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Photo by JACLYN BAILEY
The Wesleyan field hockey team stands on the side of Interstate 64 while waiting for a spare bus or parents willing to drive to rescue them from their roadside campout. |
The constant murmur of a charter bus's motor that usually lulls the Virginia Wesleyan field hockey team to sleep, sputtered and died in the first 45 minutes of their road trip on Sat., Nov. 2. Anxiously enduring a three and a half hour road trip to play against Washington and Lee University, the ladies were startled as the engine suddenly cut off and the bus coasted to the shoulder of the road along Interstate 64 West.
"Good thing we left like 8 hours early," said junior Jana Popeleski. Luckily, the team had departed from Wesleyan at 9:30 a.m. with plenty of time to spare before the game. As the bus driver meandered his way to the back of the bus, he found antifreeze steadily leaking out of the bus.
In an attempt to fix the problem, the driver gathered a new gallon of antifreeze and proceeded to fill the container, which was still leaking. "Not to be mean, but what was he thinking?" said senior Katie Gunther. After multiple attempts to start the bus again, there was no spark in the ignition; the bus was dead.
Thinking both quickly and craftily, the ladies who lived locally hopped on their cell phones to contact their parents for help. "The original motive in calling my parents was to get them to contact the school and find us some help," said junior Gayla Dalrymple-Smith. "But then I had the idea of my parents retrieving two vans and just coming to rescue us themselves."
Meanwhile, Coach Mertes and the bus driver made calls to the bus company in hopes for a replacement bus. So what went on as the team sat in the motionless bus? With all of the excitement, sleeping was no longer an option; therefore, some of the ladies worked on homework, snacked on bagels, bananas, or candy, listened to music, or get their hair braided in preparation for the game later that day.
After sitting for approximately 20 minutes, the team received word that another bus could not be found, and so Plan B was put into full effect. This plan was put into action as junior Jaclyn Bailey phoned the Batten Student Center and was able to speak with assistant men's basketball coach and building supervisor, Nathan Hale.
Coach Hale and Coach Mertes conversed and worked out a potential plan to have three VWC vans rescue the team from the side of the road, and get the team back in route to their game. Parents of Dalrymple-Smith and first-year Molly Deaton had already agreed to meet the vans at the school and drive to come and pick up the stranded team. "My parents were already planning on coming to the game," said Dalrymple-Smith. "So, if they could help us out by driving the vans it wouldn't have been a problem."
And so began the wait, a wait that lasted 1 and a half hours. "I thought it was somewhat humorous, but I was afraid we would not have enough time to prepare for our game and that made me mad," said first-year Kristen Jehl, "but I guess this kind of stuff just happens sometimes." The shrill ring of a cell phone echoed through the bus as the team received relieving news that the bus company had finally found another bus to come and pick the team up. VWC was notified and the vans were canceled.
Unfortunately, the substitute bus was coming through the Monitor Merrimac tunnel and would cost the ladies a 45- minute wait. The team suffered mixed reactions as they had to endure the nerve-racking wait. "I was excited to see the quality of the new bus," said junior Jana Popeleski. "I was mad we had to wait even longer because we had to stand outside of the bus forever," said senior Becca Hopkins.
As the minutes ticked away and the bus's arrival neared, Coach Mertes had ordered the women off of the bus in hopes of a quick change of buses so they could get back on the road. After yet another 20 minutes of waiting in the biting cold air, there was no sign of another bus. The only vehicles stopping by were a state trooper, and a fellow charter bus that was already filled with passengers, but stopped to see if any assistance was needed. "I thought the whole team reaction was funny," said Gunther. "The fact that we could laugh about our situation was great."
The Lady Marlins found humor in the situation as they pretended to hitchhike and flag down cars. Gunther grabbed a hockey team poster and held it out proudly while standing alongside the highway, which was packed with fast-paced travelers. Finally, the new bus arrived, and the ladies hustled to reload the equipment and themselves on the bus.
The team was whisked away and they were back on the road in no time. After such a thrilling beginning to their day, the team was able to settle down, relax, and enjoy the rest of their journey. "Overall, it was a great way for the team to bond," said junior Jackie Griffin. This trip really solidified that fact that there is never a dull moment with the ladies of the field hockey team.
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Photo by BEN RUEHLMANN
Josh Brown stands in his ready fencing position. |
Virginia Wesleyan students are now able to develop and sharpen their fencing skills while earning an hour of credit. Fencing Instruction, a new physical education class, is being offered this semester Wednesdays from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and is scheduled for the same time in the spring. The class is taught by 1984 Korean Olympic fencing team member Seong Kim and takes place in conjunction with the classes offered by the Tidewater Fencing Club (TFC).
"In exchange for our expertise and gear, we get to use the space," Val Drees said, speaking of the C-MAC in the Batten Center. Drees is the secretary/treasurer of TFC and also the wife of history professor Dr. Clay Drees. Many people have helped bring TFC to Wesleyan and played a part in starting up the new fencing class. Drees, Dean Buckingham and professor and coordinator of the Recreation and Leisure Studies Program Dr. Doug Kennedy, have all played roles in bringing the sport to Wesleyan.
