Bison Illustrated March 2017

BISON ILLUSTRATED MARCH 2 017

LE G A C Y

March 2017

T H E N D S U T R AC K & F I E L D

All-American Morgan Milbrath has her sights set on a return to the NCAA Championship meet this summer.

THE NDSU TRACK AND FIELD LEGACY TABLE OF CONTENTS

FEATURE

ON THE WEB

bisonillustrated.com

QUESTIONS?

info@spotlightmediafargo.com

38 DON LARSON The men’s track and field head coach is approaching 40 years as the man at the helm. He chatted about what’s changed and what has remained the same at NDSU.

30 A STAR AMONG MANY Morgan Milbrath was fortunate and fast enough her freshman year to land a spot on the best relay team in NDSU history. Now, as a senior, she’s hoping to carry a youthful track team to similar glory.

WHAT’S INSIDE 26

Stevie Keller

76

Women’s Basketball

34

Amy Andrushko

78

Bison in the Pros

42

Landon Jochim

80

Puzzled FM

52

Darren Mueller/Cheyenne Garcia

82

How Well Do You Know?

66

Gerice Olson

88

Team Makers

68

Where Are They Now?

92

Swany Says

74

Men’s Basketball

94

Pop Quiz

facebook.com/bisonillustrated

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THE SLEEPING GIANTS Too late. Someone has awoken the men’s and women’s track and field throwers and now they’re ready to leave their mark on the rest of the nation.

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FOLLOW US @bisonmag

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PICK YOUR POISON The 2017 Bison softball team will be led by two young but experienced pitchers and a fifthyear senior behind the plate.

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Don’t make a move until you see inside five progressive communities that are changing the face of Fargo. To uncover the dirt, we met with local developers to show us what’s in the works for Fargo, Moorhead and West Fargo. These neighborhoods offer acres of possibility with exciting designs inspired by big-city high-rises, San Francisco architecture and even urban farm-life.

Fargo INC! In a new collaboration between Fargo INC! and the United Way of Cass-Clay, meet the 2017 class of the 35 Under 35 women’s leadership program.

We also hear from five recent graduates of the program who, since completing the program, have gone on to assume a variety of leadership roles in the local business and nonprofit communities.

Fargo Monthly

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BISON ILLUSTRATED M A R C H 2 0 1 7

In this month’s issue, Fargo Monthly talked to a handful of visual artists and those deeply involved with local organizations and galleries to highlight their unique roles in the growing art scene and find out why the arts are so important to our community.

MARCH 2017 | VOLUME 11 ISSUE 8 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 Ryan Koehler, Sarah Geiger CONTRIBUTORS Josh Swanson, Joe Kerlin, Ethan Mickelson COPY EDITORS Erica Rapp, Becca Opp MARKETING/SALES Tracy Nicholson, Paul Hoefer, Tank McNamara, Jenny Johnson, Lucas Albers PHOTOGRAPHY J. Alan Paul Photography, Paul Flessland BUSINESS OPERATIONS Heather Hemingway MANAGER ADVERTISING Brittney Richter COORDINATOR SPECIAL THANKS Ryan Perreault, Wes Offerman, Ryan Anderson, Jeff Schwartz, Colleen Heimstead, NDSU Athletics DELIVERY Mitch Rapp, Hal Ecker, Nolan Kaml

FOR ADVERTISING CALL 701-478-SPOT (7768) or email info@spotlightmediafargo.com

Bison Illustrated is published by Spotlight Media, LLC. Copyright 2017 Bison Illustrated & bisonillustrated.com All rights reserved. No parts of this periodical may be reproduced or distributed without written permission of Bison Illustrated. Bison Illustrated and Spotlight Media, LLC is not responsible for, and expressly disclaims all liability for, damages of any kind arising out of use, reference to, or reliance on such information. Spotlight Media, LLC accepts no liability for the accuracy of statements made by the advertisers.

Send change of address information and other correspondence to: Spotlight Media LLC. 15 Broadway N, Suite 500 Fargo ND, 58102 or info@spotlightmediafargo.com

THE NDSU TRACK AND FIELD LEGACY JOE’S EDITORIAL

EDITOR’S NOTE

Why all this

Matters

FROM JOE KERLIN

joe@bisonillustrated.com

enior Night never fails to expose feelings you’ve built up for a student-athlete over the course of their career. The memories jolt back from when they were an uncertain freshman playing the sport with raw talent as you witnessed them learning the game, the Bison system, in front of your eyes, more and more with each minute of playing time.

S

Carlin Dupree was an exciting prospect when he stepped foot on the Bison Sports Arena court for the first time. He was a quick, energetic presence with a silly flat top that made your eyebrows raise in optimism. He was erratic, and you never quite knew what to expect.

Would he crossover his defender and acrobatically lay in two points or would he mishandle an out of bounds pass and let the ball trickle down to the other end of the court for a frustrating over-and-back call?

Dupree’s game was an imperfect masterpiece as unique as Dupree himself.

You wish he was perfect, but somehow, the imperfections are what you grew to love about Dupree.

That’s why it was so startling when

bisonillustrated

he left the team last January as a junior.

Dupree was presumed to be the heir apparent to Lawrence Alexander at the point guard position, but within months, moments of costly turnovers and the rise of a freshman shunned him to the bench.

Thankfully, Dave Richman and his team—Dupree’s second family— welcomed him back to the locker room. And just how we fell in love with him after his display against Oklahoma in 2013, Bison Nation was back, supporting Dupree until his final moment on the basketball court in green and yellow.

Dexter Werner was no stranger to the bench, either. In fact, his first year at NDSU, he didn’t even see the bench, redshirting his first year on campus.

Bison Illustrated would go to the BSA to interview and take photos of stars such as Taylor Braun, Marshall Bjorklund and TrayVonn Wright, and in the corner, on one of the side baskets with sports court surface underneath, Werner would be found there shooting free throw after free throw. Alone, rebounding for himself, fine tuning his game in the most monotonous way imaginable.

@bisonmag

As Richman explained on Senior Night, I, too, was told the Bismarck, North Dakota, native would be a nonfactor in the basketball program.

Today, everyone’s eating crow, lying up at night wondering how in the world are the Bison going to replace his energy, nimbleness and touch around the rim.

Sometimes it’s healthy to take a step back and realize, at the core, what is college athletics really good for. Sure, the banners that hang in our arenas are cool and it’s fun to gloat about your favorite team’s success. But at the core, it’s not about that. It’s about these 18-23-year olds who are given the opportunity for a higher education and a higher probability for a successful future.

That’s what’s important to remember with Dupree and Werner.

Were they great basketball players?

Yes. Is that going to matter when Dupree, who almost dropped out of college last winter, graduates this summer? Not one bit.

Hold onto their memories, Bison Nation. The world of sport is great for this. But always remember, when it comes to college athletics, there’s another reason why all this matters.

SINCERELY,

Joe Kerlin 20

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@joebisonmag

BISON SHOTS DEXTER WERNER

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BISON SHOTS DEXTER WERNER

BISON SHOTS

Photo by Christian Dudzik

s

enior forward Dexter Werner has been the juice that’s boosted the Bison men’s basketball team all season. The Bismarck, North Dakota, native has grown a reputation for popping off the bench just minutes into a game and has turned himself into the most valuable sixth man in the Summit League. Werner logs over 24 minutes of energy a night, scraping his way to averaging 7.3 rebounds and 11.8 points per game. He’s always been known to dive on a loose ball and fight through elbows to secure a rebound, but his game is still evolving. Werner has improved his free throw percentage dramatically this season and is now shooting 74 percent from the charity stripe.

Want to contribute?

Email your best photos to: joe@bisonillustrated.com

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THE NDSU TRACK AND FIELD LEGACY STEVIE KELLER

Stevie Keller Head Coach Women’s Track and Field

Stevie Keller is entering his third year as the women’s track and field head coach and 17th year overall at NDSU. Before taking over as head coach in 2014, Keller was the men’s associate head coach and coached the multi-event athletes, hurdlers and pole vaulters.

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THE NDSU TRACK AND FIELD LEGACY STEVIE KELLER

Division I Conference Titles THE WOMEN’S TRACK TEAM HAS NEVER LOST A SUMMIT LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP. IN THE NINE YEARS THE BISON HAVE BEEN IN THE CONFERENCE, THEY’VE WON EVERY INDOOR AND OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIP MEET THEY HAVE PARTICIPATED IN. Read more about the 18-straight titles on pages 28-36.

9TIME

THE -

DEFENDING

INDOOR AND

OUTDOOR

SUMMIT LEAGuE TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONS ARE READY TO HIT DOUBLE-DIGIT CONFERENCE TITLES. Interview by Joe Kerlin Photo by Paul Flessland

The Conversation Bison Illustrated: How has

throws coach Justin St. Clair developed some of the best throwers in the Midwest Region?

Stevie Keller: “I think he just does

a good job of teaching them along.

It isn’t over their head to begin with and he just progresses them throughout the year. He’s done a really good job. And the longer you coach, the more you start figuring things out in terms of figuring out when athletes peak at the right time.

But then you also try new things, as the kids get better and better, you have to make adaptations to push them to get better.”

BI: You’ve lost two All-American

distance runners in Erin Teschuk and Maddie Van Beek over the last two years. Who has been carrying that group for you this year?

SK: “This year Kayla Huhnerkoch

has really come around from last year, she’s a sophomore now, and Annika Rotvold, a transfer from Auggie (Augustana University), has been having a phenomenal year.

That’s a really young group right now of sophomores and freshmen.

Taylor (Janssen) is running strong, too. She had a PR in the mile last weekend, she’s another one that’s a senior and a leader. Taylor is a competitor and that’s what Andrew

and I talk about. You know you’re going to get 100 percent from Taylor when it comes time for a conference meet and that’s something that you have to respect.”

BI: You have 22 athletes on the

roster from North Dakota and Taylor Janssen is from Moorhead, Minnesota. How are you getting the most out of the local talent?

SK: “Right, and we’re probably

one of the few Division I schools that recruited her (Janssen). Ryun watched her compete and saw her and thought, ‘This girl could help us out some day.’ Kids like that are in the state or from around the state who want to come here. They want a degree, for one, but also want to compete at a high level. Kids come here and they’re successful and kids from their high school and coaches from their high school see that, and Lars (Don Larson, men’s coach) has been here a long time and I’m getting to that point where, I’m getting here in my 17th year here, only my third year as the head coach, but when you’re at one place for a long time, you make a connection with a lot of coaches throughout the region. They know how loyal we are to our studentathletes, and they know when they come here, we’re going to treat them well. It’s not just about performance, it’s about raising young women and young men to be good citizens and good people.” * * *

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1 23 3 THE NDSU TRACK AND FIELD LEGACY 3 RUNWAYS TO SUCCESS

RUNWAYS

TO SUCCESS

T

he women’s track and field team has won 18 total Summit League titles since the Division I transition. We asked head coach Stevie Keller to give us the major keys to the unbelievable success of the women’s track and field team.

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1. Leadership

2. Coaching Staff

3. Opportunity

Middle distance runner Amy Andrushko, sprinter Morgan Milbrath and thrower Katelyn Weimerskirch have all won multiple individual Summit League championships.

These three leaders have 11 other seniors on the roster to help them mold the younger Bison track athletes.

“We have a staff that’s willing to work hard. They’re all super competitive and they all bring different things to the table. But when you have a staff that you can keep together to keep bringing kids in, and have some consistency, that’s huge.” - Stevie Keller, Head Coach

“When you go to Nebraska and you get to see some of the best kids in the country competing, that raises your level of competition.

