Bison Illustrated May 2019

payton MADDY

2-TIME

OTTERDAHL

ncaa track & field

NILLES

ncaa

payton otterdahl all-american

ALL-AMERICAN

HAMMER THROW

maddy SUMMIT nilles

2018

champion 4-TIME

ncaa C O M P L I M E N TA RY

2-TIME

M AY 2 0 1 9

LEAGUE

OUTDOOR

NCAA

DISCUS CHAMPIONSHIPS field indoor

mvp

Two of the nation’s best throwers, Payton Otterdahl and Maddy Nilles share a special relationship away from the throwing cage.

record holder

NDSU

CONTENTS

12

COVER STORY 12

POWER COUPLE

Two of the nation's best throwers, Payton Otterdahl and Maddy Nilles share a special relationship away from the throwing cages. Otterdahl is NDSU's first Division I track & field national champion and Nilles is an All-American in the weight and hammer throws. Both possess multiple school records in their various throwing events too. We sit down with this Bison power couple and learn how they make each other better inside and outside of the throwing cage.

05/2019

18

52

FEATURES 18

38

RECURRING

BEYOND BORDERS

The long and vast tradition at North Dakota State has reached people in every corner of our world. Because of this, student-athletes travel from around the world to Fargo to be a Bison on and off the field of competition. The Bison way is easily understood across all languages, customs and cultures.

Sophomores Taylor McCorkle and Van Holmgren have already made North Dakota State golf history in their short careers.

SUMMER CAMPS

46

NDSU SOFTBALL

44 How Well Do You Know Your Teammate

50 Athletics Calendar 52 Team Makers 54 Interactive Content 56 Pop Quiz

BISON GOLF

42

6 Editor's Note

58 The Ross Report 60 Slaubaugh's Scoop 62 Swany Says

The summer is drawing near! Bison summer camps are a great way to meet and get to know NDSU student-athletes and coaches. On top of that, you’re sure to improve your skills too.

Commanding the mound for Bison softball, KK Leddy, Kara O’Byrne and Paige Vargas are downing batters like clockwork.

FIND US ONLINE

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FROM THE EDITOR

summer in Fargo approaches, I can't help but get flashes of those images again and again.

deep breath FROM NOLAN P. SCHMIDT

H

How does that one song go?

"If you like Piña Coladas, and getting caught in the rain?"

To you, reader, that song, it's lyrics and overall vibe scream of the summer when you hear it, I'm sure. I've never been caught in the rain (and I don't see the appeal in that, seems like an inconvenience) nor have I ever had a Piña Colada (I don't like sugar with my alcohol). The tune transports you to a season filled with sun, cold drinks and good friends.

I write this from my desk, staring out the fifth-floor window, looking over Downtown Fargo. It's midApril, the temperatures are rising in Fargo along with the Red River. Summer is not far off. My headphones are not filling my ears with the Rupert Holmes song spoke of above, but something a little less atmospheric in the eyes of some. Mötley Crüe's "Kickstart My Heart" is playing. Yeah, I'm 25 and I listen to Mötley Crüe. In fact, 6

BISON ILLUSTRATED M a y 2 0 1 9

I've been on a pretty big hair band kick lately.

Anyway, I'm veering off of my main point, wait, what was my point? Oh yeah...

Whenever I hear a Mötley Crüe song, I get transported to the warm weather in sunny Los Angeles and the Sunset Strip where the band got their start in the early 80s. No, I've never been there, but I always find myself daydreaming of the summer on the Sunset Strip.

I dream of a more mild summer compared to that of the Crüe, obviously. The debauchery Mötley Crüe got into on the Sunset Strip and beyond has been well documented and has reached near legendary status now (Nikki Sixx wrote "Kickstart My Heart" after he overdosed on heroin, was pronounced dead and was revived in an ambulance).

However, the Sunset Strip and that era in music history epitomize summer for me. As

On the outset, summer and I should not get along. I have red hair. I have pale skin.

The sun and I are enemies in many respects. However, I cannot control biology, so I've learned to forgive the fair sun and its endless pursuit to give me melanoma.

The reason I am daydreaming of summer, Bison Nation, is that we're doing something a little different around here. We're doing something we have never done: we're taking the summer off. So, we will not be producing Bison Illustrated in June or July. Why? There are a few reasons, but here are some thoughts from my perspective.

Burnout: Trust me, we're in desperate need of a break. Not just me, but our photographers and designers are being worked into the ground (and they work a lot harder than me). The last thing we want to do here is push out a magazine just to push out a magazine. In the warm summer months, where we daydream of the lake or the Sunset Strip, we have a tendency to get lazy.

We will not be lazy in the way we create and execute Bison Illustrated, it's unfair to you. So, we're eliminating the possibility altogether.

However, trust me, after working 60 hours week after week, attending every sporting event and traveling across the United States this year, my brain is not as fresh as it was in August. I speak for everyone here at Bison Illustrated, we need the breather.

Also, North Dakota State is not playing games, school is not in session and the whole school is on break.

Why would we create more work for the fine people in the athletics department in what is supposed to be their downtime? Why should we command time from student-athletes, coaches and administration when all of them are looking to enjoy their time off, just like us?

North Dakota State needs the break from us, especially my guys in the sports information department.

We will use this time off as an opportunity to cultivate, create and begin to execute new, exciting ideas for Bison Illustrated. We want to be sprinting into the new school year, not crawling. I can promise you, if we did a June and July issue, we'd be crawling come August.

Don't worry, we'll still be around on social media and you'll be able to hear Swany and me on the podcast all summer. We'll still be around, just not as readily available, like most Fargoans in the summer.

So, Bison fans, enjoy your summer. Enjoy your time away from us. Drink Piña Coladas, get caught in the rain, take a ride on the wild side, do what you gotta do.

We'll see you in August.

For me? You can find me getting into my own brand of debauchery on Broadway, Fargo's Sunset Strip.

Well, maybe not, but you get what I mean...

MAY 2019 | VOLUME 13 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.

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P WER couple Two of the nation’s best throwers, Payton Otterdahl and Maddy Nilles share a special relationship away from the throwing cages.

BY Nolan P. Schmidt PHOTOS BY Hillary Ehlen

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There are few things that can bring people together quite like sports can. From fans sitting at a sports bar, watching their favorite teams to athletes across the country bonding together, sports will forever be a connective tissue within our communities, regardless of where your allegiances lie.

