Most people on campus know of junior record-breaking quarterback Zach Taylor for what he’s accomplished on the football field — he will be a three-time captain next fall, was an honorable-mention All-NCAC selection in 2018 after compiling 18 passing touchdowns and three rushing touchdowns, and was a Male Athlete of the Year nominee at the 2019 Obie Awards.
He’s also the co-founder and leader of Athlete Bible Study, a co-chair of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, and a hardworking student with hopes of one day becoming an orthopedic surgeon. However, what many people don’t know about him is how he spent many of his Saturday afternoons this past semester.
Every other Saturday, Taylor and eight or nine of his teammates made the trek to FoxCreek Golf and Racquet Club in Lorain, Ohio to volunteer for Buddy Up Tennis, a national organization that hosts weekly 90-minute clinics for children and young adults with down syndrome. These athletes are partnered with “buddies” like Taylor and his teammates, who take them through conditioning and tennis drills that help them build social skills and confidence on top of keeping them active physically. Taylor became interested in Buddy Up Tennis over two years ago during his first semester at Oberlin, when the organization was mentioned at a SAAC meeting. He began going the following semester and loved it so much that he spread it to his teammates. Although it’s completely voluntary, many members of the football team have made it a bi-weekly commitment this spring.
As competitive as Taylor is on the football field and in the weight room, he said he mostly just has fun at Buddy Up Tennis. Every session ends with a game of Duck, Duck, Goose, which Taylor said is his favorite part because of how creative the kids get while playing.
“Watching them have fun is the best part for sure,” he said. “You go in at the end of the week on a Saturday, kind of beat up from tests and everything else that stressed you out throughout the week, and once you get there it’s so refreshing to just forget about that and enjoy being with these kids.”
Most of the athletes at Buddy Up Tennis are high school students, making it easy for Taylor and his teammates to form relationships with them.
“I think we’ve learned more from them than they could ever learn from us,” Taylor said. “We went in thinking that this would be something we could help with, not realizing how much help they would give us. They inspire us every time we go.”
However, Taylor’s teammates are inspired by his leadership as well.
“[Taylor] is someone who is always willing to go the extra mile, and that shows in everything he does off the field, especially Buddy Up Tennis,” said Kobe Brooks, a first-year running back. “Having a leader consistently encouraging everyone to work harder even outside our comfort zones allows us to grow together as a family.”
Junior offensive lineman Chandler Laird, who is from nearby Olmsted Falls, is a frequent volunteer at Buddy Up Tennis — the team relies on him to drive them to FoxCreek. He said he didn’t know what to expect the first time he went but was immediately impacted by the people he met.
“The moment we started, and I saw the joy and enthusiasm on the faces of those participating, I knew that I would enjoy Buddy Up Tennis,” he said. “The biggest impact they’ve had on me was changing my perception of those who are differently abled. Witnessing their hard work, kindness, and determination was an inspiration to all involved. They also taught me to be a humble loser when they beat me in tennis.”
Laird added that it’s a privilege to be a college athlete, and that people like himself should always make an effort to help out in the community. “I feel it’s important for everyone to have a positive impact and presence in their community, and I also believe it’s important for us as athletes because of the negative stigma of football players being unintelligent and self-centered,” he said.
However, Laird and Taylor hope that a team tradition they have helped create spreads to other varsity teams at Oberlin as well.
“I’d recommend it to anyone, because it definitely changed my perspective,” Taylor said. “I wake up and am always concerned with school and athletics, and these kids just put things into perspective by showing the value in having fun and enjoying spending time with the people around you.”