UND captures Big Sky Conference Presidents’ Cup

PARK CITY, Utah –A record-breaking academic year coupled with a history-making season of competition allowed the University of North Dakota to capture its first Big Sky Conference Presidents' Cup. League officials announced the award Monday at the league's annual Big Sky Kickoff event.

In its 15th year, the Presidents' Cup promotes the Big Sky's commitment to academics and recognizes a member school's overall success both in the classroom and in competition.

“This is great recognition of the tremendous job that our student-athletes, our coaches, administrative staff and, in particular, the academic support staff have done this year,” UND athletics director Brian Faison said. “It's been an incredible year and this award recognizes both athletic accomplishment and academic accomplishment.

“What a special year it's been to win four major championships in the Big Sky and for our student-athletes to have done the job they did, it's been incredible,” continued Faison. “And again, it goes back to what's really been the case at North Dakota and that is student really comes first in student-athlete and that's definitely borne out with this award.”

The Presidents' Cup is awarded annually to the program that succeeds both academically and athletically, as measured by a variety of categories. Regular-season team standings in eight of the league's 14 sports make up the athletic tier of the Presidents' Cup criteria.

Points are also awarded in men's and women's cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field and golf by virtue of finish at the Big Sky championship. Teams are ranked according to average points per sport.

On the other side, the academic tier measures the academic progress rate (APR) and each team's grade-point averages (GPA) of Big Sky sponsored sports. 

“We are extremely proud to receive the Big Sky Conference Presidents' Cup for this previous academic year," said UND President Mark Kennedy. "This achievement represents the tireless efforts of our student-athletes that extend far beyond the fields, rinks, and courts where they compete. It shows that the true spirit of the Fighting Hawks also shows itself in the determination and dedication that these individuals apply in the classrooms and their communities.

Kennedy continued: "I'd like to congratulate all of our student-athletes, coaches, and our entire athletics department for this exceptional accomplishment. University of North Dakota athletics is truly home to leaders in action.”

UND secured its first Presidents' Cup victory and became the sixth Big Sky program to win the cup since the award's implementation in 2002-03. The Fighting Hawks placed fifth overall in the athletic standings, winning titles in volleyball and men's basketball, while also finishing as co-champions in football and women's basketball.

Furthermore, UND is the first Big Sky school to win regular-season titles in volleyball, football and men's and women's basketball. 
However, it was UND's performance in the classroom that clinched the Presidents' Cup victory. UND had the best APR rating for the fifth consecutive since joining the Big Sky, scoring a 991.1. It also finished third in team GPA (3.31), with its women's golf team recording a program-best 3.57 GPA. 
“I would like to congratulate North Dakota's student-athletes and the University's leadership, administrators and coaches on a well-deserved Presidents' Cup victory,” said Big Sky Commissioner Andrea Williams. “It takes a combined effort to achieve such a feat and the Fighting Hawks' success both athletically and academically positioned them to earn this prestigious award.”

Finishing runner-up were the defending back-to-back champion Eastern Washington Eagles. EWU led in overall team GPA with a 3.46. Notably, EWU was also the only Big Sky member that had all of its teams report a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Finishing third overall was Montana, recording its best finish of second in the APR standings with a rating of 984.8. Behind Montana in the APR tier was Portland State with a score of 982.9. 

In the athletic tier, Northern Arizona topped the list by winning seven conference championships last season, including men's and women's cross country, indoor track & field, tennis and women's outdoor track & field. Additionally, Sacramento State and Weber State finished second and third, respectively, to round out the top-three schools in the athletic standings.

Montana's women's cross country team recorded the highest overall team GPA in the Big Sky Conference, turning in a 3.77. Montana also had the top men's GPA performance in the league this season (3.67), which was set by their men's tennis team.

Overall, the league saw 113 teams record a GPA of 3.0 or more. In all, 10 of 11 Big Sky full members recorded a GPA of at least 3.0, continuing the Big Sky's tradition of academic excellence.

“Big Sky institutions should be proud of their academic efforts throughout the year,” Williams said. “We have a tremendous group of student-athletes who make academics a priority, and this year's results further prove their hard work and dedication.”

The completely redesigned Presidents' Cup trophy will be showcased on the North Dakota campus for the next year. The results of the 2017-18 athletic and academic events will determine the awards future destination. 

25 UMC Student-Athletes Earn 2017 NSIC Spring All-Academic

BURNSVILLE, Minn.– The University of Minnesota Crookston had 25 student-athletes honored on the 2017 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Spring All-Academic Team released Tuesday afternoon by the league office.

