BISON Illustrated January 18

BISON ILLUSTRATED JA N UA RY 2 0 18

January 2018

Alexis Woods NDSU Sprinter Parshall, N.D. Native

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

FEATURE

ON THE WEB

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42 NICK DELUCA Linebacker Nick DeLuca has battled adversity over the past two seasons. He’s finally healthy and is the nucleus of the best defense in the FCS.

22 PRIDE OF THE PRAIRIE North Dakota has continually turned out high school talent to help North Dakota State flourish in Division I. We go to all four corners of the state to highlight the Bison student-athletes representing towns big and small on the Northern Prairie.

WHAT’S INSIDE 22

Alexis Woods

58

SAAC

28

Brock Robbins

60

SAAC’s Holiday Cheer

32

Rylee Nudell

66

Where Are They Now?

38

Jake Leingang

74

How Well Do You Know

46

Football Seniors

76

Swany Says

50

Pro Bison

80

Pop Quiz

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MARINA FERNANDEZ Junior transfer Marina Fernandez hails from Barcelona, Spain. She talks to us about her transition to Fargo and what it’s like to go to college in a foreign country.

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JANUARY 2018 | VOLUME 12 ISSUE 6 Bison Illustrated is a free publication distributed monthly (12 times a year). Our mission is to help promote North Dakota State University Athletics, provide a quality and fun reading experience and to improve the way of life in our community. The publication is mailed to homes across the US and has newsstand distribution throughout North Dakota and Minnesota.

PRESIDENT Mike Dragosavich EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Andrew Jason EDITOR Joe Kerlin GRAPHIC DESIGN Matt Anderson, Sarah Geiger CONTRIBUTORS Josh Swanson, Joe Kerlin, Sam Herder, Ethan Mickelson WEB TEAM Samantha Stark, Huong Tran COPY EDITORS Ethan Mickelson, Sam Herder MARKETING/SALES Paul Hoefer, Scott Rorvig SENIOR SALES EXECUTIVE Ryan Courneya SALES EXECUTIVES Dan Helm, Chris Cates CLIENT RELATIONS MANAGER Jenny Johnson CLIENT RELATIONS INTERN Ruth Olson SALES MANAGER Layne Hanson SALES ADMINISTRATIVE Pam Mjoness ASSISTANT BUSINESS OPERATIONS Larissa Kunde ASSISTANT PHOTOGRAPHY J. Alan Paul Photography, Hillary Ehlen DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Nick Hackl SPECIAL THANKS Ryan Perreault, Wes Offerman, Ryan Anderson, Jeff Schwartz, Colleen Heimstead, NDSU Athletics DELIVERY Tom Wegner

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Check out Spotlight Media's Other Magazines Design & Living Magazine Celebrate five years of elegance with Design & Living Magazine. This month, we went through our style files to reminisce about the many remarkable people and places that have graced our pages. Also in this issue, we’ve curated our best content from 2017.

Fargo INC! Businesses with a give-back culture have higher morale in the workplace, have more than 20 percent higher profitability and are 70 percent more likely to be viewed favorably by the community. We sat down with five local business and nonprofit leaders to talk about why giving is not only good for employees and the community, it’s good for the bottom line.

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EDITOR’S NOTE JOE KERLIN

PRAIRIE PRIDE

FROM JOE KERLIN

Joe Kerlin joe@spotlightmediafargo.com

W I

hen the Monday Night Football color analyst coins a term galvanizing your state for the grit of its people, you take said phrase and run with it. That’s what many of us did when ESPN’s Jon Gruden called former Bison quarterback Carson Wentz “North Dakota Tough” during a Monday night broadcast in October.

Instantly, Twitter handles were changed, shirts were designed and graphics with Gruden’s quote were shared by North Dakotans who were proud of their state’s new tagline.

My reaction was different. I prefer more creativity. Why not use “North Dakota Nuance”, “ND Nobility” or “Northern Nerve”. I don’t know? Maybe I’m a sucker for alliteration or maybe I should just keep quiet because Gruden is no marketing expert.

I may have rolled my eyes at the clichéd use of “tough” but what Gruden said is true. This state breeds a different type of

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BISON ILLUSTRATED J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 8

bisonillustrated

athlete. It’s the kind of athlete that many said would struggle in Division I athletics. Doubters said the talent pool in the barren northern prairie was too shallow.

They were wrong.

North Dakota State is still transitioning out of the infant stages of big-time college athletics. It will most likely take another couple generations to shed the mid-major label. But that doesn’t mean the athletes raised here can’t compete with the powers that reside in the Big Ten and Southeastern conferences.

“There’s this belief that I’m at some sort of disadvantage coming into the league because of where I’m from,” wrote Carson Wentz in his The Players’ Tribune article before the 2016 NFL Draft. “But if you get to know me, you’ll understand that being from North Dakota isn’t a disadvantage. Not even close. In fact, having been raised in North Dakota is probably one of my greatest strengths.”

There are 107 current Bison student-athletes who would agree with Wentz. The

@bisonmag

@joejoekerlin

homegrown athletes have taken the initiative to make NDSU a force to be reckoned with across college sports.

The women’s track and field team alone has 25 members from the Peace Garden State. The football team has 22, including all-conference player Tanner Volson and starting offensive guard Bryce Messner. The men’s track team lists 24. What do these teams have in common? They each raise banners every year.

The talent is here. It’s in every corner of the spacious heartland in North Dakota. From Highway 2 to County Road 22, and everywhere in between, the Pride of the Prairie exists in each one of the 107 North Dakota studentathletes. * * *

FOOTBALL BISON SHOTS

BISON SHOTS

F

Photo by Lifetouch Photography

ive hours before kickoff in the FCS semifinals, 14 current and former Bison football players walked the stage at NDSU’s winter commencement.

Brad Ambrosius and Pierre GeeTucker joined current members of the football team on stage with Chris Klieman before receiving their degrees. Ambrosius and GeeTucker have remained close to the football team after their eligibility ran out last year. Among this group, Kindred, North Dakota’s Eric Bachmeier, and Omaha native Easton Stick are listed as juniors on the roster and will have another year of eligibility to play for the Bison. They will enroll in grad school courses this winter.

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PRIDE OF THE PRAIRIE ALEXIS WOODS

By Sam Herder Photo by J. Alan Paul Photography

Alexis Woods Among Many In-State Athletes Helping NDSU T&F Dynasty There have been many impressive accomplishments for North Dakota State athletics since moving up to Division I. The most dominant program is the women’s track and field team. Alexis Woods is one of many North Dakota natives helping contribute in the run of consecutive Summit League titles.

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PRIDE OF THE PRAIRIE ALEXIS WOODS

• Track & Field • Sprints • Senior Hometown: Parshall Population: 1,253 High School: Parshall

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PRIDE OF THE PRAIRIE ALEXIS WOODS

NDSU by the Numbers Five-time Summit League 4x400-meter relay champion (indoor and outdoor). NCAA Championships qualifier in the 4x400 (outdoor 2017).

