By Matthew Purucker · Editor-in-Chief
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. 6-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.
