Author: Houghton STAR

The student newspaper of Houghton College for more than 100 years.

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The Destruction of Shen

By Joshua Carpenter

​For Fall 2022, Houghton College has announced that instead of remodeling Shenawana Hall, it will be demolished and turned into an amusement park. 

As President Lewis said in an interview, “What Houghton College needs right now is more fun. What could be more fun than an amusement park? While Shen will certainly be missed, with plans for a new men’s dorm in discussion, students have impressed upon me the importance of making Houghton a much more enjoyable campus right now.” To accomplish this, the college has decided to construct one very large Gravitron, which will be named “Shenitron.” Accompanying Shenitron will be an arcade with mountains of popcorn. Plans for more rides in the future are already in the works.

Plans for the park have been the talk of the town recently, with students and faculty alike all trying to find out what this park is about, especially the men of Shen, who will be losing their home away from home. Some of these “Shen Men” have been approached by the STAR to find out how they are feeling amid their loss.

​With the initial reaction of “Hot diggety-dog,” Jonathan Hutmire (‘24), could not believe the news of Shen becoming the grounds for an amusement park. “I don’t think there’d be much change. Same amount of popcorn at least.” To him, “It’ll be sad to lose all the history contained within the carpet stains,” though he is looking forward to “the opportunity to form new carpet stains of our own,” wherever Shen Men end up living. Jon’s also excited about the Shenitron, in which he plans to do his laundry. “That’ll [The Shenitron] definitely will be an upgrade from the current dryers! No more still-damp laundry!”

​Micah Williams (‘23), is the 3rd floor RA of Shen and cleaner of its aromatic bathrooms. In his state of grief over Shen’s inevitable destruction, Micah has taken the time to reflect on what made Shen special to him. “I’m going to miss all the amazing scents that just attack your nostrils as you walk into the building. You never know if it’s going to be someone burning popcorn or forgetting to put water in their ramen noodles and just absolutely douse the floor in burnt food smell, or that sweaty foot smell of all the athletes leaving their shoes in the hallway, or even just that… Shen Musk. Ah! What a scent.” And though he is sad to see Shen go, he thinks that all the loud screams from inside of the Shenitron would be nothing out of the ordinary from all the shenanigans of Shen Men, which had more than its fair share of screaming.

​Chunsun Lei (‘24) has expressed to the STAR his deepest condolences as the 2nd floor RA of Shen. Lei, who prefers being referred to by his last name, cleans bathrooms on his floor and will miss his job dearly. For him, every night at work is a fulfilling night of fun and dance, of which he calls “mold dancing.” When asked about this act of his, Lei could not contain his excitement. He remarked about his passion for ensuring the Shen men have a clean environment. “Mold dancing” is representative of his enjoyment and enthusiasm for this work. Though he did admit that having a Dance Dance Revolution rig in the new arcade would do well to remind him of his experiences at Shen. Through this game, he wishes to continue on with his mold dancing passion, slipping on the stage without ever falling – all while looking perfectly cool. And one day, maybe he will even find a dance partner of the same style.

​If you would like to pay respects to Shenawana Hall as it begins a new chapter, you can attend its service of remembrance at Shen Pond. The service will start at 8pm and end at the break of dawn. Candles will be lit, and root beers will be had.

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Columns

Contrasts and Way Over in Beulah Lan

By Rachel Huchthausen

During the weekend before break, the Greatbatch School of Music presented two concerts: Contrasts and Way Over in Beulah Lan’.  The Wind Ensemble’s Contrasts, on February 19, was just that—a collection of contrasts between periods and composers, as well as selections of works by the same composer that have contrasting styles.  The program included works such as selections from Percy Grainger’s famous Lincolnshire Posy, William Still’s Folk Suite based on African-American Spirituals, and, most aptly, contemporary composer Leslie Gilreath’s Oppositional Elements.  

