SEWARD, Neb. – For the fourth time in five years, the Honorary Captain of the Omaha World-Herald NAIA/NCAA Division III All-Midlands Men’s Basketball Team has come from the Concordia University, Nebraska Men’s Basketball program. In a news article published on April 19, All-American Tristan Smith was tabbed the 2024-25 Honorary Captain by the World-Herald. Recent Bulldog award All-Midlands captains have included Justin Wiersema (2021), Carter Kent (2022) and Noah Schutte (2023).
As quoted in the World-Herald, Concordia Head Coach Ben Limback stated of Smith, “You could argue he had the greatest statistical year in Concordia history. He stayed healthy all year and just had an incredible, incredible year.”
The list of accolades for Smith for the 2024-25 season included NAIA First Team All-America accolades and a sweep of GPAC Player of the Year and GPAC Defensive Player of the Year awards. Smith was joined on the 2024-25 All-Midlands team by fellow Bulldogs in Schutte and honorable mention selections Brad Bennett and Jaxon Stueve. The World-Herald annually releases All-Midlands teams as a means of honoring the top players from Nebraska institutions outside of the NCAA Division I level.
Concordia’s four All-Midlands Team award winners helped the 2024-25 Bulldogs to an overall record of 26-7 and an appearance in the second round of the NAIA national tournament. Limback’s squad placed as the GPAC runner up in the regular season and postseason.
Concordia All-Midlands Team Honorees:
· Tristan Smith, Honorary Captain
--2024-25 stats: 20.5 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 4.2 apg, 1.7 bpg, 1.5 spg, .688 fg%, .680 ft% in 33 games.
· Noah Schutte
--2024-25 stats: 16.5 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 2.4 apg, .574 fg%, .720 ft%, .386 3-pt% in 31 games.
· Brad Bennett, Honorable Mention
--2024-25 stats: 9.2 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 1.4 apg, .438 fg%, .848 ft%, .380 3-pt% in 33 games.
· Jaxon Stueve, Honorable Mention
--2024-25 stats: 7.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 1.5 apg, .466 fg%, .829 ft%, .400 3-pt% in 33 games.
2024-25 NAIA/Division III All-Midlands Team, as selected by the Omaha World-Herald
G: Carlos Hines, Peru State 6-5, sr.
G: Jake Orr, Midland 6-2, so.
F: Jack Groeteke, Nebraska Wesleyan, 6-11, sr.
F: Noah Schutte, Concordia, 6-4, sr.
* F: Tristan Smith, Concordia, 6-5, sr.
*Honorary Captain
Honorable Mention
Bellevue: TJ Fritz. Concordia: Brad Bennett, Jaxon Stueve. Doane: Brady Timm, Jack Wilson. Hastings: Maverick Binder, DaRon Hall. Midland: Trey McCain, Jeff Rozelle. Nebraska Wesleyan: Conner Brown, Carter Glenn. Peru State: Aaron Miller, Devin Tomlinson. York: Chris Dixon, Carl Thorpe Jr.