Freshman Rush Radwany often strides down the brick sidewalks of Ohio University, tossing ball after ball into the air between classes.
Most onlookers lower their head and keep walking, but Radwany, who has been called the Campus Juggler
said he has been honked at, complimented and sometimes teased.
I've always gotten teased for juggling. The newest one I got when I came to college ... was 'hey I got two more for you right here ' accompanied by a crotch grab. Classy I know
he said.
Radwany began juggling when he was 17 at Athens High School to fit in with his girlfriend's family.
I was vacationing over Christmas break with my girlfriend of the time. We were visiting her grandparents in California and her dad is a juggler. As we were spending this week with her relatives
I realized every single other person in her family can juggle at least the basic three-ball pattern
he said.
After Radwany picked up the hobby, he didn't stop juggling until his girlfriend broke up with him.
I quit for a couple months after she dumped me
but then I came back to it - I couldn't help it
he said.
When he came to college, Radwany, who is undecided about what to study, helped re-organize the Brick Street Jugglers - a group of University students who meet weekly to share tricks. He and fellow club member, Sunni Sparks, said that juggling is a way to meet people.
For the longest time I didn't approach people. But if people approached me and initiated contact I felt very thankful to the person
said Sparks, who is a junior studying sociology.
Radwany added that juggling helps him cope with stress.
When you are juggling you don't have to worry about anything. Like if you are late for a class
or if your gas tank is running low. None of it matters; you can totally zone out and that's really cool
he said.
