BSU signs 39 student-athletes for the 2015 season

BEMIDJI, Minn. – Bemidji State University head football coach Jeff Tesch today announced the signing of 39 student-athletes

to the BSU roster for the 2015 season. The class is comprised of 36 high school seniors who will join the program as true

freshmen next year and three transfers who are already enrolled at Bemidji State.

“I am excited to announce the 2015 class of football recruits,” said head coach Jeff Tesch. “My staff and I feel that this group of

talented young athletes will fill needs based on the players that graduated and will energize the program.”

The signees include 19 offensive players, 19 defensive players and one special teams player.

The 2015 class was drawn from eight states, with 19 hailing from Minnesota. In addition, committed players currently reside in

Arizona, Florida, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin.

The student-athletes listed below have committed to the Bemidji State University football team for 2015. All signees are

contingent upon admission to BSU and compliance with NCAA rules, including certification by the NCAA Eligibility Center.

2015 Football Signing Class

Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Exp. Hometown (Previous School)

Jacob Anderson WR 6-5 188 RS-HS Merrill, Wis. (Merrill HS)

William Annette WR 6-0 175 RS-HS Bemidji, Minn. (Bemidji HS)

Brady Beier OL 6-2 270 RS-HS Mora, Minn. (Mora HS)

Grant Bushinski* OLB 6-1 214 RS-HS Cornelius, N.C. (South Lake Christian Academy)

Brooks Carroll* WR 5-9 175 RS-HS West Lakeland, Minn. (Stillwater Area HS)

Nick Christopherson OL 6-3 260 RS-HS East Bethel, Minn. (Totino Grace HS)

Kyle Crotteau OL 6-1 255 RS-HS Rice Lake, Wis. (Rice Lake HS)

Jacob Devine P 6-5 180 RS-HS Hillsboro, N.D. (Hillsboro-Central Valley HS)

Dylan Ellingson* DL 6-3 275 RS-HS Anoka, Minn. (Anoka HS)

Lukas Engel* DL 6-4 215 RS-HS Waterford, Wis. (Waterford Union HS)

Matthew Gross LB 5-10 200 RS-HS Napoleon, N.D. (Napoleon HS)

Chris Harris WR 6-4 190 RS-HS Phoenix, Ariz. (Valley Vista HS)

Jared Henning QB 6-4 205 RS-HS Jackson, Wis. (Kettle Moraine Lutheran HS)

Zachary Herbst* DE 6-2 220 RS-HS Prior Lake, Minn. (Prior Lake HS)

Travis Hooper RB/DB 5-9 188 RS-HS Orr, Minn. (North Woods HS)

Michael Junker DB/WR 5-11 163 RS-HS Hastings, Minn. (Hastings HS)

Andrew Kimball RB/WR/DB 6-0 185 RS-HS Duluth, Minn. (Duluth East HS)

Lowell Laudert RB 5-11 180 RS-HS Monticello, Minn. (Monticello HS)

Jake Libal* DB/WR 5-11 185 RS-HS Superior, Wis. (Superior HS)

Nick Mehlum* QB 6-2 180 RS-HS Superior, Wis. (Superior HS)

Noah Meyer* DE 6-4 215 RS-HS Green Bay, Wis. (Green Bay Southwest HS)

Devell Miller LB/DB 6-0 187 RS-HS Elk River, Minn. (Elk River HS)

Joshua Nelson* OL 6-3 280 RS-HS Hudson, Wis. (Hudson Senior HS)

Nicholas Niemi DE/TE 6-2 243 RS-HS Cloquet, Minn. (Cloquet HS)

Charlie Nihart* RB 5-7 195 RS-HS Smithville, Mo. (Smithville HS)

Kaleb Olszewski* CB 5-11 170 RS-HS Alvin, Texas (Alvin HS)

Hunter Pritzl DB 5-11 165 RS-HS Park Falls, Wis. (Chequamegon HS)

Jake Schaper* DL 6-3 256 RS-HS Maple Grove, Minn. (Osseo Senior High)

Cole Schmitz LB 6-0 185 RS-HS Perham, Minn. (Perham HS)

Andrew Schuler-Jones ILB 6-2 230 RS-HS Waupaca, Wis. (Waupaca HS)

Brady Tesdahl TE/FB/DE 6-0 215 RS-HS Crosby, Minn. (Crosby-Ironton HS)

Carson Thorsteinson RB/LB 6-1 195 RS-HS Hallock, Minn. (Kittson County Central)

Blair Van Ess* WR 6-1 185 RS-HS Bayport, Wis. (Bay Port HS)

Shane Wakefield WR 5-11 165 RS-HS Butternut, Wis. (Chequamegon HS)

Mitchell Webb* OL 6-3 250 RS-HS East Bethel, Minn. (Totino Grace HS)

Joseph Woods* OL 6-3 270 RS-HS Fertile, Minn. (Fertile-Beltrami HS)

* - Signed National Letter of Intent

Transfer Commitments (3)

Gena Adams* RB 5-8 190 Jr-TR Phoenix, Ariz. (Simon Fraser Univ.)