Summit League champion in the 400-meter and also won a Summit League title in the 4x100-meter relay (outdoor 2017).

Photo by NDSU Athletics/Nate Barrett

W

hen people think of sports in North Dakota, “speed” isn’t necessarily the first thing that pops into their mind. So when NDSU decided to transition to Division I, the general thought was the recruiting landscape for programs like track and field will change dramatically. Because how many Division I track athletes can you find in North Dakota?

As it turns out, quite a bit. The Bison women’s track and field team has 62 student-athletes on its roster. Twenty-five of them are

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from North Dakota. They are part of a program that has won every single indoor and outdoor Summit League title since 2008. That’s 20 in a row.

Alexis Woods is one of those North Dakota athletes. The Parshall native is a big reason why the Bison have had so much success in the 400-meter races.

Woods, a senior, is a five-time Summit League 4x400-meter relay champion in the indoor and outdoor seasons. She won her first individual title in the 400-meter dash in the 2017 outdoor season

and was also a part of the 4x100meter relay team that took first.

Her career-best 400-meter outdoor time of 52.99 seconds ranks second all-time at NDSU. The 400-meter program at NDSU was a big reason she chose to come to Fargo. It turned out to be her specialty in high school, winning four Class B state titles in the 400-meter dash after runner-up finishes as a seventh and eighth grader. It was a race she originally wasn’t training for.

PRIDE OF THE PRAIRIE ALEXIS WOODS

“We had a lot of talent in our track program with our distance,” Woods said. “I started with distance, then as I got older I got faster and my speed progressed.

I liked going to school there, running there and being from a small town. You knew everyone and you had a lot of family there.

It was a good experience growing up.”

Her success in the quarter-mile race didn’t take a break when she got to NDSU. As a freshman in 2015, Woods led off the Bison 4x400-meter relay that won the Summit League title. She’s won a conference title in that race every season since. Last year in the outdoor season, the Bison 4x400 team made it to the NCAA Championships, taking 17th place with a time of 3:38.44.

and we have talent there.”

Overall, Woods pointed out that having a majority of the team being from North Dakota or Minnesota helps out with team chemistry. She mentioned how they can all relate to each other, whether if they’re from Bismarck or Parshall. It’s that type of friendship that Woods says will stick with her when she graduates this May.

time here so much better. We’ve had great upperclassmen that showed me the way and told me what it meant to be a Bison. You just see it every day here. You look around and see all the banners and it’s just a really good program. I’m proud to be a Bison.”

* * *

“I have a really good friend group here,” Woods, a criminal justice major, said. “That’s helped me adjust to things here and made my

On that relay with Woods was Amy Andrushko (Dugald, Manitoba), Rose Jackson (Willmar, Minnesota) and Morgan Milbrath (Minot, North Dakota). Woods said she can sense when competing at bigger events that not many give a Midwest track and field program much credit.

“I think a lot of people don’t know what NDSU is about,” she said.

“But with the throwers program, they’re helping put us on the map. And we’ve had successful 4x4s in the past. Hopefully, we can get more events at the NCAA Championships and keep succeeding.”

Woods is used to running with something to prove. Coming from North Dakota to run Division I track is one thing. Coming from a Class B program is another. But she isn’t alone. Thirteen of the 25 North Dakota athletes on the team competed in the smaller of the two high school divisions.

“Especially being from a smaller school and Class B, I kind of have a chip on my shoulder and try to represent Class B,” Woods said.

“We want to show we can compete

Photo by NDSU Athletics/Nate Barrett 25

PRIDE OF THE PRAIRIE ALEXIS WOODS

Questions & Answers with

Bison Illustrated:

What made you decide to run collegiately at NDSU? Alexis Woods: “I wanted to be somewhere that was far from home, but close enough where I could travel home if I needed to. It was a Division I program and they also had a really good 400 and 4x4 program. That influenced my decision a lot.”

Did you ever consider leaving the state for college, or was staying in North Dakota something you always wanted to do?

AW: “I had my options open. I wasn’t opposed to leaving the state. But I was also fine with staying in North Dakota, too.”

How do you think this program has been able to sustain this success?

AW: “We have good camaraderie and no one on this team is selfish. We all just want to help each other and see each other succeed. You get to practice every day with girls that are hard-working and have the same goals as you.”

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PRIDE OF THE PRAIRIE BROCK ROBBINS

• Football • Fullback • Sophomore Hometown: Cavalier Population: 1,241 High School: Cavalier

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PRIDE OF THE PRAIRIE BROCK ROBBINS

By Sam Herder Photo by Hillary Ehlen & J. Alan Paul Photography

Tornado-Great Brock Robbins Changes His Role To Live His Boyhood Dream

If there’s one thing that sticks out on Brock Robbins’ high school and college football career, it’s the drop in statistics. The North Dakota State sophomore fullback went from an unstoppable 9-man football player to someone leading the way for the playmakers on the field. And on a good day, he’ll get to touch the ball once. Robbins really doesn’t care, though. He’s been an NDSU fan since a kid. And now that he’s donning a Bison uniform, he’s bought into the mindset of doing it for the brother next to you.

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PRIDE OF THE PRAIRIE BROCK ROBBINS

NDSU by the Numbers 21 games played, four receptions for 32 yards.

Named to the MVFC Honor Roll twice.

C

avalier, North Dakota, is an NDSU football town.

One would think the city of 1,241 people that’s less than 20 miles from the Canadian border would gravitate toward the University of North Dakota.

But up to 50 people, some filling a customized NDSU tailgating bus, drive right through Grand Forks to get to Fargo every fall weekend for home games.

Notable past Bison players from Cavalier like Matt Anderson, Rob Hunt and Steve Laqua probably had a big helping hand in having the town wear the Bison green.

Now there’s another player adding to the Cavalier-to-Fargo pipeline.

Brock Robbins has been cemented as one of the best football players to come through Cavalier. He won two 9-man state titles for the Tornadoes in 2013 and 2014 while scoring 72 career touchdowns and racking up 307 solo tackles. A few

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college football teams in the area showed interest. There was only one that mattered to Robbins.

“Growing up, I always watched NDSU on TV,” he said. “My mom (Lori) played basketball here (an All-American in 1982 and inducted into the Bison Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997). I was always a Bison fan. And just the tradition they have here. It was an easy decision for me.”

Those gaudy statistics by his name are now gone. But his importance on the field is not. As the fullback

in NDSU’s system, Robbins is key in making sure the tradition of running the football continues.

And he didn’t need a humbling experience or a stern lecture from a coach to adjust from being a superstar to a role player, albeit an important one.

“I just bought in right away and try to help the team as best I can,” Robbins said. “I had the mindset of doing whatever I can do. It’s just playing for the guy next to you. You do it so the running back can make a play or the quarterback can make a throw. At fullback, it’s a position

PRIDE OF THE PRAIRIE BROCK ROBBINS

where I can play and get on the field.”

Robbins played in eight games last season and started two of them.

He missed six games in the middle of the season with a foot injury.