It’s built upon the notion of teamwork with athletes working towards the common goal of the team. Spending countless hours with one another practicing and competing for team glory. Lifelong friendships, relationships and successes are constructed on teams all over the world. Because of this, it is not improbable for athletes to find their kindred spirit in another teammate or even, another adversary. Countless examples come to mind and any number of ESPN features can verify that claim.

While those stories can become cliché and overdone from time to time, there is nothing redundant about the relationship shared by Payton Otterdahl and Maddy Nilles. The two Bison throwers are not just teammates, they are also in a relationship that goes beyond the throwing cage. It is one that has all the makings of a lifelong pairing.

And it would not have been possible without North Dakota State and its throws program. Not only have Otterdahl and Nilles found each other in the program, but they have also become two of the program’s best studentathletes in recent memory. Both have reached a level of success unseen at North Dakota State in the Division I era.

However, their relationship may not be what it is today if not for the amount of time the couple spent together in Nilles’ first year on campus. Otterdahl

was a sophomore at the time, but Nilles attributes her getting to travel with the team as a true freshman as a big factor in the development of their relationship.

“He was a sophomore and I was a true freshman and, I don’t know, we just kind of had an eye for each other and it just kind of evolved from there,” Nilles said.

“We got to spend a lot of time together on the track team because my freshman year, I got to travel. So we got to go across the country together and it was a neat experience. It just blossomed from there.”

Their relationship was not the only thing blossoming. Both Otterdahl and Nilles immediately became forces in the Bison throws program early on. They have only progressed throughout their careers too, becoming two of the best in North Dakota State’s illustrious track & field history.

Otterdahl, a senior from Rosemount, Minnesota, holds the school’s record in the indoor and outdoor shot put, discus and the weight throw. The only school record he has yet to surpass in his events is in the hammer throw.

Otterdahl made All-American status in the shot put and discus during the outdoor season last year. Therefore, the writing was on the wall, Otterdahl was poised to dominate in his senior season.

Yet, no one was anticipating a historic level of dominance. The kind of dominance unseen at the collegiate level.

Over the course of the indoor season, Otterdahl continuously shattered his own school records. Along with that, he inched ever closer to the NCAA record in the shot put. He improved on his numbers week after week. Otterdahl attributes his indoor success to never being satisfied with previous marks.

“My mindset really going into it is 13

“It’s nice just to be at practice and if you’re having a tough day, that person knows right away.

It’s nice because we understand when we have a tough day or even traveling you kind of have a buddy or someone to lean on and communicate with, so it’s nice.”

- Maddy Nilles

once I accomplish something, that’s kind of the new standard. I know that I can still push myself to see where I can go next with it. I don’t know if this is a good or a bad thing, but I would say I’m pretty much never satisfied,” he said.

“I’ll always have a number in my head that I want to hit going into a meet, but once I hit it, I’m already thinking about the next number and what I can do to get myself there, keep training and accomplish those next goals. In a sport that’s all about the numbers, you don’t want to get caught up with the numbers, but at the same time, there is no limit to what you’re able to do, there’s no cap number that you can hit. I’m always just striving for the next one.”

As if Otterdahl’s indoor campaign could not get any more impressive, he continued to post incredible results. At the Summit League Indoor Championships, Otterdahl broke the NCAA indoor record for shot put, throwing a 71-06.75. Hence, Payton Otterdahl threw the shot put further than anyone in collegiate history. For some perspective, that throw would have given him a silver medal at the 2016 Olympics.

It does not stop there as Otterdahl continued to blaze the trail for future Bison throwers. At the NCAA Indoor Championships in Birmingham, Alabama, Otterdahl became the first North Dakota State student-athlete to win a national championship in the Division I era. But Otterdahl didn’t just do it once, taking the nation’s top honors in the shot put and weight throw. To this day, there is not a more impressive individual performance in the school’s rich athletic history.

“It was awesome, it was truly the perfect ending to my indoor season. I had

accomplished all the goals I had set forth. I enjoyed it while I was at that weekend, I know we went out to a Brazilian steakhouse and I ate till I hurt, but after that, I was already thinking about my goals for the outdoor season,” Otterdahl said. “Now that we’re about a month into the outdoor season, I’m still focused on my goals there and I kind of forget that everything happened with the indoor season. Once all is said and done and my eligibility is up at NDSU, then I’ll be able to take time and reflect on how the year went for me. I just want to be able to say that I gave it my best and held nothing back and was able to be as good as I was able to be.”

With the outdoor season now in full swing, Otterdahl has continued to dominate meets. He broke his own school record in the discus three weeks running, Otterdahl ranks second in the NCAA in the discus. As for the shot put, he is also ranked second in the country.

As was the case during the indoor season, Otterdahl has a national title(s) on his mind as his collegiate track career winds down. “Being an NCAA champion in my events is definitely the goal for the season. In the meantime, I just want to be able to compete at the highest level that I’m able to,” he said. “If I do that then more records should be going my way. I’m not chasing a certain number in mind, obviously, the national record is 22 meters even, so that’s the ultimate goal. If I execute and do things the right way then I should be happy with the results.”

Nilles has also emerged as a dominant performer on the women’s side. She finished fifth in the hammer throw at last year’s outdoor nationals. In doing that, she set the school record in the event and earned First Team AllAmerica honors. At the Summit League

Outdoor Championships, she was the conference’s runner-up in the event, but she also finished in the top six in the shot put, discus and javelin. That individual performance garnered her Summit League Championships Field MVP for the conference meet.

Playing off that incredible outdoor run, the Sherrill, Iowa, native was equally impressive during this indoor season. She set a new school record in the weight throw and qualified for the indoor national championships in the event, her first time doing so. Nilles finished 12th and was named an AllAmerican again.

Nilles doesn’t describe herself as the strongest thrower around, so she knew summer lifting and technique was crucial for her indoor success this season. “Summer lifting bumped that way up. Just trying to get really strong, strength really is not my forte, so I really tried to get some more strength and get a little bit bigger throughout the weight season. Then, the weight doesn’t manhandle me, where I can manhandle it,” she said. “Just training really hard in the fall and staying really focused at practice. Being older and more experienced, you know what to do and doing it your best at it everyday and getting one percent better every day definitely led up to that good season of weight throw.”

Her success does not change the adjustments a thrower needs to make as they transition from indoor to the outdoor season. While North Dakota State travels far and wide to compete outside, they almost always practice indoors during the outdoor season.

