Senior Salute: Ted Wells

Throughout the spring and summer, we'll be honoring our senior student-athletes with a "Senior Salute" series. Today's featured senior is Ted Wells, a political science major from Manlius, New York. Wells is a member of the men's lacrosse team.

Q: Why did you choose to attend The College of Wooster?
A: Coach (P.J.) Kavanagh was the reason that I ended up coming. Coach Kav, the lacrosse team, and Eliza Cullen were the reasons that I ended up staying. They made rural Ohio a place that I didn't want to leave. That's quite a feat.

Q: What does it mean to you to be a Fighting Scot student-athlete?
A: The opportunity to put eye black on and run onto the field for another four years with your best friends. The January night practices in the snow are the best fun one could ever hope to have. The closest team that I've ever been on and the best experiences I've had in my 18 years of organized sports came as a Fighting Scot student-athlete.

Q: What are some of your favorite memories as a student at The College of Wooster?
A: Listening to every episode of the HBO series "Band of Brothers" throughout the night on the bus during each spring break trip. Also, driving through Kansas to get to Colorado during first-year season. Two experiences that shaped me into the hardened individual that I am today.

Q: What's the best part about being a student-athlete at The College of Wooster?
A: Knowing that I will forever be the most athletic member of my household. My younger brother, Greg Wells, also plays lacrosse, but would not last a day in Wayne County due to his lack of #grit and #tegrity. He goes to some school in Boston with an elephant mascot. Also having the best Instagram comments support in the NCAA from Andrew Testani.

Q: What else were you involved with on campus besides your sport?
A: I was, as many would consider, a crucial member of the Nate Huston's athletic training staff. What I lacked in knowledge, I made up for in moral support. He is the best in the business and has basically told me that the operation grinds to a halt without me. I was also a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

Q: Which College of Wooster faculty or staff member has made the greatest impact on you and why?
A: Coach Kav created a culture that led to the best team I have ever been a part of. Without Nate Huston, I would not have been able to participate in anything during any of my four years. He's gotten me back on the field time and again. Dr. (Drew) Pasteur saw potential in me from the start of first-year, and has been the best mentor I could ask for.

Q: What other people or resources impacted your Wooster experience in a positive way and how did these people/resources set you up to be successful at Wooster?
A: Dr. (Jeffrey) Lantis, my Independent Study advisor, has helped me vastly improve my writing ability. Mrs. (Kate) Larson in APEX (Wooster's center for Advising, Planning, and Experiential Learning) has helped me every year at the College. Jack Redick taught me how to be #smart and Connor Mangan made sure I never got too hangry.

Q: Tell us a bit about your Independent Study project?
A: My I.S. is titled "Are Olympic Medals Worth Their Weight in Gold? A Political Economy Study on Government Financial Commitment to Olympic Teams and the Potential Economic Benefits." Basically, does investing in Olympic programs lead to winning medals and then to more tourism?

Q: Tell us a bit about something cool you did as a student at The College of Wooster?
A: Well, one time the bus broke about two miles from a February scrimmage, so we carried our stuff and walked there. I single-handedly kept morale alive. We arrived already sweating through our warmup clothes. I then revealed that I had no regard for the paint on the top right corner (of the goal) by sniping it twice in the beatdown we put on the Pittsburgh club team. Hear the whole story on my podcast – new name coming because TED Talks is already taken.

Q: Reflecting back on your time at Wooster, what is one piece of advice you would give your first-year (freshman) self?
A: You'd be shocked how far you can get by being on time and going to office hours. Never forget to celebrate if you score – that in and of itself is a small miracle because you know that your eyes were closed. Everything that you need is already here.

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