As the No. 1 fullback on the depth chart, Robbins has played in 13 games this year.

He is one of 22 players on the NDSU roster from North Dakota.

Robbins, Tanner Volson (Balfour), Stanley Jones (Bismarck), Levi Jordheim (Dickinson) and Bryce Messner (McVille) have all started for NDSU this season. While not listed as No. 1 on the depth chart, Jeff Illies (Lidgerwood), Ty Brooks (Fargo) and Luke Bacon (Granville) have played significant roles as well.

“It’s cool to be named with some of those past and current guys,” Robbins said. “Being from North Dakota, it’s having pride in your state, working hard and contributing to the Bison. It’s been really cool.”

NDSU football has grown to be the biggest show in the state. Fans all across North Dakota have become invested in the team. Having local players making an impact grows the interest even more.

Robbins sees that first hand. Not many people watch the fullback as a play develops. But Robbins knows there’s a large contingent of Cavalier fans watching his kickout block or his cutting of a linebacker downfield during a Bruce Anderson highlight-reel touchdown run.

Questions & Answers with

Bison Illustrated:

Cavalier is closer to Grand Forks than Fargo, but it seems there’s a lot of Bison fans there.

Why is that?

Brock Robbins: “There are some UND hockey fans, but not so much football. I would say it’s more of an NDSU town. We’ve had a few guys that have gone to NDSU from Cavalier, so they will support NDSU even if they’re UND fans.”

BI: What’s it like when you go

When NDSU transitioned to Division I, many worried about what it meant for North Dakota high school players wanting to be Bison. But home-state athletes were a major part in NDSU’s run of five straight national championships — names like Ryan Smith, Travis Beck, Andrew Grothmann, Ryan Drevlow, Landon Lechler, Austin Richard, Esley Thorton and Carson Wentz.

And when he’s back home, everyone wants to talk about the Bison, whether it’s the outlook for the upcoming season or their upcoming opponent.

“It’s nice to have support from your hometown and getting good luck texts before games,” Robbins said. “It’s really nice to have that from your hometown.”

back home to Cavalier? Do a lot of people come up to you and talk about the Bison?

BR: “There’s definitely a lot of people interested in how we’re going to be. They ask me what the next opponent is going to be like. There’s a lot of interest in the program in Cavalier.”

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PRIDE OF THE PRAIRIE RYLEE NUDELL

• Basketball • Forward • Sophomore Hometown: Buffalo Population: 191 High School: Maple Valley

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PRIDE OF THE PRAIRIE RYLEE NUDELL

By Joe Kerlin Photo by J. Alan Paul Photography

Rylee Nudell Brings the Class B Attitude to NDSU Sophomore Rylee Nudell is leading a homegrown renaissance for the women’s basketball program at North Dakota State. The Buffalo native is playing a vital role in Maren Walseth’s rebuild of one of the most storied sports programs at NDSU while paying her respects to her Class B roots.

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PRIDE OF THE PRAIRIE RYLEE NUDELL

Y

ou don’t know North Dakota hoops if you don’t know about Class B high school basketball. Year after year, local stars from small towns sprinkled across the state etch their name in North Dakota sports lore with their performances in the small gyms across the state.

Legends begin and names are tied to small towns forever.

NDSU by the Numbers

One of those names left her imprint at Maple Valley High School and the North Dakota girl’s basketball record books. Bison sophomore Rylee Nudell set the North Dakota state high school record for career points with 3,458 and career rebounds with 1,761.

She won the North Dakota Class B Senior Athlete of the Year award in 2016 and led the Raiders to the state semifinals.

Nudell will always have a soft spot for those who witnessed her rise as one of the best girl’s basketball players in the state.

“I miss everything about it,” Nudell said from inside the walls of the Sanford Health Athletic Complex on NDSU’s campus. “There’s still a lot of people in my community who come and watch or say that they watch on TV, so the support is still pretty consistent.”

When Nudell chose to play basketball at North Dakota State in 2015, she was head coach Maren Walseth’s first commitment from North Dakota. Proximity to her 34

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Started in all but two games for the Bison her freshman season and averaged more than five points and three rebound per game.

Photo by Carrie Snyder

hometown of Buffalo was priority number one, said Nudell.

“It was in my home state so that meant a lot,” Nudell said.

“Everybody who supported me through high school, my parents, I thought it would be selfish of me to go somewhere a long ways away. Now, they can come, watch and just support the culture.”

Nudell said, after the proximity, the culture built at NDSU was attractive. But she admits now that she didn’t realize the scope of the athletic environment she committed to. Now, midway

through her sophomore season, she understands that being a Bison is about the work off the floor — what she’s doing in the weight room and classroom is just as important as her stats in the box score.

The 5’10” forward is one of four players on the roster from North Dakota. Nudell was joined at NDSU

by Fargo Shanley guard Sarah Jacobson last year. The Class A star’s commitment put two of the state’s best high school players on the same roster. The two never played against each other in high school, but it was hard not to compare the two standouts.

“I wasn’t confronted with it a lot but I know my parents were,” Nudell said. “Sarah and I never really thought of it as a comparison and that sort of stuff.

I know when we went out to the Lions game in Bismarck, we rode together and people were like, ‘You rode with her!’ And I was like, ‘Uh, yeah. We’re teammates now. We play together.’ So just stuff like that is crazy how the outside world perceives it.”

Nudell and Jacobson are now roommates at NDSU. They’re also starters for Walseth’s team.

Jacobson leads the Bison in minutes per game and Nudell is averaging more than nine points a game.

Nudell has found her rhythm after starting in all but two games her freshman season. The combination of her ball-handling skills and size has given the Bison a lot of flexibility with different lineups, playing Nudell in any position they need her.

The elementary education major remains close to her roots.

After her History 103 final this December, she drove back to Maple Valley High School to watch her former team play.

“I talk about it with my friends and family a lot,” began Nudell. “I just feel like, not that other people aren’t grateful for what they have, but I feel like people who come from a small town are more grateful with what they have.”

Nudell has shown that gratitude by playing with Class B pride on her sleeve for the Bison. She’s one of the many student-athletes up and down the hallways of the SHAC that are living proof that Division I talent exists in the state, and if you look hard enough, you can find it within the small towns that are considered the fabric of North Dakota.

Questions & Answers with

Bison Illustrated:

What’s Class B all about?

Rylee Nudell: “I would just say the pride that comes from every little town. All the towns have 200-300 people and athletics are a huge part of the towns. Everyone just goes all out for it. I would say definitely the pride the town has for the school.”

BI: When was that pride instilled

in you?

RN: “Growing up I played a lot of basketball. I played with my teammates from my town and then girls I went to school with. I played with them since I was in third grade so you get a little bit of excitement and it builds off of that.”

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PRIDE OF THE PRAIRIE JAKE LEINGANG

By Sam Herder Photo by J. Alan Paul Photography

Leingang Comes Home To Where He Won 15 High School State Titles Jake Leingang is one of the most accomplished runners in North Dakota high school history. His 11 state titles in track and field and four in cross country back that statement up. After beginning his college track and field career at national powerhouse the University of Oregon, Leingang returned to his home state and is making an impact on the already-successful Bison program.