Ter’ra Potter* CB 6-1 175 Jr-TR Deland, Fla. (Itasca CC)

Daniel Tuckett Jr. DE 6-3 300 Jr-TR Madison, Minn. (N.D. College of Science)

NSIC Baseball Preseason Coaches’ Poll

CROOKSTON, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team was picked to finish 15th in the 2015 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Preseason Baseball Coaches’ Poll released Thursday by the conference office. The Golden Eagles received 14 votes in the poll. UMC is in their first season under new Head Coach Steve Gust, who is looking to turn around a program that went 1-47 during the 2014 season.

Minnesota State University, Mankato was picked to win the league for the sixth season in a row. St. Cloud State University was picked second, while Augustana College (S.D.) was picked third.

Minnesota State catcher Nolan Johnson was chosen as the NSIC Preseason Player of the Year after earning Daktronics First Team All-America honors last season. Wayne State College pitcher Eric Browning was named the NSIC Preseason Pitcher of the Year after earning First Team All-NSIC and First Team
All-Region honors last season.

UMC senior pitcher Richie Navratil was picked as a UMC Player to Watch. Navratil returned for his senior season after already earning a degree in Sports and Rec Management. He is currently pursuing a second degree from UMC. Navratil, a native of Blansko, Czech Republic, led the team with a school-record 67 innings pitched on the season. Navratil had 30 strikeouts on the season.

UMC junior first baseman Ryan Haggstrom, an Apple Valley, Minn. native, was named UMC’s Player to Watch in the field. Haggstrom had a breakout season for the Golden Eagles as a sophomore, hitting .359 with 26 runs scored, seven doubles, four triples and 20 runs batted in. In addition, Haggstrom is strong in the field, holding a .989 fielding percentage last season.

The Golden Eagles return 13 players from last season’s roster and have also brought in 16 players, bringing the total number of players to 29, up from just 18 players that finished the season last year, which was the first order of business for Coach Gust. UMC will open the Gust era on Feb. 14 with a pair of games at Wasburn University in Topeka, Kan.

2015 NSIC Preseason Baseball Coaches’ Poll
1    Minnesota State (12)    194
2    St. Cloud State (1)    172
3    Augustana    170
4    Winona State (1)    166
5    Southwest Minnesota State    128
6    Northern State    125
7    Concordia-St. Paul    122
8    Wayne State    119
9    Bemidji State     81
10    Minnesota Duluth    76
11    Sioux Falls    72
12    Minot State    62
13    Upper Iowa    43
14    U-Mary    31
15    Minnesota Crookston    14

BSU's Andrew Walsh named WCHA Rookie fo the Week

MADISON, Wis. – Goaltender Andrew Walsh, who backstopped his Bemidji State University men’s hockey team to a 2-1 home-ice victory over nationally-ranked Denver last weekend, has been named Red Baron® WCHA Rookie of the Week for Dec. 13.

A 6-2, 190-pound freshman form Dawson Creek, B.C., Walsh turned aside a career-high 36 shots last Saturday to boost Bemidji State to it’s first win over the Pioneers in a series that dates to 1967 (1-9-0). His 36 saves on 37
shots resulted in a .973 saves percentage and he also served as the last line of defense for BSU’s league-leadingpenalty-kill unit that held the Pioneers scoreless

The Beaver Dam announces extended holiday hours

BEMIDJI, Minn. -- The Beaver Dam is making it easy for you to give the give of Green and White this holiday season by announcing extended
store hours through Dec. 23.

Just inside Gate 2 at the Sanford Center, a wide variety of Bemidji State University and Beaver hockey merchandise and apparel has been
available on game days, but from now until Dec. 23, The Beaver Dam will be open from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m.
through the BSU men’s hockey game Saturday Dec. 17 for all of your holiday shopping needs.

This week only (Dec. 12-17), shoppers spending $100 or more at The Beaver Dam store or online at www.beaversportswear.com will get a
$10 gift Beaver Dam gift card.

Take the guesswork out of your holiday shopping. Whether you are home for the holidays, visiting Bemidji or are a long-time fan of the Beavers,
stop by The Beaver Dam.

The Beaver Dam is located in Sanford Center just off of First Street at 1111 Event Center Drive in Bemidji, Minn. or shop form the comfort of
your own home on the online store at www.beaversportswear.com.

Bemidji State Teddy Bear Toss to be held Dec. 10

BEMIDJI, Minn. -- The Bemidji State University Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) will host its annual Teddy Bear Toss in conjunction with its hat and mitten drive at BSU men’s and women’s hockey games Dec. 9-10.

