Wartburg College Women's Basketball

Germany Day 4

2011-06-15T13:33:00.000-07:00

Germany – Day 4

We started out the day with a trip to the salt mine. Everyone on the bus was excited to tell stories from their first night at their family stay. When we go to the salt mine, we all had to put on hard hats and jackets. We loaded into an elevator that took us down 1500 feet underground. The 30 of us loaded into a large open truck and were instructed to not stand up or we would lose our head – in some places that was not an exaggeration! We zoomed through the mines with an enthusiastic guide – don’t remember his name. Our favorite part was the crystal room, but we also saw a museum and a mine demonstration to learn more about the history and how the mine works. It was a 3 hour tour and it was a blast!

Next we travelled to Point Alpha. This is a memorial on the old border where Germany was divided into east and west. We had a tour guide who experienced living in East Germany and spoke with great emotion and knowledge. We also had Wolfgang along, a former border guard. They both gave us great points of view and it was amazing to learn how they actually lived it. The final activity of the day was a barbecue with our host families. It was great to be able to interact with all the families.

-Maddie Sadecky and Laura Hempen

Saturday, June 11

2011-06-14T10:29:00.000-07:00

Sat. June 11

Saturday morning was our final breakfast with our host families. We all packed our many luggages into the bus, said our goodbyes to our host families and were off to the wonderful city of Munich. Saturday was very rainy, but luckily the itinerary was filled with all indoor activities. We first toured the new BMW museum. This was fascinating to see all the new cars, old models, and motorcycles.

We then walked across the bridge to the Olympic complex. We swam in the pool where Mark Spitz won 7 gold medals in 1972. Many of us took the opportunity to dive off the high dive, but not enough courage for the platform! That night we got ready for an evening in Munich. Our dinner reservations were at the famous Hofbrau Haus, which was many people’s favorite restaurant. There was a stage where performers danced and many people in the crowd sang and clapped along during dinner. We eventually joined in! The food continues to be a culture shock to say the least. All in all, we continue to have a great time and are building wonderful memories.

- Meredith Flattery and Carly Jacobs

Germany Day 5

2011-06-14T01:39:00.000-07:00

Friday, June 10, 2011

A Day In German Life of Brooke, Mary and Olivia

The morning started off a little rushed, as Mary and Olivia slept through their alarm for the second day in a row. They were abruptly awoken when Brooke came down and told them they only had 30 minutes to get ready! Amazingly they made it to breakfast on time! Today’s breakfast was delicious as all the food has been by Chef Udo. He prepared some scrambled eggs with toast and an assortment of beverages (unrefrigerated). We made it to the bus, just in time but not before we saw the smallest house in Germany, and quite possibly the world. It was two short stories high, but only three meters wide (about the length of a couch). Maddie and Laura almost got themselves left in Eisenach for the day, as the bus began to pull away. Thankfully, Mary yelled “Where’s Laura?!” and PT translated for Karl to STOP immediately! And about 2 minutes later Maddie and Laura showed up, and we were off to start our day!
Now it’s time to get serious! Our first stop of the day was at Buchenwald, the Concentration Camp. We arrived at the camp at 9:58, which was just in time for the 10:00 showing of the ENGLISH documentary, which was about half an hour long. And when we say English, we mean English subtitles only. Then we got to experience the camp for ourselves. First we saw the interrogation cells right inside the gate. Then we walked down the hill to crematorium which was absolutely unbelievable to witness. This was very emotionally draining to think what had happened there less than 100 years ago. Next we saw the art gallery of the inmates. They drew and painted pictures of all the unbelievable things they went through during their time at the camp. Unfortunately, after this we only had ten minutes left at Buchenwald many of the girls tried to hurry through the museum but with it being three floors high, no one got past the first floor. PT also mentioned that if we would have had more time we could have seen the “little camp” where more unthinkable things took place. We headed to bus at 11:30 because we had a lunch date at 12:00 in downtown Erfurt.
We were greeted by a representative of the state and welcomed inside for lunch. Then we were given a tour of the council room, where all our questioned were answered. After this we headed back to the bus. What many people may not realize is that streets in Germany are quite narrow. Karl has done a tremendous job of weaving our way through these narrow and windy roads. To quote Hannah Montana “nobody’s perfect”, including Karl. Laura Hempen’s window met a stop sign, leaving a slight mark on the window. Thankfully a kind German citizen turned the sign so we could be on our way to the Monastery where we spend a full two hours learning about Martian Luther’s life as a monk. On our walk to downtown we passed houses that were built on a bridge which was quite interesting to see. Once we arrived downtown some people hit up the shops while the rest were thrilled to have a nice sub at subway (with an American menu) or a delicious pizza. By this time it was about 4:30 and it was time to head to the gym!
We played two basketball games one our feet, and one in a wheelchair. Both the team and fans LOVED the amusing wheelchair game. It took us while to get used to wheeling a instead of running and the rules were a little different. They took one look at our skills and decided that we should divide up the two teams and play with each other. The professional wheelchair players brought the ball down the court and set the Wartburg girls up for some shots. After that it was time to play a club team from Erfurt. Before the game began we exchanged gifts with our competitors. It was fun, but hot game. We took the lead early and hung on for a 34 point victory. The final score was 64-30. After the game both teams gathered for dinner, we had brats and a drink, all for free! After dinner we headed back to Eisenach for our final stay with our host families.
We figured we should probably get at least 6 hours of sleep and we have an early start time tomorrow as we travel to Munich. So this is where we say goodbye America!

-Olivia Olson, Brooke Wheelwright, and Mary Brown

Germany Day 3

2011-06-10T22:01:00.000-07:00

Today started off very interesting. We woke up bright and early to go downstairs to the hotel’s continental breakfast. We saw all sorts of new and interesting foods to say the least. Some of the players decided to start the day off with a friendly competition by challenging one another to a food eating contest. It was at this point we decided to be much more cautious about what we order.

Next, we loaded the bus to head up to the long-awaited Wartburg Castle tour. It was quite the drive so Pastor Trachte had all the people on the bus get up and speak to help us get to know one another. We finally arrived at the Wartburg Castle after a couple hour drive. We were all excited to learn what it was all about. It wasn’t long after we got there that we brought out the umbrellas and stylish ponchos to protect us from the rain. The Wartburg Castle was quite interesting and really cool to see. We learned a lot!

In the afternoon we met the mayor of Eisenach! He was very excited to host us and talked to us about Eisenach and its sister cities – Waverly, Iowa is one! Eisenach is a neat place with nice little shops and lots of places to eat. Near the end of the day we met up with our host families from Eisenach. Though many of us were nervous about staying with a German family whom we had never met, we all seemed to have a great time. The families were all very friendly and welcomed us with an evening meal. We learned a great deal about our families and the German culture and are looking forward to two more nights with them.