Most interesting to me was the Wind Ensemble’s foray into electroacoustic works by Alex Sharpiro.  Her Depth blends electronic sound from the depths of the ocean with the brass and reed instruments.  Sharpiro’s Tight Squeeze is described as a mash-up of Techno, Latin Bebop, and the Twelve-tone music of Arnold Schoenberg.  If you haven’t listened to twelve-tone music before, you should give Schoenberg’s Suite for Piano a try.  You likely won’t thank me, but you would understand why I was skeptical of the combination.  I should not have been worried.  The Wind Ensemble’s performance was a delightful, foot-taping rendition of Sharpiro’s great work.  

On February 20, the College Choir presented their concert, Way Over in Beulah Lan’: Spiritual Arrangements Old and New, a collection of spirituals arranged by various composers.  These men and women—such as R. Nathaniel Dett, Florence Frice, Moses Hogan, and Rosephanye Powell—who notated the tunes and words passed down by oral tradition.  These Spirituals ranged from the melancholy stillness of Dett’s Deep River (also presented by the Wind Ensemble in Still’s Folk Suite) to the lively insistence of Hogan’s Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel, to the joy of Powell’s Good News!.  The title piece, Stacy Gibbs’s Way Over in Beulah Lan’, was conducted by graduate student Rachel Logee.  As a whole, these works expressed both longing for heaven and the present “troubles of the worl’.”  

Audience members expressed how apt this program was for celebrating Black History Month and how expressive the choir and the soloists Josey Ikker, Lydia Rech, Adeline Roeske, Caleb Durant, and Michael McLure were.  President Lewis was also in attendance.  He also expressed how timely the concert was, writing that, “The concert was easily one of my favorite Houghton experiences thus far,” and that “The performance of negro spirituals that are so central to the African American story during this year’s celebration of Black History month was very special.”  

Thank you, Wind Ensemble and College Choir for a great weekend of music making! ★

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Opinions

Inspiration in Historic Icons

By Elise Koelbl

I have always found history to be fascinating. So many different cultures and worlds have existed on the same planet as we do in our own current time period. Even going back a few decades, the world was a completely different place than it is today. Our history is filled with so many heroes and adventures, protagonists and antagonists, empires and cultures that I’m surprised I don’t see people talk about the stories of old with more passion. There are so many fans of fictional stories, such as Harry Potter and Chronicles of Narnia, who love to invest in a good engaging plot. I almost wonder if people stop to consider that this earth has fascinating stories and people of its own to tell about.

One of the stories that draws me in just as much as that of Harry Potter or Prince Caspian is the story of Christa McAuliffe. For those that don’t know, Christa was selected out of thousands of teachers for NASA’s Teacher in Space program, the first of what would have been many “citizens in space” programs. By the 1980s, space launches had drastically faded from the public’s attention since their peak in the late 60s, leading NASA to decide to allow citizens to fly in space in order to gain publicity. Out of 11,000 applicants, Christa stood out as the best teacher for the job. She showed an unrivaled passion for teaching as well as abundant kindness for others. Not only would she help NASA gain publicity, but she could also help the teachers and students of America gain a passion for learning. Unfortunately what was supposed to be a joyous adventure for Christa ended with catastrophe; she perished along with the six other astronauts on board the Challenger. In just seventy-three seconds, she was gone. The Challenger disaster struck the lives of many with grief, but though the excursion ended in death, Christa unknowingly left a legacy of inspiration for the world with her passion for living. She was the kind of person that celebrated others with a homemade batch of cookies, pushed her students forward by writing college recommendation letters even moments before the launch, and without hesitation, and always became a listening ear to those that needed it most. Though she lived almost two decades before I was born, she taught me the value of living each moment to the fullest.

