Former Tri-State Student Braves The Northern Blizzard
By: Casie Mason
Updated: February 9, 2013
Though the winter snow storm is hundreds of miles away, it is making an impact on a family right here in the Tri-State. Today I got the chance to talk with Ben Braunecker. Ben and and his family are originally from Ferdinand Indiana so he has battled his fair share of winter snow storms before. Braunecker is now a student at Harvard University in Cambridge Massachusetts, one of the the hardest hit areas. Today he took time to share with us how things are going up north in the middle of all the ice and snow.
Ben Braunecker was known as an all around athlete when he was a Forest Park Ranger. "I was a mulit-sport athlete. I played football, basketball, and track and field," says Braunecker. But as a student at Harvard University, studying molecular biology, he's never faced competition like this. "It's definitely a lot different from the Mid-West especially, especially, compared to my hometown. A much more competitive environment as well," say Braunecker. But, after the massive storm dumped several feet of snow on the american northeast, Braunecker is faced with a whole new challenge, he and his classmates are fighting against the weather."I would say it's probably thirty degrees or below outside on the ground, about two or three inches of ice covered by at least twenty inches of snow. It's definitely nothing I've ever experienced before in the Mid-West." While this is more snow than Braunecker's ever seen before, he says he is in good company with his fellow Ivy Leaguers, who hail from the area and are used to this kind of storm. "I was talking with my roommates who are from North Eastern United States, and they said this isn't really that big of a deal. They're not exactly alarmed by it, not as much as people from home." Braunecker says his family and friends have been a little worried but this athlete ensures he is doing just fine, and maybe finding a little more study time in these next few days. "They we're a little bit concerned, but I ensured them that this is not an extraordinary event up here in the North East. We're expected to be back to school on Monday."
Whether or not Braunecker ends up having classes on Monday, his family tells me today they are glad he is doing well and are staying in contact these next few days as the snow makes it's way out and cleanup efforts begin.
Ben Braunecker was known as an all around athlete when he was a Forest Park Ranger. "I was a mulit-sport athlete. I played football, basketball, and track and field," says Braunecker. But as a student at Harvard University, studying molecular biology, he's never faced competition like this. "It's definitely a lot different from the Mid-West especially, especially, compared to my hometown. A much more competitive environment as well," say Braunecker. But, after the massive storm dumped several feet of snow on the american northeast, Braunecker is faced with a whole new challenge, he and his classmates are fighting against the weather."I would say it's probably thirty degrees or below outside on the ground, about two or three inches of ice covered by at least twenty inches of snow. It's definitely nothing I've ever experienced before in the Mid-West." While this is more snow than Braunecker's ever seen before, he says he is in good company with his fellow Ivy Leaguers, who hail from the area and are used to this kind of storm. "I was talking with my roommates who are from North Eastern United States, and they said this isn't really that big of a deal. They're not exactly alarmed by it, not as much as people from home." Braunecker says his family and friends have been a little worried but this athlete ensures he is doing just fine, and maybe finding a little more study time in these next few days. "They we're a little bit concerned, but I ensured them that this is not an extraordinary event up here in the North East. We're expected to be back to school on Monday."
Whether or not Braunecker ends up having classes on Monday, his family tells me today they are glad he is doing well and are staying in contact these next few days as the snow makes it's way out and cleanup efforts begin.