For Nilles, transitioning to the outdoor season can take some time.

“For the indoor season, it’s a lot more dialed in and technical where you can see everything. There are no other outside resources that can change your throw like the weather, you can’t control 15

those things. So for the indoor season, it’s a little bit easier to be more technical and precise,” she said. “For outdoor season, it’s a slow transition. You want to make it fast, but you just have to be patient and have the mindset where it’s going to take a week or two to transition to outdoor and put up some results for that.”

Nilles, who completed her junior indoor season this year, is using a redshirt this outdoor season.

Therefore, she will compete all of next season rather than using her final year of outdoor eligibility this year. Preparing for a senior season where she will look to return to indoor and outdoor nationals, Nilles knows developing and cultivating technique is important. She does admit to feeling nervous at her first indoor nationals this season. If she returns next year, she knows that will not be the case.

“I definitely want to get back to both nationals next year. This year was my first year at indoor nationals, so it was kind of a different feel than last year’s outdoor nationals. So hopefully, I’ll do a little bit better next year for indoor and not be so surprised or anxious,” she said.

“I’ll be more comfortable for indoor next year and for outdoor, just go the limit and do all that I can do, all the small things to finish on a strong year.”

While both Otterdahl and Nilles are exceptional throwers already, that does not mean they don’t lean on one another for the occasional bit of throwing advice.

Having a relationship away from the field of competition makes those sorts of conversations more approachable.

However, both are quick to admit that sometimes advice falls on deaf ears based on terminology alone.

“She definitely tries to give me tips in the hammer. She is so much more advanced than I am though. I try to give my best effort at taking her advice and trying to use it, but some of the stuff is a little bit too advanced for me,” Otterdahl said. “I do try to help her a little bit in the shot put and the discus as well. We do help

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BISON ILLUSTRATED M a y 2 0 1 9

each other in that respect, but she’s definitely the technical one at hammer, I’m just strong.”

Nilles sees something similar in giving one another advice. Though shot put and hammer throw are both throwing events, they have different terminology.

This makes things challenging at times when they try to coach each other. “He definitely helps me out with discus quite a bit and I try to help him with hammer.

His forte is shot put and mine is hammer, so just language barriers between those two events are a little bit different sometimes,” she said. “It’s hard to understand sometimes if you don’t understand the language of that event.

So that can be a barrier.”

Yet, Nilles sees more benefits in having such a close relationship with Otterdahl.

This comes in handy when the team is traveling or if one of them is having an off day at practice. They both have somewhat of a sixth sense and can recognize when the other needs a pick me up at practice or at a meet. “It’s nice just to be at practice and if you’re having a tough day, that person knows right away,” Nilles said. “It’s nice because we understand when we have a tough day or even traveling you kind of have a buddy or someone to lean on and communicate with, so it’s nice.”

Payton Otterdahl and Maddy Nilles have already accomplished a great amount of success at North Dakota State. They are a Bison power couple in its truest, most pure form. In the field of competition, they are bound to see even more successes too. Whether that be more NCAA Championships, AllAmerica honors, USA Championships or Olympic competition, has yet to be seen.

However, in the field of life, they have a bond that will last beyond their athletic careers.

Sports is what brought them together and it is sports that, in part, will connect them for life.

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BY Nolan P. Schmidt PHOTOS BY Hillary Ehlen

BEYOND BORDERS

T

he long and vast tradition at North Dakota State has reached people in every corner of our world.

Because of this, student-athletes travel from around the world to Fargo to be a Bison on and off the field of competition. Not only that, these international athletes have become some of the most successful in their chosen sports. Despite having to make adjustments, moving from one country to another, these athletes thrive. The Bison way is easily understood across all languages, customs and cultures. In the grand scheme of things, North Dakota State, it’s mantras and traditions go beyond borders.

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19

SPLASH SISTER The Czech Republic’s Michelle Gaislerova finds common ground at North Dakota State, a love for the game of basketball.

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BISON ILLUSTRATED M A y 2 0 1 9

T

he United States loves the game of basketball, it’s high-flying, electrifying plays make for highlights upon highlights on your sports station of choice. What Americans may not realize is that basketball has also been adopted and beloved by another continent, Europe.

Not only do Europeans follow the professionals in America, but also the pro ballers in their home countries. You could go anywhere in Europe, find the most unlikely of cities across its vast landscape and they’re likely playing basketball.

Michelle Gaislerova was one of those European residents with their pulse on the game as a player and fan. The sophomore just completed a historic season for Bison women’s hoops in 2018-19, her third year living in the United States.

A native of Trutnov, Czech Republic, a city of just over 31,000 people, Gaislerova grew up around the game.

The country is known for its competitive professional basketball leagues. In fact, it’s one of the most competitive in Europe. Trutnov lies in northern Czech Republic, only a few hours away from Prague and the German and Polish borders.

Gaislerova grew up playing for club teams in and around Trutnov as European basketball is designed a little differently than in America.

There are no high school teams, only club teams in most European countries.

When she was about to enter her senior year of high school in Trutnov, Gaislerova played with an American on her club team. Knowing she wanted to play college basketball in America, Gaislerova learned that it may be more beneficial to complete her prep career in America as well. She was already a highly-touted

recruit, averaging 24 points and seven rebounds for her club team and also playing on the under-17, under-18 and under-20 Czech National Teams.

“I didn’t really plan to come for my senior year, but I always wanted to play college basketball. Back home in my former club, I was playing with a girl who was from Nebraska and who already went through college basketball and she was now playing in Europe,” Gaislerova said. “She was my teammate and we talked a lot about me going to play college and she just kind of suggested to come for my senior year, live in Nebraska for a year and get used to everything and the transition, get better at English. Her family offered for me to stay with them and it just made it all really easy to decide to come.”

So that is what Michelle Gaislerova did, she moved to the United States before her senior year of high school, not knowing much English and coming by herself.

Gaislerova would be playing at Lincoln Christian High School in Lincoln, Nebraska.

While she wouldn’t characterize that year as “eye-opening” some of the slight differences were new to Gaislerova. “The schedule in high school was different.

Obviously, just a different season because back home, we play club from September till May,” she said. “Then I came to Nebraska and I played AAU for the first couple months and then the high school season was way shorter than what I was used to and then AAU again.

Otherwise, I think it was pretty similar to what I was doing before.”