While looking to the stars, there is another person that took flight in the hearts of many– Amelia Earhart. I’m sure many people are familiar with her story, as Amelia Earhart was the first woman ever to cross the Atlantic by airplane. She achieved many great feats in her humble plane as she performed dangerous feats and crossed a variety of landscapes. She did all this with a strong will and passion to push herself to do more than what was already done. One of the things that stands out to me about Amelia Earhart is that she didn’t start with an easy, wholesome childhood but rather her life had a rocky start. Her father lost his job and as a result, turned to drinking. His addiction to alcohol became so bad that eventually, Amelia’s parents had to divorce. Even though Amelia Earhart had such a painful childhood characterized in many ways by her difficult relationship with her parents, she never lost her drive and passion to overcome obstacles. The thing that strikes me the most is that Amelia Earhart was fearless. She wasn’t afraid of what people thought of her and wasn’t afraid to challenge how things were at the time. She did things simply because she wanted to. The thing that inspires me the most about her is her drive and fearlessness. She didn’t let her past define who she wanted to be. 

What is it that makes history itself so inspiring? Why look to figures of the past? It’s true our world has changed since the times of long ago. Some people alive today experienced realities that are now incredibly foreign to us; but that doesn’t mean that we can’t experience them in a different way. If we’re willing to listen, there are so many people whose lives can tell stories just as exciting as fiction, if not better. If you need inspiration and guidance on how to live your future, look to the past. History is still alive and it’s waiting for you to add your chapter to its ever-expanding story. ★

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News

Review: 33rd Annual Juried Student Exhibition

By Zach McKay

The reception for the 33rd Annual Juried Student Exhibition was held on Friday, March 11. The jurors were Amanda and Brian Oglesbee, a local artist couple whose work was displayed in the Ortlip Gallery this past Fall 2021. The work displayed in this year’s Juried Show was incredibly varied, spanning medium and scale. 

This year’s Best in Show piece was wandering soul, i remember everything, a gouache portrait diptych by Mary Hannah Kennedy (‘22). The first-place piece was The Shrill, a non-objective oil painting by Sarah Mertzlufft (‘22). The second-place piece was Even the Weeds, a watercolor landscape by Ellie Kettinger. The third-place piece was Quarantine Big Dude, an organic sculptural piece by Alyssa Lyon (‘23). The Roselyn Danner Memorial Honorable Mention Awards were given to Kimberlyn Brocht (‘22) for Index and Rebecca Haro (‘24) for Hannah. Jessie-Fay Abbott (‘22) received the President’s Choice Award for Glass Portrait. The two Juror’s Choice Awards were presented to Brocht for her cyanotypes, Untitled, and Zach McKay (‘22) for his watercolor painting, CAT. 

This year, the jurors also introduced a few new awards. Hayden Williamson’s (‘23) ceramic piece, Hugo, was given the Whitley Lewis Choice Award and the Noah Hodgkins Memorial Award was bestowed to Fortezza Albornoz, a large conté landscape drawing by Kennedy (‘22). 

According to gallery assistant Sarah Mertzlufft (‘22), this year’s student show had 83 submissions, “more than the juried show has seen in years.” Because of this, the jurors were forced to be highly selective, but they were impressed by the range and quality of Houghton College students and their artwork. The Juried Show will remain open in the Ortlip Gallery until April 2nd. It will be followed by the 2022 Senior Show, which will open to the public on April 11. ★

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Houghton College Offers Drone Pilot Training

By Seth Hodgkins

Houghton College and Aquiline Drones have started a five-year partnership to offer an online drone pilot training program, Flight to the Future. Taking this course will teach students about drone technology and prepare them to take the exam required to become a licensed drone pilot under the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The course will be instructed asynchronously by Carmen McKell, the Director of the Center for Data Science Analytics. When asked who should take this course, she explained that “anyone can take this course who has the desire to learn about drone technology,” but also noted that the course is particularly helpful for “working professionals looking to enhance their skill set” and “high school students seeking early college credit.”

