Mishawaka, IN — Goshen College women’s basketball head coach Steve Wiktorowski announced a late recruiting pickup to his 2005-2006 roster Thursday afternoon, adding 2005 Penn High School (Mishawaka, Ind.) graduate Krystal Duensing to his squad, further strengthening an already talented backcourt.

Duensing, a 5-6 multi-faceted perimeter player, joins Wawasee High School (Syracuse, Ind.) standout Rachel Canen (click here for Canen article) and Eastern (Howard) High School 2005 graduate Kendra Fights (click here for Fights article) as the program’s 2005 incoming freshmen class.

While it may be slightly uncommon for a player of Duensing’s ability to be still unsigned so late into the summer recruiting period — she averaged 14.7 points per game and nearly two assists per game for Penn last season — Wiktorowski said he believes destiny may have been at work in the guard’s decision to come to Goshen.

“We are very happy about the way this all worked out,” Wiktorowski said. “We’re very fortunate to pick up someone this late in the year with the qualities that Krsytal Duensing has. Her play at the South Bend Tribune Sports Fest impressed us, and recruiting her went very quickly and smoothly. It really feels like it was meant to be that she come to Goshen College. I’m excited to have her joining our program this fall.”

Wiktorowski acquires a talented student-athlete in Duensing, as the guard was a first team Academic All-State and first team Northern Indiana Conference selection following her senior season. During that campaign — Penn finished with a 14-8 overall record — Duensing shot 36 percent from the field and 92 percent from the free throw line, leading her team in steals as well. She currently holds Penn’s season records for three-pointers made, free throw percentage and made free throws, and was named the team’s offensive player of the year this season.

“Krystal can play all the guard spots, and I think she will especially make our point position deeper,” Wiktorowski said. “She can shoot the three, sees the floor and passes well and works hard on defense. She is very coachable and picks up concepts quickly. We will be a young team this year, and she will have an opportunity to contribute immediately, especially with her team-first attitude.”

An outstanding student in the classroom, Duensing said she plans to major in physical therapy once at Goshen. A recipient of the 2005 Kiwanis Award honoring outstanding qualities as both a high school player and citizen, Duensing said she wanted to attend a college where athletics and academics bore equal importance.

“The first time I stepped on campus everyone around me made me feel welcome,” Duensing said. “The basketball team was so nice to me and they made me feel part of their team from the beginning. The coaches were very helpful as well during the recruiting process. Goshen has great academics, is close to home, has many opportunities and it just seemed like a perfect fit.”

With the late addition, Wiktorowski said he believes his team can make improvements on last year’s 11-21 mark, even with a demanding out-of-league schedule and the Mid-Central Conference as tough as ever.

“We’ve put together a solid incoming class that I feel will contribute right away,” Wiktorowski said. “Krystal has a great personality and will fit in well with our team chemistry. I look forward to seeing how this team meshes together, and am excited about the possibilities for our season this winter.”

Check back to this website for continued, up-to-date recruiting information and team news, including soon-to-be-posted 2005-2006 schedule information. To contact Steve Wiktorowski, call him at (574) 535-7492 or click here to send him an email.