And in outdoor season, we’re going to California and Arizona, and really having an opportunity to have our kids be in the best heat with some of the best athletes.

That goes a long ways.” - Stevie Keller, Head Coach

THE NDSU TRACK AND FIELD LEGACY MORGAN MILBRATH

MORGAN MILBRATH Hometown: Minot, North Dakota Class: Senior Position: Sprinter Indoor Events: 200m, 300m, 400m, 4x400m relay, distance medley relay Outdoor Events: 200m, 400m, 400m hurdles, 4x100 relay, 4x400 relay, 1,600 Sprint Medley relay 30

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A STAR

THE NDSU TRACK AND FIELD LEGACY MORGAN MILBRATH

PERSONAL RECORDS Indoor 200-meter: 24.47 seconds Outdoor 200: 24.23 Indoor 300: *38.68 Indoor 400: 53.99 Outdoor 400: 53.97 Outdoor 400 hurdles: 59.13 Indoor 4x400 relay: *3:34.57 Indoor Distance Medley relay: *11:10.49 Outdoor 4x100 relay: *44.81

AMONG

Outdoor 4x200 relay: *1:35.48 Outdoor 4x400 relay: *3:32.85 Sprint Medley relay: *3:47.73 *School Record

Accolades 2014 4x400-meter relay Second-team Indoor and Outdoor All-American 2014 4x400-meter relay NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships Qualifier 3x 4x400-meter relay NCAA West Preliminary Rounds Qualifier 2x 400-meter hurdles NCAA West Preliminary Rounds Qualifier 3x 4x400-meter relay Summit League Indoor Champion 3x 4x400-meter relay Summit League Outdoor Champion 2015 400-meter Summit League Outdoor Champion

MANY

SENIOR MORGAN MILBRATH EXPERIENCED THE GLORY OF THE NCAAS HER FRESHMAN YEAR. NOW SHE WANTS TO BRING HER TEAMMATES ALONG WITH HER.

F

By Joe Kerlin Photo by Paul Flessland

rom the moment Morgan Milbrath walked into the Shelly Ellig Indoor Track Facility to begin her sophomore season at NDSU, her banner already hung from the south wall. It swung next to the other track legends at NDSU who fought and crawled their way to becoming NCAA All-Americans.

Milbrath’s freshman year in 2014 was somewhat unprecedented in the track and field program.

ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale would consider her a “diaper dandy” whose speed vaulted her into the best 4x400-

meter relay team in school history.

She was the lone underclassman who passed the baton to decorated college juniors and seniors. Milbrath was the first leg, five-time Summit League 400-meter winner Ashley Tingelstad was second, the NCAA Championship-qualifying hurdler Ashley Heinze was third and Paige Stratioti, who would qualify for the NCAAs in the 800-meter dash, anchored the recordsetting relay team.

The quartet broke the school’s 4x400-meter 31

THE NDSU TRACK AND FIELD LEGACY MORGAN MILBRATH

Photos Courtesy of Richard Svaleson

outdoor relay record three times in 21 days. The group’s indoor record still stands while it seems like every other mark in the NDSU record book falls around it.

“After those girls left, it was kind of like she was the star, and she was only a sophomore,” remembers head coach Stevie Keller. “She was pretty young to be the leader in this group, but she’s definitely taken it on.”

Comfortable in Her Own Skin The Minot, North Dakota, native is self-described as outspoken, which she said helped when she’s trying to learn the hundreds of names that are on the men’s and women’s track roster.

“My freshman year, I definitely thought we were a family and we felt it,” Milbrath said, recalling her first year on-campus and being surrounded by seniors Tingelstad and Heinz. “I had the ability to open up, learn and meet people. They had been here, they knew people on the team, and people liked them so it was easy to connect with a lot of people. Older

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BISON ILLUSTRATED M A R C H 2 0 1 7

people would talk to me and just be like, ‘Hey, how are you?’ and were willing to talk to me.”

Those simple conversations made an impact. Milbrath wasn’t a stranger to the older athletes reaching out, seeing as she was the one in the seniors’ shoes when she was in high school, helping the younger athletes at Minot High School. But with all the attention she received her freshman year in college, she realized that way of thinking didn’t have to change. She could be the one to reach out and give a hand to teammates assimilating to the lifestyle of a college track athlete.

“We do a lot of things as a team.

We’ll have team dinner and it’s more than just an event group. It’ll be the throwers, pole vaulters and everyone will be together,” Milbrath explained.

“It’s just about building camaraderie between everyone at all times. I think what’s really helped with that is getting to know people’s names.

I know a lot of people’s names in here and sometimes being goofy or outspoken has helped with that.”

The NDSU track team has also been

busy away from the sport. Milbrath is one of the two Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) members on the women’s team, and she gets to see firsthand the philanthropic work her teammates are doing in the community.

Busy Body To go along with anchoring the fastest relay team in the Summit League and juggling the vice presidency for SAAC, Milbrath finds herself in two prestigious organizations on campus.

Milbrath was nominated as an underclassman to be in NDSU’s Blue Key National Honor Society organization. According to the NDSU website, one of the values of this organization is “to serve and promote progress in the best interests of North Dakota State University and the community, state, nation and humanity.”

Members of the prestigious student organization are anonymously nominated and are selected based off of leadership in student affairs,

THE NDSU TRACK AND FIELD LEGACY MORGAN MILBRATH

Coach Speak “She came into a really great senior class, and they were great leaders and they brought her along, and I think that’s what I’ve seen out of Morgan the last three or four years, is become a really dominant leader on our team. She understands the training, the performances, she’s just grown up so much.”

- Stevie Keller, Women’s Track and Field Head Coach

showing a positive personality and striving for perfection in the classroom. Milbrath is the organization’s vice president.

Milbrath is also involved in the Mortar Board National Senior Honor Society.

December, but isn’t ready to make a decision on her future.

Before figuring out what she wants to do for the rest of her life, there’s business on the track that needs to be finished.

Finishing Stronger

“It’s a lot of juggling, but they are things I’m very passionate about,” Milbrath said. “All the organizations I’m in, they’re great. It’s very collaborative work. I try to focus on school first. Athletics does take priority over my clubs, but my clubs are right up there because they are something I’m so passionate about.

There’s a lot less of a social aspect going on in my life, but I get it in my clubs so I don’t really need it in other areas.”

Being a Summit League Academic AllLeague selection pads to the already remarkable resume Milbrath has put together during her four years at NDSU. She’s majoring in physical and health education, which she thinks she’ll pursue once her track career is over. Milbrath is set to student teach in the fall before graduating next

The 4x400-meter women’s relay team was 0.31 seconds short of qualifying for the NCAA Outdoor Championships last May. After competing in the first heat, Milbrath and the Bison were edged by Oklahoma in the last heat, for the 12th and final spot that qualifies teams for nationals.

“You genuinely can’t get much closer than that,” Milbrath said, remembering the heartbreak at the end of her junior season. “It was super bittersweet, but it fueled that fire even more, especially since I haven’t been there since freshman year with those girls.”

The tables have turned this season with Milbrath now leading the charge and anchoring the relay team. Instead

of working herself to the limit like she did back in 2014 to help her seniors go out on top, she’s preaching that message to the younger runners.

“I don’t want to be dragging unfinished business with me when I leave,” Milbrath said. “If it doesn’t happen, I understand, maybe that wasn’t the plan. I just want to make sure I did everything I could and know that I gave it my all.”

No one can question the hard work Milbrath has put in during her time at NDSU. Just ask her about organizing 120 people to clean the indoor track facility every spring. That should give you a good idea about how much she’s put on her shoulders during college.

From taking on a leadership role her sophomore season to having her hands in just about everything happening on campus, Milbrath has been busy. All that’s left to check off her to-do list is one final run in nationals. And just like everything else in her life, it’s safe to consider that task will be complete come June. * * * 33

THE NDSU TRACK AND FIELD LEGACY AMY ANDRUSHKO

PERSONAL RECORDS Indoor 300-meter: 40.57 seconds Outdoor 400: 56.4 Indoor 600: 1:32.8 Indoor 800: 2:08.31 Outdoor 800: 2:08.18 Indoor 4x400 relay: 3:41.68 Outdoor 4x800 relay: 8:45.89 Indoor Distance Medley relay: *11:10.49 Outdoor Sprint Medley relay: 3:56.22 *School Record

AMY ANDRUShKO Hometown: Dugald, Manitoba, Canada Class: Senior Position: Sprinter Indoor Events: 200m, 300m, 400m, 4x400m relay Outdoor Events: 200m, 400m, 4x100m relay, 4x400m relay

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Accolades Two-time Summit League Outdoor 800-meter Champion Two-time Summit League Indoor Distance Medley Relay Team Champion 2016 Summit League Indoor 800-meter Champion 2016 Summit League Outdoor 4x400-meter Relay Team Champion 2014 Summit League Indoor 4x400-meter Relay Team Champion

2:08.18 SENIOR AMY ANDRUSHKO EPITOMIZES THE PERSONAL RECORDBREAKING CULTURE AROUND THE BISON TRACK AND FIELD PROGRAM.

A

By Joe Kerlin Photo by Paul Flessland

my Andrushko arrived at North Dakota State to an already loaded group of middle distance runners. With athletes like NCAA Championship qualifier Paige Stratioti and Summit League champion Faith Kruchowski running the same heats, all Andrushko could do is focus on her goal of eclipsing 2:10 in the 800-meter.

The Manitoba native had a long ways to go after her first outdoor college race in Riverside, California, in 2014. She clocked a 2:13, 800-meter, which would have been good enough during her redshirt season, but she was striving to be faster.

The outdoor season progressed that spring and slowly Andrushko’s times began dwindling.

At the Summit League Championship meet that May, she scooted closer to her season goal in the

preliminary race by clocking a 2:11.36. She was onto the final and she had one more shot at the elusive 2:10 mark.

Andrushko was joined by her conference championship-winning teammates Stratioti and Kruchowski in the finals.

“I can still picture the race,” Andrushko, who is now a senior, said. “We’re on the back stretch and Paige just went for it, and then Faith just went for it, then I went for it.”

The NDSU trio finished 1-2-3 in the race. A clean sweep of the podium, even though no one at the meet thought it was possible with a young runner like Andrushko in the mix.

The redshirt freshman finished third. She crushed her goal by running a blazing 2:09.62.

“I still remember finishing that race and coach Ryun (Godfrey) being like, ‘You

THE NDSU TRACK AND FIELD LEGACY AMY ANDRUSHKO

Coach Speak “When she (Andrushko) started her career, we didn’t have the indoor track facility, it was all in the Bison Sports Arena.

It was fun for me to sit down and visit with her, to go in the Sanford Health Athletic Complex with her and she was just blown away by how nice it was. That’s the neat thing about Amy, but also, she’s a great leader at practice, great student. She’s a kid that has come in and improved a lot.”

– Stevie Keller, Women’s Track and Field Head Coach

Photo Courtesy of Richard Svaleson

just broke 2:10!’” Andrushko said, raising her voice in excitement as she relived her goal-crushing performance. “It hit me that we have the power to be so tired, yet still come out and run incredible times.”

What Andrushko is referring to is the Bison culture that’s produced 18 consecutive conference championships. The track team’s ability to rise and display their best in the big moments when titles are on the line is uncanny. No one in the Summit has been able to produce their best performances when they feel the pressure like the Bison.

Andrushko doesn’t know if the word motivation is the correct term to use when describing NDSU’s consistency.

There might not be a way to explain the drive and desire these Bison athletes gain when they train with their fiercest competition at practice every day. Being surrounded by future Olympians and past NCAA Championship contenders surely 36

BISON ILLUSTRATED M A R C H 2 0 1 7

helps the other runners.