-Maggie Weidemann and Leslie Wilson

Germany Day 2

2011-06-07T14:18:00.000-07:00

Day 2 - Ridin’ on the Rhine

First lesson in Germany- adaptors may blow up
We woke up this morning ready to get ready for the day. We had to be ready to go by 8:30, so we got up in time to eat the continental breakfast before we took off for our day.
Second lesson in Germany- Breakfast food may look the same, but does not taste the same
Peanut butter, salami paste, warm whole milk, boiled eggs, and things we have never seen were not some of our favorite foods. However, waffles tasted like some delicious cake!

We took off at 8:30 for an hour drive for our cruise on the Rhine river. It was the perfect day because it was gorgeous with no rain in the forecast. We saw many different castles and vineyards along the way. It was quite the ride. Another culture shock… we think we saw a baby drinking beer! We got off after an hour and a half to go eat lunch up a mountain at the Loreley.

Third lesson in Germany- Pork patties aren’t necessarily patties and brats don’t necessarily have buns :( … and no free refills so learn how to sip!
We were way high up at the Loreley looking out over the Rhine river. We could see for miles.

Next, we traveled to a castle called the Burg Eltz. It was down in a valley, so we had a nice trek down the mountain. We got a tour and saw many different items from different centuries that had been restored.

Fourth lesson in Germany- Once you go down you must come back up

Next, we had to trek back up the mountain, and boy did that burn. However, Pastor Trachte said whoever walked back up and didn’t ride the van would get a free drink on him which was nice because many of us are feeling a little dehydrated with the no free refills and no free water.

Now, we were on our way to our last stop for supper and a little shopping. We went to Rüdesheim. We were on our own for supper, so many opted to eat more Americanized food. McDonalds tasted very similar and spaghetti and pizza options were delicious.

Fifth lesson in Germany- German boys love American girls
If the boys honk, that means they will be turning around and coming back to honk again.

Sixth lesson in Germany- Go to the bathroom when it’s free
To keep from paying too much to use the restroom, we just paid once and chose to hold the door and wait in line and to all use the same stall. It was pretty clever!
We got on the bus at 8:30 to head back to our hotel, but we kept running into detours. Thank goodness for our bus driver, Karl, because he navigated the streets very well to get us back.

Fun facts- Justin Bieber is loved in Germany too.. YES!
Our coach needs some new music other than elevator music on his itunes.

Favorite quotes of the day:If you have any questions, you can go ahead and ask. If not, I will go ahead and open the next door.

Can we have more ketchup? We really love our ketchup.

Sick, I’m so glad I didn’t get that!

Well we went up down and all around.

-Stephanie Reiter and Abi Weidemann

Germany Trip; June 6

2011-06-06T21:19:00.000-07:00

Day 1: Monday, June 6th, 2011

Our journey to Germany has begun! We started in Minneapolis and our flight was six hours long to Iceland. The flight was completely full and when we got to Iceland it was 39 degrees! The airport in Iceland definitely had some interesting food choices, but we made the best out of it. Thankfully we were only there for an hour.  Next we boarded our flight for Frankfurt and that flight was three hours long. We finally made it to Germany at 1:00 pm.
Even though most of us tried to sleep on the plane we were still exhausted after experiencing the seven hour time difference. Once we gathered our luggage we went to our bus and met Karl, our bus driver for the trip. Our first Germany experience was in Heidelberg. Even though we wanted a shower and warm meal, we took in the beautiful sites of the city instead. We walked the coble stone streets and explored the various shops and restaurants. We also saw the ruins from the Heidelberg Castle, the Rhine River, and an amazing bridge that people in Germany refer to as the Old Bridge. We were able to take a lot of photos of the houses on the hillside next to the Rhine River and of the city itself. We were only in Heidelberg for one hour but many of us took the opportunity to shop and buy things. Carly and Meredith found the “greatest deal on shoes!” and they will take home a pair each.
Next we boarded our lovely bus to take us to our hotel for the night. Throughout the day, and especially while driving, Pastor Trachte gives us valuable information and history about Germany. We have enjoyed hearing about the agriculture of the country, such as asparagus is one of their main crops and their growing season is one month ahead of the Iowa crops. Something we found very interesting was that in the past the University in Heidelberg would imprison their students for not completing homework or getting behind academically. Thankfully Wartburg has not decided to follow this method. Even on the first day, Pastor Trachte has proved himself as an amazing tour guide. We look forward to learning more about Germany and the places he is going to take us. This trip would not be the same without him and we are so thankful for him! 
To complete the night we finally were fed a warm meal at the hotel. It was a three course meal that was beautifully prepared, except for the fact Abi Weidemann didn’t have her ketchup. We also thought the ice cream that we were given for dessert was very interesting. What we thought was chocolate ice cream ended up being an unknown substance. After finishing our meal we were all ready for bed and we are looking forward to tomorrow’s activities!

-Shayla Barnes and Laura Brugman

Atlanta recap

2010-12-27T19:46:00.000-08:00

Our trip to Atlanta for the Oglethorpe College tournament was awesome! On Monday we played a very good Maryville team out of Tennessee. We got off to a good start and stepped up for a good defensive challenge. They are a team that really puts alot of pressure on you and makes you guard some different things and I thought we responded well. Our 2nd half was a little shaky - we didn't take care of the ball as well as I would have hoped, but overall we did a nice job of battling hard and holding them off for a good win a long way from home. We got real solid play from several players and Abi Weidemann really carried us down the stretch. She has a knack for stepping up when we need it most and we needed it. She made some real tough plays on both ends of the floor. Maryville has a real nice team and will win a lot of games this year. This was a good win for our program.

On Tuesday we were as efficient offensively as we have been all year. UT-Tyler's athleticism had me concerned, but we really had it clicking in the first half and our defense was outstanding. If we continue to share the ball like we have been we should continue to be successful. Samantha Harrington continues to be our leader on the floor and is making us a good team. I am really proud of her and how she has evolved into this role. And she is having fun. We had great balance in the tournament and Sam's leadership is a big reason for it. Steph Reiter has really improved her game and has become a much more consistent player. Sam has helped her a lot, but Steph has come into her own. And I was especially proud of Emily Timmermans and Carly Jacobs off the bench. Emily is really figuring it out and should have a very good 2nd half for us and Carly doesn't play like a freshman very often. Our bench is good.

Katie Z had a great trip and earned herself IIAC athlete of the week. She deserved it. 34 points on 15-22 shooting. She played like a senior.

We got better on this trip. We are closer as a team and understand things we can do to continue to get better. This has been a fun group for me. We know ourselves better than any team I have ever had, though we can still get better.

Next up: Northwestern College, MN in the Wartburg Holiday Tournament; Wed, Dec 29.

Lessons from Abbey

2010-12-20T06:48:00.001-08:00

When Abbey Hempen hurt her knee in July, I struggled pretty hard with it once we confirmed what we had feared. A torn ACL meant reconstruction and the probability that she would miss her entire senior season. My heart broke for her and her entire family. You never fully understand things like this when they happen, but I've learned alot through this whole process.

