NORTH NEWTON — One can only imagine the moment it sank in.

For Yvette (Peters) Nickel, who works as the assistant controller at The Citizens State Bank, the phone call announcing her induction into the Bethel College Thresher Hall of Fame carried a weight built over years of early mornings, aching muscles and many late nights balancing academics and athletics.

“I am very humbled to be inducted into the Bethel College Thresher Hall of Fame class of 2026,” Nickel said. “To be listed among the current inductees is surreal.”

This fall, during Bethel’s annual Fall Festival on October 16, Nickel will take her place among the college’s most celebrated athletes — a distinction she never imagined.

From 1999 to 2003, Nickel built one of the most accomplished athletic careers in school history, competing in both track and field and volleyball. A four-year letter winner in both sports, she combined durability with consistent performance, which is a rare accomplishment that demanded year-round dedication and resilience.

Her athletic accolades only tell part of a story, however:

• NAIA All-American in the 400-meter dash in 2003, finishing sixth at nationals (56.42 seconds).
• Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference 400-meter champion from 2000-02.
• Multiple NAIA Scholar-Athlete selections.
• Bethel College Female Athlete of the Year in 2003.
• Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference volleyball champions in 1999 and 2000. The 1999 team was inducted into the hall of fame in 2022.

Beyond her athletic success, Nickel brought the same energy to every part of her college experience.

Still, when the hall of fame recognition came, it caught her off guard.

“There are so many talented individuals and teams in the Bethel Hall of Fame that have far greater resumes than mine,” she said. “To be included in that group is quite an honor.”

Nickel balanced a demanding schedule as a two-sport athlete, often finding her academic performance improved during the season.

“I was much more focused and studious while I was in-season,” she said. “Any free time was spent on homework.”

Her routine included afternoon practices, competitions and late-night study sessions, with textbooks often traveling on bus trips. In 2003, she graduated summa cum laude with a double major in accounting and business administration.

“Good time management was crucial,” she said.

Training was intense year-round, with conditioning, weight training and daily practices. Nickel also dealt with injuries, including a stress fracture and chronic shin splints, requiring frequent treatment.

“Another part of my practice routine was visiting the athletic trainers nearly every day,” she said.

Nickel said those hours, often unnoticed, helped shape her experience and build connections with fellow athletes.

While her accomplishments stand out, Nickel said leadership remains one of her proudest contributions. As a freshman, she benefited from strong upperclassmen mentors and later sought to provide the same support.

As the lone senior on the volleyball team, she focused on encouragement and consistency.

“I wanted to pass on that feeling I had as an underclassman,” she said. “I did my best to be a positive role model and their biggest cheerleader on and off the court.”

More than 20 years after her career ended, Nickel said the honor reflects more than statistics. It’s about the unseen work behind the results – and the value of doing things the right way.

“It means a lot to me that someone made the effort to nominate me and that my achievements stood out,” she said.