Becky Zabel’s recruitment to Emporia State started with women’s basketball coach Brandon Schneider.
It ended with ESU football player Zach Teske.
“When they offered me my scholarship, Zach was so excited,” Zabel said. “He was like, ‘You have to do this.’”
Luckily for the Lady Hornets, Zabel didn’t just listen to her first cousin. She followed him to ESU.
Zabel, a 5-foot-10 wing player from Cloud County Community College, has verbally committed to play basketball for the Lady Hornets next season.
“She just an all-around, All-American type of girl, and that’s no exaggeration,” Cloud County coach Brett Erkenbrack said. “I’ve said this numerous times: She’s the kind of young lady that anyone would be proud to have as their daughter. She’s truly a great person.”
Zabel, who averaged 8.5 points and 7.4 rebounds though 25 games at Cloud County, chose ESU over MIAA and a few Division-I offers.
Originally from Onaga, Zabel will be able to play just one hour, 45 minutes away from her hometown and her parents.
“I didn’t want to go very far,” Zabel said, “so Emporia was the perfect fit for me.”
Zabel picked ESU only after being strongly encouraged by Teske, who was a senior H-back on this year’s Hornet football team.
Zabel said her cousin only had good things to say about the campus and the school.
“He’s always talked about it,” Zabel said. “He was so excited when he first started talking to me. He was like, ‘Oh, Emporia’s great. I love it here.’”
Teske also gave her some insight on Schneider, who talked to the football team before one of its home games this fall.
The senior came away impressed with the coach’s words.
“He said that it was just the most motivational speech that he’s ever heard,” Zabel said. “It just pumped him up, and he was really excited about it.”
Zabel becomes the sixth member of ESU’s recruiting class for next season, joining perhaps the most anticipated class in Schneider’s era with the Hornets.
ESU lost six seniors from this year’s team that finished 22-8.
“She’s probably not ever going to be a big scorer, and I don’t think they’re anticipating her being a scorer,” Erkenbrack said. “She’s going to rebound, play defense and run fast.”
Zabel said she would accept whatever role she was given.
“I like to play defense, and I like to run,” Zabel said. “Hopefully, I’ll help them out by doing the little things that I like to do.”
Zabel, who will have two years of eligibility starting next year, comes from a successful program at Cloud.
The Thunderbirds won their first 13 games this year and were ranked No. 1 in the nation for the early part of the season. They finished 26-5 and were 26-7 last year.
Zabel isn’t just a top-notch player, though. She also arrives as a standout student.
The sophomore has maintained a 4.0 grade-point average throughout junior college and was one of Cloud County’s two selections for Phi Theta Kappa All-Kansas All-USA academic team.
“Becky’s one of the neatest girls you’d ever want to meet,” Erkenbrack said. “She’s very personable and hard-working and is a good, solid farmgirl.”
Zabel is still undecided on a major but said she is thinking about going into teaching. She visited Emporia this week to meet with advisors and also look for housing.
“It’s just a great school,” Zabel said. “I like the campus a lot.”
Erkenbrack said it wouldn’t take long for Zabel to find her place.
“I think it’s a great fit for her and a great fit for Emporia State,” Erkenbrack said. “I’m really happy for everybody involved.”