SEWARD, Neb. – It would actually be more of a news story if Chandler Folkerts did not receive an award. Add 2017 NAIA All-Nebraska honorary team captain, as selected by the Omaha World-Herald, to wealth of honors raked in by The Chanimal. It was just a few short weeks ago that Folkerts delivered a speech in San Diego in acceptance of the prestigious Emil S. Liston Award.
“He was the kind of guy who did a lot of things for us and made an impact each game he played,” head coach Ben Limback told the World-Herald.
Recently chosen as winner of the CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year award, Folkerts will go down as one of the greatest players in the history of the program. The 2016-17 GPAC defensive player of the year finished his career with school all-time ranks of second in rebounding (868), third in scoring (1,963) and fourth in blocked shots (142). As a senior, Folkerts topped the GPAC in rebounding (8.1) and field goal percentage (.686), ranked second in both blocks per game (1.39) and double-doubles (10) and fifth in scoring (18.3). The Milford native’s field goal percentage put him second among all NAIA Division II players. Folkerts was also tabbed a NAIA second team All-American.
Limback himself was also named the honorary captain of the NAIA All-Nebraska team following his senior season in 1998-99. That season, Limback averaged 14.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 3.2 steals. The program’s most recent winner of the Omaha World-Herald honor was Jason Jisa in 2005. Jisa helped lead the 2004-05 squad to an appearance in the national championship game.
Additionally, seniors Seth Curran and Eli Ziegler represented Concordia with honorable mention accolades on the All-Nebraska squad. Ziegler enjoyed a second team All-GPAC season during which he averaged 16.5 points, 3.9 assists and 2.8 rebounds while shooting 48.2 percent from the field and 43.9 percent from 3-point range. He joined Folkerts in the program’s 1,000-point club. As the starting point guard, Curran averaged 8.0 points, 4.1 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.0 steal. Curran, Folkerts and Ziegler each started all 31 games.
Omaha World-Herald NAIA All-Nebraska
Honorary captain: Chandler Folkerts
First Team
F, BJ Shelton, Bellevue, Jr., 13.6
F, Alex Starkel, Midland, Sr., 16.2
C, Chandler Folkerts, Concordia, Sr., 18.3
F, Cameron Coleman, York, Sr., 15.6
G, Rashad Brackeen, Peru State, Sr., 20.2
Second Team
G, Damon Overton, Midland, Sr., 15.8
F, Nate Kuhl, Doane, Sr., 16.2
G, Nick Hilton, Bellevue, Jr., 12.1
G, Rich Williams, Hastings, Sr., 15.9
F, Cooper Cook, N. Wesleyan, So., 18.5
Honorable mention: Mike Cardenas, Bellevue; Seth Curran, Eli Ziegler, Concordia; Rylee Zimmerman, Doane; Trey Moore, Hastings; Diamontae McKinley, Midland; Nate Schimonitz, Deion Wells-Ross, Nebraska Wesleyan; Brandon Eboigbodin, Peru State; Johnny Cooksey, Keith Mack, York.