At a recent end-of-the-season banquet, the Briar Cliff University men's basketball program handed out its annual team awards. The team's Most Valuable Player Award went to junior Matt Geelan (Ruthven, Iowa). Geelan led the Chargers in assists (176) and rebounds (7.2 rpg). The NAIA Honorable Mention All-American and first-team All-Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) selection also averaged 11.4 ppg and shot a team-best 59.4 percent from the field. Geelan was an honorable mention all-conference selection a year ago.
One of the most prestigious awards which the Chargers hand out is the Barnabas Award. The award is named after Barnabas in the New Testament, who was always supportive and encouraging of the better-known Apostles. This year's Barnabas Award recipient was senior Michael Dickes (Sioux Center, Iowa). Dickes saw action in 14 games before suffering a season-ending knee injury. At the time of the injury, Dickes was averaging 7.5 ppg and 3.9 rpg.
Sophomore Ben Sitzmann (Sioux City, Iowa) was named Mr. Defense, while classmate Eric Rohe (Le Mars, Iowa) was named Mr. Hustle. Sitzmann played in all 32 games, making nine starts. He averaged 4.3 ppg and was third on the team with 31 steals. Rohe also made nine starts, while seeing action in 30 games. Rohe chipped in 5.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg and 50 assists. The team also handed out the Charger's Chargers Award to junior James Larson (Greenfield, Iowa) for taking the most charges (10) during the course of the season. Larson averaged 4.4 ppg and 2.5 rpg, while shooting 58.3 percent from the field. Seniors Brent Miller (Rockwell City, Iowa) and Nathan Young (Sergeant Bluff, Iowa) were co-recipients of the Jeremy Axlund Award, which is given to senior reserves who have made a positive impact on the program. Miller saw action in 10 games and contributed 2.0 ppg, while Young played in 13 games, averaging 1.3 ppg and 1.7 rpg. This year's Most Promising Newcomer Award went to freshman John Engler (Fort Dodge, Iowa). Engler played in 25 games and averaged 2.5 ppg and 2.6 rpg. He also had 22 assists and nine steals.
The Chargers finished the 2009-10 season, the sixth under Head Coach Todd Barry, with a record of 23-9. They were 12-6 in the GPAC and 14-2 at the Newman Flanagan Center. Barry's Chargers were nationally-ranked for some of the season and climbed as high as No. 5. Aside from Geelan, juniors Kyle Semprini (Carroll, Iowa) and Chase Vander Feen (Hawarden, Iowa) also earned all-conference recognition. They were both second team all-conference performers. A year ago, Semprini earned first team honors, while Vander Feen was a second team selection. Semprini and Vander Feen each averaged 14.5 ppg during the 2009-10 season. Semprini set a school record with 103 three-pointers, while the Chargers tied a school record with 16 three-pointers in a 109-69 victory over Midland Lutheran, Jan. 16.