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PRIDE OF THE PRAIRIE JAKE LEINGANG

• Track & Field • Long Distance • Senior Hometown: Bismarck Population: 72,417 High School: Bismarck High

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PRIDE OF THE PRAIRIE JAKE LEINGANG

Oregon by the Numbers Three-time second team All-American in the 5,000-meter run (outdoor 2015, indoor 2015-16, outdoor 2016). His personal record at Oregon is a 13:43.04.

Photo by NDSU Athletics

E

verything was going well athletically for Jake Leingang at the University of Oregon.

The Bismarck native was a three-time second team AllAmerican in the 5,000-meter run as a sophomore and junior. But as he began to look at his future, he decided he wanted to go to a school with a better physical education program. Leingang gave North Dakota State a call and said he was looking at transferring.

The Bison found a spot for him on the track and field roster and Leingang enrolled in his required classes.

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Not to mention he was back in his home state.

“The thing that made it really easy is that North Dakota is such a great state to represent,” Leingang said. “I went through high school representing North Dakota and couldn’t ask for a better career there. To come back, it’s an honor to represent this state again.”

At Bismarck High School, Leingang won 15 state titles in track and field and cross country.

He also won back-to-back national prep titles at 5,000 meters. Now as a senior at NDSU, he is one

of many North Dakota athletes representing their state. Of the 60 members on the men’s roster, 24 are from North Dakota. Nine of those 24 are from Bismarck.

“That’s the special bond that we all have. We’re all from the same state or the same general area,” Leingang said. “It’s easy for me to get along with this team. We have that one thing in common instead of people from all over. We’re from North Dakota and know how it is and we get along great.”

Leingang has made a difference instantly with the Bison. He broke

the school’s indoor record in the 3,000-meter (8:06.18) and 5,000-meter (14:01.32) last winter.

Leingang played a big role in NDSU’s second straight Summit League indoor title, taking third in the 3,000-meter, fourth in the mile and fifth in the 5,000-meter at the conference championships.

He sat out the outdoor season due to an injury.

The men’s team has won eight straight Summit League outdoor titles dating back to 2010. The women’s program has won 10 straight conference indoor and outdoor titles since 2008. It’s the same mentality and standard Leingang experienced at Oregon.

“I do see similarities in the coaching staff,” he said. “The mindset they have is so motivating. They all have a great goal and that’s to win the championship. It doesn’t matter what the title is, whether it’s the Pac-12 or the Summit League. Our goal here is to win and that was the same goal out there.”

Leingang said he feels a sense of home-state pride now that he’s back running in North Dakota.

“It’s the tradition and the legacy they promote and tell their

student-athletes. Coach (Don) Larson has been here for how long and he runs a great program.”

Questions & Answers with

underestimate you guys because you’re coming from North Dakota?

JL: “When we go out to those meets, they might think about underestimating us. But we’ve been there before and have performed well. They might underestimate us for a little bit, but at the end of the day we’ll do our best to perform and prove them wrong.”

Bison Illustrated:

When you left North Dakota for Oregon, was there anything you thought you wouldn’t miss, but now realized that you did?

Jake Leingang: “The first thing that pops into my mind is the weather.

I was 100 percent certain I was not going to miss the weather. But you go out to Oregon and it was rainy, so I was still training with those elements. It was easy to come here because it wasn’t the greatest weather out there either.”

BI: When

NDSU goes to the bigger meets, like an Iowa State, do you feel those bigger programs

NDSU by the Numbers 2016-17 indoor: Set NDSU school records in the 3,000-meter (8:06.18) and 5,000-meter (14:01.32).

Placed 3rd in the 3000-meter, 4th in the mile and 5th in the 5,000-meter at the Summit League Championships

Photo by NDSU Athletics 41

FOOTBALL NICK DELUCA

POSITION

LINEBACKER CLASS

SENIOR HEIGHT

6’3’’ WEIGHT

245

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NICK DELUCA

#

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FOOTBALL NICK DELUCA

Soaking in His Time as a Bis on

By Sam Herder Photo By J. Alan Paul Photography

Nick DeLuca had football taken away from him in 2016. It almost happened again in 2017.

The North Dakota State All-American linebacker came into his senior season last year as a top linebacker in the FCS and an NFL Draft prospect. After three games, he was sidelined with a shoulder injury but was granted a medical hardship to return in 2017.

After one game this season, DeLuca injured his knee during practice. Details were slim as rumors spread on the severity of the injury. It turned out to be a partial meniscus tear and DeLuca missed two games. After returning, he got noticeably faster and stronger with every game and looked to be close to full health with two sacks and two forced fumbles against Northern Iowa on Oct. 28.

“Every week is getting a little bit better,” DeLuca said the Tuesday after the UNI game. “It’s a dayto-day sort of thing and just managing the swelling. A huge goal of mine is to get back to 100 percent and contribute as much as I can.”

His progression continued throughout the regular season and he was named to the Associated Press FCS All-America first team.

DeLuca got a new perspective on football last season while standing on the sidelines. This year, he hasn’t taken anything for granted.

And his knee injury just made him appreciate his time as a Bison even more.

The senior gave us his thoughts in November on the adversity he and the team faced.

43

FOOTBALL NICK DELUCA

“We talk about it all the time that you never know when football can be taken away from you. You’re one play away every time.”

- NICK DELUCA

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ON THE LINEBACKING UNIT SUFFERING SEVERAL INJURIES “We talk about it all the time that you never know when football can be taken away from you. You’re one play away every time.

I’ve really tried to take a step back even further now and really appreciate every little thing ... My time is ticking away here and I’m trying to enjoy every little bit of it.”

ON PLAYING BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE LINEBACKER “It’s really fun. It’s a different challenge and a change of scenery because I’m used to seeing everything from the middle. It just adds to my resume as far as what I can do and that’s been fun.”

ON MAKING THE MOST OF MISSING LAST SEASON “I think I’ve been able to develop much more as a player and person. Just being around here for one more year, I think it was truly a blessing because time flew by. Not redshirting my freshman year, I would have been out of here in four years. I’m really trying to enjoy as much as I can and take away as much as I can from my experience here.”