There are limitless applications of drones in business today. Since 2016 when the FAA granted numerous exemptions for companies to operate drones, the drone services market has grown drastically and is expected to continue to grow another 24% by 2026 according to businesswire.com. McKell listed just some of the uses: “In construction to track building projects, in oil and gas to inspect pipelines, security for homes and businesses, military intelligence gathering, real estate, and conservation research like whale monitoring, wildfire impact assessment, and disease monitoring in trees.” She also added that, “having a drone license is critical for starting your own business or starting a career in [these fields],” and “there’s never been a better time to get started in the growing field of drone technology.”

A drone pilot certification is also a fitting addition to the toolbox of a data scientist, if that’s the career you’re working towards. “Data science plays a key role in [the drone industry],” McKell explained. “Drones and their associated software generate an enormous amount of data. In addition to taking aerial photos and videos, drones can collect information about everything from the health of crops to thermal leaks in buildings.” This raw information can be used by a data scientist to find new insights for decision making.

Jake Crawford, Houghton’s Content Marketing Specialist, is a great example of the value a drone license holds in a professional career. He has enrolled in the program for a license that he can “utilize in a way that could be advantageous to Houghton, freelance work, and [his] own personal projects.” He was first recommended to get a drone license in a meeting, saying “once we had access to the resources, I was given the ability to take the class.” Crawford continued on to explain the usefulness of drones in marketing and filmmaking. “They’re incredibly helpful to enhance the scope of your environment by giving you a point of view that you would never be able to experience without the technology that a drone possesses.”

Regardless of the career you’re pursuing, having a drone license is a valuable asset in this digitally-driven world. If you are interested in drone technology, or want to learn the necessary skills to pass the pilot exam, consider taking the Flight to the Future drone pilot training course. ★

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Women’s Soccer Team Welcomes New Head Coach

By Sarah Burton

In February of 2022, Houghton College announced that Esther Webb was to become Houghton’s sixth Women’s Head Soccer Coach, filling the role formerly held by Nikki Elsaesser. Webb grew up in Houghton and graduated from the college in 2016, going on to coach at a few other Christian colleges before coming back to Houghton this year. 

The search process for filling any position at the college level is an extensive and time-consuming process. At Houghton College, it is important to find faculty and staff that reflect the values of the college as well as expertise in the given positions. In an email, Dr. Karen Torraca, who was the Chair of the Search Committee, explained the inner workings of the search process. It begins with a nation-wide position posting, followed by application reviews, then two interviews, one online and the other in-person. During this, the search committee narrows down candidates after each point of the process to just one, which they submit to the President to approve. 

During the in-person interview, the candidates for the position come to campus and interact with various members, such as a representative from Student Life, other faculty and staff, and the President. This part of the search process includes the student body of the campus, allowing the search committee to receive an impression of how well the candidate would fit into the campus body. Torraca mentioned how important these interactions are because the final candidate is selected and sent to the President for approval “based on input from the search committee and from all those participating in the in-person interviews.” 

Alliah Fluent (‘25) recalled these interactions, saying “Throughout this search process, I felt like the opinion of the team was important to the search team and I felt our opinions on the candidates were heard and taken into consideration… I am excited for the future coach Nikki is going to have and I am also excited about the future of this team with coach Esther leading us.” Her hopes for the team include Webb creating strong offensive and defensive teams, using the unique skills that each player brings onto the field. 

Torraca gave feedback about the selection process for Webb, saying “The search committee came to a unanimous decision on Esther Webb. [She] is a great fit for Houghton with respect to her faith. Since she knows and understands Houghton well, she will be able to recruit well and build a strong team.” On behalf of the entire search committee, Torraca is confident in the potential of Webb as the new Women’s Head Soccer coach.

In a memo sent from President Lewis to the Houghton College Community on February 15th, he expressed as much enthusiastic confidence in Webb as Torraca, saying “her playing experience, knowledge of the game and coaching experience– combined with her passion for sports ministry and her love for and knowledge of Houghton, uniquely qualifies her for this opportunity.” He concluded the memo by calling for congratulations and welcoming her back to the community.  

