Success At Findlay

Pilots Compete Well in Competitive First Meet

The Pilots qualified five individuals in six events for NAIA Indoor Nationals and 17 individuals in 21 events for NCCAA Indoor Nationals on the opening week—end of the indoor track season at the University of Findlay meet in Findlay, Ohio this week—end.

Senior Geoffrey King won the 55m sprint with a time of 6.48 and came in second in the 200m sprint at 22.43. Both times are NAIA National qualifying times. Junior Rod Waters came in second in the 55m hurdles at 7.78 which also is an NAIA qualifying mark. The last NAIA male qualifier for the Pilots was junior Zach Burrington who won the pole vault at 15—11.

Other men that reached the NCCAA Indoor qualifying marks include three event qualifier junior Chris Warhop who hit the mark in the 55m at 6.84, in the 200m at 23.84, and in the long jump at 20—6 which was good enough for an eighth place finish. Other event qualifiers are senior Chase Bislow in the triple jump at 42—6 which was a seventh place finish, and freshman shot putters JJ Jackson at 42—3 and Brandon Hooven at 41—8. The 4x400m relay team of King, Waters, freshman Jontae Randolph, and junior David Prieb also ran a time of 3:31.77 which qualified.

On the women’s side, there were a pair of NAIA Indoor National qualifiers. Freshman pole vaulters Caitlyn Gager and Ann O’Keefe both qualified at the Reno Summit with heights of 11—4 each. NCCAA qualifiers include a pair of dual event qualifiers in junior Kate Bishop hit the mark in the 55m hurdles at 9.32 and the 200m at 26.89, while freshman Jessie Spearman qualified in the 55m at 7.55, missing the finals by just two spots in her college debut. Spearman also qualified in the 200m at 27.34. Sole event qualifiers are junior Becca Laman in the pole vault at 10—8, sophomore Danae Ellison in the pole vault at 10—8, and freshman Holly Farrer in the shot put at 37—5. The 4x400m relay team of Bishop, sophomore Heather Rathbun, junior Kerri Goodrich, and sophmore Shelby Morrow ran a time of 4:20.79 to qualify. Morrow was also able to put together an eleventh place finish in the 600 meter run, which was the highest finish in the running events for the lady Pilots.
Meet Results

The Bethel College track teams will next compete at the Taylor University Indoor Meet to be held next Saturday, February 3.

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Meet Scott Robinson

Sophomore Scott Robinson is this weeks Blue Wave male Pilot of the week

Hometown- Havre, Montana

Major- Youth Ministry/AA Biblical studies

Favorite Music- Im a country boy

Favorite Food- Any kind of wild game Elk, Deer, Antelope. Also bacon cheeseburgers

Goals For This Season: Indoor- NAIA in 600- get ready for outdoor. Outdoor- NAIA Jav, 4X800 Christian Nationals and/or NAIA, Serve God and honor him through the season.

Meet Mozy Thiel

Distance runner Mozy Thiel is this weeks Blue Wave female Pilot of the week


Hometown: Angola, Indiana

Major: Psychology

Favorite Music: oldies

Favorite Movie: Tombstone

Favorite Books: A Walk Across America, Harry Potter, Lord of the rings, The DaVinci Code, A Walk West, Angels and Demons, secret life of Bees, Of mice and Men

Favorite Food: Tomato soup and grilled cheese

Goals For This Season: to keep a positive attitude no matter what happens, to run my best and never be disappointed, and to be there to encourage others

Pole Vaulters Shine Bright In Reno

Vault Duo Break Record, Qualify For Nationals

This past weekend the Bethel College pole vaulters took their annual trip to Reno Nevada bonding, fun and to compete in the Pole Vault Summit. While at the meet, two of our women pole vaulters; freshmen Ann O'keefe and Caitlyn Gager, broke the the school and qualified for the NAIA indoor national meet with jumps of 11 feet 3 inches respectively. Big congrats to both ladies for a job well done, and congrats to the whole BCPV crew for a wonderful job and representation at the Pole Vault Summit. for

**NOT PICTURED; Ann O'keefe

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A New Season Is Here

Track and Field Pre-Season Outlook

The Pilot Track and Field program is coming off its most successful season during the 2006 year where both the men’s and women’s teams captured Mid-Central Conference Championships. Both sides came down to the final race, the 4x400m relay, before the conference championships were decided. The men’s team also finished 16th in the nation at the NAIA Outdoor National Meet held last May in Fresno, California. Head coach Tony Natali anticipates another stellar year during 2007.

“We are greatly anticipating what is ahead of us during the 2007 season,” says Natali. “We are looking forward to the challenges that we will face this year. Most importantly, we are excited to once again glorify Christ through the efforts and continued hard work that we all put into the Bethel College Track program."

