Berthusen’s athletic roots trace back to her NFL dad
Joseph Tischler
MANKATO, Minn. - When the Bethany softball team traveled to Pella, Iowa last May to compete in the NCAA Division III Softball Tournament, Bill Berthusen was there in attendance to watch his daughter, Amanna, compete for the Vikings on the national stage.
Competing on the national stage is something Bill is familiar with. After playing four productive years as a defensive tackle at Iowa State (1983-86), Berthusen was drafted in the 12th round (321st overall) of the 1987 NFL Draft by the, then, defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants.
Berthusen played for both the Giants and the Cincinnati Bengals in the 1987 season recording two and a half sacks and one fumble recovery. A lower back injury forced him to leave the league after the season.
Although his time was brief in the league, Berthusen was surrounded by greatness including Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor, Hall of Fame and two-time Super Bowl champion head coach Bill Parcells, and three-time Super Bowl champion head coach of the New England Patriots Bill Belichick, the defensive coordinator on that '87 Giants squad.
"Having the opportunity to play collegiately and professionally was a blessing because he was able to play with some of the best players (and coaches) to ever play," said Amanna.
Amanna is able to play with some pretty good players herself competing at Bethany. The junior from Marshalltown, Iowa just completed her third season with the Vikings' volleyball team as an outside hitter and will begin her second season on the softball squad playing first base in the spring.
In volleyball, Berthusen has been second on the team in both kills and hitting percentage the past two seasons. On the diamond, she batted .275 with two home runs and 17 runs batted in while playing a steady first base with a .970 fielding percentage, the best on the team.
Head softball coach Renee Tatge says Berthusen contributes to the team in many ways.
"Amanna has great power at the plate and has saved us countless times at first base. She also brings comic relief to the team, helping to keep everyone loose."
One would think that growing up with a former professional athlete in the house would bring added pressure to succeed, but that is not the case with Amanna.
"I do not feel pressure because throughout my entire athletic career my father has been there for me every step of the way.
"Growing up in Alabama were some of the best memories I have because my father helped me grow and was a coach for me."
Every opportunity he gets, Bill makes the trek from his home in Marshalltown to see Amanna play at Bethany and it puts a smile on her face every time.
"One of the best feelings an athlete can have is looking into the stands and seeing your biggest supporters cheering you on," she said. "My parents are my biggest blessing."
Bill has been working at Emerson Process Management in Iowa since his NFL playing days and is going on 25 years now for the company.