Cranmer wasn’t always a rugby player. As a kid, he was an offensive lineman on his youth football team, but always wished that he had more action than blocking. When he was 15, his friends, who were also offensive linemen, started playing rugby and got to run with the ball, so he decided to give it a shot, too.

“What really got me interested [in rugby] is that I played football, and I played on the offensive line, and I saw my friends who were also on the offensive line,” Cranmer said. “They were allowed to run with the ball [in rugby] and I really wanted to do that, so I ended up trying out … and started playing.”

Cranmer was looking for schools that had elite rugby programs during his college search and was heavily influenced by his peers’ experiences at Bowling Green.

“My coaches both played rugby [at Bowling Green], and I had a lot of friends that played there too,” Cranmer said. “I actually got a small scholarship to go there and play, so that was really cool.”

Rugby is not a varsity sport under the NCAA, so Cranmer competed on Bowling Green’s varsity club team, which means the team is only partially funded by the school. The Falcons are a part of the Division I-AA conference and play against other top varsity club teams, including The Ohio State University, the University of Pittsburgh, and the University of Michigan. They were recently ranked second in the nation by the National Collegiate Rugby Coaches’ Poll. 

As a part of the Falcons, Cranmer was a flanker, which means he was mostly in charge of support. His main tasks on the field were to ensure his team kept possession of the ball and making tackles on defense. 

Since they were a top team, the Falcons went on multiple national and international trips for competitions while Cranmer was part of the team. Although those trips were exciting and memorable, they aren’t what Cranmer misses the most about his playing days.

“The parts I miss the most are just the camaraderie, being around teammates,” he said. “I just really miss the camaraderie and the competitiveness — that’s something I definitely still wish I had in my life, something to compete in.”

Although Cranmer’s collegiate career was filled with highlights, it wasn’t all positive. He dealt with injuries that took him out of the game and required a lot of time and patience during recovery.

“I had an AC joint injury: I separated my shoulder my [third] year, so that put me out for a good three or four months,” Cranmer said. “That was really disheartening just because I couldn’t play and it was very painful — even sleeping was uncomfortable depending on my position. But definitely the biggest challenge was just dealing with injuries.” 

The Falcons have consistently been at the top of collegiate rugby for a few years and have gone all the way to the national championship game in back-to-back years. However, Cranmer wasn’t able to win during his time at Bowling Green.

“We lost in the national championship game my senior year, so that was very, very tough to go through, but we bounced back the following year and they ended up winning,” Cranmer said. “It was right after I graduated, so I wasn’t eligible anymore, but I’m proud to be a member of that team without being on the field.”

Growing up, Cranmer always knew that he wanted to pursue sports as his career, preferably working with athletes as a trainer or coach. As a former collegiate athlete, he understands the commitment it takes to be a student athlete as well as the toll it can take on a player’s mental and physical health. That’s why he approaches his job as an athletic trainer with an open and understanding mind.

“Rugby, in general, gives me some perspective on what athletes go through and how to approach an athlete versus how not to,” Cranmer said. “I tend to check in, make sure [my athletes] are feeling good about the workout, help [them] out, of course, if [they] need it. I think knowing what I needed as an athlete from a strength coach now helps me provide that to our athletes here at Oberlin. I also understand that [athletes] have to dedicate a lot of time to [their] sport and [are] also students and very busy so I understand that there’s going to be ups and downs, sometimes stress is higher. Let’s not add on to that by being a screaming, yelling coach or making the workout too intense depending on what’s going on during the season.”

This is Cranmer’s first year at Oberlin, and he is looking forward to connecting more with his athletes and pushing them to be the best they can be.

“The athletes are fun, the students are too, and I think Oberlin is a great place,” Cranmer said. “I’m really excited to be a part of it.”

In an unlikely matchup in the 2023 Major League Baseball World Series between two wild-card teams, the Texas Rangers dominated, winning in five games over the Arizona Diamondbacks. The team’s victory is their first World Series crown in franchise history. The Rangers rebounded well after being crushed in Game 2, giving up just eight runs in the next three games. Rangers shortstop Corey Seager was named the World Series MVP for the second time in his career, joining just three other players as two-time MVPs. Pitcher Max Scherzer, outfielder Adolis García, and shortstop Marcus Semien were other key contributors to the Rangers’ success.

Although the Diamondbacks lost, they had a memorable run to the World Series, having won the fewest regular season games out of any team in the postseason. Furthermore, second baseman Ketel Marte set a record in this year’s World Series — he holds the mark for the most postseason games with a hit at 20. His streak ended in Game 5 but has cemented his name in MLB history.