"This season will be one that we will dedicate to bettering ourselves individually which, in the long run, will benefit the entire team as a whole," added Natali. "We want to enjoy the journey. It’s all about every day that we have together. Once we maximize that, the outcomes will take care of themselves.”

The men are led by senior dual NAIA All-American Geoffrey King. King finished 4th in the nation in the 200m at last season’s NAIA Outdoor National meet. King was also the anchor for the 4th place finishing 4x100m relay team. Other returning members of the 4x100m relay team include Juniors Chris Warhop and Brandon Thomas. Warhop will be counted on heavily to contribute in the sprints and the jumps while Thomas will help greatly in the sprint to mid distance area as well as the jumps. Junior pole-vaulter Zach Burrington completes the returning All-Americans for the Pilots. Burrington finished 5th at last season’s Nationals.

Other returners that Coach Natali will lean on heavily include Senior jumpers Chase Bislow and Adam Cramer, Junior distance runners Andy Gray, Kyle Steury, David Prieb, and Jay Edwards, Junior thrower Travis LaVine, Junior vaulter Adam Short, Sophomore distance runners AJ Sullivan, Scott Robinson (also javelin), Ben Collard, and Calon Naragon, Sophomore hurdler Chase Healey, Sophomore sprinter Nate Phillips, and Sophomore jumper William Walker. Of that group, Prieb, Collard, and Phillips have participated at the NAIA Outdoor National meet last season.

Coach Natali is extremely excited about his talented group of new comers on the men’s side. Junior hurdler Rod Waters and sophomore distance runner Vincent Reel will be the most experienced of the group. Waters has participated at Vincennes JC for the past two years while Reel has one year of experience under his belt at Butler JC in Kansas. Other new comers include Sophomore sprinter/jumper BJ Austin, Freshman sprinter Brad Wilson, Freshman mid distance runners Jontae Randolph and Caleb Hatfield, Freshman distance runners Ryan Waybright, Jared Mead, Will Cramer, and Raymond Dutweiller, Freshman throwers Brandon Hooven, JJ Jackson, Knox Capre, Seth Thompson, and Jeff Hardman, and Freshman jumper and javelin thrower Alex Walsh. New javelin throwers Joel Hartsell and Josh Watts round out the men’s roster.

The women are led by NAIA National Qualifiers Junior sprinter/hurdler Kate Bishop, Junior mid distance runners/hurdlers Emily Weaver and Kerri Goodrich, and Sophomore mid distance runner Heather Rathbun. This season’s lone Senior is distance runner Jessica Mead. Other Juniors include vaulter Bekah Laman, distance runners Ashley Imhoff and Allison Schuck, thrower Ashley Sparks, and jumper/javelin thrower Natalie Young. Sophomores that Coach Natali are counting on include sprinter Calyn Zahl, hurdler Dawn Heckman, throwers Lacey Litteral, Brittany Cook and Nikki Hinton, mid distance runner Shelby Morrow, distance runners Alison Gingrich and Mozy Thiel, and vaulter Danae Ellison.

The newcomers on the women’s side are also extremely talented. That group includes sprinter Jessie Spearman, mid distance runners Becca Prieb and Laura Miller, distance runners Ashley Wray, Laura Winningham, and Katie Heisey, throwers Holly Farrer, Alicia Derr, and Lyndee Flint, and vaulters Caitlyn Gager and Ann O’Keefe.

The indoor season kicks off on Friday, January 26 at the University of Findlay. Other indoor meets include the Taylor Invitational, the Goshen Meet, the Grand Valley State Invitational, followed by NCCAA Nationals and the NAIA Indoor Championships in Johnson City, Tennessee.

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Highlighted Hopefulls

The Bethel College Track Teams Look To Score Big With Talented Recruits.

With the eve of a new season quickly approaching, and the thought of another senior class seeing their last seaon; the men's and women's track to teams are looking at a group of talented highlighted recruits to join them for the 2008 season. The potential class for 2008 is a talented group, filled with athletes that can do special things in different areas of Track & Field.

Men:

• Jory Hardman- Penn
• Alex Tomsheck- Michigan City
• Doug Slabaugh- Wawasee
• Phil Yike- Elkhart Central
• Zac Chapman- East Noble
• John Jarvis- Indpls. Roncalli
• CJ Rumpf- Niles, MI
• Andrew Schroeder- Homestead
• Chris Newman- S.B. Washington
• Daniel Hoskins- Floyd Central

Women:

• Jessica Derr- Indpls. Luthren
• Bianca Gilden- Gary Wirt
• Diamond Smith- S.B. St. Joe
• Nichole Arnold- Southport
• Beenne Capre- Northwood
• Amberly Krajniak- White Pigeon, MI
• Missy Gowand- Jimtown
• Alexandria Ray- Michigan City

Bethel College is excited at the thought of having all of these young men and women join them in the 2008 season.

