Dear Wabash Reader,
2 More Days
You cannot ask for a much better display of strength than our Wabash Captains speaking to the school about why the past four years as an athlete, student, and Little Giant were the best of their lives. After a play by play speech from the captains, we learned something about them we may not have known before. Below is a brief highlight of what each Wabash man had to say. The theme of the chapel could be defined as adversity, and personal stories of overcoming obstacles.
Austin Hodges, Pat Clay, Weston Kitley, Chase Belton, Nate Scola, and Coach Raeburn during Monon Bell Chapel on Thursday
Austin Hodges: “I got knocked down and humbled both in the classroom, and on the field.” Austin was prepared to leave Wabash, but what he has learned from Wabash is that adversity will come, and how you handle it is a part of being a man. “For this senior class, our storm is coming, and what we do this time against DePauw is going to
determine what kind of men we are when adversity hits.”
Nate Scola: “We men experience more adversity in a week than we men do in a lifetime.” Nate’s personal performance on the football team ended early last season due to an ACL injury. Despite his injury, he has attended every film session, practice, and team meeting. He communicates his support for the team by describing him and his brother as, “the loudest goons you have ever heard on the sidelines, guaranteed.” There have been ups and downs this season, Scola says, but “right now this football team stands in a time of challenge and controversy, we have been knocked down as a team, but come Saturday, I guarantee you this Wabash football is going to . . . hold that bell up at the end of the game.”
Weston Kitley: “Oh crap.” That was Weston’s first reaction to his name being called as a captain. But regardless of his initial response, he says “After fifteen years of football I will be done, no questions asked.” This disappointment at the end does not stop him from enjoying his senior year. It is Wabash’s football dominance that led to Kitley quoting his DePauw friend as telling him to “Stop ruining his college experience.” It is this experience that, as a senior, Kitley will realize how “college is only temporary; soon all I will have is those sweet memories.” With these bitter-sweet words in mind that Kitley promises Wabash students that he “will walk across the field with that bell one last time.”
Bell Chapel view from above
Pat Clegg: “Today we are all one, we will always be one.” Although everyone had different motives to attend Wabash, according to Pat, “there is something that draws each and every one of us to this hallow ground.” Clegg says that Wabash is an atmosphere “not fit for every one, not all boys can undergo the challenges of Wabash College.” Wabash is a constant push to improve and achieve success, and although everyone wants to success, not everyone is willing to make the sacrifice. Clegg says, “I personally am in fear of failure,” but in life, “sometimes we fail, sometimes we fall short of excellence.” But it is when we fail, that the slogan “Wabash Always Fights” rings true. “We all fail at some point in our lives, we all go through adversity numerous of times. … but we never give up, because Wabash Always Fights!”
With these words, one cannot help but look forward to cheering these fine young men on as they play one last time for their school, their pride, and the Monon Bell!
Respectfully,
Fabian
