March 2, 2005

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA . . . The Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) announced today that Wartburg College junior center Nate Schmidt (Cascade, Iowa/Cascade) was named 2004-05 IIAC Men’s Basketball Most Valuable Player and Wartburg head coach Dick Peth was named 2004-05 IIAC Men’s Basketball Coach of the Year.

Schmidt ranked in the Conference’s top-10 of five statistical categories and the top-15 of seven categories. In 28 games, he led the IIAC in blocked shots (1.68/game), ranked fifth in scoring (15.1 points/game), eighth in total rebounds (5.6.game), ninth in offensive rebounds (1.82/game), 10th in field goal percentage (53.9 percent), 11th in free throw percentage (78.0 percent) and 11th in defensive rebounds (3.75/game). Schmidt has ranked among the national leaders in blocked shots throughout the season.

He led Wartburg in scoring 11 times and in rebounding 15 times including five games in which he was the team’s top scorer and rebounder.

In 16 Conference games, Schmidt led the IIAC in blocked shots (1.75/game), ranked second in scoring (16.4 points/game), seventh in field goal percentage (57.1 percent), 13th in offensive rebounds (1.56/game), 15th in total rebounds (4.8/game) and 15th in defensive rebounds (3.25/game).

Peth was chosen Coach of the Year for the second time (also in 2000-01) after guiding Wartburg to its 20th Conference basketball title, first since 2001. The Knights posted a 23-5 overall record, their fifth straight 20+ win season. Wartburg’s 15-1 Conference record is the best since Buena Vista went 19-1 in 1999-2000.

The IIAC also announced today the 2004-05 men’s basketball All-Conference Team. The 15-member Team includes five repeat All-Conference performers including Buena Vista’s Eric Wiebers, a three-time All-Conference selection. Conference Tournament Champion Buena Vista had four players earn All-Conference honors including three First Team selections. Conference Champion Wartburg had three All-Conference performers.

The complete 2004-05 IIAC All-Conference Men’s Basketball Team is here.

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