Third-year head coach and longtime Bison assistant Stevie Keller has also helped by putting runners like Andrushko in situations to become successful. You don’t have to look far into the Bison schedule to see when they match up with runners from the University of Nebraska and Texas Tech like they did at the Adidas Classic in February.

“Stevie is getting us into those big meets, especially last year when we went to New York,” Andrushko said.

“It makes you mentally and physically tougher. Especially mentally, just knowing that you can actually race against these people.”

The women’s track team will head to California multiple times this outdoor season. They’ll be pitted among the best in the country as they prepare for their 10th-straight Summit League title.

Andrushko is now a three-time 800-meter Summit League champion and goes into the outdoor season as the event’s back-to-back champion.

For fun, she extended herself this winter and ran one 1,000-meter race and ended up breaking the school record on her first try. She plans on coming back to dominate the 800-meter at the conference championship meet.

Andrushko’s goal of running under 2:10 is a thing of the past as she’s now hitting that mark consistently in every race. In 2015, Andrushko set her personal best at 2:08.18 and now smiles when she hears that mark to go along with her individual Summit League titles.

The goal is to still get faster, said the fifth-year senior. She knows it’s now or never as her career quickly comes to the finish line.

* * *

THE NDSU TRACK AND FIELD LEGACY DON LARSON

DON LARSON Head Coach Men’s Track and Field

Don Larson arrived at NDSU in 1979 and is in his 38th season as the head coach of the men’s track and field team. He has 53 conference titles in cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field.

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THE NDSU TRACK AND FIELD LEGACY DON LARSON

Division I Conference Titles THE MEN’S TRACK TEAM HASN’T HAD THE PERFECT RECORD LIKE THE WOMEN, BUT THEY’VE EXPERIENCED PLENTY OF SUCCESS, WINNING 13 SUMMIT LEAGUE TITLES. 2008, 2010-16 Outdoor Summit League Champions

THE MEN’S TRACK AND FIELD TEAM IS STANDING ON TOP OF THE PODIUM MORE OFTEN THAN NOT WHEN IT COMES TO THE CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP MEET. THIS YEAR, THEY WILL LOOK TO ADD TO THEIR ALREADY IMPRESSIVE COLLECTION OF CHAMPIONSHIP PLAQUES. Interview by Ethan Mickelson Photo by Paul Flessland

The Conversation Bison Illustrated: Coach,

you’ve been here for nearly 40 years. Does anything about this job still surprise you?

Don Larson: “I’m not going

to use the word surprised, but I’ve certainly been impressed on several occasions. I’m giving a tour today for a young man celebrating a birthday. He was a seven-time national champion for us and a NCAA postgrad scholar and became a very successful mechanical engineer. It’s great when you recruit a kid and they come in and do amazing things, and it’s just as amazing when they go on and do things after college.”

BI: What aspects of this program are you looking forward to seeing grow, even if it happens after you leave?

DL: “To be honest, I haven’t

2008-11, 2016 Indoor Summit League Champion

really thought about that as far as the future. I thought maybe you were going to ask me what I look forward to and I basically look forward to the next day.

Obviously, you look more forward to a meet than just a normal practice day, but every day is different. Again, it’s a unique profession and every day seems to be a little bit different.

“The rewarding part of it is when you see them succeed or excel athletically, academically or socially. One of our athletes just got elected to Blue Key National Honor Society, and we’ve had a number of them in it, so it’s what they’re like as you say a studentathlete, but it’s also what they’re like as a person. Sometimes your best motivators are the athletes that are the total package. I’m not saying they have to be All-American or a conference champion, but the kids that make the best out of their athletic limitations do all the other things the right way.

“It’s rewarding for me as a coach, a husband, a dad—my children were greatly influenced by NDSU track and field athletes, significantly influenced. In behavior, mannerisms, in attitude towards life and attitude towards athletics. It was a positive effect on them, that says a lot about the student-athletes you have in your program.

“Head coaches get a lot of credit, but let’s be honest, it takes a lot of people, from the university all the way down to the student-athlete, and everybody that works with them. I’m just fortunate enough to be at an institution that cares about their people and has provided us an unbelievable opportunity for athletes, and that’s kind of nice.” * * *

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THE NDSU TRACK AND FIELD LEGACY 3 LANES TO SUCCESS

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on Larson has led a successful tenure as NDSU’s head men’s track coach for 37 years. Here’s what he’s doing to ensure the 38th is just as good.

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“We have some simple rules, and one of our rules is being polite. Being a good teammate, those would certainly be keys to being successful in school, sports and life. Making the best of your situation.”

- Don Larson, Head Coach

Work Ethic

Humane and Humble

Positive Attitude

Don Larson and his athletes know not every runner and thrower will be an AllAmerican or have their name on the wall. But that doesn’t stop them from going out and pursuing their best performance for the betterment of the team.

Work Ethic

LTOANES SUCCESS

Humane and Humble

Positive Attitude “Life ain’t fair. Sometimes life throws us some amazing curveballs and it’s being able to overcome adversity, and in all honesty, there are some people who face more adversity than others.

Knowing where I came from, and where I’m fortunate enough to be these days, I’ve had some great mentoring through the years, and I’m forever indebted to a handful of individuals.”

- Don Larson, Head Coach

THE NDSU TRACK AND FIELD LEGACY LANDON JOCHIM

LANDON JOCHIM Hometown: Bismarck, North Dakota Class: Junior Position: Sprinter Indoor Events: 60m, 200m, 300m, 400m, 4x400m relay Outdoor Events: 200m, 400m, 4x100m relay, 4x400m relay

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THE NDSU TRACK AND FIELD LEGACY LANDON JOCHIM

PERSONAL RECORDS Indoor 60-meter: 7.07 seconds Indoor 200: 21.88 Outdoor 200: 21.58 Indoor 400: *47.23 Outdoor 400: 47.34 Outdoor 4x100 relay: 41.53

BISON NATION TO Sportsnation

HOW JUNIOR LANDON JOCHIM BROUGHT THE BISON INTO THE ESPN SPOTLIGHT

Indoor 4x400 relay: 3:16.51 Outdoor 4x400 relay: 3:11.71 Outdoor Sprint Medley relay: 3:24.96 *School Record

Accolades 2015 Summit League Newcomer of the Championships 2015 Summit League Outdoor 400-meter Champion 2016 Summit League Indoor 400-meter Champion 2016 All-Summit League Outdoor performer

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By Joe Kerlin Photo by Paul Flessland

arson Wentz wasn’t the first Bison athlete from Bismarck Century High School to bring the NDSU green and gold to the set of the popular midday ESPN show “SportsNation.” The Michelle Beadle hosted 30-minute sports debate show had its first experience with Bison Pride when a sophomore sprinter named Landon Jochim dropped by the show in the summer of 2015.

Jochim gained access to be a part of a small in-studio crowd thanks to his cousin who works on ESPN/ABC-affiliated television shows like Shark Tank and SportsNation. Jochim, along with 20 other sports fans gathered behind the camera to watch Beadle, Marcellus Wiley and Max Kellerman debate the hottest topics in sports.

When he was originally asked to wear his favorite professional team’s gear, Jochim thought, why not wear his Bison track and field jumpsuit? He also grabbed his Bison Nation flag just in case.

“I think the camera found me maybe once during the actual show,” the junior Bismarck native

said. After the show, the small audience had the opportunity to meet the cast of three ESPN personalities and take a picture.

Jochim jumped on the opportunity to break out his flag for the photo op. The three ESPNers willingly held it out for his future viral moment.

Jochim posted the picture later that day on his Instagram page and the “likes” started rolling in. 300-plus likes later, North Dakota State posted 43

THE NDSU TRACK AND FIELD LEGACY LANDON JOCHIM

the photo on Facebook, which was seen by thousands as Bison Nation once again spilled its way into ESPN territory.

NDSU track and field athletes have started to build a reputation in the track world. NCAA Championship qualifiers such as Erin Teschuk, Maddie Van Beek, Alex Renner and the women’s 4x400-meter relay team have helped put the Bison on the college track map. Jochim did that but in an unorthodox way on SportsNation.

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But Jochim is looking to follow in the footsteps of the Bison greats on the track, too.

“I wanted to be one of the best to ever run here,” Jochim said following his school record-breaking performance in the 400-meter at Nebraska this February. “I think this year, so far, it’s been going in the right direction.

But I don’t think it will be satisfying until I make it to at least the West Preliminaries and the ultimate goal is to make it to Nationals.”

Jochim battled a stress fracture in his shin his freshman year and still managed to find success. He placed fourth in the 400-meter at the Summit League Indoor Championships. Later that spring, he won the 400-meter at the outdoor championship meet as a true freshman.

More trouble came during the fall of his sophomore season. Jochim became sick with mono and his training took another hit. He was able to recover and win his first Indoor

Summit League Championship in the 400-meter last season. Even with the two individual titles, Jochim is looking for bigger results.

“I don’t think I’ve lived up to my expectations that I’ve put on myself,” Jochim said. “This year I have more confidence and I feel like my mind is in a better place. I happened to have a really good fall training and my body is healthy and I feel great and I’m confident. Getting the record, too, that just adds to the confidence.”

Now with the school’s 400-meter record under his name, Jochim is focused on qualifying for his first West Preliminary meet. The only question left is whether it happens during the indoor or outdoor season.

Luckily for Jochim, he has more than a year to cement his legacy at NDSU and help the program shine brighter in the college track scene.

* * *

THE NDSU TRACK AND FIELD LEGACY ALEX RENNER AND KATELYN WEIMERSKIRCH

ALEX RENNER Hometown: Watertown, South Dakota Class: Senior Position: Throws Indoor Events: Shot Put, Weight Throw Outdoor Events: Shot Put, Hammer Throw

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KATELYN WEIMERSKIRCH Hometown: East Dubuque, Illinois Class: Senior Position: Throws Indoor Events: Shot Put, Weight Throw Outdoor Events: Shot Put, Discus, Hammer Throw

THE NDSU TRACK AND FIELD LEGACY ALEX RENNER AND KATELYN WEIMERSKIRCH

Alex Renner’s Resume 2016 Second-team All-American in shot put 3x NCAA West Preliminary Rounds qualifier 4x Individual Summit League Champion 2x Summit League Outdoor Shot Put Champion 2016 Summit League Indoor Shot Put Champion 2015 Summit League Hammer Throw Champion Personal Records Indoor Shot Put: *63’ 0.25” feet Weight Throw: 7’ 1.5” Outdoor Shot Put: *62’ 4.5” Hammer Throw: 201’ 5”

THE SLEEPING

GIANTS THE MEN’S AND WOMEN’S THROWS GROUP IS AMONG THE TOP IN THE NATION AND THEY HAVE NO PLANS TO STOP THEIR ASCENSION.

*School Record

Katelyn Weimerskirch’s Resume 4x NCAA West Preliminary Rounds qualifier 6x Individual Summit League Champion 3x Summit League Discus Champion 2x Summit League Weight Throw Champion 2016 Summit League Hammer Throw Champion Personal Records Indoor Shot Put: 50’ 11” feet Weight Throw: *67’ 3.5” Outdoor Shot Put: 50’ 0.5” Hammer Throw: 198’ 2” Discus: *177’ 11” *School Record

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By Joe Kerlin Photo by Paul Flessland

he North Dakota State men’s track and field throwers ranked number one in the country, as a team, in the shot put and weight throw half way through the indoor season. The women’s team was right there with them, ranking second in the shot put and first in the weight throw.

NDSU is becoming a hotbed of talent for track and field throwers across the nation and the rise has been steady since the Division I transition. Throwing marks by underclassmen tell us this program is going to be near the top for year’s to come.

