Athletics

Sowden, Wittwer Named All-MIAC in Men’s Basketball

Gustavus Adolphus men’s basketball players Phil Sowden and Trevor Wittwer have been named All-Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference by a vote of the league’s coaches. Jesse Van Sickle was named to the All-First Year Team, while Tyler Kramer was selected to the Sportsmanship Team.

—

by

timgasid
Senior Phil Sowden has been named All-MIAC for the third consecutive year.
Senior Phil Sowden has been named All-MIAC for the third consecutive year.

Junior Trevor Wittwer is a first-time All-MIAC selection.
Junior Trevor Wittwer is a first-time All-MIAC selection.

Jesse Van Sickle has been named to the MIAC All-First Year Team.
Jesse Van Sickle has been named to the MIAC All-First Year Team.

Tyler Kramer has been named to the MIAC All-Sportsmanship Team.
Tyler Kramer has been named to the MIAC All-Sportsmanship Team.

Gustavus Adolphus men’s basketball players Phil Sowden (Sr., Brooklyn Park, Minn./Park Center) and Trevor Wittwer (Jr., Redwood Falls, Minn./Redwood Valley) have been named All-Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference by a vote of the league’s coaches. Jesse Van Sickle (Fr., Garden City, Minn./Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial) was named to the All-First Year Team. Tyler Kramer (Sr., Hayfield, Minn.) was Gustavus’ representative on the All-Sportsmanship Team.

Sowden, a three-time All-MIAC selection, averaged 12.7 points and 5.1 rebounds, placing in the top-25 in the MIAC in both categories. The rangy post player also showed an ample amount of accuracy for the Gusties during the 2006-07 season, hitting 49.8 percent (120-241) of his shots from the field and 83.0 percent (88-106) of his attempts from the charity stripe ranking 13th and fourth in the MIAC, respectively. Sowden also dished out a team-high 76 assists and pulled down a team-high 137 rebounds for the Gusties. The senior finished his career with 1264 points, 15th on the Gustavus all-time scoring list. Sowden’s 556 rebounds also rank 10th all-time in school history.

Wittwer, an honorable mention All-MIAC selection in 2005-06 and last season’s Sixth Man of the Year, led the Gusties with a 13.1-point scoring average to finish 18th in the MIAC in scoring average. Wittwer also registered team-highs in steals (34) and blocks (24), finished second on the team in rebounds (134) and points (341), and was third on the team wth 59 assists. The junior wing finished second in the MIAC in field-goal percentage, shooting 61.7 percent (121-196) from the field. Wittwer also ranked fifth in the MIAC in blocked shots at 0.92 per game.

Van Sickle played in 26 of 27 games for the Gusties, averaging 18.5 minutes per game as one of coach Mark Hanson’s first options off the bench. The freshman shot 50.0 percent (49-98) from the field and 43.8 percent (21-48) from behind the three-point line for a 5.0 point per game average. Van Sickle also finished second on the team with 20 steals and sixth on the team with 28 assists.

Kramer played in 17 games, missing much of the middle of the season with a knee injury. Averaging 20.3 minutes per game, Kramer shot 40.0 percent (30-75) from the field, 46.3 percent (19-41) from three-point range, and 81.1 percent (17-21) from the charity stripe for a 5.6 points per game average.

Sowden, a management major, is the son of Jeff and Barb Sowden and a 2003 graduate of Park Center High School. Wittwer, a health fitness major, is the son of Cindy Wittwer of Redwood Falls and the late Jim Wittwer and a 2004 graduate of Redwood Valley High School. Van Sickle, who has not declared a major, is the son of Kim and Diane Van Sickle of Garden City and a 2006 graduate of Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial High School. Kramer, a math major, is the son of Tom and LaVae Kramer of Hayfield and a 2003 graduate of Hayfield High School.

The Gusties finished 14-13 overall and finished fourth in the MIAC with an 11-9 league mark, falling to Saint John’s 87-65 in the MIAC Playoff Semifinals.