving and yearly efforts to raise money for the annual fund cannot be understated. Given recent developments of state funding cuts towards education, such as recent cuts towards Frank O’Bannon Grants, it is even more important that the advancement team reaches the target amount of the Annual Fund.

“To have raised over and above the Annual Fund last year, knowing that the O’Bannon Grants were going away, added a personal layer [to our job],” said Dyer. “The funding cuts were about $600,000, but we were able to recapture about a third of that with our alumni, friends and neighbors’ generosity.”

When looking into the distribution of donations by size, the Advancement team realized something even more powerful: donations to the College that were smaller than $250 totalled nearly $217,000, almost equating to the $230,000 that the team beat the Annual Fund goal by.

Little Giants to clash with

The market recap:

St. Norbert in 2025 opener

“That’s strength in numbers,” said Dyer. “There were nearly 4,000 different accounts from nearly 4,000 different donors. That’s the power of community.”

But while the Advancement team can look back to the 2024–2025 fiscal year with pride, the team is not slowing down as they are already into the third month of this year’s fundraising cycle.

“We’re already well underway into our “new year,” said Vetne. “We’re no longer really thinking about that $3.98 million, because as of today our Annual Fund is only at $188,000. When we think about the life cycle of how long it takes us to raise all of those millions over the course of the year, it really is a second semester push.”

“We can count on one hand the number of schools that are above 40% [of alumni giving back]... It’s an effort, but we managed to do it because we’re Wabash.”

- Associate Director of Advancement Initiatives Hugh Vandivier ’91

With the team shifting focus from the successes of last year towards the hard work needed this year, fundraising efforts have already started.

“We did a campaign coinciding with the first day of classes,” said Vandivier. “We sent out an email campaign to reunion classes – classes ending in ‘01 or ‘06 – commemorating the first day of their senior year.”

With smaller campaigns already having been started this year, the team is preparing for the eventual push that will start in the spring semester.

“The closer and closer we get to mid-to-late April, the more and more the entire campus begins working with us on the Day of Giving,” said Vetne. “Then after the Day of Giving, we are chasing down the remaining alumni to hit the 40% donation mark.”

With a successful year in the books, raising money for this year’s Annual Fund is still as important as ever. The changing landscape of the economy and government funding bring new challenges every day, but one constant will always be the power of the Wabash community to pay it forward.

News around the world

TOBIN SEIPLE ’29 STAFF WRITER

Afghanistan

Mass destruction occurred in Afghanistan over the weekend as a 6.0-magnitude earthquake devastated the country’s eastern mountains near the Pakistan border, striking at a shallow depth of just five miles and causing widespread chaos. The disaster, which occurred approximately seventeen miles from the Pakistani frontier, left more than 800 dead and an estimated 2,000 injured as of September 1. The natural disaster shook the foundations of buildings in the capital, Kabul, and flattened entire villages and nearby communities. To make matters more appalling, rescue operations have been hampered by the region’s rugged terrain and the isolation of many affected rural communities, compounding the humanitarian crisis. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, more than 12,000 people have been impacted, with countless homes and buildings reduced to rubble. International response has been swift, with India, Japan, Pakistan, the European Union and the United Nations mobilizing aid for survivors. Notably, the Taliban government deployed soldiers and appealed for international assistance, a stark contrast from its usual posture. The combined efforts show the urgency and scale of the ongoing relief mission.

A man walks through the buildings impacted by the earthquake that hit Afghanistan on August 31, 2025.

China The latest response to President Donald J. Trump’s Tariffs? A meeting hosted by China’s President Xi Jinping. In a direct response to U.S. tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, President Xi convened a high-profile summit on September 1 aimed at strengthening alliances among non-Western nations. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit, held in Tianjin, drew 20 prominent leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The gathering emphasized China’s efforts to elevate the Shanghai Cooperation Organization—a Eurasian security alliance founded more than two decades ago—to a foundation for regional stability and economic cooperation, particularly among countries in the Global South. President Xi articulated his vision for a new global economic and security order, discussing the importance of resisting “hegemonism and power politics” and advocating for “true multilateralism.” As part of these efforts, Xi proposed the establishment of a new SCO development bank and pledged over $280 million in aid to member states this year. The summit highlighted China’s strategic push to offer an alternative to Western-dominated

institutions and to counterbalance recent U.S. trade measures.

Israel and Gaza War

The body of Ilan Weiss has been recovered according to the Israel Defense Forces. Weiss, an Israeli citizen, was killed while defending Kibbutz Beeri in October of 2023.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised his family for their “extraordinary strength in their struggles for his return,” and stated, “Ilan showed courage and noble spirit when he fought the terrorists on that dark day.” In spite of this Israeli victory, there are still 48 hostages in Gaza. Domestic protests have prevailed, demanding an end to the war. Still, Netanyahu argues that by taking over Gaza City and defeating Hamas the hostages will be recovered. In light of this, Israel has intensified its attacks on Gaza City, killing over 75 citizens and leveling multiple buildings over the weekend.

On Sunday, Israel shelled the city, bombing the al-Quds Hospital and a residential apartment building. The director of Gaza’s Government Media Office spoke about the attacks and also claimed that Israel has detonated over 80 robots in Gaza over the past three weeks. These recent attacks call attention to the latest steps in Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plans to take over the city.

Guyana Although not recent news, over the past three years, Guyana has prospered in an economic boom, with an average growth of 47% — the highest average Growth Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate in the world. Guyana had an estimated GDP of $5.47 Billion in 2020 but reported a GDP of $24.8 Billion in 2024. The sudden surprise comes from the discovery of massive offshore oil and gas reserves. The effective efforts taken to grow by utilizing the natural resources have propelled Guyana from an impoverished country to one of the fastest growing nations. Despite the expanding economy, the most recent reports show a 48% poverty rate among its citizens. The Guyanese people are reported to be making less money than before the discovery of oil. President Irfaan Ali, who has resided in office since 2020, claims that the government, under his presidency, allocated the oil money towards building roads, hospitals and schools, and is currently running for re-election. Ali, who is running with the People’s Progressive Party, is facing other opponents who disagree with his distribution of oil earnings to his own political party. The vote was held on September 1 and is currently being counted.

Aug. 25–31

AGUSTIN A. ANTELO

TEODOVICH ’29

STAFF WRITER

Powell hints at rate cuts: Why does this matter?

Last week at the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell hinted that rate cuts are on the horizon. After two years of high borrowing costs, the Fed now sees slowing job growth as the bigger threat compared to inflation. Investors expect a quarter-point rate cut in September. Lower interest rates could mean cheaper student loans, credit cards and car financing. The move could also boost the job market since companies are more likely to borrow with lower rates, fueling expansion.

Market pulls back after record highs

After a market rally that lasted the

These drops came after investors digested recently released PCE (Personal Consumption Index) data for the month of July that shows prices still rising faster than the Fed’s target of 2%, alongside disappointing earnings from big tech names like Dell and Marvell Technology. This recent downturn is likely not something to worry about – rather, it reflects markets cooling down after record highs.

The big moves: Coffee and microchips Keurig Dr Pepper is buying JDE Peet’s in an $18 billion merger. The company will be split into beverage and coffee units by 2026. With the coffee market being large and in a relatively good spot, companies are confident in long term coffee market stability. The U.S. government bought a 10% stake in computer chip manufacturer Intel for a reported $9 billion. This move was funded by the government CHIPS Act. This movement secures more domestic semiconductor production following the current administration’s push towards funding more production within the borders of the United States.