Still, her senior season in Nebraska was a needed one for Gaislerova. She averaged nearly 15 points for Lincoln Christian and the team won the 2017 Class

C-1 title. Along with that, a year to get acclimated to America before embarking on her college journey was necessary for Gaislerova. “It definitely made things easier.

One big thing was that I was away from my family so I got used to that feeling during high school,” she said.

“When I came to NDSU, everything was much easier in that regard. Just being in a different environment and going through that culture shock a bit, finding new friends too.”

Upon coming to Fargo two years ago, Gaislerova made an immediate impact for Maren Walseth and the Bison. She averaged just under 10 points per game, playing in 29 games and playing 19 minutes a game.

A hallmark of her game has always been the three-point shot and she hit 42 percent of her threes attempted in her freshman year. All in all, Gaislerova shot a scorching 46 percent from the field. It was evident that she was a budding offensive threat for North Dakota State.

Yet, Gaislerova is quick to note that the European style of basketball is much different than America’s version of the game. That adjustment is still something she is working on in Fargo.

“American basketball is much more physical so that was something I really had to adjust to and I’m still trying to make that transition. Also, just the structure of the season because the college season is different, we only play from November till the beginning of March,” she said. “We have preseason, we have postseason, so there is just a different structure.

We also play more games in a row like we can have three games in a week, but back home we would only play one. So the practices are different and the physicality and I would also say the level of plays and call sets is more structured as well.”

21

The Trutnov native began to assert her dominance this past season for the Bison. She averaged a team-high 14.8 points per game to go along with shooting 40 percent from the field and from deep.

Add to that, an impressive 92 percent clip from the free throw line. Gaislerova netted 75 triples in her sophomore season, placing her third on NDSU’s all-time list in threepointers made in a season.

In total, Gaislerova has made 125 three-pointers in her young NDSU career. With two seasons left, there is no reason to believe she won’t challenge the school record set by Taylor Thunstedt (278 career triples) by her senior season.

Gaislerova has also been able to find some common ground within the NDSU roster. This past season, the Bison had five international studentathletes on their roster. In 2019-20, they will have four (Gaislerova included). She finds that to be welcoming and has made her transition to the collegiate game easier.

“It’s great, I feel like we have a lot in common and we can talk about things we understand better,” she said.

“It also makes the transition a little easier because if there is something we’re not used to, we can talk about it and discuss how we can change it to get better.”

Bison women’s basketball is facing a crossroads heading into the summer. The school and head coach Maren Walseth mutually parted ways shortly after the season ended. In turn, the roster is still without a head coach. With most of their team returning for 2019-20, Gaislerova feels it’s necessary to rely on her relationships with her fellow teammates in this transitional period. “It’s one of the most important 22

BISON ILLUSTRATED M a y 2 0 1 9

TRUTNOV, CZECH REPUBLIC FARGO, ND

things because it’s really important that you’re on the same page on and off the floor. Especially right now where we don’t have a head coach and we don’t really know what is going to happen and that’s the reason we need to be together,” she said. “I think we’re doing a great job sticking together, talking through things and going in the same direction.”

That is not to say she is not excited about next year though. The young Bison roster has the potential to climb the Summit League ladder in Gaislerova’s junior season. “I’m really excited about us being together because we didn’t lose a lot of people, which is great for us. I love being around my teammates,” she said. “So I’m really excited to get to work with the people I know and that we can take another step forward and get better because that is what the offseasons are for, of course.”

While she has proven to be an extremely efficient and effective offensive weapon, Gaislerova still has areas to improve upon this offseason.

As she touched upon earlier, it’s fully adjusting to the physicality of American

basketball and getting sharper on the defensive end. “We’ve already discussed what we want to work on this offseason and for me, it would be defense and ball control so I can improve my game another step. Those are probably the two most important focus points,” she said.

Everything she does on the floor is impressive, but what is most impressive about Gaislerova is what she has accomplished in the classroom at NDSU. She was named to the Google Cloud Academic All-District First Team this year. Gaislerova currently holds a 4.0 GPA in journalism. Meaning, that it won’t be long until she is writing the stories for this very magazine. “When I was younger, I just always enjoyed writing and when I was much younger, I had one of those blogs to just kind of write your everyday life. I always enjoyed it and when I was deciding my college major, I realized that a major in journalism would be really cool and I just found that the sports side of it is really cool,” she said. “Like I have a lot of fun writing about basketball and getting more information in that field.

That’s what I’ve been doing the last four years, writing about basketball for a website back home and I love it, so I decided to actually major in journalism.”

Gaislerova got to cover the Final Four in Minneapolis this year and has been to countless other sporting events thanks to her prowess for journalism. Safe to say, she not only has the chops on the court but off it as well.

While she wants to play professionally after college, Gaislerova says she would take a good journalism job here in America if it were offered to her.

Michelle Gaislerova went from her home country of the Czech Republic to Nebraska to Fargo in a three-year span. While many would struggle with that amount of moving and change in surroundings, Gaislerova has proven that she is capable of thriving wherever she is at. Do not be surprised to see her taking over the Summit League and taking over a newspaper or magazine near you too.

FORWARD, UPWARD, ONWARD Sophomore jumper Daejha Moss is finding her way and thriving on the track since coming from the Bahamas.

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n Nassau, Bahamas, the temperature is currently in the mid-80s with the sun blaring down on the city’s inhabitants.

Add to that, blistering humidity and low wind speeds too. That Bahamian climate remains the same yearround (mostly) with the coldest day dropping to maybe the low 50s (the country’s lowest recorded temperature is 41 degrees set in 1981).

Meanwhile, in Fargo, temperatures drop well below zero for what seems like nine months a year.

Snow pounds the Red River Valley month after month, day after day. Just when Fargoans believe spring has sprung, Mother Nature dumps inches of snow on the fair city. For evidence of that, look no further than this past April.

On paper, you will see that sophomore jumper and sprinter Daejha Moss was born and raised in Nassau, where the weather is always fair and the ocean is only a short walk away. It will not take you long to question and try to understand why Moss would leave that sunny weather in the Bahamas for the wintry climates of Fargo. While we may be left puzzled by that notion,

Moss is less concerned with the weather and is more interested in what North Dakota State offers her on and off the track.

