July 3, 2003

Svehla Honored Again

Midlands Male Athlete of the Year

      Kearney, NE – For the first time since 1993, a Nebraska-Kearney male student-athlete has been named the Omaha World Herald’s Midlands College male athlete of the year.

       Omaha’s Nick Svehla earns the award after leading the Loper men’s basketball team to one of their most successful seasons ever. He averaged 20.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per game in helping UNK to a 30-3 record, an RMAC title and the program’s first-ever Elite Eight berth. The RMAC Player of the Year, Svehla also was a two time All-American in his career who scored the fourth most points (1,983) in school history.

      Earlier this summer, the Lincoln Journal Star tabbed Svehla as their State College male athlete of the year.

      Other UNK male student-athletes to win the award include Brian Nielsen (1993), Tim Higgins (1980), Tom Kropp (1975), Rich Osentowski (1969) and Larry Snell (1960).

      The award has been handed out every year since 1952; the award was split into male and female in 1989. Doane College track star Rochelle Schmidt is the female winner this year.