NORTH NEWTON, Kan. – The Bethel College Athletic Department invites alumni, fans and friends of Thresher Athletics to the annual Hall of Fame Banquet on Friday, October 16. The 2026 class will be inducted that evening as part of the 2026 Bethel Fall Festival.
The banquet begins at 7 PM with the doors opening at 6:30 PM in Mem Hall. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased HERE.
This year's class includes two All-American multi-sport standouts and the program's only KCAC men's soccer champion to reach the national tournament.
Yvette (Peters) Nickel (Track & Field, Volleyball, 1999–2003)
Nickel lettered all four years in both track and field and volleyball. She won three straight KCAC titles in the 400-meter dash from 2000 to 2002. She capped her career in 2003 by finishing sixth at the NAIA National Championships for All-American honors, running a career-best 56.42. She was a multiple-time NAIA Scholar-Athlete in both sports and was named Bethel's Female Athlete of the Year in 2003.
Kari Stucky-Lindeman (Volleyball, Basketball, 1994–1997)
Stucky-Lindeman ranks among the best outside hitters in Bethel volleyball history. She was the KCAC Player of the Year, an NAIA All-American Honorable Mention, and a first-team All-Conference and All-Region pick. She helped the Threshers win two KCAC regular-season titles and two KCAC Tournament championships. On the basketball court she set Bethel's single-game blocks record with nine against Kansas Wesleyan and finished her career as the program's all-time leader in blocked shots.
1996 Men's Soccer Team
Under head coach Gerry Sieber, the 1996 Threshers set a program record with 14 wins. They beat Bethany and then won 2-1 on the road at Kansas Wesleyan to claim the KCAC postseason tournament, the first conference championship in Bethel soccer history. Bethel then beat 22nd-ranked National College 1-0 at home in the Great Plains Regional before its season ended in the regional semifinal. The team was ranked as high as 28th nationally. Scott Stuhlsatz earned NAIA All-American and KCAC Defensive Player of the Year honors, and Sam Heiks and Brian Kynaston were named NAIA All-American Scholar-Athletes.
Members of the 1996 squad are encouraged to return to North Newton and celebrate the 30th anniversary of the championship season together.