Trump vs. the Fed: Turmoil at the Fed President Donald J. Trump fired former Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, accusing her of mortgage fraud. Cooks sued, stating that the president lacks legal authority to remove her. Cook is arguing that since the Fed is politically independent, President Trump has no right to remove her. This brings into question the Fed’s independence from the political system, which could lead to a redefinition of how the U.S. market is controlled by its central bank.

The global market: Energy and protest UK Energy Bills: The UK government recently approved a 2% increase in the energy price cap. Following the global trend of energy inflation, the United Kingdom is the latest example of energy becoming a worldwide problem directly impacting consumers. Indonesia: Protests shook the market, with the IDX Composite down 2.27% on August 29 and the rupiah weakening. As one of the major nickel suppliers for EV batteries, instability within Indonesia will cause ripples in the global supply chain.

Looking ahead: September’s jobs data

The next key test for the U.S. economy will be the release of the U.S. labor market report on September 5. If hiring slows further, Jerome Powell will likely face more pressure to cut the interest rates.

FEATURES

Back to Bash builds club engagement

If you come, they will build it

OWEN VERMEULEN '28

FEATURES EDITOR

With Wabash being a school so steeped in tradition, the idea of changing the campus can be concerning. However, both students and faculty are rejoicing in the newest addition to campus; over the summer, the college added two new brick pathways outside of Baxter Hall.

Before these magnificent new brick paths graced campus, students would have to make the decision to either walk through the dreaded mud path or take the interminable walk around it. For most people it wasn’t much of a choice. Students routinely walked through the dirt pathway, preventing grass from ever being able to grow there, which led to additional costs for the college.

“Those new brick sidewalks were areas that were frequently traveled by students,” said Adriann Rhoades, Director of Planning, Design and Construction.

“Every summer the College would pay to have the sod replaced so that the mud foot path would be restored. Whenever

students returned it would once again turn into a bare spot in the grass.”

Most returning students would agree that the little dirt path was at best a rare eye sore on an otherwise beautiful campus. However, seniors might remember when that wasn't the case.

“I remember the first week and a half of my freshman year, it was totally grass,” said Isaac Morrison ’26. “That was the last time that it was strong grass just because it would get trampled all the time.”

These new paths have been making the lives of both students and faculty better.

“I’ve used it everyday since it was installed and I’m so happy,” said Julia Phipps, Academic Administrative Coordinator to the Fine Arts Center. “I would see the installers working on it over the summer and I couldn't help but think that this is going to affect me personally in an extremely positive way.”

Getting rid of the old dirt path not only makes the lives of students and faculty easier, it also lends to the beauty of the campus.

“You don’t even know that it’s new,” said Morrison ’26. “It looks like it should have been there the whole time. The fact that [the College] hadn’t really addressed it before, and now they finally fixed it, makes it so satisfying. It looks beautiful.”

The addition of one brick path may seem like a small thing to some. However, most students on campus don’t remember a time when that tiny mud path wasn’t there. Most students on campus have shared the feeling of dread when walking by Baxter on a rainy day. In some sense that tiny earthy path had become a shared experience of many Wabash students. However, that experience doesn’t appear as though it will be missed.

'Highest 2 Lowest' review: Old classic, new tricks

STAFF WRITER

It often feels as though over the last few decades, the same source material has been cycled in and out of Hollywood to little fanfare and diminishing returns. Despite that, Spike Lee’s new film “Highest 2 Lowest” (itself a remake of Akira Kurusawa’s 1963 classic “High and Low”) proves that the well of classic stories has yet to run dry, and the familiar can still guide us to bold new ideas all the while enhancing the source material’s mythos.

The film follows record executive and music mogul David King (Denzel Washington) when a botched attempt to kidnap his son forces him to choose between paying a ransom that will destroy his self-made record label, or allowing the son of his driver (Jeffery Wright) to be killed. Viewers of the Kurusawa film are familiar with the setup, except with a few notable differences. Rather than Yokohama, Japan, this film is set in contemporary Brooklyn, a recurring location in Lee’s filmography.

The movie contains comparatively more dialogue scenes which invest the audience in King’s loving relationships, adoration from his community and his genuine love of music. This deeply complicates his devastating choice between the three at the kidnapper’s mandate. These changes in setting and script result in compelling

drama being more integral to “Highest to Lowest” than in its predecessor, albeit at the cost of losing much of the beloved investigation and mystery that “High and Low” is known for. This change is arguably for the better, though. If all I wanted was to watch “High and Low” again, I could just go and do that. The choices to pivot give “Highest 2 Lowest” a more unique identity, and not only in the way of character development. The plot drastically swerves away from the original around the start of the third act. This leads to what I might just consider the best sequence of the year, bar a certain scene from Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” that lit the world on fire last spring.

This sequence is set at the climax of “Highest 2 Lowest,” where Denzel Washington and popular musician A$AP Rocky give standout performances assisted by Lee’s superb directing and a subversive script. If the film ended there I would have been satisfied, but at the last minute the film loops right back to its roots by reverse-engineering another iconic scene from “High and Low’s” ending. This time the performances, writing and cinematography are again fantastic, yet Lee takes it a step further with what can only be described as a drop of experimental filmmaking. He bends the film’s very fabric of reality to deliver a truly one-of-a-kind mix between movie and music video.

Even though audiences have begun to reject the pantheon of remakes, reboots and legacy sequels, “Highest 2 Lowest” sets itself as an example of how remakes can also hit it out of the park. Its more character-driven story and unique presentation compliment the original as opposed to dirtying its name.

Summer movie review recap

'Billy Joel: And So It Goes'

NATHAN ELLENBERGER '26

JAMES WALLACE '26

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

For formula one, Brad Pitt or action movie fans alike, "F1" managed to captivate audiences for over 150 minutes of thrilling plot and racing. With a perfect combination of mostly predictable plot –with a few twists and turns embedded throughout – with action-packed race sequences that showcased the speed and thrill of Formula One, the movie felt like the perfect crossover between "Formula 1: Drive to Survive" and in-cockpit streaming from the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Outside of the action on the track, Brad Pitt and Damson Idris delivered stellar performances that showcased feel-good character arcs for both roles.

Javier Bardem also gave a good performance - one that notably did not include an extravagant hairstyle, and Kerry Condon executed her role with great skill.

"F1" manages to please fans from different corners of media and sport all while delivering a plot that makes sure you won’t get up from your seat until the end credits roll.

MANAGING EDITOR

“Billy Joel, And So It Goes” is the definitive life story of the multiplatinum singer-songwriter and pianist. The twopart documentary on HBO Max is essential viewing for both diehard fans and anyone that has ever been touched by his unparalleled catalog of music. The series traces his early roots in local Long Island bands to his iconic career in the 70’s and 80’s all the way through to his historic residency at Madison Square Garden. Topics also include his early musical forays, his troubled relationship with his father, his brief stint living in Los Angeles and his marriages. Easily the most interesting interview is Elizabeth Weber, Joel’s first wife, former manager and muse. This unprecedented interview is Weber’s first since their split in 1982, and shines an incredible light on not only their rise to stardom, but also the backstory of many of Joel’s classic ballads, such as “She’s Always a Woman” and “Just the Way You Are.” The harshest criticism “And So It Goes” can catch is that the momentum of the documentary is closely tied to the momentum of Joel's career. The film is engrossing when it explores the backstory and aftermath of all of his great records, but the train loses a bit of steam towards the late 80’s and 90’s when his career slows down. However, when the documentary is at its best, it fires on all cylinders, and is definitely five hours well spent for someone that grew up with Joel’s music.