When asked about how she felt about the new Head Coach, Chloe Shaw (‘25) stated “I was unsure how I felt about coach Nikki leaving… but I am looking forward to working with coach Esther and really excited to start working with this group of girls again.” Shaw’s aspirations for this upcoming season include “accomplishing a winning record.” With this kind of optimism, the Women’s Soccer Team is ready for their next season, with Webb at the helm. ★

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Houghton’s Lyric Theater Prepares for “Pirates of Penzance”

By Jacqueline Johnson

Members of Lyric Theater are excitedly preparing for this spring’s production of Arthur Sullivan and Willam Gilbert’s Pirates of Penzance. Performances will occur from March 31 through April 2 in Houghton’s Wesley Chapel.

Directed by Professor Amanda Cox, Pirates of Penzance is a comedic opera that offers up a phenomenal cast who are sure to put on a wonderful performance. It follows the story of a young pirate apprentice (Michael McLure (‘22)), and the hilarious miscommunications that ensue as his apprenticeship is completed, with ample song and dance along the way. 

Professor Cox notes her excitement for the show, saying, “I have had such a wonderful time directing Pirates so far. It is a hilarious and zany show, and the students have leaned right into that. Our cast is so, so funny! The lyrics and script are so cleverly written, the music is fantastic, and the story is wild. I know our audiences will have a delightful time. I am so very proud of the hard work, skill, and courage of our students as they throw themselves fully into their characters and tell this rollicking tale!”

The cast is certainly impressive, with the Pirate King played by Caleb Durant (‘22), Samuel by Ethan Carr, Frederic by Michael McLure (‘22), Ruth by Bekah Scharf, Mabel by Rachel McVeigh (‘23), Kate by Bridget Sobolewski (‘23), Isabel by Emily Quick (‘23), and many more outstanding cast members.

Those involved in the production team include chorus master Rachel Logee, pianist Andrew Reith, conductor Jack Smith, stage manager Madge Chroniger, choreographer Linette Taylor (‘23), and Cody Johnson (‘24) (who will also be portraying the Major General for two out of four performances) on set design. 

Caleb Durant (‘22) says how much he has loved working with Professor Cox and the rest of the cast. “She [Professor Cox] creates an atmosphere of safety and acceptance that makes it possible for us to be vulnerable and creative.”

Josey Ikker (‘24), who plays Edith, also expresses excitement towards the upcoming show saying, “I love almost everything about this musical; working with Professor Cox is always a joy. She knows how to present new ideas to others in rehearsal and she makes sure everyone is involved stage-wise. Pirates of Penzance is definitely a show worth checking out with grand operatic and comedic fun.”

i! This show contains a lot of laughter and entertainment, and many are sure to enjoy this show that the cast and crew has worked hard on. ★

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Columns

Armageddon (1998)

By Caleb Tiedemann

Armageddon is a movie that I randomly remember renting from the library because I was looking for something to watch that night, little did I know I was just briefly glancing at what would be my favorite movie of all time. It’s very weird, explaining that your favorite movie of all time is a movie that very few people have seen or even remember seeing. Directed by Michael Bay, it’s a movie that many might glance over. Michael Bay is not necessarily known for anything great, other than the Transformers movies and a love of seamless explosions and action. You can guess how quickly interest is lost when someone hears that Bay is the director. Now, is this movie a masterpiece? No, it very clearly is not. However, in my humble opinion, it is.