Abbey is a player that has improved every year. She worked hard every off season. Early on she became one of the most dangerous shooters in our league, and she added something to her game every year. She became a much better defender. She added the ability to attack the basket and get to the free-throw line. She got stronger. She improved her weaknesses. Why did I worry about her ability to get through this? Dumb.

Abbey has hit this thing straight on. I've never seen anybody handle something like this as well as she has and I hope she reaches her goal to suit up again this season. I have quit doubting her. She faces each day with a determination that is rare, especially in situations like this. Since our first practice this season, Abbey has been a strong voice and a focused leader. She has grown into a role that she would rather not play, but she is helping our team be successful. She has been a great captain this year and is leading well. She sees the game much differently and has a deep understanding of what our team needs to do to be successful. Above all, her attitude is unwaivering and she has been the consumate team player.

She has inspired me. She has set the example. She is a model to which we should all strive. If she concludes her career in her current role, she has played it well and has made us a much better team. If her role changes, it wouldn't suprise me a bit.

999, 1000 and overshadowed?!?!?

2010-12-05T20:09:00.001-08:00

Samantha did it! 1000 points! She joins an elite list of Wartburg greats, becoming the 13th member of the 1000-point club.

1. Kathy Roberts 2,144 (1989-93)
2. Holly Mohs 1,784 (1999-2003)
3. Lisa Uhlenhopp 1,707 (1988-92)
4. Lynn Dose 1,491 (1980-84)
5. Jessica Mennen 1,442 (2000-04)
6. Kathy Smith 1,360 (1986-90)
7. Cheryl Pueggel 1,316 (1974-78)
8. Brianne Schoonover 1,314 (1998-2002)
9. Kathy Laufer 1,150 (1976-80)
10. Elizabeth Campbell 1,140 (2004-08)
11. Sharese Van Sloten 1,031 (2005-09)
12. Samantha Harrington 1,008 (2007-present)
13. Kayah-Bah Phillman 1,006 (1998-99)

I love these things, especially when they happen in a win. Just wish it could have happened at home, but a tremendous accomplishment nonetheless. Sam played a great overall floor game on Saturday in our 84-63 road win at Central. She was really efficient, finishing with 18 points on 6 of 8 shooting and 5 assists against no turnovers. These things happen to good players on good teams, and our team helped make this happen. I'm really proud of Sam, and I'm really proud of kids like Maggie Weidemann (and others) that come to practice everyday to push Sam and make her better.

Maddie Sadecky stole the show a bit on Saturday though; 7 threes on 7 attempts...in the first half! I've seen some great shooting performances over the years, but none top what Maddie was able to do in the first twenty minutes. I was really proud of our team for identifying ways to get her the ball after she had hit a couple. Sam had a hand in a couple of those too. She has a knack for setting up other players. With that performance, Maddie tied our school record for most 3's in a game and the other three players that have matched that accomplishment were all in the gym to witness it (Abbey Hempen, Samantha Harrington, and Elizabeth Campbell '08), which made it even more fun. I'll be a much better coach if she does that every night.

Back to Sam - There wasn't much doubt that 1000 points was going to happen, it was just a matter of when it would happen. I am really happy for her. I envisioned this 4 years ago when I was recruiting her, knowing that she was the type of player we needed to re-vitalize the program. She believed in our plan back then and has led us through the growing years. Just one more goal to check off the list.

We've worked hard together, we've learned together and we understand each other. We compliment each other well. I often know what she is thinking, and it goes both ways. I've pushed her, and she has responded. And she's pushed me a bit. Through all of Sam's accomplishments, she understands that a role shift was in order this year for us to complete the plan. No doubt it has been an adjustment, but one that she has made extremely well and we are a better team for it. She is evolving into a better leader and in turn a better player. It's been a fun start to the season, but still not sleeping all that well. ;)

IIAC Opener - First Test Passed

2010-12-02T19:58:00.000-08:00

Last night worried me. Cornell has a real nice team this year and I think they will win more games this season. Their guard play is much improved and they have one of the top posts in the league. They defend well and really made it hard for us early in the game last night, but we settled in and got the W in the conference opener 64-46. Fortunately we were able to knock down several three's to open up the game in the first half, which really gave our post players room to work. We had great balance with four players in double figures. I like it. Our depth is the best that it has been and we have several players that have the ability to step up. We are still learning to play together on the offensive end, but we are getting better.

I was most proud of our defensive effort last night. That was the difference. KatieZ and KTeubs did a great job limiting touches to their post player and our communication continues to get better. We still have room to grow, but I like where we are defensively at this early point in the season.

Sam continues to evolve into the pt guard role as I expected she would and she has really embraced it. Her poise is really key to our success. Steph Reiter continues to shoot it well and we had a big game from Katie, which we need. Terri Dirks added a big time spark off the bench last night and I am really proud of her play. She is getting comfortable and makes us better.

Next up: at Central on Saturday. They are dangerous, as we found out about this time last season. They are averaging more than 80 points in their three wins this year, so defense will remain a big key for us.

Weekend in Wisconsin

2010-11-25T19:12:00.000-08:00

We had a pretty good weekend at Platteville Saturday and Sunday. Though we haven't really found an offensive flow, our defense has been pretty good and keeping us in games. We continue to learn about each other and are making progress. The steps we took between Saturday and Sunday were really important for us as we grow together. Our approach was better on Sunday and we were a much better team than the day before. Hoping we can continue the trend.

On Saturday we faced off against UW-Platteville. Both teams really struggled to get into any kind of flow. There were 50 fouls and 50 turnovers in the game...way too many stoppages. We played hard and thankfully we were able to stretch our 6-point half-time lead to 15 in a matter of two minutes. Back-to-back threes out of half-time from Steph Reiter and a third by Maddie Sadecky gave us the breathing room we needed. We played hard and we knocked down our free throws, but we have to become more efficient on the offensive end.

On Sunday against Concordia, WI the team showed a lot of heart. Although we struggled to score early, our execution was much better and we were getting the shots we wanted. We were down 12-5 about 10 minutes into the game, but I knew if we continued to execute that we would hit a couple runs, which we did. Sam Harrington played a really good floor game and did a great job running the team and Katie Z got back to old form. We need those two to continue to play well. Leslie Wilson was really active on the glass and her offensive rebounds were key in the win. She leads our defense, and is starting to assert herself more offensively. We need that.

Grinnell comes to town on Saturday and I know our team is really looking forward to another game. We are learning what it takes for us to be successful, and I know our players are ready for another test. Grinnell has a nice post game and provides some matchup challenges for us and they hit the offensive glass real well. Looking forward to the challenge.

A Good Start!