In Drees's opinion, Wesleyan philosophy professor Dr. Steven Emmanuel, who instructs classes for TFC, has also played a major role. "I think he's been instrumental in bringing the club to campus,"she said. One goal of bringing fencing to Wesleyan is to expose more people to the sport. Many are unaware of the history, rules and basics of fencing.
Modern fencing evolved from the days of duels and sport sword fighting, which took place as far back as ancient Egyptian times. Over time, the duels have become more structured and less deadly, the weapons have become lighter and the fighting more stylized. Now, like many sports, fencing demands intellectual involvement as well as a certain level of physical ability. It is a sport that requires speed, agility, strategy and finesse. The object of the sport is to score either five or 15 points before your opponent does using one of three weapons; the foil, saber or the epee. Before advancing to saber or epee, however, a student must master the use of the foil, beginning at the level of page and moving to apprentice and then finally to musketeer. For each weapon, there are different rules on where to strike an opponent and how to use the weapon. There are also certain standard movements in attacking, retreating and blocking that are used in matches, which are called bouts.
Despite the sometimes complicated rules, senior Zack Jahnigen believes the sport is relatively easy to get the hang of. "Anybody can pick this up in a month," Jahnigen said confidently. Jahnigen was first exposed to fencing through his roommate and Phi Kappa Tau brother Josh Brown. Jahnigen had never fenced but had played basketball. "Basketball was pretty hard but with fencing, you're working totally different muscles," he said. "It's kind of like ballet and a little bit of martial arts with its movement and quickness."
"It's a physical sport but it's also a mind game. You have to be intent on it. It's an attention sport," said Brown, the TA for the class who has four years of fencing under his belt. "There's a lot of strategy and skill. You have to think two to three moves ahead," Jahnigen added. The strategy of the sport appeals to Jahnigen and Brown. However, Jahnigen also has other reasons for being interested in the sport.
"I was interested when I found out I could be a real musketeer at the end [of the class]," he said. "Plus, they give me pointy objects and let me stab people. It's fun." Despite the nature of the sport, fencing is considered very safe. Neither Brown nor Jahnigen have suffered any serious injuries. The worst things they have experienced were a few bumps and bruises. "Well, except for the time someone stabbed me in the left testicle," Jahnigen said, speaking of an accidental circumstance. "I was rethinking the whole fencing idea then," he joked.
Despite this minute risk of injury, there seems to be a lot of interest in the class. This is exciting to both TFC members and student fencers. Brown and Drees would both like to see a Wesleyan fencing team form in the coming years. They believe there is enough interest and talent on campus for it. In fact, at an in-house tournament on Oct. 27, Wesleyan student fencer Alex Wong took the gold medal in the competition. Wong placed above a Washington & Lee fencer in second place and a TFC fencer in third.
"Everyone has been passionate about learning and they're picking it up very fast," Brown said. "If this P.E. class is any indication, you've got some real fencing talent at this school," Drees added. For more information, contact Val Drees at vdrees7@yahoo.com or visit class on Wednesday nights in the C-MAC. It is free to Wesleyan students and if you decide to take the class and continue with fencing, you can be a part of TFC for free.
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Photo by BLADEN FINCH
Future plans are being arranged for Village I commons. |
Virginia Wesleyan College students are enjoying the new Marlin Restaurant in the Batten Center but are also wondering what is going to happen to the old Grille and Eggleston commons. Since the Village II commons area has been changed in order to provide space for the Women's Resource Center and the new Social Sciences lab, many of the activities that used to take place there have been moved into Eggleston Commons. For example, the area has been used to accommodate FYLC functions, the Poetry Slam and various club meetings.
"Just last week a group of students, including the Science Club, used the space for a Halloween party," said Dean of students David Buckingham. "Right now the activity defines the space rather than the space defining the activity." However, there are plans to utilize the vacant space where the food preparation area of the Grille used to be.
According to Buckingham, the college has submitted a grant application to gain funds to turn half of the space into a new bathroom accessible to the handicapped. This would be a great addition since currently the only bathroom in that area is down a set of stairs in Birdsong Hall. The other half of the former Grille space will be used for a vending area similar to the one that was provided in the VII commons. Additionally, in the future, when the budget allows, new furniture and carpeting may be installed. Students have their own ideas about what should be done with the space.
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| Photo by BLADEN FINCH The old Marlin Grille, which was once bustling with students, now sits empty. |
"I think it's a good place for clubs and organizations to meet and to host events, but it would be cool to do something different with it," said sophomore Jenn Kirkman. "Maybe they could put a coffee machine in there and add some more couches and comfortable chairs so that when events and meetings aren't going on, it can be a fun place to hang out, just socialize or to study." Hopefully Eggleston Commons and the old Grille will become a place where students feel comfortable gathering both formally and informally.
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