The Bethel Threshers are the athletic teams that represent Bethel College, located in North Newton, Kansas, in intercollegiate sports as a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) since the 1939–40 academic year and in which they were a member on a previous stint from 1902–03 to December 1928 (of the 1928–29 school year).
| Bethel Threshers | |
|---|---|
 | |
| University | Bethel College |
| Conference | Kansas |
| NAIA | Region IV |
| Athletic director | Tim Swartzendruber |
| Location | North Newton, Kansas |
| Varsity teams | 17 |
| Football stadium | Thresher Stadium |
| Nickname | Threshers |
| Colors | Maroon and gray[1] |
| Website | bethelthreshers |
Nickname
editBethel's athletic teams were known at the Graymaroons from the 1920s until 1960, when the Threshers fight name was adopted.[2]
Varsity sports
editBethel competes in 17 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, tennis and track and field; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, flag football (added in fall 2022), soccer, softball, tennis, track and field and volleyball; and co-ed sports include cheerleading and dance.
Basketball
editBethel's basketball program is led by head coach Jayson Artaz. Since taking over in 2018 and as of completion of the 2021 season, Artaz’s teams have complied a record of 83 wins and 43 losses.
Notable players
editCross country and track & field
editBethel's track & field team has found success on the national level. In 2008, Jeff Buller won his second consecutive national championship in the javelin with a throw of 214 feet 8 inches.[3]
Football
editBethel College began its football program in 1914 under head coach William E. Schroeder. As of completion of the 2022 season, the teams have produced a cumulative record of 328 wins, 529 losses, and 13 ties.[4]
From 2018 through 2021, Terry Harrison led the Threshers to back-to-back conference titles in 2020 and 2021 before resigning to accept the head coaching position at Friends University. Harrison replaced Morris Lolar[5] and finished his tenure at Bethel with 37 wins and 14 losses.
The current head coach is A.B. Stokes. Stokes led the Threshers to their third consecutive conference title in 2022. His current record at Bethel is 9 wins and 1 loss.
References
edit- ^ Bethel College Style Guide (PDF). July 1, 2020. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
- ^ Sprunger, Keith L. (December 2014). "Maroon & Gray and the GrayMaroons: Notes from Bethel's Colorful History". Context Alumni Magazine (December 2014). Bethel College. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
- ^ The Newton Kansan Archived July 24, 2011, at the Wayback Machine "Buller claims javelin title" May 23, 2008
- ^ Bethel College Threshers football records
- ^ "Terry Harrison named head football coach". KCACSports.com. April 16, 2018. Retrieved March 16, 2020.