2010-11-16T19:41:00.000-08:00

Anytime you beat Gustavus Adolphus you've had a good night. And we got them twice. Our jv squad led us off with a strong showing and a double digit win and I was really proud of them. Those kids are going to be good! Gustavus is one of the top teams in the MIAC every year, and I expect them to be there again this year, so getting a win on the varsity side was a good one. They are well coached and defend real well in the half court.

We new going in that we would need to handle their pressure in the half court to be successful. We didn't handle it well early as we went down 10-0 after turning over the ball three straight possessions to start the game. Once we got settled in though, we were pretty efficient the rest of the half. Abi Weidemann got loose several times early on and took some pressure off of us by creating her own scoring opportunities. She also did a nice job setting up her teammates. If there is lightning in a bottle, she is it! She makes random plays...plays you can't really coach and I am glad we have her. Steph Reiter's two early threes got us back in the game and back to back threes by Sam Harrington and another by Maddie Sadecky really opened it up for us. It sure makes everything easier when you hit some shots!

What I was most proud of last night was our defense. We stress it every day and we are getting better. Our returning cast really gets it, and our rookies are catching on. We did have some breakdowns in the 1st half, but overall our rotations were real solid. If we can defend every night we have a chance to be pretty good. Our post players did a great job limiting touches and we helped when we needed to.

Emily Timmermans played a great game last night off the bench, pulling down 10 rebounds in only 17 minutes, including a couple offensive boards late in the 2nd half when we really needed them. She continues to get comfortable in our system and should have a good year.

Film revealed a lot of problem areas, but they are fixable. Most people probably would assume I had a good night sleep last night, but other coaches know better. We have a lot to work on. And missed layups are haunting me.

Next up; UW-Platteville tournament this weekend. Should be another good test.

A Weekend We Won't Forget

2010-11-08T15:18:00.000-08:00

This past weekend was pretty special...

Sunday afternoon we opened up our season with a trip to Ames for an exhibition show down with the Iowa State Cyclones. Yeah, that's a challenge. It was quite a feeling walking into Hilton Coliseum, especially after the flooding it endured several weeks ago. Most places we play seat 1200-2500 fans, so this obviously was quite different; the attendance was listed at 9505! What a great environment, and certainly well deserved! Coach Fennelly and his staff have done a great job with that program over the years and many of our players and families have grown up as true fans of the Cyclones. In fact, last spring when Maggie Weidemann found out that we were getting this opportunity, her first thought was "Hmm, I wonder who mom and dad will cheer for?"

This was certainly a special day for us and one we will always remember. We'd been working hard to get prepared for the season over the last few weeks, but you never know how your team will respond to a challenge like this. Wow, I was really pleased and actually a bit suprised. Our team came out determined right away and I was proud of how our girls battled a much bigger, stronger and more athletic team. We weren't intimidated and our kids came to play. After we got stops on the first three possessions Maddie Sadecky put us up 3-0 with a three from the corner. That broke the ice for us and we were able to generate several other great looks against them in the opening frame. Sam Harrington played like you would want a senior to play and she hit a couple of her signature long-rangers and was also able to get some buckets going to the basket.

Our approach going in to the day was to battle each possession, regardless of the score and our team really bought in to that approach. As a result, we were able to hang in there for the entire half. Up 26-25 late in the half, we needed one more stop on the defensive end, which we got. Then we went the length of the floor with 5.4 seconds left and Maddie hit another bomb at the buzzer. I had to shake my head to make sure what I had just seen was real; a 29-25 lead at the half!

The 2nd half was a little different story, but one we can learn from. Physically, we got worn down and got pretty sloppy on offense. A couple turnovers and bad shot selection led to some easy transition buckets for ISU and we were in scramble mode pretty early in the 2nd half. Though ISU prevailed 61-40, I was really pleased with our effort. Defensively I saw alot of great things; our rotations were really good. Sometimes even if you do everything right the better team will take advantage of you and that happened to us.

We can build on this. We have to have better offensive execution and our rebounding wasn't good. Points in transition and 2nd chance points really hurt us. But our kids are tough and we will get better.

Oh and I'm pretty sure I saw Mrs. Weidemann in a Wartburg shirt!

A new season

2010-10-16T16:46:00.000-07:00

This is a great time of year! Practice starts tomorrow and we are ready. Our staff is prepared, our returning players have set a higher standard, and our newcomers have gotten a taste of how special it is to be Wartburg Knights.

I really like the potential of our team this year; good leadership, veteran experience, improved players, and a promising freshman class. Our upperclassmen have learned alot about what it takes to be successful over the past couple years and are ready for a new set of challenges. Our new kids are anxious to start navigating the land of college basketball. I can't wait to mesh the two together!

The thing I like most about a veteran, experienced team is the way they are able to help bring the newcomers around. There is so much teaching and learning in the first few weeks and the leadership of our returners is essential to helping the rookies make the transition. Our upperclassmen understand our system well and that will help us tremendously, especially early on.

I couldn't ask for a better senior class. Sam, Abbey and Katie have been through alot together and have helped revive our program. When I think back to where we were their freshman season I realize just how far we have come. Through their hard work and determination, we have successfuly changed the culture in our program. We work harder, we prepare better, and we hold each other to higher standards. Our system is in place and I've never felt better about the overall health of our program than I do today. I know I can count on them and that is a great feeling.

Three weeks before we head to Ames to face Iowa State. We have a lot of work ahead of us.

Broken Hearted

2010-04-23T10:58:00.000-07:00

One of my most cherished times is when I take my daughter Paige to school in the morning and pick her up in the afternoon. Just her and I. It gives me a chance to spend time with her each day and we get to talk, just the two of us. Mostly her talking and me chuckling. At nearly 9 yrs old she has a great sense of humor!

Well, yesterday ended up being a tough day. Paige had had a loose tooth for several days and had been looking forward to the day that it would be gone. Every night for the last week or so she would come to me and ask if it was ready. It hadn't been, but it was getting closer each day. Well, she popped it out at school yesterday and couldn't wait to share the news with me; it was the first thing she told me about when she jumped in the car. She was so excited! I told her she better let her mom know and I handed her my phone so she could text her mom (she loves texting and is much better at it than I). Anyway, she sent the text and several seconds later I heard the beep that was Erin's reply. A few more clicks on the text pad and another beep. I asked Paige what her mom had said but got no response. She put my phone on the console and didn't say a word. Weird.

So I grabbed my phone and here is how it went:

Sent: "Paige pulled her tooth out"
Inbox: "Just now?"
Sent: "No at school"
Inbox: "Wow. do you have any money 2 b the tf?"

Oops. And since when do third graders write in 3rd person point of view?????
I turned and said to her, "you already knew the tooth fairy wasn't real didn't you?"
Sheepishly she responded, "yeah I knew".
"So you knew about Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny too, huh?"

Dead Silence.....

Tears.....

Broken heart.....

Guilty feelings.....

