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A Look into Your ’24-’25 GCC Baseball Team

Baseabll Team

Offseason

The Grove City College baseball team is preparing to get into the swing of the spring season after returning from winter break. Over the fall semester, the coaching staff began to prepare their squad for the ensuing season.

A mix of outdoor practices and intrasquad games took up most of the offseason. The fall was capped off with a doubleheader scrimmage against D2 Gannon University who made the trek up from Erie, PA. The matchup featured many great outings by multiple pitchers on each side and amazing batting performances by players at the plate. The series was split by the two teams. The games provided valuable playing time, and it was a good starting point to allow the coaches to determine where their team is at.

The GCC Baseball team continues to have team lifts and sprinting/agility practices to ensure they are healthy and strong heading into the long season. Players also have access to the IM gyms where they use the batting cages and portable mounds.

The Squad

The team looks to get back into the PAC championship again this year and rewrite the ending. A lot of returning starters know what it takes to have a winning season and make a deep playoff push. Growing the team chemistry has been a big focal point this year. Outside of the diamond, the team gets together a couple times a month to hang out as friends and just have a good time.

The Senior class features the three team captains: Sam Distefano, Evan Umland, and Josh Minnich. Many other seniors will play a big role for this team in the field. Umland and Dave Leslie highlight the pitching staff this year and have a big task on their hands as they come together with the younger classes to help build a rotation of starters and relievers.

The Junior class is smaller in depth compared to others but makes a big impact in the field and at the plate. A couple returning starters have gained great experience in the years past and look to have another great season. A mix of outfielders and infielders will have an opportunity to come in this season and be impact players on the field.

The sophomore class is highlighted by the pitchers who make up a large percentage of the entire pitching staff. Many of those guys took the mound in their rookie seasons in starts, relief, and closing situations. These guys will play a big role for this team if they want to make it back to the championship. A few other sophomores made a real impact in their first season at the plate and in the field and look to do that again.

The freshman squad looked promising during the offseason. A few of them could have the opportunity to see playing time very early on and could cement their spot on the roster if they can compete and perform well during those moments. The freshman class has a lot of talent and athleticism which will complement this team very well.

Together these classes will make up the starting roster and rotation on the mound. So much talent is present on this team, and they have the potential to make headlines in D3 baseball as they have in the previous seasons.

What to Expect this Season

The Grove City College Baseball team will start practicing on the first day of the spring semester and won’t have much time until they play their first games that count towards their record. The coaches will have to make sure they keep the team focused and cover a lot of ground in less than a month.

From there, the team will travel to play a few games in Virginia during the middle of February. They will continue south down to Florida where they will play around 8 varsity games with a few JV games as well. They’ll look to get into a smooth rhythm before heading back north for conference games.

The baseball team will play a handful of non-conference games, before kicking off the doubleheader conference matchups. This part of the season tests many teams’ physical and mental capacities and is what separates the elite teams from the average. The squad will have to keep their spirits up, even during the low times, and work as a team to reach their goals.

PAC playoffs will ensue in early to mid-May. The GCC baseball team comes into this season with expectations of making playoffs and making a strong push to win the championship. Some guys further down the depth charts will need to step up and fill roles as the playoffs can mean a lot of games in a short span. Grove Baseball looks to get into the NCAA tourney and make a name for themselves at that next level if they are crowned PAC champs.

Final Thoughts

This 2025 season will be a time when these student-athletes make some of their best memories. The season will be action-packed and full of many intense games that will come down to the wire. The players continue to work hard so that when they are faced with those situations, they will rise to the challenge.

Make sure to come out to R. Jack Behringer field in the spring to support and cheer on the team!

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Life as an International Student at Grove City College

Sometimes choosing to study in a place so far from home can be intimidating. Though it presents a unique set of challenges, it also creates amazing opportunities. For the international students at Grove City College (GCC), the experience is one of growth, exploration, community, and (of course) lots of fun.

Let’s Meet Some International Grovers!

Anastasia Gaponenko (left) and Thaddeus Woo (right) outside of Henry Buhl Library

Anastasia Gaponenko, a senior Electrical Engineering major, is from Moscow, Russia. She came to the US in high school and attended a Christian high school in Philadelphia. “A lot of kids from my high school went to Grove City because it’s like a famous Christian college.” It was through her friends that she ended up applying to Grove City!