'Weapons' 'Sinners'

WILL DUNCAN '27

PHOTO EDITOR

After an entire classroom of elementary school children are seen sprinting from their homes in the middle of the night with no return, the city of Maybrook breaks out into total chaos. From its chilling opening scene to an unsettling final reveal, "Weapons" refuses to follow the standard horror movie idea. The story begins through the eyes of Justine Gandy, the brand-new teacher of the class with all but one boy, Alex, missing. She’s standing at the podium of the city’s emergency meeting, as parents are quick to anger, blaming her for their children's disappearance. From there, you quickly realize this isn’t any horror movie you’ve seen before. Throughout the 128-minute runtime, the movie constantly shifts to different points of view, giving the viewer just enough information to feel one step ahead, but never safe. When Alex’s grandma randomly appears to stay with his family the very night the children disappear, suspicions quickly begin to rise. Though this movie was very unique, and unlike anything I’ve watched before, there were parts that were unneeded, along with a rather dissatisfying ending to what could’ve been a rather promising movie.

WILL DUNCAN '27

PHOTO EDITOR In a summer crowded with new movie releases, and forgettable thrillers, "Sinners" emerges as one of the most gripping and memorable films of the season. Having a mix of beautiful storytelling with vampire gore and horror, it delivered an amazing mix of style and substance. Michael B. Jordan headlined the movie, as he impressively played not only one main role, but two: Smoke and Stack; twin brothers bonded by blood but divided by the scars of their past. Along with their nephew Samuel, played by rising star Miles Caton. The family has a passion for music, memories, and money. When they decide to host a barn dance, with Samuel as the main musician, the movie quickly shifts from storytelling to gruesome. What begins as a celebration quickly turns to chaos after a group of strange guests are denied entry into the barn. As the brothers quickly realize, not everyone at the party wants them to survive through the night. The film is anchored in quick, high-speed decision making thrill, an extremely realistic portrayal of violence, and the harsh reality that not everyone in the group will be able to survive. The film's ability to balance such emotional depth with such captivating thrill, really made this one of my favorite films of the year.

OPINION

BACHELOR

301 W. Wabash Ave.,

Crawfordsville, IN, 47933

X: @bachelorwabash

IG: @bachelorwabash

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

James Wallace • jpwallac26@wabash.edu

MANAGING EDITOR

Nathan Ellenberger • nvellenb26@wabash.edu

OPINION EDITOR

Evan Bone • ecbone26@wabash.edu

FEATURES EDITOR

Owen Vermeulen • ohvermeu28@wabash.edu

SPORTS EDITOR

Sean Bledsoe • smbledso26@wabash.edu

PHOTO EDITOR

Will Duncan • wjduncan27@wabash.edu

The purpose of The Bachelor is to serve the school audience, including but not limited to administrators, faculty and staff, parents, alumni, community members and most importantly, the students. Because this is a school paper, the content and character within will cater to the student body’s interests, ideas, and issues. Further, this publication will serve as a medium and forum for student opinions and ideas.

Although an individual newspaper, the Board of Publications publishes The Bachelor The Bachelor and BOP receive funding from the Wabash College Student Senate, which derives its funds from the Wabash College student body. Letters (e-mails) to the editor are welcomed and encouraged. They will only be published if they include name, phone, or e-mail, and are not longer than 800 words.

The Bachelor reserves the right to edit letters for content, typographical errors, and length. All letters received become property of this publication for the purposes of reprinting and/ or redistribution. Profanity may appear in the publication, but only in cases of direct quote or if profanity is necessary to the content of the story. Please do not confuse profanity with obscenity. No article or picture of an obscene nature will appear in this publication.

The Bachelor is printed every Thursday at the Purdue Exponent in West Lafayette. It is delivered freely to all students, faculty, and staff at Wabash College. All advertising published in the Bachelor is subject to an established rate card. The Bachelor reserves the right to deny requests for publication of advertisements. Student organizations of Wabash College may purchase advertisements at half the listed rate. The Bachelor is a member of the Hoosier State and Indiana Collegiate Press Associations (HSPA and ICPA).

Staff editorial:

Painting over tradition

AAlex Arruza ‘26

Reply to this opinion at ajarruza26@wabash.edu

s the world shifts into dull grey walls and soulless minimalistic imagery (remember the recent Cracker Barrel redesign scandal), I can’t help but to wonder if our little campus would ever have the kahunas to join this shift. Or has it already begun? While not every corner of campus is expected to have the heart of the creaking floors of Center Hall, one might assume that the ones intended for its students could have hearts of their own as well. Wherever you go here, you’re sure to find a spot that sits just right with you. It could be the Rogge Lounge, the Hays courtyard or even that little ledge off Detchon that overlooks the arboretum trees. Something that’s treasurable, which deserves to be shared by those who will come after you. Something that would stop you dead in your tracks if you ever found out that it has been transformed from its former warm and welcoming self.

As for my brothers in fraternities, I’m sure you can think of one wall in particular that’s an echo of the past, painted by someone before you. You might just know of something that has been covered up for good. Maybe it was something a fraternity brother painted a few semesters ago. Symbols, signatures and murals sealed away to seemingly raise the question: is the ball in our court now? I believe it is, and that if the student body doesn’t react in some way, certain aspects we all know and love could be gone without any conversation. If the walls painted by myself and my fraternity brothers were to

The only light beer that matters: Miller Lite

Sammy Saunders ‘26

Reply to this opinion at srsaunde26@wabash. edu

W abash men love a good argument. We’ll fight about who is top house, the hardest major and how much sleep Travis got the night before serving 76 lunch meat sandwiches at Grub Hollow. But there’s one debate that shouldn’t exist at all, and that is which beer reigns supreme. The answer is obvious, and it’s Miller Lite. Now, I know what some of you are thinking: “But my bald fat uncle swears by Busch Light,” or “Coors has the mountains that turn blue!” Shut the hell up. We’re not here to discuss your uncle’s poor decision-making and why he drives a moped to work or whether you need a beer label to tell you what cold feels like. We’re here to celebrate the one beer that has been quietly carrying Wabash men for decades. First off, Miller Lite doesn’t pretend to be something it’s not. It doesn’t dress up with gimmicky labels, fruit-flavored spin-offs or commercials that make you wonder if the marketing team actually drinks beer. It’s simple: crack a can, take a sip and suddenly you’re ready to talk way too loudly about how Wabash would beat DePauw at literally anything…even interpretive dance.

Secondly, the taste. Look, we all know “light beer” doesn’t exactly scream “craftsmanship.” But among its peers, Miller Lite actually tastes like… well, beer. Bud Light tastes like someone dropped a bread roll in sparkling water. Coors Light? That’s just LaCroix if LaCroix had a “hint of mountain hose water” flavor. Miller Lite, though, is smooth, crisp and doesn’t leave you wondering if you accidentally grabbed your roommate’s protein shake instead.