BEEN “ I’VE ABLE TO DEVELOP MUCH MORE AS A PLAYER AND PERSON.“ - NICK DELUCA

U O Y K THAN

S R O I N E S r e n s s ce Me

Bry

Class to Remember The 2017 senior football class arrived at NDSU with the football machine running on all cylinders. Seventeen of the 19 players honored during Senior Night on November 11 arrived at NDSU after the Bison took home its second consecutive FCS Championship. They successfully continued the championship tradition whether it was playing a role on the scout team or scoring game-winning touchdowns in the playoffs.

t r e n h u K n

i t s u A

d r a o B s i r Ch 46

BISON ILLUSTRATED J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 8

s i v a D Cole Z T N E W CONNOR Senior Facts • 19 seniors (17 fifth-year) • Two NCAA FCS Championships

y k s n a l o P Daniel

n o s l rik O

E

e c n o o K Jackson

N A G R O M T GRAN 47

r e h s i F s e Jam

Senior Facts • 53-6 since 2014 • 13-1 FCS Playoff Record

a k z s u T d Jarro

Jeff Illies

k n a l P t Mat d l e i f n e d o H n a n e e K 48

BISON ILLUSTRATED J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 8

Nick DeLuca

y a u g n a Nate T

i k s w o d n RJ Urze Senior Facts • Four Missouri Valley Football Conference Championships • 33-3 home record

y e s p m e D Tre r e m e i Z h Zac

49

JOE HAEG

Photo Courtesy of Indianapolis Colts

I ndi a napo l i s C o lt s Joe Haeg has become one of the most consistent right tackles in the NFL. He played in nine straight games and played every offensive snap. According to Pro Football Focus, he ranks in the “high quality” category for run and pass blocking, and has an overall grade of 60.9.

JOHN CROCKETT Balti m or e R av e n s John Crockett is on his third practice squad in three years. After being released by the Green Bay Packers after last season, he signed with the Oakland Raiders. After the preseason, he was released and then on September 21, he was signed to the Baltimore Ravens’ practice squad.

MARCUS WILLIAMS H o u s ton

Photo Courtesy of John Crockett’s Instagram (johncrockett)

Te x a ns

Houston Texans’ cornerback Marcus Williams was released by the New York Jets on October 9. The next day he was claimed off waivers by the team that signed him as an undrafted free agent back in 2014. Williams recorded his first interception for Houston in Week 8.

KYLE EMANUEL Lo s

A n g el es Ch a r g ers

Kyle Emanuel registered his first sack of the season against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 10. He started 11 games this year, recorded 34 total tackles and an interception.

Photo by Mike Nowack /LA Chargers

BISON FROM ABROAD

Marina Fernandez’s journey from basketball in Barcelona to basketball with the Bison

By Ethan Mickelson Photos by J. Alan Paul Photography

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BARCELONA , Spain

From Barcelona, Spain, Marina Fernandez recently transferred to NDSU from Casper College in Wyoming, competing with the Bison women’s basketball team for the first time at the beginning of November. While she’s a junior academically, the newcomer is building from the ground up to overcome the shock of a new culture.

“It takes a transition to adapt on the court,” said Fernandez. “I’ve been playing on a different team for two years now, and I was probably one of the leaders on that team. Then coming here was like, ‘Oh, I’m a freshman again!’ At the same time, I’m a junior, so I have more experience than a freshman on our team.”

During her second year playing for the Casper College Thunderbirds, Fernandez led the team in three-pointers (44) and assists (115). While she’s still experiencing an adjustment period at the beginning of her first Bison season, head coach Maren Walseth recognizes her potential for success with the team.

“ coming here was like, ‘Oh, I’m a freshman again!”

-Marina Fernandez

“I don’t think we’ve seen the true Marina yet,” said Walseth, in November. “She’s shown flashes of it. Then there are times where she kind of floats. Helping her, through film and additional reps, to be more impactful more consistently is an area of growth for her. We’re very pleased, I just don’t think we’re quite seeing the true Marina just quite yet.”

In working towards a more cohesive team dynamic and improving her fundamentals, Fernandez recognizes Coach Walseth’s basketball expertise on and off the court, saying, “She knows what she’s talking about. I think for most of us, she is a role model. When she’s talking about teamwork or general basketball stuff, you know that she’s been there.”

Q&A

with Marina Fernandez

What made you want to come to the U.S. for school?

Marina Fernandez: “Just the college experience. We don’t have that back home. Here sports are a big deal, and you have the chance to study and play at the same time while on scholarship. They care about you being successful on both sides.

“My parents were athletes, both runners, and my dad had offers to go to the U.S. He actually committed to a school, and then got hurt and needed surgery so he couldn’t go. I think that’s why it was my goal, and he was always super excited about me coming here because he never got to. It was nice to experience what he wanted and make him proud, too.”

Do your parents get to watch your games while they are in Spain?

MF: “Yes, they watch them online at GoBison.com, but usually the day after because of the time difference. It’s like four in the morning, so I told them don’t even bother because they have work and have other stuff to do, but they still get to watch them the next day.”

How do you reconnect with your Spanish heritage while living so far from home?

MF: “I listen to Spanish music. Sometimes it feels good to just listen to your own music in your own language. Another thing that I do that reminds me of back home is FaceTiming my friends. It reminds me of how things were before I left, and it can make me a little homesick sometimes.”

How has your perspective on your home city changed since moving to Fargo?

MF: “I really value what I have back home now that I’m here. Obviously, Barcelona is a huge city, then coming here I miss little things. Of course, I miss my family and friends, but just the environment of a big city is completely different from here. You always value what you’re missing, you know? When I was living there, I thought it was cool, but not that cool. Then when I left, I realized it was actually pretty great.”

Since you won’t be going home over the semester break, how will you be celebrating the holidays?

MF: “I’m going to Iowa with Reilly Jacobson, where she’s from, for five days. All my teammates knew that I was not going home for Christmas, and most of them said you’re always welcome, but I wanted to get out of the state for a while. I really get along with her, and she asked me to come along.”

Do you have any plans for after graduation, yet?

MF: “My idea is to graduate first, and then I was thinking about going overseas to play professionally somewhere. We have so many countries (to play in), and I just want to keep experiencing and learning about new cultures and people.”

Photo by Hillary Ehlen 56

BISON ILLUSTRATED J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 8

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SAAC MEMBERS

Meet the 2017-18 Version of

NDSU SAAC

The Student-Athlete Advisory Council is made up of two representatives from each of the sports programs and the cheer team at NDSU. According to the NCAA, SAAC’s mission is to enhance the total student-athlete experience by protecting studentathlete’s well-being, fostering a positive student-athlete image and inclusive environment, and promoting student-athlete engagement at the national, conference and local levels. Here are the 26 members of this year’s SAAC.