Pilots Cash In On Stellar Recruits

The Bethel Pilot "Blue Wave" Mens and Womens Track Teams have scored big with early season commitments.

On the mens side, the Pilots are happy to announce the commitments of:

• David Richmand- Merriville


• Caleb Jackson- Gobles, MI

On the womens side, the Pilots are delighted to announce the commitments of:

• Kelly Hosaflock- Penn


• Amy Hausner- Maconaquah


• Samantha Hartsough- Bremen
  
• Kati Bentler- Homestead

On behalf of all the individuals involved in the Bethel College Track & Field Program, we would like to say welcome to all the new Pilots. We can't wait to see you in Bethel Blue next season!

Meet Heather Rathbun

Sophomore Heather Rathbun is the Blue Wave female Pilot of the week

From: Akron, Indiana

Major: Business Administration with a minor in Biology

Favorite Music: Rap, Hip-Hop, R&B

Favorite Food: My mom's Chicken and Rice

Goals For This Season: To compete in the National meet again, break 60 in the open 400 Dash

Meet Knox Capre

Freshman Knox Capre is the Blue Wave male Pilot of the week

From: Pettionville, Haiti

Major: Biology

Music: A little bit of everything, but mostly Hip-Hop

Goals For This Season: Throw to the best of my ability, glorify God in all I do, and have fun!

Preseason Meet Quickly Approaching

With the 2007 season quickly approaching, the Pilots are taking steps towards success.

This Friday a handful of Pilots will be competing in a non-scheduled preseason meet at Grand Valley University, in preperation for the upcoming season. Athletes had the choice of competing this weekend or take advantage of the facilities that Bethel is currently lacking. During this meet, Bethel will be represented by a host of vaulters, long/triple jumpers and throwers. Although the meet will not count on schedule, it will surely be a measuring stick for each athlete and their development.

Results from the pre-season meet will be posted as soon as they are available.

Field Events Anchor the Pilots

With the 2007 season quickly approaching the Pilots will be looking to upper classmen field event standouts Chris Warhop, Travis LaVine, and Zach Burrington for leadership and points.

Chris is a standout long jumper for the Pilots and managed to lead the team in points earned in the jumps during the 2006 season. Chris was also able to put together an impressive late season push that included a conference championship, a new school record, and a qualification to the NAIA National Championships. In 2007 Warhop looks to become an impact sprinter, better his standing school record in the long jump, defend his conference title and become an NAIA All-American. With his pre-season work and new versatility in speed and hops; the sky seems to be the limit for Chris.

Travis LaVine is the strong, experienced throws captain for the 2007 season. During last seasons conference meet, Travis was able to come up with key throws that helped give the Pilots points that lead to their victory. Even with that high, There were some lows for Travis. He twice came up inches short of competing in both the indoor and outdoor NAIA National Championships; after those disappointments Travis is primed for his breakout season. During the Pilots preseason, Travis has pushed and been pushed by Freshman Eric Cody, JJ Jackson, and Brandon Hooven. With the new horses under his wing Travis will be looking to lead by example and throw his way to an appearance at the National meets.

Zach Burrington is a NAIA household name. Burrington has been an NAIA All-American multiple times; not to mention a conference champion and NCCAA All-American. In his Junior season, look for Burrington to again lead the Pilots in the all around field event category and in team leadership. He has visable hard work ethic and leads by example; those traits alone give Zach's vaulting teammates and extended track family a spark. That spark should help lead the Pilots to another successful season.

