Buena Vista University

Nick Beard was a stand-out baseball player for BVU, lettering all four years as the team’s primary third baseman, earning all-conference and all-region accolades twice. His best year came in his final collegiate campaign when he was named both the team and the Iowa Conference MVP after helping guide the Beavers to a 24-14 overall record. He set school records for at-bats, hits, doubles, home runs and RBI that year after ranking second nationally in slugging percentage as a junior.

Beard also excelled off the field and was tabbed as a three-time academic all-conference, academic all-region and academic all-American selection. He was a Second Team Academic All-American as both a sophomore and junior before landing First Team honors his senior year.