Bethel Fall-2017-Magazine

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Continued from p. 18
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After finishing in the middle of the pack at the Crossroads League
championship last season, the Pilots have their sights set higher in
2017.
Men’s Cross Country
Losing four of their top five finishers from last season, including
All-Conference honorees Joel Hartman, Jordan Annis, and Jarrett
Walbolt, along with Andy Herbert, senior Collin Wiersema will look to
lead a young group that aims to duplicate the success of last year’s
squad, which finished a program-best 27th at the NAIA National
Championship.
Women’s Cross Country
A veteran group returns for women’s cross country, ready to make
some noise at a national level. However, it was sophomore Jessica
Duvall who was a consistent factor in the Pilots’ success, leading all
Pilots from a season ago in every race. Seniors Alexis Goeglein, Lydia
Dykhouse, Faith Mooney and Breann Fawcett will lead a squad that
has finished in the top 10 at the NCCAA National Championship for
consecutive seasons.
Rugby
It was a banner season for first-year Head Coach Gil Gadia ’08 and
the men’s rugby squad last season, capturing the NSCRO Challenge
Cup national championship, and there is reason to be excited again.
NSCRO Most Impressive Tackler, senior Jariel Brooks, along with All-
Championship XV members, senior Adam Trejo, and juniors Graham
Kelly and Ethan Glasscock, are ready to replicate their 13-2 record
and undefeated mark in the Great Lakes Conference Division II this
season.
Women’s Basketball
Eric Gingerich returns for his second season as women’s basketball
head coach, following a 10-21 debut last season. The Lady Pilots will
have to replace their top two leading scorers, Savannah Bley and
Madison Schrock, who combined for 28.0 points per game last
season, but juniors Lauren Grewe, Macie Hinen, and sophomore
Kamala Glenn are up to the task to maintain the momentum that
saw them win a stretch of 7 of 9 games in late January-February
2017.
Men’s Basketball
Although a Lightfoot will be guiding the Pilots on the sidelines
this season, it won’t be Mike, as his son, Ryne Lightfoot ’10,
’13, takes over a program that made an NAIA Quarterfinal
appearance a season ago. Alex Daniel is the lone returning
assistant coach. Lightfoot will bring on Andrew Wingreen from
Bob Jones University to serve as an assistant coach and former
Notre Dame great and NBA All-Rookie honoree LaPhonso Ellis
to serve as a special assistant coach. In addition, Lady Pilots
Basketball Assistant Coach Ryan Ehm will join the program
as a graduate assistant this season. The new coaching staff
will guide senior Gage Ott, and juniors Paul Forman and Luke
Fisher, among others, to defend their Crossroads League
championships.
– Andrew Bowen ’09
FOR THE RECORD
TEAM
Mishawaka natives senior Erik Escobedo and graduate Elias Micozzi finished as NAIA outdoor national runners-up in the
hammer and discus, respectively, and the men’s team finished a program-best 11th place. The Pilots earned 16 All-American
honors in the NAIA and NCCAA
Men’s Track
& Field
OVERALL
RECORD CROSSROADS
Baseball won nine of its first 10 games before finishing at .500 and making a run to
the Crossroads League semifinal. Sophomore Brandon Diss earned a Crossroads
League Gold Glove.
Baseball 22-22 10-17
Lacrosse nearly tripled its win total from the previous season (5 to 14) and finished
as the WCLL DII postseason runners-up. Senior Kara Holmes was named a WCLA
Second Team All-American.
Lacrosse 14-4
STATISTICIAN’S COMMENTS
Junior Dani Wojciechowski completed the national championship sweep by taking the NAIA outdoor pole vault title and
earned All-American status in both NAIA and NCCAA. Graduate Melanie Nellis and junior Keryn Lumpkin earned NCCAA All-
American accolades.
Women’s Track
& Field
Rugby completed its historic run in the NSCRO Challenge Cup and captured its first national championship,
defeating Iowa Central Community College 30-21. Graduate Nick Chevalier was named the NSCRO Heart &
Soul Award winner and Senior Jariel Brooks was named the NSCRO Most Impressive Tackler.
Men’s Rugby 13-2
Under first-year Head Coach Scott Reese, softball took two wins from Goshen, while
junior Hunter Brummett was named Honorable Mention All-Conference. Softball 2-45 2-34