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From the WIAC -- 

University of Wisconsin-River Falls’ Alex Herink was selected the Player of the Year to lead the individuals chosen to the 2017 All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Men’s Basketball Team by the league coaches. In addition, UW-River Falls head coach Jeff Berkhof was tabbed the Coach of the Year.
 
Herink is the second player in program history to receive the honor, joining Rich Melzer, who claimed the award in 2003 and 2004. Herink ranks third in the conference with a .832 free-throw percentage, fourth with 15.7 points per game, fifth with a .530 field goal percentage, seventh with a .412 three-point field goal percentage and 10th with 5.6 rebounds per contest.
 
He has scored in double figures in 22 of 27 contests, including seven performances of 20-plus points. Herink poured in a season-high 34 points against Robert Morris University-Chicago (Ill.) on Nov. 18. He grabbed a season-best 10 rebounds three times.
 
Berkhof collected the coaching award for the second time in his career (2011) after leading the Falcons to their 14th WIAC regular-season championship. UW-River Falls also earned a spot in the NCAA Division III Championship after winning the WIAC tournament title. Their 17-game winning streak earlier this season established a program record.
 
Repeat selections on the first team from a season ago included: UW-Eau Claire’s George Diekelman and UW-River Falls’ Garret Pearson. UW-Eau Claire’s Jared Schneidermann earned a spot on the five-member All-Defensive Team for the second straight year.
 
An All-Sportsmanship Team was chosen for individuals that displayed exemplary sportsmanship throughout the season. It included one member from each school.
 
2017 All-WIAC Men’s Basketball Team
Name, School, Year, Position, Hometown (High School)
Ben Boots, Oshkosh, Sophomore, Guard, Kimberly, Wis.
Ethan Bublitz, Stevens Point, Sophomore, Guard, Jackson, Wis. (Kettle Moraine Lutheran)
George Diekelman, Eau Claire, Junior, Guard, Stevens Point, Wis. (SPASH)
Robert Duax, Platteville, Sophomore, Guard, Dubuque, Iowa (Hempstead)
Alex Herink, River Falls, Junior, Forward, Hudson, Wis.
Chris Jones, Whitewater, Junior, Guard, Milwaukee, Wis. (Bradley Tech)
Charlie Noone, Oshkosh, Junior, Guard, Oshkosh, Wis. (Lourdes Academy)
Garret Pearson, River Falls, Senior, Forward, Rush City, Minn.
Zach Schradle, La Crosse, Senior, Forward, Clayton, Wis.
Josh Weix, Eau Claire, Sophomore, Forward, Eau Claire, Wis. (North)

Honorable Mention
Devin Buckley, River Falls, Junior, Guard, Brooklyn, Minn. (Park Center)
Grant Erickson, River Falls, Senior, Guard, Lakeville, Minn. (North)
John Keefe, Stout, Junior, Guard, Medford, Wis.
John Lahti, Stout, Junior, Forward, Turtle Lake, Wis.
Jack Martinek, Eau Claire, Senior, Guard, New Brighton, Minn. (Irondale)
Ben Meinholz, La Crosse, Sophomore, Forward, Oconomowoc, Wis. (Milwaukee Marquette)
Derek Rongstad, Whitewater, Sophomore, Guard/Forward, Middleton, Wis.
Scotty Tyler, Whitewater, Junior, Forward, Grafton, Wis.
Bryce Williams, Stevens Point, Senior, Forward, Maple Grove, Minn. (Spring Lake Park)
Demetrius Woodley, Whitewater, Junior, Guard/Forward, Milwaukee, Wis. (Vincent)

All-Defensive Team
Ethan Bublitz, Stevens Point, Sophomore, Guard, Jackson, Wis. (Kettle Moraine Lutheran)
Grant Erickson, River Falls, Senior, Guard, Lakeville, Minn. (North)
Taylor Jansen, Oshkosh, Senior, Guard, Columbus, Wis.
Derek Rongstad, Whitewater, Sophomore, Guard/Forward, Middleton, Wis.
Jared Schneidermann, Eau Claire, Senior, Forward, Brooklyn Park, Minn. (Concordia Academy)
 
All-Sportsmanship Team
Drew Bryson, Whitewater, Senior, Guard, Elkhorn, Wis.
Andrew Duxbury, Eau Claire, Senior, Guard, Stillwater, Minn.
Grant Erickson, River Falls, Senior, Guard, Lakeville, Minn. (North)
Kenny Finco, La Crosse, Senior, Guard, Hartland, Wis. (Arrowhead)
Jared Gjertson, Stevens Point, Senior, Forward/Center, Wausau, Wis. (D.C. Everest)
Colin Kramper, Platteville, Sophomore, Guard, Downers Grove, Ill. (North)
AJ Mueller, Oshkosh, Senior, Forward, Milwaukee, Wis. (Marquette)
Jacob Nordstrom, Stout, Senior, Center, Melrose, Wis. (Melrose-Mindoro)
 
Player of the Year:  Alex Herink of River Falls
Coach of the Year:  Jeff Berkhof of River Falls
Max Sparger Scholar-Athlete (sponsored by Badgerland Financial):  Sean Dwyer of Oshkosh
 
UW-Oshkosh’s Dwyer Named Men’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete
 
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh’s Sean Dwyer has been selected the recipient of the 2017 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Max Sparger Men's Basketball Scholar-Athlete Award. The award is sponsored by Badgerland Financial.
 
A senior from Palos Park, Ill. (Stagg), Dwyer is majoring in finance with a minor in business analytics and owns a 3.75 grade point average. He was named to the 2015-16 National Association of Basketball Coaches Honors Court and is a three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll. Dwyer has been recognized on UW-Oshkosh’s Dean’s List and Honor Roll, as well as a National Scholar Award Recipient.
 
A team captain this year, Dwyer was named to the WIAC All-Sportsmanship Team in 2015 and 2016. He was a member of last season’s squad that claimed the conference tournament title and advanced to the NCAA Division III Championship.
 
Dwyer is a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success, as well as the Golden Key and Beta Gamma Sigma International Honor Societies. In addition, he is a supporter of UW-Oshkosh’s Finance Club and Business Scholars Program. Dwyer has served as a team representative for Friends of Jaclyn and, in 2015, participated in a NCAA Career in Sports Forum.
 
The WIAC Scholar-Athlete Award is named after Max Sparger, who served as commissioner of the Wisconsin State University Conference for 22 years from 1971-93. He oversaw the transition of the conference from NAIA to full NCAA membership. Sparger arrived at UW-Stout in 1959 and served the institution in a variety of capacities, including an assistant football and basketball coach, head wrestling coach and head football coach. He served as UW-Stout's athletics director from 1969-71.
 
In order to be nominated for the scholar-athlete award, a student-athlete must have a minimum 3.50 grade point average. In addition, he must be in his last year of competition, or on schedule to graduate this academic year, and have competed for a minimum of two years.