Fans are encouraged to bring teddy bears or other stuffed animals, preferably new but used in good condition will also be accepted, wrapped in a clear plastic bag, to the men’s and women’s hockey games Dec. 10. When the Beavers score their first goal of each game, those in attendance will have an opportunity to toss their teddy bear donation(s) onto the Sanford Center ice.

Bemidji State athletics faithful are also encouraged to bring winter hats, mittens, gloves and/or other cold weather gear to contribute to at the main gate as they enter men’s or women’s hockey games at the Sanford Center Both Dec. 9 and Dec. 10.

All items collected will go directly to local charities and will be distributed to children and Bemidji area residents in need this holiday season.

SAAC is comprised of student-athlete leaders from each of BSU’s 15 varsity athletic programs. In addition to the Teddy Bear Toss and Hat and Mitten Drive, the organization plans several other civic-minded projects throughout the year as well as being a student-athlete voice within the structure of the NCAA and Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).

Bemidji State hockey single-game tickets go on sale Friday

BEMIDJI, Minn. -- The Bemidji State University Department of Athletics has announced that single game tickets for the 2011-12 BSU men’s hockey season will go on sale Friday (Sept. 16) at 10 a.m.

Adult tickets range from $21-$41 per game and can be purchased at the Sanford Center Box Office, at any Ticketmaster outlet, online at ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000.

Bemidji State is set to host 19 home games this season.

The Beavers lift the lid on their 56th season of play Oct. 2 as they host an exhibition game versus University of Regina. The exhibition comes
just one day after the Beavers officially kick off the season with their first practice and marks the first time BSU has hosted the Cougars since
the 2006-07 campaign.

Bemidji State hockey student season tickets go on sale Monday

BEMIDJI, Minn. -- The ice is in at Sanford Center and the 2011-12 hockey season is less than one month away so its time to secure your seat in the Bemidji State University Beaver Dam student section. Student hockey season tickets go on sale Monday at 6 a.m. at the Hobson Memorial Union Information Desk on the campus of Bemidji State University.

Student season tickets are $60 in 2011-12 and include a Beaver Dam Fan Club membership, T-shirt and a general admission seat in the BSU student section at each of the men’s and women’s 2011-12 home games. Students can only purchase one season ticket and must be present, with a valid student ID, at the time of purchase.

The festivities get underway at 10 p.m. Sunday evening.

Those dedicated and determined enough are invited to the Beaux Arts Ballroom, located in the Upper Hobson Memorial Union, to sign up and stake their claim to a spot in line to purchase season tickets. Once there, students will be logged onto a priority list. Overnight, door prizes and raffles will be held in addition to other activities. Before tickets go on sale at 6 a.m. the priority list will be used to determine the order of ticket purchases.

The BSU women open the 2011-12 campaign Sept. 23 when they host the Thunder Bay Queens for a 7 p.m. exhibition. A week later the Beavers officially kick off their regular season schedule as they welcome Providence College for a non-conference series.

The Bemidji State men’s hockey team will open the 2011-12 season Oct. 2 when it hosts the University of Regina in exhibition play. The team
then hits the road for a non-conference series at Miami University (Ohio) Oct. 7-8. before returning to Bemidji, Minn. Oct. 21-22 to officially
draw the curtain on the home portion of its schedule with a two-game WCHA set versus Michigan Tech.

BSU soccer opens 2011 season on long road swing

BEMIDJI, Minn. -- The Bemidji State University soccer team officially breaks the seal on the 2011 season this weekend as it hits the road for a pair of matches that carry regional weight. The Beavers will travel to Houghton, Mich. to battle Michigan Technological University (MTU)Saturday at 1 p.m. before making their way to Marquette. Mich. for a 1 p.m. tilt versus Northern Michigan University (NMU) Sunday.

MTU returns 17 players from a 2010 campaign during which they finished 1-10-0 overall and 5-10-0 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). Sophomore forward Melanie Hoffman leads the offense. She scored five goals last year--all of which were game-winners--a year ago.

NMU is coming off its most successful season in school history. Last season, the team posted an overall record of 9-6-5 and an earned a NCAA tournament bid. This year the team is 0-0-1 after a double overtime tie with University of Minnesota Duluth Thursday and is led by junior forward Amelia Johnson, who ranked second on the team in scoring in 2010 posting nine goals for 18 points.

The road trip to the Upper Peninsula will be an early-season test for BSU. Not only will the Beavers face a pair of solid regional opponents, the trip also give BSU a chance to test its road legs, something the 2011 team will have to get used to very quickly. Bemidji State opens the 2011 campaign playing its first eight regular season games on the road, including a Sept. 9 neutral site meeting with Colorado School of Mines. That feat will set a new program mark for consecutive road matches to open a season, topping the 2003 team which BSU played seven road games to open the campaign.