And let’s talk tradition since we’re Wabash men. Miller Lite is the beer that fueled your dad’s college stories, your grandpa’s backyard cookouts and probably half of the tailgates on campus right now. It’s a rite of passage. Drinking Miller Lite is basically shaking hands with generations of questionable life choices that came before you. It’s history in a can.

Finally, there’s the price. We’re college students in Crawfordsville, Indiana. We’re not swirling bourbon in leather chairs at the 2 Michelin star Toney’s bar (formerly Stoney’s). We’re standing around a duct-taped beer die table, wondering if the Busch Lite case in the corner expired during Covid or not. Miller Lite gives you everything you need: taste, infinite aura and enough credibility to not look like a Dannie.

So the next time someone tries to hand you a Bud Light, just smile, say “Wabash Always Fights” and reach for the Miller Lite instead. Because in a world full of impostors, Miller Lite is the one true king of light beers.

Have an opinion on campus culture or a hot take to share? Write an opinion piece! If interested,

ever mysteriously be covered up by new paint, it doesn’t seem likely that anyone would ever think of painting something on a fraternity wall again, leaving a house filled with the history of friends devoid of any lasting memorabilia. No one expects every wall found within Wabash’s campus to remain unchanged for all of time. However, when something as simple as a fraternity mural is covered up without a second thought, the integrity of the spaces that we hold so dearly here is at risk.

The very spirit of Wabash that convinced thousands of us to give it a chance could lose its mystic familiarity. On the bright side, the campus we know today is not one of these rapidly conforming, monotonous places. Luckily, there is no rumor of changing the Wabash entrance sign to a lackluster and minimalist design. Yet, some of us return after a summer of work to be surprised by freshly painted walls within living units that give you a super “homey” hospital feel. Don’t let the things that are crucial memories to your experience here on this campus, and possibly to those who are yet to study here, be sealed away for good. Don’t let us become a mirror of some major corporatized institution and consequently forget everything that made Wabash different in the first place. Let this be an invitation: I invite you to find someplace on this campus that’s worth preserving, even if it means painting something of your own.

FIVE THINGS

WORTHY OF A HI-FIVE THIS WEEK

KLAWING THEIR WAY TO A TITLE

Lo-five to the Los Angeles Clippers for using a front company to circumvent the NBA salary cap and pay Kawhi Leonard an extra $7 million per year. That’s almost the worst thing a Clippers’ owner has done..

FLORIDA MAN GONE WILD

Lo-five to the surgeon general of Florida for ending all school vaccine requirements. In his own words, I guess life-threatening diseases is just “one of the experiences of life”.

GIVE ‘EM THE PEACE PRIZE

Hi-five to Donald Trump for ending crime in Washington DC. We heard that all he had to do was go outside and tell everyone “BE COOL.”

PRIORITIES

Lo-five to alternative sports livestreaming site StreamEast for shutting down. Frat stars worldwide are at a lost on whether to pay tuition or cave for finally getting YouTube TV.

SEVEN HOURS OF COMMERCIAL FREE FOOTBALL

Lo-five to NFL network for announcing that commercials will run on NFL Redzone for the first time since the program’s inception. First unskippable double ads on YouTube, now this?

The issue of black fatherlessness

ROluwatobi Oyaniran ‘28

Reply to this opinion at ooyanir28@wabash.edu

arely is there ever such a clear identification of a societal problem as the issue of black fatherlessness. 63% of black children are raised in single parent households. I was one of these children, and I grew up in and around the communities where children in similar circumstances resided. 63% is not simply a majority. There is no margin of error present that can temper the extremity of this statistic. If I was to enter an average neighborhood in an average city in this nation and point at a random black child, I could guess with a relatively high degree of confidence that they do not know their father. That they had never even met him, or that any memory of him they may have is fading away. I could presume, on a sound basis, that they spent much of their time alone at home. That, unless they had older siblings, they were not assisted much with their homework.

The causes for black fatherlessness are many and varied. There is, of course, the issue of incarceration. Out of all individuals in the federal and state prison populations, 32% are black. Or, viewed from the inverse, 15% of all black people have ever been to prison. Among the African-American adult male population, 33% have been convicted of a felony. All of these data points are overrepresentations, and indicate some abnormal propensity for black people, and black men in particular, to encounter the criminal justice system in a negative manner. There is the related but distinct issue of father abandonment. Data on this is harder to come by, but I should hope it would not come as any surprise that a strikingly high amount of black fathers do not remain in the lives of their children. I know of at least two women who I went to middle school with that have already given birth. According to the report I received (the information was secondhand), neither of those children’s fathers are present or ever intend to be. This isn’t only a moral or social problem. It has a direct influence on the mate-

rial success of black youth as they reach and surpass adolescence. It must be made clear that these issues are not inherent or intrinsic within the black population. Fatherless children are at higher risk for poverty and low income in adulthood. Fatherlessness is associated with poor performance in school and higher drop out rates. Studies indicate that children without fathers present in the home have a higher propensity to commit crime, abuse substances and engage in the same kind of risky sexual behavior that may have played a role in their own circumstances. In 1960, 33% of black children lived with only one parent. More specifically, only 23% of black children were born to an unmarried mother. These numbers are still high, but are much easier to explain through historical and systemic discrimination that impacted black Americans. It’s hard to purposefully start a family when one lacks economic opportunity. It’s, to some extent, unwise to plan out one’s progeny when their safety and rights would be subject to institutionalized attack. Today however, America has done away with all legal (by the letter of the law, that is) discrimination against black people. The economy has grown tremendously since that time, and while the current job market shows signs of slowing down, opportunity abounds from coast to coast. We should expect, at the least, to see a modest decline in the rates of black fatherlessness and a positive trend toward stable family formation. Rather, we see the opposite. I note the difference between the historical and contemporary situations to highlight that it is not the case that black fathers do not have the ability or desire to stay with their children for any reason endemic to their race, but because by some combination of cultural, economic and institutional factors, they have been dissuaded from doing so. The solution to this is not to wait for top-down government legislation to incentivize black fathers to not abandon their children, or avoid crime, and there is simply no realistic dimension upon which any remaining systemic disadvantage can be legislatively rectified. The solution is for black fathers, as I hope to be myself, to start families and maintain them. We can preempt a great degree of economic and social stress by simply staying in the lives of our children and giving them the advantage 63% of us never had.

Beware the frat flu

Evan Bone ‘26

Reply to this opinion at ecbone26@wabash.edu

Living in such a tight-knit community here at Wabash College has become one of my greatest joys. Being able to walk down the hall or across the street to visit a friend, meet someone new or go to a fun campus event is a privilege we must cherish and hold dear. Dining halls, gyms, friends, mentors, beautiful green spaces and much more all being within walking distance of where you sleep leads to a deeply intertwined community and an enthralling college experience. But there are a few downsides to this close-knit community, with one of those being the dangerous, ever-present frat flu.

