Woehnker Looks Forward

By Jill Bradford '10

It seems like just yesterday for Craig Woehnker, a senior guard for the Merrimack College men’s basketball team, that he was in his hometown of Colts Neck, New Jersey figuring out what to do with the next four years of his life.

Jump ahead four years and Woehnker is set to embark on his final year at Merrimack College with an admirable set of goals to accomplish—both athletically and academically.

Head Coach Bert Hammel and the men’s basketball team plan to carry momentum from last year’s successful season into the upcoming 2009-2010 year. Merrimack went 21-9 overall last year, including a win over UMass-Lowell in the first round of the NCAA tournament. In the end, the Warriors came up short in double overtime against the Northeast-10 Conference powerhouse Bentley Falcons in the East Regional semifinal.

“This is a new team that needs to get their own identity, and they will,” said Hammel.

With a talented group of classmates (Jared Brownlee, Jeff Hansbury, and Darren Duncan), Woehnker’s goals for this season are not surprising: to win the Northeast-10 Championship and the National Championship.

Hammel recognizes the closeness of the senior class and has high expectations for Woehnker this year.

“Craig has really developed as a player over the years. He has dedicated himself and has worked very hard to become a better player. Craig is always in the gym shooting and working on his game. He is one of the most coachable players I have ever had,” Coach Hammel explains.

Woehnker’s individual drive on the court is just as apparent in the classroom. Upon graduating with an International Business degree, Woehnker hopes to land a job with Homeland Security or Counter Terrorism Intelligence. From there, he hopes to someday work for the F.B.I. as a Special Agent.

Management Information Systems Professor, Pat Sendall, commented on Craig’s academic life.
“Craig understands that you do what you have to do in order to play the game you love. The commitment to an athletic team at Merrimack is huge, but Craig’s time management skills have led him to success in the classroom, just as it has on the court,” Sendall explains. “His self-motivation is admirable.”

The undeniable team chemistry of the Merrimack men’s basketball team is largely due to their friendships on and off the court.

“Our [senior] class works very well together. We are all roommates, and I have lived with Darren since my freshmen year,” explains Woehnker. “I will miss my teammates a lot next year.”

Being so close, the four seniors have had the opportunity to consistently work on their game together, which any Warrior basketball fan would agree is obvious on the court.

As an International Business major and a talented basketball player, Merrimack was a perfect fit for Woehnker. When asked what Merrimack athletics has done for him, Woehnker, without hesitation said, “Playing basketball for Merrimack has prepared me for life by challenging me physically and mentally. I feel like I am ready to face any challenges life throws at me after playing for Coach Hammel,” he explains. “Hard work pays off.”