Track & Field
Bethel Track Looks for Continued Success in 2009-10
The Bethel College Track and Field program comes into the 2009 – 2010 campaign with high expectations after a stellar year last season. The men’s team was MCC Champions as well as NCCAA Indoor and Outdoor National Champions. These were the first team national championships won by the track and field program at Bethel College. The Lady Pilots were also successful last season winning the MCC Championship and finishing runners up in both NCCAA indoor and Outdoor National Championship meets. The Bethel track and field programs qualified 25 athletes for NAIA Indoor Nationals in Johnson City, Tennessee and 30 athletes for NAIA Outdoor Nationals in St. Louis, Missouri. Junior JW Maierle was an NAIA All-American in both national meets finishing third in the long jump at each meet. Junior Nichole Arnold was also NAIA All-American in both meets finishing fourth in the discus outdoors and sixth in the shot put indoors. Junior Jordan Heim was the third Pilot to achieve NAIA Outdoor All-American honors by finishing fourth in that meet in the 400m. Senior Ann O’Keefe was the third Pilot to be named NAIA Indoor All-American by finishing fourth in the pole vault. Coach Tony Natali and his staff were named MCC men’s and women’s coaching staff of the year, as well as, NCCAA Men’s Indoor and Outdoor National coaching staff of the year. “A lot of our successes are to be attributed to our entire coaching staff,” says head track and field coach Tony Natali. “We have a group of individuals that pour all they have into our program. Assistant Coaches Danny Wilkerson, Ryan Sommers, Katie Anderson, Geoffrey King, Chris Warhop, Travis LaVine, Jason Stoller, Honey Storlie, Dan Geans, and Stephen Hetzel have all done an amazing job with this program during the past season,” added Coach Natali.
The men’s team in 2009-2010 will be led by an experienced group of 12 seniors that led the Pilots to an MCC and NCCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships. “I feel that our men’s team will have tremendous leadership this season,” says head track and field coach Tony Natali. Pacing the way for the seniors are NAIA qualifiers Trent Chupp, Jontae Randolph, Brad Wilson, and BJ Austin in the sprint areas, and JJ Jackson and Jeff Hardman in the throws. Other seniors counted on for major contributions include distance runners Jared Mead, Raymond Duttweiller, and Ryan Waybright, thrower Knox Capre, jumper Alex Walsh, and sprinter Arron Patrick. “Our combined experienced leadership by our seniors on this team is very impressive,” adds Coach Natali. NAIA All-Americans Jordan Heim in the 400m and JW Maierle in the long jump pace a very impressive group of juniors for the Pilots. Other juniors include NAIA qualifiers Kyle Klein in the pole vault and Drew Bishop in the mid distance and javelin areas, along with throwers Phil Yike and Ray Owen, distance runner Cory Naragon, and jumper Caleb Jackson. The sophomore class is led by NAIA qualifiers Robby Burns in the hurdles and sprinters Calon Boyd and Mikal Ryals. Other contributing sophomores include throwers Kyle Land and Jake Shaffer, high jumper Ethan Flick, distance runners Harrison Fausey, Austin O’Connor, and Robby Gingrich, and sprinter Ahrin Lemacks. The incoming group of 21 freshmen will add depth and talent to many areas for the Pilots. The sprint/hurdle area will include Landon Booker, Calvin Lewis, Brandon Summers, Justin Caeserz, Kent Corsbie, Juan Sanchez, and red shirt freshman Talal Maree. The mid distance and distance field of newcomers include Brandon Ernest, Kyle Beutler, Nathan Avery, Mark Beight, Nolan Dodge, Jordan Ollomi, Adam Crawford, and Justin Nelson. Thrower BJ VanderZwaag, red shirt jumper Matt Klevan, and pole vaulter Scott Frey round out this years’ freshman class for the Pilots. “I know that this group of young men will maximize their abilities,” says Coach Natali. “I am excited to see how Christ works through this group to accomplish big things this season. Once again, our hard work ethic and close team unity will be our trademarks,” added Coach Natali.
The Lady Pilots return eleven seniors from last seasons’ MCC Championship team. Major leadership will be counted on by NAIA All-American pole vaulter Ann O’Keefe. Other NAIA qualifiers back for their senior season include pole vaulter Caitlyn Gager, sprinter Jessie Spearman, and distance runner Katie Heisey. Rounding out this very talented group of seniors include throwers Holly Farrer, Alicia Derr and Lyndee Flint, jumper Stephanie Harwood, and distance runners Danielle Lewis, Ashley Wray, and Laura Winningham. “As with the men, I feel that our combined leadership of our Lady Pilot seniors is very impressive,” says Coach Natali. The juniors will be led by NAIA All-American Nichole Arnold in the throws. Other NAIA qualifiers in the junior class for the Lady Pilots include sprinters/jumpers Kati Beutler, Aunalee Mustard, and Amy Hausner, sprinter Beenne Capre, and pole vaulter April Monaweck. Rounding out this talented group of juniors include distance runners Amber Wray, Brittany Replogle, and Samantha Hartsough, and sprinter Kayla Schrock. The sophomore class is paced by NAIA qualifiers Irene Kangai in the mid distance area, Lauren Pridgen, Kaila Stevens, and Sam Etter in the sprint areas, and multi event qualifier Sarah Mott. Other sophomores expected to contribute include distance runners Courtney Chapman, Stephanie Shively, Brianna Adkins, Charity Brown, and Jessica Scott, throwers Ellen Schmeltz, high jumper Emilee Simcox, sprinters Bethany Aldrich and Victoria Black, hurdler Leah Swartz, and pole vaulter Ann Mitchell. The Lady Pilots will welcome 15 newcomers for this season. This talented group of freshman includes jumper Caitlyn Ramirez, mid distance runners Kerri Lencke, Amy Shirk, and Dominique Dvojacki, sprinters Cassie Natali, and Hannah Beamer, throwers Georgia Boisse, Kayla Lund, and Emily Johnston, distance runners Brittany Fabris, Trisha Karcher, and Trisha Miller, hurdler Megan Miller, and high jumper Kait Hendersot.
Bethel head track and field coach Tony Natali is very excited about the possibilities of this team. “With the returners and the talented group of newcomers, this team has tremendous potential,” says Coach Natali. “We all need to maximize our abilities individually and as a team in order for this to happen. The keys to this season are very simply to be unified, have a tremendous work ethic where we outwork everyone else, and most importantly, continue to keep our eyes focused on the reason we all do this, which is to put Christ in the middle of it all. If we can stick to these ideals and enjoy the journey, it will be a great season,” added Coach Natali. This year’s schedule will once again pit the Pilots against many great competitors from NCAA Division I, II, and III, as well as NAIA schools. The indoor schedule includes meets at Notre Dame, Grand Valley State, Indiana Wesleyan, DePauw, Taylor, and NCCAA Nationals at Cedarville and NAIA Nationals in Johnson City, Tennessee. Outdoor competitions include regular season meets at Goshen, Indiana Wesleyan, and two meets at Purdue, along with the MCC meet at Goshen, Intercollegiates at IWU, NCCAA Nationals at a site to be determined, and NAIA Nationals at Marion, Indiana.
