Mankato, Minn. – Head Men’s Basketball Coach David Balza was voted Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Men’s Basketball Coach of the Year after leading the Vikings to a record breaking season.
 
Bethany won the regular season UMAC Championship for the first time in school history. The team finished the season 16-11 overall and 13-1 in the conference. The Vikings set a new school record for most consecutive wins since becoming an NCAA Division III institution with 13 victories in a row.
 
The Vikings also set new team season records recording the best defensive rebounding average (25.0 per game) and best assists average (14.7 per game) in Bethany history. The Vikings also had the most blocked shots (83) and most steals (233) in a season.
 
This year also marked the most UMAC All-Conference honors given to Bethany with four individuals winning seven awards. 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.
 
Click the video to see Coach Balza talk about the season and winning UMAC Coach of the Year.