the Opposition to Gain His Own Advantage
By: Matthew Florjancic, Correspondent
BEREA—Baldwin-Wallace College senior and Wellington High Scool graduate Dan Gundert is not your typical college basketball center.
At six-foot and two inches, Gundert began his playing career at B-W as a guard who moved to forward and is now the center for a Yellow Jacket team that has compiled a 24-4 overall record prior to playing Carnegie-Mellon (Pa.) University in the first round of the NCAA Division III National Tournament on Friday (March 3) at Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio.
So how does a 6’2” center gain an advantage against opponents who are 6’6”, 6’7” and taller?
“Dan gains his own advantage by outworking, outhustling and outsmarting the opposition,” said veteran Yellow Jacket Head Coach Steve Bankson, this year’s Ohi Athletic Conference Coach of the Year.
“Dan gains great position and controls his body like a guard while playing in the post,” continued Bankson. “He dives for every loose ball, has excellent court sense and is a great, great competitor. Having a Dan Gundert on our team is a big advantage.
This season, Gundert has helped the Yellow Jackets to its outstanding overall record, B-W’s first OAC regular season title since 1977-78 and its second straight OAC Tournament title when it beat Ohio Northern University, 91-84 in overtime, last Saturday (Feb. 25).
Individually, Gundert is having a fabulous season. He is 17th in the OAC in scoring at 11.6 points per game, fourth in rebounding at 7.8 rpg., second to teammate and junior Tori Davis in field goal percentage at 63.2 percent (115-of-182 attempts), seventh in free throw percentage (.832), 11th in assists (71), tied for ninth in steals (42), fourth in defensive rebounds (155), fifth in offensive caroms (63) and fifth in assist to turnover ratio (1.34).
Not bad for a guy who saw limited action as a freshman and sophomore and was limited to 17 games last season due to an injury.
“Dan has blossomed into a very solid player and an even better team leader as a senior,” said Bankson. “One of the keys to why we are much improved over a year ago is through the improvements made by Dan and a number of our other young men.”
The 21-year old early childhood education major was named the OAC Player of the Week for his efforts at Heidelberg College and against Otterbein College earlier this season. In Tiffin, Gundert had 17 points and six assists in a 108-93 win versus Heidelberg. In just 17 minutes of action against the Otterbein Cardinals, Gundert had 18 points and eight rebounds in a 96-76 victory at the Ursprung Gymnasium in Berea.
Gundert set the tone for his final collegiate campaign when he earned all-tournament team honors at the Buzz Ridl Classic at Westminster College when the Yellow Jackets defeated 16th-ranked St. John Fisher (N.Y.) College, 88-79, and then setting a school single-game scoring record in a 133-113 win against Westminster.
Gundert is enjoying his experience this season and during his four-year career, but has his eyes focused on achieving more.
“The season has been great,” said Gundert. “There have been many high points this season, who was an All-District and All-Ohio selection in basketball at Wellington High School.
“The Wooster win ranks up there in all-time wins for me at B-W,” said Gundert, referring to the Yellow Jackets 113-108 double overtime victory versus the then No.1-ranked Fighting Scots on December 29. “I think by winning that game, we really showed people that we are for real this year and people need to respect us.”
”Then we went on to win the first-ever OAC regular season title for Coach Bankson and won our second straight OAC Tournament title,” said Gundert. “In addition, we are looking forward to going to Wittenberg to play a very good Carnegie-Mellon team and see what happens from there in the NCAA Tournament. It has been an exciting year so far, but there is still more work to do, more games to win and more goals to accomplish.”
A season ago, Gundert missed several games due to a hand injury. The injury cutting his season short was hard for him to handle.
“My biggest obstacle was last year when I broke my hand and had to have surgery,” said Gundert. “That was my first major injury, knock on wood, where I had to go through rehabilitation to get back on the court.”
Despite his hand injury, Gundert did suit up for the Yellow Jackets when they lost 94-78 in the opening round of the 2005 NCAA Division III National Tournament to Wooster. However, to make the tournament, B-W had to go through John Carroll University.
“I have two other favorite memories while at B-W,” said Gundert. “Cutting down the nets at John Carroll last year after winning the OAC Tournament and the other was when I started in my first game. Both are something you always work for and then feel good about when you finally attain.”
Though he did not see many minutes last year because of injury, Gundert’s teammates have been impressed with the way he has been able to bounce back this season.
“I think one of the most important things Dan Gundert brings to the court every day is his work ethic and intensity,” said Davis, who leads the OAC in scoring and is this season’s OAC Mike Gregory Award winner, symboloic of the OAC’s Player of the Year. “He never gives up. He is a great motivator. He gets all of us ready to play the games.”
Dan also is a great guy to get to know,” said Davis. “Like anyoneelse on this team, he would do anything for us. He really holds us together as a family.”
“In this league, he is undersized,” said senior two-time All-OAC guard Keith Aufmuth. “He uses his body really well. He is strong and is a smart down-low player.
“Dan knows where to get the ball to you so you have a good shot opportunity, and when he has the ball down low, he always goes up strong with his shot,” continued Aufmuth. “If he doesn’t make the shot, he goes to the line. Everything he does is done with a high percentage of accuracy. That’s a smart basketball player.”
Like many B-W basketball players have before, Gundert loves playing in the Brown and Gold.
“Coach Bankson is a great coach who has had a lot of success in his career,” said Gundert, a two-time letterman prior to this season and a team captain along with Davis and Aufmuth. It is an honor to play for Coach. He is a guy who you can learn a lot from about basketball, academics and life in general.”
Bankson is one of the many reasons why Gundert made B-W his college choice.
“Coach sold me on the family and tradition of the B-W basketball program,” said Gundert. “I knew I wanted to play basketball for a competitive program in college that was competitive in its conference, and I wanted my parents to be able to watch all my games. This has been a great experience.”
Gundert’s parents have always been an influence in his life.
“My parents have always been there for me and I couldn’t ask for anything more from them,” said Gundert proudly. “My dad is my best friend. He is there for anything and everything. I talk to him about anything and he has been my basketball mentor my whole life.”
Gundert is hoping to use the lessons he learned from his parents “to become a successful coach and teacher."
"I love working with kids and want to be able to make a difference each and every day in a kid’s life,” said Gundert.
If the last four years are any indication of Gundert’s ability to take a leadership role on a team, his career as a teacher and coach may be just as rewarding as his time at B-W!
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