2017-18 NDSU SAAC MEMBERS JAYSE McLEAN BASEBALL

KEVIN FOLMAN BASEBALL

TYSON WARD

SPENCER ELIASON

RYLEE NUDELL

SARAH JACOBSON

MEN’S BASKETBALL

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

EASTON STICK FOOTBALL

MEN’S BASKETBALL

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

BEN ELLEFSON FOOTBALL

WILL HOLMGREN

DAX WALLAT

SIERRA BENNION

TRISA HUTCHINSON

MEN’S GOLF

WOMEN’S GOLF

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MEN’S GOLF

WOMEN’S GOLF

SAAC MEMBERS

MALLORY FENSKE

NICOLA De PAPE

LAUREN REIMERS

JACQUELYN SERTIC

SOCCER

SOFTBALL

RYAN ENERSON MEN’S TRACK/CC

AMANDA LEVIN WOMEN’S TRACK/CC

SOCCER

SOFTBALL

JONAH WARWICK

MEN’S TRACK/CC

MACY DENZER

WOMEN’S TRACK/CC

McKENZIE BURKE

ABBI KLOS

MITCH FRIEDMAN

DAN STIBRAL

VOLLEYBALL

WRESTLING

CHANI GROSETH CHEER TEAM

VOLLEYBALL

WRESTLING

BAILEY BROWN

CHEER TEAM

59

SAAC YOUTHWORKS TOY DRIVE

STUDENT-ATHLETE ADVISORY COUNCIL

BRINGS HOLIDAY CHEER Happy Holidays from SAAC

It was another successful Holiday Toy Drive for NDSU’s Student-Athlete Advisory Council this December. Five members of the crew brought a load of presents and a stack of cash they’ve been collecting to Youthworks of North Dakota in the middle of finals week.

SAAC has been collecting toys and cash donations for the toy drive during home basketball games, wrestling matches and the Bison Open indoor track meet. Vice President of SAAC and softball pitcher Jacquelyn Sertic organized the toy drive with the help of SAAC men’s track representative Ryan Enerson.

They were among the five delivering the goods to Youthworks.

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SAAC JAX

MEET JAX The Pre-Med Bison Pitcher Gives Back to Fargo

By Joe Kerlin Photos by J. Alan Paul Photography

BIO

Pitcher HEIGHT 5’6’’ CLASS Senior THROWS Right HOMETOWN Sparks, Nevada HIGH SCHOOL Reed High School POSITION

CAREER STATS

114 GAMES STARTED 88 INNINGS 597 RECORD 54-36 ERA 2.72 STRIKEOUTS 633 COMPLETE GAMES 70 SHUTOUTS 13 APPEARANCES

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SAAC JAX

Bison pitcher Jacquelyn (Jax) Sertic is taking full advantage of her time at North Dakota State. She’s been mowing down hitters for three years while striking out accomplishments off the diamond. The pre-med pitcher is the Vice President of NDSU Athletics Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC).

The three-time Summit League honor roll recipient joined SAAC her sophomore season, taking the place of one of the best pitchers in NDSU history, Krista Menke, as one of the softball representatives. 2016 saw a changing of the guard on the softball field, too, when Sertic replaced Menke as the Bison workhorse in the pitching circle. Sertic became the Summit League Pitcher of the Year that spring.

The roaring success of that season has transitioned to the classroom and community. Sertic is graduating this May with a degree in Zoology and is already applying to grad schools across the region.

“I really love the Midwest, honestly,” said the Sparks, Nevada native. “I love school. I don’t ever want to stop. I’m applying to medical school, but I’m going to take a year off, live life, do some cool stuff. But my plan is to do an MBPhD.”

REFLECTING ON LAST YEAR’S SUMMIT LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP “I think it says a lot about the grit we acquired throughout the year. Losing so many games and seeing how many 1-0, one-run games where we’re literally losing by one run, for so many games, and saying, ‘We could’ve won this game if we just would have done this better.’ We used that in the conference tournament, and in the conference tournament, it was do or die.”

- Jax

Photo by Cory Erickson

63

SAAC JAX

Sertic interviewed with the University of Nevada over the semester break this December. She’s hoping that goes well so she can defer and play professional softball for a year before getting back to school.

Sertic is hoping to follow the path of Menke and Logan Moreland, who both played professionally in Italy.

The senior is a people person and natural communicator. She says SAAC helped by getting her out of her comfort zone and giving her a taste of post-college life.

Sertic became the vice president of SAAC this year and is teaching her softball teammate Lauren Reimers the ropes.

Sertic is excited to share her experiences with a younger teammate because the senior has experienced firsthand the impact Bison athletes can make in the community.

“One time, I was just sick as a dog and I volunteered and I just felt amazing afterward,” Sertic explained.

“Being in SAAC and giving back to a community who gives us so much is so rewarding.”

Sertic has been instrumental in SAAC

Photo

by Cory Erickson gathering monetary gifts, food and

toys for people less fortunate in the Fargo-Moorhead area. This December marked the second consecutive year SAAC executed a toy drive for Youthworks of North Dakota. The gifts will go to children in families that can’t afford gifts this holiday season.

This December was Sertic’s last toy drive with the Bison. With one semester and softball season left at NDSU, Sertic is excited to keep her success rolling. The Bison hit the diamond for the first time in 2018 on February 9, in Las Vegas.

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P R E PA R I N G F O R H E R SENIOR SEASON “(I’m) not really trying to be a vocal leader. Just trying to put in my work and hopefully, that reflects onto everybody else. Darren (Mueller, head coach) said it earlier this year, this is the best team chemistry we’ve had starting out in a really long time. And, it’s so true. We all get along really well.” - Jax

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WHERE ARE THEY NOW? SARAH STORANDT

NDSU Golf Accomplishments Played 118 rounds of golf as a Bison, tying her with Amy Anderson for the most rounds in program history Named to The Summit League Academic All-League Team for three-straight seasons Shot a career-low three-round score of 221 at the Nebraska Chip-N-Club Invitational as a senior Placed first in the North Dakota Fall Classic with a three-round score of 228 as a junior Won the Gary Crossley Ford Kansas City Shootout with a season-best three-round score of 223 as a junior Placed 20th with a three-round score of 249 in the Summit League Championship as sophomore Part of Summit League Conference Championship team in 2013

Tee Off to Teaching A new career in a familiar place

By Ethan Mickelson Photos By Hillary Ehlen & NDSU Athletics

F

rom fairways to hallways, FM native Sarah Storandt is on pace to establish her professional career just two years after graduating. Teaching math in addition to coaching girl’s golf and basketball, the Bison alumni went straight from a successful studentteaching experience at Fargo South High School to deploying her newfound knowledge and helping develop the skills of both students and athletes.

CONTINUED 67

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? SARAH STORANDT

Path to Passion After her time studentteaching at Fargo South High School, Storandt was offered a temporary, long-term subbing position, taking over where some teachers were overloaded with classes. The next year she was hired as a full-time teacher and coach.

“I actually got the coaching job before the teaching job,” said Storandt about her transition from a student-athlete to teacher-coach. “It was a little nerve-racking to accept when I didn’t know but I had a good student-teaching experience, I was there for that whole next semester, and felt fairly good that I would get the math job.

They asked me about my fiveyear plan and I said, ‘This is it.’”

However clear the path may seem now that she’s realized her professional goals, the journey to a collegiate golf career at NDSU and now a teaching career wasn’t a straight shot onto the green.

Her relationship with golf began in Moorhead where she was born and raised and would go on to be influenced by family, friends and even injury.

Tied with Amy Anderson for the most rounds in program history, Storandt played 118 rounds of golf as a Bison. She ranks third in best career scoring average at NDSU with a 79.37.