Philippe Keita hails from Dakar, Senegal, and is a senior at GCC studying Computer Science. Philippe decided to pursue his bachelors in the U.S. because of the higher level of education and potential career opportunities. “I heard about Grove City College from church connections…in Senegal…I heard that they had a good computer science program, so I came here for that.”

Thaddeus Woo, another senior international student, is pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He made his way to the U.S. from Penang, Malaysia, and found Grove City through a family friend, “My mom’s friend introduced it to her…” he said, and after discovering that Grove City carried the degree that he was seeking, “…I switched my decision from Covenant [College] to Grove City College.”

A Glimpse of Life on Campus

At GCC, all students are encouraged to get involved on campus. For many international students, it’s the perfect way to get to know fellow students and build valuable skills. You have the freedom to make your four years here your own and it’s easy to do with so many different organizations and activities to choose from.

Whether it is intramural sports, academic organizations, clubs, campus jobs, or social groups like fraternities and sororities, there is freedom to pursue your interests, or try out something new! For Thaddeus, he found a job on campus in Media Services, helping other students with their computers and technology.

Philippe found ways to make friends and have an impact on campus through his housing group (the Rhos) and different clubs. “I’m president of the Men’s Activities Board,” Phillipe says, which is a campus organization working to create “community engaging events open to all male students” (my.ggc.edu).

Annika has also taken leadership roles in the organizations she has participated in at Grove City. “Last year I was the president of the Physics Club,” she says, “…my freshman year I was involved with the Women’s Society of Engineers…it definitely contributed to my future job search.”

 

Advice for Future International Students

While looking at schools, especially if you are considering one outside of your home country, our fellow international students offered some valuable advice It is important to “…know what Grove City is before you come here,” said Philippe. The technical aspects of how to apply to a particular college are important. Still, it’s also important to learn about the culture of the campus, and their values, and consider if they are ones that you could see yourself being a part of!

It is important to lean into the tightly-knit community of GCC especially when you are new to campus as an international student. “Having a smaller community can be nice,” again, Philippe.  â€śYou see the same people (students and teachers) so it’s easier to interact with them.”

While there are plenty of things going on at GCC. Things are more spread out from campus when you get into town. Some of Annika’s advice, especially if you need something from the store, was to ask around if people are making a trip. You can even ask a friend to take you if they have a car!

College is about more than just getting your degree. It provides a chance to create lasting memories and friends in a community that supports your every step. At Grove City College, we hope that you can join in enriching our community like Anastasia, Philippe, and Thaddeus have.

 

For more information about Grove City College, and to apply, visit www.gcc.edu and click “Apply” (information for international students is listed on the right, under “How To Apply”).

Are you curious about the process of finding an internship as an international student and want some tips? Take a look at the post “How to Expand Your Career Opportunities as an International Student at Grove City College” by Evenine Paultre.

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Experience with Sororities at College

When it comes to meeting people and making friends at college, a lot of people immediately think of joining a sorority or a fraternity. At big schools, many people join groups to find or meet friends but everyone has a different reason. Being at a small school like Grove City College, not only are you here academically, but socially and spiritually. My faith is an important part of my life and was one of the reasons I decided to join a sorority.

Rushing a sorority can be very intense and time-consuming, but it is all in the way you look at it. The best way to approach rush is having a positive mindset and thinking that you are going to meet new people and form a friendship with them. If you meet people in a group and become friends with them because they are in that specific group, you will not have a long-lasting friendship. Take it from me. I rushed my freshman year and did not get into the group I was rushing, but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. I spent time figuring out who I was and what I was looking for in a group. I decided to try rushing sororities again and look at different groups, which led me to find a great group of girls who I became genuine friends with. Rush can be tiring, difficult, and time-consuming but it is worth it if you find a group of friends you can be yourself around.

