Every person’s college experience is unique. Kenyon College seems to be a very popular choice for a lot of ETHS student-athletes over the years. Kenyon College is a pretty, yet small, college in Gambier, Ohio, that has around half the student population of ETHS. There are many ETHS Alumni who seemed to really enjoy the school, while others have felt differently and left Kenyon College within the first year.
Some alums who have loved their experience as student-athletes at Kenyon College are senior lacrosse player Lily Mason, junior soccer player Ariel Kite, and sophomore baseball player McHenry Mason.
Some athletes described that they felt worried at first, going from ETHS, which has over double the enrollment of Kenyon, to a smaller college. Yet, highlighted that their worry quickly went away because of Kenyon’s tight-knit community on and off the field. Lily Mason and Kite also mentioned that they were able to join a sorority, which isn’t always a possibility for athletes, and that they have really enjoyed being able to connect with non-athlete students.
“I thought that being at a school with almost half the population of ETHS would really throw me off, but the small size is one of my favorite aspects,” mentioned Kite. “It’s fun to walk down campus and say hi to people you know.”
It’s equally important to highlight the athletes who committed to Kenyon for their sport and transferred within the first semester. ETHS sent three students from the class of 2025 to Kenyon: lacrosse player Katherine Granchalek, soccer players George Lewis and Johnny Hunwick. Sometimes, the college you originally choose isn’t always the best fit, and all three athletes from the Class of 2025 felt this way at Kenyon College.
Another important aspect of being a collegiate athlete is to highlight how difficult it can be to find the right school for you, especially a school that you will continue to stick with. It takes a lot to have to walk away from something you committed to, but it takes even more to continue the experience and push through hardships.
“It’s definitely a grind. Balancing practice and school takes a toll, for sure. You get used to it, and busy days aren’t always a bad thing,” McHenry Mason said. “I really enjoy being on the team as well as taking tons of very rigorous classes.”
Like any other collegiate athletic experience, balancing school life and sports life can be difficult. The athletes at Kenyon have mentioned how the school helps support their student athletes and makes accommodations to their schedules to help keep the balance. To add on, the athletes at Kenyon also described how they were able to make a lot of connections and friendships outside of their sport, which isn’t always an option at other schools.
“Being at a school where you have personal relationships with professors and faculty is really a game-changer. I spend a lot of time meeting with professors for help in class or to talk about my career plans, which is very helpful,” Kite explained. “Kenyon has a ‘dead period’ of classes, so 4 pm-7 pm we have no classes offered, so practice and lifts never interfere with school.”
It’s unclear whether ETHS Alums will continue to decide to attend Kenyon or not, but it’s important to highlight the Alums who have had a great experience at Kenyon, with the tight-knit community and the understanding professors. It’s equally important to mention the past ETHS Alums who weren’t as fortunate with their experience at this smaller college.
“Everyone whom I have talked to who graduated from Kenyon says that there is just something about Kenyon that isn’t like any other school,” stated Lily Mason. “People often called it a hidden gem, so I trusted my instincts and made my commitment the summer before senior year of high school, and I’m happy I did.”