LA28 Committee Proposes New Sports for 2028 Summer Games

The LA28 Organizing Committee has proposed five sports be added to the 2028 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles: baseball/softball, cricket, lacrosse, squash, and flag football. The first three sports have all been a part of the Olympics in the past — baseball/softball from 1992–2008 and 2020, cricket in 1900, and lacrosse in 1904 and 1908. Squash and flag football would be brand new additions to the Olympic sports catalog. The International Olympic Committee’s Olympic Programme Commission will issue a recommendation to the IOC Executive Board for these sports to become new additions. If the recommendation is accepted, the sports will then be presented to the IOC Session for approval.

For the upcoming 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris, there will be four new sports: breakdancing, skateboarding, sport climbing, and surfing. All four sports have seen a dramatic rise in popularity in the last few years and have established competition circuits, including the X Games for skateboarding and the World Surf League. 

MLS Playoffs get underway

The 2023 Major League Soccer Playoffs have just begun. In this year’s format, the eighth and ninth best teams in each conference — the Eastern Conference and Western Conference — played one game to determine which team earned a wild card spot. In both conferences, the eighth seed won the wild card game: Sporting Kansas City defeated the San Jose Earthquakes in the Western Conference battle in penalties, while the New York Red Bulls trounced Charlotte FC 5–2. Kansas City has carried their momentum into the playoffs and demolished the No. 1 seed St. Louis City 4–1. However, St. Louis, and every other team that lost the first game in their best-of-three quarter final matchup, can still make it into the semifinals by winning their next two games. The playoffs continue this weekend with No. 1 seed FC Cincinnati looking to close out the New York Red Bulls and the Seattle Sounders seeking a sweep against FC Dallas.

Pride Tape Reinstated in NHL

In June, the National Hockey League announced that it would be banning the use of “Pride Tape” on hockey sticks, along with all other “specialty” jerseys or gear. The league’s announcement came after players faced backlash last year for refusing to take part in warmups wearing “Pride jerseys,” including defenseman Ivan Provorov, who cited his Russian Orthodox religion. Some teams then didn’t partake in “Pride Night” in an effort to protect their players.

The NHL’s announcement was met with swift and sweeping backlash. Travis Dermott, a defenseman for the Arizona Coyotes, was the first to violate the ban and wrap his stick in Pride Tape. “It’s not like I’m shutting up and going away,” Dermott said in an interview with PHNX Sports. “I know more questions are going to be coming. We’re just going to be as prepared as we can be to just spread love. That’s the thing. It’s gay pride that we’re talking about, but it could be men’s health. It could be any war. It’s just wanting world peace. Everyone’s got to love each other a little bit more.”

In light of the backlash, the NHL reversed their stance on the ban. 

“After consultation with the NHL Players Association and the NHL Player Inclusion Coalition, players will now have the option to voluntarily represent social causes with their stick tape throughout the season,” the NHL said in a statement.

When asked how it felt to be nearing the end of their careers, soccer player Brynn Adams, volleyball player Lauren Sands, and soccer player Nasim Amer all described it as “bittersweet.”

“It’s definitely bittersweet,” Adams said. “I think that’s what every senior would’ve said. I mean, Oberlin soccer is the most special team that I have ever been a part of, and I’ve been very lucky to have a great experience with great coaches and great people.”

Sands emphasized the commitment it takes to be a collegiate athlete and how strange it feels for it to be coming to a close.

“I have been playing volleyball for about half my life, so it has been a really big part of my life,” Sands said. “And the fact that it’s coming to an end is sad, but I’m feeling good about it, ready to move on,” Sands said.

Amer highlighted that his first season on the team was a COVID-19 season, so he has had the same amount of playing time as all of the juniors on the team. Nonetheless, he relishes the time that he has spent competing as a Yeoman.

“I think the time that I’ve been here was very enjoyable, even though over the years our record wasn’t the best, or we maybe didn’t get as many wins as we hoped,” Amer said. “It’s a great group of guys and I enjoyed playing with them, every practice and every game.”

The seniors had been a part of Senior Nights in the past, but always as underclassmen. All three athletes mentioned how meaningful it was to be supported and celebrated by their teammates and the student body, but for Amer, his Senior Night was extra special.

“That game, that was the first game my parents ever came to watch me play live at Oberlin, so for me, I was just trying my best to have a good game,” Amer said. “You know, ultimately I just wanted to get the win but maybe score a goal for them. I ended up scoring and we didn’t win the game, but I scored and it was nice. When your parents are watching, you may play a bit harder.”

Although he wishes that the team still had a chance to compete in the North Coast Athletic Conference Championship, Amer’s individual career ended on an incredibly high note — winning the NCAC Athlete of the Week Award.

