NORTH NEWTON, Kan. – The Bethel College Athletic Department is proud to announce that the 1996 Men's Soccer Team, Yvette Peters Nickel, and Kari Stucky-Lindeman will be inducted into the thresher Hall of Fame as the class of 2026.

The induction ceremony is currently scheduled to take place on October 16 at the annual Hall of Fame Banquet, as part of the 2026 Bethel Fall Festival.

BETHEL ATHLETICS 2026 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

Yvette (Peters) Nickel

Yvette (Peters) Nickel was a standout two-sport athlete at Bethel College, excelling in both track and field and volleyball from 1999–2003. Her athletic achievements were highlighted by earning NAIA All-American honors in the 400-meter dash in 2003, where she recorded a career-best time of 56.42 seconds and finished sixth at the NAIA National Championships.

Throughout her track career, Nickel won the KCAC 400-meter championship three consecutive years (2000–2002) and consistently qualified for NAIA national competition. She also earned multiple NAIA Scholar-Athlete honors in both track and volleyball, demonstrating excellence in the classroom as well as in competition.

In volleyball, Nickel was a key contributor for successful Bethel teams, playing multiple roles and helping the Threshers maintain their strong conference presence. As a senior leader, she played an important role in mentoring younger teammates and contributing to team success.

Her accomplishments culminated in being named Bethel College Female Athlete of the Year in 2003. A four-year letter winner in both volleyball and track and field, Nickel exemplified athletic excellence, leadership, teamwork, and academic achievement.

Kari Stucky-Lindeman

Kari Stucky-Lindeman was one of the premier volleyball players in Bethel College history, competing for the Threshers from 1994–1997. An outstanding outside hitter, she earned numerous accolades throughout her career, including NAIA All-American Honorable Mention, KCAC Player of the Year, First Team All-Conference, and First Team All-Region (Great Plains Region) honors. She was also recognized multiple times as KCAC Player of the Week and played a key role in helping Bethel capture two KCAC regular-season championships and two KCAC Tournament championships.

On the basketball court, Kari set the single game record for blocks in a contest with 9 against Kansas Wesleyan. She also held the career blocked shot record following the conclusion of her career on the hardwood.

Beyond her impressive accomplishments on the court, Kari was known for her leadership, work ethic, and character. While not the most vocal leader, she led by example through her dedication, resilience, and commitment to excellence. Coaches and teammates respected her integrity, composure, and willingness to put the team's success above her own.

Her impact extended far beyond the court, as she embodied the values of Bethel College through her athletic performance, leadership, and personal character.

1996 Men's Soccer Team

The Bethel men's soccer team enjoyed a record setting year. The team won a record 14 games, lost seven and tied one. The team struggled early, but then won six games in a row, the highlight of which was two wins over Friends, the first ever wins against the Falcons.

After another stretch of inconsistent soccer, the team had a great run and won some big games to close out the season. Included in the late season run were wins over Bethany and Kansas Wesleyan
to win the KCAC post season tournament. The championship game was hard, physical 2-1 win on the road at Kansas Wesleyan. The KCAC Championship was the first ever for a Bethel soccer team.
The team continued its run with a 1-0 win at home in the first round of the Great Plains Regional Play-off over a strong National College team which was ranked  22^nd in the nation.

The season ended for a tired, injury-riddled team in a Regional semi-final 2-0 loss to Westmar University, a contest played in -4 wind chill conditions. The team was ranked as high as 28^th in the NAIA soccer poll on October 7. They won 12 of their last 16 contests. The team won many awards/honors with the most notable being Scott Stuhlsatz, KCAC Defensive Player of the year, Great Plains All-Region, NSCAA All-Midwest, and an NAIA All-American; Sam Heiks and Brian Kynaston were named NAIA All-American Scholar Athletes.

Roster: Seniors – Brian Kynaston, Juan Macias, Joe Mantano, Steve Parks, Jason Regier; Junior – Sam Heiks; Sophomores – Juan Aguirre, Doug Boudreau, Pablo Ceres, Neil Hamill, Andres Macias, Chris Miller, Mike Oakman, Juan Sotelo, Scott Stulsatz, Alex Weedin; Freshman – Jarrod Bradbury, Adrian Navarro, Mike Reimer, Scott Toerber; Coaches – Gerry Sieber