MIAC Release

ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) announced the 2008-09 MIAC Men's Golf Awards today, May 21, 2009. Leading the award winners is MIAC Player of the Year Joe Schoolmeesters of Saint John's. Bethel first-year player Mason Swenson (Fr., Eagan, Minn.) was named the MIAC Freshman of the Year and Saint John's head coach Bob Alpers was named the MIAC Coach of the Year.

As part of a conference-wide sportsmanship initiative, the MIAC announced the third annual All-MIAC Sportsmanship team for men's golf. Members of the All-MIAC Sportsmanship team are selected by their coaches and teammates as individuals who demonstrate ideals of positive sportsmanship both on and off the field of competition. Bjorn Hanson (Sr., Long Prairie, Minn.) was named as Bethel's representative to the team.

Swenson had the second-best stroke average for the Royals in 2008-09, shooting for an average of 77.3 over 17 rounds. His average was also 12th best in the MIAC. He was named the MIAC Athlete of the Week on September 8 after he led Bethel to a first place team finish and earned medalist honors at the Augsburg Invitational. Swenson also finished 17th at the MIAC Championships with a 54-hole total of 235 (+19).






Hanson finished in a tie for 7th place at the MIAC Championships with a 54-hole total of 228 (+12), thus giving him All-MIAC honors. He became Bethel's first All-MIAC golfer since Tim Brovold in 2004 and finished the season by averaging a 77.3 over 20 rounds. Hanson has earned the MIAC Sportsmanship Award two years in a row.