“That was amazing,” Amer said. “I was talking to my mom the other day, saying ‘It sucks not having a freshman season but it kinda feels like everything is wrapping up in a really nice way.’ It’s nice to win the individual achievement but all the guys on the team, they helped me with that.”

Sands admitted that her Senior Night felt completely different to the others that she has been a part of and that she was grateful for the support of her friends and teammates.

“The fact that everyone was there celebrating me and my teammates in my class, all of our accomplishments, it was very meaningful and emotional — definitely more emotional than my other senior nights,” Sands said. “[The emotions] definitely were with me when I stepped on the court, especially because I had my family there watching, it just felt like a really big moment.”

Adams acknowledged that her Senior Night was a bit of an out-of-body experience, since it truly signaled that her time as a Yeowoman was quickly coming to a close.

“It was surreal, it kinda felt fake,” Adams said. “It was weird until the moment I realized they were going to be calling my name and be talking about me. We have our locker room decorated every Senior Night and then I realized my locker would be decorated and so when I walked in there I was like, ‘Oh crap, it’s about me and it’s real.’”

The women’s soccer team has a motto that represents what their team stands for and the bonds that have been formed and strengthened within the team. Adams was happy to use the same motto as a way to sum up her career at Oberlin.

“We say this saying on our team, we say, ‘OC Love’ all the time,” Adams said. “We’ve defined the letters, we’ve picked words to define the ‘L-O-V-E’ that we use as our core values as a team. But we always say ‘OC Love,’ we’ll sign things ‘OC Love,’ and I think that’s a good definition of my career. Just OC Love.”

The teams have carried their momentum into the beginning of this season. The Yeowomen placed second in two of their four meets, and the Yeomen have similarly finished in the top third in half their meets. 

The Yeowomen are led by the duo of fourth-year Eliza Medearis and third-year Sage Reddish, who have routinely placed in the top 10 this season. Last weekend, they finished seven seconds apart from each other, earning sixth and seventh, respectively. Medearis credited Reddish for their combined accomplishments.

“For me personally, Sage is my running buddy, ride or die,” Medearis said. “And I feel like everyone on the team has at least one person, if not three or four people, that have worked out together. Someone you can just look for in a race. That’s so valuable. That was definitely how our men’s team won [the] conference last year, by just being together and looking out for each other.”

The Yeomen ran well last weekend, placing all five of their runners in the top 45. Third-year Johnny Ragsdale, who rounded out Oberlin’s top five, was appreciative of how the team works together to push each other through pain and discomfort. He acknowledged  the team’s mental toughness as one of their strong suits.

“I think we run really well together when in a lot of pain,” Ragsdale said. “On cross country courses, you get in a lot of pain, and you gotta stay tough, you gotta deal with that. And I think that this group has really grown together over the past couple years, how we’re able to work together and build together.”

Head Coach Ray Appenheimer was quick to focus on the community the cross country team has built and the aura surrounding the team.

“So much of what we do, and get so much out of is extracting as much joy and connection out of each day,” Appenheimer wrote in an email to the Review. “This team is such a positive community that supports one another at practice, at races, and throughout their lives. There is such a positive energy around this group that success is all but assured.”

Medearis echoed Appenheimer’s statement and emphasized the importance of balance on the team.

“Leading up to the meet [last weekend], we just had spent the whole day together, we were goofing off, spending time with each other, and having fun,” Medearis said. “And I think that really leads to strong performance. We’re competitive, but we know how to have fun with it. Everyone is genuinely happy to be there and go out and do our best.”

The NCAC Championships are in under four weeks and both teams are looking forward to the competition. However, runners and coaches alike signified the importance of enjoying the journey and not thinking too much about the race.

“We are getting closer to the championship portion of the season,” Appenheimer wrote. “We want to stay healthy, stay positive, stay focused, and take care of ourselves and one another. We’ve found that always being focused on the process ends up yielding the best results.”

Medearis had a similar view. She expressed excitement about the championship race but was wary to look too far ahead.

“Winning [the] conference would be huge,” she said. “A conference second place would also be huge, but we have to shoot for the moon. We definitely want to be the winners. But we also just want to have fun. I feel like that’s the main goal for me and the entire team, … just finishing out [the season] really, really strong and happy.”

Cross country will continue their season next Saturday, Oct. 14, at the SUNY Geneseo Mike Woods Invitational in Geneseo, NY.

Game prediction: Football vs. DePauw? After the Yeomen’s win against Concordia University of Chicago, we were told to not get too excited about the next couple of weeks. DePauw currently stands at 4–0, and we think that with Oberlin’s last two blowouts, it will most likely be a loss. 

Game prediction: Men’s soccer vs Wooster? The Yeomen currently stand at 2–3–3. Wooster stands at a close 3–4–2. We think this might be a draw.  

