While the end of the season and subsequent increase in free time often leaves our players bewildered, disappointed, and idle, there has been some consolation in the post-season awards that have been earned by the Luther Men's Soccer Team.
Luther had three selections to the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) All-Conference team, which is voted upon by all the coaches in the conference. Junior captain Michael Kustra was named to the second team, while junior captain Mike Olson and sophomore forward Mark Fernandes were both named as honorable mentions. These players all worked hard and contributed to the much improved season of the Norse.
As a team, the Luther Men led the conference in the number of athletes who made the IIAC All-Academic Team. To be eligible for this award, the student athlete must compete at the varsity level, be a sophomore in academic standing, and have at least a 3.5 grade point average. Luther college led the conference with 54 members on the All-Academic team, and 7 of them were soccer players. Senior Andy Eisenberg, juniors Jason Block and Peter Graffy, and sophomores Oketekyie Dakwa-Agyekum, Micah Kust, Michael Osmera, and Mark Fernandes made up Luther Soccer's contribution to the IIAC All-Academic Team.
This is merely another great example of how the team embodies what it means to be a student athlete. These men work hard on and off the field with commitment and big picture perspective that 18-22 year olds rarely possess. The coaching staff is lucky to have such a talented and well-rounded team, and they look forward to future success on and off the field.
