SIOUX FALLS – Augustana’s 1977-1978 North Central Conference championship men’s basketball team will be honored during Viking Days 2008.
Directed by head coach Mel Klein and assistant coach John Thomas, the Vikings claimed the NCC crown with an 11-3 record winning all seven conference games at home. The Vikings were 18-11 for the season.

The Vikings’ Arvid Kramer, 6-foot-9 center from Fulda, Minn., was named the league’s Most Valuable Player for the 1977-1978 campaign. He led the league in rebounding, field goals made, and field goal percentage.

Augustana was the top rebounding team in the league that season, and for the third consecutive year, the best shooting team from the field. Individually, Steve Krier led the league in free throw shooting.

In addition to Kramer and Krier, Augustana’s roster included Chad Steckel, Bob Wilber, Mike Begeman, Mark Lyso, Jon Scarbrough, Brad Koopman, Kurt Jonker, Gary Wolters, Tom Waggoner, Greg Nagel, Ron Kanengieter, Paul Schenkelberg, and Dave Nieman.

Nagel, who played 111 games for the Vikings, was the league MVP in 1977. Nagel and Kramer were both three-time All-NCC selections. Begeman, Krier, and Wilber all went on to coach high school basketball in Sioux Falls.

The team and coaches will be honored at the Augustana Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet on Friday, October 3, at the Holiday Inn City Centre in downtown Sioux Falls. The event begins at 6:00 p.m. with a social hour. Tickets are $25 per person and can be reserved by calling (605) 274-5420.
 

Bruce Conley
Director of News Information
Phone: 605.274.5266
Fax: 605.274.4903