Photo by: Ball State University Creative Services
Ball State Field Hockey Adds Three More To 2019 Roster
May 09, 2019 | Field Hockey
MUNCIE, Ind. - Second-year Ball State field hockey coach Stephanie Bernthal, announced today the signing of Angel Nkosi (Pretoria, South Africa/St Mary's DSG), Wietske Overdijkink (Baambrugge, Netherlands) and Jennika Park (Wheaton, Ill./Glenbard West High School).
Nkosi, Overdijkink, and Park join an incoming class that features Gina Caravaglia (Glen Allen, Va./Glen Allen), Sarah Fondel (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West), Caitlyn Grodzicki (Lancaster, Pa./Warwick), Alexis Kansky (Vista, Calif./Rancho Buena Vista), Libby Kraus (Louisville, Ky./Assumption) and Jessica Scheper (Hackettstown, N.J./Hackettstown).
Nkosi captained her high school team St. Mary's DSG in 2018 and was awarded hockey half colors for her excellence in her sport. In addition to representing her school, Nkosi has been a member of the provincial hockey first-team for South Africa from 2012-18. During this time, she garnered two First-Team selections and was named to the South African training squad in 2015 and 2017. She helped the South African U14-18A squad win the A2 League as a senior as well as a first-place finish at the African Youth Games. In 2018, she represented her country in the Junior Olympic Games where they placed fourth overall. Nkosi was granted the Marion Award for her performance in this tournament.
Head Coach Stephanie Bernthal on Nkosi:
"We are very excited for Angel to join our family. From the moment I met her, Angel's drive to come to the U.S. and impact our team struck me. She is incredibly focused, both as a field hockey competitor and student. She has great hands, attacking presence, and brings a ton of international hockey experience to our squad. I am thrilled that Angel decided to become a Cardinal, continuing a strong connection between our program and South Africa."
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Overdijkink comes to Ball State from Baambrugge, the Netherlands. She played 11 years for HV Abcoude club, most recently with the MAI squad under head coach Niels Denekamp. She is a three-time club Shout-Out Champion and earned the silver medal at the regional championship shoot-out. Overdijkink helped her team win the JIPHT Field Hockey Tournament and the indoor competition in 2018. Overdijkink has trained with top-Dutch goalkeeper specialist Martijn Drijver.
Head Coach Stephanie Bernthal said of Overdijkink:
"Weets is a technically strong goalkeeper who has trained with some excellent coaches in Holland. Her assets are organizing her backfield, defending corners, and she loves a good shootout battle! She is an imposing competitor in the pads. Weets will be a great addition to our goalkeeper unit and continue to push our defensive group as a whole. Welcome to the Ball State Cardinal Hockey family, Weets!"
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Park was a three-year varsity letter winner for coach Karen Judge at Glenbard West High School. She was named to the All-State Second Team as a senior while also earning all-conference first team honors. Park was voted team captain her sophomore season. She led the team in scoring as a junior (26 goals) and senior (29). Park helped the Hilltoppers to a third-place finish at the state tournament in 2017 and 2018. She also earned all-academic honors her senior year.
Head Coach Bernthal's take:
Jennika is one of the best kept secrets out of Chicagoland and the Midwest. She is a great reminder that "late" recruiting stories are sometimes the BEST recruiting stories! Jennika is just scratching the surface of her potential in this sport, having moved to the Midwest from Arizona in high school and picking up the sport at that time. Her team-first mentality, humble and hard-working personality, and incredible competitiveness are rare qualities. A perfect example is Jennika breaking her nose (without telling anyone) and proudly sporting two black eyes to her Homecoming dance. She and Sarah Fondel were pivotal in bringing the Glenbard West program to state semifinal level in the last few years. We are thrilled to have them bring that great chemistry to our Cardinal Hockey team.
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Nkosi, Overdijkink, and Park join an incoming class that features Gina Caravaglia (Glen Allen, Va./Glen Allen), Sarah Fondel (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West), Caitlyn Grodzicki (Lancaster, Pa./Warwick), Alexis Kansky (Vista, Calif./Rancho Buena Vista), Libby Kraus (Louisville, Ky./Assumption) and Jessica Scheper (Hackettstown, N.J./Hackettstown).
Nkosi captained her high school team St. Mary's DSG in 2018 and was awarded hockey half colors for her excellence in her sport. In addition to representing her school, Nkosi has been a member of the provincial hockey first-team for South Africa from 2012-18. During this time, she garnered two First-Team selections and was named to the South African training squad in 2015 and 2017. She helped the South African U14-18A squad win the A2 League as a senior as well as a first-place finish at the African Youth Games. In 2018, she represented her country in the Junior Olympic Games where they placed fourth overall. Nkosi was granted the Marion Award for her performance in this tournament.
Head Coach Stephanie Bernthal on Nkosi:
"We are very excited for Angel to join our family. From the moment I met her, Angel's drive to come to the U.S. and impact our team struck me. She is incredibly focused, both as a field hockey competitor and student. She has great hands, attacking presence, and brings a ton of international hockey experience to our squad. I am thrilled that Angel decided to become a Cardinal, continuing a strong connection between our program and South Africa."
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Overdijkink comes to Ball State from Baambrugge, the Netherlands. She played 11 years for HV Abcoude club, most recently with the MAI squad under head coach Niels Denekamp. She is a three-time club Shout-Out Champion and earned the silver medal at the regional championship shoot-out. Overdijkink helped her team win the JIPHT Field Hockey Tournament and the indoor competition in 2018. Overdijkink has trained with top-Dutch goalkeeper specialist Martijn Drijver.
Head Coach Stephanie Bernthal said of Overdijkink:
"Weets is a technically strong goalkeeper who has trained with some excellent coaches in Holland. Her assets are organizing her backfield, defending corners, and she loves a good shootout battle! She is an imposing competitor in the pads. Weets will be a great addition to our goalkeeper unit and continue to push our defensive group as a whole. Welcome to the Ball State Cardinal Hockey family, Weets!"
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Park was a three-year varsity letter winner for coach Karen Judge at Glenbard West High School. She was named to the All-State Second Team as a senior while also earning all-conference first team honors. Park was voted team captain her sophomore season. She led the team in scoring as a junior (26 goals) and senior (29). Park helped the Hilltoppers to a third-place finish at the state tournament in 2017 and 2018. She also earned all-academic honors her senior year.
Head Coach Bernthal's take:
Jennika is one of the best kept secrets out of Chicagoland and the Midwest. She is a great reminder that "late" recruiting stories are sometimes the BEST recruiting stories! Jennika is just scratching the surface of her potential in this sport, having moved to the Midwest from Arizona in high school and picking up the sport at that time. Her team-first mentality, humble and hard-working personality, and incredible competitiveness are rare qualities. A perfect example is Jennika breaking her nose (without telling anyone) and proudly sporting two black eyes to her Homecoming dance. She and Sarah Fondel were pivotal in bringing the Glenbard West program to state semifinal level in the last few years. We are thrilled to have them bring that great chemistry to our Cardinal Hockey team.
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