No eye contact.....

More silence.....

More tears.....

She doesn't want to talk about it.

I am really looking forward to picking her up today. Maybe we can put this one behind us.

Senior Spotlight - Hollee Silvey

2010-02-17T11:36:00.000-08:00

Hollee's last regular season home game...

On Monday, Hollee came to practice after being gone all day for a job interview. She indicated she was a little nervous about growing up and going into the real world.

Hollee is ready, no doubt about it. She has always been critical of herself, which is one reason she has been so fun to coach. It is also the reason she has improved so much since her freshman season! The progress and growth she has shown on and off the court is the most rewarding part of coaching for me.

Hollee will always be special to me. As our only senior, Hollee is my first four-year player at Wartburg. Hollee started at point guard for us her first year and has grown in that role really nicely. She understands what our team needs to do to be successful and she has done a great job playing to her teammates' strengths. More than anything though, she has taken ownership of the program. She deeply cares about our team success and the development of everyone associated with the program. She has been a great leader for us, and is directly responsible for the improvement that we have seen over her four year career.

I am really proud of Hollee. She has done it the right way and because of that she will be able to reflect back on her career without regrets. You cannot measure Hollee by her stat-line. She will most likely not be named to any all-conference teams. She won't leave the program with any school records. But Hollee has been one of those rare players that always does what is right and has made her teammates better players and better people. Hollee leads our team in non-glamour stats - assists and charges taken. She has been our 'glue' and she will be missed greatly.

Hollee, thanks for your hard work and commitment. Thanks for your dedication. Thanks for responding when I challenged you. Thanks for remaining true to yourself and the program.

You rock!

Wartburg, Coe partner for benefit

2010-02-10T08:39:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday, Feb. 10th, at Levick Arena, the Wartburg and Coe women's basketball teams are hosting a benefit on behalf of Mollie Enwright.

Mollie, a close friend of Coe player Devvin Rolston, was a member of the Knights last year. She is 19 years old and has been battling Non-Hodgkins lymphoma, a cancer that starts in cells called lymphocytes which are part of the body's immune system, since April 2009. Mollie recently underwent a stem cell transplant at University of Iowa Hospitals and is currently recovering at her home in Clinton, Iowa. Her plan after recovery is to go back to cosmetology school and possibly start her own hair salon.

Walking tacos and bars/cookies will be provided with the lone cost being a free will donation. T-shirts that say "Coe & Wartburg, United for a Cure" will be available for sale at the game. All the proceeds will go to supporting Mollie and her medical costs.This is the 2nd time that Wartburg and Coe will be teaming up. Coe hosted a similar night at the Coe vs Wartburg game on January 13th in Cedar Rapids.

Link to Courier article:

http://www.wcfcourier.com/news/local/article_6ab28a92-11a1-11df-aaad-001cc4c002e0.html

Looking for Balance

2010-01-22T14:14:00.000-08:00

Half Way Point...

Well, we just completed the first half of the IIAC schedule and the parity in the league is really good, just as expected. The days of the 'gimme' games in this league are over. Every game is competitive and if a team isn't sharp on any given night they may likely drop a game. That is what makes this a great conference.

Entering a somewhat somber locker room last night really made me step back and evaluate where we are as a program and I am reassured that we are on the right track. We just beat Luther, ending their ten-game win streak against us; we hadn't beaten them since the 2003-04 season. We also won for the 11th time in our last 12 games and we are only 1 game out of first place in the league. But the mood in the locker room last night wasn't that of jubilation. Our players were pretty disappointed with the way we had played. We didn't defend as well as we need to, we didn't shoot well, we missed several free throws, and we went through some stretches where we were careless with the ball. Sounds like a recipe for disaster - and it is. And our players know it. We need to continue to mature as a program and games like this give us that opportunity, but we must make the most of it. Last season we likely would have dropped that one and we are showing signs that we are moving forward, but we still have a long way to go. We can improve. We must if we are to meet our goals this season.

"Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming." - John Wooden

There is a fine line right now on where we need to be. I am pleased with our players. They aren't satisfied with winning, but rather are looking to do their best. But it is also important that we enjoy the journey. If we continue to prepare, compete, and strive to do our best, we will enjoy that balance.

We had plenty of bright spots last night. We got the "W" - defending our home court! We hit the offensive glass really hard, and that was probably the difference in the game. We also forced 25 turnovers. We bent a little, but didn't break. We had really good play off of our bench again. We had good balance with four players in double figures. We found ways to win.

Next up...Buena Vista tomorrow in Storm Lake. They are good, really good. We will need to play well tomorrow to get this one, especially on the road. They are tough in their own gym too and average nearly 80 points a game. It should be a really good test for us!

Next Play

2010-01-02T20:18:00.000-08:00

Wartburg Holiday Champs

Sometimes you just have to grind it out, and that was the story against St. Norbert on Wednesday. We knew going in that they were really good defensively and they certainly showed it in the first 10 minutes of the game. We missed several open shots, but they didn't give us anything easy either. Good teams do that and we found ourselves down 24-3 at the 9:00 mark of the first half. Oddly enough, I wasn't really very nervous about it at the time. I just knew that if we stuck with it we would be ok. A couple of adjustments on both ends and better execution and we were able to cut it to 29-17 by the half. I was really proud of our defensive effort once we settled in. After giving up 10 field goals in the first 10 minutes of the game, they were only able to manage 10 more over the remainder of the game.

Abi Weidemann and Emily Timmermans had key spurts during our 2nd half run before Steph Reiter hit two threes in three possessions to cut their lead to one by the midpoint of the 2nd half. We finally got over the hump when Sam Harrington and Abbey Hempen hit back-to-back threes for our first lead of the game at the 2:36 mark. Abbey got fouled on a three point attempt the next possession and hit all three free throws for a 4 point lead which helped seal up a great win over a very good team for our Holiday Tourney Championship. That capped off a pretty good week. I was most proud of our bench and how much they were in to the game. This team is close.

This stretch started a key 9-0 run midway through the 2nd half:

Our players have really bought in to the 'next play' mentality. It was very apparent right away in shell drill at Thursday morning's practice. I like our determination and we are still improving...we need to. Can't wait for practice tomorrow!

Great Weekend!

2009-12-21T12:30:00.000-08:00

I really enjoy being with my team after finals each December on our annual trip. It gives us an opportunity to experience new places and new teams, but also a chance to bond off the court. After finals were completed on Thursday afternoon, we had a short but hard practice before taking off for Galesburg, Illinios - halfway to Indianapolis. We practiced at Knox College on Friday morning before making our way toward Indiana. Thank God the weather cooperated!

One thing I have learned over the years is that girls need to shop! So after a nice team dinner on Friday evening we had some time at the mall in downtown Indy. Saturday morning we enjoyed a trip to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and spent a couple hours at the NCAA Hall of Champions, where the championship banners from the previous year are displayed. It was pretty cool to see Wartburg well represented!

