Kelsey Ackerman | Sports Co-Editor
As other students packed up to head home for a long weekend over fall break, both the men and women’s basketball teams geared up for their first few practices of the season.
Last year, the men’s basketball team finished tied for third in the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the regular season. They also made it to the semifinals round of the IIAC tournament.
“We have seven seniors, and we expect a lot out of those guys. Tyler Kastantin, Cole Darrow, Alex Savage, Brett Heitkamp, Nick Wuebker, Greg Sibenhaller, and Grady Gallagher. [Junior] Nick Clark is also a captain. Those eight guys will be our leaders,” Head Coach Brian Van Haaften said.
The team returns a majority of their starters this year including First Team All-Conference selection Cole Darrow and Second Team All-Conference selection and Defensive Player of the Year Nick Wuebker.
“We return the majority of our team from last year so we have really high expectations. We have great depth at every position and should be able to use that to our advantage each game. Our hopes are to win the conference as well as the conference tournament and then make a deep run in the national tournament. I believe if we play how we are capable of playing then these are all possible for us,” Darrow said.
The Beavers also add a new assistant coach to their staff this upcoming season. Paul Loos is joining the team from Newell-Fonda High School. Loos joins a Beaver program that has eight IIAC championships in Van Haaften’s 18-year career here at BVU.
“The guys have given all they have. We are better defensively this year and show some great flashes; however, we need to keep getting better with consistency and be more solid every single possession. I am excited to coach this group of guys, and I really enjoy being around them,” Van Haaften said.
The men’s basketball team has their first game Saturday, Nov. 15 against Augsburg at home starting at 7 p.m.
The women’s basketball team ended their regular season conference play tied for fifth; however, they made a run in the conference tournament and were just one point away from reaching the conference championship match-up.
This year, the women’s basketball team returns many key players, as well as gaining back previously injured player, senior Becca Pennington.
“We have Becca Pennington back from an ACL injury and returning starters Shelby Wiederhoeft, Lacey Vokt, and Lexi Fisher. All of these women had very solid years last season. Our other senior Erica Ollendieck has been playing well in practice. We also have juniors and sophomores working hard and doing a lot of good things at practice and will add to our depth, as well as one freshman that has been a great addition to our program,” head coach Janet Berry said.
With the mix of a few upperclassmen and many younger players, the Beaver team focuses a lot on the chemistry of the girls and working together. The team hopes to make a run just as far, if not further than they did last year.
“I think this season we will be a force to be reckoned with. We have good shooters and strong post players. Everyone is starting to mesh together really well, and I think we have to ability to make it to the conference tournament again this year,” Wiederhoeft said.
The women’s basketball team opens up their season at the Gustavus Adolphus Classic on Saturday, Nov.15 against Martin Luther beginning at 1 p.m.
Photo courtesy of BVU Athletics