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By PAUL SOKOLOSKI; Times Leader Sports Writer
Thursday, November 24, 1994     Page: 7B

The promise of the future gives King’s College hope right now.
   
But that doesn’t necessarily mean the Lady Monarchs have to wait for
success.
    “We set a short-term goal of making the playoffs this year,” King’s women’s
basketball coach Bryan Whitten said. “And we think once the freshmen get
experience, that we can do that.”
   
That means this season, although it would probably be easier for the Lady
Monarchs to sit back for a year or two while they build confidence.
   
One look at the Lady Monarch roster suggests Whitten may be playing a pipe
dream. A study of the team’s talent shows King’s making some noise this year.
   
King’s could be overwhelmed with inexperience, with seven letter winners
gone. And 12 freshmen — including 5-6 guard Erin Brennan out of Seton
Catholic — join a Lady Monarch team that intends to improve greatly on a 3-21
season that left King’s in seventh place in the Freedom League during
Whitten’s first year.
   
“We’re going to be young,” Whitten admitted. “We’re cautiously optimistic
about what’s coming up.”
   
What’s already there could lead the Lady Monarchs to a strong challenge for
the eight-team league’s top four.
   
Former MAC and ECAC Rookie of the Year Michelle Kulbitsky is back from the
torn anterior cruciate ligament which kept her off the court for the entire
1993-94 season. Kulbitsky, a 5-foot-10 junior forward, averaged 11.9 points
and 5.7 rebounds two years ago before undergoing reconstructive knee surgery
last year.
   
The Annville-Cleona graduate appears fully recovered, as she spent the fall
playing as a member of the King’s volleyball team.
   
“Outstanding player,” Whitten said. “She’s just now getting back into
basketball shape. She has the talent to be one of the better players in the
region. The good thing about this year coming up could be, should be, Michelle
Kulbitsky.
   
She’s not the only reason King’s is so hopeful.
   
Center Shawna Wygrala, the team’s only senior, gives King’s big goals. At
6-3, she’s one of the tallest players in the MAC and averaged over seven
points and rebounds last season.
   
Fellow juniors Marsha Mayton and Natalie Wilson, both 5-8 forwards,
combined to average over 14 points and 10 rebounds last season.
   
“We have some good experience coming back,” Whitten said. “We’re looking
forward to it. We feel we can be competitive once the freshmen get some
experience.”
   
A bunch of those newcomers are strong prospects.
   
Lending support underneath are freshmen Carla Schultes (5-11), Nikole
McConnell (5-10) and Jennifer Raber (5-9). Guard Katie Powell (5-8), forward
Colleen McAteer (5-8), and guard Kara Williams (5-5) could also make an
immediate impact.
   
“The good thing about our freshmen is we have some very talented ones,”
Whitten said. “And they came from successful programs.”
   
Indeed, Powell played at Archbishop Carroll, which was ranked 11th in the
state last year; McAteer came from a Lansdale Catholic program that went 25-2;
and Schultes and Williams were teammates at three-time divisional champ
Allentown Central Catholic a year ago.
   
“They know how to win, they know what it takes,” Whitten said. “Once they
just get used to our system and used to doing things the way we want them
done, I think we’re going to have a real strong, competitive team.”
   
And the sooner they adapt to the college game, the quicker King’s will be
smiling.
   
“I give these girls a lot of credit,” Whitten said. “Th