NDSU Wrestlers Earn Preseason Rankings

FARGO, N.D.--North Dakota State University's returning NCAA All-American 184-pound Hayden Zillmer and NCAA qualifier Josh Rodriguez have earned high preseason rankings from the Amateur Wrestling News, InterMat and FloWrestling. Zillmer was No. 5 in the FloWrestling rankings, and No. 6 on both the AWN and InterMat charts. Rodriguez was 10th in the AWN rankings, 12th on FloWrestling and 17th by InterMat.

Zillmer, a senior from Crosby, Minn. (Crosby-Ironton H.S.), capped off a stellar season with a sixth-place finish in his weight class at the 2015 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. He had to reel off five straight wins in the wrestlebacks after getting upset in the first round at nationals en route to earning the first All-America finish of his career. Zillmer, who entered the national tournament as the six seed at 184 pounds, finished his 2015 NCAA run with a 5-3 record. Two of his wins came over No. 2 Max Thomusseit and No. 4 Jack Dechow of Old Dominion during the streak and all five were over fellow seeded foes.

Zillmer finished with a 36-7 record and a perfect 13-0 mark in duals in 2014-15. He was a three-time Western Wrestling Conference Wrestler of the Week and won his second straight NCAA West Regional/WWC Championship title despite moving from 174 to 184. Zillmer took third at the prestigious Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational with a win over the then top-ranked wrestler in the nation and eventual national champion Gabe Dean of Cornell. He also placed fourth at the Midlands Championships and finished the year with eight falls, four tech falls and three major decisions.

Rodriguez, a junior from Guadalupe, Calif. (Righetti H.S.), went 2-2 at his first NCAA tournament and finished the season with a 20-8 record. He was named the 2015 NCAA West Regional/WWC Most Outstanding Wrestler after navigating through a bracket that included five NCAA Championships participants.

North Dakota State is scheduled to open the season Sunday, Nov. 1 at the Warren Williamson Daktronics Open in Brookings. NDSU opens the home portion of its schedule at 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, against Atlantic Coast Conference powerhouse University of Virginia in the Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse. The 45th annual Bison Open follows on Saturday, Nov. 14, in the Fargodome.

AP MN High School Baseball Rankings

The Associated Press poll for Minnesota baseball, provided by Let's Play Baseball newspaper.

Class AAA – May 14, 2015

1. MOUNDS VIEW

2. Chaska

3. Chanhassen

4. Maple Grove

5. Lakeville North

6. Mahtomedi

7. Cretin-Derham Hall

8. Eden Prairie

9. St. Michael-Albertville

10. Minnetonka

11. Totino-Grace

12. Anoka

13. Bloomington Jefferson

14. St. Francis

15. Wayzata

16. Northfield

17. North St. Paul

18. Hutchinson

19. Mankato West

20. Bemidji

Also receiving votes: Edina, Shakopee, Waconia, Woodbury, Sartell, Stillwater Area, Rochester John Marshall, Red Wing, Robbinsdale Armstrong, Eastview, Alexandria, East Ridge, Sauk Rapids-Rice, Centennial

Class AA – May 14, 2015

1. ST. CLOUD CATHEDRAL

2. Rochester Lourdes

3. Fairmont

4. Minnehaha Academy

5. Marshall

6. Holy Angels

7. Delano

8. Glencoe/Silver Lake

9. Albany

10. Perham

11. Rocori

12. Holy Family Catholic

13. Blake

14. Little Falls

15. Kasson-Mantorville

16. Winona Cotter

17. Minnewaska Area

18. Aitkin

19. Hawley

20. Litchfield

Also receiving votes: La Crescent, Maple Lake, Byron, Duluth Marshall, Ottertail Central, Providence Academy, Cloquet, Melrose, Cannon Falls, Belle Plaine, Albert Lea, East Grand Forks, St. Paul Como Park, Pequot Lakes, Detroit Lakes, Dassel-Cokato, Pipestone Area, Esko

