Kellogg Community College’s men’s and women’s basketball seasons open this week under the leadership of new head coaches and a combined schedule of nearly two dozen home games offered with free admission on campus in Battle Creek.
Both teams open their 2022-23 season at home against Detroit Community Christian College on Wednesday, Nov. 9, at the Miller Physical Education Building, on campus at 450 North Ave. in Battle Creek. The women’s team starts at 5:30 p.m. and the men’s team starts at 7:30 p.m.
For high-resolutions team and individual photos of each team available for download by fans and the press, visit our 2022-23 KCC Basketball Photos Dropbox at dropbox.com/sh/kqlwqe10milf2pb/AACWnqhjp5GvLjJSWiJlOh1Oa?dl=0.
Men’s Basketball
The men’s basketball team opens the season this week with a schedule of 11 home games under the leadership of new Head Men’s Basketball Coach Steve Proefrock. The team boasts a strong roster of 13, including nine returning sophomores.
Among the returners is local sophomore standout guard/forward Brett White, of Battle Creek/Battle Creek Central, who averaged 22.9 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists for the Bruins during the 2021-22 season last year.
New Head Coach Proefrock, having coached in KCC’s National Junior College Athletics Association as well as in all divisions of the NCAA, comes to the Bruins with a wealth of collegiate coaching experience.
Proefrock has earned more than 300 collegiate wins and has been a part of several championship teams. Most recently at the junior college level, Proefrock led teams to four conference championships, earning him several coaching honors including Junior College Coach of the Year from the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan.
Proefrock is a professor of History and Physical Education at Glen Oaks Community College. He earned a master’s degree from Eastern Kentucky University and a bachelor’s degree from Central Michigan University.
For more information about men’s basketball at KCC, contact Coach Proefrock at mbbcoach@kellogg.edu or visit kelloggbruins.com/sports/mbkb.
Women’s Basketball
The women’s basketball team opens the season this week with a schedule of 11 home games under the leadership of new Head Women’s Basketball Coach Sal Konkle. The women’s team opens the season with a young roster of 13, all but one a freshman.
Locals on the women’s team this year include freshman forward Shayla Ardis (Battle Creek/Battle Creek Central); freshman guard Allison Biergeder (Battle Creek/Pennfield); and freshman forward Maya Walters (Battle Creek/Pennfield). Biergeder and Walters are among six women’s basketball players who also played soccer for the Bruins this fall.
Sophomore guard/forward Maddie Edwards (Climax/Climax-Scotts High School), the sole returner for the Bruins, averaged 3.2 points and 2.7 rebounds for KCC last season. Edwards also played volleyball for the Bruins this fall.
New Head Coach Konkle is a Marshall native who played varsity basketball for four years at Marshall High School and returned to coach basketball, golf and softball at the school at various levels from 1995 through 2020. As the head girls basketball coach, her teams won 15 district titles, seven regional titles and one state championship.
Konkle graduated from Alma College in 1986 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with a minor in Exercise Science. While at Alma she earned 12 varsity letters in four different sports, and following graduation earned her teaching degree.
In 1989 Konkle began coaching basketball and softball at Albion College, where she became Associate Athletic Director in 1991. Upon earning her Master of Arts degree in Athletic Administration she became the Athletic Director of Women’s Athletics, and served as AD as well as basketball and softball coach from 1991 through 1995.
Konkle was inducted in the inaugural Marshall High School Athletic Hall of Fame as an athlete in 2019 and was inducted in the Alma College Athletic Hall of Fame as an athlete in 1996. She has also been inducted into the Alma College Athletic Hall of Fame an additional six times as a member of an outstanding team, and serves on the board of directors for the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan.
For more information about women’s basketball at KCC, contact Coach Konkle at wbbcoach@kellogg.edu or visit kelloggbruins.com/sports/wbkb.
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