Michael Bay’s 1998 film: Armageddon, centers around an asteroid the size of Texas hurtling towards Earth that will surely wipe out the entire planet. Eager to destroy the asteroid before it hits, the world governments want to send a team into space to deposit a nuke on the asteroid and blow it up. The only problem: the nuke has to be planted within the asteroid for it to properly explode, which would shatter it into enough pieces that if any chunks did hit the Earth it would not be detrimental. With that in mind, NASA and head Dan Truman (Billy Bob Thornton) request the help of Harry Stamper (Bruce Willis) and his team of misfits (Liv Tyler, Ben Affleck, Michael Clarke Duncan, Steve Buscemi, etc.) all who work for Stamper Oil, a drilling company. These men are humanity’s final hope of survival. 

The first and possibly best thing about this movie is the characters. Within its 150 minute runtime, you are introduced to a multitude of characters, all of which have differing and quirky personalities setting each aside from another. Another amazing thing was that they were all absolutely hilarious, each character had at least one memorable line or scene that made me laugh aloud. It is through these personalities and brief lines that you can really glimpse each character for what they really are, which I absolutely adore. However, this makes the movie more nerve-wracking to watch as not all of these characters are going to make it back alive. With this knowledge, I was incredibly saddened, but also incredibly surprised with how quickly I fell in love with these characters. 

This is also one of the few movies that makes me cry and not just a couple of tears either, literal bawling like a baby, the using up tissues, and sobbing kind of cry. A testament to my love of this movie and firm belief that it is amazing. There’s just such a good combination of intensity and emotion, all of which is way too much for me to handle. The main characters have to watch their friends and family die, brotherly love, romantic love, parental love, all forms are on display in these amazing characters. There’s fear in not knowing if Harry will return to see his daughter, fear in not knowing if AJ will return to be married to his fiance. It’s the combination of all these things that put intense emotional stress upon the viewer. Somehow Michael Bay makes it all work.

Along with those primary elements, the CGI is quite amazing, especially for a low-budget 90’s movie, with the explosions and space CG being surprisingly realistic. Secondly, the score and soundtrack work very well. It helps to build the intensity of each situation as your group of characters are put through trial after trial. The single song, I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing by Aerosmith is an immaculate song that was instantly added to my favorite playlist. In conclusion, I personally think that Armageddon is the best movie, as of now, that I have ever seen. A unique plot and cast of characters further prove my point. The combination of score, cinematography and acting combine into a beautiful creation and an experience that I will never forget and want to share with as many people as humanly possible. I urge you to see this movie, I doubt many people will have the same reactions as I did but I still think the movie is worth your time to enjoy. ★

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Opinions

Mending Love

By Elise Swanson

With Valentine’s Day a few weeks behind us, I have been thinking a lot about love.  Not the romantic, chocolate and flowers kind of love, but the love that we, as Christians, show each other.  We are called as Christians to love our neighbors as ourselves and to strive to live like Christ.  In this, we fail as often as we succeed.  

Someone recently told me that the people who are the hardest to love need it the most.  This, I think, is accurate.  It is easy to love those we like and get along with, and easy to dismiss those we don’t agree with. It’s very easy to say that we want to exemplify Christ, and then to pick and choose who we show our love to.  I, too, am guilty of this.  I lose patience with some people much faster than others, and this is not okay.  Just because someone has a different belief, personality, or interests, it is not our place to judge them.

Houghton is a unique place.  We show love here more than other colleges.  We leave our bags unattended without fear and hold doors open for each other (even when the person is at an extremely awkward distance).  We even buy each other Java drinks for each via pay it forwards.  I am thankful to be part of a campus where love is shown daily.  

And yet, we forget far too often that those who have different fundamental beliefs deserve our love too.  Covid-19 has just made the ways we fail to love each other clearer.   Just because someone is or isn’t vaccinated doesn’t mean they are undeserving of love.  If someone has a different political belief, they still deserve love.  If someone does not believe in God, or is of a different faith, they still deserve our love.  God loves them even when we fail to, and this is something we cannot forget.  If we truly want to exemplify Christ, we must stop widening the divide between each other through love.  