I was a little nervous about how we might perform in the Franklin College tournament after having limited practice opportunities and a long trip to Indy, but our team really came together and played as well as we have all season. Our first matchup was against Spalding College out of Louisville, KY. They are a really athletic team that I thought might pose some matchup problems, but our defensive pressure really got to them and Abbey Hempen's three point buzzer beater completed an unbelievable run that sent us into the locker room up 43-8! That allowed us to limit our minutes and be fresh for the championship game the following afternoon.

Sunday we beat a really good Franklin team to claim the tournament championship. I was really pleased with our energy and I really felt like our team was all about togetherness. This team really understands the importance of giving themselves up to be a part of something bigger and it has really shown on the court our last several times out.

Hempen buries three to end half:

Finals Week

2009-12-14T10:47:00.000-08:00

The team is stressed. It was evident at practice last night - our minds were on other things. I'm ok with that. Finals started today and I could tell our focus was not on basketball. The balances of being a student-athlete are challenging, and our girls take pride in their coursework. I'm proud of them.

As you can imagine, book bags accompanied us on our trip to Grinnell on Saturday and it was pretty quiet on the trip down and back...getting ready for exams this week. The girls usually study on road trips, but Saturday's was a little different; much more focus. It has been a tough mental stretch for them with the start of conference play and finals back-to-back, but I know they will handle the challenge well.

After dropping our home conference opener to Central, we rebounded with two good wins on the road this week. Much needed...

It has really come down to defense with this team - when we defend well we will have opportunities to win. When we don't, it will be hard. Not really profound, but true - very true. We weren't sharp defensively against Central and they took advantage of us. We are still learning that any one possession can cost us and we need to play a great 40 minutes. I see a basketball game kind of like finals week. If you stay focused throughout the whole semester - stay up on your work - you don't have to 'make a play' on the final exam. If we are able to focus and get a great effort the entire way, one slip up at the end of the game won't likely cost us.

Wednesday night our team had a tough test on the road...at Loras. They are a VERY good team and have a lot of weapons! I was really pleased to go over there and hold them to 61 points (15 below their average) and hold on for a 1 point victory. I anticipate many close games in our league this year that come down to the last possession or two.

On Saturday at Grinnell our energy and pressure led to a big first half run. We forced some mistakes and converted on them much better than we have in other games. That has been something that has haunted us a little bit early in the season. It seems as though we haven't been able to take advantage of opportunities, but it was much better on Saturday...hopefully a good sign.

We had a very short 1 hour practice today. Probably more of a study break than a practice but I was really happy with our focus and effort for the time we were in the gym. Tomorrow and Wednesday off should get us through exams and also give us much needed time away from the game before we get back after it on Thursday.

Next up - a very athletic Spalding University team in the Franklin, IN tournament.

Entering the Tough IIAC

2009-12-03T05:54:00.000-08:00

Starting 0-3 this year was hard. But through it, we have gotten better. We purposely scheduled games this season that would challenge us right out of the gate and while our record is disappointing, the progress that we have made is not. Teams use early season games to find themselves and this team is no different. We have alot of very good players with different skill sets and it has been alot of fun finding ways to use them all. It was good to get a strong performance on Sunday and our defensive intensity was a big reason we were able to get our first win of the year.

Almost plays don't win you games, and we have had alot of those so far. We do need to begin to 'settle in'. We've learned alot about who we are and where our strengths lie, and now we need to get comfortable with ourselves and become more consistent. I think we can do that. I saw signs of it this past weekend and it was really good to see Samantha Harrington give us the consistent play we need from her. We also took 4 charges on Sunday and two black eyes and I LOVE it! Senior Hollee Silvey showed some toughness after taking an elbow to the face on Saturday by stepping in and taking a charge in the first couple minutes of getting on the floor on Sunday. I was really proud of her with a solid floor game with 6 assists and 1 turnover. Steph Reiter is still paying for the two charges she took, but I know she will step in for another one next chance she gets.

One of the things I like best is to see players make the most of opportunities and I thought Larin Carlson did a great job of that this weekend in her first varsity minutes of the year. 8 pts / 5 rebounds off the bench...Great job Lar!

Central College comes to town on Saturday for our conference opener. One of many things I have learned over the past three seasons is that this league is tough. Every team has good players and every team is well-coached. Central will be ready to go, no doubt about it. There isn't a team in our league who has played a tougher pre-season schedule than them, and they showed last night that they can be a very good team by taking conference favorite Simpson to the wire. When Central gets it going, they can really score and we will need a great defensive effort on Saturday.

It should be fun.

A Week Away

2009-10-09T18:59:00.000-07:00

Oh I love this time of year! A week away from practice and a million things going through my mind. What I look forward to the most is working with our players on a daily basis. The interaction we share before, during, and after practice are the best times for me as a coach. I know our players are ready too. The excitement and energy at that first practice every year is unbeatable!

Before moving into our first week my staff and I will review where we were, where we are, and where we are going - again - something we have done several times since March! In reviewing last season, we have to do a better job of getting out of the gate. We started slow in way too many games last year, and although we still found ways to win many of those, we made it way too hard on ourselves by digging big holes early in games. Too many times we had to come back from significant deficits early in games.

Gustavus - down 25-34 late in the first half - won 72-68
Central - down 26-16 and scraped out a 72-71 win on some tough defensive stops
Coe - in a hole right from the start 13-2, but defense got us going; won 66-62
Cornell - down 9-0 on three quick 3's, countered with some of our own; won 66-41
Loras - down 8-2 after three possessions, but didn't panic; won 72-52
Dubuque - trailed 12-3 to start, won in OT in great back and forth game; 76-74
Buena Vista - down 34-22 late in 1st half; stuck with it and pulled it out 86-83
Loras - down 14-4 right away, 29-17 late in the half, but defense again; won 61-54

Are we warmed up properly?
Are we distracted, not focused at the beginning of the game?
Do we need to tweek our starting line up?
Are we not executing early in the game?

These are typical questions we ask ourselves and there are many other areas that we have evaluated as we prepare for an even better run this season. I guess the good thing about our team last year is we never quit. I am really proud of how we were able to battle back again and again in these situations; I think it says alot about the heart of our team.

Peeking in on the WNBA Finals with my daughter Paige tonight and Phoenix in a hole early got me thinking about this again. They did a great job pushing the tempo on Indiana and went on a great run to take the lead after the slow start - looks familiar. Paige thinks if we had Cappie Pondexter, we would be a better team...I guess I can't argue. Not the first time my 8-year old has pointed out the obvious!

Big goals this year! Hope you can make a game.

Gearing up!

2009-09-20T09:47:00.000-07:00

Can't believe we are already into late September! I am really excited about who we are as a team right now. Our players really understand the importance of leadership and chemistry and that should help continue to propel our program forward!