For me, being in a sorority was more than being part of something on campus. It is being surrounded by a group of your peers who love the Lord and will push you in your faith, and who love you and will always be there for you. Not only do you get to know people in your class, but you look up to seniors and get to know them and get advice and wisdom from them. For some people, sororities and fraternities can be seen as being “exclusive” and “cliquey” but once you get to know all of the people in those groups, you come to find that they are great people.

Joining a group might not be for everyone, but my best piece of advice is to try it. You may not join a group but you get to know people on campus and become friends with them. As my parents always say, “What’s the worst that can happen?” You do not like the groups; you do not have to join it. Try something new! Get out of your comfort zone! Meet new people!

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Freshman Spotlight: Natalie Merrick

College is a time for students to step out of their comfort zone and explore. You have the freedom of living on your own and making your own decisions. Being at Grove City, this is the time where you find out more about yourself, find friends that will be with you throughout life, and where you can grow deeper in your faith, all while being surrounded by community.

Natalie Merrick is a freshman majoring in Exercise Science with a pre-physical therapy concentration, and minoring in Psychology. While her academics are time-consuming, she has learned to find a way to balance it while playing soccer at Grove City College. For Natalie, she grew up in the Cranberry Township area (about 30 minutes from campus) and knew of Grove City College from her sister going here and people in her high school. While she was looking at other colleges, she ultimately decided on Grove City because of the Christ-centered mission of the College and the soccer program.

Along with her major and being on the women’s soccer team, she is also a part of Homecoming Committee and the Gamma Sigma Phi sorority. Her best piece of advice when it comes to rushing different sororities is to check your heart constantly and form relationships with people to be their friend, not to be in the sorority. When it comes to sororities or fraternities, you want to make sure that you “vibe” with the people in the group as your true self, not having a persona.

When asked about the impact that Grove City College has had on her faith, Natalie said her faith has grown tremendously because of the people that she surrounds herself with at college. She was intentional when getting to know the seniors in her sorority and on her soccer team. She said “watching them walk with the Lord has encouraged me to do the same and I’ve found people who prioritize their relationship with Him and encourage me in my walk of faith.” She has found that her friendships here are ones that will stay throughout her life. When asked about the community at Grove City College, she said it is welcoming and inviting to everyone and encourages growth spiritually, academically, and socially.

The best piece of advice Natalie has for future underclassmen or prospective students is to “go into everything with open hands and find chances to grow and be challenged in your academics and faith.” Keep your eyes open to new things, people, and opportunities God places right in front of you. Whatever you decide to do in college or whatever happens, God is always with you to help guide you and provide for you. College can be the best time of your lives, so get involved with activities, groups, and get to know people who can help push you to be a better person overall.

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How I Chose Grove City College

Being the youngest of four, I got to watch all of my siblings decide on which college they would attend. Whenever someone asked me where I wanted to go to school or what major I wanted to pursue, I always said, “I do not know yet…maybe a big school.” In the back of my head, I thought I would go to Penn State University, but little did I realize I wanted to go for the wrong reasons. I wanted to go there not because of the different majors they offered, but because my brother was there and I would be close to him. The one school I never thought to look at was Grove City College because of the reputation it had: being a strict Christian college with challenging academics. My dad was the one who kept bringing up Grove City College, and I finally agreed to tour the campus.

When I toured Grove City College, I kept thinking “too small, too close to home.” My tour was in June of 2019 and the campus was dead with no students there. After my tour, I kept thinking of all the negatives and was not giving the College a chance. That was, until I decided to do an overnight stay in October of 2019. When I stayed overnight, I finally got to “see” the College. I sat in classes as a prospective student and talked to professors and students about their experience. I also got a chance to see events that were going on with fraternities and sororities. My view of Grove City started to change, and I started to consider it a top option. After I got home from my overnight visit, all I could think about was the excitement and fun I had while I was there. I filled my parents in on my trip and after talking to them, I knew I wanted to go to Grove City. The people at Grove City want you to be there, and they want to help you in any way they can, academically or socially.

The funny thing about choosing a college is that you may think you want a big school, but you may actually want a small school and vice versa. I know that Grove City College is not the school for everyone, but to some it feels like home. Ever since I was accepted and came here, I have felt a sense of peace I could not imagine experiencing at another school. The Christian environment and sense of community at Grove City makes you feel like you are at home.