In fact, all it took was one visit before Moss discovered that North Dakota State would become her second home. “My coach here Clayton Pritchard, he reached out to me and he was so charming. I knew that I had to come and take a visit. I really liked it and I’ve never seen a football game or anything and that kind of just caught my eye,” said Moss of her official visit to the school. “So, I didn’t even take another visit to another school, I just came here, signed immediately after I visited and I have no regrets.”

Moss came to NDSU with an impressive list of accolades to her name. She was a four-time Bahamas junior national champion in the high jump. Add to that, a long jump junior national championship in 2017.

Moss also represented the Bahamas at the 2017 CARIFTA Games and on the Pan Am Junior Championship Team too.

She finished with a silver medal in the high jump and a bronze in the long jump at the CARIFTA Games where every Caribbean nation competes against one

another.

One thing Moss did not realize about North Dakota State and their track & field program was the tradition.

It was not until she stepped foot on campus in the fall of 2017 that she realized what this program has done and what it was capable of in the future. “I wasn’t even aware of the championships or anything, I just wanted to come here. When I found out, I was so impressed and everyone was so nice and we always push each other, whether that be in the weight room or on the track,” she said. “We could just be doing a simple drill and everyone will be like ‘go Daejha’ so I really appreciate that. Everyone is so talented and so humble and I really like that about this team.”

Thanks to that constant pushing and encouragement, Moss was able to become an immediate difference maker in her true freshman season.

She was the Summit League runner-up in the high jump and placed third in the long jump at her first indoor conference championship.

Add to that, another runnerup finish in the high jump during last year’s outdoor season and it seemed that Daejha Moss was destined for success as a Bison.

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FARGO, ND NASSAU, BAHAMAS

However, whatever she accomplished in her first year has been shattered in her sophomore season. Moss placed first in the high jump in four meets this season and had a runner-up finish in the event at the Mark Colligan Memorial in late January.

She set a new collegiate best in the event during the indoor season as well. As for the long jump, the Nassau native took top honors twice this season and finished runner-up twice. Add to all of that, a top finish in the 60-meter dash, setting a new personal best at 7.70 seconds.

“I was always really confident. Some people may call me cocky, but I am always really confident in myself and always knew what I had to do and get done,” Moss said of her mentality and ability to be competitive immediately. “I would be really frustrated if I didn’t perform the way I did last year. I just try not to look at anyone else’s numbers, I just focus on my own and that is what got me to where I am.”

That is not to say Moss has not had her share of growing pains since moving from the Bahamas to Fargo. While

the weather is an obvious difference for her (and a big one at that) there were others as well. Even a simple act of politeness (or lack thereof) was odd for Moss.

“For starters, every time we go into a room we always say ‘good morning’ back home.

I noticed nobody would say good morning and it’s not like they’re being rude, they just don’t say it,” she said.

“That is something that kind of bothered me for a while, but I’m used to it now.”

Not to mention, Moss had to transition to an American style of food. Oddly enough, she says the food is less salty in the Midwest, but she has grown to like it. “The food is kind of salty back home compared to North Dakota’s food,” she said. “That took some time getting used to and now I like the food and I really love Buffalo Wild Wings.”

Unfortunately for Moss, she did suffer a setback at the end of her indoor season this year. She tore her hamstring at this year’s Summit League Indoor Championships in Brookings. Because of this, her results were not where she wanted them to be on

the final day of competition.

Never the less, the Bison women captured another Summit League crown, their 12th consecutive title.

Due to the injury and recovery involved, Moss is using a redshirt this outdoor season to fully prepare for her junior indoor season.

While the injury is no doubt discouraging, Moss is certain that she will come back stronger than ever next year. “I have a major comeback coming during indoor season, so look out for that. I can’t wait to actually start training and doing stuff and pushing my body to the limits,” she said. “Now, I’m just trying to trust in God and pray every day that he’ll help me through this tough time because it’s rough right now. I’m just trying to be hopeful and focus on school more too.”

With the use of her redshirt, Moss will also utilize the downtime to get stronger in the weight room. Moss admits that she did not start lifting weights until she came to North Dakota State. Because of that, she believes her body can only get stronger and be tested

further. “Getting stronger, definitely because back home, I never lifted weights.

Then, I had to come here and start lifting weights and I can focus more on that. Getting my upper body stronger,” Moss said. “I also want to focus on my relationships with everyone. I didn’t really get to know everyone last year and I want to get closer with my teammates.

They have all been really encouraging and asking me how I’ve been and all that.

I’m just going to focus on being the best teammate I can be or friend or sister, anything.”

Yes, the sun shines down on Nassau, Bahamas, more days a year than it does in Fargo, North Dakota.

While that fact may lead us to ask why Daejha Moss ended up at North Dakota State by way of Nassau, it’s ultimately a moot inquiry.

The Bahamian jumper believes that she belongs in Fargo and has thrived in just two short years here. That fact alone outweighs and is far more important than the Bahamian and North Dakota weather patterns.

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THE GREAT DANE Denmark's Kristoffer Thomsen is already writing his name in North Dakota State's record books, as a 23-year-old freshman.

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hen 18-year-old, bright-eyed students take their first steps on campus each fall, many are intimidated. The academics are magnified tenfold compared to the scholastic records and GPAs of high school. If you happen to be a collegiate athlete on top of that, the intensity ramps up even more. Traveling to events, practice and of course, academics, can be a heavy load on the backs of freshman studentathletes. Growing pains are natural for any 18-yearold transitioning to life in college, athlete or not.

Freshman thrower Kristoffer Thomsen must balance that and the fact that he is also an international student. The Aarhus, Denmark, native did not set foot on American soil until he took his first college visit. However, it is evident that Thomsen is far more mature than your average 18-year-old freshman. His maturity level stems from the fact that he is a few years older than a traditional college freshman. Thomsen began his collegiate career this fall at 22 years of age, he turned 23 in February.

Age and experience have allowed Kristoffer Thomsen to adjust to life in America a little easier. It has no doubt had its challenges though. The first hurdle for Thomsen would be finding an American school that wanted to take a chance on a 22-year-old true freshman.

While age is usually not a determining factor in school's recruitment, Thomsen's numbers showcased a thrower destined for greatness from

the beginning.

Thomsen competed in several European Athletics Championships in his prep years and beyond. It was after the under 23 European Athletics Championships in Poland that Thomsen began looking into attending school in America. At the time, Thomsen's personal best mark in the outdoor shot put (19.03m) would have placed him third in NDSU school history in the event.