The frat flu is the term many use to refer to the multitude of insidious illnesses that infect Wabash students, and college students more broadly, during the semester. Sophomores, juniors and seniors are well acquainted with this destructive phenomenon we call the frat flu, but freshmen be prepared: the flu is coming whether you like it or not. I am writing this mostly because I have fallen victim to it, making me possibly patient zero of the frat flu this year (specifically I have a viral illness). Picking up this painful illness so early in the semester has put this phenomenon in my mind, so I hope to impart some tips to curb and handle the frat flu if you contract it. You will contract the frat flu at some point in your four years so be ready. I must say that I am no expert on health or medicine. I am an English major with little knowledge of medicine besides what I’ve learned from the nurses in my family. I decided to write this piece so that freshmen and others will go into the rest of their semester with the health of campus on their minds. Firstly, it’s important to get your flu vaccine, of course. Go to a local pharmacy and get that easy shot for yourself and others. Simple behaviors like consistently showering and washing your hands are small but essential to staying healthy. I assume most students have their own shower shoes but if you don’t, I would invest in some shoes for when you head to the shower; campus showers are used so much and by so many people that they are surely a home for germs. Telling other college students to get eight hours of sleep every night is like pouring water in a leaky bucket. If we are being completely honest, we will not always get those eight hours we need. We have sports, classes and clubs that we are passionate about and thus we often push ourselves more than we should. Video games, procrastination and other hobbies may contribute to this as well. Use

your Outlook calendar to schedule your day completely and use the reminders app on your phone to keep yourself honest. That being said, you’ll inevitably have days where you’ll go to sleep in the wee hours of the night with an 8:00 AM class awaiting you in the morning; I recommend keeping your sleep for the past couple of days in mind and adjusting accordingly so that you can make up for lost hours of sleep.

Be active! Many of the students on campus are athletes with dedicated time to workout and be active, but many students don’t have that structured time and may struggle to stay active. Add slots to your Outlook calendar for you to get outside and do something active. Participate in intramural sports and build relationships while being active. Go on a nice stroll around campus to decompress and get your steps up. Coordinate with your friends to do something together; I know my brothers at TKE and I love to play three-on-three basketball once 4:00 PM hits. There are many more ways to stay healthy and avoid the frat flu so don’t stick to just these tips.

Like I said earlier though, at some point you will be a victim of the frat flu. So what do you do once you contract an illness? Go to the health center of course! Nurse Amidon and the others in the health center are incredibly nice and will give you educated guidance for how to improve your health.

Throw on a mask whenever you go to a communal area. It may seem like a small, inconsequential thing but it doesn’t hurt to protect your brothers.

Let your roommates and close friends know. Your friends want to help so let them! My friend Alex Arruza ’26 bought me chicken noodle soup, and it was a great meal for my sore throat.

Let yourself rest. When I first came down with a sore throat I tried to ignore it and get through my work and responsibilities as if I was fine, but trying to push through an illness can often lead to your condition getting worse and your recovery time being pushed back. Give yourself grace and time to rest. As men, we often think we can overcome physical ailments and shrug them off, but this can lead to unintended consequences. Get some rest and get work done when you can. No one is invincible.

As I said earlier, I am far from an expert on illness or medicine, but I hope I was able to shed some light on a sad fact we have to deal with at Wabash. Wabash brings together people from across the world, but that also means germs from across the world come here too. Do your due diligence to take care of yourself and others to make Wabash as healthy as possible.

The Prompt:

What are you most excited for this NFL season?

Benjamin Cody ‘26

Micah Parsons. Green Bay Packer.

Henry Chilcoat ‘27

I am excited to see if Travis Hunter can stay with his wife.

Deacon Green ‘26

The most exciting part of this NFL season as a Packer fan has already happened when we swindled Jim Crow Jones out of Micah Parsons. Go Pack Go!

Antonio Grandinetti ‘28

I am pumped to win fantasy football!

Evan Bone ‘26

I am hyped to see Danny Dimes and AR15 fight for the most coveted position in the NFL

The fake music drought of 2025

Chris Board ‘27

Reply to this opinion caboard27@wabash.edu

M any believed 2025 would be a music drought due to many mainstream artists, such as Taylor Swift, Chappell Roan, Tyler the Creator, Sabrina Carpenter and Ariana Grande, releasing studio albums in 2024. However, once May of 2025 rolled around, so did a lot of teasers from artists that new music was coming. And that music has arrived. The three summer months of June, July and August brought new music for the mainstream pop world. Some popular album releases for the summer were “American Heart” by Benson Boone, “Addison” by Addison Rae, “Bite Me” by Renee Rapp, “Wishbone” by Conan Gray, “Who’s the Clown?” by Audrey Hobert, “A Matter of Time” by Laufey and “Man’s Best Friend” by Sabrina Carpenter. Three of these have been my albums for the summer, so I’ll be ranking just those three. Feel free to ask me how I feel about the others (or one not listed).

In third place, I chose “Bite Me” by Renee Rapp. “Bite Me” comes as Rapp’s second full-length studio album and as an attempt to follow up her recordbreaking debut on Snow Angel. “Bite Me” features a mixture of pop hits intertwined with powerful ballads that show off Rapp’s range. Something I really enjoyed about the singer’s sophomore album was how it showcased her vocal flexibility. Rapp began her artistic career on Broadway and has an exceptionally trained voice. Her ability to riff and show deep emotion through vocal inflections is unmatched and made “Bite Me” a really fun listen. My top track, “You’d Like That Wouldn’t You”, is an ode to simply not giving a damn anymore. Her rasp and attitude in the song give it a fantastic 2000’s punk rock vibe. All in all, Rapp continued her stellar discography with a balanced album full of lyric expression and vocal achievement.

In second place comes “Wishbone” by Conan Gray. I’ll admit I had never listened to one of Gray’s albums before the release of “Wishbone”, but after

falling in love with Vodka Cranberry, one of the singles from his album, I felt it necessary to give the album a try. I was very pleasantly surprised. Gray’s vocal talent isn’t incredibly polished, which facilitates his ability to put emotion and heartbreak into his songs. Although most of the songs have gutwrenching lyrics, whimsical production by Dan Nigro helps create a more wishful environment as opposed to a melancholic one. To me, the standout track on the album was one called “Actor”. The song expresses the feeling of what it is like to end a relationship only to have your significant other deny its existence and its feelings left behind. Gray puts emotional lyrics and a gritty voice behind his fourth studio album to create a work full of wishful thinking. And finally, my album of the summer: “Who’s the Clown?” by Audrey Hobert. Not only was this Hobert’s debut album, but she released around the same time as all of these other mainstream artists and still saw her work shoot to popularity. Hobert is most widely known for being a songwriter for icon Gracie Abrams, but “Who’s the Clown?” shows off Hobert’s lyricism much better. Many of the songs aren’t the catchy pop tunes most people look for nowadays, but that’s exactly where Hobert thrives. Her music excels by being awkward and lyrically brilliant. Many of her songs sound like a high school girl wrote music straight from her journal, and it matches Hobert’s voice perfectly. Her lyrics express true emotion about love and anxiety, while also drawing from pop culture to reach her audiences. Without question, my favorite track from her debut album is “Phoebe”. Hobert makes several references to legendary sitcom “Friends” in the song while simultaneously expressing her feelings of inferiority and not being good enough. When you go to listen to Hobert’s freshman work, do so in its entirety, as the album tells a whole story that must be listened to collectively. I believed in the music drought of 2025, but I was happily proven wrong. While Rapp, Gray and Hobert have released my (current) favorite albums of 2025, plenty of music was released that deserves your listening. Feel free to tell me your songs or albums of the summer, but you know what will be on repeat in my headphones for this semester.

Request for artists

Interested in featuring your art in the Bachelor? We are looking for new artists to be consistently featured in the Opinions section!