Our captains:
When I think about our two captains, I think about two things - maturity and growth. It has been very rewarding for me to see how all of our players transform over the course of a few years, and I am especially proud of how our two captains have embraced their roles as leaders for our team.

Hollee Silvey; Sr Guard, Iowa Falls
Hollee has come SO far from the day we got her - both as a player and as a leader. I often think about her first few practices and how far she had to go, but also how eager she was to learn. For her first couple of seasons I know she thought I was on her all the time, but that is because I had a vision of what she could become; she certainly hasn't disappointed! Hollee understands what we need as a program and I know that I can count on her to uphold our standards all the time. She pushes people - she sees in our young players what I saw in her and she does what the best leaders do...she puts other people first. Hollee is poised to have a great senior season!

Katie Zittergruen; JR Center, Benton Community
Katie is a living example of what hard work can do. I knew I would love coaching Katie from the first day she stepped into practice as a freshman. I love players that REALLY listen and try to do what you tell them. Katie is one of the best that I have had that really takes to coaching. You tell her something once and you never have to tell her again - I really love that about her! As a freshman Katie played primarily on our jv team, but used that experience to better herself. As a coach you hope that one or more of your players will come back the next fall and work herself into a new role and Katie was that player for us last year. It was a great surprise for us and now we have even higher expectations. I know she does too. She is probably in the best shape of her career; a direct result of her hard work in the off-season!

Only about a month away from our 1st practice!

'09-'10 Schedule Released

2009-07-23T10:30:00.000-07:00

The 2009-10 season schedule has been officially released and features top teams from the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and three early season tournaments.

Head coach Bob Amsberry’s women’s team hosts the University of St. Thomas of St. Paul, Minn., Nov. 15 and travels to Gustavus Adolphus College of St. Peter, Minn., Nov. 23. The non-conference schedule also features the UW-Stout tournament, where the Knights will face '09 MIAC champion College of St. Benedict. The Franklin College of Indiana (Dec. 19-20) tournament ends the pre-Christmas campaign, before the Knights return home to host its annual AmericInn Holiday Tournament Dec. 29 and 30 at Levick Arena.

Iowa Conference action begins Dec. 5 with a home doubleheader against Central College of Pella. The remaining IIAC visits will be Jan. 6 (Simpson College of Indianola); Jan. 16 (Buena Vista University of Storm Lake); Jan. 20 (Luther College of Decorah); Jan. 27 (University of Dubuque); Feb. 3 (Cornell College of Mount Vernon); Feb. 10 (Coe College of Cedar Rapids); and Feb. 17 (Loras College of Dubuque).

A complete schedule can be found at: 09-10 Schedule

A Year of Broken Records

2009-05-28T20:08:00.000-07:00

Looking at some numbers from this past season in preparation for next year I noticed we broke several school records in 08-09. Though I typically don't get caught up in individual records, I see great value in them when they help our team win. All of the individual records set this past season came in games that we won.

Records Tied or Broken:

Individual Records:
3 point goals in a season: Samantha Harrington (71)
3 point goals in a game: Samantha Harrington (7) in a WIN vs. St. Ambrose; Abbey Hempen (7) in a WIN vs. Loras College

Points in a game: Sharese Van Sloten (37) in a WIN vs. St. Ambrose
Field goals in a game: Sharese Van Sloten (15) in a WIN vs. St. Ambrose
Free Throw percentage in a season: Abbey Hempen (87.7%)

Team Records:
3 point field goals in a season: (191) - broke record of 173 from 07-08

Wartburg's 3rd National Championship!

2009-05-23T20:08:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Wartburg Women's Track and Field for winning the Division III Outdoor National Championship! Also congrats to 17 combined men's and women's individuals who secured All-American status this past weekend! This marks the third National Title for Wartburg this year...Wrestling and Women's Indoor Track and Field won titles in consecutive weekends in March. Get full details here: http://www.go-knights.net/news/Article.aspx?ID=3549

Ownership...A Key Ingredient

2009-05-20T12:30:00.000-07:00

One thing that makes basketball such a great game is there are several different ways to be successful. Some teams play man-to-man, others play primarily zone. Some teams stress a 1/2 ct possession game while others run hard in transition. Style of play varies greatly from team to team, but a common denominator in the most successful teams is that those teams have developed a culture of ownership.

Several companies have become employee owned in hopes of realizing the benefits of increased productivity, efficiency, and profitability. Not all have been successful. The National Center for Employee Ownership has identified six commonalities of the successful employee owned companies. These are companies with ownership edge.

NCEO's six commonalities of companies with ownership edge:

1. An ownership stake: Employees receive and maintain a level of ownership that is financially significant to them.
2. Ownership understanding: Employees understand what ownership means.
3. Entrepreneurship training: People are trained to have the skills not just to do their own jobs, but to understand how the business works; they learn to be effective.
4. Sharing information: Companies share financial and performance information with employees at the company and work team levels.
5. Short-term incentives: Everyone shares in the short-term rewards of company success.
6. Employee involvement: Employees have structured, regular opportunities to have meaningful input into decisions concerning the work they do.

We can certainly draw parallels between the successful business organization and the successful athletic organization. Here, we expect each and every player to take ownership of the program. We don't want team members, we want team owners. Think about it like this: If somebody rents a car, that person may treat that car much differently than had that person bought the car. We want our players to buy the car; to own the program. But how does an athletic team get to a level where it can benefit from ownership edge. Tricky proposition when you have 15 players on your roster. Can you imagine co-owning a car with 15 other people? Can't really envision that being a successful venture, can you? It is difficult, but might not be as hard as you think.

Developing Ownership Edge:

1. Create a Shared Vision If we are all going different places or different directions, there is no way that we can all own the car and get to where we need to be. But if we are all going to the same place at the same time, does it matter who drives? We just have to make sure we have a big enough car! :)
"If you chase two rabbits, both will escape." - unknown
Have a vision; have a direction.

2. Establish guiding principles: PRIDE, ACCOUNTABILITY, RESPECT, TOUGHNESS, SACRIFICE(you can see our guiding principles in more detail in our blog from May 17) It is extremely important to establish principles together that become non-negotiable. Everybody in the organization has a part in establishing them, everybody must understand and value them, and you must create a culture where individuals feel compelled to hold each other to those standards. This can be a challenging endeavor, but absolutely critical. Individuals need to understand that they might have to find some common ground.
One of my favorite quotes: "Don't be disagreeable just because you disagree"

3. Take ownership in the organization: To take on an ownership mentality, every player in the program must feel vital. Define roles and make sure each player understands the importance of their role and the importance of each other's role. Empower your players to hold each other accountable. Have open and honest communication. This requires a commitment to the vision and the guiding principles by each and every member. Nick Saban says it well..."Create an environment where everybody knows his or her responsibilities - and each is responsible to the entire group."

