Northwestern College seniors Colton Kooima and Nathan Wedel were both named first team NAIA All-American by the national office and the D-II championship committee. This marks the first time in program history that two Red Raiders received first team recognition in the same year.
Kooima, a repeat first team selection, led the conference in scoring at 21.6 points per game. Kooima ended fifth in the league with 87 three-pointers, shooting 39% from beyond the arc, and also ranked sixth with 119 assists. He scored in double figures in 26 of his 33 games played and recorded 20 games with 20+ points. Kooima finished his career second all-time in scoring (2,441pts) and three-pointers made (309) and 13th all-time with 368 assists. He also holds the school record for points in a game, scoring 51 in his team’s win over Concordia earlier this season.
Wedel takes home the national honor for the first time after earning all-conference honors all four years. Wedel ranked second in the GPAC in scoring, averaging 21.3 points per game, and sixth in rebounding (6.6 per game). The senior shot 57% from the field also dished out a team-high 125 assists, fourth best in the GPAC. Wedel finished the season with six double-doubles and scored in double figures in 32 of his 33 games played.
Northwestern, under the direction of head coach Kris Korver, finished the season with a 26-7 record, losing to Saint Francis (Ind.) in the second round of the NAIA D-II Men’s Basketball National Championship.
