On a warm spring evening, six college students lounge inside a still Halloween-decorated house. One enjoys a steak while the five others relax on the couch watching basketball and talking about their days. Chatter and laughter bounce off the walls, and it’s hard to tell who actually lives here and who just stopped by to hang out.
Upon stepping into 318 North Main Street, it becomes clear that “TPC OX” is more than just a typical college home. For the three senior golf team captains who live there — Michael Weber, Cameron Pero and Brett Podobinski — this house is at the center of their friendship and the team culture.
Life on the road
The Miami University golf schedule is intense and travel-heavy. The RedHawks compete in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) and travel across the country to participate in both team and individual tournaments. Pero, who grew up in Bloomfield, Ontario, said when the spring season begins, the routine becomes nonstop.
“The team’s day starts at 6:30 a.m. with workouts,” Pero said. “Then we have class anywhere from 8:30 a.m. until about 1 p.m. Then we practice from 2 p.m. until 5 or 6 p.m. Then we go home and do it all over the next day.”
With long days of practice and constant travel, a strong relationship is essential. Weber, Pero and Podobinski said their bond began the moment they stepped on campus as wide-eyed first-years.
“Coming here, you just get thrown right into the fire,” Podobinski said. “We're stuck in a room with some guys you don't really know too well, so you definitely get to know each other quickly.”
Team culture
Golf is an independent sport, requiring each player to focus primarily on his own score while still contributing to the team’s overall success in each tournament.
For the past four years, these three seniors have learned how to balance being teammates, competitors and best friends on and off the course — all while living in the close confines of “TPC OX.”
“We get the best of both worlds,” Weber said. “We get to hang out here just whenever we're off the golf course. Then when we’re on the course, there’s a lot of internal competition. We all want to beat each other, so it's a lot of fun.”
The trio's bond likely would not be as strong if any of them had transferred to another school.
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“It's kind of a lost art now; people are just always leaving,” Podobinski said. “But when you come to a school like Miami, it’s kind of hard not to fall in love with what you see and the culture with the guys.”
Three different leaders
Weber, Pero and Pobodbinski all share leadership responsibilities as team captains. They each bring a different personality to the role, something their younger teammates easily recognize.
Bric Baird, a first-year golfer from Dublin, Ohio, jokingly described the trio as “ketchup, mayo and mustard,” since each one complements the other and brings a different perspective to the team.
Pero said head coach JD Fletcher even assigned the three players “official” positions. Weber is the “communicator,” who keeps the team organized and connected. Pero is the “bulldog,” who brings intensity and competitiveness to practices and tournaments. Podobinski is the “balance” of the group, with his laissez-faire personality.
Their leadership stems from examples passed down from former players. These seniors credit former Miami golfer Sam Mortell for helping establish the environment when they first arrived on campus.
Mortell encouraged his teammates to compete hard on the course but leave the tension behind when they step off. This mindset helped shape the friendly, competitive atmosphere that exists around the team today.
“We’re all really close, but it’s also the team before us,” Pero said. “We’re just part of a bigger group that’s really family oriented. Our door’s always open — if anybody who’s ever played golf wants to walk in, it’s fair game. It’s a very tight group.”
This story was produced by Miami University journalism students in partnership with The Miami Student newspaper.
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