MCKENZIE, Tenn. – Bethel University honored three former athletic greats and two contributors with inductions into the prestigious Bethel Athletic Hall-of-Fame Friday October 20.
The Alumni Awards and Athletic Hall-of-Fame Inductions were held in the board room of the Vera Low Center for Student Enrichment, Crisp Wing.
It marked mark the 43rd class to be honored. Six teams and 109 individuals have been enshrined since 1980.
Here is a look at the 2023 Athletic Hall-of Fame Class:
Michael Jasper -Football (2012)
Michael Jasper is in his fifth year as head coach of the Wildcats. Coach Jasper also serves as Associate Athletic Director of Internal Operations.
Before becoming the head coach, Jasper served as Assistant Head Coach and worked with the defensive line. Prior to that he held the titles of Offensive Line Coach and Run Game Coordinator, as well as overseeing the strength and conditioning program.
Last year Coach Jasper led the Cats to an 11-1 season. Jasper picked up his first conference coach of the year honor after guiding Bethel to its sixth overall title. The undefeated regular season was the first in program history. Bethel was ranked No. 4 in the national poll. Coach Jasper was named NAIA Region 1 Coach of the Year.
The Wildcats are currently ranked No. 10 in the national polls with a 7-1 mark.
Coach Jasper’s career record is 33 -16 overall and 19- 13 in conference play. Before joining the Bethel staff, Jasper served as Offensive and Defensive Line Assistant at Bishop Timon High School in Buffalo, N.Y. Mike spent three years in the National Football League with the Buffalo Bills, New York Giants and Carolina Panthers.
Coach Jasper played for the University of Tennessee at Martin in 2005 and was a starter on their 2006 Ohio Valley Conference championship team. After redshirting at Middle Tennessee State University, Coach Jasper joined the Bethel University Wildcats and was an offensive and defensive lineman from 2008-2010. He was the first-ever Wildcat drafted to the NFL in 2011 with his selection by the Buffalo Bills.
He graduated from Bethel University with a bachelor’s degree in university studies. Mike and his wife Allison, along with their children Davis Reid, Millie Claire and Samuel David reside in McKenzie. Their rescue dog is named Caine.
Jasper commented on the honor, “This honor is one like none I have ever had before. Bethel University means a great deal to me. At a time in my life where I was at what seemed to be my lowest, Alan Hollowell and Dino Kaklis gave me an opportunity to come to McKenzie, Tennessee and be a part of the Wildcat family. It truly saved my life and set me on the path and trajectory I am on now. The Bethel community took me in and helped reshape me back into the man my mother raised and allowed me to walk in God’s purpose for my life. I’m forever grateful for all my brothers, friends, professors turned
friends, and every single one of the relationships I have today because of my time at Bethel. I came here to make my mom proud by getting my degree and ended up on the journey of a lifetime.”
Dave Jesse – Men’s Basketball (1992)
Dave Jesse, the son of the late Jan and Lee Jesse began his career at Bethel College in the fall of 1988 by way of Elder High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. Dave played for Bethel Hall of Fame Coach Mike Nienaber. Jesse and his teammates upset NCAA Division I Tennessee State during his freshman year, despite only having eight eligible players at the time. While at Bethel, Jesse’s teams defeated highly ranked national powerhouses, David Lipscomb and Belmont several times throughout his four-year career.
Among his accomplishments while playing for the Wildcats, Jesse was named a 1990-91 and 1991-92 NAIA All American Scholar Athlete, a USA Today Academic All American, and was the District 24 1991 A.O. Duer Scholarship Award recipient, presented annually to junior student-athletes who have excelled in scholarship, character and citizenship. In addition, Jesse led the entire nation in rebounding during his senior season, pulling down over 13 rebounds per game, and was nationally ranked in the top 15 in field goal percentage at over 63 percent.
Jesse was named Bethel College’s 1991-92 Hutchins Scholar, graduating # 1 in his academic class in the spring of 1992 with a 4.0 grade points average, earning bachelor’s degrees in both Math and Accounting.
Jesse is currently self employed as a certified public accountant and resides in Cincinnati with his wife, Tonya and their children, Kyle and Lexie.
Jesse commented on the honor, “I am extremely excited, honored, and humbled to be selected for induction into the Bethel University Sports Hall of Fame!! I will always cherish my time as a student-athlete at Bethel, especially on the basketball court, competing alongside my dear friends and teammates, and performing in front of the Bethel community of students, alumni, and fans, who always showed us tremendous support, win, or lose. Bethel truly is a special place – I will be forever grateful!”