Favorite fall sport to watch?

Andrea: I love volleyball. I am also obligated to watch volleyball because my housemate is one of the hitters. My favorite thing to watch during a volleyball game is what all the players on the sidelines are doing. You might see the Yeowomen waving around their pom poms for support, pretending to snipe whenever someone makes a kill shot, or cheering on fourth-year Andréa Jones by singing “Dre” instead of “Damn” in their version of “Just Wanna Rock” by Lil Uzi Vert. (Much love to field hockey as well, I wish there were more home games earlier this season.) 

James: I’m a little biased towards volleyball because I love watching second-year Jill Jendsen make insane digs on the court and dance like crazy on the sideline, but I also really like watching soccer. Seeing the players hustle after the ball and make crazy shots on offense and unreal saves on defense is incredibly exhilarating, and I don’t think there’s ever a dull moment during a game. 

Who will have the best season this fall? 

Andrea: I mean, volleyball is 10–1 at the moment, the best in program history. Also, cross country has its members placing high at races, so they should finish off their season strong. 

James: I also have to go with volleyball. They’re killing it so far this year and have been so dominant in every game they’ve played. Here’s to hoping they can keep it up and win it all this year.

Obie-specific flags?

#1. Red flags: If they’re from New York City or Los Angeles, Jazz majors, anyone who regularly participates in friendcest, guitarists who play you “Blackbird” on your first date, people who eat in Stevie for every single meal, and anyone who buys the canned boba from DeCafé. 

#2. Beige flags: Being in OSCA, any men’s sports team, spending the night at yours your first night out together, exclusively studying on the first floor of Mudd Center, and taking all their classes in King Building. 

#3. Green flags: Missing Biggs GoYeo, actually being quiet on the third and fourth floors of Mudd, getting drinks from Azariah’s Cafe instead of Slow Train Cafe to save money, and making conversation with AVI workers.

Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift?

Andrea: To be honest, I had no clue who he was before the dating rumors. My all-time NFL crush is Joe Burrow without a doubt. After seeing the videos of Travis dancing when he does a touchdown or making friendship bracelets for his tight end campers, I too might have a crush on Travis Kelce. I’m still all for Kaylor, though. 

James: Travis Kelce has been my NFL crush for quite a while now (sorry, Jimmy G and Joe Burrow lovers). The eyes, the smile, the muscles, the humor, the dances, the bracelets, the podcast with his brother… ANYWAY, Taylor Swift is stunning and arguably the greatest pop star of our generation, so what can go wrong? Best-case scenario, they get married and Taylor only writes happy love songs from now on. Worst case, they break up and we get another banger album to scream in the car. It’s a win-win for me!

Sports Editors Alumni Feature: what was your favorite part about working for the Review?

Since it’s Homecoming Weekend and we miss them so much, we decided to ask our previous Sports Editors a question. 

“The thing I miss most about being at the College is definitely working at the Review. My favorite thing about the Review was just working with the other staff members. I’ve always been a very independent worker and person in general. I think just learning to work with people who have all different kinds of personalities and creative skills made me a better person. I ended up meeting and becoming friends with people who I might not have ever talked to if I wasn’t a part of the staff, and I think that will be more meaningful long term than any article I wrote about men’s lacrosse or whatever.” –John Elrod, OC ’23.

“My favorite thing about being in the Review were the late nights in the office with my friends when we all would become delirious. It seemed horrible at the time, being in that basement for seven hours straight, but some of the funniest moments from my college experience happened down there at 1 a.m. during Thursday night production. Whether it was running to DeCafé for Fourth Meal in the pouring rain, drawing on the walls, taking random photo booth pictures, or blasting Christmas music, the office culture was always a nice escape with my friends from the real world above ground.” –Zoe Kuzbari, OC ’22.

“My favorite thing about being a part of the Review was spending countless hours with my best friends to create a weekly newspaper that brought attention to important stories in the Oberlin community. I loved writing about the athletic community and highlighting multifaceted student-athletes. There was nothing like the feeling of publishing a story that I had worked hard on, and I am grateful for the trust that people put in me to tell their stories.” –Zoë Martin del Campo, OC ’22.

“My favorite thing about being in the Review were my coworkers! We all worked so hard each week and it always came together in the end, even when it didn’t feel like it would.” –Khalid McCalla, OC ’21.

“Through working for the Review, I formed wonderful friendships with people whom I otherwise would have never gotten to interact with. My colleagues, especially my Editors-In-Chief, were so warm and encouraging, and they taught me how to perfect the craft of writing — and empowered me to enjoy the process. My experience at the Review unequivocally launched my career in public relations.” –Alexis Dill, OC ’20.

