Marcus Kammrath gets a dunk!

Some days you’re the windscreen and some days you’re the bug.  I was so the bug Tuesday night.

Here’s the first dunk I have seen Marcus do in a game.  Notice the great focus…on the Allegheny fan just to the right.  That’s the way to capture a moment, don’t you think?

But it wasn’t just a “sneeze” of the shutter before I had focus…no it was a full head cold kind of night.

Kasey Oetting on the fast break

Here’s Kasey on the fast break.  If you look closely, I had Kyle Aiton, Daniel Purvlicis, and Austin Burton all in focus…  That takes a lot of skill, if you are trying to do that.  However, I was supposed to be focused on Kasey.  (Maybe I need a new camera?)

But there’s a educational lesson buried deep in my off night.  Like flying, like sports, like a lot in life, the next “game” is a new game – the card will be empty and the slate will be clean.  But that’s not all – you must learn from your mistakes.  And I, hopefully, learned a lot Tuesday night!

Go Bash!

Derek Andre ’16 and Clayton Randolph ’16

Derek and Clayton did the play-by-play last night.  They do a great job.  The Grunge got a report on the game all the way from Ashburn, VA last night – first class presentation.  And that’s from an iPad at another ball game.

Derek and Clayton are part of a first class operation led by our media guru Adam Bowen.  We have, arguably, the best team and setup in Division III.  OK – not arguably – we’ve decided and they are #1!

Just like our Kyle Brumett-coached team, these guys come to play.  It’s fun to watch them in action.

Allegheny at Wabash

Wabash is a # 3 seed as the NCAC basketball tournament opens tonight.  7:30 PM in Chadwick Court.  Hope to see you there.

What a difference a year has made.  Last year we were 8-17…having gone “oh-4” in our first eight games.  This year we’re 17-8 and we’ve notched a victory against every one of the NCAC teams.  Count in that group OWU and Wooster – both nationally ranked last time I checked.

There’s a lot more parity this year and that will make for a great tournament.

If you can’t be a Chadwick tonight, tune in on the web.  (http://www.wabash.edu/live/) Our guys really do it right.

WAF!

Coach Olmy Olmsted Was the “Emcee” for the Hot Dog Eating Contest

Last Wednesday night, instead of the usual Sphinx Club Cookout, Wabash came up with something new – all the hot digs you can eat in three minutes.  As you can see, the competition drew a large crowd.

Three minutes…hot dogs…basketball game to follow…yes, there are some scenarios that end up…messy.

But, it was great fun and I even saw some friends find dinner…

Go! Go! Go!

The Sphinx Club Pledges at the DePauw Game

Megan Hammerle, DePauw ’18, is the sister of Connor, Wabash ’15, and daughter of Rick, Wabash ’87. On the eve of Valentine’s Day, she passed away after a brief but devastating illness.  You can’t begin to imagine how tough it is to be a parent and lose a child.  It hurts almost as much for a brother to lose a sister.

Last night it was rivalry night at Chadwick.  DePauw in town to take on the Little Giants.  The Sphinx Club Pledges stepped up as true gentlemen.  Every one had Megan’s initials and her class year on the back of their t-shirts.  The Wabash and DePauw crowd paused for a moment of silence before the National Anthem.

I think times like these are true life lessons.  Times like these put everything into perspective.

There were so many different things that the Rhynies could have done…this was TRUE CLASS!

A Battle For The Ball

During halftime of our Denison game last Saturday, some very special Olympians played a short game.

Halftime, right?  Get some popcorn, a Coke, and maybe catch up with friends in the Bowerman lobby.

Not that way for our Wabash students.  Our guys, especially the Sphinx Club pledges, were there to cheer on the two teams as they raced up and down the court.  Every basket netted a loud cheer.  Every rebound was the same.

I think about how easy it would be to use halftime for something other than to be the best fan possible.  Then I think about our Mission Statement…

Our guys care…and it shows.  That’s one of the many transformations at “this good place.”

Saturday was Valentines Day…a day to honor and celebrate affection.  It including a thrilling, too thrilling it seems at some points, victory over Denison with a last second tip in by Marcus Kammrath.  The crowd went wild…as well they should.

The Rhynies at the basketball game showed their affection for their Alma Mater…almost wearing it on their sleeves.  They thrilled the crowd with their own unique brand of tennis as well as some great flying stunts.

The students were out in force…always great.  WAF means we’re always in it to the end and there’s no quit.  Love the stocking cap look with the…ahh…well…war paint!

Mrs. Hess, President Seymour, President Hess

It was a special time for me.  President Thad Seymour was my president as a student at Wabash.  President Hess will be my last president.

We (including David Troutman and the Grunge) all sat in Thad’s favorite smoothie shop and talked about Wabash then and now.  Thad also explained the transformation of Rollins College, which we toured a little later in the day.

EVERYONE in and around Rollins seems to know Thad – even current students.  Several ventured into the smoothie shiop and virtually everyone said hello…a couple noting his Wabash t-shirt.

Thad’s memory of the 1970s at Wabash is crystal clear…The Vietnam War, Elmore Day, the young man (not a student) setting himself on fire on campus (protesting the War), Trustee meetings, etc.  He hit it all!

Thad stays in close touch with Wabash through our web site.

At one point he noted that there is a time and place for college president’s…oh so true.  I’m just glad his time was my time and the place was Wabash!

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President Gregory D. Hess

At the Cincinnati dinner last week, we had four young men interested in Wabash.  At one point, an alumnus asked President Hess to explain the liberal arts and it’s relevance this day and age.  It was a good question – the President gave a great answer.

“Study something you are passionate about at Wabash” he suggested.  Then he reflected on his own undergraduate experience.  He didn’t know what he was going to do after college, he suggested, but he did love the study of Economics and that ended up his major.  Did a degree in Economics help him as a consultant with Honda Motor Company and the Federal Reserve?  For sure.  But it was the passionate search for knowledge, coupled with the all around liberal arts education, that made him the College President he is today.

It’s the same for those young men considering Wabash and a bazillion other schools.  Get an education that will prepare you for anything, including the great unknowns.  The CEO of one of Indiana’s fastest growing tech companies?  A Wabash German major.  A Cardiothoracic Surgeon in Illinois?  A Wabash English major.  The father / son Wabash team at Sun King Brewery?  An economics major and a speech major.

Passion…

Jon Pactor ’71

As I entered Chadwick Court last Saturday, I looked up to see Jon Pactor ’71 handing out game programs.  Usually, it’s a member of the Athletics staff handling that duty while greeting fans.

I have to say, 50% of me was surprised to see Jon there…and the other 50%?  Not surprised in the least bit.

Jon’s on campus more than I am – and I work here!  I even spend a good bit of time here in the evening and on weekends.  But I’ll never close in on Jon…just too much ground to cover.

Add to IAWM board member, class agent, fraternity advisor, Admissions volunteer, Sixth Annual Alumni-Faculty-Staff Symposium organizer, and 43 other duties, the title of CEO of Program Logistics for Wabash basketball.

Jon Pactor – Some Little Giant.