Arielle Montague- Women’s Track & Field (2013)
Arielle Montague came to Bethel from Bartlett High School in Bartlett, Tennessee where she graduated in 2009.
She was a three-sport athlete (basketball, cross-country, and track & field) at BHS.
She excelled in Track & Field setting BHS school records in the 100m (12.66), 200m (26.22), and 400m (57.92). She competed at the Tennessee State Championships in the 100m (ranked 11th in state) and 400m (ranked 7th in state). Arielle still holds Bartlett High School’s record for the 400m dash (2008).
Additionally, she was a class officer and involved in many clubs including the National Honors Society.
Montague chose to attend Bethel and was a highly touted freshman in 2009. Montague continued to have success at Bethel University on Academic and Track & Field Scholarships. She holds the University’s records for the 200m (24.68), 400m (53.89), 4x100m relay (45.75), and 4x400m relay (3:43.3). Throughout 2010-2013, Arielle achieved National All-American status seven times in indoor and outdoor championships. Notable achievements below:
Montague was the conference champion in several events during her career and was named All-American several times.
In 2013, she was injured and during the 2013 NAIA Outdoor Championships and was unable to finish the 400m dash. Unfortunately, she was unable to run in the 4×100 and 4×400 as well. Afterwards, the Starter handed her the blank from pistol that started my last track race. He shared that he enjoyed watching me run the last four years and saved it for me as a memento. She still has the blank from the race today.
Other activities while attending Bethel included: Fellowship of Christian Athletes, campus tour guide for incoming track athletes, Carroll County Humane Society volunteer, high school track meet volunteer, and
intramural basketball, volleyball, and flag-football participant during off-season track.
She graduated in 2013 from Bethel with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a minor in Health.
Montague commented, “I really enjoyed my career and time at Bethel. My experience at Bethel led to a successful career as a Medical Device Sales Professional. Most recently, I have been an Endodontic Sales Specialist at Dentsply Sirona (5 yrs.). Bethel was and is a special place and a huge part of my life.”
Arielle currently resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with her husband Michael Mattei who is (Director of Marketing at Sebela Pharmaceuticals) and their dog Charlie.
Contributors- Tom and Patty Kahlden
Tom and Patty Kahlden have lived in Caldwell, Texas for nearly 40 years. They are both native Texans and both are graduates of Texas A&M University. Thomas earned a BS in Biomedical Science and Patty earned a BS in Agricultural Education. She also earned a Master’s degree in Education at Texas A&M.
Thomas went straight to work in various oilfield related business such as: Dresser Industries, Conroe Chemical, Unichem, and Quaker Chemical. He and a partner eventually founded Refinery Specialties, Inc, that they operated for over 28 years. The company was officially sold in February of this year and Thomas is finally retired.
After Patty taught school for a few years, she went to work helping with bookkeeping and secretarial work for their new company, Refinery Specialties, Inc.
They have been very busy running their hunting ranch and hay fields in Menard, Texas for the past eight years. The hunting operation at the ranch is nearly year around since they not only offer Whitetail and Turkey hunts, but they offer non native species like Axis, Blackbuck and Wild Feral Pigs. Those animals can be harvested anytime without regard to a season.
Thomas and Patty have one son, Kolby, who is solely responsible for introducing them to Bethel University. Kolby was recruited and played center for the Wildcat football team and was on the 2018 team that won the conference championship. During his time at Bethel he was also a member of the Shotgun Shooting Team.
Thomas and Patty have been big supporters for Wildcat Athletics since Kolby started school there in 2013. Despite bleeding maroon as Aggie fans for Texas A&M, they now have a vested interest in Bethel University and their athletic programs.
Tom and Patty shared their thoughts about the induction. “We are absolutely thrilled to be nominated and honored to be considered for the induction into Bethel University’s Athletic Hall of Fame as contributors. We know that only a few are selected each year and we understand how special this event is. We would like to encourage others to “step up” and contribute to the University in any way that they can. Whether it be for scholarships, the Chapel, Athletics, Ministry trips or for a brick, we feel every contribution matters and is appreciated. We would also like to congratulate the other recipients for each of their awards tonight.”
Congratulations to each of the Bethel legends.
