This past weekend was Homecoming here at Wittenberg. It was a great weekend all around with lots of alumni on campus and our athletic teams turning in successful performances. Although the weather was not spectacular, we had many great events that brought people out to enjoy one another and catch up on their days at Witt.
In our student center, they opened Founder’s which will be a new place for students, faculty and staff to gather - it’s across from the game room in the bottom level of the student center. The renovation of what used to be Wally’s Pub is terrific and Founder’s should be a great place for people to gather and spend time without having to go off campus. They had the grand unveiling on Friday night where there was standing room only capacity and performances by Just Eve and WittMen Crew. A fun way to kick off a fun place!
Saturday morning started with a Tiger Tailgate and Award’s Breakfast. The football team beat Carnegie Mellon 28-7 to continue their undefeated season at 7-0. The women’s soccer team battled a tough game en route to their 4th tie of the season and a 4-2-1 NCAC record; on the men’s side, soccer lost to Denison 2-4. Swimming and Diving was off campus but had a great showing at their conference relays with both men’s and women’s teams finishing 4th. Volleyball also competed off campus during Homecoming weekend going 2-1 at Heidelberg against top national opponents.
The weekend for us, the basketball team, was one of celebration too. The team did an amazing job of helping to celebrate what has been one of the most memorable weekends in my Wittenberg lifetime. On Thursday night we had red velvet cake. On Friday, I walked into my office with red and white streamers everywhere and into practice with the team wearing my picture on their shirts (hilarious!). I was so happy that they embraced being a part of my Hall of Honor induction. Never, when I was in their shoes, would I have thought that I would have been a part of such a prestigious group of former athletes here at Wittenberg with a tradition of success as rich as we have. But the reward for hard work most often surpasses what one can ever imagine. I am thrilled I can share with this current team this particular reward for my passion and dedication to the game I love. I can feel their passion and energy for this game grow with each practice we complete and can sense their desire in team grow more and more each day - this is the best feeling of Homecoming to me.