“The community. Those long Thursday nights were some of the most fun times I’ve ever had. Even though we were stuck in the Review basement for six hours straight, I couldn’t have asked for better people to spend it with: work friends, but also friend friends. They were people you can definitely rely on, given you were brothers-in-arms against the Oxford comma together.” –Jane Agler, OC ’20.

“My favorite thing about being in the Review: being on the staff changed the way I lived on a daily basis. The Review helped me see the campus and the town as a place full of answers to my questions and curiosity. Once you start interrogating and asking questions about the obvious and implicit things around you, you realize how many stories are waiting to be told. The Review helped me see that stories of all kinds were all around me.” –Julie Schreiber, OC ’19.

Tigst Assefa, a former Olympian, broke the women’s world marathon record Sunday at the Berlin Marathon in Berlin, Germany. Assefa finished first place in 2 hours, 11 minutes, 53 seconds, averaging a 5:02 mile. She also finished first last year with a time of 2:15:37. The previous record, 2:14:04, was held by Brigid Kosgei from the Chicago Marathon in 2019, who won the silver medal for the women’s marathon at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. 

Eliud Kipchoge, widely regarded as the greatest marathon runner of all time, with two Olympic gold medals and five of the seven fastest times in marathon history, won his fifth Berlin Marathon. He now holds the most Berlin Marathon wins, outranking Haile Gebrselassie. In 2022, Kipchoge also made headlines for the men’s world marathon record, finishing the Berlin Marathon in first place with a time of 2:01:09. 

Red Bull Wins Their Sixth Constructors’ Championship

In Red Bull Racing’s 19-year history of sponsorship in the Constructors’ Championship, they have secured their sixth win through Max Verstappen’s win at the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka. So far this season, Red Bull has won all but one race and will likely continue securing wins for the remainder of the Formula 1 season. Verstappen won 13 out of those 16 races, and of those 13, won 10 of them in a row — an F1 record. Red Bull has scored 623 points for this championship, vastly outranking the next-highest scoring teams, Mercedes with 305 points, and Ferrari with 285. The team also broke the record for securing the title with the most races remaining.

Individual Sports Cross Over Into Team Events

Last week, two individual sports switched gears and took part in team events. The Ladies’ Professional Golf Association and Ladies European Tour team up every two years for the Solheim Cup, a team competition that features 12 of the best golfers from the United States and 12 from Europe. Since Team Europe had won the last edition of the Cup, it just needed to tie with the U.S. to reclaim victory. Led by Spain’s Carlota Ciganda, Europe tied 14–14 with the U.S. and won its third consecutive title.

This year’s edition of the Laver Cup, a men’s tennis team event featuring the best players from Europe against the best of the rest of the world, was a blowout. After Team Europe, previously led by founder Roger Federer, won the first four editions of the Laver Cup, Team World won for the first time last year and followed up their victory with a dominant performance. Dropping only one match over three days of competition, Team World won 13–2 and will look to become three-peat champions next year in Berlin.

Miami Dolphins Score 70 Points on a Historic Sunday

On Sunday, the Miami Dolphins offense scored 70 points against the Denver Broncos, the most in an NFL game since 1966. Tua Tagovailoa, the current front runner to win the MVP award this season, threw for 309 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Dolphins to a 50-point victory. Running backs Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane tacked on two and three touchdowns, respectively, and backup quarterback Mike White threw for one touchdown in the fourth quarter. Additionally, the Dolphins set multiple records, including becoming the first team to run for and pass for five touchdowns in a game, and becoming the first team to score 70 points and earn over 700 yards in a game. The Dolphins take on the Buffalo Bills Sunday in an AFC East showdown.

Most of those thoughts proved to be true. Oberlin is a safe haven for queer people in the Midwest and helped me flourish in my identity. I’m a part of multiple groups on campus: I’m a studdent-athlete and my team’s representative for the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, I’m the Sports Editor at the Review, and I’m a co-chair of Oberlin’s Queer Student Athlete Group. Oberlin has provided me the space to grow and develop as a person while taking advantage of numerous opportunities and possibilities, both in and outside of athletics. 

No matter how great my Oberlin experience has been thus far, I have always questioned if I made the right choice. I applied early decision to Oberlin, so I didn’t have the option to apply anywhere else. I’ve wondered if I could’ve gotten into an even more prestigious school and if that school would have helped me and my career more than Oberlin. In the same vein, I’ve wondered if my experience itself would be better outside of Oberlin, too.