Here are some of my tips when visiting Grove City College:

  1. Sit in different classes to get an idea of college classes
  2. Talk to professors and students in the majors you are interested in
    1. They are honest with you about academics but they also get to know you
  3. Stay overnight, especially in one of the dorms, if you can.
    1. You will get a feel for how college is and can help see if you like the atmosphere and environment at Grove City
  4. Explore the town of Grove City, and see what is around!
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Grove City College Student Spotlight: Episode 4 – Tegan Truitt

Episode 4 – Tegan Truitt

Welcome to the Grove City College Student Spotlight, where we sit down with Grove City students and converse about their college experiences. On today’s episode, we sit down with Tegan Truitt. Tegan is a senior Economics and Philosophy major, the chaplain of the Adelphikos, the captain of the Ultimate Frisbee team, and co-captain of the debate team. We talk about his experience as a student in Oxford, why Grove City’s Economics program is different from other schools, fraternity life, evangelizing through Frisbee, and the story of his baptism at Grove City local church, Grace Anglican.

You can listen to this or other episodes at either of the links below on your streaming platform of choice.

Disclaimer:

This podcast is a student project and the views represented do not reflect those of Grove City College.

Listen to us online at our website

Click Here to listen to: Episode 4 – Tegan Truitt

Or check us out on Spotify

 

 

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College Life in Quarantine

Grove City College is blessed that we were all able to return to campus this fall and that we made it to the end! Everyone is really excited to return home and finish up the semester. We will not return until the end of January, which means that after Thanksgiving there was a week of online classes and also finals. The reason that we are n0t returning to campus after break is because it is risky to have people returning from all over the country. We have been so thankful that we have been able to stay on campus all semester!

The College only had two spikes of cases this semester. Several students tested positive for the coronavirus, and many students were placed in isolation and quarantine, just to be safe. Luckily, nobody has been super sick. When a student is tested positive, those who were around that person are immediately put into isolation. Also, those who were around the primary contact are also put into isolation as secondary contacts. When you are in isolation, you must attend classes online and must to stay in your room. You are still allowed to get food from the cafeterias, but you must take it back to your room to eat. Those who test positive are either put into a single dorm room or if those rooms are all taken, they go to a hotel near campus.

I recently talked with a few friends about their time in quarantine. All of them said that though it was not ideal, they made the best of it and were thankful that they were not super sick. My one friend said, “Being alone all day got a little bit boring, but I spent a lot of time on the phone and was able to binge watch a bunch of shows that I have always wanted to watch! I did miss going to classes in person, but online classes are very convenient and I was still able to follow the lectures. The College is very accommodating to those in isolation or quarantine and it is obvious that they want what is best for the students!”

Nobody knows how long the pandemic will last, but no matter what, Grove City College is a special place to be. This semester has been very different, but it was still a lot of fun and lots of memories were made. This semester is one to remember!

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College and COVID-19

In March 2020, everything seemed to get crazy. Students were sent home in the middle of March due to the coronavirus. Students, parents, teachers and employees were all panicked because it was such a strange and uncertain time. We did not end up returning until the fall of 2020. Since returning in August, things have certainly been different at Grove City College. Though it is such a different and stressful time, I learned a lot about myself and have also been able to try things that I have never tried.

As an introvert, social-distancing and not attending functions with large groups is no sacrifice for me. I prefer to hang out with a few close friends, and especially this semester, my friends and I have become closer than ever. Since many College events were cancelled this semester, there was lots of extra time (especially during the weekends) to just sit back and chill out together. Having nothing to do was actually a lot of fun! My friends and I have talked so much more this semester and we were able to form a tighter bond. The pandemic taught my friends and I that no matter what we do, we have fun! There were many movie nights and game nights this semester. We never really did simple stuff like that before, but since a lot of things were cancelled this year, we were able to just sit back and relax together.

The pandemic has also allowed me to appreciate the College’s beauty so much more. Grove City College is truly a beautiful campus and this semester I was able to appreciate its beauty more than ever. Because it is safer, I spent a lot of time outside playing games or hanging out with friends. I also have taken more walks this semester than any other semester in my college career! It is fun to get off of campus and discover new places.

