A new era in Bluffton College women’s basketball begins this season as Cathy Bonner takes over as head coach of the Beavers. Bonner joined the BC coaching staff last season as an assistant and brings history of success at both the high school and collegiate levels.
Bonner was named the ninth women’s basketball head coach at Bluffton in June of 2001, replacing former head coach Michele Durand who stepped down after 11 seasons and a school-record 121 career wins.
Prior to arriving at Bluffton, Bonner was an assistant coach at The University of Findlay where she helped guide the 1998-99 Oiler program to a 24-7 record and a trip to the national tournament. Bonner also was the junior varsity coach at Findlay and fashioned a 9-4 record with the JV program.
Prior to arriving at Findlay she spent seven years as a high school coach in New Mexico, including five seasons at Paradise Christian High School where she won one state championship and took home one runner-up trophy. In her seven years as a high school coach Bonner set a 145-45 record and was once named Division AA coach-of-the-year. Also a volleyball coach, Bonner led Paradise Christian to a state runner-up finish one year.
A graduate of Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Mo., Bonner has been a youth/recreation minister at six different churches and is active in Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Bonner lives in Bluffton with her husband Lee and the two are in the process of adopting three children, Waylon (7), Wayne (6) and Cheyenne (3).
Assistant Coach Beth Klocke is in her third season with the Bluffton College coaching staff. A 1998 BC graduate, Klocke was a four-year varsity performer and a member of Bluffton’s record-setting 1995-96 squad that went 16-9.
Klocke ranks among the top five 3-point shooters in the history of BC basketball and holds the record for 3-point shooting accuracy in a game (.667, 6-9), single season (.529, 18-34 in 1995-96) and career (.360, 45-125 from 1994-95 through 1997-98). Her six three-pointers against Manchester in 1997 tied the single-game trey mark.
A native of Lakewood, Ohio (Lutheran West High School), Klocke also is the head coach for the Bluffton College women’s golf team.
Kristy Crall joins the Bluffton College coaching staff this season after concluding a successful career on the court for the Beavers. Crall graduated from BC last May and ranks as one of the best guards to suit up for BC.
A three-year starter, Crall’s 107 three-pointers ranks third all-time, as does her .340 three-point shooting percentage. She ranks eighth all-time in assists (190) and steals (138) and ranks ninth all-time in career free throw percentage (.712) and games played (91). Crall’s 574 points scored ranks 26th on the career scoring list.
Crall is a graduate of Wynford High School in Bucyrus, Ohio and graduated from Bluffton with a degree in recreation management. She now works at Bluffton Family Recreation Center.
After a four-year varsity career at Bluffton College, Amy Aschemeier now joins the Beavers’ coaching staff. One of BC’s top three-point shooters in each of her four seasons, she ranks ninth on the career three-pointers made list with 42 treys.
Also a reliable shooter from the free throw line, Aschemeier’s .712 career free throw shooting percentage ranks ninth all-time. After averaging 7.1 points per game as a first year student, injuries claimed most of her sophomore season, but she totaled 45 games over her junior and senior seasons.
A native of Napoleon, Ohio, Aschemeier completed her student teaching requirements the fall semester of 2001 at Lima Bath High School in health and physical education.
Head athletic trainer Phill Talavinia enters his 17th season at BC and serves as Bluffton’s associate athletic director. He received his bachelor’s degree from Anderson University in 1985 in athletic training and business management.
Talavinia serves as the head trainer for all 16 varsity sports at BC and supervises a large staff of student trainers and managers. He is an adjunct instructor in the BC health, physical education and recreation department.
A native of Boston, Pa., Talavinia served as an assistant trainer at Anderson for four years and assisted the Chicago Bears training staff for 10 years during their summer camp. He lives in Bluffton with his wife, Michelle.