"It began with me competing at the under 23 European Championships and then I got in contact with an agency that would help me out to find several colleges in the U.S. I went for a few visits and this was actually my last priority," said Thomsen of his college "recruiting" journey. "When I came for a visit, I just really liked the atmosphere and the people, especially the program.

Justin [St. Clair], my coach, was actually why I decided to go here. Also, I do care a lot about my school, it's very important to me. They have a really good engineering program here as well, so that kind of made everything come together. The atmosphere, the people, the program and the school."

That commitment to education was key for Thomsen in his quest to compete in the United States.

While North Dakota State has a world-renowned engineering program, Thomsen would also be joining a throws program that was one of the best in the country already. Add to the roster, a daunting, physically-imposing, freshman in Kristoffer Thomsen.

While Thomsen easily passes the physical eye-test with

anyone he comes in contact with, he is truly as kind and polite as they come. It's often said that the people of Denmark are polite, a trait they passed down to their Scandinavian brethren that immigrated to Fargo, North Dakota. Oddly enough, Thomsen found Fargo's increased sense of politeness as a key difference between his home and America.

"When you walk on the street and people are asking how you are doing and stuff like that, that's not very common in Denmark. Unless we know people, we don't really talk to them," said Thomsen. "Here, people are very open and that's very different because I know if I sit next to someone on the bus, I know I'll have to speak to them. Or when I'm in the airport and people see I'm wearing Bison clothing, they come over and ask and talk to you. That's very uncommon in Denmark and I really had to get used to that."

Fargo's politeness may have caught Thomsen off guard at first, but throwing the shot put translates across international waters. He was a force in his first indoor campaign, hurling an NDSU personal best 18.90m in the indoor shot put at his fourth collegiate meet. Thomsen continued his string of indoor success by placing third in the shot put at the Summit League Indoor Championships.

That event was swept by NDSU with senior Payton Otterdahl winning the event and sophomore Alex Talley taking runner-up honors.

As the weather warmed and the indoor slate wrapped up, Thomsen began his first outdoor season strong too. At the Husker Spring 29

FARGO, ND DENMARK

Invitational in early April, Thomsen won the shot put, his first collegiate victory.

In the process, he uncorked a throw of 19.18m, which ranks third in North Dakota State track & field history.

Thomsen believes his age and knowledge of the throwing events has allowed him to stamp his name on the Bison record books so early in his career.

"It's actually been really rough and it's really hard to adapt. I was doing well in Denmark and it's really hard to adapt to something new, to my coach, the people and everything is a new language. I think my age has a lot to do with it. I've already worked for a year and a half full time, basically. My school time has been longer because I've been practicing and then I've done a lot of practicing on my own as well," he said.

"I think that has helped me a lot in knowing what I'm doing better and not needing to have someone tell me what I need to do better.

So when I'm speaking with Justin [St. Clair] and we are cooperating, we're kind of on the same page."

Thanks to the mark he set in Lincoln, Thomsen is ranked 21st in the country in the shot put this outdoor season.

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BISON ILLUSTRATED M a y 2 0 1 9

If rankings tell us anything, it's that Kristoffer Thomsen is far and away the best freshman shot putter in the country so far this season.

Regardless of age, that is a pretty impressive feat to accomplish.

Yet, Thomsen has more goals he wants to accomplish both in his time at NDSU and on the Danish national scene.

As the outdoor season winds down in Fargo, he is focused on competing at the NCAA Outdoor Championships this season. Given what he has done so far this season, it's certainly within reach.

Next on the list would be to qualify for the Olympics and represent Denmark in the games. That too is not out of the realm of possibility.

"The first goal I have is to go to the NCAA Championships.

My next goal would be to see if I could qualify for the Olympics. It's a bit easier when I'm from Denmark, it's nothing compared to here in the U.S. So if I make the standard for the Olympic Committee, I'm basically in," Thomsen said. "I would also like to break the Danish record in shot put. We have a history of good shot putters

previously, who also came to the States for college in Joachim Olsen. I would really like to break his record at some point."

Olsen's shot put record, set in 2007 stands at 21.61m, meaning that Thomsen would have to add over two meters to his personal best to beat it. However, it's worth noting that Olsen set the Danish shot put record when he was 30 years old. Safe to say, Thomsen still has time and is well on his way to making Danish history.

He may not be the most traditional of college freshmen but at 23, Kristoffer Thomsen is still facing obstacles each day.

Whether that be acclimating to life in North Dakota compared to his native Denmark or improving on a stellar freshman campaign, Thomsen has proven he can take those challenges headon. Given what he has done in the shot put this season alone, it's likely we'll see Kristoffer Thomsen on the world's stage at some point in the future.

THE MAPLE MARVEL Sophomore midfielder Danielle Algera has thrived at NDSU in one of Canada's most unlikely sports, soccer.

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W

hat is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of sports and Canada?

Chances are, you just said ice hockey or any number of professional hockey players who hail from America’s northern brethren. However, what if I told you that Canada is far more than hockey or any number of winter sports for that matter.

The country is a melting pot for athletics with basketball, baseball and many other sports gaining popularity.

Another one of those sports is soccer. When you think of soccer and Canada, the two are an antithesis of one another. It is cold in Canada, so why play a game outside?

However, young Canadian athletes still do. Sophomore midfielder Danielle Algera is one of those athletes and she has thrived in one of Canada’s most unlikely of games. Growing up in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Algera saw Canadian soccer as not the country’s most popular game. However, young kids are encouraged to play the sport (and all sports) thanks to community implemented programs.

“I wouldn’t want to say it’s popular. I feel like it’s really popular when we’re younger, we have this Timbits thing and it’s really popular then.

I even noticed when I was growing up through age 13 to 18, people just kept dropping out and dropping out. My team was super small by the time I got to 18 and it’s really not as popular.

That’s why when I was looking for universities, I didn’t want to be in Canada,” Algera said. “It’s not a crazy popular sport, but it’s decent.

Everyone really likes the winter sports because you can train those more of the year. So hockey and ringette

and I know so many people from my high school that love snowboarding. I went to a small high school, there were 200 of us, but only a handful of kids actually played soccer seriously.”

If you were to Google “Timbits” as Algera describes, the result you will find is the Canadian version of a donut hole, popularized by Canadian giant Tim Hortons.

However, the cafe and bake shop chain also sponsors youth sports programs, also called “Timbits”. These programs are for young kids ages four to eight and places emphasis on learning various sports and building friendships.

