By Lance Schwartz (’86) – Chief Communication Officer, Spring 2024

The Bethany Class of 2023 Athletic Hall of Fame was officially recognized at the annual Hall of Fame banquet on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023. This year’s inductees were:

Stacy (Faber) Garbers

Kelly (Behnke) Kayvon

Stacy (Faber) Garbers (volleyball, basketball 2001-03) In volleyball, Garbers was voted the most valuable defensive player, and was twice named First Team Minnesota Community College Conference (MCCC) All-Southern Division, National Junior College Athletic Association (NCJAA) All-Region XIII and First Team All-Tournament. She was also an NJCAA First Team All-American in 2002. In basketball, she was a two-time MCCC All-Southern Division and All-MCCC player. During the 2001-02 season, Garbers tallied 375 points, 191 rebounds, 27 assists, and 39 steals. She followed that up in 2002-03 with 301 points, 163 rebounds, 56 assists, and 37 steals. She was an MCCC Academic All-State award recipient and received the prestigious NJCAA Region XIII Service and Achievement Award during her time as a Viking.

Kelly (Behnke) Kayvon (volleyball, basketball, and softball 1992-94) In volleyball, Kayvon was a member of two MCCC Southern Division Championship teams. As a sophomore, the Vikings were MCCC State and NJCAA Region XIII Champions, earning a berth to the National Tournament. For her efforts, she earned First Team All-MCCC Southern Division, MCCC All-State Honorable Mention and All Tournament, and All-NJCAA Region XIII. On the basketball court, she excelled on the 1993-94 team that was MCCC Southern Division and State Champions. She earned spots on the All MCCC Southern Division, Second-Team MCCC All-State, and MCCC All-Tournament Teams. In softball, Kayvon was a First Team All-MCCC Southern Division, MCCC All-Tournament, and Second Team MCCC All-State recipient. She played on two MCCC Southern Division Championship teams and was a member of the 1993 team that won the MCCC and NJCAA Region XXII Championship securing a spot in the national tournament. After Bethany, she went on to play those same three sports at Huron University in South Dakota.

Matt Kuster

Eric Schutte

Matt Kuster (basketball, baseball 1989-91) Kuster was a guard on the 1989-90 basketball team, but it was on the baseball diamond where he truly excelled. He played second base on the 1990 team that went 27-8 and finished the season as the MCCC Southern Division and State Champions. In 1991, he moved to centerfield and hit .381 with a .578 on-base percentage and a .512 slugging percentage. Kuster made one error all season, winning the Golden Glove Award, and was named MCCC All-Conference and All-State, NJCAA All-Region XIII, and All-MCCC Southern Division Player of the Year. For 24 years, Kuster has taught at Bethany in the Biology and Exercise Science Departments, served as the NCAA athletic representative, and when needed provided athletic training services Bethany student-athletes.

Eric Schutte (baseball 1994-95) Schutte was on two MCCC Southern Division and NJCAA XIII Regional Championship teams, hit over .300 both years, and was named MCCC All-Conference and All-Division in 1995. After Bethany, he attended Concordia University-St. Paul where he played baseball and football. On the diamond, Schutte was named conference player of the year in 1997 and was a two-time All-American. On the gridiron, he was an All-American running back and the nation’s leading scorer in 1998 earning NFL tryouts with Minnesota and Pittsburgh. Schutte has been a long-time physical education and health teacher at Concordia Academy High School in Roseville, Minnesota, where he has coached basketball since 2003 and baseball since 2004 for the Beacons. His coaching accolades include being named Section 4AA Coach of the Year five times in basketball with two appearances in the Minnesota State Basketball Tournaments and has 300 wins.

Brent Thomas (wrestling 1977-79) Thomas was the runner-up in the Minnesota Junior College Athletic Association (MJCAA) state tournament in 1978, state champion in 1979, and a two-time NJCAA national tournament qualifier. After Bethany, Thomas continued his wrestling career at Taylor University (Upland, Indiana) where he was a two-time conference champion, regional champion, and NAIA National Tournament qualifier. He was also selected to wrestle on the College All-Star Team that went on to defeat Japan’s College All-Star Team.