Loving each other should not be something determined by choice.  It is about setting aside our differences and seeing each other as fellow humans who were created by God and in His image.  We can’t choose to love one person and not another.  To truly exemplify Christ, our love needs to be consistent for everyone. 

I still remember the first game I played as a member of the Houghton softball team.  After the game ended, we stood alternating with the opposing team, holding hands, and prayed.  I remember thinking how strange it was to hold the hands of my “opponents,” who I had just spent three hours playing against.  I soon realized, as we bowed our heads in prayer, that this was not strange.  This was what showing the love of God to others should look like.  

It was a beautiful experience, to know that we could put down our bats and come together with the singular goal of worshipping God.  We were united by a love of Christ that overcame all dividing factors.  This is what putting aside our differences can be.  It can open the door to truly loving each other consistently and exemplifying God as we are called to do. ★

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Men’s Tennis Ready For New Season

By Isaac Little

The Houghton Men’s Tennis team completed their 2021 spring campaign by claiming the Empire 8 Championship title and competing in the Division III National Tournament for the first time in program history. Since then, the program has promoted Coach Zach Shilvock to the Head Coach position, who has added five new faces to the roster. Although the Highlanders understand the obstacles that will arise during the season, Coach Shilvock says that he is “eager to see how this group responds to the challenges that are thrown our way this Spring”. 

Houghton Men’s Tennis is centered around brotherhood, work ethic, and grit. When speaking to Coach Zach Shilvock about the upcoming season, he stated that “this is a new team with a whole new identity and ambitions. Our team is extremely dedicated to their craft, and that will serve us well heading into competition.” The Houghton Men’s Tennis team wants to be known as the hardest working and grittiest team you play. Coach Shilvock echoed this, noting that “when you come to play Houghton, you better bring your game because we will never give up.” When speaking to captain Matt Cicero (‘22) about his ambitions for the season, he told the STAR that “I want to cement the crown on our head. To let everyone know that we are the best tennis team in the Empire 8, we belong at the top, and we will stay there for a long time. . .  I want to create a dynasty.” Cicero has played an instrumental role on the Highlanders team as he claimed the match deciding victory in the conference finals match last year where he was awarded the tournament MVP trophy. The veteran has earned his right as a leader on the team where he displays consistent dedication and effort and took on the challenge to improve the team’s fitness.

Depth is one word that could be used to describe the Men’s team. Having a roster that is close in talent provides the ability to ensure that there will be competition between every match despite who is on each side of the net. Matt Cicero (‘22) adds that “this year we have a lot of guys whose talent levels are in close proximity, and that makes for a lot of exciting doubles pairings.” Depth could prove to be the difference maker between this team compared to other teams in the past. This can be proven in the fall when the Highlanders traveled to SUNY Oswego, and three of the Highlanders starters were out. Freshman Noah Harley (‘25) claimed a clutch victory at six singles to give Houghton the 5-4 win. Harley’s effort embodied relentlessness, determination, and grit. After adding Micah Schilke (‘23), Levi Webb (‘24), and Jaimie Staerkle (‘25), who missed the SUNY Oswego match back in the mix, the Highlanders pose a serious challenge to  their opponents. 

Houghton Tennis has been blessed to have some amazing crowd support from the Houghton community and student body. Coach Zach Shilvock adds that “I can state with certainty that we would not have won the E8 Championship match against Nazareth if it wasn’t for the support we had, and in particular from our baseball team that day.” When asking about their hopes for the spring, the team stated that they have high hopes that people will come out to support them and bring some energy again this year. Coach Shilvock concluded his comments by stating that “tennis is always seen as the quiet sport, but we want to hear people cheering and getting loud at our matches.” 

The Houghton Men’s Tennis team is approaching the spring season hungry, where they hope to reclaim the Empire 8 title, and put forth a strong showing at the Division III National Tournament. Regardless of the result, the team is entering the year with the mentality of “Hold the Vision, Trust the Process.” ★