Despite the valiant efforts of Tim Hortons, soccer still remains relatively unpopular throughout the country, as Algera indicates. The logic seems simple enough, why train for soccer, a sport that only gets outside in the spring and summer when you can train year-round for hockey? Yet, that did not deter Algera from thriving in the game. The lack of popularity in Canada also gave her the motivation to look to America for her collegiate career. “I did actually want to come to the States because the level is higher and it is a little better,” she said.

That was when she discovered a school not so far from her hometown of Winnipeg when head coach Mark Cook and North Dakota State came calling. As soon as Algera took a visit to North Dakota State, she knew it was the place for her. “I just loved the campus so much. Even comparing it to our popular schools in Winnipeg, it takes a half hour to walk from one side to the other. I loved that you can be 10 minutes away from everything.

Even just the sports centers and comparing those to other schools, I know at

South Dakota or Minnesota you have to drive to your practices,” she said. “That just wasn’t nice or convenient and I love the campus. When I visited I loved the team and everything. I’m an introvert and just kind of a shy person and they made me feel so welcome and I really loved that. The environment has allowed me to grow into a different person.”

Part of that comfortability came full circle for Algera once she joined the Bison for the 2017 season. North Dakota State has a host of Canadian players on their roster. That fact made the transition much easier for Algera. Heading into the 2019 soccer season, the Bison roster will feature seven Canadian players. “It does help just because our American teammates like to poke fun at us about how different we are, so it’s kind of nice to have a couple of people. Just the words we say, like I say ‘pencil crayons’ instead of ‘colored pencil’ and it’s just small things like that where it’s just nice to have other Canadians around so I don’t feel out of place,” she said. “So it was a lot nicer and there is one other girl from Winnipeg and I hadn’t met her before and I came here and met her. So even just carpooling and stuff is super nice. Just the feeling that there is someone who gets you a little bit more than maybe an American would.”

As for her performance on the pitch, Algera was a revelation for Cook and the Bison in her freshman season. She led the Bison with four assists and had one goal on the year. Algera was also named to the Summit League All-Freshman Team thanks to her performance in the 2017 season.

Over the course of that offseason, the soccer program saw transition as Cook, the coach who recruited Algera, resigned.

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last year played over 7,000 minutes combined last year.

While North Dakota State welcomes back some key players, including Algera, it will be a new look roster come fall 2019. For Algera and the team, she knows that it is vital for people to step up this offseason if the team wants to succeed this coming year.

WINNIPEG, MB, CANADA FARGO, ND

Mike Regan has since taken the helm of the team and has made an immediate impact on his players, Algera included. “Our practices are totally different and he just wants more energy and it gets you more excited to play. He is a coach you definitely want to play for and I think that is such a big aspect in a coach. You have to want to play for a coach and he gets you excited about our practices and games,” she said of Regan.

“Also, his relationship with you, he is not only invested in your athletic life, but you’re personal life and he genuinely wants to know how you’re doing. That makes it so much easier to play the sport.”

In her sophomore season, the program’s first under Regan, Algera played and started in 15 of NDSU’s 16 matches.

Though she did not record a goal or an assist, she was able to put 11 shots on goal. While some may look at those stats and wonder what happened, Algera, her teammates and her coaches know it’s not necessarily her job to stuff the stat sheet. Although, she would like to score some goals come her junior year.

“I would like to score some 34

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goals this year, I didn’t get any last year,” Algera said, laughing. “I’ve been told that I play a thankless position, I’m almost like a fifth defender so I didn’t really get those opportunities to do that. I played a lot of minutes and I do love my position, but I would like to score, that’d be nice.”

Algera did indeed play a lot of minutes for Mike Regan in 2018, logging 1,334 minutes on the pitch. She is sure to play a similar amount of minutes (or even more) come the fall. Because of that, she wants to become more of a vocal leader on the field. Especially after the Bison graduated five seniors this past season. “Having more of a voice on the field because a lot of players are looking towards my position.

I’ve been playing the past two years and a lot of the midfielders coming in have not played at all,” she said.

“So telling them what to do and being confident in myself and confident that I do actually know what I’m doing and that they can trust me to tell them what to do.”

Regan will field a very young team in 2019. The five seniors who graduated after

“Even though we only lost five seniors, I feel like our whole team dynamic has totally changed. When I go to practice, it feels like an entirely different team. I really think the biggest thing for us is that a lot of people need to start stepping up and becoming leaders because a lot of the players who are coming back haven’t gotten a lot of minutes,” she said.

“People and myself included just need to start stepping up and becoming leaders and not waiting for someone else to do their job. We’ve been talking about that at practice, there is no room to hide anymore. We just need to come together and I think people just need to step up and grow more.”

Danielle Algera and Bison soccer know what needs to be done to succeed come 2019. However, the fact that Algera is even playing for North Dakota State is remarkable. Coming from a country that does not see soccer as a popular sport, she still thrived and was noticed

by American coaches.

From Timbits to North Dakota State University, Danielle Algera has continued to succeed in an unlikely Canadian sport.

Only a sophomore, the future only looks bright for the Winnipeg native.

BISON

FROM AROUND THE WORLD DENMARK

BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA UNITED KINGDOM

CZECH REPUBLIC ALBERTA, CANADA

ONTARIO, CANADA

FRANCE MONTENEGRO

MANITOBA, CANADA

SPAIN

BAHAMAS

CANADA

ONTARIO

SPAIN

and Track & Field)

EUROPE

Basketball)

Camryn Roadley (Women’s Golf) Danielle Algera (Women’s Soccer) Nicola De Pape (Women’s Soccer) Cameryn Maykut (Softball)

Kristoffer Thomsen (Men’s Track & Field) Cirkeline Rimdal (Women’s Basketball) Ayoe Roebel (Women’s Track & Field)

Sofija Zivaljevic (Women’s Basketball)

MANITOBA

Josh Samyn (Men’s Cross Country and Track & Field)

Erin Valgardson (Women’s Cross Country

BRITISH COLUMBIA

Maddie Burnstein (Women’s Soccer) Marian Taiwo (Women’s Soccer)

DENMARK FRANCE

Brendan Artley (Men’s Track & Field) Tasha Willing (Women’s Track & Field)

Guillaume Viault (Men’s Track & Field)

ALBERTA

Michelle Gaislerova (Women’s Basketball)

Melina Kuerschner (Women’s Cross Country and Track & Field) Daniella Jasper (Women’s Soccer) Malana Vachon (Women’s Soccer)

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BISON ILLUSTRATED M a y 2 0 1 9

CZECH REPUBLIC

Marina Fernandez (Women’s Basketball) Raquel Terrer van Gool (Women’s

MONTENEGRO

UNITED KINGDOM

Amy Herrington (Women’s Track & Field)

AUSTRALIA

NEW SOUTH WALES

Lauren Featherstone (Women’s Soccer)

BAHAMAS

Daejha Moss (Women’s Track & Field)

July 11, 12 & 13th

New Salem, ND

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NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA Jake Owen

FEATURING:

Thursday July 11th

Buy Tickets & Camping

NDCountryFest.com

Sophomore

Taylor McCorkle

continues to shine in her young Bison golf career.