Class A – May 14, 2015

1. NEW LIFE ACADEMY

2. BOLD

3. Windom Area

4. Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s

5. Springfield

6. Mankato Loyola

7. Kenyon-Wanamingo

8. Hayfield

9. New Ulm Cathedral

10. Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton

11. Chatfield

12. Medford

13. Lac qui Parle Valley

14. Ely

15. ML-GHEC-Truman

16. Heritage Christian

17. Upsala/Swanville Area

18. Lewiston-Altura

19. Nevis

20. Browerville

Also receiving votes: Blackduck, Randolph, New York Mills, Mesabi East, Red Lake County, Bertha-Hewitt-Verndale, Adrian, Norman County, Minneota, Badger-Greenbush-Middle River

NDSU's Track & Field Rankings

NDSU Women’s Track & Field Ranked 4th in Midwest Region

The North Dakota State women’s track & field team is ranked fourth in the Midwest Region in the latest outdoor regional team rankings released by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Monday, Apr. 20.

The Bison trail only Kansas and Kansas State of the Big 12 Conference and Nebraska of the Big Ten Conference in the latest rankings. Schools ranked behind NDSU include Oklahoma, Minnesota, Wichita State, Iowa, Oklahoma State, Missouri, Iowa State and Illinois.

The USTFCCCA calculates national and regional team rankings based on national and regional descending order lists. The Midwest regional team rankings include all Division I schools in the nine-state area of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, South Dakota and North Dakota.

NDSU junior Erin Teschuk owns the region’s top times in the 3,000m steeplechase and 1500m. The Winnipeg, Manitoba, native ranks second in the NCAA and seventh in the world in the steeplechase this year.

Bison senior Maddie Van Beek (5000m) and junior Melissa Kitching (400m hurdles) are both ranked No. 2 in the Midwest Region in their respective events. Ashley Heinze (400m hurdles) and Sierra Rosenau (javelin) hold No. 4 rankings in the Midwest.

USTFCCCA Midwest Regional Team Rankings – Women

1. Kansas

2. Kansas State

3. Nebraska

4. North Dakota State

5. Oklahoma

6. Minnesota

7. Wichita State

8. Iowa

9. Oklahoma State

10. Missouri

11. Iowa State

12. Southern Illinois

13. South Dakota

14. Illinois

15. Missouri State

Bison Men’s Track & Field Ranked 10th in Midwest Region

The North Dakota State men’s track & field team is ranked 10th in the Midwest Region in the latest outdoor regional team rankings released by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Monday, Apr. 20.

The USTFCCCA calculates regional team rankings based on regional descending order lists. The Midwest regional team rankings include all Division I schools in the nine-state area of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, South Dakota and North Dakota.

Bison sophomore Matti Mortimore is ranked No. 1 in the Midwest in the javelin following his school-record performance on Friday at the Mt. SAC Relays. NDSU owns the top two javelin throwers in the region with junior Tyler Parker coming in at No. 2.

NDSU senior Brett Kelly and junior Brendan Skime are No. 5 and No. 7, respectively, in the Midwest in the 3,000m steeplechase. Sophomore Angus Stoudt is fifth in the decathlon.

NDSU’s 4x400m relay team of Matt Bedard, Aron Klos, Landon Jochim and Wesley DeLong is No. 6 on the Midwest Region list this season after running the fastest time by a Bison quartet since 2005 on Saturday at the Beach Invitational.

The Bison will compete at the Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa, on Apr. 24-25.

USTFCCCA Midwest Regional Team Rankings – Men

1. Nebraska

2. Oklahoma

3. Illinois

4. Iowa

5. Kansas

6. Minnesota

7. Wichita State

8. Missouri

9. Southern Illinois

10. North Dakota State

11. Oklahoma State

12. Kansas State

13. Loyola-Chicago

14. Tulsa

15. South Dakota

NDSU Men’s XC Moves into Regional Rankings

The North Dakota State men’s cross country team is ranked 13th in the Midwest Region, according to the rankings released by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Monday, Oct. 6.

The No. 13 ranking is NDSU’s highest since reaching No. 12 in the Midwest in October 2011. This is the first appearance for the Bison men in the regional cross country rankings since the 2012 preseason poll.

NDSU is now the highest ranked team in the Midwest from The Summit League, with South Dakota State coming in at No. 14 and South Dakota at No. 15. The Bison defeated the Jackrabbits and the Coyotes to win the SDSU Classic in Brookings, S.D., on Saturday.