Bethel Team Schedule

Date /Opponent/ Location
Sat, Jan 27, 2007 Findlay Indoor: Findlay, OH

Sat, Feb 3, 2007 Taylor Indoor: Upland, IN

Fri, Feb 9, 2007 Goshen Indoor: Goshen, IN

Sat, Feb 17, 2007 Grand Valley University Indoor: Grand Rapids, MI

Sat, Feb 24, 2007 NCCAA Indoor Nationals: Upland, IN

Thu, Mar 8, 2007 NAIA Indoor Nationals: Johnson City, TN

Sat, Mar 24, 2007 Defiance Invitational: Defiance, OH

Sat, Mar 31, 2007 Goshen Invitational: Goshen, IN

Thu, Apr 5, 2007 Manchester Invitational: North Manchester, IN

Fri, Apr 13, 2007 Indiana Intercollegiates: Indianapolis, IN

Sat, Apr 21, 2007 Olivet Nazarene Invitational: Bourbonnais, IL

Fri, Apr 27, 2007 **MCC Conference Meet: Marion, IN

Fri, May 4, 2007 NCCAA National Meet: Upland, IN

Wed, May 9, 2007 Aquinas Twilight Invitational: Grand Rapids, MI

Thu, May 24, 2007 NAIA National Meet: Fresno, CA

* *Notes a Conference Game

Bethel Track Geared for New Season

After last season’s dual men’s and women’s Mid Central Conference Championships, we are looking forward to the 2007 season. Last season seemed to go according to our planning as we not only were MCC champs, but also qualified more athletes for NAIA and NCCAA Indoor and Outdoor Nationals than we ever had before. With that came the highest team finish at those national meets capped off with a 16th place finish by our men’s team at NAIA Outdoor nationals in Fresno, California.

We lost two great leaders in our programs to graduation with two year leaders and NAIA All-Americans Erica Young for the women and Kyle Amor for the men. We feel that our teams are in great hands with the leadership for this season. The men will be led senior NAIA All-American Geoffrey King and senior triple jumpers Chase Bislow and Adam Cramer. I am very excited about our core group of juniors on the men’s side. Juniors Zach Burrington (All-American, pole vault), Chris Warhop (All-American, sprints, long jump), Brandon Thomas (All-American, sprints, jumps), Travis LaVine (throws), David Prieb (mid distance ), Andrew Gray (distance), Kyle Steury (distance), and Adam Short (pole vault) all will not only add great talent but will supply the leadership needed to be successful.

Leadership on the women’s side is equally exciting and will come from senior Jessica Mead (distance), and juniors Kerri Goodrich (hurdles), Bekah Laman (pole vault), Kate Bishop (hurdles), Ashley Imhoff (distance), Allison Schuck (distance), Emily Weaver (hurdles), Natalie Young (javelin), Cherrie Davis (steeplechase), and Ashley Sparks (throws).
The sophomore class is one that we will see great improvement from as we head into 2007. They had a terrific freshman season, but with their hard work, expectations have increased for them as a collective group. That group includes, for the men, Harold Johnson, AJ Sullivan, Chase Healey, Scott Robinson, Ben Collard, Calyn Naragon, Nate Phillips, William Walker, and BJ Austin. For the women, the Sophomores are Heather Rathbun, Shelby Morrow, Nichole Hinton, Brittany Cook, Calyn Zahl, Alison Gingrich, Dawn Heckman, Lacey Litteral, Danae Ellison, and Mozy Thiel.

The final piece of the puzzle for 2007 are the talented group of newcomers that have joined our teams. On the men’s side JC transfers Rod Waters (hurdles) and Vincent Reel (Mid distance) will add tremendously. Freshmen include throwers JJ Jackson, Brandon Hooven, Knox Capre, Jeff Hardman, and Eric Cody, sprinters Brad Wilson, JW Maierle, and Jontae Randolph, javelin thrower Alex Walsh, and distance runners Randy Gengerich, Ryan Waybright, Jared Mead, Raymond Duttweiler, and Ken Collins. On the women’s side newcomers include sprinters Jessie Spearman, Laura Miller, and Caitlyn Weeks, pole vaulters Caitlyn Gager and Ann O’Keefe, throwers Holly Farrar, Lisa Neufeldt, Alicia Derr, and Lyndee Flint, and distance runners Becca Prieb, Ashley Wray, Katie Heisey, Laura Winnigham, and Charity Lane.

With a good mix of veteran leaders and talented newcomers, we are excited for the 2007 season to start.

Bethel Track Athlete Wins Paulsen Award

Track's Geoffrey King Receives Paulsen Award

Track and Field standout Geoffrey King has been awarded the 2006 Ron Paulsen Memorial Grant.

King is a senior from Fort Wayne, Indiana and is a Youth Ministry major. Captain of the track and field team, King was a national champion in the 100m and 200m in 2006 and was a multiple-time NAIA and NCCAA All-American.
Off the track he is very active in leadership of campus student life and in the Bethel Fellowship of Christian Athletes huddle.

"Geoff is a tremendous young man and is quite deserving of this honor," said track head coach Tony Natali. "He is good student in the classroom, has been a superior athlete on the track, but most importantly, is a great witness for the kingdom. He is a spiritual leader not only on our track team but on Bethel's campus as a whole."

The Paulsen award is the Bethel College Athletic Department’s top award and honors Ron D. Paulsen, a Bethel student athlete who was killed in an automobile accident in 1972.