Family Ties: The Bentley Siblings

Be it in Anderson University's Kardatzke Wellness Center fieldhouse during a snowy, unbearably cold day in January, or on field of Macholtz Stadium during the fall and spring, Anderson's men's and women's lacrosse teams typically follow each other back to back for practices and sometimes for games.  This scenario is quite convenient for the Bentley family from Lansing, Mich. this season.  Kenny Bentley is a sophomore faceoff specialist for the Anderson Ravens' men's lacrosse team and his younger sister, Erin, is a freshman Attack on the women's lacrosse team. 

There were not many times during their high school careers when their parents, Ken and Sheryl Bentley, had the opportunity to watch both their children play if they happened to be playing on the same day. That has changed this season.  "It's working out great when they both play on the same day or over the same weekend at home," said Dad, Ken.  The Bentleys trailered their camper to Anderson University for the men's lacrosse home games last season, which they lodged in over the weekend for Kenny's games, now they get to see both their children play. "It's great to attend a doubleheader…and if no doubleheader, at least we get to see both children play over a weekend when they are both at home," said Mom, Sheryl.  And you always know where the Bentleys are sitting in the stands, as they cheer loudly for Kenny, Erin and the Ravens.  However, their Grandmother, who joins them for these weekend games, is probably the most vocal, cheering and shouting for her Grandchildren.  

About attending the same college, said Kenny, "We went to the same high school, but I didn't think we'd go to the same college. It's working out pretty well." Anderson's men's and women's coaches are very good friends, so when Erin came for a college visit, the coaches got together and welcomed her along with their combined 38 men and women lacrosse players.

During that visit to Anderson's campus in the Fall of 2022, Erin attended a men's game and sat with the women's lacrosse team.  The lady Ravens lacrosse team attend every men's game when they are playing at home and cheer them on…from the front row!  "They had a whiteboard and they would write on it and shout out things like, "Hey #25, she's cute and single" (with an arrow pointing to one of the lady Ravens), or "We love you Kenny," which was a little embarrassing for Erin.  "It was so much fun, I felt really comfortable with the players," said Erin. 

"It's been nice seeing my brother around campus coming or going from class, in the MarketPlace (Anderson's dining hall), and of course on the lacrosse field since our practices are back to back, but we do our own thing, so we don't actually hang out much. It's already been convenient for my parents, as they can come to our games over the weekends, and if only one of us has a game that weekend, we can still visit with each other and watch each other's game'', said Erin.  The entire Bentley clan was present for Kenny's game on March 4^th, including of course Erin and Grandma, but also his twin and his younger brother.

Kenny and Erin were successful lacrosse players at Holt High School, in Holt Mich., with Kenny graduating in 2021 and Erin graduating in May of 2022.  They've experienced highs and lows, the low being the disappointment of having their seasons being cancelled due to COVID-19 in 2020, Kenny's junior and Erin's sophomore years. So, they are very grateful to be playing in college. 

Kenny was an outstanding faceoff specialist for Holt High School in 2019/20 and '21 when he helped lead his team to a 12-4 record.  The faceoff is a critical element of the men's game, and requires specialized skills to become a faceoff specialist.  These players are sometimes called FOGO's, or face-off get-off.

Their older sister, Emma, who is Kenny's twin, was the one who actually introduced Erin to lacrosse and got her interested in playing.  Emma also played in high school, and Kenny soon followed. Erin is one year younger than the twins, so there has been a lot of lacrosse going on at the same time with the Bentley's over the years.  Their younger sibling, Kaleb, who is currently in high school, also plays lacrosse. Needless to say, the Bentleys are a lacrosse family.

As the Ravens' FOGO, Kenny made his presence known in his first collegiate season.  He led the Heartland Collegiate Lacrosse Conference (HCLC) in faceoff controls with 193, nearly a 60%-win rate.  He also led his team in ground balls.  "He's not the biggest player on the field, standing at 5' 6'" and 150 pounds, but he plays like he is," said his Coach Jacob Ashton.  Ashton added that Kenny played in every game and never misses a practice, which is quite impressive since he is majoring in Engineering, an extremely challenging program curriculum.  He's also a great reflection of Anderson University having been selected to the All-HCLC Spring Sportsmanship Team in 2022. Bentley is picking up where he left off last season and would like to surpass over 200 faceoff controls in 2023.

Meanwhile, Erin came to Anderson after finishing her senior year at Holt High School as their Offensive Player of the Year. "My sister and I play a very different game, not just because the men's game is a little different than the women's. Erin has very good stick skills, and can place her shots very strategically in the net, using a number of shooting techniques," said Kenny of his sister's play. "I, on the other hand, don't score much as the faceoff specialist, but when I do, it's usually simply a hard, fast shot."   

Said Erin, "I don't know what the rest of the season holds for me.  I'm not the fastest player on the field, but I do like to score and make assists, so being at Attack I think I can help my team."  In the team's only Fall Ball scrimmages, she netted two goals and two assists. She scored her first collegiate goal in Anderson's second game of the regular season, a double overtime game vs Bethany College. In typical sibling rivalry fashion, they stand even on goals scored thus far this season, but Kenny notes that his most recent goal that tied their game vs Washington & Jefferson in the last three minutes of play (they went on to score again to win the game). Erin's Coach, Russell Mackey (Coach Mack) has her working on her conditioning with the team's trainer so she can increase her offensive productivity even more as the season progresses. 

"Erin is a great addition to the team. She has a good lacrosse IQ, and very good stick skills.  She is quickly becoming an offensive threat," said Coach Mack. Coach Mack sits in the stands watching and cheering on the Men's games and witnesses first hand Kenny and Erin's' Grandma in action.  Said Coach Mack, "I'm just glad our bench is on the opposite side of the field from the bleachers, so if Grandma isn't happy with my play calling, I can't hear her so well."

Said Erin: "Kenny being able to see my games and me being able to see his games is pretty cool. I know some friends who go far away to college and never get to see their brother play."

With the two only being one year apart, the Bentley's will have three more years of watching them play college lacrosse at Anderson, and maybe more if their brother Kaleb decides to play in college.  Can you say "Anderson University" perhaps?