Winter Term at Oberlin is a time for students to explore their academic interests through a project of their choosing. Some students may go off to explore different parts of the world or learn a new skill, while others opt to take part in one of the many group projects hosted on campus. All students who remain on campus in January have to take part in Winter Term and student-athletes who compete in January must balance their projects with their sport. While the majority of Oberlin sports teams compete before January or begin after, men’s and women’s basketball, track and field, and swim and dive continue their seasons through the first month of the year.
Men’s Basketball
Oberlin’s men’s basketball team had a strong start to the month by securing their first conference win only four days into January. At home against Ohio Wesleyan University, the Yeomen defeated the Battling Bishops 71–62. Over the entire month, the men’s basketball team played seven games, finishing with a 2–5 record. Their other win came against longtime rival Kenyon College, where the final score read 52–47.
“Our team was very tight-knit over this Winter Term,” second-year JJ Gray said. “We grew super close.”
Track and Field
The track and field teams had two meets over the month of January, both at The College of Wooster. The first invitational was Jan. 18; the men’s team performed well, securing 15 personal bests and three conference qualifying marks. The women’s team also showed out and secured 10 personal bests and two conference marks. The next meet was once again at Wooster, and the teams performed strongly. Fourth-year Heather Benway won the long jump competition with her best jump of the season at 5.02 meters. Overall, both the men’s and women’s teams performed well at their two meets of the month, with strong hopes and spirits as they continue into the season.
Women’s Basketball
Women’s basketball opened January with a loss to Ohio Wesleyan on Jan. 4, but bounced back quickly on Jan. 10 with a 77–70 win over Denison University. Following this came two more wins against Hiram and Kenyon, with the scores being 69–67 and 73–40, respectively. Hiram was especially thrilling as the Crimson and Gold were only able to secure the win in the last seconds of the game. At the start of the month, the team started off rough, but came back with a vengeance to win three out of the six games played. The Yeowomen are off to a hot start in February after cruising past The College of Wooster, 63-41 on National Girls and Women in Sports Day at Philips Gymnasium.
Swim and Dive
The swim and dive team had a total of five meets throughout the month, competing well at each. When the team took on Baldwin Wallace University, both the men’s and women’s teams performed strongly, with the Yeowomen winning 172–128 and the Yeomen 165–126. The women’s 200-yard freestyle relay team also had a strong performance, setting a pool record.
“I have found that Winter Term is one of the most pivotal times in the swim and dive season,” fourth-year Averey Johnson wrote in a message to the Review. “It allows us the time to be on campus together while also being very intentional and focused to prepare for our conference championship meet in February.”
