Mankato, Minn. – The men’s basketball team earned the most Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) awards in team history with a total of four student-athletes receiving recognition along with Head Coach David Balza.
 
Gavin Kroehler (Le Sueur, Minn./Le Sueur-Henderson) was named UMAC Co-Player of the Year, First Team All-Conference and was voted to the UMAC All-Defensive Team. Derek Peterson (St. Paul, Minn./Tartan) also earned UMAC First Team All-Conference and joined Kroehler on the UMAC All-Defensive Team. Alex Weldon (Marion, Iowa/Linn-Mar) was named Second Team All-Conference and Patrick Garvin (Jackson, Minn./Jackson Country Central) was named UMAC All-Conference Honorable Mention. In addition to the player awards, Head Coach David Balza was named UMAC Coach of the Year.
 
During UMAC contests Kroehler ranked fourth in scoring with 16.4 points per game. He was fifteenth in rebounds per game averaging 5.1 boards. Kroehler recorded a .506 field goal percentage which was seventh best in the UMAC. He was a clutch free-throw shooter ranking fifth in the conference shooting .815 percent. He was also fifth in the conference in blocked shots.
 
Peterson was fifteenth in scoring in the conference averaging 12.1 points per game. He was ninth in rebounds recording 6.1 boards per game. His .470 field goal percentage was good enough for thirteenth in the conference. Peterson was also fourth in assists averaging 3.9 per game. He was sixth in free-throw percentage, ninth in steals and thirteenth in blocked shots.
 
Weldon recorded 14.6 points per game to be ranked ninth in the conference in scoring. He had 4.5 rebounds per game and recorded a .455 field goal percentage. He ranked fourth in three-point field goals making a total of 37 in the conference season. He was thirteenth in three-point percentage shooting .363 percent. He was seventh in blocked shots.
 
Garvin ranked eleventh in the conference in rebounds with 5.9 per game. He was seventh in assists averaging 3.6 per game. Garvin ranked ninth in steals tied with teammate Peterson. He also was tied for the fourth best assists/turnover ratio in the conference.
 
The Vikings won their first regular season UMAC Championship and recorded the longest men’s basketball winnings streak since joining the NCAA Division III with 13 consecutive wins. Bethany’s season ended after falling to Northwestern in the UMAC Post-Season Championship 60-44.

To see the full list of UMAC award winners click here.