Outside Oberlin:

Kenyon Suffers Fatal Crash

On Thursday, Jan. 13 at approximately 6:40 p.m., a van carrying members of Kenyon College's women's swimming and diving team slid off the road and overturned. There was one fatality, senior captain Molly Hatcher.

The team was on its way back from a meet at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill when the driver lost control under poor road conditions, reported the state police. First-year students Jessica Case and Katherine "Kate" Holland were life-flighted to Grant Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, where they are listed in fair condition.

Hatcher is described as deeply caring, a talented student, hard-working athlete and committed advocate of women's rights. Many on Kenyon's campus, from the swimming and diving and other sports teams, to many other students and faculty, were shocked and deeply upset to hear of Hatcher's death, school officials said. She was in her fourth year as a member of the powerhouse Ladies team.

To write about and play in the North Coast Athletic Conference means you will come to understand certain givens. Denison's cross country team's will always center around one ultra-standout. Ohio Wesleyan will always have a strong passing game and a stronger running game. And Kenyon's swimmers will always, always be the team to beat.

Sixteen straight women's national championships through 1999. Twenty-two straight state or conference titles since 1977. On the men's side its 46 straight conference championships, along with every national championship crown from 1980 to today and 83 individual national champions.

But what you'll probably hear more in any discussion about the Lords' and Ladies' dominance of the lanes is how close their team is, how much they care for and support each other, and how much of a family they are. You'll hear those phrases tossed around about many teams at many levels, and certainly around most championship dynasties. But with Kenyon there is no question of the closeness and support that lasted, not just through one group of students over four of five years, but literally over decades.

That strength of friendship, support, and teamwork is now put to the test in the most unwanted of ways. It will be a true tribute to the Kenyon swimmers' tradition of camaraderie if they march into the 2000 championships in Atlanta and take home yet another pair of victories. To tell you the truth, I'd be surprised if they didn't.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and teammates of all those involved in the crash, especially Molly Hatcher, and for the quick and speedy recovery of all those injured.

- Aaron Mucciolo