Fall athletics recap: Football, golf, and volleyball lead a strong fall sports season at Bethel

Albert Rundell, wide receiver. Led all divisions of college football with 1,489 receiving yards. Ranked among national leaders in receptions per game and receiving touchdowns. Set MIAC records with 21 receptions and five touchdown catches against Carleton and established a Bethel single-game record with 246 receiving yards against St. Olaf.

Eli Nowacki, kicker and punter. Delivered multiple clutch special teams moments, including a 48-yard field goal against Concordia, the longest by a MIAC kicker since 2019.

Nick Colyer, defensive back. Led the team with four interceptions and provided consistent coverage throughout the season, contributing to Bethel’s takeaway margin and defensive efficiency.

Jake Borman, linebacker. Led the team with 62 tackles and provided a steady presence in the middle of the defense. Posted a 14-tackle performance in the NCAA Second Round victory over Coe.

Thomas Rush, linebacker. Finished second on the team with 51 tackles and played a key role in anchoring one of the nation’s top scoring defenses.

Phil Conant, defensive lineman. Ranked 10th nationally in tackles for loss per game, totaling eight sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss during the regular season. Also delivered a blocked punt in the NCAA Second Round win over Coe.

Devin Williams, defensive back and return specialist. Ranked among national leaders in punt return average, recorded three interceptions, and scored on both a punt return and an interception return during the season. Added game-changing plays in all three phases and delivered a career-high 11 tackles in the NCAA Third Round.

David Geebli, running back. Finished second on the team with 553 rushing yards and five touchdowns, forming a productive backfield tandem that supported Bethel’s balanced offensive attack throughout conference play.

Taye Manns, running back. Led the conference with 13 rushing touchdowns while averaging 6.22 yards per carry. Rushed for 815 yards during the regular season and delivered multiple impact performances in conference play, highlighted by a three-touchdown game against Hamline.

Peyton Howie, junior middle blocker. Led the MIAC with 3.58 kills per set and 4.31 points per set while ranking second in the conference and top 25 nationally in hitting percentage at .357. Finished the season with 329 kills, 71 blocks, and 396.5 points, highlighted by a 22-kill performance on .514 hitting in the MIAC Quarterfinal win over St. Catherine.

Sophia Rubio, first-year setter. Directed an offense that led the MIAC in team hitting percentage while averaging 10.16 assists per set and totaling 935 assists on the season. Delivered multiple high-impact performances throughout conference play and provided steady control of the offense in pressure situations.

Hannah Penke, sophomore outside hitter. Provided consistent two-way production throughout the season, finishing second on the team with 329 digs while contributing key offensive performances in conference play. Posted a season-high 22 kills against St. Olaf and recorded multiple double-doubles during the MIAC schedule.

Grace Therrien, sophomore defensive specialist. Led the team with 366 digs, averaging 4.16 digs per set, and served as a steady anchor in the back row all season. Played a key role in postseason success with 19 digs in the MIAC Quarterfinal win over St. Catherine.

Sara Scherber, freshman right-side hitter. Emerged as a reliable scoring option as the season progressed, delivering multiple double-digit kill performances in conference play. Recorded 17 kills in the five-set win over Wartburg and provided consistent production off the right side.

Eleanor Pelzel, senior outside hitter. Supplied efficient offensive contributions and veteran presence, highlighted by a nine-kill performance on a .615 hitting percentage in the sweep of Carleton.

Chiara Houser, freshman middle blocker. Contributed at the net with timely blocking and offense, including a six-block, nine-kill performance in the win over Macalester.

Olivia Johnson, senior defensive specialist. Delivered steady defensive play throughout the season, opening the year with 17 digs against Northwestern and contributing key service runs in both conference and non-conference matches.

Nathan Hunt, junior midfielder. Played a key role in Bethel’s attacking rhythm with timely goals and assists. Scored the game-winner against Grinnell and added multi-point performances during late-season wins over Hamline and Carleton.

Griffin Blokker, sophomore goalkeeper. Delivered consistent performances in goal during a strong early-season stretch. Recorded nine saves across a 2-0-1 run, earned his first shutout in the 1-0 win at Simpson, and made five saves in the draw at No. 8 Augsburg.

Carter Sheard, junior forward. Provided early-season spark and steady contributions throughout conference play. Scored twice in the opening minutes at North Central and delivered timely goals and assists, including the equalizer in the comeback win over Grinnell.

Ryan Swanda, senior defender. Anchored the back line while playing a team-leading 1655 minutes and contributing six goals from the defensive position. Played a central role in key results, including a hat trick in the 4-3 comeback win at Saint Mary’s and a late equalizer in the road draw at No. 8 Augsburg.

Jordan Ross, senior forward. Led Bethel with 14 goals and six assists, ranking third in the MIAC in scoring and producing the program’s highest single-season goal total since 1999. Delivered multiple defining performances, including a hat trick in the win over Carleton and key goals during Bethel’s late-season surge.

