CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- The coaches have selected the 2025-26 American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) Men's Basketball postseason award selections. These outstanding student-athletes have distinguished themselves throughout the conference regular season. 

Head coaches from the conference nominated and selected this year's all-conference team, recognizing the top performers. In addition to honoring the all-conference team, the announcement also recognizes Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and Coach of the Year. 

Nailor led the A-R-C with assists per game, averaging 5.8 per game, with a total of 93 during the 16-game conference schedule. He ranked second in the league for steals per game, averaging 1.8 per game. Nailor averaged 15.3 points per game, a league eighth best. Additionally, ranked seventh in the league for rebounds, averaging 6.9 per game. Nailor recorded the second highest scoring game in the league versus the University of Dubuque on January 14 with 38 points. He went 48-of-56 (85.7%) from the charity stripe. Nailor is the third Kohawk to earn player of the year honors, joining Mike Kilburg (2005-06) and David Mataloni (2011-12)

Bienemann is the first Knight to earn the honor of defensive player of the year in the A-R-C. The junior led the league, averaging 1.9 steals per game during the conference slate and ranked seventh for blocked shots, totaling 15 during the season. Bienemann ranked sixth in the league for assists, averaging 3.2 per game. Additionally, he averaged 14.9 points per game. In addition to his defensive player of the year honor, Biemenann was honored on second-team all-conference. 

Cason picked up the league's rookie of the year honors and is the first from the Dutch program to earn this honor. He played in all 16 conference games. He averaged 14.13 points per game, recorded 87 total rebounds, and averaged 1.69 assists per game. Additionally, he totaled 19 steals and six blocks during the conference season. In addition to his rookie of the year honor, Cason is honored on the honorable mention team. 

In his 12th season at the helm of the Prairie Wolves men's basketball program, Wellman is earning his sixth coach of the year honor. Wellman, assisted by Blake Bonin, Patrick Monahan, and Zachary Bodfield, guided Nebraska Wesleyan to a 13-3 mark in the 2025-26 conference season. The Nebraska Wesleyan Prairie Wolves earned the outright regular season crown. This was the Prairie Wolves sixth title since joining the league in 2016.
 

2025-26 All-American Rivers Conference Men's Basketball Team
Player of the Year - Cooper Nailor, Coe College
Defensive Player of the Year - Austin Bienemann, Wartburg College
Rookie of the Year - Kyle Cason, Central College
Coach of the Year - Dale Wellman, Nebraska Wesleyan University
Player of the Year	School	Year	Pos.	Hometown/High School
Cooper Nailor	Coe College	Sr.	G	Indianola, Iowa/Indianola
Defensive Player of the Year
Austin Bienemann	Wartburg College	Jr.	G	Plainfield, Iowa/Nashua-Plainfield
Rookie of the Year
Kyle Cason	Central College	Fr.	G	Grimes, Iowa/Dallas Center-Grimes
First Team	School	Year	Pos.	Hometown/High School
Carter Sievers	Buena Vista University	Jr.	G	Albert City, Iowa/Newell-Fonda
Jackson Bowman	Coe College	Jr.	F	Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Kennedy
Grady Thompson	University of Dubuque	Jr.	G	Princeton, Ill./Princeton
Jacob Williams	University of Dubuque	So.	F	Dubuque, Iowa/Dubuque Senior
Jack Haynes	Loras College	Sr.	F	Streator, Ill./Streator Townships
Gavin Sarvis	Loras College	Sr.	G	Elgin, Ill./Burlington Central
Nick Howard	Nebraska Wesleyan University	Sr.	F	Lenexa, Kan./Saint Thomas Aquinas
Christian Winn	Nebraska Wesleyan University	Jr.	G	Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln Northeast
Second Team	School	Year	Pos.	Hometown/High School
Owen Schipper	Central College	So.	F	Waukee, Iowa/Waukee
Kanyon Bryte	Coe College	So.	F	Peosta, Iowa/Western Dubuque
Jalen Scott	University of Dubuque	5th Yr.	G	Surprise, Ariz./Paradise Honors
Nolan Berendes	Loras College	Jr.	F	Dubuque, Iowa/Wahlert Catholic
Seth Newton	Nebraska Wesleyan University	Sr.	G	Canon City, Colo./Canon City
Cam Henderson	Simpson College	So.	G	Madison, Wis./Madison East
Austin Bienemann	Wartburg College	Jr.	G	Plainfield, Iowa/Nashua-Plainfield
Ethan Yungtum	Wartburg College	Jr.	G/F	Elkhorn, Neb./Elkhorn
Honorable Mention	School	Year	Pos.	Hometown/High School
Jayden Brink	Buena Vista University	So.	G	Spring Valley, Minn./Kingsland
Jackson Jones	Buena Vista University	Sr.	G	Grimes, Iowa/Dallas Center-Grimes
Kyle Cason	Central College	Fr.	G	Grimes, Iowa/Dallas Center-Grimes
Anthony Gott	Central College	So.	F	Davenport, Iowa/North Scott
Ethan Henderson	University of Dubuque	Fr.	G	Zion, Ill./Carmel Catholic
Damyen Jackson	Loras College	Fr.	G	Davenport, Iowa/Assumption
Andre Palavra	Luther College	Jr.	G	Ovar, Portugal/Escola Secundaria Dr. Jose Macedo Fragateiro
Neal Mosser	Nebraska Wesleyan University	Fr.	G	Omaha, Neb./Millard North
Levi Gurwell	Simpson College	Sr.	G	Winterset, Iowa/Winterset

NOTE: The Player of the Year shall have standing as an All-Conference player but is not a member of the first or second team. 
NOTE: The Defensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year are not honored as All-Conference unless selected to the first or second team by the coaches. 

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