The Midwest Region includes all Division I schools in a nine-state area comprised of Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota. It is home to teams from 13 conferences including the American, Atlantic 10, Big 12, Big East, Big Sky, Big Ten, Horizon League, Mid-American, Missouri Valley, Ohio Valley, Summit League, SEC and WAC.

USTFCCCA Men’s Midwest Region Rankings

1. Oklahoma State                     Big 12

2. Oklahoma                                 Big 12

3. Tulsa                                           American

4. Minnesota                               Big Ten

5. Iowa State                                Big 12

6. Illinois                                         Big Ten

7. Missouri                                    SEC

8. Kansas                                       Big 12

9. Iowa                                           Big Ten

10. Bradley                                    Missouri Valley

11. Southern Illinois                  Missouri Valley

12. Wichita State                        Missouri Valley

13. North Dakota State            Summit League

14. South Dakota State            Summit League

15. South Dakota                        Summit League

High School Volleyball Rankings

State volleyball rankings, provided by the coaches association...

CLASS 3A
1. Chaska (8) 133
2. Eagan (1) 121
3. Eden Prairie 112
4. Delano 103
5. Hopkins 100
6. Lakeville South 83
7. Roseville 71
8. Osseo 55
9. Waconia 48
10. Prior Lake 38
Others receiving votes: Wayzata (34), Minnetonka (26), Rosemount (17), North St. Paul (12), Edina (9), Owatonna (4)

CLASS 2A
1. Marshall (3) 59
2. Stewartville 47
3. Kasson-Mantorville 45
Belle Plaine (1) 45
5. Maple Lake 39
6. Jordan 37
7. Jackson County Central 36
8. Concordia Academy 33
9. Thief River Falls 31
10. Hill-Murray 28
Others receiving votes: Melrose (10),

CLASS 1A
1. Bethlehem Academy (4) 74
2. Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa 60
3. Tracy-Milroy-Balaton 58
4. Fillmore Central 55
New Life Academy 55
6. Ada-Borup 46
7. Minneota (1) 40
8. Heritage Academy 35
9. Mabel-Canton 34
10. Central MN Christian 20
Others receiving votes: Mayer Lutheran (16), Southwest Christian (13), Hayfield (7), Southwest United (6), Martin County West (6)

(info courtesy of mshsl)

NDSU ranked Seventh in NCAA FCS Attendance

INDIANAPOLIS - North Dakota State had a record average home attendance for the third straight season and finished seventh among the Football Championship Subdivision according to the final numbers released by the NCAA for the 2013 season.

North Dakota State drew an average of 18,622 over nine dates, up from last year's school-record 18,516.  NDSU was second only to Montana in total attendance with 167,600 passing through the Fargodome doors.

The Bison sold out the first four games of the season including a school-record crowd of 19,108 for the Oct. 12 homecoming win over Missouri State.  NDSU has enjoyed 17 sellout crowds over the past eight years.

North Dakota State went 31-3 at home over the past four seasons and has won 14 straight at Gate City Bank Field entering the 2014 season, the second longest active FCS home winning streak behind Sam Houston State's 22.

2013 NCAA Division I FCS Average Home Attendance

	School	Dates	Total	Average
1.	Appalachian St.	6	149,366	24,894
2.	Montana	7	170,660	24,380
3.	James Madison	7	147,076	21,011
4.	Southern U.	5	100,536	20,107
5.	Yale	5	99,045	19,809
6.	Montana St.	6	118,222	19,704
7.	North Dakota St.	9	167,600	18,622
8.	Delaware	7	126,754	18,108
9.	Jackson St.	4	69,143	17,286
10.	Jacksonville St.	7	110,695	15,814
11.	Charlotte	6	93,244	15,541
12.	Liberty	7	105,215	15,031
13.	Ga. Southern	6	88,968	14,828
14.	Alabama St.	6	86,321	14,387
15.	N.C. A&T	6	81,443	13,574
16.	Youngstown St.	7	94,539	13,506
17.	Citadel	6	78,932	13,155
18.	UNI	6	75,431	12,572
19.	McNeese St.	7	84,506	12,072
20.	Harvard	5	60,334	12,067
21.	Penn	5	59,680	11,936
22.	South Carolina St.	6	71,279	11,880
23.	Tennessee St.	5	57,309	11,462
24.	Florida A&M	5	55,848	11,170
25.	South Dakota St.	6	64,162	10,694
26.	Illinois St.	5	50,694	10,139
27.	Chattanooga	6	59,534	9,922
28.	William & Mary	6	58,346	9,724
29.	Alabama A&M	5	48,555	9,711
30.	Stephen F. Austin	5	48,418	9,684

