Ohio State athletes urge their teammates to take part in historic presidential election

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Tuesday marks the first time most college students will get to have their voices heard in a presidential election. A pair of Buckeyes are hoping to lead by example in getting their classmates out to the polls.

Student athletes already have plenty on their plates between training and classes. But an Ohio State swimmer and lacrosse player are making sure there's no excuses in getting to the ballot box.

Cullen Brown is a junior defender on the Ohio State men's lacrosse team and Nyah Funderburke is a senior swimmer who specializes in the backstroke and freestyle sprint events. Together, they're making sure the voices of OSU student athletes are heard.

"It's something you hear about all the time, exercising your right to vote. A very talked-about topic," Brown said. "When you're young you don't get to do that, exercise that. I was excited to do that for my first time."

An inspirational trip to Alabama

Voting has taken on greater meaning after the two were part of a trip sponsored by the Big Ten over the summer. They traveled to the heart of the Civil Rights movement in Selma and Montgomery, Alabama, gaining perspective on the importance of voting.

"It was such a physically, emotionally and mentally immersive experience," Funderburke said.

One of the highlights for Funderburke was crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge, where civil rights marchers violently confronted by law enforcement personnel on March 7, 1965, a day that became known as Bloody Sunday.

"When I think of a bridge, I think of a bridge of a connection point or common ground," Funderburke said.

The experience allowed Brown not to take the right to vote for granted.

"It was just super powerful to see that history really isn't as far off," Brown said. "We need to learn from it and exercise the right. That's why it was super important."

Encouraging teammates to cast their vote

Both Brown and Funderburke are encouraging their teammates to think about what's at stake in what's become a contentious election season.

"Having those real and authentic conversations and hearing people and having empathy is super important," Funderburke said.

Brown also emphasized the importance of doing your research for all the races on the ballot, including local and state elections.

"At the end of the day, these decisions are being made about our lives down the road," Brown said. "These presidential decisions are going to be affecting us when we're in the real world."

Brown and Funderburke have already cast their ballots. Now it's up to their fellow athletes and classmates to do the same.

"Looking ahead past four years, maybe ahead to the next 40 years. How will your vote, how will my vote really impact the future?" Funderburke said. "Every vote will be counted but will every voice be heard?"