A senior on the Wartburg women's basketball team, Emma Gerdes of Cedar Falls heads into her final season in Orange & Black coming off an American Rivers Conference MVP season last year, averaging 11.3 points per game with 145 assists, helping guide the Knights to a third consecutive conference regular season and tournament championship as well as an appearance in the Elite 8 of the NCAA Tournament. Gerdes ranks among the career leaders in Wartburg program history in several statistical categories including sixth all-time in assists while ranking first in free throw percentage, as of 2018-19.

How did you hear about Wartburg?
 
EG: I grew up in Cedar Falls so I have always known about Wartburg. Coach [Bob] Amsberry actually helped run some of the practices for the AAU team I played on in high school so I got to know more about Wartburg and the basketball program through him and from that.
 
What convinced you that Wartburg would be the right fit?
 
EG: I wanted to stay decently close to home because I do have five younger siblings so it is important to me to be able to go home and see my family. That was a huge pull, as well as the people here were always so good to me and I was able to see the Wartburg culture. I knew I wanted to be a part of that after visiting. 
 
What are your plans after graduation?
 
EG: I will be attending Allen College of Nursing in May after graduation to pursue my BSN, and become an RN. It is a 15 month program so I plan to graduate from there in August of 2021 and then work as a nurse. I do not know what type of nurse I want to be.
 
What has been your favorite Wartburg athletic memory?
 
EG: My favorite basketball memory is playing in the Final Four my sophomore year. 

How would you describe the program's culture?
 
EG: The culture we have is really special and it is our number one focus. We talk about how not everyone can be a starter, or play tons of minutes but we all can win a championship. It truly is like a family. We love each other like family and treat each other like family and it is really fun to be a part of. 
 
How do you balance being a student-athlete?
 
EG: I actually think being an athlete makes me a better student. When I am in season I have only so much time to get homework done, so I am much more efficient and am sure to finish my homework, studying, papers, etc. when I have the time. You learn time management very quickly.
 
How has playing a sport added to your Wartburg experience?
 
EG: Playing basketball has given me so many opportunities to meet people, travel, and grow a person. A lot of my favorite memories from Wartburg have had something to do with basketball whether it was playing, traveling, or just with people around the team. Basketball has taught me so much that you can't learn in the classroom; how to be a teammate, a good leader, hard work, humility, etc.
 
What advice do you have for high school students considering continuing their athletic careers at Wartburg?
 
EG: Give it a shot. Athletics gives you a built-in support system to lean into in the start of college. Not everyone gets the opportunity to play college sports and if you do have the opportunity I think you should take it. 
 
What does it mean to be a Knight?
 
EG: Being a Knight is something super special and something I will always be thankful for. It's hard to put into words what being a Knight means, but I think what Wartburg has is unique and we shouldn't take it for granted.