The Academic Quad outside of the Ithaca College Library is a bustle of activities in the warmer days leading up to winter. This fall, however, a new face has emerged as a frequent patron of the outdoors.

Almost every day — weather accommodating — first-year student Ashton Spinale sets up on the quad with his yo-yo and a pair of AirPods. Spinale said he listens mostly to pop, some rap and whatever his favorite songs are at the time. The music is essential because happy, upbeat songs get him ready to yo-yo to the rhythm.

Spinale said he gets lost in the music, moving in unison with the beat. Although passers-by cannot hear the music themselves, they can see the result: a freestyle composition between Spinale and his yo-yo.

Managing Editor Noa Ran-Ressler joined Spinale out on the Quad to discuss how yo-yoing impacts his life and influences those around him.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Noa Ran-Ressler: How did you get started yo-yoing?

Ashton Spinale: I started around 2019 at camp with a Dollar Tree yo-yo that I got sent in the mail. I genuinely fell in love with the art, and I’ve really started to get really into it. It was definitely something that was really unique to me. I never really see anyone yo-yoing, especially not in my style. It’s a very unique style to me. I call it freestyle yo-yoing. There’s also another style called non-responsive yo-yoing, and that’s usually what you see on the internet, but you won’t see my type of yo-yoing. … I taught myself fully, and I slowly upgraded to metal yo-yos over the years.

NR: What was it about yo-yoing that connected with you?

AS: What really clicked for me about yo-yoing is that it’s a really great way for me to express myself. It’s a very unique thing that you don’t see many people do. And my yo-yoing is really an art form, it’s not just yo-yo up and down, like how you see many people. It’s a dance to me, and it’s a way I can really just relieve the stress and any negative feelings I have, and even positive feelings. It’s a really great outlet for me when I’m going through a lot of hard things, or if I just have energy. It’s all-around so, so important to me because of how unique it is to me, and it’s just beautiful. I love my yo-yo, and I love showing people that I can do more than a lot of people expect of me.

NR: What drew you to the Academic Quad to yo-yo?

AS: What brought me out to the Quad is definitely because of how much community I can make without directly interacting with people. It’s a really great way to show off my skills and be somewhere where I can connect with people. As a freshman, it’s really difficult for me to get used to the environment and different social groups. I feel like [with] yo-yoing, I really found a lot of great people I’ve just said hi to. I’ve had people come up to me and be like, “You really make my day whenever I see you,” and “I have had an awful day, I know where to go, and I know when you’re out here, and it really does change my entire day.” That’s what really keeps me coming out here, because there’s so many people who I make a really big impact on their lives, whether they say it or not. … It’s a really great way to get away from technology for at least a few minutes a day. I think it encourages people to be creative in their bodies and not just be stuck in the library or in their dorms. And I really like inspiring people to get out and do something creative and nice for their body.

NR: Did you come to campus and start yo-yoing right away?

AS: Yeah. My orientation leader nudged me to get out there and yo-yo. They loved my yo-yoing and that really inspired me to have the confidence to go out and yo-yo. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do that in college since a lot of people in my high school didn’t like my yo-yoing. They made fun of me for yo-yoing. … Not everyone, but there was definitely people who didn’t like it, which really discourages me. My first time yo-yoing [at the college], I had like five people come up to me and say “I absolutely love it. Please never stop.” And all those kind words encourage me to keep coming out every single day and express myself. … I appreciate everyone’s support in my yo-yoing. It means, honestly, everything to me … that people love my self-expression so much, and I’m going to continue to yo-yo throughout my four years at Ithaca.