BEREA, OHIO -- Four years ago, big Ben Dobberstein was patrolling the paint in the gymnasium at Berea High School. Four years later, big Ben hasn't gone far to find the sport he loves. Now he plays just across the street in the Ursprung Gymnasium of the Lou Higgins Center for the Baldwin Wallace University Yellow Jackets.
Following graduation from Berea High in the summer of 2007, Dobberstein enrolled at BW's longstanding traditional rival Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio. After spending two years on the Tiger junior varsity team and longing for playing time on the varsity, he approached newly hired Yellow Jacket Head Coach Duane Sheldon in the weightroom during the summer about transferring to play for the Yellow Jackets.
"I just wanted to play basketball," said Dobberstein prior to departing with his Yellow Jacket teammates for a tournament earlier this week in Kentucky. "I was looking for a new beginning, a new start and was just inquiring about an opportunity. It definitely has turned out to be a good move for me both academically and athletically."
"Ben approached me in the weightroom over the summer of 2007," said Sheldon, a 1993 graduate of the College. "He wanted to play and we needed another inside presence, and at six-foot and nine-inches, Ben definitely is a presence."
"I am proud of Ben for continuing to get better every day," continued Sheldon, who's 4-5 overall Yellow Jackets played Indiana University-East (7-3 overall) on Sunday and then played tourney host Thomas More (5-3 overall) on Monday. "He works extremely hard in practice and he worked very hard during the off-season."
"He really didn't get to play on the varsity at Wittenberg his first two years," said Sheldon. "Last year was his first season at BW and it was like his freshman year. He brings a big, strong, physical presence to the inside of our lineup. BW is definitely a better fit for Ben."
After nine games this season, Dobberstein is averaging 9.3 minutes per game and is scoring 2.7 points and grabbing 2.2 rebounds per game.
"Ben's main strength is defense and rebounding," said Sheldon. "As we get further along in conference play and play bigger and stronger teams, I envision him seeing more action. He is still a work-in-progress."
"I feel that my main strengths are the knowledge of the game and being able to help our younger players and playing defense," said Dobberstein, who is an exercise science major who is weighing his options regarding attending graduate school after graduation and would like to work either as a strength and conditioning coach or in wellness at the corporate level. "I always hustle and try to do my best to help the team."
"Our main goal is to win the Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament," said Dobberstein. "That would definitely cap my career."
Dobberstein moved to Berea during his junior season in high school when his mother, Trina Dobberstein, accepted a position as the Dean of Student Life at BW. He stresees whether playing at Berea High, Wittenberg and BW, his family has always been very supportive of his efforts.
"My family has always been there for me, giving me encouragement and coming to all of my games no matter where they were at," continued Dobberstein, who will next play in Berea on January 6 when the Yellow Jackets host OAC arch-rival Mount Union College in the Ursprung Gymnasium at 7:30 p.m.
So, what would Dobberstein tell another local product who is not happy at his or her current school? "If you're not happy where you're at, I would recommend finding a school where you are going to enjoy your experience. We have a very tight-knit team here at BW. We are all friends and hang out and socialize together. This definitely was the right move for me."
All Yellow Jacket men's and women's basketball games can be heard LIVE via the Internet at www.wBW.com. In addition, all away games are broadcast on campus radio station WBW, 88.3 FM.
In addition, BW's Saturday, February 20 game against Otterbein College is both "Take a Kid to the Game" Day and will be televised by SportsTime Ohio (www.sportstime ohio.com). For more information regarding the "Take a Kid to the Game" promotion, please call Meg Carney in the Athletic Department at 440-826-2140 or e-mail her at mcarney@bw.edu.
FOR MORE BW Sports Information, please contact Sports Information Director Kevin Ruple by telephone at 440-826-2327 and e-mail at kruple@bw.edu or Assistant SID Nick Minerd by phone at 440-826-2780 and e-mail at nminerd@bw.edu. Fans can access the latest BW athletics information at www.bw.edu/athletics and we invite you to join us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/bwathletics.
