New coaches boost Creighton athletics

By Brian Ayers
Sports Editor



Middle hitters Sarah Beulke (5) and Ashley Williams (9) block a spike in last Friday's victory against Southern Illinois. Williams broke the school's block record with 16. Coach Kirsten Bernthal Booth has led the Jays to a 5-7 (2-0) record this season.

Photo by Dan Ramirez

The new faces in Creighton athletics are not just the incoming freshmen. Kirsten Bernthal Booth, John Wissler and Ed Servais are among the new coaches of the 2003 season.

Creighton Athletic Director Bruce Rasmussen said the new hires will be assets to their given teams on the field, but that’s not only why he hired them.

“ They are all people of high character, who are known for their ability to teach,” Rasmussen said. “On the field records are secondary to what kind of experience they can give to our student athletes.”

Booth takes over volleyball

Bernthal Booth

Creighton volleyball is looking for a different experience from last season.

As new coach of Creighton volleyball, Booth was hired to aid in the rebuilding process. Booth became the third volleyball coach in school history last February.

Booth relieved former coach Howard Wallace as Creighton volleyball finished the 2002 season with a 3-23 record, and a tie for last place in the Missouri Valley Conference.

Despite the team’s finish last season, Booth is convinced her team can do better.

“ Last year’s team played competitively with a lot of good teams but just didn’t know how to win,” she said. “Our goal is to make the MVC Tournament and finish in the top five of the Valley.”

Creighton’s run in the Valley will be paced by the team’s only returning senior, team captain and outside-hitter Jaden Custer. Custer is one of six returning starters.
Booth said that she does not feel pressured to win.

“ Last year is enough of a motivator,” Booth said. “The players didn’t have fun. This year I am thrilled with the work ethic the players have brought to practice and we’re all excited about working toward being a better team.”

Junior libero Janeen Piller said she welcomes the change in personnel.

“ Last year wasn’t fun, not just because of the losing, but because nobody believed in us,” Piller said.

Booth brings three years of head coaching experience from Kirkwood Community College.

At Kirkwood, Booth tallied a 112-41 record in three seasons. She began her stint in 2000 and was honored as District Coach of the Year in 2000 and 2001. In her first season, Kirkwood finished in second at the National Junior College Athletic Association national tournament.

Booth will have three new assistants to share in the coaching duties this season. Paul Giesselmann will take over as assistant coach and Angie Oxley will begin her first season as graduate assistant. Steve Bymers is the team’s volunteer coach.

New face in cross country

Wissler

When John Wissler informed people of his new job as the coach of men’s and women’s cross country teams this season, they responded with shock that the program even existed at Creighton.

“ We want that to change,” Wissler said. “The bottom line is that we want to make Creighton cross country as recognizable and as great as this university is.”

Wissler will bring 30 years of coaching experience in the Omaha area, including achievements on both local and national levels, with him to accomplish his goal. In that span, Wissler has coached over 100 national individual champions working with the Cornhusker Flyers Track Club.

Mat Mosman will assist Wissler in coaching the men’s team, while Don Ferree takes over as assistant coach of the women’s team.

Wissler said that his main focus in the first season is the improvement and development of his athletes and the installation of a strong work ethic.

“ The men’s team only has two guys with collegiate running experience,” he said. “The women’s team has more experience, and I think they can finish in the top half of the Valley.”

Baseball Servais

Servais

Don’t look for drastic changes when Creighton baseball takes the field this spring.

New coach Ed Servais said that he plans to build on where his predecessor Jack Dahm left off.

“ Jack built Creighton baseball on pitching and defense and that’s the same approach I will take,” Servais said.

“The baseball program will be more similar than different.”

He’s looking for better results. To Servais, getting better requires consistent effort.

“ It’s nothing magical. Hard work, discipline, structure and an organized work schedule is my philosophy,” he said. “It’s demanding but that’s how you get better.”

Servais brought on two assistant coaches to improve the team. David Wyckoff will work with the pitchers and Dan Heefner has been added to handle the catchers and first basemen. He will also serve as the bullpen coach.

“ I have high expectations for this year’s team. Eight of our top ten pitchers from last year will be back,” he said.
“Tony Roth and Gabe Lapito are going to be very instrumental in the leadership role.”

Servais is beginning his seventh year with Creighton baseball, previously the associate head coach. He has head coaching experience at the Division III level with St. Mary’s University and Viterbo College, owning a combined mark of 182-82-1.