National college rankings have occasionally made me feel better about my choice since Oberlin is consistently in the top 40 on different lists. However, U.S. News and World Report recently released their 2024 rankings for their National Liberal Arts Colleges category, and Oberlin’s ranking fell dramatically. Last year, Oberlin was ranked #39; this year, it dropped all the way down to #51, the same ranking as Centre College, Principia College, St. Olaf College, and the University of the South. When I first saw the new ranking, my heart sank and my anxiety skyrocketed. When I committed to Oberlin in 2021, I was content with its ranking and hoped that it would continue to rise. Oberlin has a longstanding reputation of being a top liberal arts college, and I really thought that Oberlin could rise up into the top 25 of colleges before I graduated. Seeing it go in the opposite direction was incredibly disheartening and made me question if I made the right choice. 

President Carmen Twillie Ambar released a statement on the updated U.S. News rankings to calm the anxious feelings Obies and prospective students were feeling after the rankings came out. She was right when she said the main reason that Oberlin fell 12 spots in the rankings was a widespread shift in the rankings’ methodology. The new system places a greater emphasis on how much money graduates make after college, which instantly harms Oberlin’s ranking due to our world-class Conservatory. Conservatory students are arguably the most talented and hard-working students on our campus but are going into a field that is incredibly challenging to make a living out of, even at the highest level. Their skills and expertise become a drawback in the new system, which is disrespectful to their abilities and discredits one of Oberlin’s best attributes.

Also, even if the new rankings were completely perfect, Oberlin’s ranking isn’t everything; its legacy and continued excellence are far more important. As an Oberlin student, I’ve grown accustomed to telling people I meet that I go to Oberlin and getting a response along the lines of, “Wow, that’s such a great school. Your parents must be so proud.” And honestly, they’re not wrong. Despite its issues, Oberlin is still a prestigious institution. It remains one of the best liberal arts schools in the Midwest and is an ideal spot for students like me who are searching for a high-level liberal arts education outside of the East Coast. 

But in all honesty, the rankings do make me question how proud I am of my school. Knowing that thousands and thousands of students are attending better institutions is an incredibly uncomfortable thought. As someone who strives to excel at everything I do, the new rankings had me wondering if Oberlin is the right school for me and my career. Does a degree from Oberlin carry the weight that it did 10, 20, 30 years ago? Or will I be starting off my professional career on the wrong foot because I didn’t go to a better school.

These are scary questions to be asking, and the answer is yes, a degree from an Ivy League school would carry more weight than one from Oberlin. But I would also be nowhere near as happy at an Ivy League school as I am here. Oberlin’s small environment can feel suffocating at times, but it’s helped me to make countless good friends and know a friendly face in every environment I am in. I would never have met and formed a lifelong connection with my three best friends anywhere else, and I genuinely cannot imagine my life without them now. I wouldn’t be on a college tennis team in an Ivy League. As a second-year, I likely wouldn’t be able to be the sports editor at an established, reputable school newspaper that is celebrating its 150-year anniversary this school year. I wouldn’t be in small classes that promote discussion among all students and help create bonds with professors. I wouldn’t be able to be a part of an organization that focuses on creating space and opportunities for queer athletes. 

My happiness, well-being, and quality of life is better at Oberlin than it would be at nearly any other school in the country, and for me, that means much more than any ranking.

Nye has a real love for his team, who he says he has a “really special connection with,” and credits them for making his Oberlin experience so enjoyable.

“Ever since I came here, people were just so nice to me,” Nye said. “You want to pick a college that’s a great school where you can make easy friends and be happy with the guys around you. You can be as good as you want, but if you’re not happy with the people that you’re with, I don’t think that there’s much of a chance to stay there. So, you know, what keeps me going every day is the people I’m around, the team, they always have my back.”

Nye faced stiff competition in training camp, battling against five other quarterbacks, including four first-years, for the starting job. Even after he was named the starter, the quarterback room was completely supportive of him while pushing each other to be better. This healthy team dynamic has been reinforced by the introduction of John Pont as the team’s new head coach. 

Nye said that Coach Pont came in and totally changed the team’s culture. He gave Nye another chance at quarterback and let him use his creativity as a weapon, not an impediment. 

“[Coach Pont] always tells me that he gives me the keys to the offense,” Nye said. “He said he gives me the plays, but you know, I am really in command of the offense. I can change anything if I see something, you know, that he might not see on the sidelines [but] I see on the field. I can change it whenever because he said, ‘If you see something, take it.’”

Last year, Nye was struggling to adjust from high school football to the collegiate level and was switched over from a quarterback to a wide receiver because he wasn’t adapting quickly enough to the team’s offensive philosophy. He felt that he wasn’t given the room to grow and develop under last year’s coaching staff, and that the lack of creativity and individual thought hindered his ability as a player. However, Coach Pont’s arrival was exactly what Nye needed to get his mojo back.

