Fall sports wrap-up: Young coaches lead new era of Bethel Athletics
It was a historic season across the board for the Threshers.
The fall sports season for Bethel Athletics has come to a close after unforgettable moments — courtesy of nearly all Thresher programs — from August through mid-November.
Headlining these moments is the Bethel volleyball squad. Second-year head coach Adriana Leake led the group to a historic season with their first 20-plus win season for the first time in 12 years as well as making it to the KCAC postseason tournament with a first-round bye.
“Coach Leake took a huge step forward in year two of the program, finishing fourth in the conference with much of the same team returning while adding some key pieces,” Athletic Director Tony Hoops said. The Threshers will bring back two key seniors next season for their fifth year in Katey Wilhelm and Julie Wilhite.
Both the women’s and men’s soccer teams underwent coaching changes going into this season.
“With several new head coaches leading programs for the first time, I felt our teams acclimated well to new systems to perform their best,” Hoops said. “I give credit to our student-athletes in those programs who retained throughout some challenging transitions to stay committed to Bethel and therefore have a great experience this fall.”
The men’s soccer team ended with a record of 6-10-2 while the women’s team ended with a record of 7-9-2.
“I’m excited to build on what we have and bring talented players that will elevate our program even more,” head coach Luka Milicevic said. “Seniors were a big part of our success and they will be missed. I am looking forward to seeing who steps up into that leadership role from the returners. The team will be busy in spring working on getting better.”
The men’s and women’s cross-country squads both had strong showings this season as well, with a key second-place finish for the men at the Carol Swenson Invite.
Although tennis is mainly a spring sport, the individual season for tennis is in the fall, and Bethel performed well at both the KCAC Individual Tournament and the ITA Regional Tournament.
At the KCAC Tournament, on the women’s side, there were seven top-three finishes: first place for Daniela Herrera and Fatima Nemi in one-doubles, Jenna Mahoney and Nalea Payton in three-doubles, and Herrera in two singles. Third place for Halle Krehbiel in three singles, second place for Mahoney in four singles, third place for Payton in five singles, and first place for Patty Huerta in six singles.
On the men’s side, there were two top-three finishes: third place for Milan Bucek and Tomas Quercia in one-doubles and third place for Quercia in three singles.
At the ITA tournament, Herrera went on to win the championship and qualify for the national cup in Rome, Ga. Bucek would fall in the semifinals of the regional tournament.
Finally, the football team once again repeated as conference champions for the third year in a row but was left out of the playoffs due to the three-way tie for the KCAC Championship.
The Threshers had key wins over Kansas Wesleyan and Southwestern, beating the prior 30-24, who they had not beaten in 13 years, and the latter 31-23 on Fall Fest weekend.
“Replacing three head coaches in the past would’ve likely resulted in a down year,” Hoops said. “Specifically in football, our athletes knew how to win and that showed this year by winning many close games. Not many across the conference or nation expected [football to win its third conference title in a row], but those on our campus did — which was encouraging to see.”
“I look forward to seeing the expectation of success that our coaches have for one another to carry over into winter and spring results,” Hoops said. “Our coaches interact on a daily basis, challenging each other to be great regardless of sport. I'm also looking forward to a great recruiting class for the fall of 2023.”