Lynx coach Whiteman: With hard work, another great season is possible

[October 26, 2011]  Kirk Whiteman, coach of the two-time national junior college champion Lynx, has been telling it to people who ask for months.

Yesterday at the Lincoln Kiwanis meeting, the coach said it out loud for all to hear: This year's men's team is the most talented he has ever coached.

Considering Whiteman started out with a third-place national finish followed by back-to-back national championships, it's obvious the coach, in his fourth year, has high expectations for this year's Lynx.

And expectations are what Whiteman talked about. He said that although the talent is there, time will tell if the necessary work ethic will become a part of the Lynx team. A hard-work ethic that is essential for the Lynx to have another successful season.

The coach cited the recent success of the Denver Broncos' Tim Tebow, who many say doesn't have the necessary skills to be an NFL quarterback. Tebow rallied the Broncos in less than five minutes Sunday to win a game that everyone thought was lost.

Whiteman also brought up former player and Lincoln native Louis Schonauer, who isn't that fast or that high a jumper, but who gave his total effort and became an integral part of the Lynx winning back-to-back national championships.

Whiteman said it will take time for the team to gel and find its identity, but with the right effort and attitude, he feels this team, like the last three, can find themselves during the stretch run when championships are won.

Whiteman also gave praise to the Lincoln College teachers and staff, saying with pride that all eight players who finished their eligibility last year graduated and went on to four-year colleges.

Although the Lynx have eight new players and only three returning players with playing minutes, the athleticism of the recruiting class has not been lost on the rest of the country. The Lynx will go into the season ranked No. 1 in the NJCAA preseason polls.

It is rare that a small community can boast such a successful men's basketball success at any level, and Whiteman invites the community to come out and support the Lynx and see some top-notch hoops.

Season tickets are on sale starting today for the Lincoln College men's and women's basketball teams. The Lincoln Center provides for a great venue to watch college basketball, and season ticket holders have access to their own chair-back seats behind the team benches.

There are different levels of season tickets to choose from. They range from single-game season tickets to the Purple Level, which includes two season tickets and entry into the Hall of Fame room, sponsored by Guzzardo's Italian Villa.

Season ticket holders with Hall of Fame room access will be able to enjoy appetizers from Guzzardo's before and during the men's game, a coach's talk before the game, and after games have texts of final score and game summary emailed to them.

To learn more about Lincoln College season ticket package, visit http://www.lincolncollege.edu/
athletics/bballm/index.htm. You may also call or email Kirk Whiteman at 217-732-3155, ext. 318, or [e-mail].

Season tickets will be on sale through Nov. 4, the date of the women's first home game. The men will host their first home game on Nov. 18.

Season tickets will also be available for purchase at "Meet the Lynx" Night on Saturday. Starting at 7:30 p.m., the men's basketball team will host a 3-point shooting contest, 20-minute scrimmage and dunk contest. The festivities will last about an hour.

[By MIKE FAK, with text from file received]