The Beavers are coming off their most successful season in the program’s history. The 2010 squad set a program record for wins in a season with an overall record of 14-4-1, while finishing third in the NSIC with a mark of 9-3-1 in league play. A major key to their success a year ago was a 6-2-1 record on the road.

Bemidji State returns nine players with starting experience from the 2010 season including, the entire midfield, and back line. Senior midfielder Bri Scanlan (East Grand Forks, Minn.) and senior goalkeeper Abby Kjonaas (Fargo, N.D.) were named as NSIC Players to Watch in the 2011 NSIC Preseason Coaches’ poll.

Scanlan was an NSIC All-Academic selection a year ago. She netted a career-high five goals, including three game-winners, in 19 games for the Beavers. The senior came into her own down the stretch scoring three goals in the Beavers’ final five regular-season games. She returns as the most established scorer on the Beavers’ 2011 roster having tallied nine goals (three of which were game-winners) and nine assists in her previous three seasons.

Kjonaas has gained valuable experience in spot starts throughout her career and is poised to take the team on her back in 2011 as the starting goalkeeper. A year ago she played in five games, starting four, posted a 3-0-1 record and a team-best .897 save percentage.

Head Coach Jim Stone begins his 10th season as head coach of the Bemidji State soccer team. He has posted an overall record of 88-73-17 (.542) and is riding a streak of six season with at least a .500 winning percentage.

Bemidji State earns 2010-11 NSIC Sportsmanship Award

BEMIDJI, Minn. -- Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Commissioner Butch Raymond presented Bemidji State University Director
of Athletics Dr. Rick Goeb with the league’s 2011-11 Sportsmanship Award July 13 at the NSIC’s annual Hall of Fame banquet. The honor marks the second time in three years BSU has been selected for the award.

Each year, the award recipient is selected by a vote of NSIC head coaches and a Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) member based on the sportsmanship of players, fans, staff and coaches from each institution.
“This is a tremendous honor for our athletic department. Our student-athletes, coaches, administrators and fans are quickly developing a reputation for consistently exhibiting respect, civility, fairness and honesty in competition,” commented Goeb. “We are very proud of our coaches
for modeling this behavior on a day-to-day basis and instilling this attitude in our student-athletes. We know that whether our teams are on
the road or competing in our own venues, they represent the university well.”

“The NSIC is very excited about the competitive nature of our league, but just as important is the environment that our student-athletes compete in,” said Raymond. “The NSIC Sportsmanship Award was developed to honor a school that consistently demonstrates a positive environment. Due to the fact that the award is selected by our head coaches and SAAC, it becomes all the more meaningful.”

Bemidji State is one of just three institutions to be bestowed with this distinct honor. Since its inception in 2008 only Northern State University
(2008), Bemidji State (2009-2001) and University of Mary (2010) have been selected to receive the award.

Bemidji State University, located in northern Minnesota’s lake district, occupies a beautiful campus along the shore of Lake Bemidji. Enrolling
approximately 5,000 students annually, the University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and 14 graduate programs encompassing arts, sciences and select professional programs. BSU sponsors 15 sport programs with affiliation to the NSIC and NCAA Division II while its men’s and women’s hockey programs are members of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) and compete within the NCAA’s Division I ranks. The University is a member of the Minnesota State College and Universities System and has a faculty and staff of nearly 600.

University signature themes include environmental stewardship, civic engagement and global/multicultural understanding.

The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference is a 14-team NCAA Division II conference with member institution hailing from Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, and Nebraska. Headquartered in Burnsville, Minn., the NSIC is home to nine team national championships since 2006.

BSU student-athlete appreciation banquet

BEMIDJI, Minn. -- The Bemidji State University Department of Athletics will host its annual Student-Athlete Appreciation Banquet Thursday,
April 28 from 5-7 p.m. at the Sanford Center main ballroom. Parents, fans and the general public are invited to attend to celebrate the 2010-
11 athletic season.

Tickets to the event can be purchased for $20 per adult or $15 for children 12 and under at the BSU Athletic Office or by calling 218-755-
2941 by April 19th.

The banquet serves as a year-end awards ceremony, as well as a time to recognize the accomplishments of the athletic teams and to honor
and thank the Bemidji State seniors for their contributions to their respective programs, the department and the university as a whole.

Studentathletes and coaches from BSU athletic teams, staff members, athletic administrators and university administrators will be in attendance at the affair.

Among the honors being presented at the annual event are the Male and Female Student-Athletes of the Year and the Male and Female Newcomers of the Year. In addition, five student-athletes will be honored with the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference/Myles Brand Academic with Distinction Award. The award, named in honor of the late NCAA President Dr. Myles Brand, is bestowed to senior NSIC student-athletes who have a cumulative grade point average of 3.75 or higher, are exhausting their eligibility and are on track to graduate.

This event is sponsored in part by Federated Insurance.