WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY

Junior Anna Enderle represented the Women’s Cross Country program at NAIA Nationals, placing 87th in a field of 331 athletes for the 6K event. The junior also placed 15th at the Crossroads League Championship for the 6K.

MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY

The Bethel Men’s Cross Country team won its home Bethel Invite for the first time in program history on October 10, 2025. Senior Aaron Douglass won the 6K race with a personal best time of 26:19.6 to beat out the second and third place finishers from Southwestern Michigan College.

WOMEN’S SOCCER

During regular season play, the Pilots defeated Mount Vernon Nazarene on the road for the first away win over the Cougars in over a decade. The Pilots advanced to the NCCAA D1 National Tournament, where they defeated Warner University, University of Northwestern, Asbury University, and Southwestern Christian University to claim the 2025 National Championship Title. Leena Thomas ’25 was recognized as the Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player and SELECT Golden Ball Award Winner. Seniors Karly Harfouche and Thomas, and graduate student Grace Beck, were named to the All-Tournament Team, with Harfouche and Thomas achieving NCCAA All-American First Team status.

MEN’S SOCCER

The Bethel Men’s Soccer program was ranked in every NAIA Top 25 Coaches’ Poll this season, with their highest ranking as No. 3 in the nation on October 15, 2025. The Pilots won both the 2025 Crossroads League Regular Season Title and the 2025 Crossroads League Tournament Title with a 1-0 win over No. 20 Grace College in double overtime. After defeating Olivet Nazarene 2-0 in the NAIA Second Round on Morey Field, the Pilots fell 1-0 to Indiana Tech in the NAIA Round of 16 at the Orange Beach Sportsplex. Graduate forward Julian Vargas Talamantes won Crossroads League Player of the Year, in addition to receiving NAIA Second-Team AllAmerican recognition with graduate student Eduardo Pedroza and junior Fernando Laserna. Freshman goalkeeper Maarten Schouten was named to the NAIA All-American First Team.

MEN’S BOWLING

Freshman Zachary Morrison was named the Crossroads League Men’s Bowler of the Week twice in his first season (October 13-19, Jan 19-25). Morrison placed 20th at the first Ohio Bowling Conference (OBC) Tournament on October 18, and finished 16th at the third OBC Tournament on January 22.

WOMEN’S BOWLING

Junior Alexandra Burkholder was named the Crossroads League Women’s Bowler of the Week (October 13-19) for her performance at the first Ohio Bowling Conference Tournament in Columbus, Ohio. Burkholder placed ninth out of 72 varsity bowlers.

WOMEN’S GOLF

The Pilots won their fourth NCCAA Championship Title in five years (2025, 2023, 2022, 2021) on October 22 at the Hammock Beach Resort’s Conservatory Course (Palm Coast, Fla.) Senior Selah Unwin was awarded the Dan & Kelly Wood Award, an NCCAA honor presented to a student-athlete who demonstrates the values of love, integrity, faith and excellence. From the course, the Pilots were ranked No. 24 in the nation in the NAIA Preseason Rating (Aug. 22) and took home three All-American finishes (freshman Ellie Webster, sophomore Izabela Aigner, and Unwin).

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL

The Pilots defeated four NAIA-ranked teams in the 2025 regular season, including No. 8 IU Kokomo (Aug. 20), No. 15 Aquinas College (Aug. 29), No. 15 Mount Vernon (Sept. 3), No. 23 Spring Arbor (Sept. 24), and No. 21 Taylor (Oct. 1), before making an NCCAA D1 Tournament Run.

WOMEN’S SWIM & DIVE

The Bethel Pilots earned their second consecutive KCAC Conference Championship on February 7, before showcasing a top ten finish (sixth out of 23 teams) at the NAIA National Swimming and Diving Championships, hosted by Bethel at Elkhart Health and Aquatics. Bethel had a plethora of All-American finishes, including freshman Ella Wardle; sophomores Avery Woods, Ella Sherwood, Eliza Nuet and Sarah Graves; juniors Teagan Risher, Aixa Recchioni, Makalynn VanEerden and Lizzie Williams; and senior Jaylyn Harrison.

Senior Isabela Nuet was named a Champion of Character at the KCAC Conference Championship, while sophomore Sarah Graves received Champion of Character recognition at NAIA Nationals.

MEN’S SWIM & DIVE

Senior Owen Fleck highlighted the Bethel Men’s Swim & Dive Team at NAIA Nationals, achieving All-American status in both the 3M (3rd Place) and 1M Dives (4th Place). Fleck was also named a Champion of Character at the KCAC Conference Championship. Freshman Jorge Souto Vilas was named the KCAC Swimmer of the Week on February 3.

WOMEN’S INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD

The Women’s Indoor Track & Field team was highlighted by junior Gabbi Zeilenga and seniors Sophia Sumer and Alecia Parker, who each qualified for the NAIA Indoor National Championships. Zeilenga was named an NAIA All-American in the pole vault (2nd place) and long jump events (7th place), while Parker finished top 15 in the nation for the shotput, and Sumer finished top 20 in the nation for the pole vault. As a team, the Pilots finished runner-up at the 2026 Indoor Track & Field NCCAA National Championship, with Zeilenga earning Field Athlete of the Meet.

MEN’S INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD

At the NAIA Indoor National Track & Field Championships, freshman James Gill placed seventh in the 200m Dash with a time of 21.93 seconds for an All-American Title. A few weeks prior at NCCAA Indoor Nationals, sophomore Lamarr Williams set a new NCCAA Championship meet record in the 60m Dash with a time of 6.77 seconds.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

The Bethel Women’s Basketball Team had an incredible season from beginning to end. The Pilots began their season with a 5-0 start, a feat not accomplished since 2007-2008, and concluded their season with their first NAIA Tournament appearance since 2013 and their first NCCAA Tournament appearance since 2011.

The Pilots finished runner-up at the NCCAA National Tournament, and took home multiple NCCAA North Central Region awards after returning home, including Coach of the Year (Scott Polsgrove), Player of the Year (sophomore Isabel Scales), First Team Recognition (sophomore Olivia Nickerson), and Second Team Recognition (seniors Mariah Claywell and Jazmyn Smith).

MEN’S BASKETBALL

The Bethel Pilots have been ranked in every NAIA Top 25 Coaches’ Poll, with their highest ranking at No. 3 on January 14. The Pilots made an impressive NAIA National run, defeating Life University 75-62 in the first round before falling 85-68 to Georgetown College in the second round.

Ranked as the No. 1 NCCAA Tournament Seed, the Pilots took home a top-five finish in the NCCAA National Tournament after defeating Ohio Christian University (86-83) and Clinton College (83-66). Senior Al Peciulis received the NCCAA’s Pete Maravich Award, a Christian character award given to a player who exemplifies love, integrity, faith and excellence. Junior Austin Cripe was named the NCCAA North Central Region Player of the Year and Head Coach Steve Drabyn took home the NCCAA North Central Region Coach of the Year Award.

COMPETITIVE CHEER

The Bethel Pilots expanded the competitive cheer program to include their first Intermediate Team in school history. The Advanced Team took home a top-five finish at the Crossroads League Championship, with senior Andrew Greene (Tumbler First Team, Back Spot Honorable Mention), senior Payton Elder (Base and Tumbler Honorable Mention), junior Paige Howlerda (Base Honorable Mention), freshman Allison Hoyt (Flyer Honorable Mention), junior Lilee Stetzel (Flyer Honorable Mention) all receiving Crossroads League recognition.

For more sports updates and the latest stats, visit the official home of Bethel Pilots at BUpilots.com