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“We used to live on the Moorhead Country Club, so I did junior lessons out there, but at that time I was more excited about going to the golf course to drive the golf carts,” said Storandt. “My dad said I would roll down the hills and not want to play. Then in sixth or seventh grade, I started playing a little more. My brother played and a couple of my good friends played, so mom would just drop us off in the summer and we’d spend all day at the golf course.”

Injury to Excellence Attending Shanley High School, Storandt spread her athletic energies between basketball, soccer and golf. It wasn’t until an injury in soccer that a clear favorite developed out of the three sports.

“I feel like in high school it was a tie between basketball and golf, but then I tore my ACL so I couldn’t play basketball that whole next summer, but I could play golf,” said Storandt. “I played golf way more that summer than I ever had before, and I just fell in love with golf and that became my favorite.”

Before graduating from high school in 2011, Storandt accumulated four all-conference titles and three all-state performer titles in golf. She was also part of five-straight Eastern Dakota Conference championship teams and three state title teams in 2005, 2006 and 2007. Winning five individual and four runner-up titles in her senior year alone, it was no wonder NDSU had their eye on the local golfer.

“Sarah was a very good local recruit for us,” said the head coach for girl’s golf at NDSU, Matthew Johnson. “I knew during the recruiting process that she had a lot of talent for the game, and while she was already a top high school player, she had a lot of areas for growth and I was excited about her strong potential.”

While the choice was clear almost from the start for Coach Johnson, that didn’t stop nerves from getting the best of Storandt, at least at the start, explaining, “When coach came to watch me for the first time, we were in Morton, Minnesota. The

“It was a little nerveracking to accept when I didn’t know but I had a good student-teaching experience” - Sarah Storandt

Storandt (right) posed with women’s golf teammates Megan Swan and Cassie Wurm, for a spread in the 2014 Kids Issue of Bison Illustrated.

first drive he saw me I topped my drive because I saw him and got nervous, of course. But, he’s an easy guy to talk to and very comfortable to be around, so the nerves went away fairly quickly after that.”

On Par for Progress After taking her spot alongside a tight-knit group team of Bison golfers, Storandt played as a regular in the lineup right from the start. From an 83.8 average over 25 rounds as a freshman, she would go on to score a college-low 76.84 over 31 rounds her junior year. She was even a part of the first and only women’s team to take a Summit League Conference Championship in 2013, during her sophomore year.

“Her first couple of years, she had a lot of ups and downs, but always made steady improvement,” said Coach Johnson. “She was in the lineup for our Summit League championship team, when Amy Anderson was our leader, but a year when we also relied on a lot of young talent. Sarah was a big contributor to that title.”

While her parents and brother both went into the medical field, mathematics was more up Storandt’s alley. Going to college as a math major,

Storandt realized she could combine her two passions into one comprehensive career as a teacher-coach and decided to pursue math education.

“I got into coaching while in college, and decided I really liked working with kids, so that led me into the math ed. part of it,” said Storandt. “It’s just building those connections with kids. I developed a love for that in coaching, and I really like doing that in the classroom too. There’s a lot of kids who don’t like math, but if I can build some sort of connection with them, generally they are more willing to give it a try.”

The Next Round Now as the head coach of girl’s golf, she is developing relationships with students and helping them hone their skills, taking notes from the leadership of Coach Johnson.

“She was always a great ball striker, but when she started to fine-tune those skills, she became one of the top talents in the Summit League,” said Coach Johnson. “She won numerous tournaments in her career, which is very difficult to do. Sarah is a perfect example of what hard work and dedication can do. She came so far in her career and

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In her junior year at NDSU, Storandt was featured in the May 2014 issue for her excellence in both academics and athletics. She was named to The Summit League Academic All-League Team for three-straight seasons in her college career.

* * *

I’m excited to see her getting the opportunity to coach. Her experiences and knowledge make her the perfect person to build a program and she will accomplish many great things with her players.”

As with the pursuit of any skill set, it’s just the beginning of Storandt’s tee off to teaching.

While she’s undoubtedly at par for the course when it comes to developing her professional career, that doesn’t mean the end of the round. As she checks off the goals of yesterday, Stroandt faces new goals today, like pursuing a grad school degree in educational leadership.

“I have a semester left of grad school, so I’m working on finishing that up,” said Storandt. “Educational leadership would allow me to be in administration someday

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or an athletic director. I could see myself being an athletic director in the distant future, I’m just kind of keeping my options open, but I love what I’m doing now.”

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Storandt also faces new challenges in her personal life, such as raising a oneyear-old Golden Retriever named Phoebe and becoming a homeowner. Just like her past achievements, the new hurdles of removing pesky wallpaper, replacing floors and countertops, and renovating her home are faced alongside friends and family.

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“It’s more rewarding to do it yourself. My family’s great.

We’re not super handy so it is a little bit of a struggle,” joked Storandt. “But, we’re working through it.”

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SWANY SAYS JANUARY 2018

SWANY SAYS More than meets the eye:

Process dictates outcome for North Dakota State FOLLOW @swany8

BY JOSHUA A. SWANSON *Swanson is a native of Maddock, N.D., a proud NDSU alum and a lifelong Bison fan.

T

here are a lot of things that impress me about this North Dakota State football team. But the play on the field and the national

championships, as impressive as they are, are only part of that. Truth be told, as I grow older and more appreciative of what this program has done, the championships take a backseat to the manner in which those championships were won. To win that many national championships, to win seven straight Missouri Valley Football Conference titles, and to establish yourself as one of the most dominant teams across the spectrum of athletics, business, politics, you name it, raising championship banners can’t be the panacea.

It’s a goal, sure, but it’s not a Machiavellian “end justifies the means” sort of thing.

There’s more to it, more than meets the eye.

“It’s really hard to do what we’ve done,” said Bison head coach Chris Klieman after defeating Sam Houston State 55-13 in the semifinals on Dec.

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15, clinching another trip to the FCS national championship game in Frisco, Texas, almost exactly one year to the day after falling to James Madison in last year’s semifinal. “To do it how we’ve done it these last three weeks, those were three dominating performances on both sides of the ball. That’s fun when your guys are executing on such a high level.”

There it is. That was one of the most telling quotes from the postgame press conference, particularly the last part about executing on such a high level.

Forget the outcome and focus on the process, how the Bison got to the outcome.

It’s about how the Bison did it, the way they executed on such a high level to get to their sixth national championship game in seven years. It wasn’t so much about Sam Houston State, Wofford or San Diego as it was about NDSU. For the vast majority of coaches and teams, for really all but a few, it would be entirely about the outcome, the 42-point win against a very good Bearkats team that finds themselves making deep playoff runs on an annual basis. Not for NDSU. The greatest competition the Bison see isn’t wearing another jersey sitting in a different locker room. It’s in the

mirror. That isn’t grandstanding, braggadocios or self-serving.

I’m not saying the Bison are so superior to everybody else they simply sit back and admire their own feats. Just the opposite, it’s a burning intense focus where our coaches and players compete against themselves each day to make sure NDSU is the best team it can be, of maximizing every single repetition at every single weight-lifting session, at every single practice, etc. and always building on that so by the time game day arrives, the result takes care of itself.

