As September comes to a close, so too does the fall sports season at Bethany; with teams exceeding expectations and succeeding across the board, we take a step back to examine the season in its fullness, getting a sense of what this year has been like for the players and teams.
The Varsity tennis team ended their ‘23 season with a winning record, surpassing last year’s record of 13-9. Additionally, the team placed in the top 8 in the District; only the second time in Coach Matt’s history! The JV team also performed well, also finishing with a winning record. The team fought hard all season, battling through injuries and line-up shifts. The team celebrated their five seniors several weeks ago, acknowledging all of the contributions given to the team these last four years. The team didn’t advance through sectionals, as they lost a hard-fought and very tight match against Northwood, but Noah Schrock (‘25) advances to the individual regional competition at #1 Singles this Tuesday.
The Varsity boy’s soccer team is 10-4-2 heading into sectional week, which they are viewing optimistically as their chance to win sectionals this year is fairly strong. When asked about the current season, senior James Lind said that “the job’s not finished,” nodding to sectionals. The guys celebrated their seniors this weekend during a big win over Argos (5-0), clinching the Conference Championship title. The team graduates 10 of their top players this season. They kick-off sectional competition on Wednesday versus LaVille.
The Varsity girl’s soccer team holds a strong 9-5-1 record, heading into one of their last weeks of the season. The girls have had a strong season and performed very well, coming in 2nd in their Conference. With eight seniors, the team has been a force to be reckoned with. Zoe Willems, one of the seniors, scored a hat-trick in their most recent game against Argos. The team celebrated their eight seniors last week.
The Varsity and JV volleyball teams are both at the height of their season, preparing to face tough opponents in preparation for sectionals taking place mid-October. The teams are both smaller than last year, as they graduated several strong seniors last season, but have been competing valiantly regardless. The teams are poised to win their Conference, heading into the final game undefeated (3-0) this Friday. The team celebrated their three seniors last week- two of their seniors joined the team this year!
The Cross-Country team has been running fast all season. With several runners gaining PB’s and improving their times throughout the year, it’s lining up to be a good season for the runners. They compete in sectionals this weekend, where several runners will likely advance. Senior Jesse Bontrager advanced to semi-state competition last year, and hopes to do the same this year. The team celebrated their three seniors last week.
In total, there were 29 seniors (out of 36 total) involved in a fall sport! The astounding participation has made the teams competitive and formidable opponents this season. Congratulations to all on a successful fall season!