Yes, college life in a pandemic is a stressful combination. Though this semester was full of changes, I was able to make the best of it by spending extra time with my friends and appreciating the College’s beauty. As students, we are thankful that we were able to be on campus this fall, despite the craziness of the world.

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Halls and Doors: the Hubs of College Culture

When I first came to campus, I had no clue that dorm hallways were going to be pivotal to my time as a student. It sounds crazy, but it is true. So much time is spent in transition – walking up and down hallways, heading to your room, visiting someone else’s room, going to the bathroom. Thankfully, for me, these hallways are like campus cultural hubs – which makes for really interesting walks. Most hallways on campus have themes and are decorated, and some students do really interesting things in their halls like open up shops on their doors or sell art. With that said, here are some of my favorite hallways/door events from campus: 

  1. Sticker Shops. As I mentioned above, some students turn their doors into little pop-up shops. One door last year used to sell stickers we could buy for our laptops. There were lots of plant and “feel good” stickers on it. The stickers were super cheap and convenient; just drop in a dollar on the way to class and slap a sticker on your laptop or water bottle. 
  2. Hobby Sales. I have seen a few of these around campus. Some people make paintings and art you can use to decorate your room, and many of the pieces are impressive. Others I have seen have made crochet hearts, pot holders, and some homemade patches to put on backpacks. It is a fun and easy way to make extra cash on campus, and I think it adds to the fun of my afternoon walks through the dorms. 
  3. Celebration doors. These doors are always fun to look at, and they usually are the result of life events. When a girl in the hall gets engaged, all her friends decorate her door with congratulations cards and cute sayings and balloons. On birthdays, people cover their friend’s door in streamers and birthday wishes, often taping candy or gifts to the front of the door. Or maybe someone has joined a sorority – it is likely her door and the entire wall surrounding the door are going to be covered in Greek lettering and glitter. 
  4. Holiday decoration contests. While I am not sure if there will be door decorating contests this year with our extended breaks, I know last year’s Christmas door contest was so fun. Some completely covered their doors in wrapping paper, while others made their door look like a massive chimney with Santa hopping in. My personal favorites were the doors that were decorated to look like paper Christmas trees. 

When you arrive at college, remember to look up as you are walking around your hall. It is one of the best ways to get a feel for the culture of the people around you. Who knows–you may end up finding a good deal on some stickers or potholders!

 

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Grove City College: A Parent’s Perspective

grove city college logo

Parents play a big role in where their children are going to attend college. Even if the parent allows the child to choose a college on his own, usually, parents still have a lot of influence on the child’s decision. If given the option between Grove City College and a big party school, most parents would feel more comfortable with their child attending GCC. I recently talked with my mom about what her initial thought of Grove City College were, and how they have changed from the time I was an incoming student to a senior.

Grove City College provides quality, Christian, education at a low cost. Right away, all three of those qualities appeal to many parents, including my own mom. My mom said that “I always heard that the reputation of Grove City was top-notch. It is one of those schools that people know is high-quality and also a great value. It is important, as a Christian, to attend a Christian college so that you do not go off the wrong track during your college years. The more I began to research about Grove City College, the more confident I was that it was somewhere that would provide a wonderful education, while also being safe, conservative, and faith-based.”

My mom recalled that as soon as we toured Grove City College, she knew that she would feel comfortable sending me here. She said that “The campus was beautiful, small, and safe. I knew that I would not have to worry about you there.”

Lastly, I asked my mom for some last thoughts about Grove City College, now that I am a senior. She said that “Grove City College has provided a top-notch, quality, and outstanding education. Not only that, but the values of the college are clear and demonstrated inside and outside of the classroom. Especially since the coronavirus pandemic began, I am more and more confident in the quality and dedication of the school. It is extremely impressive that the college was able to go to such great lengths to ensure safety for students during this terrible time. The college does not settle. I am so happy that you chose to attend a small school in the middle of nowhere, because there is no better place to be during a pandemic! The college was blessed this semester with a low number of coronavirus cases, and I know that is because of the hard work and dedication of the college to continue to stay open for the students. Overall, as a parent, there is no other college that I would have wanted you to attend!”