MISHAWAKA – The Bethel Lady Pilots will have a new commander in Andrew Wodrich, taking over for legendary Jody Martinez, who coached Bethel women’s basketball to glory for 16 years.

Wodrich comes to Bethel by way of stints as an assistant coach at Western Michigan University and then at Central Michigan University, where he was a bench assistant from 2012-14 before taking the job with Bethel. Wodrich graduated from Mishawaka High School in 2004 and Bethel College in 2008.

“Our process is that the kids all have to buy in,” began Wodrich. “There is no one-two-three-year plan. We’re ready to go and we expect to win.”

On replacing Martinez, Wodrich said, “Coach Martinez is a legend in all regards. Any time your jersey hangs on the wall, that put’s it in perspective. He was here 16 years, he was doing something right. I’m not coming in here to build something new. We are building from the ground up.

“We want to hang a red banner, that’s our goal.”

Wodrich inherits a very talent-laden group with a heavy local flavor.

Twelve of the 19 women on Bethel’s roster played their high school hoops within 30 miles of campus, which Wodrich thinks will help with familiarity.

Guard Aimee Swihart returns for her sophomore season after playing to a Crossroads League All-Freshman Team level her freshman season. The Goshen High School graduate started 26 games and recorded a career-high 37 points against Indiana Tech in just her second-ever game while averaging 12.5 points per game last season.

“We’ll be fast paced,” Swihart said. “(Wodrich’s) expectations are high and we will meet them. His excitement in basketball is good, we will see how it works out. It’s a new system and we are going up and down in practice. We’re getting the hang of it, it’s fun.”

Swihart’s classmate Angelique Moore was the Co-Freshman of the Year in the Crossroads League and is a force inside. Scoring 13 points per contest, Moore was the go-to for the Pilots in the paint. The guard combo of Ashley Lutz and Rachel Jennings were both potent scorers and consistent defenders.

A trio of Northern Lakes Conference athletes joins Swihart this season on the Bethel roster. NorthWood grad Taylor Fielstra joins the roster after a successful career in Nappanee, and former teammate Savannah Bley will be a Pilot after transferring from Taylor. Per Crossroads League rules, Bley will have to redshirt but will have three years of eligibility left.

Also joining the Pilots via transfer is Northridge graduate Madison Schrock, who was a star basketball and softball player in Middlebury, and took her softball talents to Bowling Green State University before deciding to give basketball another whirl. The all-time leading scorer at Northridge, basketball came easy and finding her groove again shouldn’t be a problem.

“I hadn’t practiced basketball in a year,” stated Schrock. “It feels good to get comfortable back in again. I went back to Bowling Green (last summer) and it didn’t feel right at workouts. Things worked out with Woody, and he was patient in the process. I’m really comfortable here now.”

Bethel will open its season with eight straight games at home, beginning with a scrimmage against IUSB Oct. 21 and then Lawrence Tech Oct. 24. The Bethel Classic Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 will have the Pilots taking on Ave Maria and St. Xavier.