MIAC RELEASE
ARDEN HILLS, MINN.—The Bethel University Royals are well represented on the 2025-26 MIAC Men's Golf Awards. Junior Jesse Balc, junior Jacob Ferrin, and first year Zeke Roberts represented the Royals on the 2025-26 MIAC Men's Golf All-Conference Team. Roberts was named 2025-26 MIAC Men's Golf Rookie of the Year, while Nick Cocalis earned 2025-26 MIAC Men's Golf Coach of the Year.
2025-26 MIAC MEN'S GOLF AWARDS
Player of the Year: Jimmy Abdo (Gustavus)
Rookie of the Year: Zeke Roberts (Bethel)
Coach of the Year: Nick Cocalis (Bethel)
This is Cocalis's second career MIAC Men's Golf Coach of the Year honor after earning the distinction in 2023-24.
Roberts's MIAC Rookie of the Year award gives the Royals three in program history, and their first since Will Karkoc in 2021-22. The Lake Elmo, Minnesota native owns an average of 74.3 over 23 rounds in 2025-26. This includes a season-low 69 on two occasions. Roberts finished tied for 11th place with a 226 (+10) at the 2025-26 MIAC Men's Golf Championship on September 27-29.
Jacob Ferrin led the Royals with a 73.0 average over 18 rounds in 2025-26. He registered a season-low 68 in round one of the Saint John's Fall Invitational on September 20. The Excelsior, Minnesota native finished tied for second place with a 221 (+5) at the 2025-26 MIAC Men's Golf Championship on September 27-29.
Jesse Balc's 2025-26 season saw him finish second on the team with a 73.8 average over 23 rounds. He won the 2025-26 MIAC Men's Golf Individual Championship with a three-round score of 218 (+2). The Geneva, Illinois native notched a season-low 69 in round one of the Saint John's Fall Invitational on September 20. Balc was named April 28 MIAC Men's Golf Athlete of the Week.
The Royals will compete at the 2025-26 NCAA Division III Championship at the Mission Inn Resort and Club in Howey-In-The-Hills, Florida on May 12-15.