A lot of the credit goes to throws coach Justin St. Clair. The associate head coach is in his sixth year at NDSU. Since his arrival, every throwing record— indoor and outdoor—has been broken, including the seven that were broken in the past calendar year.

“What I love about him is that he’s not a cookie cutter coach,”

senior Katelyn Weimerskirch said about St. Clair. “He has the ability to take our strengths and weaknesses and use them to our advantage.”

Weimerskirch is a senior and is in her fifth year under St. Clair’s tutelage. She holds the indoor weight throw and outdoor discus records at NDSU. Her men’s counterpart Alex Renner has also put his five years at NDSU to good use.

Renner holds the NDSU indoor and outdoor shot put records.

He was also named a secondteam NCAA All-American in the outdoor shot put in 2016.

Weimerskirch and Renner are two of the many throwers at NDSU who have ascended the school to never before seen heights in the college track world. And with a bevy of talented underclassmen, who knows how far the Bison throwers can go among the nation’s elite.

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THE NDSU TRACK AND FIELD LEGACY ALEX RENNER AND KATELYN WEIMERSKIRCH

Alex Renner tosses during the weight throw in the Bison Open. He had the second-best mark on the team, throwing the weight 20.46 meters.

Photo Courtesy of Richard Svaleson

alex renner Interview Bison Illustrated: Right now, the team is the best in the country (2/6/17). How often do you look at the rankings?

Alex Renner: “I look at them a little bit. More than anything, it’s to see where you’re at, but it’s not like you dwell on it. I try not to throw a certain mark because then you start pressing and you should just go out and throw. There’s a point where you look at them too much and you obsess with them and you can’t focus on what you’re supposed to do. You have to focus on the little things and do the little things right.”

BI: Do you guys talk about it as a team?

AR: “It’s cool seeing the team ranking that came out. That’s just a testament to the hard work. I think people talk about the team rankings because it includes everyone and everyone plays a part in that. It’s not just one person.

That’s really the type of rankings that we’re happy about. Individual stuff is cool. Everyone has worked for that.

The team ranking stuff is more fun and more rewarding.”

BI: Last year, the men’s throwers had a great group. Could this year be even better?

AR: “(It) could be. We have a couple young guys that are going to step up.

Every year is a little different. The bar gets raised a little bit more and more every year, and we’re seeing that a lot more now in the weight throw for

sure. It’s insane how each event has gotten a little better every year. The thing is, we haven’t lost a lot of guys.

Last year, we lost Brandt (Berghuis), which was a big loss, but then you have other guys that are getting better and getting better distances, young guys stepping up.”

BI: It’s your last year. Do you have any unfinished business?

AR: “I really want to make it to the indoor Nationals. I just missed it last year by under a foot. I don’t know where I’m going to be (at the end of February), but if I can do the little things and it increases my distance.

That’s the one thing I want to do, other than that, I’m just enjoying my time with the team. You don’t get to do this the rest of your life.” * * *

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THE NDSU TRACK AND FIELD LEGACY ALEX RENNER AND KATELYN WEIMERSKIRCH

Katelyn Weimerskirch throws the shot put during the 2017 Bison Open. It was the last time the decorated senior would throw inside her home track facility

Katelyn weimerskirch Interview Bison Illustrated: If you watch your throws group, you’re all very encouraging to one another and more active than the others. Why is that?

Katelyn Weimerskirch: “Personally, I tend to overthink my throwing sometimes. You get in you own head sometimes. So, I use my joking around a little bit as a way to distract myself from overthinking. We like to have fun. We’re out here to do a good job, but in the end, you want to do a good job and have some fun while doing it.”

BI: You’re an accomplished discus thrower, but are there other throwing accomplishments you want to hit before you’re done?

KW: “My goal is to make it to Nationals as a Top 16 in the country (weight throw). I believe I was ranked 16th coming into this meet, so gotta step up my game a little more. My goal is to get better no matter what.

I try not to think as much about the distances and hitting certain marks and numbers, because that can become a head game so I usually try to get better, do what I do and be confident in what I can do.”

BI: What are you going to miss about being a Bison when it’s all said and done?

KW: “Once a Bison, always a Bison.

There’s so much pride here for this state and for this school. Just the

community backs it 100 percent.

That’s really amazing to be a part of and to be a part of something I love so much that I can share with my teammates, family and friends.

Having the best coach in the nation is just incredible. I got really lucky.”

BI: Is there anything you can take from this experience and apply it to life after track?

KW: “There are so many things that I’ve learned that I will use forever.

Things like discipline, being able to work hard and never giving up. You really develop that more in college and throughout your five years. I couldn’t imagine just being here four. I’ve had all these experiences in five years. They’re things I’ll cherish forever and will bring me through the rest of my life.” * * * 49

THE NDSU TRACK AND FIELD LEGACY CONTEXT TO THE NUMBERS

CONTEXT TO THE

NUMBERS SUMMIT LEAGUE Top 10

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ust how good are the men’s and women’s throwers? They’ll let their marks do the talking.

Take a look at some of the top throwers in the Big Ten and see for yourself how strong the throws group is at NDSU.

*STATS THROUGH FEB. 20.

BIG TEN TOP 10

MEN’S DIVISION men’s Shot Put 1. Renner, Alex – North Dakota State – 63’ 0.25” 2. Otterdahl, Payton – North Dakota State – 60’ 3.25” 3. Stroh, Steffan – North Dakota State – 57’ 10.5” 4. 57’ 0.75” 5. Schwarzkopf, Conrad – North Dakota State – 56’ 1.75”

Men’s Weight Throw 1. Otterdahl, Payton – North Dakota State – 68’ 9.75” 2. Renner, Alex – North Dakota State – 67’ 1.5” 3. Schwarzkopf, Conrad – North Dakota State – 66’ 10.5” 4. Stroh, Steffan – North Dakota State – 65’ 9.5” 5. 65’ 3.25”

men’s Shot Put 1. Morrison, Willie – Indiana – 63’ 10.5” 2. 63’ 1.25” 3. 61’ 8.25” 4. 61’ 7.5” 5. 61’ 4.25”

Men’s Weight Throw 1. Budde, Riley – Wisconsin – 72’ 11.25” 2. 72’ 6.5” 3. 69’ 10.25” 4. 69’ 7.5” 5. 68’ 0.25”

WOMEN’S DIVISION Women’s Shot Put 1. 53’ 4.25” 2. Pasiowitz, Courtney – North Dakota State – 51’ 9” 3. Gunnells, Shelby – North Dakota State – 49’ 3.5” 4. Retzlaff, Bailey – North Dakota State – 49’ 0.75” 5. Weimerskirch, Katelyn – North Dakota State – 48’ 10.75”

Women’s WEIGHT THROW 1. Weimerskirch, Katelyn – North Dakota State – 66’ 2.25” 2. Pasiowitz, Courtney – North Dakota State – 64’ 10.5” 3. Nilles, Maddy – North Dakota State – 63’ 6.75” 4. 63’ 1.25” 5. Retzlaff, Bailey – North Dakota State – 61’ 2”

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Women’s Shot Put 1. Sabin, Kiley – Minnesota – 56’ 4” 2. 53’ 6.5” 3. 53’ 5.75” 4. 53’ 0.25” 5. 52’ 4”

Women’s WEIGHT THROW 1. Olatoye, Sade – Ohio State – 71’ 3.5” 2. 70’ 10.5” 3. 66’ 6” 4. 65’ 3.5” 5. 64’ 2.25”

SHORT ON EXPERIENCE

LONG ON CONFIDENCE

By Joe Kerlin Photo by J. Alan Paul Photography

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his isn’t head softball coach Darren Mueller’s first rodeo.

He’s not afraid to admit this year’s team lacks experience.

He knows the loss of his other head coach Jamie Trachsel after 13 years stings. He’s over it, and he can’t wait to see what’s in store for the 2017 version of the Bison.

Cheyenne Garcia

SOFTBALL CHEYENNE GARCIA & DARREN MUELLER

This will be the first season for Cheyenne Garcia as NDSU’s graduate assistant manager. Garcia started four years for the Bison, mainly playing second base.

She’s tenth on NDSU’s all-time hits list.

DARREN MUELLER 2017 marks the 16th season for Darren Mueller as head coach of the softball program. He’s led NDSU to seven of the last eight Summit League tournament championships.

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SOFTBALL CHEYENNE GARCIA & DARREN MUELLER

Reason to Dance Darren Mueller and Cheyenne Garcia have had plenty to celebrate with the Bison softball program. The Bison are 153-60 from 2013-16. A tough road is ahead this season, but with their first win against Ole Miss in February, the Bison are right on track for another danceworthy year.

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he elephant in the room around the Dacotah Field Bubble this winter has been the loss of nine players from last year’s Summit League champion roster. This includes four players who started all 54 games. This may sound eerily similar to situations in the past.

You don’t have to look far to remember the last time Darren Mueller’s softball program had to reload the starting lineup. The 2013 Bison lost four of its best hitters from the season prior. The roster was littered with nine freshmen and four emerged as impactful players in the lineup.

As the second youngest team in the country, the Bison lost in the 2013 Summit League championship game when they ran into IPFW. It was the only time in the last eight years the Bison didn’t win the conference.

Mueller’s 2017 team is looking to avoid the speed bump in the run of seven conference titles over the past decade.

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“This year, we have a lot of people that have been a part of the program, but they haven’t been on the field as much,” Mueller said. “They’re all going to learn and be thrown into the fire and I guess we’ll see what happens.”

Among the players that are returning to lead the young Bison into the fire are pitchers Jacquelyn Sertic and KK Leddy, catcher Alyssa Reina, outfielder Bre Beatty and infielders Julia Luciano and Zoe Stavrou. But the players on the roster are not alone.

This fall, a handful of former Bison softball players who have recently left the program returned to help acclimate the younger players to their bigger roles.

Graduate assistant manager Cheyenne Garcia went directly from playing second base to the coaching staff. Garcia won the 2015 Summit League Player of the Year, was a two-time 1st team All-Summit League performer and was a freshman on the young 2013 team that advanced to the Summit League championship game.

Garcia has been in the cleats of most of the players in the lineup this year that will endure their first season with a starting role. Garcia isn’t allowed to coach the players, but she can speak to Mueller about what she sees on the practice field.

This fall, former shortstop Logan Moreland was able to spend time with the new middle infielders replacing her and Garcia from last year. Former centerfielder Alex Sobrero was also able to come back and speak with the outfielders.

The strong Bison culture is apparent around the softball program even though the faces are new. With a strong core at pitcher and catcher, a lot will be on the shoulders of the new players in the Bison lineup. But this isn’t Mueller’s first rodeo, and he can’t wait to get the ball rolling.

SOFTBALL CHEYENNE GARCIA & DARREN MUELLER

Key Returners

DARREN MUELLER

Alyssa Reina, Senior Position: Catcher 2016 Batting Average: .335 Home Runs: 7 Runs Batted In: 49

Head Coach Softball

Jacquelyn Sertic, Junior Position: Pitcher 2016 Win-Loss: 24-7 ERA: 2.26 Strikeouts: 216 KK Leddy, Sophomore Position: Pitcher 2016 Win-Loss: 14-8 ERA: 4.14 Strikeouts: 77 Bre Beatty, Junior Position: Outfielder 2016 Batting Average: .361 Home Runs: 2 Runs Batted In: 22 Photo Courtesy of Cory Erickson

The Conversation You lost a lot of starters from last year, but it still feels like there are more returning players than people think. Did you lose a manageable amount of players?

