Fall 2018 Magazine

20 Magazine.BethelCollege.edu Continued from p. 18 For more sports updates, visit the official home of the Bethel Pilots at BethelCollegePilots.com. Men’s Cross Country The men return to action for six meets this fall, including the Bethel College Invitational on Oct. 5 at St. Patrick’s County Park, South Bend. Senior Chad Williams is coming off a personal best time of 27:46 and a 36th-place finish at the NCCAA National Championship a season ago and will lead a much-improved group into 2018. Women’s Cross Country The women return to action for six meets this fall, including the Bethel College Invitational on Oct. 5 at St. Patrick’s County Park, South Bend. Junior Jessica Duvall leads a group of seasoned veterans, six of top seven finishers returning, coming off their team- best time of the season — including five personal bests — at the NCCAA National Championship in 2017. Men’s Tennis Senior NCCAA All-American Jacob Macri enters his final campaign as one of the top players on the court, with a 12-7 record in No. 1 singles a season ago. After their first appearance in the Crossroads League quarterfinals since 2012 last season, the men began the fall with a season-opening matchup against Grace on Aug. 28 before hitting the home court at Knollwood Country Club in Granger on Aug. 31. Women’s Tennis A pair of NCCAA All-Americans headline the women’s side as junior Taylor Freedline and senior Caroline Boger return at the top of the lineup at No. 1 and 2 singles, respectively. Boger’s 16 singles wins paced the Pilots a season ago, and the No. 1 doubles duo is looking to secure the team’s ninth winning season in the last 11 years. They opened up the season against IU Kokomo on their home court at Knollwood Country Club in Granger on Aug. 24. Men’s & Women’s Bowling The bowling program will make its home venue the Strikes & Spares Entertainment Center in Mishawaka and will begin recruiting and filling the roster immediately, before officially competing in the NAIA in 2019-20. Student-athletes interested in competing in men’s and women’s bowling at Bethel can complete and submit a prospective student-athlete questionnaire at BethelCollegePilots.com . Men’s & Women’s Swimming & Diving The swimming and diving program will make its home venue the brand-new Elkhart Health, Fitness, Aquatics, and Community Center in Elkhart and will begin recruiting and filling the roster immediately, before officially competing in the NAIA in 2019-20. Student-athletes interested in competing in men’s and women’s swimming and diving at Bethel can complete and submit a prospective student- athlete questionnaire a t BethelCollegePilots.com . FOR THE RECORD TEAM After winning the NCCAA Indoor National Championship in the winter, the men swept the NCCAA by winning the Outdoor National Championship in the spring for their fifth national title in program history. Senior Erik Escobedo continued making headlines, winning an NAIA national title in outdoor hammer throw and was named the Crossroads League Male Student Athlete of the Year. Junior Jordan Downs earned NAIA All-American status with a program record mark in the long jump as well. Men’s Track & Field A slew of injuries derailed the 2018 campaign, finishing with a 17-28 record overall and missing the Crossroads League tournament by one game. Five Pilots were recognized with Crossroads League postseason honors, headlined by senior Jesse Zepeda’s and junior Josh King’s Gold Gloves for right field and pitcher, respectively. Baseball The women aced a tough schedule in 2018, with six of their eight matchups coming against teams ranked in the top 25 or receiving votes. Junior Kennedy Lower led the Pilots with 6 goals scored, while junior Allison Coffeen was right behind with 5 goals. Women’s Lacrosse STATISTICIAN’S COMMENTS Junior Danielle Wojchiechowski punctuated a successful 2018 campaign for the women with a runner-up, NAIA All-American finish in the pole vault, the 26th NAIA All-American performance in program history. Women’s Track & Field The men completed the 2017-18 season with an 8-2 record and an appearance at the Heart of America Classic, the qualifying event for the Collegiate Rugby Championship. Men’s Rugby The women finished with their highest win total since 2014, highlighted with a 2-1 upset victory over No. 2 Marian in late April. Freshman Mahri Younger was named Crossroads League All-Conference Honorable Mention after batting .337 with 15 runs scored and chipping in on defense with three outfield assists. Softball NEW OFFERINGS