That is what impresses me most about NDSU and what this team has accomplished more so than any banner or single game performance ever could. I love the winning. Who doesn’t? I’m as proud of the championships as the next person, the big wins over Iowa and Kansas State and the appearances on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN’s “College GameDay.” But it’s the culture, the genuine commitment and dedication, the way this team goes about its business that is astonishing. That is what excellent organizations do.

A parallel is Nick Saban’s Alabama teams. NDSU is often called “the Alabama of the FCS” because of its sustained success. There’s another reason, though, that escapes notice and links NDSU and Alabama. It’s the process and belief-system they share, the stuff we don’t see on the Road to Frisco. We see the outcome, but it’s the process that dictates the outcome. There is a sign in Alabama’s football complex. It doesn’t tout conference or national championships. It preaches the process. “Don’t Come Back Until You’ve Improved.” There’s a similar sign in NDSU’s locker room that reads, “Start Strong, Finish Stronger.” Both signs are about the process, not the outcome.

We see the Bison outscoring opponents 135-26 in three playoff games. What we didn’t see were all the hours Easton Stick and Tre Dempsey spent in the film room watching tape and leading their team the last 12 months.

We’ll never fully comprehend the hours and physical pain and mental toughness that went into Nick DeLuca and Nate Tanguay rehabilitating their

knee injuries to get back on the field. Likewise, you see our coaches on Saturdays, but for every hour you see them on the sideline or coaches press box, there are 15 more spent in offices building a game plan and teaching the game to our guys.

Process dictates outcome, not the other way around. How this program handles its business day-after-day, year-after-year, without the slipping that can come with complacency or boastfulness from being so dominant is a case study in organizational excellence.

was balling, Seth was balling,” said Anderson, referring to his backfield teammate, Seth Wilson, who ran for 194 yards on 24 attempts. “We ran hard and made it happen, credit to the Rams up front, they got them displaced, the gaps were huge, I mean you could drive a truck through them.”

Anderson could’ve basked in the spotlight and enjoyed the

“This team is a championship team, and we had that championship mindset, and there’s no way we weren’t getting back there and winning it.”

The culture, Bison Pride, is intertwined and inextricably linked to the process. Take for example Bruce Anderson’s performance against Sam Houston State. He was asked at the postgame press conference, “what do you see when you look at those rushing stats?”

The question was justified and probably on everyone’s minds.

Anderson was minutes removed from one of the most dominant performances from anybody in college football this year on national television. He had five touchdowns, rushed for 183 yards on only 17 carries, scoring three times on the ground while averaging 10.8 yards per rush, and added two receptions for 54 yards, both catches going for touchdowns. Each touchdown covered at least 23 yards. Pat yourself on the back, young man, that was a heckuva football game.

adulation after the biggest performance in his career.

Instead, it was about his teammates and the team. That impresses me more than any championship banner.

Nope. That’s not the Bison way, that’s not Bison Pride.

Anderson genuinely deflected the credit to his teammates.

His response is part and parcel of the process and how it’s led to so much success. The first words out of his mouth were, “I see Seth had a great game, he

How about Dempsey, the senior captain, who was asked what it meant to get back to Frisco.

“Everybody thought we lost last year and it was over. It’s not over,” began Dempsey who, like Anderson, focused on the team. “This team is a championship team, and we

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BISON ILLUSTRATED J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 8

– Tre Dempsey

had that championship mindset, and there’s no way we weren’t getting back there and winning it. That’s our mindset going into this next game, becoming the champions again and defending it next year again.” Did you hear that? He didn’t say “I” once. It was all about “we.” Spoken like a team captain and true leader.

That impresses me more than any trophy.

Stick echoed Dempsey and Anderson. When asked about his individual performance this postseason and how Klieman said Stick deserved the chance to play for a national championship, Stick addressed what Klieman meant to the team instead of talking about himself. “I’m really excited for this team to go down there and get a chance at it. We’ll get back to work and see what happens.

But for coach to say that, he means a lot to me, means a lot to this team. I really appreciate him. I love coach.”

The play on the field speaks for itself. The Bison are playing in their sixth national championship game in seven years. NDSU has been the most dominant team in college athletics this decade. That didn’t happen by focusing on the outcome. It’s about the process — a tireless dedication and commitment to getting better each day, every day, year after year, so the rest of us can enjoy the fruits of those labors down in Frisco. Few organizations operate on that level, and it’s to be admired. I appreciate that more than the banners and trophies and commend this team for it. That’s Bison Pride, that’s the strength of the Herd.

Everybody up for the kickoff, the march is on!

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POP QUIZ JANUARY 2018

POPQUIZ

WITH NDSU ATHLETES

How many different social media accounts do you have?

If you could play any sport on ice skates, what would it be?

What’s your go-to sound when setting an alarm on your phone?

Hockey

“Illuminate”

Six

Soccer

“Fishing In The Dark”

by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Four

Figure skating

The classic alarm sound.

Three

Definitely hockey

It changes often, but it is currently “Burnin’ it Down” by Jason Aldean.

Four

Lacrosse

The generic Radar sound. It’s so annoying that I can’t stand listening to it.

Four

Alex Erickson Competing in her sophomore year, this outside hitter from Kindred, North Dakota, was named to the 2017 Summit League Commissioner’s List and Honor Roll. In addition, she was named to the Summit League All-Freshman Team last year.

Volleyball

Dylan Miller From Panama, Illinois, this junior ranked second on the team last year shooting 55.1 percent from the field. He also shot 78 percent from the free throw line as a sophomore.

Men’s Basketball

Reilly Jacobson Reilly Jacobson, or “R.J.”, as shes referred to on the basketball team, is a sophomore post player from Waukee, Iowa.

RJ is averaging more than 10 points a game this season for Maren Walseth’s team.

Women’s Basketball

Jeff Illies The senior tight end from Lidgerwood, North Dakota, tallied a season-high 96 receiving yards in a victory over South Dakota. He hauled in a career-long 50-yard reception during that game.

FOOTBALL

Jaelin Beachy The senior from Staples, Minnesota is a multi-event athlete on the track team. She won three state titles while in high school and cracked the Top 10 twice in the pentathlon at the Summit League Indoor Championships.

Women’s Track & Field 80

BISON ILLUSTRATED J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 8

Would you rather have wet socks for an entire day or get a static shock every time you touched something for a week?

What’s something that you were excited about doing this semester break?

Wet socks for a day without a doubt.

Watching Christmas movies and celebrating Christmas with my family.

Static shock

Getting to see my family.

Wet socks for sure! My pain tolerance is low.

Playing basketball, and getting a break from homework!

Wet socks for a day.

Touched too many electric fences growing up...

Spending time with family, pheasant hunting, oh yeah... and winning a national championship!

Definitely wet socks.

Watching cheesy Lifetime movies with my mom. I don’t get that channel at my house in Fargo, so I always take full advantage when I’m back home.

JSH