The Golden Eagles matched their total of 25 student-athletes from last spring. Minnesota Crookston had eight softball players, four women’s golfers, four men’s golfers and nine baseball players honored on the NSIC Spring All-Academic Team.

Kate Howell (Jr., OF, Badger, Minn.), Victoria Bayliss (Jr., OF, West Bloomfield, Mich.), Bailey Braatz (Sr., RHP, Buffalo, Minn.), Jozie Garner (Sr., OF, Eureka, Kan.), Mikayla Jones (So., RHP, Huxley, Iowa), Maggie Morales (So., 1B/OF, Tucson, Ariz.), Sam Rarick (So., IF, East Grand Forks, Minn.) and Lexie Santoyo (So., OF, Kansas City, Mo.) all earned the recognition for the softball team.

McKenzie Harris (So., Nevis, Minn.), Baillee Hauser (Sr., Raymond, Minn.), Ashlee Humble (Jr., Rosemount, Minn.) and Kristi Larson (Sr., New Ulm, Minn.) represented the women’s golf team.

Ethan Johnson (So., Roseau, Minn.), T’mone Kleindl (Jr., Graceville, Minn.), Ben Koisti (So., Lake Norden, S.D.) and Ricky Phillips (Jr., Grand Forks, N.D.) all represented the men’s golf team.

Nate Albrecht (So., RHP, Wahpeton, N.D.), Patrick Amerson (Sr., IF, Eloy, Ariz.), Jason Angelo (Jr., IF, Manteca, Calif.), Mitchell Bornhauser (Jr., OF, Northfield, Minn.), Reed Hjelle (So., 1B, East Grand Forks, Minn.), Aaron Hollcraft (So., LHP, Crookston, Minn.), Wyatt Huso (Jr., RHP, Eagan, Minn.), Ethan Mushitz (Jr., SS, East Grand Forks, Minn.) and Jeremy Spinner (Sr., IF, Phoenix, Ariz.) all represented the baseball team.

To be eligible for this honor, the student-athlete must be a member of the varsity traveling team and have a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or better. Furthermore, the athlete must have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing at her/his institution (true freshmen, red-shirt freshmen and ineligible athletic transfers are not eligible) and must have completed at least one full academic year at that institution.

The Golden Eagles had 60 student-athletes honored on the 2016-17 NSIC All-Academic Teams. Minnesota Crookston increased their recipients from last season as they had 52 student-athletes honored on the 2015-16 NSIC All-Academic Teams.

For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at www.goldeneaglesports.com.

Follow the Golden Eagles on Facebook at Golden Eagle Sports and on Twitter at @UMCAthletics.

NDSU's Menard & Morlock Named to FCS Academic All-Star Team

North Dakota State football student-athletes Chase Morlock and Greg Menard were named to the Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association (FCS ADA) Academic All-Star Team for the 2016 season on Friday, Jan. 6.

Morlock, a senior running back from Moorhead, Minn., owns a 3.81 cumulative grade point average with a major in exercise science. Menard, a junior defensive end from Lakeville, Minn., has a 3.82 cumulative GPA in civil engineering.

Student-athletes from all FCS institutions are eligible for the award. Each of the nominees were required to have a minimum grade point average of 3.20 (on a 4.00 scale) in undergraduate study and have been a starter or key player with legitimate athletics credentials. Nominees must have reached their second year of athletic and academic standing at the nominating institution.

The 44 members of the 19th annual FCS ADA Academic All-Star Team were announced on Friday. The Missouri Valley Football Conference led all leagues with 11 student-athletes named to the All-Star Team.

Menard is a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-America first team honoree. Morlock and Menard were also both voted to the CoSIDA Academic All-District 6 first team in November.

NDSU’s Menard, Morlock, Stick, Grimsley Voted MVFC All-Academic

ST. LOUIS - North Dakota State had four student-athletes named to the Missouri Valley Football Conference All-Academic Team on Wednesday, Nov. 30, by a vote of the league's sports information directors.

Defensive end Greg Menard, running back Chase Morlock and quarterback Easton Stick were named to the first team, and safety Robbie Grimsley was named to the second team.

To qualify, nominees must be starters or key reserves with at least a 3.20 cumulative grade-point average, have sophomore academic and athletic standing, and have completed at least one full academic year at their institution.

Menard, a junior from Lakeville, Minn., has a 3.82 GPA majoring in civil engineering.  Morlock, a senior from Moorhead, Minn., has a 3.81 in exercise science.  Stick, a sophomore from Omaha, Neb., has a 3.90 in sport management.  Grimsley, a sophomore from Hutchinson, Minn., has a 3.58 in exercise science.