Defending Champ NDSU & Runner Up Sam Houston State Highlight the 2012 FCS Preseason Ranking

CHICAGO -- North Dakota State, who won the school’s first Division I football national title last year and the school’s ninth NCAA football crown overall, is ranked No. 1 in the 2012 NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision preseason poll conducted by the staff of College Sporting News.

The Bison made the school’s second playoff appearance pay off in their trip to Frisco, Texas to win the national title for the first time since winning the Division II title in 1990. 

Finishing a close second to the Bison in the preseason poll is last year’s runner up in Sam Houston State. 

The 2011 season showed the parity in the FCS, with NDSU and SHSU both making their respective school’s first national title game appearance.

While some of the traditional FCS powers will be in the fight for a national championship this season, the battle for the top prize should once again be wide open. In fact, 33 schools received votes in our staff poll.

Last year's playoff semifinalist Georgia Southern wound up in the third position, while Big Sky Conference co-champion and 2011 Division I playoff quarterfinalist Montana State was in the four spot. 

The Colonial Athletic Association playoff quarterfinalist and 2004 champion James Madison comes in at the number five slot. 

The remainder of the Top 10 had three-time national titlist Appalachian State in the #6 position, 2011 CAA champion Towson at #7, fellow CAA and recent FCS newcomer Old Dominion at #8, MVFC co-champion Northern Iowa at #9, and 2011 FCS playoff semi-finalist and two time FCS champion Montana rounding out the top 10. 

Finishing just out of the top-10 at No. 11 is Lehigh, which has won two Patriot League championships in a row. 

Eastern Washington, the 2010 national champions, which started the 2011 season with four straight losses but finished with six wins to end the season, is ranked 12th. 

The national runner-up from the 2010 season to EWU was Delaware and the Blue Hens are ranked next to them at the number 13th spot. 

The fourth CAA team in the poll is 2011 FCS playoff quarterfinalist New Hampshire at the 14th spot. 

The SoCon’s third team in this year’s preseason poll is Wofford to finish out the top 15.

Defending Big South champion Stony Brook is 16th, who gave Sam Houston State their toughest contest before the national championship game in their quarterfinal loss to the Bearkats. 

Next comes two MVFC teams in Youngstown State at #17 and Illinois State at #18. YSU handed national champion NDSU their lone loss last season and ISU was likely the last team to miss the playoffs despite having the favored seven-win total. 

Maine is the final and sixth CAA team in the Top 25 at the #19 spot. The Black Bears are coming off a FCS playoff quarterfinal loss to Georgia Southern. 

Rounding out the Top 20 is the Ohio Valley’s Eastern Kentucky, who may have been considered the last at-large FCS playoff team into the field a season ago. 

Central Arkansas, who is coming off the team’s first FCS playoff appearance and playoff win, comes in at the #21 spot to begin the year. 

Finishing out the poll is the MVFC's fifth team, Indiana State at No. 22, Liberty from the Big South comes in at 23, while the OVC’s Murray State appears at 24, and Stephen F. Austin makes the third team out of the Southland Conference at 25.

College Sporting News 2012 FCS Preseason Top 25

1. North Dakota State 

2. Sam Houston State

3. Georgia Southern

4. Montana State

5. James Madison

6. Appalachian State

7. Towson

8. Old Dominion 

9. Northern Iowa

10. Montana

11. Lehigh

12. Eastern Washington

13. Delaware

14. New Hampshire

15. Wofford

16. Stony Brook

17. Youngstown State

18. Illinois State

19. Maine

20. Eastern Kentucky

21. Central Arkansas

22. Indiana State

23. Liberty

24. Murray State

25. Stephen F. Austin

Others receiving votes: Bethune-Cookman, Harvard, Chattanooga, Grambling State, Norfolk State, Southern Illinois, Villanova, Jacksonville State.

(By Kent Schmidt College Sporting News )