General Information:
School: Bethel University
Founded: 1947
Location: St. Paul , Minn.
Enrollment: 6,300
President: Jay Barnes
Athletic Director: Bob Bjorklund
Team Nickname: Royals
Colors: Navy Blue and Vegas Gold
Arena: Robertson Center
Coaching Staff:
Head Coach: Jon Herbrechtsmeyer (8th season)
Assistant Coaches: Dwight Nelson, Lisa Carlson
Student Manager: Ariel McCullum
2009-10 Record:
Overall Record: 15-12
MIAC Record: 13-9/5th place
MIAC Playoff Record: 1-1
Key losses:
Annegret Nautsch, C, - All-MIAC 12.1 ppg, 10.0 rebounds, 118 total blocks
Erica Hormig, F, - 6.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg
Lakita Davis, F, - 4.2 ppg, 3,4 rpg
Key Returners:
Kristen Wolters, F,Sr., - All-MIAC Honorable Mention, 7.7 ppg, 5.1 rebounds
Shana Grejtak, G, So., - 5.8 ppg, 5.3 rebounds
Taylor Sheley, G, So., - All-MIAC First Year, 10.4 ppg 3.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists
Key Newcomers:
Kristi Nye, G, So., Nashville, Tenn.
Scotti Moats, C, Fr., Waconia, Minn.
Kelly Swenson, G, Fr., Dawson, Minn.
Season Outlook:
Last season, the Royals made postseason play for the first time since 2005-06, and by defeating Gustavus Adolphus in the first round, secured their first ever MIAC playoff victory. The win was Head Coach Jon Herbrechtsmeyer’s first against the Gusties. “For the last eight years, we’ve been trying to build a program that can compete with the best teams in the region,” said Coach
Herbrechtsmeyer, “and for us to play as well as we did, go on the road to Gustavus, and to win in the playoffs was a huge step for us.”
After such a successful season, the 2009-10 Royals will have to count on an influx of freshman to step up as a majority of the team’s scoring from a year ago will have to be replaced. The Royals have graduated perennial All-Conference selection, Annegret Nautsch, and after being one of the taller teams in the conference a year ago, the Royals will be looking for a more up-tempo lineup to take charge. “This is a different team,” said Coach Herbrechtsmeyer, “we don’t have the size we had last year, but we have way more speed. We’ll be different, but 'fun' different.”
Guard Taylor Sheley (So., Backus, Minn. - pictured left) scored 281 points last year, pulled down 103 rebounds, and came up with 56 steals in her first season at Bethel. Sheley, along with All-MIAC Honorable Mention forward Kristen Wolters (Sr., St. Cloud, Minn. - pictured below right), the leading returning rebounder, are going to be counted on to successfully guide a smaller and more inexperienced team to victories. Sheley stepped up her game in the second half of last season and played well in the postseason, contributing 14 and 12 points in Bethel’s two playoff games, and leads all returning scorers at 10.4 points per game. Junior guard Shana Grejtak (Jr., Franklin, Minn.) is another returner that will need to provide a steady hand at the helm of the Royal offense and on the glass. She shot 46 % from the floor last season, leading all Royals, and grabbed 5.3 rebounds per game. Incoming transfer Kristi Nye (So., Nashville, Tenn.) will also be asked to contribute immediately at the guard position.
Freshmen centers Scotti Moats (Fr., Waconia, Minn.), Amy Werner (Fr., Three Lakes, Wis.) and Katie Norlein (Fr. Blaine, Minn.), all over six feet tall, provide much needed size down low for a team replacing 6’3” Nautsch and 6’1” Erica Hormig.
Incoming freshman Rachel Gilbert (Fr., Becker, Minn.) and Kelly Swanson (Fr., Dawson, Minn.) are also being asked to step in and get playing time.
“We have great athletes top to bottom, so whoever can develop and assimilate to the college game the quickest will see playing time immediately,” said Herbrechtsmeyer, “and we have enough players back who have experienced what it is like to win in the playoffs.”
Overall, nine of the 15 rosters spots are freshman, which could lead to growing pains, but hope for a very successful team when all is said and done. “We may get our nose bloodied in November or December by a good team,” says Coach Herbrechtsmeyer, “but if we can be consistent in January, February, we’ll play really good basketball, on par or better than last season.”
