First-Year Spartan Laura Mummey

Hello everyone! My name is Laura Mummey and I have officially survived my first month at Case! I’m from Hudson, OH, which is about 45 minutes south of Cleveland. I may not be too far from home, but living on my own has still taken some getting used to! Sharing a bathroom with twenty other girls, surviving without air conditioning, doing my own laundry, and climbing (literally) into my lofted bed are finally starting to seem normal. I can now comfortably and happily call Case my new home!

Since I’ve been on campus, I’ve lost track of the number of times I’ve been asked about my intended major. While it’s tempting to answer with “biomedical engineering” just to avoid any further questions (only at Case is this a typical response), I’m actually planning on majoring in Psychology. Ultimately I want to go into business and use my psychology background to get people’s money rather than to help them (I guess the politically correct term for this would be Marketing). I’m also interested in Spanish and am considering a Spanish minor.

I’ve officially started a mental countdown to October 15th—the first day of basketball practice! I’m so excited for basketball season to start so I can stop playing against my teammates (in open gyms) and start playing with them! Everyone in the Spartan basketball program is so supportive and their enthusiasm for basketball is infectious. They’re the only group of girls I know who would start a 6 AM workout fifteen minutes early! Even though the coaches aren’t allowed to supervise our workouts or open gyms, everyone works hard, stays focused, and supports each other. I’m thrilled to have the honor of playing with such hardworking individuals and such a close-knit team.

My first month on campus has been full of new faces, challenges, and experiences but I’m so excited for what’s to come. I can’t wait for practices to start, for more opportunities to get to know my fellow Spartans, and to experience all that Case has in store for me.
Go Spartans!

Summer in the City

Photo Caption: Evy, Erica, Marissa at the Parade at the Circle with our roomate Archana

There's been hippies hula-hooping in the middle of the street, live music on Wednesday nights, golfing (ask Erica who lost),a parade of peculiar costumes and floats, rocking chairs on the front porch, and entirely too much delcious food being grilled up in the backyard.

Through all the craziness that has become our summer in Cleveland, we may never have imagined that our days on Hessler Road could be this much fun. Pack up the books and bring out the sunshine, and the campus completely transforms... well kind of, considering Erica and Evy spend most of their days at the library studying for
their exams, (Erica takes the MCAT and Evy takes the GRE in July--nerds).

As my dorky roommates studiously flip through flash cards and practice exams I, (yes this is Marissa writing most of this, sorry its past 9:30 PM which means that the other two are pretty much useless at this point) spend my days sporting a cute high-waisted engineering uniform and safety glasses. Don't worry, Evy's vet scrubs aren't much better (yes, she spends her afternoons feeding kittens and walking puppies).

Our summer started off on the right note with the celebration of the annual Hessler Street Fair. Vendors lined our little one-way brick road with food trucks, jewlery makers, and a pottery lady named Beth (our new friend). We got henna tattoos, visited the drum circle, and danced under the stars as Carlos Jones and the PLUS Band took the stage with ragae music that "touched Erica's soul."

We spend most of our evenings hanging out on the front porch, working out, and making delicious dinner together (Evy would like to have a shout-out as "Grill Master" so out of pitty I will give it to her). With too many annoying "Call Me Maybe" repeats and a few water fights, it may be a surprise that we have not yet killed each other. However, there's much more to cross off of the summer bucket list ... swimming in Lake Erie, taking a trip to Cedar Point, and going to an Indians game.

I think I have seen more sun here in the last month than I have in the last three years here... and not complaining, but with 4th of July quickly approaching, there is much more fun to be had.

I'd like to take this time to quickly point out the fact that Erica and I have successfully influenced a taste for country music upon our good friend Evy.

That being said, it's probably about time to wrap this up, some of us (just me actually) have internships worth waking up at 5:30 AM for. If you find yourself
in the area in the coming months, be sure to stop by and visit us.. please, I could really use a break from these two!!

Enjoy the rest of your summer, friends!
With Much Love,
Marissa, Erica, and Evy

Bloggin' it up--on the road to Boston and NYC. By Chelsea Steen '15

The calendar read January 26. The travelers were the feared Spartans. The destination was Boston. And the mission was to destroy our enemies on the basketball courts of battle.

The journey began at the airport of Akron, Ohio. Penelope (pictured below, left), a loyal minion to the Spartans, slyly made her way through security. The rest of the Spartans promptly followed. However, what airport security did not know is that the Spartans, including Penelope (don’t let her fluffy exterior deceive you), each possessed a deadly weapon that no body scan would ever be able to detect – inner fight. Upon arrival to Boston, Massachusetts, the Spartans departed for the gym to prepare for battle against the Judges of Brandeis University. They practiced hard and left the gym feeling inspired, filled with combative energy and growling stomachs.

The Spartans’ loyal trolley ventured through the streets of Boston and dropped them off near the heart of downtown. It was now up to the girls to find food and secure the nutrients that they possess, in order to reach their optimal performance conditions. Some found themselves in fancy seafood restaurants, while others made their way into an Irish Pub. After devouring platters of fish and chips, the girls trekked back to their mobile bus, bellies full and rain streaking down their faces. They now set off to engage in the practice of beauty sleep, upon the heavenly white pillows of the Embassy Suites.