“I feel like we’ve lost a lot of experience. We’re probably going to be starting six positions where it’s the first time they’ve played at those positions. Our whole outfield will be brand new this year with Katie (Shoultz) being out so that makes it a little more difficult.

“We have a lot of people that have gone through the program but as far as being on the field and going through those type of ups and downs throughout the season, that’s one thing I feel like we’re lacking is that experience.”

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How many players do you feel like could rotate through the starting lineup to begin the year and when do you think you’ll have a core group of starters?

“Since the team has been here in the fall, it’s almost like a new program this fall with some new people on the coaching staff and all this inexperience on the field. So we’re trying to find what’s going to work, what’s going to click and our team has been busting their butts and doing a great job of just going out there and working. So I think everybody is going to be utilized this year.

“We talk about working on the mental skill, working on how their chemistry is going to work on the field. How are they going to work up the middle with Montana DeCamp and Lauren Reimers? I don’t want to compare them to Cheyenne Garcia and Logan Moreland because, for four years, they were pretty great.

But, we’ve seen that happen in the past with Nicole Rivera and Laurel Pipkin, back in 2009. We’ve seen that happen, but we’re just going to see how they develop and how it works for Lauren and Montana or whoever fits in the middle.”

You talk about your catcher Alyssa Reina as one of your leaders. What does she bring?

“She’s kind of that coach on the field.

Alyssa has been on the field and has had the type of experience and just her personality. She’s the perfect person to help with this young team.

She has been like another coach, and that’s where it goes back to the learning experience.”

SOFTBALL CHEYENNE GARCIA & DARREN MUELLER

New Faces Madyson Camacho Position: Utility Hometown: Homeland, California Stephanie Soriano Position: Utility Hometown: Moreno Valley, California Montana DeCamp Position: Shortstop Hometown: Indianola, Iowa Anna Watson Position: Infielder Hometown: Tuscola, Illinois Morgan Olson Position: Pitcher/Outfielder Hometown: Mazeppa, Minnesota

CHEYENNE GARCIA Graduate Assistant Manager

The Conversation Why did you decide to come back to the team after your eligibility was up?

“I love the team. I love being around the team. There’s a lot of girls that I played with and I want to watch them grow as people and as players.”

This team is similar to your freshman class in 2013. When did you feel like you were comfortable leading as a younger player?

“We were asked as freshmen that we needed to mature a lot faster than most freshmen because there were ten of us, so the majority of the team.

We were pushed really hard and we had our upperclassmen to lean on and even our sophomores were amazing.

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“I’d say sophomore year we just grew a great bond with each other so it felt like we all had different parts that we could lead in. There were different people I looked up to at times. If it was hitting, it was one person, fielding it’d be a different person, and for my mental side, another person.”

Have you tried mentoring any of the younger middle infielders and talked them through the development process?

“I do what I can behind the scenes, but I think they’re starting to understand a little more. In the fall, it was a rocky start but their positions are narrowed down more now. There’s a lot of girls who play different positions, so it’s nice when they can connect with each other in

Photo Courtesy of Cory Erickson their position group. They’re a close team already, and they have some figuring out to do, but they’ll get there. You don’t want to peak in the beginning anyways.”

When do you think they’ll start figuring it out?

“They get along really well, but it will take experience. You’re going to go through really bad times.

Logan Moreland and I went through everything together, and I think that’s what made us even closer. We’re still really close now. They’re super eager to learn and they’re awesome people.

They absorb everything.” * * *

rounding THE BASES

OF A

SUCCESSFUL

CULTURE

By Joe Kerlin

d

arren Mueller has been at NDSU for 24 years and has been the head coach since 2002. He’s won 15 conference championships and seven Summit League tournament championships. He, along with former Summit League Player of the Year and current graduate assistant manager Cheyenne Garcia, give us the four keys to the successful culture built inside the Bison softball program.

SOFTBALL SUCCESSFUL CULTURE

Second to Third Recognizing Leaders “Alyssa Reina, she has the most experience and she’s a great leader.

She’s very passionate about what she does and I think she’s just a great person to look up to. Even I looked up to her and I was the same age as her. She motivated me and she’s helping this team a lot.”

- Cheyenne Garcia, Former Player/ Graduate Assistant Manager

First to Second Believing in the Process “We’re all about the process so understanding the process and not trying to force a result. We don’t focus on results here, we focus on the process and just knowing that you’re going to get there because you’ve seen success in the past in the program so you have confidence.”

- Cheyenne Garcia, Former Player/ Graduate Assistant Manager

Third to Home Giving Back

Home to First Appreciation of the Past

“You’re proud of the fact that they (former players) care so much about the program. They care about helping the ones who are coming after them. It’s not about the name on the back, it’s about the name on the front. It’s bigger than you, it’s bigger than us.” - Darren Mueller, Head Coach

“We have our players go back and learn about all the people that wore their number before them. When they graduate, they all want to know who’s wearing my number.” - Darren Mueller, Head Coach

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SOFTBALL PICK YOUR POISON

Kaitlyn leddy

ALYSSA REINA Catcher, Senior

Pitcher, Sophomore

Jacquelyn sertic

Pitcher, Junior

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SOFTBALL PICK YOUR POISON

Make it Reina

(Editor’s Note: Yes, the team chants this from the dugout while she’s hitting.)

2016 NFCA All-Midwest Region First Team

PICK YOUR

2016 Summit League First Team

By Joe Kerlin Photo by J. Alan Paul Photography

2015 NCAA Eugene Regional All-Tournament Team 2015 NFCA All-Midwest Region Third Team 2015 All-Summit League Second Team 2016, 2013 NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete 2016, 2015, 2013 Summit League All-Tournament Team 2016, 2015, 2013 Summit League Player of the Week 2016, 2015, 2013 Summit League Distinguished Scholar 2016, 2015 Summit League Commissioner’s List 2016, 2015, 2013 Summit League Winter/Spring Honor Roll Has started 110 games in-a-row

KAITLYN “KK” LEDDY 2016 Summit League Tournament MVP 2016 Summit League AllTournament Team 2016 All-Summit League Second Team 2016 Summit League Pitcher of the Week 2016 Summit League Winter/ Spring Honor Roll Win-Loss: 14-8 Appearances: 29 Shutouts: 2 ERA: 4.14 Innings: 135.1 SO: 77

POISON

W

hen the Bison opened the 2017 softball season, head coach Darren Mueller strutted out four freshmen and three sophomores in the lineup. The Bison starting nine was filled with inexperience on the diamond in Fullerton, California.

Alone, behind the plate kneeled Alyssa Reina, the lone senior on a three-time defending Summit League Champion roster. What was in front of her was a defensive group that had never started together, including a freshman pairing at second base and shortstop, and a true freshman in centerfield. Fittingly, Reina took the first at-bat of the young 2017 season - a season she will be depended upon to lead during a transitional season in Fargo.

“Alyssa is the perfect person for this team,” Mueller said. Reina entered the season with 159 starts under her belt. She caught for team’s that have lost championship games in painful fashion, she’s dealt with a seasonending injury, won the conference on three separate occasions and was the starting catcher on a team that won 45 games in a single spring.

Reina has battled the best in the Southeastern Conference and has beaten a handful of the Big Ten’s best opposition. Her college softball resume is longer than the rest of the roster put together.

It’s not just her teammates on the diamond who are new. The Bison have three new assistants on staff this season. “Everything is really new so it’s more about tapping into that change and really making the best of it.”

Almost everything is new around Reina. What the Bison do have back from last year are two capable starters in the pitching circle.

Junior pitcher Jacquelyn “Jax” Sertic returns after a Summit League Pitcher of the Year campaign in 2016. Jax, as her teammates call her, arrived in Fargo from Sparks, Nevada, in 2015. She began her career as the second option behind the highly-touted senior Krista Menke. In her number two role, Jax flourished becoming somewhat of an aberration for Mueller and his staff. She went 11-5 with 3.57 earned run average and struck out 77 as a freshman.

“She’s a processor,” Reina said.

“She’s one that’s not afraid to do something wrong if that means getting it right later. There’s always that excitement when that lightbulb clicks.”

Jax was the brightest bulb on the pitching staff last year. She was far and away the best pitcher in the conference and collected 24 wins, gobbled up over 210 innings and 216 strikeouts.

“Every year should be a new journey in of itself,” Reina said before the team’s first road trip.

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SOFTBALL PICK YOUR POISON

She is also renowned around the softball team for her positive attitude.

Reina has grown an appreciation for Jax’s ability to find a positive in the day even if she didn’t pitch to her high standards.

Last season was supposed to be a transitional year for the pitching staff. The lineup was cluttered with veterans who were expected to lead.

Jax, with the help of true freshman Kaitlyn “KK” Leddy, added the extra youthful juice from the pitching circle and the Bison didn’t miss a beat.

KK, who earned her nickname by striking people out, is entering her sophomore season after earning Summit League Tournament MVP last year. She stepped into high64

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pressure moments during the tournament, receiving two victories in relief duty for Jax. “She’s more vocal and fiery, like spunky. Almost more vocal than Krista (Menke) was,” Reina said of KK. “She’s always talking things through with me so I’m always there for both of them. She’s (KK) working on some new stuff and is picking away.”

KK has also been picking away at rehabilitating an arm injury that has handicapped her the last two fall seasons. For four months, KK didn’t pick up a softball this offseason.

The time off gave KK the opportunity to work on her mental approach

to the game and re-examine her mechanics. What culminated was a new pitch - the drop-ball, a notoriously difficult pitch that dives toward the dirt as it reaches the batters’ box. This pitch offers a completely different look to college hitters, who have grown accustomed to seeing the ball rise with pitches like the rise-ball.

“The key is the pitching,” Mueller said.

“Knowing that we have Jax and KK on the mound, seeing them both grow this year and Beth (Spoehr) has done a good job with them and really their work ethic has been phenomenal.”

Assistant coach Beth Spoehr can be added to the list of what’s new around the softball program. Spoehr

JACQueLYN “JAX” SERTIC 2016 NFCA AllMidwest Region First Team 2016 Summit League Pitcher of the Year 2016 All-Summit League First Team 2016 espnW.com Player of the Week 2016 Summit League All-Academic Team 2016 Six-time Summit League Pitcher of the Week 2016 Summit League Commissioner’s List 2015 Summit League Distinguished Scholar Win-Loss: 24-7 Appearances: 44 Shutouts: 6 ERA: 2.26 Innings: 210.2 SO: 216

was the head coach for the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay for the last two seasons. She’s been brought in by Mueller to work with Jax and KK. “She’s so smart and I love that she’s not afraid to keep learning,” Jax said of her new coach. “She’s a great addition to this team, she’s taught me so much.”

Jax and KK will need all the knowledge they can get if they want to lead the Bison along with Reina this season.

“We’ve been working hard this whole January so I think we’re starting to find our identity as a team,” KK said.

“We’re really young so I think we’re

all just eager to finally get out on the field and get into some nice weather.”

NDSU has become a nightmare for Summit League hitters for nearly a decade. With the return of Jax and KK, the Bison are back to being a black hole for opposing lineups as they pick their poison with NDSU’s dynamic duo.

The Bison are looking to make it four consecutive Summit League titles this spring, and the pressure will rest on the shoulders of the two players in the pitching circle. Thankfully, Reina will be the backstop to rein in the young arms whenever needed.

* * *

SOFTBALL GERICE OLSON

Gerice OLSON

Assistant Coach, Softball

Gerice Olson returns to Fargo to help coach the NDSU softball team.