Are you interested in making comics? Do you want your art to be featured in The Bachelor?

Contact jpwallace26@wabash.edu or ecbone26@wabash.edu

Looking for inspiration? Here is a beautiful 2023 Homecoming comic from Preston Parker ’26.

Wabash Rugby scrums into a new season

Tennis looks to “Find a Way” to match point

SEAN BLEDSOE ’26

SPORTS EDITOR

The Little Giant tennis team is back and ready to continue building after the departure of two seniors from last year’s roster, Jett Brownlee ’25 and Christan Zimmerman ’25. During last year’s spring campaign, Wabash finished with an overall record of 15-9 and a conference record of 4-3. In the NCAC Tournament, they beat Oberlin in the first round but lost to the future NCAA D3 National Champions, the Denison Big Red, in the second round. The loss may have stung in the moment, but it is fueling the team to compete at an even higher level.

Six seniors highlight the team this year: Tharakesh Ashokar ’26, Blake Discher II ’26, Augusto Ghidini ’26, Ethan Koeneman ’26, Cole Shifferly ’26 and Eduardo Werneck ’26.

The rugby team is beginning another season on the pitch this Saturday, September 6 against the White River Rugby Club, a men’s team based in Carmel, Indiana. With many players returning to the roster, the team is excited to be back together, but they are also excited to welcome plenty of new faces this fall.

“I think the growth is awesome,” said Rugby Head Coach Kelly Romano. “I think that this sport is really growing. The fire is catching, and I think that we have what it takes to really do some great things.” Romano is in her second year as the head coach of the program and her message for this year is a simple one: be aggressive. She wants to establish the narrative that Wabash is tough to play, and she wants other teams to know the battle they’re getting themselves into when they play the scarlet and white.

Since being back on campus, the team has had the opportunity to practice a few times, but they haven’t had as much time as they would like in order to establish some foundational team chemistry. Romano, however, is not worried about the adjustment period.

“I think our team is very fundamentally sound,” said Romano. “We have an excellent group of players who have played before and have amazing rugby IQ. Some of the new guys are showing tremendous improvements in the sport. With that I don’t think there’s going to be any real challenges.”

Many players took advantage of their summers by competing in summer rugby leagues and tournaments together, embracing the bond of brotherhood that Wabash establishes from the first day on campus.

“You can have great chemistry on the pitch and never talk or see each other outside of rugby, but once you also have chemistry off the pitch, the team grows together exponentially,” said Co-Captain Adam Frey ’27. “You start to realize that we’re going to really get the job done and I know the guys to my right and left are going to have my back no matter what. That bond is inexplicable.”

The bond formed by the Wabash brotherhood aids them in their mission to win a national championship, something that Wabash Rugby competes for on a yearly basis. Last year, the team faced difficulties in the final stretch towards nationals, but for this squad, they’re seeking to not just return to Nationals but to reach the top of the mountain of collegiate rugby. Romano made it very clear what the team needs to do in order to accomplish that feat.

“We need to be consistent in coming to practice,” said Romano. “We need to be consistent when we are practicing, and then we also need to make sure that we all have the same end goal in mind.”

Historically, the rugby team has competed in 7s Rugby yearround, a tournament style format that only plays competitively in the spring. But with how quickly the sport is growing, especially at Wabash, Romano is looking to compete in matches where she can field 15 guys on the pitch – the more standard form of rugby.

Wabash Rugby is planning on traveling to five tournaments this semester, wrapping up the season with a home tournament on November 8. With many games on the horizon, many on the team are already looking forward to the competitive 7s season next spring as they vie for a spot back at Nationals.

“It’s just taking all the things that they’ve learned the last three years, and culminating that experience, both leading the younger guys and setting the table for where we want the program to be once their time is done,” said Head Tennis Coach Daniel Bickett. “Those guys throughout the last three years have had a lot of success on the court, but they’ve also had some moments where I feel like they would want a match back. So they’ve got one more chance to go out there and make the most of every opportunity.”

Cole Shifferly comes into this year as one of the most decorated players on Bickett’s roster as he has been the number one singles player in the program for most of his Wabash career. Shifferly, who finished 9-8 in singles matches in the spring, hopes to prepare future leaders in the program.

“Really what we’re trying to do this year is get the guys who are next in line ready to take on that leadership role,” said Shifferly. “There are some big shoes to fill losing so many

seniors, and I’m excited to see what those guys do because we’re definitely pushing them to step up and take some more responsibility.”

But helping develop the future captains of the team isn’t Shifferly’s only goal this year. He’s hungry to win, and he wants to win big.

“The goal is to win conference,” said Shifferly. “There are some big dogs in our conference, but we’ve seen them before. We know what it takes to beat these guys. It’s a big ask, but I have a great deal of confidence in everybody who is playing in our lineup.”

Having multiple nationally ranked teams in the NCAC makes the hill a steep one to climb, but the team is looking to take a more physical approach this year to get into better “tennis shape” and to wear down their opponents on the hardcourt.

“What I’m hoping to see is the beginning stages of how we want to fight throughout the year, which is constantly looking to take our opponent’s legs out and make them work really hard to win every single

point,” said Bickett.

Forcing your opponent to move laterally and vertically in tennis is a crucial component of exhausting the guy on the other end of the court. The more you pull them side to side as well as forwards and backwards with shot placement, the more energy they are wasting. The fatigue sets in faster.

Regardless of whether his players are in control of a match or not, Bickett wants them to keep one message in their mind.

“Find a way,” said Coach Bickett.

“Every moment that we’re all faced with, there’s a path where we can find a way to get it done or we find a way to make an excuse. So our job this year is to find a way to get it done.”

The team will look to find a way in two locations this weekend as they will split manpower between the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Warhawk Fall Invite (today and Saturday) and the DePauw University Fall Invitational (Saturday and Sunday).

Soccer kicks off strong: Little Giants open season 2-1

ANTONIO GRANDINETTI ’28 STAFF WRITER

This past weekend, Wabash soccer got exactly what it loves to see — a strong start to the season and a big win for the Little Giant soccer team. The guys came out firing in their season opener, completing a 4-0 shutout over Franklin College at Fischer Field.

The scoring started in the 32nd minute when senior Myles Bernat ’26 pulled off a beauty from outside the box. Bernat didn’t stop there — he went on to assist the next two goals, establishing himself as a key player to watch this season.

Angel Vazquez ’26 made it 2-0 in the 60th minute off a smooth pass from Bernat. Ten minutes later, Isaac Gomez ’28 scored his first career goal, thanks to a great setup from both Bernat and Danny Tkachuk ’29, who also had a solid debut to his freshman season.

“The first two games were good preparation for conference play,” said Bernat. “We’ve worked hard all preseason, and I’m confident in our group, our coaches and our staff”

The final goal came just before the whistle when Danny Escobedo ’29 found the back of the net in the 89th minute, assisted by JD Branigan ’29. Seeing two freshmen contribute on the scoresheet was a welcome surprise and a sign of good things to come.

“The freshmen have been great,” said Bernat. “They’re really talented, have the right attitude and bring a winning mindset. They’ve already given us more depth and options off the bench, and I think they’re going

to make a big impact this year. I wish them the best and know they’re going to achieve a lot here at Wabash.”

