TIFFIN, Ohio -- Head Coach Rachel Ferri hopes to make big waves in the OAC with a brand new youthful team and staff. For the first time in 629 days, fans will return to the stands of Seiberling Gymnasium for the season opener Tuesday night. 

LAST SEASON: This spring in the shortened season, they struggled to find a rhythm and found themselves 1-12, with Ferri's first year at the helm. This season, they added 12 freshmen and two junior transfers to the roster. They are accompanied by new assistant coaches - Brady Grogan and Danelle Bradley.

Major losses for the team are '21 graduates Brooke Beamer, Hannah Kilps, Kirsten Kochel, and Sadie Chaney. Beamer, an All-OAC honoree, led with 13.4 points per game and added 3.5 rebounds per game. Kilps, the point guard, contributed 12 steals and 21 assists on the season. A vocal leader on and off the court, Kochel raked in 43 rebounds and a 40 percent shooting average. Chaney, a 5'10 forward, contributed 14 assists, 6 steals, and averaged 2.9 rebounds per game.

ROSTER BREAKDOWN: The fierce five returners for the season are juniors Bailey Walter, Alyssa Martin, Sarah Shoots and Taylor Reppart along with sophomore Kalie Rettos. 

At forward, Walter has dominated the key since her freshman year. Last season, she was the second leading scorer, averaging 8.3 points per game. Killing the boards, she averaged 7.5 rebounds per game. She also led the team in steals with 17 over 13 games. 

Martin, a 6-3 center, stepped up this spring appearing in 11 games. She averaged 2.8 points and 3.4 rebounds per game for the student princes. 

Reppart is a guard looking to expand her role this season. In the spring, she averaged 9.7 minutes per game, where she added 20 points, five assists, and two steals on the year. 

Rettos started four games as a freshman, clocking in 19.8 minutes per game. She was a sharpshooter for the team totaling a 37.1 three-point percentage and 40 percent overall. She ended the season averaging seven points and 2.8 rebounds per game. 

Shoots, a forward with three-point range, is awaiting her return to the court after an injury. Last year she found herself in four games, pulling down five rebounds. 

Among the newest members are twins Anika Sweeney and Lily Sweeney. They are juniors who transferred from Mount Union and offer an array of skills from excellent ball handling to 3-point range. Anika tallied 32 points with 33.3 percent from 3-point range for the Raiders last spring. Meanwhile, in Lily's freshman year, she shot 38.5 percent from the arc and looks to bring that intensity to The Berg.

Coach Brady Grogan hails from Clark State College, where he spent three seasons, and mentored five all-conference players. He guided the team to conference tournament semifinals in 2019, bringing that championship-like experience with him to Heidelberg. 

Danelle Bradley is the graduate assistant coach, a '21 Tiffin University graduate. Her toolbox consists of collegiate-level experience, playing at Tiffin as well as Quinnipiac University where they won two MAAC titles. She was also a part of winning a GMAC title for the Dragons in 2020-21, where they advanced to the Sweet 16. 

THE SCHEDULE: The Student Princes' season tips off at home on November 9 against Kenyon College. They will then travel to John Carroll for a tournament where they face Carnegie Mellon and Case Western Reserve. They follow up their non conference run with Albion, Mt. St. Joseph and Bluffton.

The Student Princes start their OAC drive against Baldwin Wallace at home on December 1. In all, the team will play a full 25 game schedule this season.

FAN INFORMATION:  Starting November 15, fans will require a ticket to attend games in Seiberling Gymnasium. Information will be made available as logistics are confirmed.  

Heidelberg University requires everyone to wear a mask indoors, regardless of vaccination status. Cooperation with all COVID-19 protocols is appreciated.