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Chris Graham Matt Troha Commissioner www.midwestconference.org Sports Information Director [email protected] [email protected] --Feb. 27, 2006-- Midwest Conference Men’s Lawrence’s Braier Named MWC Player of the Year, Highlights All-MWC Team RIPON, WIS -- Lawrence senior forward Chris Braier was named the Midwest Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Year after guiding --2005-06 MWC ALL-CONFERENCE-- the Vikings to a 24-0 overall record, a third consecutive MWC Cham- pionship, a third straight MWC tourney title and the No. 1 ranking in MWC PLAYER OF THE YEAR the country this season. Entering the 2006 NCAA Tournament, Braier Chris Braier, Lawrence leads the conference in rebounding (12.4 rpg) and will capture his fourth conference rebounding crown in as many years if he maintains his lead. The 6-4 Braier ranks fifth in the country in rebounding and also leads MWC COACH OF THE YEAR the Vikings in scoring (15.7 ppg), assists (98), double-doubles (13) and John Tharp, Lawrence is second in steals (48). Braier closes his career as four-time first team All-MWC selection. FIRST TEAM Lawrence head coach John Tharp was named the MWC Coach of the Chris Braier # # # # F Sr. Year after leading the unbeaten Vikings to a 16-0 finish in league play Nate Drury G Jr. Carroll College this season. Tharp, who is in his 12th season at the helm, receives the Josh Hinz # # # F Sr. award for the fourth time in his career. The Vikings will make their third Kyle MacGillis F Sr. Lawrence University straight NCAA Tournament appearance this season and the fourth overall during his tenure. Tharp has compiled a record of 190-97 during his time Jason Scheper # ! C Sr. Carroll College at Lawrence.

Two pairs of teammates highlight the All-Conference first team, as Braier SECOND TEAM is joined by teammate Kyle MacGillis. MacGillis, a senior forward, Franklyn Beckford * ! F Sr. ranks in the Top 20 in conference in scoring (13.4 ppg), rebounding John Grotberg G Fr. (4.4 rpg), assists (89), steals (50) and three-point field goal percent- Jason Maclin ! F Jr. age (40.5%). Carroll senior center Jason Scheper and Pioneer junior Brian Schmitting C Jr. Ripon College guard Nate Drury were the other set of first-team teammates, as the duo Jeff Zick F Sr. Knox College guided Carroll to a 21-4 record and the first NCAA tournament berth in school history. The sharp-shooting Drury ranks fourth in the confer- ence in scoring (18.9 ppg) and has drained 67 three-pointers, third most in the MWC this season. Scheper has posted seven double-doubles this HONORABLE MENTION year, while ranking in the Top 10 in the league in scoring (14.7 ppg) and David Arseneault G Fr. Grinnell College rebounding (7.6 rpg). Beloit senior forward Josh Hinz rounded out the Keven Bradley G Sr. Lawrence University All-MWC first team after finishing second in the conference in scoring Bo Johnson * F Jr. Ripon College (21.3 ppg) and rebounding (11.8 rpg) in 2005-06. Hinz, who tied the James Johnson G Sr. Carroll College NCAA Division III single-game rebound mark during a 50-point, 36- Joe Terwelp F So. rebound performance against Grinnell this season, led his team in scoring Paul Toshner F Jr. Carroll College and rebounding in 14 of the final 15 games of the year. Joe Womble G So. College The All-Conference second team featured another set of teammates, as Knox junior guard/forward Jason Maclin (19.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 62 3ptrs) and senior forward Jeff Zick (14.7 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 88 ast) were both honored. Ripon junior center Brian Schmitting (14.8 ppg, 7.5 rpg), the # denotes number of times as an All-Conference first team pick national leader in field-goal percentage (75.2%) and Grinnell freshman * denotes number of times as an All-Conference second team pick guard John Grotberg (120 3ptrs, 70 ast, 44 stl), who ranks second in ! denotes number of times as an All-Conference honorable mention pick scoring (31.4 ppg) in NCAA Division III, were also selected to the sec- ond team. Lake Forest senior forward Franklyn Beckford (14.4 ppg, 7.7 rpg), who closed his career by setting a new NCAA record with 26 con- secutive made field goals, closed out the All-Conference second team.