Bethel Announces Al Beutler Athletic Hall of Fame 2017 Inductees
Mishawaka, Ind. – The Bethel College Athletic Department has announced the Al Beutler Athletic Hall of Fame class of 2017 which includes Brittney (Hire) Lightfoot, Shanna (Page) Richey, Andres Rodriguez, and William Walker. This quartet joins last year’s 2016 class and the inaugural class of 1994 to have more than three student-athletes inducted in the same class.
The 23rd annual Al Beutler Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet will take place on Sunday, October 8 at 5:00 pm in the Dining Commons on the campus of Bethel College.
Brittney (Hire) Lightfoot graduated from Bethel in 2009. A three-year letter winner in softball, Lightfoot was a two-time NAIA First Team All-American and helped the Pilots to a record of 149-23—including a single-season record 52 wins in 2009–and three NAIA national tournament appearances during her career. She was named All-District Pitcher of the Year twice and named the District Tournament MVP in 2007.
A three-time NCCAA First Team All-American, Lightfoot was named the 2007 NCCAA National Player of the Year, while winning the 2007 NCCAA National Championship and earning MVP and All-Tournament team honors.
Lightfoot was named MCC Pitcher of the Year and All-Conference three years in a row, earned MCC Pitcher of the Week honors 11 times, and helped the Pilots to back-to-back MCC tournament championships.
Upon graduation, Lightfoot appeared in the softball record book an astounding 20 separate times, including topping the list with 71 career wins and 25 career shutouts. She also set a single-season record with 13 shutouts in 2007. Her 1.39 career ERA placed 7th while she notched 644 strikeouts, finishing 2nd all-time.
Shanna (Page) Richey graduated from Bethel in 2009. A four-year letter winner in women’s golf, Richey culminated her career by finishing as the NAIA National Individual Medalist in 2009, effectively earning an individual national championship. Richey also finished 2008 as the runner-up to the individual medalist.
Richey was a four-time NAIA All-American and two-time Scholar Athlete. She was named the 2007 NAIA Character Act Award recipient and earned NAIA All-Tournament team and All-Regional team three times—winning Regional Tournament Medalist in 2006 and 2007.
Competing in the IMI conference, Richey earned All-Conference four years in a row, earning Conference Player of the Year accolades in 2006, 2007, and 2008, and Conference Champion in 2006 and 2007.
Richey helped the Pilots to three IMI conference championships and an NAIA Independent conference championship, as well as three-straight NAIA Regional championships and a national runner-up finish in 2009.
Richey still holds the program records for single-season scoring average of 74.1, set in 2008-09, career scoring average of 75.1, and record-low round of 69 (multiple times).
Andres Rodriguez graduated from Bethel in 2003. A four-year letter winner in men’s soccer, Rodriguez was a 2002 NAIA Second All-American, and earned Honorable Mention status in 2000 and 2001. He was named the NAIA District Player of the Year in 2002 and was a three-time NAIA All-District selection.
Rodriguez was recognized as an All-American all four years by the NCCAA as well: earning First-Team NCCAA All-American in 1999 and 2001, Second Team in 2000, and Honorable Mention in 2002. Helping the Pilots to the 2000 NCCAA National Championship, Rodriguez was awarded the National Tournament MVP and named to the All-Tournament Team.
The 2002 MCC Player of the Year, Rodriguez was named to the All-Conference team all four years and led the Pilots to an unprecedented four-straight MCC regular season and conference tournament championships.
William Walker graduated from Bethel in 2009. A four-year letter winner in men’s basketball and track and field, Walker is one of five to have his jersey retired by the men’s basketball program. Walker was named the NAIA National Player of the Year in 2009 and was a three-time All-American honoree, earning First Team in 2009, Second Team in 2008, and Honorable Mention in 2007. Walker led the Pilots to an NAIA DII Fab Four finish in 2009 and was named to the All-Tournament Team, as well as an NAIA Quarterfinal appearance in 2008.
Walker was also a three-time NCCAA All-American and was named the Tournament MVP after helping the Pilots to the 2007 NCCAA National Championship. He was named the NCCAA Regional Player of the Year and was a four-time All-Regional selection.
The 2009 MCC Player of the Year, Walker was a three-time First Team All-Conference selection and was a 12-time Player of the Week. Named to the 2006 All-Conference Newcomer Team, Walker helped lead the Pilots from a program-worst 10-20 record to back-to-back MCC regular season and conference tournament championships and a 33-4 record by his senior season.
Upon graduation, Walker finished his career as one of five Pilots with 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds, finishing 4th in career points with 2,427 and 5th in career rebounds with 1,234. Walker racked up 145 blocks, third all-time, and 60 double-doubles, second in program history. His 58.8 field goal percentage placed him 7th in the career ranks, while he placed in the top ten in single-season history with 727 points in 2008-09.
A standout for the track and field program in the high jump event as well, Walker was an NCCAA National Champion in 2009, after finishing as the runner-up in 2008, and was named an NCCAA All-American both years. He was also the MCC champion in high jump in 2009 and earned All-Conference honors.