“I feel like last year, part of the reason for me not being successful at the quarterback position was I wasn’t really confident,” Nye said. “I couldn’t quite be myself back there. And [Pont], ever since spring ball, he just let me play. So, you know, letting me play was a big thing for me. And his offensive philosophy was a lot simpler to learn. And once I knew the playbook, we just had a special bond from the start, so I’m really happy that he came here.”

Although Oberlin suffered a tough defeat to Denison University last week, the team earned their first win in two years the week prior, thanks to Pont’s arrival and Nye’s heroic efforts. Nye downplayed his role in the win but will always remember the joyful environment after the game. 

“It was definitely … a special moment just seeing everyone smile after the game,” Nye said. “I haven’t seen that in two years since high school. The support that we had from the students was incredible, you know, the stadium was loud. Everyone was rushing the field after the game — it was like we won the championship. In the locker room after the game, everyone was just so happy. It was great to see everyone come together and win the football game because we haven’t done that in so long.”

Winning the game was an incredibly sweet reward for the hard work the team has put in this year. Nye’s individual efforts in the game earned him an additional honor – the North Coast Athletic Conference Athlete of the Week Award for a Football Offensive Player. His four-touchdown performance, along with his 231 passing yards and 150 rushing yards, was the best of the week in the conference. 

Nye remained humble about the recognition and was quick to credit his teammates, saying that it would not have been possible without their exceptional performances as well.

“I was a little surprised,” Nye said about the accolade. “But, obviously, my teammates did a great job helping me, getting me in that position. My [offensive] line did incredibly well all week — in that game, they gave me so much time to make the right reads. My receivers got open for me and did a phenomenal job all game. And, you know, I just had so much time to be comfortable in the pocket and escape every time, anytime I want. … It was a whole team effort. I wouldn’t win Athlete of the Week without my receivers or without the linemen or the defense coming up big at the end to win that game.”

Nye also credited his father with all of the success he has had in his football career. His dad worked his way up from Division III football at Bowdoin College to a tryout with the New York Giants and was Nye’s coach for most of his football journey. Nye said his dad pushed him to come to Oberlin and that he motivates him to be his best self every day. 

For the rest of the year, Nye wants the team to give their all to every game they play, regardless of the opponent. He is excited about all the young talent on the team and the positive attitude the coaching staff continues to reinforce, regardless of how tough a loss can be. Nye is also looking to leave a personal imprint on the history of Oberlin football.

“I want to be a quarterback that’s known for winning games here. My number one goal is to win games and bring Oberlin [football] back on the map.”

At 6–4, 1–0, four protestors stood up and began loudly chanting, “If we don’t disrupt, climate change will,” and “End fossil fuels” — the same slogan displayed on their shirts. The demonstration stopped play for 49 minutes, and one protester, determined to create as much of a distraction as possible, glued his feet to the cement floor in the stands. He was arrested and charged with criminal trespass and disorderly conduct, and the other three protestors were taken into NYPD custody without restraint. 

Extinction Rebellion, an international climate advocacy organization, took credit for the protest. The group seeks to persuade governments to “act justly on the Climate and Ecological Emergency” through non-violent direct action and civil disobedience.

“Throughout history, moments like this are definitely defining moments,” Gauff told reporters after the match. “I believe in climate change. I don’t really know exactly what they were protesting. I know it was about the environment. I 100 percent believe in that. I think there are things we can do better. I know the tournaments are doing things to do better for the environment. Would I prefer it not happening in my match? 100 percent, yeah. I’m not gonna sit here and lie. But it is what it is.”

Other players have spoken about these protests in tennis with mixed emotions. After a climate protest at Wimbledon this year, Andy Murray, a British former world No. 1, three-time Grand Slam champion, and two-time Olympic gold medalist, was similarly supportive of the message behind the protest while sharing Gauff’s displeasure at the disruption.

“I agree with the cause — just not always how they go about expressing it,” Murray said. “Rather than running on the court, maybe they could do it a different way.”

Tennis events have recently become stages for environmental advocacy protests. Multiple climate organizations have claimed responsibility for various protests within the last two years, many of which have taken place at major tennis tournaments.

At the 2022 French Open, a protester ran onto the court during the men’s semifinal match between Casper Ruud and Marin Čilić, two of the top players in the sport. She wore a shirt that read, “We have 1028 days left,” referring to a U.N. Climate Report timeline on reversing the climate crisis, and chained herself to the net post with metal wire and glue.

The protester was part of the French climate activism group Dernière Rénovation and wanted to bring attention to the climate crisis in as public a manner as possible.

“It was an act of desperation,” the protester said. “I wanted to open viewers’ eyes to the reality that we’re all going to die if we don’t do something about the climate crisis. There will be no tennis in 10 years.”