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BISON ILLUSTRATED M A R C H 2 0 1 7

SOFTBALL GERICE OLSON

Bison Stats 2000 Division II National Champion Games Started: 219 Batting Average: .283

BACK THE WITH

BISON

Interview by Joe Kerlin Photo by J. Alan Paul Photography

Hits: 171 Runs: 103 RBIs: 99 Home Runs: 11 Doubles: 42 Stolen Bases: 52

PEOPLE FORGET When the Bison softball team won the Division II national championship in 2000, they were wearing the women’s basketball jerseys head coach Amy Ruley had loaned them for the day.

TIMELINE 1997-2000 North Dakota State, player 2002-04 South Dakota State, assistant coach 2005 Dakota State University, head coach 2006-10 University of Mary 2011-12 University of Central Florida 2013-16 Buffalo (Minn.) High School

The Conversation Bison Illustrated: Welcome back!

Has anything changed since you left in 2000?

Gerice Olson: “The softball field, a lot of the stuff is still there. Obviously, the facilities have increased with the SHAC and the amenities that the girls get are better. I said, ‘You guys are spoiled,’ because back then, our equipment budget wasn’t very much. We had three or four bats that we shared with everybody and one set of uniforms. Obviously, that was the Division II days versus Division I. Expectations have been the same, but equipment to facilities to the travel schedule to the Division I competition, there are a lot of different things.”

BI: Are the goals here, now in Division I, any different than they were in Division II? GO: “We’ve always prided ourselves on a blue-collar mentality where you are going to out-work people and you are going to out-hustle people. It really is Bison Pride. Until you’ve been a part of it, you really don’t understand. Having that grit that other schools and teams don’t.

“At Central Florida and NDSU, there is no comparison as far as hustling and mentality of the work ethic. It’s second to none here.

We always set goals. We want to win the conference, you want to get to Regionals, you want to win Regionals, you want to get to the Super Regional, then you want to win the Super Regional, and then you want to get to the National

Tournament. In 2009, they got to the Super Regional, and I think about being two games away from going to the National Tournament.

That’s the bar right now.”

BI: What have you learned at the University of Mary and UCF that you can bring here?

GO: “I’m a learner, so any little thing I can grab and take with me. I think even when I was at the University of Mary, I would always call Darren (Mueller) and ask him questions like, ‘Hey, what do you think about this situation?’ Or call Jamie (Trachsel) and ask, ‘Hey, I have this defense, this is what’s up. What would you do in this circumstance?’ and they would always give me feedback.

“I’m learning with the girls and they’re are actually teaching me this year more than anything. I didn’t want to stray away from what Jamie was doing when she was the defensive guru, so whatever she told you to do, you do it.”

BI: What are you going to add to this program?

GO: “Experience. Like I said, I’m learning, so this year is a different situation. I’m learning along with them. I have some strategies. I like looking at the game as far as positioning on the field. How do you play the game? Using Softball IQ. Giving the players a better idea of that.” * * *

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WHERE ARE THEY NOW? MIKE & LISA ECKROTH

WHERE

?

NOW? ARE THEY

FINISH LINE

FAMILY

By Ethan Mickelson Photos by NDSU Athletics and the Eckroth Family

T

he intimacy of a race forges bonds between friends, builds families and even sparks romantic relationships.

A simple race brought two former Bison track and fielder athletes together more than 20 years ago.

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BISON ILLUSTRATED M A R C H 2 0 1 7

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? MIKE & LISA ECKROTH

Before resettling for their careers in Edina, Minnesota, Lisa (Ristau) and Mike Eckroth were stars on the NDSU Track and Field team clocking in with stats and records still on the boards today.

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WHERE ARE THEY NOW? MIKE & LISA ECKROTH

On February 9, 1990, Lisa Ristau and Mike Eckroth competed in the Bison Open and proceeded by having their first date at former Fargo hot spot, Valentino’s. The date, which was arranged in part by matchmaker Kathy Lynch of the women’s track team, would mark the starting line of their future together.

The Eckroth family, from left to right, Annika, Lisa, Mike and Isaac visited the newly constructed U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn.

In the marathon of life, Mike Eckroth was a short distance sprinter while Lisa was a track tradeswoman, competing in the heptathlon’s seven events: hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200-meter dash, long jump, javelin and 800-meter dash. Even though Mike was better equipped for explosive feats of speed, he went the distance with Lisa, eventually marrying her shortly after graduating college.

Team of Two On the eve of their first date anniversary, the couple took some time to look back at the winding track they ran together. Calling in from their home in Edina, Minnesota, the two examined the formative years they spent at North Dakota State.

As they trained and conditioned to peak athletically, they also drew on each others’ strengths and grew their relationship as a team.

“I can tell you that my last two years of college, Lisa really pushed me academically,” said Mike Eckroth. “My grades shot up after I met her.”

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? MIKE & LISA ECKROTH

Mike and Lisa Eckroth with their children, Isaac and Annika. As former Bison student-athletes who met through their sport of track and field, the two still maintain a strong connection with the NDSU program.

“I know for both of us, Coach Jerry Gores and Coach Don Larson were huge influences in our lives,” said Lisa. “Just the hard work, that’s probably the biggest thing that most

kids learn from sports in general.

What hard work can do, whether it be school, sports, my job, and doing it the right way. I don’t know what one thing would make me say that about

my time there, but that was definitely a takeaway that makes a difference in the way I live my life today. They were there to coach and raise, not just good athletes, but good people.”

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? MIKE & LISA ECKROTH

ACCOLADES LISA (RISTAU) ECKROTH Bison Hall of Fame, Induction class of 2009 1992 North Dakota NCAA Woman of the Year Award #2 in heptathlon and 100 hurdles #4 in 400 hurdles (1:01.64) and 7th in long jump (19-6 1/4) Undefeated senior season in the 100 hurdles and set a state record in 1988 Still holds Fairmont High School records in the 300 hurdles, 100 hurdles, 400 split and 4x400 relay before exiting as the Cardinals’ alltime leading points scorer Four-time state gymnastics qualifier, earning third place in the Class AA state floor exercise

MIKE ECKROTH All-Time Indoor Performance List #1 - 55 meter (6.11) set in 1989 #2 - 4 x 200 meter relay (1:29.10) with Jerry Boschee, Robert Stevson, Shane Wendall in 1990 #6 - 300 meters (35.05) set in 1990 All-Time Outdoor Performance List #2. 200 meters (20.79 ) #3. 100 meters (10:39) #8. 4x100-meter relay (40.67) with Jim Thompson, Jerry Boschee, Robert Stevson in 1988

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BISON ILLUSTRATED M A R C H 2 0 1 7

Raising the Bar The expansive and intangible lessons the Eckroths learned at NDSU from Coach Gores and Larson and their high school sports experiences have served in part as a model when creating their own family. Their two children, Isaac and Annika, are involved in a wide variety of athletics with their parents there to cheer them on every step of the way.

“I was a gymnast and when I got to high school, my dad tells me that he had to force me to go out for track. I don’t remember that,” said Lisa. “Our track coach was the counselor in school and I think I went out because it was the fun thing to do. It’s a fun spring sport, very social, and the track coach tried to turn me into a hurdler right away because I was a gymnast, which seemed to work.”

Like many multiple-sport athletes in high school, Mike explained that his passion for track and field began by using the sport as a means of staying in shape for the baseball season.

“I guess I just kept getting faster and faster and I went from there,” stated Mike.

Following their prolific track record with the Bison, the Eckroths relocated to Minneapolis for Mike’s education at Augsburg College studying to be a physician’s assistant. After briefly working for the Alumni Center at NDSU, Lisa found success in sales, working her way up the ranks at Purdue Pharma, eventually reaching her current role as a national account

executive. Mike began his career as a physician’s assistant at a private orthopedic spine surgery practice, and is now nearing twenty years in the profession.

“Looking at my profession as a physician’s assistant, I can tie it back to sports in some ways,” said Mike.

“I’m part of a team with the surgeon on a daily basis. There’s that whole team mentality.”

Urging their son Isaac to go out for track, both Mike and Lisa have seen the impact learning from a coach and becoming a part of a team can have on young student-athletes.

“I think it’s the number one reason people put their kids in sports today, still,” Lisa explained. “There are just so many great lessons learned. We talk about it all the time, most things don’t come easy, and there’s work to be done.”

While there is still work to be done for the Eckroth’s, they find motivation in past successes and continue to pull on the strings of the relationship web spun at NDSU, whether it’s calling up coach or reminiscing about training and socializing with their former peers across the athletic department. They may have already crossed the finishline of their track and field careers, but Mike and Lisa never stopped running. * * *

BASKETBALL

TEAM

ON THE

RISE Photos By Joe Kerlin

D

ave Richman’s men’s basketball team has seen tangible improvement from last year’s 20 wins. The Bison stood alone atop the Summit League for nearly two months, improving their win total from a season ago. Here is where they also improved.

MEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM ON THE RISE

ATTENDANCE/GAME 2015-16 - 2,779 2016-17 - 3,833

STATS *STATS THROUGH FEB. 21.

2015-16 SCORING OFFENSE 2015-16 - 68.8 2016-17 - 74.6

Attendance/Game - 2,779 Scoring Offense - 68.8 Assists/Game - 10.5 Field-Goal % - 44.5 3-Point Field Goals/Game - 6.5 Three-Point Field-Goal % - 34.0 Free-Throw % - 68.3

2016-17 IMPROVEMENT

FREE THROW % 2015-16 - 68.3 2016-17 - 70.7

Attendance/Game - 3,833 Scoring Offense - 74.6 Assists/Game - 12.1 Field-Goal % - 46.1 3-Point Field Goals/Game - 7.6 Three-Point Field-Goal % - 37.5 Free-Throw % - 70.7

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WOMEN’S

BASKETBALL

REPORT

CARD Photos By Joe Kerlin

T

he women’s basketball program is still undergoing the remodeling phase with head coach Maren Walseth. The numbers in the win column have been lacking, but there have been surges in a few statistical categories.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL REPORT CARD

REBOUNDS/GAME 2015-16 - 36.7 2016-17 - 38

STATS *STATS THROUGH FEB. 21.

2015-16 3-POINT FIELD GOALS/GAME 2015-16 - 5 2016-17 - 6.8

Rebounds/Game - 36.7 Assists/Game - 12.1 Turnovers/Game - 17.7 3-Point Field Goals/Game - 5 Three-Point Field-Goal % - 35.1

2016-17 IMPROVEMENT

TURNOVERS/GAME 2016-17 - 16.4 2015-16 - 17.7

Rebounds/Game - 38 Assists/Game - 13.1 Turnovers/Game - 16.4 3-Point Field Goals/Game - 6.8 Three-Point Field-Goal % - 36

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PRO BISON UPDATE BASKETBALL

PROBISON

UPDATE BASKETBALL

Photos Courtesy of NDSU Athletics

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BISON ILLUSTRATED M A R C H 2 0 1 7

ithin a few short years, the Bison basketball program has pumped out more professional players than ever in the school’s history. These former players are doing their best to represent Bison Pride overseas. Here are a handful of players competing professionally in Europe and Australia.