The next morning consisted of a large breakfast and a productive shoot around. The Spartans then devoured their pre-game feast at an establishment referred to as Bertucci’s. After mounds of pasta, salad, and rolls made with nicotine, they set out for the gym. The ladies had been in a bit of a rough patch on the battlefield of basketball, but that was all to end on this day. An inspiring recorded speech from a teammate back home motivated the Spartans to come out of the gates swinging. In fact, the ladies were swinging so hard that one Spartan swiftly knocked an official onto his hindquarters, where he then laid his head upon a metal bar and prepared to face his death. However, our talented trainers were there in a second to revive him back to life. The official eventually stood up, despite his beliefs that he may never walk again. Although an innocent man had just been injured in the course of battle, the Spartans did not let down. When the dust cleared, the Spartans had reigned victorious over Brandeis University. Case closed, Judges.


The next morning, the Lady Spartans embarked on a strenuous bus ride to the Big Apple. After checking into the lovely La Quinta hotel, the Spartans headed to the gym of NYU. **Please take a moment of silence to reflect on the boys whom were late for the charter bus, and therefore were left to run through the treacherous city in efforts to catch it. New York City has them now.. God rest their souls.** After a great practice, the Spartans washed in the showers of the tiny people at New York University. They then returned to their humble abode and put on their hot girl disguises.

Set free to roam the city, one group of Spartans navigated the streets with hopes of finding delectable food. One talented food-finding Spartan (me) discovered a hole in the wall Chinese restaurant. Inside, customers were given chopsticks in place of forks and knives, and the pale Spartans found that they were the minority. The grub was authentic, as well as delightful. With full tummies, the Spartans continued on to the district of big TVs and bright lights – Times Square. It is here that Destinee Henton’s dreams came true. You see, Destinee was able to meet the real Spongebob (pictured above, left to right, Erin Reynolds '15, Destinee Henton '15, Spongebob, Chelsea Steen '15, Amanda Germer '15). After a quick snapshot, Spongebob proceeded to ask us for money (he needed the money to renovate his pineapple home). The Spartans explored, shopped, and stuffed their faces with frozen yogurt. Upon returning to the palace of La Quinta, the Spartans fell asleep as the scent of brussel sprouts and old people filled their nostrils... Delicious.

Morning arrived. Again, the Spartans prepared for battle and headed to the gym. They had won the first game and were determined to finish off the weekend 2-0. Long story short, they did just that. The Spartans defeated the Violets of NYU and headed home, heads held high. However, before they arrived at the airport, their wonderful bus driver gave them a brief tour of the city, Statue of Liberty included. Just as Ms. Liberty holds a torch high above her head, burning bright with flames, the Spartans of Case Western hold a fire inside their hearts, burning all of the time. Burning with desire. Burning with fight.

The End.

First Road Trip for Erin Reynolds '15 and The Spartans!

Pictured left, Erin Reynolds is a first-year member of the women's basketball team at Case Western Reserve University.

The journey started out like any other, just the men's & women's teams on their way to show their appreciation for the hallowed game that we call basketball. Thought the four hour bus ride was long, the ten mile hikes to our individual chateaus once we arrived in Rochester seemed even longer. The comfy beds, full kitchen, and free popcorn helped mend our weary bones. The next day we set off for the gym to prepare for our game against Rochester. Shoot-around started off rough, but with brilliant fight the team pulled together and ended the practice on a high note.

That evening we faced the Yellow Jackets of Rochester. The first half of the game, to put it politely, was streaky. We had our good moments, we had our moments, and we ended the half trailing by 14. We rallied at half time, and did what we do best; come together and play as a team. We came within three, but ended up losing the game by 12 due to some sharp free throw shooting by Rochester.

The next day we headed to the airport with our sights set on Atlanta and defeating Emory. Our progress was slowed by a two hour delay at the Rochester airport, but we found ways to fill the time. Some, being the studious Case students we are, worked on homework, others played card games, and some passed out on the floor of the airport (see Rachel Beaty '15 sleeping in the picture below.) Due to the delay, our Saturday’s practice time was cut in half but we worked hard on preparing to face Emory the next day and left the gym tired and hungry.

That evening, while some team members left for dinner with their families, the rest of the team went to a nice pizza place in downtown Atlanta, where we were serenaded by a swarthy man with a guitar and entertained by old women trying to hit on the musician. We completed the evening by returning to the hotel and stuffing our faces with some delicious Double Tree cookies (and if you have ever had a Double Tree cookie, you know you can’t eat only one).

Sunday brought warmth and hope to the team as we prepared for our game further by watching film and eating the hotel’s 5-star breakfast. We then went to support our men’s team, who gave it their all but unfortunately lost to the Emory Eagles. Next it was our turn, and once again we came out of the gate slow. After trailing by ten at half time, we once again rallied to gain the lead by three points. We couldn’t hold on to the lead, and had another disappointing loss.

We have had a rough few weekends, but I am so proud of the team’s fight. We refuse to say, “Hey, we just played some of the best teams in the country and competed with them; that’s good enough.” We are constantly striving for perfection and can’t wait to catch these teams the second time around.

“Good, better, best. Never let it rest until your good is better and your better is best.” – Tim Duncan