Sports Information
Molly Brown, Director
(515) 263-6040 ph (515) 263-2882 fax
mabrown@gvc.edu
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 28, 2006
SUBJECT: Men’s Basketball All-Conference Honors Announced
Des Moines, IA – The Midwest Classic Conference announces it men’s basketball all-conference honors. Twenty athletes were recognized as part of the all-conference teams as voted by the coaches; ten to the First Team and ten to the Honorable Mention Team.
Saint Ambrose senior forward Andrew Bryant (Denison, Tex.) was voted as both the MCC Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year. Bryant transferred to Saint Ambrose from Oklahoma Baptist University. He was named MCC Player of the Week three times this season. Bryant was among leaders in several categories in MCC play this season-second in scoring (18.4 ppg), first in rebounding (9.6 rpg), first in blocks (1.93 bpg), fifth in field goal percentage (54.9%), and ninth in free throw percentage (79.3%).
"Andrew is a very talented basketball player. We were very pleased that he chose Saint Ambrose to finish his career academically and athletically. Not only is he a gifted athlete, he is a nice young man, and we are proud that he is on track to graduate this spring,” said Saint Ambrose head coach Ray Shovlain.
Viterbo University head coach Wayne Wagner was selected by his peers as the MCC Coach of the Year. In his seventh year with the V-Hawks, Wagner led his team to a 10-4 MCC record and a second place finish in the MCC that included two wins over first place William Penn. The V-Hawks had a ten-game winning streak before bowing out in the semifinal round of the MCC Tournament.
"Wayne did a great job of keeping the team focused this year. After starting out 1-3 in the league, it would have been easy to lose sight of their goals. However, they turned it around and won 9 of their last 10 to finish second in the MCC. That's a credit to Wayne and his leadership,” said Viterbo athletic director Barry Fried of Wagner’s honor.
MCC Player of the Year: Andrew Bryant – Saint Ambrose
MCC Newcomer of the Year: Andrew Bryant – Saint Ambrose
MCC Coach of the Year: Wayne Wagner - Viterbo
MCC First Team:
Melvin Scott – Iowa Wesleyan
Adam Stringer – Iowa Wesleyan
Matt Spreacker – Mount Mercy
Andrew Bryant – Saint Ambrose
Jeremy Fradette - Viterbo
Kyle Hines – Viterbo
Greg Kumlien – Viterbo
Will Pendergrass – Waldorf
Ryan Norman – William Penn
Norman Prather – William Penn
MCC Honorable Mention Team:
Cash Bimm – Ashford
Travis Eversmeyer – Ashford
Aaron Thais – Ashford
Todd Lorensen – Grand View
Jim Strand – Grand View
Jesse Hill – Iowa Wesleyan
Nathan Lange – Iowa Wesleyan
Jonathan Turner – Mount Mercy
Chris Washington – Saint Ambrose
Jacob Spielbauer – William Penn