PRO BISON UPDATE BASKETBALL

Taylor Braun

Country: Germany League: Basketball Bundesliga (Euro Cup) Team: Ratiopharm Ulm League Games: 20 Euro Cup Games: 12 Minutes/Game: 25.5 Points/Game: 8.6 Rebounds/Game: 3.6 Field Goal Percentage: 50%

TRAYVONN WRIGHT

LAWRENCE ALEXANDER

Country: Sweden League: Basketligan Team: Boras Games: 21 Minutes/Game: 22.3 Points/Game: 11.1 Assists/Game: 0.9 Rebounds/Game: 5.5 Field Goal Percentage: 55.9%

Country: Denmark League: Basket Ligaen Team: Horsens IC Games: 21 Minutes/Game: 29 Points/Game: 11.1 Assists/Game: 2.1 Rebounds/Game: 4.1 Field Goal Percentage:

BEN WOODSIDE

Country: Australia League: The National Basketball League Team: SKYCITY Breakers Games: 6 Minutes/Game: 28.8 Points/Game: 8.8 Assists/Game: 5.5 Rebounds/Game: 3.3 Field Goal Percentage: 53.8% *Season cut short due to injury

BROOKE LEMAR

Country: Sweden League: Superettan Dam League Team: Wetterbygden Games: 5 Points/Game: 15 Assists/Game: 4.2 Rebounds/Game: 5 +/-: 16.4

NOT PICTURED

Marena Whittle

Country: Australia League: South East Australian Basketball League Team: Nunawading Spectres *2016 Stats. 2017 Season Begins in April Games: 11 Points/Game: 14 Assists/Game: 1.4 Rebounds/Game: 8.5 Field Goal Percentage: 45.5%

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THE PUZZLED HERD PUZZLED FM

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BISON ILLUSTRATED M A R C H 2 0 1 7

THE PUZZLED HERD PUZZLED FM

THE PUZZLED HERD Written and Photographed by Ethan Mickelson

I

f you know about escape rooms, there’s no doubt you’ve experienced the thrill of unraveling a puzzle by finding each subtle clue hidden in the background noise of countless props and decorations.

Escape rooms have amassed a cult-like following as a source of entertainment that challenges participants to work together to solve the real-life puzzles within each themed room.

Puzzled FM, a pioneer of escape rooms in Fargo, has opened its newest theme, “Bison’s Big Game.” The room captures the spirit of Bison Nation with clues disguised as fan gear and decor. A team of five experienced escape room enthusiasts named the “Yellow and Green” were the first to try their hand at outsmarting a locker room prankster who hid the quarterback’s lucky shirt.

To dial up the Bison mojo before the big game, the Yellow and Green raced against a 60-second countdown, cracking locks with keys, codes and phrases.

A challenge consistent throughout Puzzled’s three

themes is a literal puzzle, which provides a clue once assembled.

These one-of-a-kind scenarios are thoughtfully planned out by co-founders Steven and Kay Cameron. The husband and wife duo create each set with the players in mind, finding a happy balance between difficulty and entertainment.

“I start with objects and add clues to them, he starts with clues and makes them into a puzzle,” said Kay Cameron about their clue creation process. “It’s more challenging because we use two different types of logic.”

Once the team had finally found and reassembled all five National Championship trophies in the cabinet and collected each corresponding key, they opened the doors to find the lucky shirt just in time.

For more information: puzzledfm.com 118 Broadway Suite 806, Fargo 701-446-8548

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HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW YOUR TEAMMATE? VANESSA ANDERSON

Vanessa LL HOW WEU DO YO KNOW

Anderson? uld What wo y? a s Vanessa

A

s infielders for the NDSU Softball team, these three sophomores must work together to keep a tight infield, but which slugger knows their teammate best?

THE QUESTIONS 1. What is your favorite dessert?

2. If you were a petting zoo animal, which would you be?

3. What do you wear when you wake up late and rush out the door?

4. What is one word you would use to describe yourself?

JULIA LUCIANO

Mint Ice Cream

Mint chocolate cookies

A donkey

Mussel

Sweatshirt and sweatpants

Hungry

Side Ponytail

ZOE STAVROU Mint chocolate +.5 cookies or ice cream

Kangaroo Bison Beanie and softball hoodie +1

Jacked

Strong

5. Watch the movie, read the book, or both?

Both, but always read the book first.

Watch the movie

Movie

6. Which past or present U.S. President would you want to lift weights with?

Theodore Roosevelt

George H. W. Bush

George H. W. Bush

7. What’s a movie you love to hate?

8. If you had to live without one of your senses, which would you choose to give up?

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VANESSA ANDERSON’S ANSWERS

BISON ILLUSTRATED M A R C H 2 0 1 7

The Purge or any scary movies

Smell

The Purge +1

Anything Scary +1

Smell +1

Smell +1

2-8

3.5-8

BISON CROSSING MARCH 2017

Bison Crossing 1 2 4

3

5 6 7

8

9

Across

10

11

3.

As head coach of Bison softball, 12 Darren _____ has led NDSU to seven of the last eight Summit League tournament championships.

Mike and Lisa ____ first met as teammates on the track and field team in 1990 during their college careers at NDSU.

13

8.

9.

11.

Which Canadian province is women’s track and field senior, Amy Andrushko, from?

This former NDSU basketball player went pro oversees in Germany competing in the Basketball Bundesliga.

What popular sports network hosted Bison athlete, Landon Jochim, a junior from Bismarck Century High School, on their midday show “SportsNation”?

12.

This former centerfielder led the softball team with .390 batting average, five home runs and 34 runs batted in the 2014 season.

13.

Joining the Bison as a transfer from Augustana University, _____ Rotvold from Hillsboro, N.D., is a hard hitting newcomer to the women’s track and field team.

14.

Beth ______ is the new assistant coach with NDSU’s softball program, coming from her former position as head coach at University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. 7. Jax 8. Manitoba 9. Taylor Braun 10. Fourth 11. ESPN 12. Alex Sobrero

ANSWERS

Down

14 From Fargo to Denmark, Lawrence _________, got his start in basketball at NDSU from 2011 to 2014. Now he plays as a guard in the Basket Ligaen.

1.

2.

What event did NDSU alumni Lisa (Ristau) Eckroth, wife of Mike Eckroth, compete in during her time on the track and field team?

4.

6.

7.

10.

Associate head coach, Justin St. ____, is in his sixth year as NDSU’s throws expert.

Which former Division II National Champion in softball is returning to Fargo to coach for the Bison?

What is the nickname of Jacquelyn Sertic, a junior pitcher with the Bison softball team from Sparks, Nevada?

Replacing Ryun Godfrey as the new head coach for women’s track and field/cross country, Stevie Keller is the _____ ever head coach in the program’s history.

1. Alexander 2. Heptathlon 3. Mueller 4. Clair 5. Eckroth 6. Gerice Olson

5.

EFT!

SEE

THE L O T S R E W ANS

85

13. Annika 14. Spoehr

86

BISON ILLUSTRATED M A R C H 2 0 1 7 ANSWERS: 1. Buffalo Wild Wings’ logos removed from basket 2. Logo missing from #23’s sock 3. Last name missing from #23 jersey 4. Jersey numbers missing from A.J. Jacobson’s jersey 5. White Stripe missing from man in Red Shirt

SPOT THE

5

DIFFERENCES ORIGINAL

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE MARCH 2017

Team Makers

SPECIAL

PROJECTS

By Joe Kerlin

N

DSU’s fundraising group, Team Makers, provides the scholarship money for Bison student-athletes. But with the increase in membership and money, they have been able to afford financing and funding for some of NDSU’s largest construction projects.

Team Makers Executive Director Pat Simmers estimates 80 percent of Team Makers revenue goes toward scholarships, while 15 goes to operations, like special projects, and the final five goes to overhead.

Donations to Team Makers help fund projects that enhance the student-athlete experience in addition to scholarships.

Here are a few of the projects that they have helped finance and fund.

Interested in donating to NDSU Athletics or becoming a Team Maker? Check out this website for more information and how you can help NDSU continue its Division I success: ndsuathleticfund.com

TEAM MAKERS BRICK AND MORTAR

A

Team Makers Athletic Fields

B

SHAC - Furniture, fixtures and equipment

C

dacotah field bubble

D

fargodome - football locker room

The football team practices on three fields located south of the Sanford Health Athletic Complex.

For around $300,000 from Team Makers and gifts from other donors such as Gate City Bank, NDSU was able to purchase a turf surface in the center of the three fields at thirty percent of the cost. The discount was made possible by the faulty turf that was installed for the first game of the 2012 football season.

A

The state legislature approved the renovation of the Sanford Health Athletic Complex.

The number ended up being around $41 million. That cost was to renovate the already existing portion of the building.

Furniture, fixtures and equipment will be financed to pay for things like the hoops and baskets in the Scheels Center and seats to surround the court. Team Makers will finance the furniture, fixtures and equipment for $1.75 million over a seven-year period.

B

C

NDSU financed the Dacotah Field Bubble, meaning they have five years to pay it off.

Big donations helped spark the project and now other donors are pitching in each year until it’s all paid for.

Team Makers is also financing the locker room, which will be finished in August. Much like the Dacotah Field Bubble, Team Makers wrote the final note, and by the end of the year, they will get all of the money back.

D *Rendering Courtesy of Advent

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BISON WORD SEARCH MARCH 2017

WORD SEARCH

S WORD D TO FIN

WALSETH BROOKE LEMAR MUELLER CHEYENNE GARCIA MORELAND

ALEX RENNER WEIMERSKIRCH BEADLE TRACHSEL ALYSSA REINA

LEDDY BEATTY LUCIANO RIVERA MORGAN MILBRATH

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SWANY SAYS MARCH 2017

SWANY SAYS RICHMAN AND BISON HAVE BUILT PROGRAM ON STRENGTH OF TEAM-FOCUSED CULTURE FOLLOW @swany8

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

any teams claim it, but few have it.

A winning culture is elusive.

Building and maintaining a winning culture, a real winning culture—especially in college athletics where players are constantly turning over—is difficult. It’s a big reason why few mid-major basketball teams are able to sustain success and annually compete for a conference championship and spot in the NCAA Tournament, aka March Madness.

M

As recently noted by the Dean of Local Sports Scribes, the typical mid-major story features a class top-heavy with seniors that builds for four years and makes a single run at that one shining moment.

Think of the 2008-09 Bison, with guys like Ben Woodside and Brett Winkelman, that made the school’s first-ever NCAA Tournament.

Four of the five starters—the team’s nucleus—were seniors that had played together their entire collegiate careers. After they graduated, the Bison were in full rebuild mode. The team did not win another game at the Summit League Tournament until March 2013, when it advanced all the way to the championship tilt before falling a few points short.

Unlike their first foray of success in March, it wouldn’t be another three years before the Bison contended 92

BISON ILLUSTRATED M A R C H 2 0 1 7

for another trip to sport’s biggest party. The following spring, March 2014, the Bison not only advanced to the NCAA Tournament, they upset Oklahoma in a game that catapulted NDSU to the biggest national stage it had ever set foot on. Over the last five years, going back to the start of the 2012-13 season, the Bison have more wins than anybody else in the Summit League, including South Dakota State. NDSU is 111-49 during that span, good for a winning percentage of nearly 70 percent.

The Bison have also played in four straight championship games at the conference tournament, a rare feat for any mid-major basketball program.

“We expect it every year. It’s one thing to have that expectation, but to go out and put ourselves in this position with the target on our back that we have, very proud, very pleased with this group,” said head coach David Richman heading into the final week of conference play.

Taking nothing away from the guys that preceded him, Richman has built something—or, perhaps more appropriately, built upon something—in turning the Bison program into one that no longer rebuilds, but reloads. Gone are the days where the cupboard is emptied and the team has to start from scratch like it did post-2009.

If you’ve spent any time listening to Richman, you’ll hear him talk about the importance of team and culture. There is little, if any, talk about the individual. In midFebruary, junior guards Paul Miller and A.J. Jacobson both scored their

SWANY SAYS MARCH 2017

the grind—the showing up every single day and getting better when nobody is watching—are mediocre at best, and they certainly don’t win championships.

