Talent and Depth keys to Quakers' season

Quakers return three starters

After perhaps the most dramatic turnaround season in team history, the Wilmington College Quakers are looking to take it to the next level in 2005-06. First-year head coach Scott Reule¹s approach to the upcoming season is a blend of optimism and realism. While encouraged by last year¹s 10-win season that came on the heels of a 1-25 record in 2003-04, Reule knows the next step could be tougher to take than the last.

"It¹s easier to hover from five to 10 to 12 wins than it is to go from 10 to 15, 16 wins," said Reule, a former assistant for the Quakers who takes over the team after spending the past four years as an assistant for the WC women¹s basketball team. "One of the toughest things to do in sports is to take it above and beyond, to that next level of success. A lot of it is the mental attitude of the kids, to have confidence that you have the ability to win. You have to be able to win games at home, to protect your own territory. Ultimately, it¹s a learned trait. Once you learn to become winners, you find ways to win instead of finding ways to lose."

Success this season will come without Deon Short and David Guy, who combined to score 39 percent of the Quakers¹ points during their senior seasons. Both players were named All-Ohio Athletic Conference Honorable Mention.

Eric Stirling

Three starters ­ seniors Eric Stirling and Josh Rohrbacher and sophomore Zach Broermann ­ return for the Quakers. Stirling, who transferred to WC last year from the University of Science and Arts in Oklahoma, was a season-long impact player. The 6-4 forward was the team¹s second-leading scorer at 13.7 points per game and led the squad in rebounds (6.1 per game) and blocked shots (23). Rohrbacher, a 6-1 guard, started all 26 games and dished out a team-leading 65 assists and averaged six points per game, including a career-high 15 points in the Quakers¹ 85-73 win over Anderson. As a freshman, Broermann averaged 7.2 points per game and shot an OAC-best 45 percent beyond the three-point arc.

"Those are three key players on this year¹s team," Reule said. "They understand the strides they¹ve made and know what we want to do to become successful. That attitude is spreading into other guys on our team. I can¹t say enough about those three guys that have leadership qualities and can play basketball as well as they do."

Also back for WC is sophomore guard/forward Fred Harrison, who averaged 4.4 points per game and scored in double figures against John Carroll and Otterbein.

"Fred has a year under his belt. We look for him to come back and do some good things for us," Reule said.

Sophomore guard Nick Berter played in all 26 games last season and showed the ability to mix it up in the paint and fire away from long distance, as evidenced when he hit five three-pointers in WC¹s win over Anderson.

Also returning for the Quakers are guards Luke Wolfinbarger and Michael Umpleby. Wolfinbarger, a junior, handed out 11 assists and had seven steals last year. Umpleby, a senior, will be relied upon for his proven leadership qualities.

Senior forward Brett Carpenter ­ who is stronger after an off-season in the weight room ­ played in 22 games last season and connected on five three pointers and picked up seven steals. Sophomore forward Scott Walters makes his debut with WC this season after transferring from Lake Erie College.

At the post, sophomore Jeff Proctor will challenge for more playing time as the Quakers will look to utilize their overall team depth in a constant wave of defensive pressure.

"What we¹ve tried to instill in our players is we want our identity to be a very strong, aggressive team," Reule said. "We want to let our defense create our offense. We want to control what the other team does, not let the other team control us. We¹re going to do a lot of pressing and a lot of aggressive half-court defense, and hopefully that will create our offense. We want an up-tempo situation where our athletes can be athletes, put them in good situations. We¹ve got a lot of kids who can do a lot of different things."

Wilmington¹s depth will be enhanced by a solid freshman class that includes Josh Walters, Richie Beard, Justin Gaines and Tyler Jolly in the backcourt, and David Diaby, Sam Lahmers, Jared Butts, Travante Leftenant, Kevin Colson and Tyler Jolly in the frontcourt. The newcomers also will bring the Quakers additional size and athleticism.

"We¹ve got some kids that we think will do some good things. It¹s a strong group, but you have to remember that freshmen are freshmen ­ they¹re going to make mistakes," Reule said. "But in looking at Justin Gaines and Josh Walters and Travante Leftenant and Sam Lahmers ­ they¹re capable of doing some big things. They can help provide a more balanced, a deeper lineup, which will help us play the way we want to play."

The non-conference portion of the season will begin with the Quakers looking to repeat their success of a year ago against Defiance and Anderson in the Anderson Classic. The Quakers also will face Case Western Reserve, Thomas More, Ohio Wesleyan, Earlham and Mount Saint Joseph in a non-conference slate that offers both good competition and an opportunity to notch some victories.

"We know these are games we can win," Reule said. "This team has won them in the past, and that should give us confidence that we have, based on our past production, shown we have the ability to win those games. Confidence is developed through winning. I like our non-conference schedule. They¹re not easy teams, but they are opponents that will give us the opportunity to, as a basketball team, grow, learn, develop and get ourselves ready for the OAC."

Wilmington opens it journey through the daunting OAC regular season with a Dec. 3 game at defending conference champion John Carroll. That game will be followed by a road trip to Otterbein, which finished second in the conference last year. John Carroll was selected as the favorite to win the conference in the OAC Preseason Coaches Poll. Wilmington was tabbed to finish ninth.

"As always, the OAC is a great conference," Reule said. "Top to bottom is where this conference is so good. Other leagues may have a few good teams at the top, but there¹s always teams you can beat. In the OAC you¹ve got a battle on your hands every night."

Reule is confident his squad will provide a battle for every opponent it encounters. He is equally assured that a return to the OAC Tournament is a realistic goal as the Quakers strive to reach the next level. "Definitely.

Definitely. We¹ve lost four seniors from last year¹s team, including two very strong qualities in Deon Short and David Guy," Reule said. "We¹ve had some big losses, but we still belong there. I¹ve always felt that in getting to the NCAA Tournament or the OAC Tournament, it¹s tougher to get there and win when you¹ve never been there. It¹s a lot easier when you¹ve gotten a taste and you know what it takes to get back and you want to get back. And we want to get back."