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BETHANY DEPARTMENT OF ATHLETICS HIRES THOMAS DEWITT AS INTERIM HEAD TENNIS COACH
Sep 16, 2019
LINDSBORG, Kan. – The Swedes athletics department announces the hiring of Thomas DeWitt ’13 as the Interim Head Tennis Coach.
“I was happy to learn that Thomas DeWitt has agreed to return to his alma mater to coach Bethany tennis! With the ribbon cutting of the Dr. Emory Lindquist Tennis Complex this fall, this is an ideal time for Mr. DeWitt to utilize his strong connections to this community to build a competitive tennis team,” Bethany College Interim President, Dr. Elizabeth Mauch said.
Since the spring of 2016, DeWitt has been the assistant men’s tennis coach at Smoky Valley High School in Lindsborg. In addition to this, in the fall of 2015 and 2018, he was also the assistant for the women’s side. As a part of this, DeWitt helped to prepare the varsity for match play through teaching strategy and scrimmages. In addition, DeWitt also compiled statistics and schedules for the entirety of the team.
During DeWitt’s time at Smoky Valley, the men’s team has qualified at least one athlete to the Kansas State High School Athletics Association State Championships every year while the women have qualified two or more to the State Championships each year he has coached. The men’s team captured league championships in 2018 and 2019. In 2018, the team took home a third place finish at 4A State as well as having all six entrants qualifying. Again, in 2019, the team took third place at the State Tournament, this time in the 3A classification. Individually, the team has had assorted individual medalists at the State Tournament. These athletes placed as high as third place and no lower than 12th place. On the women’s side, the team qualified all six entrants to the 4A State Championships in 2018 in addition to winning the league championship during that same season. The team has also had individuals place fifth, seventh, and 12th at the State Championships.
“We are thrilled to welcome Thomas DeWitt as our Interim Head Tennis Coach. As a Lindsborg native and Bethany alum who played tennis for the Swedes, Thomas has a tremendous understanding of the KCAC, Bethany College, and the history and tradition of the tennis program,” Bethany’s Dean of Athletics, Laura Moreno said. “His background and overall philosophy are a great fit for our Athletic Department. We are very confident in Thomas’ ability to increase the depth and build the program back into a contender, and are so excited to see what Swedes Tennis will accomplish under his guidance.”
DeWitt earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Bethany College in Second Chemistry Education in 2013. During his time as a Swede, he was named to the dean’s list, a Founder’s Scholarship award winner, and a member of Pi Sigma Chi Fraternity where he was the vice president for a year and the president for two years.
“I am thrilled to be rejoining the Bethany family,” DeWitt stated. “I could not be more excited to work with the athletes we already have on campus to build a successful program together. Bethany Tennis has a long history of excellence within the KCAC, and I look forward to regaining our position among the leaders in both Men’s and Women’s Tennis.
– #RockarStockar –
“I was happy to learn that Thomas DeWitt has agreed to return to his alma mater to coach Bethany tennis! With the ribbon cutting of the Dr. Emory Lindquist Tennis Complex this fall, this is an ideal time for Mr. DeWitt to utilize his strong connections to this community to build a competitive tennis team,” Bethany College Interim President, Dr. Elizabeth Mauch said.
Since the spring of 2016, DeWitt has been the assistant men’s tennis coach at Smoky Valley High School in Lindsborg. In addition to this, in the fall of 2015 and 2018, he was also the assistant for the women’s side. As a part of this, DeWitt helped to prepare the varsity for match play through teaching strategy and scrimmages. In addition, DeWitt also compiled statistics and schedules for the entirety of the team.
During DeWitt’s time at Smoky Valley, the men’s team has qualified at least one athlete to the Kansas State High School Athletics Association State Championships every year while the women have qualified two or more to the State Championships each year he has coached. The men’s team captured league championships in 2018 and 2019. In 2018, the team took home a third place finish at 4A State as well as having all six entrants qualifying. Again, in 2019, the team took third place at the State Tournament, this time in the 3A classification. Individually, the team has had assorted individual medalists at the State Tournament. These athletes placed as high as third place and no lower than 12th place. On the women’s side, the team qualified all six entrants to the 4A State Championships in 2018 in addition to winning the league championship during that same season. The team has also had individuals place fifth, seventh, and 12th at the State Championships.
“We are thrilled to welcome Thomas DeWitt as our Interim Head Tennis Coach. As a Lindsborg native and Bethany alum who played tennis for the Swedes, Thomas has a tremendous understanding of the KCAC, Bethany College, and the history and tradition of the tennis program,” Bethany’s Dean of Athletics, Laura Moreno said. “His background and overall philosophy are a great fit for our Athletic Department. We are very confident in Thomas’ ability to increase the depth and build the program back into a contender, and are so excited to see what Swedes Tennis will accomplish under his guidance.”
DeWitt earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Bethany College in Second Chemistry Education in 2013. During his time as a Swede, he was named to the dean’s list, a Founder’s Scholarship award winner, and a member of Pi Sigma Chi Fraternity where he was the vice president for a year and the president for two years.
“I am thrilled to be rejoining the Bethany family,” DeWitt stated. “I could not be more excited to work with the athletes we already have on campus to build a successful program together. Bethany Tennis has a long history of excellence within the KCAC, and I look forward to regaining our position among the leaders in both Men’s and Women’s Tennis.
– #RockarStockar –
Bethany College conferred degrees upon 99 students in Presser Hall Auditorium on April 27, 2024. The ceremony honored students who earned Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Music, and Bachelor of Music Education from the college during the 2023-2024 academic year. Summer, fall, and spring graduates were honored during a Baccalaureate worship service at 10:30 a.m. in Presser Hall, followed by Commencement at 2 p.m. Campus Pastor Melissa Woeppel led the Baccalaureate Service, and Rev. Lamont Wells, Executive Director of the Network of Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and Co llege and Universities (NECU). Gracelyn Gaskill '24, a chemistry and music major from Lindsborg, Kansas, provided special music for Commencement. Senior class speakers Inioluwa "Enoch" Ojo '24, a biology major from Katy, Texas, and Benjamin "Ben" Turner '24, a History and Political Science Major from Peyton, Colorado, gave thoughtful remarks on their time at Bethany College, taking time to thank their friends, faculty, and coaches. Dr. Brent Mai '85, Dean of University Libraries at Wichita State University, gave the commencement address, encouraging this year's graduates to go out into the world and exercise the four tenets of stoicism: wisdom, courage, temperance, and justice.
Interim President Steve Eckman commended the efforts of the faculty and staff in securing the grant, stating, "We are immensely grateful to the McPherson County Community Foundation for their incredible generosity. This grant will benefit our students and enrich the educational experiences available in the Smoky Valley community."
The newly appointed Presidential Search Committee will commence their work immediately, aiming to recommend a candidate for Bethany College's 16th president to the board by the April 2025 board meeting.