Menard, Morlock and Grimsley earlier this month were voted to the CoSIDA Academic All-District 6 first team by the College Sports Information Directors of America.

2016 Missouri Valley Football Conference All-Academic Team
First Team
Taryn Christion, QB, South Dakota State, 3.87, Exercise Science
Dylan Cole, LB, Missouri State, 3.67, Marketing Sales Management
Jacob Judd, OL, Western Illinois, 3.89/4.00 grad, Law Enforcement/Justice Administration
Nick Mears, DB, South Dakota State, 4.00, Economics
Greg Menard, DE, North Dakota State, 3.82, Civil Engineering
Chase Morlock, RB, North Dakota State, 3.81, Exercise Science
Robert Rathje, OL, Northern Iowa, 3.72, Movement & Exercise Science
Billy Reed, WR, Southern Illinois, 3.72, Finance
Karter Schult, DL, Northern Iowa, 3.87, Movement & Exercise Science
Easton Stick, QB, North Dakota State, 3.90, Sport Management
Brett Taylor, LB, Western Illinois, 3.69, Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration
Jake Wieneke, WR, South Dakota State, 3.60, Physical Education/Teacher Education

Second Team
Miles Bergner, P/K, South Dakota, 3.53, Theatre Design/Technology
Jesse Bobbit, LB, South Dakota State, 3.80, Physical Education/Teacher Education
Shayne Gottlob, DL, South Dakota State, 3.92, Business Economics
Robbie Grimsley, SS, North Dakota State, 3.58, Exercise Science
Isaac Harker, QB, Indiana State, 3.70, Economics
Kane Louscher, FB, South Dakota State, 3.84, Psychology/Biology
Brady Mengarelli, RB, South Dakota State, 3.52, Exercise Science
Luke Otto, K, Western Illinois, 4.00, Economics
Mark Spelman, OL, Illinois State, 3.70, Accounting
Jameer Thurman, LB, Indiana State, 3.59, Civil Engineering Technology
James Torgerson, OL, Western Illinois, 3.91, Economics/Finance

Honorable Mention

Indiana State: LS Joshua Appel (3.50, Finance); WR Robert Tonyan Jr. (3.22, Physical Education)

Missouri State: LB Jared Beshore (3.86, Physical Education); TE Erik Furmanek (3.64, Logistics & Supply Chain Management)

Northern Iowa: LB Jared Farley (3.32, Business Administration); OL Cal Twait (3.78, Physical Education)

Western Illinois: LB Riggs Baxter (3.87, Engineering Technology); P/K Nathan Knuffman (3.63, Exercise Science)

Youngstown State: LB Armond Dellovade (3.49, Business Management); QB Hunter Wells (3.63, Business)

CoSIDA Academic All-District

FARGO, N.D. - North Dakota State running back Chase Morlock, defensive end Greg Menard and strong safety Robbie Grimsley were named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District 6 first team by a vote of the College Sports Information Directors of America on Thursday, Nov. 3.

All three student-athletes advance to the national ballot for CoSIDA Academic All-America® honors to be announced in December.  Nominees must have a 3.30 cumulative grade-point average and be starters or significant contributors with at least sophomore academic and athletic standing.

Morlock, a senior from Moorhead, Minn., has a 3.81 GPA in exercise science.  He has rushed 28 times for 141 yards and a touchdown and caught eight passes for 126 yards and one TD in seven games for the Bison this season.  He was a CoSIDA Academic All-District pick in 2015.

Menard, a junior from Lakeville, Minn., has a 3.82 GPA in civil engineering.  He leads the Bison with 8.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks through eight games and has totaled 30 tackles.  He was a CoSIDA Academic All-America® first team honoree in 2015.

Grimsley, a sophomore from Hutchinson, Minn., has a 3.58 GPA in criminal justice.  He is NDSU's leading tackler with 54 total tackles in eight games.  Grimsley has three interceptions, one forced fumble and one sack.

No. 4-ranked North Dakota State (7-1, 4-1 MVFC) is scheduled to host 13th-ranked Youngstown State (6-2, 4-1 MVFC) at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, in the annual Harvest Bowl game at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome.

