Hey dawgs! This week on Ferris Sports Update, we’re hosted by Rob Bentley where we discuss hockey, along with men’s and women’s basketball.
Hockey
First up is Hockey Head Coach Bob Daniels joins us today to talk about his experience with the end of the season. Though it may not have ended in a win for the Dawgs, he notes that he’s still very proud of the team he coached and admired their hard work throughout the entirety of the season. Hard work is above all, and he believes that next year the Bulldogs will come back better than ever.
Our last game was against St. Thomas, and Coach Daniels remarks that they played very well while giving credit to our team for doing their best to adjust to the other players. He praises the Bulldogs for their change in defensive zones, including their hyper-focus on going for a win. He acknowledges how much of a pleasure it was to coach the team this season, and that it was a wonderful way to end his career of thirty-three years. He also gives his heart out to his assistant coaches and the community of Big Rapids for their support over the years.
Women’s Basketball
Next up is women’s basketball where Rob is joined by Head Coach Kurt Westendorp. He notes that we had a lot of positives this season, including an appearance in the NCAA tournament, winning twenty-one games, and being able to send off some seniors with a good final semester. He says that when they went to the tournaments, their “backs were against the wall”, but they fought hard, nonetheless. Though we didn’t make it to the final championship, we still left as being one of the top eight basketball teams in the country.
He regards GVSU as worthy champions, despite them famously being our rivals, showing off his goodwill toward the other team. However, the disappointment of a lost game didn’t last long, as later that night, the Bulldogs were one of the eight teams chosen from the NCAA Selection Show, which allowed them to compete again against Ashland. While it was a close game, we unfortunately were off by six points. That however does not mean that the girls did not put in their best effort and worked extremely hard to get as far as they did. We’re all rooting for you next season, girls!
Men’s Basketball
In the third interview of Ferris Sports Update, Rob sits down with men’s basketball Assistant Coach Josh Fleming to reflect on the team’s performance in the NCAA D2 Midwest Region Quarterfinal tournament in Springfield, Illinois. The discussion starts with the team’s recent loss and the leadership shown by the five seniors, who are graduating this year. Coach Fleming acknowledges their contributions and highlights the challenge he faces in stepping up his coaching as the team transitions into the next season.
Coach Fleming speaks fondly of two seniors who took on leadership roles, even before he could step in. Ethan, although not vocal, brought immense energy and sparked the team both offensively and spiritually. Kenny, unfortunately, had to sit out toward the end of the season due to a back injury, but his presence was still felt. Fleming praises all the seniors for their impact on Ferris State basketball and their legacy.
The conversation shifts to the team’s game against Missouri-St. Louis, where Ethan and the rest of the team performed well. However, the opposing team ultimately secured the win. Despite the loss, Coach Fleming notes that the younger players gained valuable experience, especially in learning how to compete at a higher level of intensity and urgency. This experience will be crucial for their development moving forward.
One standout performance came from true freshman Jackson, who played well and showed promising growth. Fleming is optimistic about Jackson’s potential as he continues to develop in the coming years.
Coach Fleming also expresses his gratitude for the support of the fans at Wink Arena, which led the conference in attendance this season. He emphasizes how much the team’s performance is driven by the energy from the home crowd and acknowledges how important their support is.
The team is hard at work in preparation for next season, with Coach Bronkema’s leadership guiding them through the offseason. The team is excited about what lies ahead and the progress they will continue to make.
Come back next week for more great content from FerrisState.TV!