Abby Wright, junior goalkeeper. Provided steady play through the most demanding stretch of the schedule. Recorded seven saves in both the win over Concordia-Moorhead and the loss to St. Olaf, and made 11 saves against nationally ranked Wisconsin-La Crosse.

Autumn Maki, sophomore goalkeeper. Anchored Bethel’s defense late in the season, recording a shutout in the Senior Day draw against Hamline. Also made eight saves in a narrow loss at Carthage, helping keep matches within reach during conference play.

Sarah Motalebi, sophomore forward. Played a key role in Bethel’s late-season run, scoring the game-winning goal in the 77th minute of the upset win over Carleton. Also recorded her first career goal at UW-Stout and added a goal in the road win at Augsburg.

Malia Beilby, senior forward and midfield. Led Bethel in goals, assists, and total points while pacing the team in shots and shots on goal. Delivered several defining moments, including two goals in the win over Concordia-Moorhead, the game-winner in the road victory at Augsburg, and the opening goal in the home win over Carleton.

Jesse Balc. Delivered a breakthrough fall highlighted by a three-round total of 218 (+2) at the MIAC Championship. Posted rounds of 71 and 72 during the conference tournament and added a tied-for-seventh finish at the Twin Cities Invitational. Also recorded a top-20 finish at the season-opening home event.

Carson Hannestad. Opened the season with a fourth-place finish at 5-under par at Bethel’s home event and added a tied-for-31st showing at the MIAC Championship.

Zeke Roberts. Provided consistent scoring depth across the lineup. Led Bethel at the Wrigglesworth Invitational with a +7 total, tied for seventh at the Twin Cities Invitational (+10), and finished tied for 11th at the MIAC Championship.

Jacob Ferrin. Played a central role throughout the fall, tying for second at the MIAC Championship with a score of 221 (+5). Opened the Saint John’s Invitational with a first-round 68 and finished inside the top five. Added a 19th-place finish (+3) at the Golfweek October Classic, highlighted by a second-round 69.

Raelynn Pannhoff, freshman. Made an immediate impact in her first collegiate fall season, opening the Wartburg Tournament with a 79 that included an eagle on the par-4 seventh. Finished the MIAC Championship at 250 (+34), improving her score each round and closing with an 82.

Christina Scheid, junior. Provided steady scoring across the fall slate, finishing the MIAC Championship at 244 (+28). Carded a 4-over round with three birdies at the Wartburg Tournament and finished close behind Brantner at the D3 Classic (+19).

Courtney Hershberger, junior. Delivered a strong championship performance, tying for 15th at the MIAC Championship with a score of 243 (+27), including a second-round 78. Opened the Wartburg Tournament with a steady round of 79.

Sophie Brantner, junior. Served as Bethel’s most consistent scorer throughout the fall, leading the Royals at multiple events. Posted back-to-back rounds of 79 at the St. Kate’s Invitational and finished at +17 at the D3 Classic. Recorded a 244 (+28) at the MIAC Championship, highlighted by consecutive rounds of 79 on days two and three.

Weston Catton. Delivered a career-best performance at the MIAC Championship with a time of 27:42.7, contributing to one of the team’s strongest collective efforts of the season. Consistently finished among Bethel’s top runners throughout the fall.

Thomas Avra. Provided steady scoring support across the schedule, posting a season-best 27:25.3 at the St. Olaf Invite and finishing inside the top 45 at the MIAC Championship.

Hootie Hage. Served as Bethel’s lead runner throughout the season, pacing the Royals at both championship meets. Finished seventh at the MIAC Championship (25:51.7) and recorded a season-best 25:42.7 at the NCAA Division III North Regional to place 36th. Also led Bethel at multiple regular-season meets, including a fourth-place finish at the Hamline Invite.

Additional career bests. Michael Schultz and Micah Barberg recorded career-best times at the Augustana Interregional Invitational. Overall, nine Royals posted personal bests at the MIAC Championship.

Additional career bests. Brylee Cavanaugh, Kiara Gentz, Abby Williamson, and Elliana Leach each recorded personal-best performances at the Augustana Interregional.

Anna Hay. Showed consistent improvement across the season, recording a lifetime best 24:26 at the Hamline Invite and a career-best 24:00.7 at the Augustana Interregional.

Anna Cargill. Earned MIAC All-Conference honorable mention for the third straight year. Finished 16th at the MIAC Championship (22:54.0) and 44th at the NCAA North Regional (23:28.0), while serving as Bethel’s top finisher at the Augustana Interregional.

Lucy Upton. Paced the Royals throughout the season and led Bethel at both championship meets, placing 13th at the MIAC Championship (22:41.1) and 37th at the NCAA Division III North Regional (23:11.8). Also served as the team’s top finisher at multiple regular-season meets, including a 12th-place finish at the Hamline Invite.