Track & Field

Three area senior athletes have signed with the Bethel College Track and Field program. Penn High School high jumper Kait Hendershot has committed to the Lady Pilots program as has Mishawaka High School sprinter Cassie Natali. Signing with the Bethel men’s team is BJ VanderZwaag, also a senior from Mishawaka High School.

 

Hendershot has a personal best mark of 5-4.25 in the high jump for the Lady Kingsmen. Kait has been named All-NIC second team in 2008 and honorable mention in 2007. Hendershot, a senior captain, is a two time state qualifier in the high jump. She has qualified for sectional and regional three times during her career at Penn. “Kait will be a great addition to our high jumpers at Bethel College,” says Head Track Coach Tony Natali. “She will push herself to excel and will be a key member of our freshman class next season. We have very high expectations for Kait here at Bethel and look forward to charting her progress over the next four years,” added Coach Natali.

 

Natali has run the 100m, the 200m, and been a part of the 4x100m relay team at Mishawaka High School. She has been a team leader in the sprint areas for the Lady Cavemen. During her career at Mishawaka HS, Cassie has also been a part of the soccer and basketball programs. VanderZwaag will be counted on to throw javelin and possibly discus or hammer as well for the Pilots. BJ also has been a part of Mishawaka High School boys’ basketball and golf teams and will pursue basketball as well at Bethel. “We are thrilled to have Cassie and BJ in our track and field programs at Bethel,” says Coach Natali. “Both of them have untapped potential in their events and I feel that they will show marked improvement in their respective areas immediately. Cassie has grown up around the Bethel Track program and knows the foundational principles that it has been built on. She will represent Bethel well and will be an integral part of the Ladies team. BJ also knows what it takes to be successful as he has been involved in a variety of sports in high school. He has all the tools necessary to be a skilled thrower at this level,” added Coach Natali.

 

The Bethel College Track teams both won the Mid Central Conference Championship this past season. The men’s team won NCCAA National Championships both indoor and outdoor this season as well, while the women were runner up in both championships.