2016 CoSIDA Academic All-District 6 Football Team

NCAA Division I

First Team

QB – Danny Etling, LSU, 3.74, mass commnications/public relations

WR – Jake Wieneke, South Dakota State, 3.60, physical education/teacher education

WR – Jatavious Wilson, Central Arkansas, 3.33, health education

TE – JD Moore, LSU, 3.99, architecture

RB – Brady Mengarelli, South Dakota State, 3.52, exercise science

RB – Chase Morlock, North Dakota State, 3.81, exercise science

OL – John Austin Cook, Central Arkansas, 3.87, biology

OL – Brian Hernandez, Nicholls State, 3.77, biology/pre-med/pre-dentistry

OL – Robert Rathje, Northern Iowa, 3.72, movement/exercise science

OL – Cameron Tom, Southern Mississippi, 3.76, finance

OL – Chris Zirkle, Northwestern State, 4.00, business administration

K – Emmit Carpenter, Minnesota, 3.58, supply chain & operations management

DB – Jared Beshore, Missouri State, 3.86, physical education

DB – Robbie Grimsley, North Dakota State, 3.58, criminal justice

DB – Nick Mears, South Dakota State, 4.00, economics

DB – Picasso Nelson Jr., Southern Mississippi, 3.72, finance

LB – Dylan Cole, Missouri State, 3.62, sales management

LB – Brooks Ellis, Arkansas, 3.82, pre-professional exercise science

LB – Brian Labat, North Dakota, 3.89, biology

DL – Nathan Clayberg, Drake, 4.00, accounting/finance

DL – Scott Ekpe, Minnesota, 3.81, human resource development

DL – Greg Menard, North Dakota State, 3.82, civil engineering

DL – Mitchell Meyers, Iowa State, 3.60, supply chain management

DL – Karter Schult, Northern Iowa, 3.87, movement/exercise science

P – Miles Bergner, South Dakota, 3.53, criminal justice/theatre

NDSU's Jacobson & Miller Named Academic All-American Honors

FARGO, N.D. – North Dakota State University sophomores A.J. Jacobson and Paul Miller were voted to the CoSIDA Academic All-America third team in men’s basketball, it was announced Thursday, March 3, by the College Sports Information Directors of America.

NDSU is one of only three Division I schools in the country with a pair of Academic All-Americans this season. Iowa and Belmont are the other two.

Jacobson and Miller are the first Academic All-America honorees for NDSU men’s basketball since three-time selection Brett Winkelman (2007-09), who was named Academic All-American of the Year in 2009.

Jacobson owns a 3.99 cumulative GPA with a zoology/pre-dentistry major. He has started all 30 games for the Bison this season, averaging 13.1 points and 4.0 rebounds while shooting 44 percent from the field.

Miller has a 3.82 cumulative GPA with a major in accounting. He leads the Bison in scoring with 15.9 points per game, while also grabbing 4.9 rebounds per contest and shooting 42 percent overall and from three-point range.

Miller and Jacobson have combined for 44 double-digit scoring games this season. As only sophomores, both have surpassed 100 career three-pointers made and rank among the top 25 in NDSU history in that category.

First Team

Canyon Barry, Charleston (S.C.), Jr., Colorado Springs, Colo., 4.00, Physics / computer science

Joshua Braun, Grand Canyon, Sr., Anthem, Ariz., 3.83, Business management

Marcus Paige, North Carolina, Sr., Marion, Iowa, 3.43, Media & journalism / history

Shavon Shields, Nebraska, Sr., Olathe, Kan., 3.72, Biological sciences

Jarrod Uthoff, Iowa, Gr., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 3.42, Economics (UG) / leisure studies (G)

                                                 

Second Team

Grayson Allen, Duke, So., Jacksonville, Fla., 3.39, Psychology

Craig Bradshaw, Belmont, Sr., Ridgetop, Tenn., 3.47, Public relations

Mike Gesell, Iowa, Gr., South Sioux City, Neb., 3.94, Finance (UG) / leisure studies (G)

Alex Poythress, Kentucky, Sr., Clarksville, Tenn., 3.52, Business & marketing (UG) / sport leadership (G)

Domantas Sabonis, Gonzaga, So., Kaunas, Lithuania, 3.46, Sport management

Third Team

Kale Abrahamson, Drake, Gr., West Des Moines, Iowa, 3.91, Psychology (UG) / MBA

Evan Bradds, Belmont, Jr., Jamestown, Ohio, 3.53, Finance

Derrick Henry, Citadel, Gr., Covington, Ga., 3.71, Business administration

A.J. Jacobson, North Dakota State, So., Fargo, N.D., 3.99, Zoology / pre-dentistry

Paul Miller, North Dakota State, So., Waukesha, Wis., 3.82, Accounting

CoSIDA Academic All-American® of the Year: Jarrod Uthoff, Iowa