1,000 career points within minutes of each other in the first half against Denver en route to a big 81-63 home win at the SCHEELS Center. While Richman did not downplay the significance of these individual accomplishments, during his post-game interview, he explained his team-centric view that places winning above individual accolades.

“The primary goal and objective when you go into any game is to win,” said Richman, who is in his third year as head coach. “We don’t celebrate individual success very well, nor do I really want to, but it is pretty cool.” Richman went on to explain that the team would find a time to celebrate the individual benchmarks, but that time isn’t now with a trip to the NCAA Tournament on the line.

This team-centric focus and philosophy has played a big role in NDSU building and sustaining its winning culture. It’s how the Bison have been able to contend for a trip to March Madness on a yearly basis while other teams are seemingly always in rebuilding mode. It’s clear from the results that NDSU men’s basketball has bought into and trusts the process. Jack Welch, the legendary business leader and General Electric CEO, emphasized

the importance of culture and buying into the team’s mission.

“No company, small or large, can win over the long run without energized employees who believe in the mission and understand how to achieve it.” Or, as Vince Lombardi succinctly stated, “Individual commitment to a group effort–that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.”

That is the process. As a concept, it’s easy to grasp, but it’s a much tougher beast to actually understand and apply. It’s why few teams repeat high caliber performance day after day, month after month, year after year. That isn’t to say there aren’t hiccups along the way – but on the macro level, the process and the culture it promotes are what sustains any successful team or organization.

From Bison hoops to General Electric, to Apple, the New England Patriots, you name it.

Let’s go back, for a minute, to Lombardi’s quote. “Individual commitment to a group effort.” You may have heard this before stated another way. “The strength of the Herd is the Bison, and the strength of the Bison is the Herd.” Selfish teams don’t win. Period. Teams that don’t buy into the process and

What Richman preaches is the same message you hear from Bison football coach Chris Klieman. The focus is not on the outcome but in the process of getting to the desired outcome. That process, and trusting in the process and abiding by it, ultimately determines the outcome. As Urban Meyer, Ohio State’s championship-winning football coach is fond of saying, E + R = O, specifically, Event + Response = Outcome. That is simply the formula for the process. “Our guys really sense the time of year and the urgency, and the position we’re in, and the position we can be in if we continue to take care of our business on a daily basis,” explained Richman following a doubleovertime win in the home finale against Western Illinois.

No talk of cutting down nets, just showing up for the big game, etc.

It’s the process and its culture that have propelled the Bison, the relentless focus on taking care of business on a daily basis. You’ll also hear Richman, Klieman, Meyer, and their players talk about and thank everybody from assistant coaches, the sports medicine personnel, to the strength coaches, student assistants and fans in the stands. The winning culture has to permeate all facets of the organization to sustain a high level of success. It isn’t just the star players that have to buy into the process, to focusing on each day, every repetition, every drill.

It’s everybody involved with the team or organization buying into that culture and embracing the grind. The Bison have that. It’s the culture Richman, his staff and the entire program have built upon and sustained. It’s why they are well positioned for not just this March, but for many more to come.

Everybody up for the tip-off, the March Madness is on! * * * 93

POP QUIZ MARCH 2017

POPQUIZ

WITH NDSU ATHLETES

Do you have a lucky charm or tradition you keep before competing?

What’s your favorite board game and why?

What do you crave most after a hard workout?

Other than lacing up my shoes, not really.

My favorite board game is Settlers of Catan. Probably because it involves a little strategy, but can still be played casually at the same time.

After a tough lift I always like to drink a cup of chocolate milk or two.

Always have to shower before a game.

Trouble.

Chocolate milk.

No, I’m not much of a superstitious player.

I like playing Sorry with my family because when we are all together it gets really competitive and crazy but fun.

Chocolate chip waffles.

Finding something that works one meet and sticking to it for the next until it doesn’t work.

Catan, I actually won a game once.

Orange-favored drink

I put my socks in the microwave overnight.

Of course I don’t turn it on because that’s dangerous.

Ticket to Ride because I usually play it with my family.

A.J. Jacobson

From Fargo and playing in his junior year, this guard played in 22 of the 23 games this season averaging 10.3 points per game. He had a season high of 23 points in the victory over Western Illinois in January.

BASKETBALL

Taylor Thunstedt

A junior from Spicer, Minn., this guard runs the court playing all 29 games of this season. She averaged a team-high 17 points and 3.1 assists per game and currently ranks second in NDSU career three-point field-goal percentage at .394.

Basketball

Alyssa Reina

Reina is a fifth-year senior catcher from Auburn, California. Her impressive longevity includes being one of five players to start in all 54 games the 2016 season, and has started in all 159 games of her career.

SOFTBALL

Brian Blasey

TRACK & FIELD

A senior from Ada, Minn., is a throws muscle hammer. He placed 5th in weight throw and 6th in shot put at the Summit League Indoor ‘15 ‘16 Championships and finished the season ranked 9th in Bison history in the outdoor shot put and discus.

Rose Jackson

Competing in multiple events, this senior hailing from Willmar, Minn., faceted Bison success at the Summit League Championship in the 4x400m relay, as well as placing 4th in the pentathlon at the indoor league meet last season.

track & field 94

BISON ILLUSTRATED M A R C H 2 0 1 7

Inactivity. Also water, but mostly inactivity.

What’s the last photo on your phone of?

What was your worst fear as a kid?

A picture of the Dean Dome when the team traveled to North Carolina.

Heights.

Picture of breakfast.

Snakes.

My pit bull puppy Nala.

Spiders (and still is my worst fear).

A picture of Steffan Stroh and I fishing.

Getting bucked off a horse for the 10th time.

A group picture of all the women multis with Stevie’s face poorly Photoshopped onto everyone’s face.

Accidentally falling out of a car while it’s moving.

SPORTS CALENDAR MARCH 2017

SPORTS CALENDAR 3 - Softball vs Texas A&M -

11 - Softball vs Manhattan

24 - Baseball at Western Illinois

11 - Softball vs Columbia

25 - Softball at Georgia Tech

College (DeLand, Fla.) 9 a.m.

University (DeLand, Fla.) 1:30 p.m.

Corpus Christi (Lafayette, La.) 1:30 p.m.

11 - Baseball vs St. Bonaventure

3 - Baseball at Northern

12 - Softball vs Colgate

Colorado (Greeley, Colo.) 3 p.m.

3 - Softball at Louisiana-

Lafayette (Lafayette, La.) 6 p.m.

4 - Softball vs Alcorn State 4 - Baseball at Northern

15 - Softball at Florida

4 - Softball at Louisiana-

15 - Baseball vs Lehigh (Lake

4 - Baseball at Northern

16-17 - Women’s Golf SUU

Colorado (Greeley, Colo.) 4:30 p.m.

4-7 - Men’s Basketball vs

Summit League Tournament (Sioux Falls, S.D.) TBA

4-7 - Women’s Basketball vs

Colorado (Greeley, Colo.) 1 p.m.

10 - Softball vs Manhattan

16-18 - Wrestling vs NCAA

Championships (St. Louis, Mo.) All Day

(Clearwater, Fla.) 12:30 p.m.

17-18 - Women’s Track and

Field Baldy Castillo Invitational (Tempe, Ariz.) TBA

10-11 - Women’s Golf South

18 - Baseball at Oral Roberts

10 - Baseball vs St. Bonaventure (Winter Haven, Fla.) TBA

10-11 - Men’s Track and Field

NCAA Indoor Championships (College Station, Texas) TBA

10-11 - Women’s Track and Field NCAA Indoor Championships (College Station, Texas) TBA 96

BISON ILLUSTRATED M A R C H 2 0 1 7

Neb.) 1 p.m.

Wayne, Ind.) 9 a.m.

3 - Baseball at Omaha (Omaha,

APRIL 2017

3-4 - Men’s Golf Coca-

31-4 - Women’s Track and

4 - Baseball at Minnesota

Field Stanford Invitational (Stanford, Calif.) TBA

(Minneapolis, Minn.) (Siebert Field) 4 p.m.

31-4 - Women’s Track

5 - Baseball vs Minot State

Cola Wofford Invitational (Spartanburg, S.C.) (Spartanburg CC)

(Fargo) 5 p.m.

17-18 - Men’s Track and Field 18 - Softball vs Missouri

Invitational (Las Vegas, Nev.) (Siena)

2 - Softball at Fort Wayne (Fort

Neb.) 2 p.m.

Track and Field Stanford Invitational (Stanford, Calif.)

TBA

(Tulsa, Okla.) 6:30 p.m.

10 - Softball vs Stetson

10-11 - Men’s Golf Jackrabbit

31 - Baseball at Omaha (Omaha,

Wayne, Ind.) 12:30 p.m.

31-4 - Men’s

17 - Baseball at Oral Roberts

Baldy Castillo Invitational (Tempe, Ariz.) TBA

Dakota State Jackrabbit Invitational (Las Vegas, Nev.) (Siena)

2 - Baseball at Omaha (Omaha,

and Field San Francisco State Distance Carnival (San Francisco, Calif.) TBA

(Clearwater, Fla.) 10 a.m.

College (DeLand, Fla.) 12:30 p.m.

University (DeLand, Fla.) 3 p.m.

26 - Softball at Georgia Tech

Wayne, Ind.) 10 a.m.

Neb.) 1 p.m.

Pizza Hut Lady Thunderbird Invitational (St. George, Utah) (Sunbrook)

17 - Softball at South Florida

5 - Baseball at Northern

1 - Baseball at Omaha (Omaha,

Neb.) 4 p.m.

Wales, Fla.) 10 a.m.

4-5 - Wrestling vs Big 12

Corpus Christi (Lafayette, La.) 9 a.m.

26 - Baseball at Western Illinois

(Gainesville, Fla.) 5 p.m.

17 - Softball vs Auburn

5 - Softball vs Texas A&M -

1 - Softball at Fort Wayne (Fort

(Atlanta, Ga.) 11 a.m.

Have, Fla.) TBA

Summit League Tournament (Sioux Falls, S.D.) TBA Championships (Tulsa, Okla.)

All Day

25 - Softball at Georgia Tech (Macomb, Ill.) 1 p.m.

(Winter Haven, Fla.) TBA

San Francisco State Distance Carnival (San Francisco, Calif.)

TBA

1 - Softball at Fort Wayne (Fort

(Atlanta, Ga.) 2:30 p.m.

12 - Baseball vs St. Bonaventure

31-4 - Men’s Track and Field

25 - Baseball at Western Illinois (Macomb, Ill.) 1 p.m.

University (DeLand, Fla.) 11:15 a.m.

14 - Baseball vs UMass (Winter

Lafayette (Lafayette, La.) 2 p.m.

(Atlanta, Ga.) 12 p.m.

(Winter Have, Fla.) TBA

University (Lafayette, La.) 11:30 a.m.

Colorado (Greeley, Colo.) 1 p.m.

(Macomb, Ill.) 3 p.m.

(Clearwater, Fla.) 11 a.m.

(Tulsa, Okla.) 2 p.m.

18 - Softball vs Ohio State

(Clearwater, Fla.) 3:45 p.m.

19 - Softball vs Rutgers

University (Clearwater, Fla.) 8 a.m.

19 - Baseball at Oral Roberts (Tulsa, Okla.) 1 p.m.

23-25 - Women’s Track and

Field UC Riverside Spring Track Classic (Riverside, Calif) TBA

23-25 - Men’s Track and Field UC Riverside Spring Track Classic (Riverside, Calif) TBA

Photo by Cory Erickson

MARCH 2017

MARCH 2017

Jacquelyn “Jax” Sertic was named the 2016 Summit League Pitcher of the Year as a sophomore. She won 24 games with an ERA of 2.26.

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