“With such a big freshman class, it is going to take us a while to get on the same page, but they’re doing a great job of adapting to the college game and our system of play,” said Coach Olivas. “We’re creating a lot of scoring opportunities, we have to capitalize on those chances.”

With experienced players like Bernat stepping up and exciting young talent already making an impact, the team seems to be finding the right balance early.

“We have some great leaders in our group, and they are doing a great job of leading the team and making sure we understand what is expected on and off the field,” said Coach Olivas.

Vazquez and Kinnaman strike early in win over Manchester

Angel Vazquez ’26 found his stride again in Sunday’s game against Manchester. After scoring against Franklin, he wasted no time getting back on the scoresheet again – this time in the seventh minute off a great assist from Bryce Kinnaman ’27.

Just three minutes later, Kinnaman found the net himself, slotting one in after a setup from Bernat. Two goals in ten minutes gave the Little Giants a strong start, and it ended up being all the scoring they needed.

Manchester cut the deficit in the 34th minute, but the 2-1 score held for the rest of the match.

“Being in my last year, I felt excited, happy and a little emotional,” said Vazquez. “These first games were special because I know I don’t

have many left, so I just want to give my all every time I step on the field. I feel blessed and grateful to be here as a senior starter.”

Bernat keeps the form, but it’s not enough

The third game struck, and unfortunately, the scoreboard had the Fighting Engineers from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (RHIT) on top.

The beginning of the game was full of chaos, and the first score was in favor of the Little Giants. It came from the magic boots of Bernat in the third minute.

The team from Terre Haute responded in the 34th minute with a score from Pace Morel due to an assist from Chase Kedzio. The breaking point of the game came after halftime in the 55th minute due to a foul close to the penalty area. RHIT would ultimately convert the free kick into a score thanks to Ryan Shapiro.

“We’ll learn from this loss,” said Bernat. “Right now, we’re focused on our next game, and I’m confident we’ll get some results there.”

“Rose-Hulman is a well-coached and organized team,” said Coach Olivas. “We have to continue to improve on what we do and our system of play.”

The team is on the road this weekend in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as they take on Chatham University tonight at 7 p.m. EST. They will then travel to Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania on Sunday at 1 p.m. EST.

Ben Church ’28 jogs into

2025, at Fischer Field.

Slow start, fast rise: Dellinger ’29 shines in debut for Wabash golf

WILL DUNCAN ’27

PHOTO EDITOR

The Wabash College Golf Team took on their first tournament of the year this past weekend at the 2025 Transylvania University Invitational at the University Club of Kentucky in Lexington, KY.

“The last thing we want to is to make this game feel like a chore. The team’s culture is strong right now, and we want to continue that.”

- Head Golf Coach Justin Kopp ’21

The team once again had some late-round hiccups, falling a few spots towards the end to finish ninth overall as a team with a score of 907. Though the team

had a rather mediocre performance, there were things to be happy about, including the extremely impressive collegiate debut for Leo Dellinger ‘29.

Dellinger finished the tournament T-2, with a score of 218 through three rounds. The freshman’s debut was highlighted by four birdies on the par-five holes, which led to a two-under-par round of 70 on the final day.

“I just went through my normal routine and tried to forget about the older, more experienced golfers I was going up against,” said Dellinger.

Even with a freshman making headlines, the team wasn’t satisfied with the result.

Head Coach Justin Kopp commented on the team’s subpar performance, “Though I’m not happy with the result, I’m proud of how the team handled themselves. Our three seniors all know they can play better and that the

team needs more consistency out of them.”

The senior’s performances included Sean Bledsoe ‘26 finishing 32nd and Liam McAllister ‘26 finishing 62nd.

Bledsoe, who finished runner-up at the 2025 NCAC Golf Championships in the men’s final standings, admitted he struggled in the season opener.

“There will be tournaments where the team doesn’t play well, but being able to bounce back and maintain confidence is ultimately important to have a consistent year,” said Kopp.

Regardless of the rough start, there is still high optimism,

“The first two rounds on the first day felt really solid, especially because it’s a 36-hole day and you’re out there for over 12 hours,” said Bledsoe. “The second day was rough, but I was proud of how I handled myself mentally and emotionally.” Finding the balance between mentoring the young guys while relying on their upperclassmen is what the team is working towards.

chemistry, and confidence from the team they can compete.

“The last thing we want is to make this game feel like a chore,” said Kopp. “The team’s culture is strong right now, and we want to continue that.”

The Little Giants’ next tournament will be on September 13 and 14 at the Forest Hills Invitational at Forest Hills Golf Club in Richmond, IN, as they hope to display their full potential of talent and confidence.

Little Giants to clash with St. Norbert in 2025 opener

HAIDEN DIEMER-MCKINNEY ’26

STAFF WRITER

The wait is finally over. A new era of Wabash football is here, and it begins with the debut of Head Football Coach Jake Gilbert ’98 leading the charge. After months of anticipation, the Little Giants finally get to put their new identity of toughness and brotherhood to the test when they open the 2025 season on the road at St. Norbert. It’s a rematch of last year’s opener and just the second-ever meeting between the two programs. This time, the Green Knights have the stage in De Pere, Wisconsin as well as a chance to flip the script against the Little Giant squad.

“For us...it’s about sticking to what we do best: communicating and playing fast. If we trust our preparation, we’ll be ready for whatever they throw at us.”

- Mike Holsclaw ’26

Wabash couldn’t have asked for a stronger result in last year’s opener, blanking St. Norbert 31–0 at home, highlighted by a 100-yard scoop and score from linebacker Sam Ringer ’26. But while that score suggested a mismatch, the Green Knights quickly found their stride as the season went on.

After stumbling out of the gate with three straight losses, St. Norbert reeled off eight consecutive wins to close the regular season, reaching 50 and 60 points in half of those games. The surge secured them a runner-up finish in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) and plenty of momentum heading into 2025. Now, with the season’s first kickoff set in De Pere, the Green Knights are eager for revenge.

“They’re a talented team and finished last season strong, so it’s a great early test for us,” said wide receiver Kannon Chase ’26. “For us, it’s about staying disciplined, preparing the right way and respecting the opponent.”

But for all the momentum St. Norbert built in 2024, the Green Knights face the challenge of reloading across the board. Gone is quarterback Peyton Lyon, along with workhorse running back Patrick Oden, who carried the offense with 1,236 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground. Their top four receiving targets have also graduated, leaving an open competition for playmakers to emerge.

The lack of continuity is more prevalent on the defensive side, as St. Norbert lost its top nine tacklers from last season, including the leaders in sacks, interceptions, tackles for loss and pass breakups.

St. Norbert’s Head Football Coach Dan McCarty, now in

his tenth season at the helm, will have to lean on younger players and unproven talent to keep the Green Knights’ momentum alive.

“We’ve emphasized behing humble and doing the little things right because that’s what puts us in the best position

to compete in De Pere”

- Kannon Chase ’26

“We know St. Norbert lost a lot of their guys from last year, but we also know they’re going to have new players step up,” said defensive back Mike Holsclaw ’26. “For us, it’s not about who they lost, it’s about sticking to what we do best: communicating and playing fast. If we trust our preparation, we’ll be ready for whatever they throw at us.”

