Heidelberg Stepping Up to the Challenge

Stepping up to the challenge will be key for the Heidelberg men’s basketball team during the 2008-09 season. The Berg is coming off one of the most successful seasons in the history of the program and is faced with learning the game plan of first-year head coach Anthony Gholson.
 
A season ago the Berg brought back the first Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament title to Tiffin and made their third appearance in the NCAA Championships. The year concluded with a 23-6 overall record, which ranks second all-time for wins in a season. Gholson will carry over the example that was set a year ago, but will look for continued hard work from all associated with the team.
 
Just four letter winners return from the championship team including captains Jake Hessey (Crestline, Ohio / Colonel Crawford), Josh Calver (Shelby, Ohio / Shelby) and Jim Smalley (Middleburg Heights, Ohio / Midpark), along with Travis Kinn (Alvada, Ohio / New Riegel). Hessey is the lone senior on the team and returns as a three-point threat. Last year Hessey connected on over 40 percent of his long range attempts and contributed 6.6 points per game. Calver, a junior, moved into the starting point guard position as a freshman and became more vocal in his first fulltime starting role as a sophomore. He handed out a team-best 97 assists and will be looked at to continue to run the offense. Fellow junior Smalley is a stronger more aggressive player this season and will look to add to his 43 assists from a year ago.
 
Kinn is a junior and is joined by fellow classmate Chance Farnsworth (Wadsworth, Ohio / Highland) and sophomores Kyle Brubaker (Hamler, Ohio / Patrick Henry) and Cory Timbs (Vermilion, Ohio / Vermilion). This group will be looked at for added leadership to help keep the championship momentum.
 
Heidelberg’s foundation has been built with its seven returners, but will look to a variety of newcomers to bring depth and added support to an up-tempo style of play. Bringing athleticism to the court are sophomore transfers Kyle Tuley (Berea, Ohio / Berea) and Derrick Flynn (Cleveland, Ohio / Padua Franciscan), while fellow transferAndy Emrhein (Seven Hills, Ohio / Padua Franciscan) is a tough point guard and second-year college player Joel Miller (Sugarcreek, Ohio / Hilan) is a solid shooter. Also looking to make an impact from the onset is sophomore Ryan Treese (Delaware, Ohio / Rutherford B. Hayes) and freshman Quintin Aden (Canal Winchester, Ohio / Harvest Prepartory).
 
The Berg began stepping up to the challenge that lies ahead of them on the first day of practice, Oct. 15, and have been working nonstop since. The team joined forces with the women’s basketball team to generate enthusiasm for the upcoming season by hosting the Heidelberg Hoopapalooza. The event was open to the campus community and beyond and offered fans a behind the scenes glimpse of what Heidelberg basketball has in store for the season.