ARDEN HILLS, Minn.—Bethel University freshman Rachel Parupsky recently received a prestigious honor, as she was named the d3hoops.com Rookie of the Year among all Division III women's basketball athletes. The recognition comes after the Arden Hills, Minn., native was named to the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) All-Conference team, along with landing a spot on the All-Defensive Team and All-First-Year Team—a feat that has never been done in MIAC history. Parupsky is only the second person in Bethel women's basketball history to be tagged with all-league honors after their freshman season.
 
The 2012 Mounds View graduate led the MIAC in scoring (16.0 points per game), rebounding (9.0 per game), and blocks (4.5 per game) at the end of the regular season. Not only were Parupsky's numbers impressive across the conference, her 4.5 swats per game put her at No. 2 on the blocks per game list for the entire NCAA Division III in 2012-2013.
 
Parupsky was the only MIAC athlete to be recognized for a post-season accolade by the d3hoops.com selection committee. In addition to the committee selecting a first, second, third, fourth, and honorable team, Carissa Verkaik of Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan was named as the Player of Year and Kris Huffman of DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana was named Coach of the Year.