Bethlehem Academy has been through the wringer in the first few weeks of the 2022 season. The Cardinals have lost five of their first eight matches in a season many expect the team to return to the Class 1A state tournament.
But don't be surprised if the Cardinals walk into their gym on Tuesday night with a winner's swagger as they take on Gopher Valley Conference opponent Kenyon-Wanamingo (2-0, 2-0), ranked sixth in Class 1A by the Minnesota Coaches Association.
The 3-5 record? Look at the schedule. All of Bethlehem Academy's losses have been to ranked teams: No. 1-1A Mayer Lutheran, No. 3-3A Stewartville, No. 10-3A New Prague, No. 2-4A East Ridge and No. 10-4A Rochester Mayo. Victories have come against the likes of Eden Prairie, a Class 4A state tournament team last season, and Class 3A Mankato West.
Tested and vested against that top-notch early-season competition, the No. 3-1A Cardinals (3-5, 1-0) should soon start chalking up victories.
Bethlehem Academy is led by an experienced trio: Kate Trump, a senior captain and Class 1A all-state tournament outside hitter; Reagan Kangas, a senior setter who passed 1,000 career assists last season; and Lindsay Hanson, a senior and the 2021 Cardinals blocks leader.
The slow start is not unusual for the Cardinals, who perennially play a difficult non-conference schedule. The team started out 0-3 last year and ended up in the state tournament third-place game.
Kenyon-Wanamingo, with an experienced front line of Tessa Erlandson on the left, Norah Rechtzigel in the middle and Josi Quam on the right, will be looking to close the gap on the Cardinals. The Knights lost both matches against Bethlehem Academy last season, including 3-0 in the Class 1A, Section 1 championship game.