MARSHALL, Minn. – A pair of Southwest Minnesota State University wheelchair basketball student-athletes were honored with major awards this week by the National Wheelchair Basketball Association during the organization's national tournament hosted by the University of Arizona. 
 
SMSU senior Emmanuel Fuentes Cervantes was named NWBA Intercollegiate Division first team All-American for the third straight season, while senior Fermin Wingerter was named second team All-American. It's the second time Wingerter has earned NWBA All-America second team honors after earning the award following the 2023-24 season.
 
SMSU, the No. 6 seed, opened the tournament on Wednesday night defeating No. 11 Eastern Washington University, 71-49, and will now play on Thursday afternoon versus No. 3 seed the University of Arizona. 
 
Fuentes Cervantes, a native of Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico, entered the tournament averaging a team-high 25.7 points per game in 20 games. He is shooting 44 percent from the field (207 of 468) with a team-high 51 3-pointers. He is also leading the team with 248 rebounds (12.4) and has dished out a team-high 131 assists. He was named the NWBA Player of the Year following the 2023-24 season.
 
Wingerter, a native of Parana, Argentina, started the tournament averaging 13.7 ppg, while shooting 49 percent (104 of 212) from the field in 16 games played.