For Wabash, the path to a season-opening win will come down to execution in critical areas on both sides of the ball. On offense, the Little Giant receivers will look to test an inexperienced St. Norbert secondary early and often. With veteran Connor Thompson ’25 graduated, the trio of Kannon Chase, TJ Alexander ’26, and Tim Miller ’27 step into the spotlight and seek to capitalize on mismatches.

“As a receiving group, our job is to win the matchups and

trust our quarterback,” said Chase. “If we execute, the opportunities will come no matter who we line up against.”

Defensively, the formula is about pressure and disruption.

St. Norbert’s new signal caller, senior Michael Meneguzzo, enters just his second career start after logging 161 passing yards across three seasons in limited play. Adding the loss of top playmakers from a year ago, Meneguzzo becomes a target for a Wabash defense eager to collapse the pocket and unsettle any rhythm the Green Knights hope to build.

“With a quarterback like Meneguzzo, there isn’t a big sample size to study,” said Holsclaw. “We’ll be preparing for tendencies within the offensive system rather than the individual. We must anticipate the unknown like his mobility, decision-making and timing, which could all look different now with more reps under his belt.”

Still, the Little Giants understand the stakes as St. Norbert’s late-season firepower in

2024 proved how dangerous they can be when they find a groove. Wabash knows better than to overlook a squad carrying confidence, so the challenge is to stay disciplined against a team determined to erase last year’s narrative.

“We’re going to need humility because we played well against those guys last year, but I don’t want our guys to think that they’re not a good program,” said Gilbert. “We have to live out these values that we profess. We shouldn’t have a problem with the hunger part because after all that time off, that’s usually not that tough in week one, but the humility part could be different. We’ll have a good mindset about how we plan and work.”

“We’ve emphasized being humble and doing the little things right because that’s what puts us in the best position to compete in De Pere,” said Chase. The Little Giants and Green Knights are set to kickoff at 2 p.m. EST on Saturday, September 6.

The Bledsoe Breakdown - NCAC Football Power Rankings

SEAN BLEDSOE ‘26

SPORTS EDITOR

The 2024 NCAC Football season ended with the Little Giants falling to the Dannies in the 130th Monon Bell Classic and finishing second in the conference standings. It was a disappointing and bitter end to the season to say the least, but Wabash is ready to fight harder than ever to win the NCAC and bring OUR bell back home. Since last season, John Carroll has joined the conference, and they, unlike Hiram – who left the conference – are not slouches.

The NCAC will expand even more next season when Washington University-St. Louis joins the conference, but let’s focus on this season, which thankfully starts tomorrow.

#1 DePauw

The Dannies come into this season as the No. 14 team in the country according to the D3football. com rankings, and it seems only fair as they have won three straight Monon Bell games and four consecutive NCAC Conference Championships. In the NCAC Preseason Coach’s Poll, the School Down South received 75 points (including five first place votes), which put them at the top of the pack. I

am shocked, however, that they could count that high considering the fact that they can’t even spell a simple word like ex(c)ellence correctly in their Bell Game commercial. While my Wabash family may not like this, DePauw is the team to beat to start this season.

#2 John Carroll

The Blue Streaks are the new kids on the block, but they possess quite the reputation as they enter the season as the No. 25 team in the country according to the D3football.com rankings. Coming from the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC), John Carroll has had to deal with Mount Union, a notorious D3 football powerhouse that has won 31 of the last 32 OAC Conference Championships. The only other team to win a conference championship in the last 32 seasons: John Carroll in 2016. Constantly coming up just short has been a common theme for the Blue Streaks, but they look to change that script this season with an NCAC Championship to earn their spot in the D3 Football National Tournament.

#3 Wabash

Your (and my) Wabash College Little Giants come in at third in my preseason poll, which for some, may come as a shock given where Wabash was at in the coach’s poll. The Little Giants were voted to finish second, behind DePauw and ahead of John Carroll, but they received no first-place votes. In my eyes, it is hard to give Wabash any first place votes because there are two top-25 teams in the conference now. But I am not lacking any faith in my brothers! There are plenty of amazing things going on in this football program. Jake Gilbert ‘98 is the head coach. Brand Campbell ’27 has beefed up. Quinn Scholar ’26 is a preseason All-American. There is continuity with this team, and they are hungrier than ever to compete for a conference championship. I am excited to see what this team does tomorrow against St. Norbert. Little Giants by a MILLION!

#4 Denison

The Big Red have been an interesting, yet sore subject (especially for Wabash), in recent years. In the last six matchups, Denison has split the series against Wabash 3-3 with the last four contests being one-score games. Denison also put up a noteworthy fight against DePauw last year as they scored 34 points against a tough Tiger defense. The Big Red finished third in the NCAC with a 6-2 conference record during the 2024 campaign. Not sure if they can call themselves the Big Red, though, because they play football like the annoying little brother in a backyard football game. Maybe the Little Red can get over the hump, but not this year.

#5 Wittenberg

The other and somewhat nicer Tiger team in the conference seems to be the second-most predictable team in the NCAC (see below). If ESPN had a “Matchup Predictor” for Wittenberg football games, the Tigers would find a way to ensure that the probabilities come true. They beat the teams they are supposed to beat, and they lose to the teams they are expected to lose to. Either way, someone has a lot of faith in the Tigers, which is evident given that one head coach voted for Wittenberg to finish first in the conference, even with two nationally ranked teams in the NCAC… yeah, I’ll let that one sit for you.

#6 Ohio Wesleyan

This is where things start to become a little unstable in the conference. The Battling Bishops finished sixth last season in the NCAC. How appropriate that they’re in my sixth spot. I won’t lie, though, my ranking for them was solely based on the coach’s preseason poll since I don’t know that much about them in the first place. For some reason, they’re ranked above Kenyon, even though the Owls beat the Battling Bishops last year in an extremely high-scoring affair with a final score of 13-12. I’ve also been wondering why OWU has bishops that battle. I thought bishops were supposed to be nice people, but instead, the ones from Delaware, Ohio fight against teams that they know they can’t beat. Seems like a lot of wasted energy in my eyes.

#7 Kenyon

The Owls have had up and down seasons in recent years. Some seasons they have a couple of wins, and some seasons they have five wins. Last year, they couldn’t decide if they wanted a winning or

losing record, so they kept it easy and stayed right at 5-5. Whooo… whooo…whooo will they lose to this year? Definitely the Little Giants.

#8 Wooster

The Fighting Scots are the bottom feeders of the conference. Before Hiram left, the only two wins Wooster would have were against the Terriers and the Yeomen (see below) from Oberlin. Now that Hiram got out of dodge, the only team Wooster can seemingly beat is Oberlin. It’s looking like a one-win season in the conference because it’s literally impossible to play worse than the last team on this list. I think I do know why Wooster struggles offensively, however. The Scots are playing the wrong kind of football. Probably explains why their quarterback throws everything low, and their receivers try to catch everything with their feet.

#9 Oberlin

Welcome to the bottom of the barrel of the NCAC. Here you will find the Yeomen. “What is a Yeoman?” you may ask. Well, in all honesty, I didn’t know either. But by using my professional journalistic investigating skills (and Dr. Google), a Yeoman is “a man holding and cultivating a small landed estate; a freeholder” (Oxford Languages). I’d like to think of the Yeomen as more of freeloaders as opposed to freeholders, however. They take advantage of our generosity of being allowed to play in the NCAC, but we don’t get competitive games and they don’t score any points. On the bright side, we do get to use them as our own personal punching bag every year.