2007-2008 Outlook:

The College of Saint Benedict tennis team, coming off an 8-2 conference and 14-6 overall season in 2007, is gearing up for another successful campaign this year. With five new faces on the roster this year there is plenty of excitement and energy around the team as the season begins.

Providing leadership for this years team are senior captains Megan Wrobel (Willmar, Minn./Willmar) and Melissa Kampa(St. Cloud, Minn./Cathedral). Three other senior players will help provide leadership for the five first-year players and two sophomores that round out our team.

Wrobel is expected to play first singles and doubles this season. An All-MIAC player and National ITA Scholar Athlete from last year, Wrobel has developed into one of the top players in the conference. Having put in a great summer of work, Wrobel is ready for the challenge of playing every opponent’s top player this season.

Kampa is returning to the Blazer team this year after taking her junior season off to participate in a study abroad program in Spain. Kampa, an All-MIAC athlete and National ITA Scholar Athlete has also worked hard to get back into match condition and is poised to make her senior season her best season yet as a Blazer.

Beth Yokiel (Wells, Minn./ United South Central) will be relied upon to provide strength in the Blazer’s doubles line-up again this season. Yokiel is one of the hardest hitting players CSB has had in recent years and uses her strength as a weapon on the court. Yokiel is a nursing major, All-MIAC Academic recipient, National ITA Scholar Athlete and four year varsity player.

Laura Wermager (St. Cloud, Minn./Tech) rounds out this year’s senior class. Wermager has had success in the singles line-up for the Blazers during her tenure at CSB. This year, she will be relied upon to add depth and experience to the doubles line-up in addition to her steady singles play.

CSB’s sophomore class includes Christine Long (North Oaks, Minn./ Mounds View) and Amanda Forstrom (Clara City, Minn./ MACCRAY). Long gained valuable experience as a top-six player in both the singles line-up and doubles line-up last year and is expected to provide depth and skill for this season’s squad. Forstrom was voted last season’s most improved player. She played a limited role on last season’s varsity team but is expected to be much more involved this season.

First year players Elissa Husby (Duluth, Minn./Marshall), Kylie Huether (Sioux Falls, SD/ Washington), Amy Luther (Park Rapids, Minn./Park Rapids), Kelly Blackley (Wayzata, Minn./Wayzata) and Barbara Koenig (St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall) are a talented group of women that show great potential to lead the Blazers in the years to come. Husby and Huether are expected to contribute immediately to this year’s team.

“We have great energy and excitement on our team with the addition of five first-year players,” said Head Coach Scott Larsen. “I am confident that we will have great leadership and competitiveness this year and am excited to be working with this group of Blazer athletes.”

Athletic Department
College of Saint Benedict
37 South College Avenue
St. Joseph, MN 56374
320-363-5301
Fax 320-363-6098