Oberlin College is synonymous with academic excellence and cultivating the intelligence of its students. As a two-way player for the Oberlin football team and a double major in environmental studies and chemistry, senior Max Schenk embodies the Oberlin motto: Learning and Labor. Through his studies in environmental science, Schenk has found a way to transform his passion for the Bay Area into a career.

An Oakland, California native, Schenk grew up on the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta and established a love for the water early in his life because of family vacations.
"I credit my love for the Delta to my grandfather, 'Big Papa'," said Schenk. "My father's family didn't have a lot of money when he was growing up, so instead of going on long vacations, my grandfather would take them to the Delta."

"Big Papa", who was a carpenter by trade, bought a small boat and refurbished it when Schenk's father was young. Eventually "Big Papa" purchased a house on the Delta, refurbished it, and created a vacation home that would become the place where the Oberlin linebacker's love for water began.

"The love for the Delta initially came from how much fun that house was for me growing up. To me it was Disneyland."
Following graduation in the spring, Schenk would like to pursue a graduate degree in water science or try to obtain a job in the public health field. Ultimately, he hopes to find a career that deals with drinking water issues as it relates to either pollution or drought.

"There are a lot of management issues in the Delta system. Those management problems, and other issues like the drought California is currently suffering through and my love for the Delta area, motivated me to pursue degrees in environmental science."

Along with his studies, Schenk is Oberlin football's leading defensive player who has caused constant problems for opposing offensives throughout his career. Doubling as the team's punter, Schenk plays a crucial role in the success of the Yeomen.

Schenk ranks second in the North Coast Athletic Conference averaging with 39.6 yards per punt. In 35 punts, Schenk has accumulated 1,385 yards with a league-leading long of 78 yards.

When lined up against opposing offenses, Schenk leads the Yeomen defense with 60 total tackles. The 6-foot-2, 240-pound middle linebacker has registered a team-best 5.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks for a combined 33 yards.

"Max is a very athletic linebacker," said first-year Head Coach Jay Anderson.  "He plays with great instinct and he is physical at the point of attack. He is a compassionate student-athlete who not only cares about Oberlin Athletics but the community as a whole."

Schenk missed a majority of the 2013 campaign due to injury, but is back and making a huge impact with the team.

"It's been great to get back on the field. I felt like a kid in a candy shop at the beginning of the season. I know because of my injuries, I may never feel 'normal' again, but I am being preventative as opposed to letting it hinder me on the field."

He is unsure about where he will end up after graduation or even what he will end up doing professionally, but it is clear where his heart is.

"I have never thought about where I want to pursue a career," explained Schenk. "Because I haven't traveled a lot, I don't have much of a passion for it. I know my community back home and I have a lot of support back home."

With an aptitude for reading opposing offenses and his passion for the environment, Schenk will be able to tackle whatever comes his way, both on the gridiron and in the water supply.

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