Climate protests have continued at tennis’ most important events this year, including  Wimbledon. During a first-round match between Great Britain’s Katie Boulter and Australia’s Daria Saville, 66-year-old protester William Ward ran onto Court 18 and dumped orange confetti and puzzle pieces on the court. 

Ward protested as a member of Just Stop Oil, a British climate advocacy group that operates in a similar manner to Dernière Rénovation. The group’s mission is to stop the U.K. government from licensing all new oil, gas, and coal projects through nonviolent civil resistance. 

Ward’s peaceful but disruptive act was inspired by a climate protest he’d witnessed just days before that was peaceful, lawful, and nonviolent. He saw that it received very little coverage and took it upon himself to stage a peaceful and nonviolent, yet illegal, protest that would get the attention of the press, just like the French Open protest in 2022. 

These frequent protests, which have been successful in garnering publicity, demonstrate that protesters are intentionally choosing to interrupt major championships in tennis because the global viewership of these events is incredibly high. 

A study published in July indicates that protests like these are effective in delivering their intended message on climate change. In the study, 120 academic experts in sociology, political science, and other related disciplines were asked to rank the success of different forms of protest. According to the study’s primary results, the participants thought “the strategic use of nonviolent disruptive tactics” was the most conducive to a social movement’s success, and “69% of experts thought that disruptive tactics were effective for issues (like climate change) that have high public awareness and support.” 

The frequency of the protests beg a few questions. Will these protests become commonplace in major tennis tournaments every year? Will they quickly spread to other sporting events like football and soccer? Will they be successful enough that governments will eventually end the use of fossil fuels?

This past January, the NCAA made changes to rules surrounding on and offseason practice scheduling starting this semester. Specifically, they have changed the measurement for the length of the season from weeks to days.

“A new playing seasons structure for all sports besides football will be established that eliminates weeks as a measurement for a season,” the NCAA website says. “This establishes a traditional start and end date for fall and spring segments, increases the nontraditional segment interaction from 16 to 24 days, measures the winter sports season by 114 days with the flexibility to use eight days before or after the season, and measures seasons for sports such as golf, rowing, and tennis by 114 days.”

The changes to the rules will likely equate to a more intense or longer offseason, which the NCAA calls “nontraditional segment interaction.”

Natalie Dufour, a third-year middle hitter on the volleyball team, appreciates what the offseason can do for her individually and for the team as a whole. She asserts that the offseason is really what athletes make of it, and that individuals and teams who work incredibly hard will then see the results and rewards in the fall.

“In my past couple of years here, what [the offseason] has looked like is practice three times a week, and also we lift twice a week when we have practices with coaches,” Dufour said. “It’s more focused on individual skills and breaking down mechanics, while during the season in the fall, we’re much more focused on team dynamics and building those connections.”

Since volleyball is a fall sport, the team begins competition around the beginning of the school year. Due to the immediacy of the season, volleyball players, like all fall athletes, must treat the summer as a continuation of their offseason. Dufour said players must maintain their fitness and practice regularly during the summer in order to compete well in the fall.

Myranda Montoye, a fourthyear on the cross country and track & field teams, agreed with Dufour’s statements. She said that since track is such a technique and effort based sport, not training regularly will have immediate detrimental effects to runners’ speeds and times.

“The sport of running doesn’t allow you to take much time off because it’s not really a skillbased sport — you have to run,” Montoye said. “If you take more than a week or two off, you’re losing fitness.”

Montoye joined the cross country team this year as additional offseason training for her track season. She runs the 400-meter, which is a quarter-mile, either one lap around the outdoor track or two laps around the indoor track. She said that her issue is less her speed and more her endurance in the race, and that cross country training will improve her endurance and track results greatly.

Gavin Girard, a third-year defender on the men’s lacrosse team, is also in favor of the intensity and workload in the offseason. Lacrosse has three scrimmages in the fall offseason, two against other colleges and one against alumni. The rest of their offseason includes practices and additional lifting.

“Typically, we’ll go three times a week, go for about two hours, but in reality it’s more [like] two and a half hours with stretching and all that kind of stuff,” Girard said. “But it’s pretty intense once we get going.”

Girard, alongside multiple Yeomen on the lacrosse team, competed in a summer league to maintain his fitness and skills. He echoed the sentiments of both Dufour and Montoye.

“Absolutely [the offseason] helps,” Girard said. “I think especially with a huge [first-year] class of guys coming in who are learning the ropes of things, having the time and scrimmaging in the fall is huge for building that chemistry we’re gonna need.”

Volleyball’s next game is today in Wooster against St. Mary’s College of Indiana, lacrosse has its alumni game Saturday, Sept. 23 at 3 p.m., and track and field will likely start their season around early December.