ALL-AMERICA SELECTION — Bethany Lutheran College power forward Hanna Geistfeld (50) powers by University of Wisconsin-Stout forward Lizzy Olsem (blue jersey) for a layup during regular-season basketball action Dec. 18 in Mankato. Vikings teammates Grace Sikkink (33) and Grace Gerken (20) watch the action. Geistfeld became the school’s first-ever Division III first-team All-America selection this season. (Photo courtesy of the Bethany Lutheran College Sports Information Department)

MANKATO — Bethany Lutheran College’s first-ever NCAA Division III first-team All-America selection across all 17 sports in the rich history of the Mankato-based school.

A 2022 National Player of the Year finalist by D3hoops.com, one of only 10 nominees for the NCAA Woman of the Year award, a 2022 Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) all-star selection, a Division III first-team Academic All-America choice and this season’s Regional Player of the Year by D3hoops.com.

Not too bad for a Martin Luther High School graduate who grew up on a farm outside the small town of Truman.

Ironically, the above monumental accolades are just a small portion of Bethany Lutheran College senior forward Hanna Geistfeld’s impressive collegiate basketball resume.

The Vikings’ 6-foot power forward led the entire NCAA Division III women’s basketball ranks with 699 points this season en route to the No. 2 scoring average — 25.9 points per game — on the strength of the No. 1 total of made field goals (261).

The hard-working Geistfeld also placed second in Division III in rebounding (351) and free throws made (169), in addition to netting the No. 3 total of double-double performances (20) in the nation.

Did the daughter of Troy and Yolonda Geistfeld think she would reach the pinnacle of the Division III women’s basketball world when she first stepped onto Bethany Lutheran’s hardwood floor in Mankato during the fall of 2017?

“I definitely did not think I would accomplish all of this,” said Hanna Geistfeld, who exits her collegiate career as just the 20th member of the 2,000 career point and 1,000 career rebound club in Division III women’s hoops history. “When I arrived on campus, I considered myself a pretty average player. I couldn’t dreamed of having this much success in my college career.”

The humble Geistfeld understated her prep basketball skills as she played a key role in guiding the Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Truman/Martin Luther Jaguars to the 2017 Class A state basketball tournament under the tutelage of Hall of Fame mentor Rick Uttech during his final season at the helm.

“The biggest difference between high school and college is working hard to get into better shape by focusing on your overall physical fitness,” said Geistfeld, who exits her college playing days as a three-time first-time all-regional selection and a three-time all-Upper Midwest Athletic Conference choice. “I’m a goal-oriented person and I set a number of goals for myself during my first season at Bethany.

“After talking with my coaches and trainers, I knew I’d have to lose some weight, get stronger and became more fit from a cardio standpoint in order to attain those goals.”

Geistfeld accomplished her lofty aims and then some as she etched her name into Bethany Lutheran’s record books in points, field goals, field-goal percentage, rebounds and double-double performances from both a career and a single-season perspective.

The three-time Academic all-UMAC choice earned the conference’s player of the week honor an incredible 15 times during her collegiate career, including nine weeks during 2021-22.

“My teammate Sara Kottke always joked around with me the most about all of the awards I received, especially the conference player of the week one,” Geistfeld said with a laugh. “She knows how to keep me humble.”

Now the unassuming Geistfeld may have to seriously consider her possible chances of being drafted by a WNBA franchise when she graduates in May with a degree in elementary education.

“My family and I haven’t made a decision about it (the WNBA Draft) yet,” said Geistfeld, who’s currently teaching as a long-term substitute at Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial School District while completing her BLC classes online.

“I really like teaching,” said Geistfeld, who’s mentoring at the second-grade level. “The teaching and administrative staffs at Lake Crystal have been very helpful and supportive during my student-teaching there. They’ve helped make it a smooth transition for me this year.”

While Geistfeld does not know exactly what her future holds, she does have a special appreciation for her final basketball campaign at Bethany Lutheran College.

“I’m super grateful that I’ve had so many people help get me to this point of my life,” said Geistfeld. “After sitting through the pandemic in which we were not able to practice together and then when we did, only in small groups with no contact and masked up, it makes you appreciate getting back to normal with them.

“Seeing them (teammates) and working with them, and being able to take the floor together one final season was one of the best experiences of my life.”