4. Stay the Course Be persistent! Teams can really begin to waiver when things don't go as planned or when individuals fail to take ownership in the organization. 'Stay the Course' became our theme when we went through a tough stretch this past season. In one of our film sessions that week we showed clips of the movie National Treasure to help us illustrate the importance of staying persistent and it really helped our players realize that if we 'stayed the course' we would be successful.

Some key phrases for our program:
"All Five" - referring to our five guiding principles
"Collective Responsibility"
"Stay the Course"

Wartburg College and the Lady Vols

2009-05-19T10:00:00.000-07:00

Part of the Wartburg experience includes team trips...and we sure have been fortunate. This picture is from our trip to Los Angeles where Coach Nester was able to get us into University of Tennessee's practice at UCLA. What a great moment for all of us...Pat Summitt, Candice Parker and the Lady Vols at a place with as much history as Pauley Pavillion. Definitely a highlight for our team!

Trips taken since 2006:
August 2006...Germany
November 2006...Portland, OR
December 2007...Los Angeles, CA
December 2008...Seattle, WA

"Traveling as a team provides a great chance for us (the players) to bond and get to know each other on another level off the court. The trips to California, Oregon, and Germany were great experiences and I'm glad I got the chance to share them with my teammates! To this day, we still joke around about some of the funnier comments teammates had as well as remembering the once in a lifetime events that we experienced together (meeting Pat Summit and the Tennessee team)." Sharese Van Sloten

"My favorite thing about the California trip was watching the University of Tennessee women's basketball team practice at UCLA. It was a great experience to see a top-ranked Division I team practice. The trip also gave us an opportunity to play some competitive non-conference games, and allowed us to come closer together as a team." Katie Zittergruen

We are...WARTBURG!

2009-05-18T22:30:00.000-07:00

May 13, 2009

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA . . . The Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) announced today that Wartburg College swept the league’s All-Sports Championship Awards, capturing its seventh consecutive Iowa Conference All-Sports Championship Trophy, its 12th straight Elmer Hertel Men’s Sports Championship Trophy, and its sixth Marjorie Giles Women’s Sports Championship Trophy in eight years.

The IIAC All-Sports Championship Trophy is determined by each school’s finish in the Giles and Hertel Trophy standings. Schools earn points in the Giles and Hertel Trophy standings based on its finish in each of the Conference’s nine women’s sports and 10 men’s sports, receiving nine points for a first-place finish, eight points for a second-place finish, etc.

Wartburg has captured the Iowa Conference All-Sports Championship Trophy each year since its inception in 2002-03. By finishing first in both the Giles and Hertel Trophy races, Wartburg posted a total of 18 points. Luther finished second in the IIAC All-Sports Championship Trophy standings with 15 points, two points ahead of third-place Loras, and three points clear of fourth-place Central.

Behind three Conference titles (football, wrestling, and indoor track & field) and three third-place finishes (soccer, golf, and outdoor track & field), Wartburg totaled 62.6 points. The Knights also finished fourth in basketball, tennis, and baseball, and fifth in cross country. The institution has now won 15 Elmer Hertel Men’s Sports Championship trophies, tying the Conference record of 15 held by Central.

Loras (58.7) won or shared two titles (soccer, baseball) and posted two second-place finishes (cross country, outdoor track & field) on the way to a runner-up finish. Luther (56.7) took third behind three titles (cross country, tennis, baseball) and a pair of second-place finishes (wrestling, golf). 2009 IIAC golf and outdoor track & field champion Central (49.2) was fourth, just ahead of Coe (47.05). 2008-09 IIAC basketball champion Buena Vista (38.2) finished sixth.

Wartburg won the Giles Women’s Sports Championship Trophy for the seventh time since the inception of the award in 1982-83. Behind five Iowa Conference titles (golf, cross country, soccer, indoor track & field, and outdoor track & field), the Knights totaled 60.5 points. Wartburg also posted second-place finishes in softball and basketball (tie), tied for fourth in volleyball and placed sixth in tennis.

Luther (52.9 points) took second behind top-four finishes in seven of nine sports, including runner-up finishes in golf (tied with Central), tennis, and cross country. Simpson (50.1), Central (48.9), and Loras (46.6) finished tightly bunched in third, fourth, and fifth places, each picking up a title in 2008-09. The Storm won the basketball crown, Central captured the softball trophy, and Loras finished atop the standings in volleyball. 2008 IIAC tennis champion Coe (35.5) was sixth.

Guiding Principles

2009-05-17T08:09:00.000-07:00

Who are we? I like this time of year because I have a chance to step outside of myself and evaluate our program. Our staff bounces ideas off of each other, we analyze our strengths and weaknesses, look for new opportunities, and start to tweak our plan for the coming year. We will make some changes, but our guiding principles remain the same...

The Five P.A.R.T.S.
Wartburg Women’s Basketball Covenant

PRIDE
• We will look out for each other. We truly believe that we are our brother’s keeper.
• We will develop our abilities and take pride in them. We will set our own standards higher than our most challenging opponent, and we will please our fans by pleasing ourselves.
• We are students at Wartburg, and as such we will strive to excel in the classroom. We take pride in our grade point average and expect our teammates to do the same.

ACCOUNTABILITY
• We are all fully grown adults. We will act as such, and expect the same from the people around us.
• We will accept responsibility for our actions and the actions of our teammates.
• We will be honest and true and we will openly discuss matters that could or do affect us.

RESPECT
• We will treat our locker room like home and our teammates like family. We spend too much time together to allow these things to go bad.
• We will HONOR each other, officials, opponents, and fans.
• We will keep our word. We will say what we mean, and do what we say. We trust the word of others to be good as well.

TOUGHNESS
• We will keep our heads. We will not panic in the face of tough times. We will always choose to roll up our sleeves rather than wring our hands.
• We will carry a refuse to lose mentality.
• We will control only what we can control, making the most of each challenge and using adversity to rise to greater heights.

SACRIFICE
• We will accomplish what we do together. We share our success, and we never let any one of us fail alone.
• We will be unselfish and expect that everyone else will exhibit this same quality.
• We will care about each other without expectations.
• Our personal goals will reflect success of our team.

Welcome to our blog

2009-05-15T08:45:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our first entry to our new blog. Hoping this is a way for you to keep up with all of the happenings in the women's basketball program at Wartburg College.

This time of year I have all kinds of feelings running through me.

First, I am PROUD...

Proud of Sharese Van Sloten, who will graduate next weekend. What an awesome time in her life and a very proud moment in mine. Beyond her great accomplishments on the court, we will really miss her and what she means to the program. Though she won't physically be on the court with us next season, the standard she set everyday will remain who we we are and what we strive to become. I have never been more proud of what an individual has become during my career than I am of Shar and I know she will be very successful! I don't usually give stock tips, but now might be the time to invest in Wells Fargo, Shar's new employer. She is a winner!