Hillary Ehlen 38

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I

n the history of North Dakota State women’s golf, there have been some incredible individual performances. One of the primary highlights has to be Amy Anderson shooting a 66 over 18 holes in March of 2012, a school record.

Anderson, a senior at the time, has gone on to become the most recognized NDSU golf alumni, currently playing on the LPGA Tour.

Taylor McCorkle, a native of Oregon, Wisconsin, is in her second year in the Bison golf program. Though she has had a string of excellent individual tournaments thus far in her NDSU career, she set a new bar for golfers to come on March 15 in St. George, Utah.

McCorkle shot a third round 65 at the Pizza Hut Lady Thunderbird Invitational, breaking Anderson’s already impressive 18-hole mark.

Couple that with a second round 76 and she shot 141 over the course of 36 holes that day, breaking the school record held by teammate Emma Groom. McCorkle also won the tournament by two strokes.

Oddly enough, McCorkle was so focused on each shot, that she had no idea she was on pace to break the school’s record. “I actually didn’t even know where I was throughout the whole round. When I play my best, it’s when I don’t know where my score is because I’m just focusing on one shot at a time. When I start thinking about scores, I start to force things,” McCorkle said. “I know I had a few back to

back birdies and an eagle and that started to get into my head a little towards the end, knowing I was under par somewhere. I just tried to stay grounded and focus on sticking with one shot at a time and staying with my strategy because I had a game plan for every hole and I didn’t want to change that at all.”

A month removed from her record-breaking performance, McCorkle still has a hard time processing what she did and who she surpassed. What is even more impressive, outside of surpassing a now professional golfer in the school’s record books, is that McCorkle is only a sophomore. Anderson, as mentioned earlier, was in her final year on campus when she shot a 66.

“Shooting anywhere under par is really good so knowing she shot a 66, that’s really good. So shooting 65 was pretty cool, it just kept me grounded and motivated to keep working at it,” she said about breaking Anderson’s record. “Obviously, you’re not going to shoot 65 every round and it’s tough to come back from that your next round. It’s starting to sink in a little bit now, but knowing that if I stick with my strategy and play smart, I am capable of shooting scores that are lower.”

It’s not as if McCorkle came out of nowhere either. She has been a force on the golf course since she stepped onto campus last year. She was named to the Summit League Women’s Golf Championship All-Tournament Team last year as a freshman. The

NDSU women ended up winning that conference tournament last year.

McCorkle was also second on the team in stroke average in her first year in the program.

The only Bison better than her in that category was Natalie Roth, who just so happens to be playing professional golf now too.

“It’s all about prioritizing things and focusing on what is important and what isn’t,” McCorkle said in regards to being so successful so quickly in her collegiate career. “Being able to manage your time, focusing on the good things and making memories, but also being able to be disciplined and focus on stuff like that.”

In her sophomore campaign, McCorkle has not seen a drop off in her play. She has finished in the top 12 in six tournaments this season including two wins at the aforementioned Pizza Hut Lady Thunderbird Invitational and the Diane Thomasen Invitational in the fall. She was also first on the roster and eighth in the conference in stroke average.

With an all-around team effort, the NDSU women’s golf team has a bright future despite not repeating as conference champs this year. The team broke a school record at the Red Rocks Invitational in late March. They set the lowest 54-hole score with 872 at that tournament. With only one senior on the roster this season, McCorkle sees a bright future as this season concludes and summer approaches.

“It’s super exciting because

we have a lot of talent and a lot of potential. We know that even when we broke those records, we still had things we could’ve done a lot better too,” she said. “We’re just focusing on that and focusing on the positives and being happy and proud and excited on the things we’re doing while still focusing on our next tournament.”

For McCorkle, it’s less about being physically ready and more about being mentally prepared for each shot, hole and round. Having a strong mental fiber is the most vital quality to have for golfers.

McCorkle feels she has found the right formula mentally.

“I just like to stay present and not think ahead or get ahead of myself. I also try not to think about what has happened in the past like the last hole or the hole before that. Especially if you’ve come off a hole where it’s not such a good score,” she said.

“Just focusing on the holes ahead and the shot ahead.

That’s been really crucial in changing my mentality and that has been helping a lot this season, especially in the spring.”

If one thing is clear, it’s that Taylor McCorkle is destined for stardom at North Dakota State. Capturing a school record set by the program’s best golfer is remarkable.

It’s even more unbelievable that McCorkle was two years younger than Amy Anderson when she shot an 18-hole school record.

Does that mean that Taylor McCorkle has the potential to surpass Anderson in other school records? Maybe. Only time will tell, but it’s hard to bet against Taylor McCorkle at this point.

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Van Holmgren has proven to be a budding star for North Dakota State men’s golf.

Hillary Ehlen 40

BISON ILLUSTRATED M A y 2 0 1 9

V

an Holmgren might be the first to tell you that he did not belong in Division I college golf.

While his prep career at Wayzata High School was extremely impressive, including an individual and team state title, he was not heavily pursued by Division I schools. Lucky for him, he had a connection in his brother Will, who was playing at North Dakota State at that time.

Holmgren decided to follow in his brother’s footsteps and attend NDSU. He also planned to walk on for Steve Kennedy and the men’s golf program. Needless to say, those decisions have turned out pretty good for Van Holmgren.

In his freshman season, Holmgren competed in all 11 of NDSU’s tournaments.

By season’s end, he was named the Summit League Newcomer of the Year and was second on the team and sixth in the conference in stroke average. He also compiled five top-10 finishes and the Bison won a Summit League Conference title.

Not bad for a walk-on, eh?

Holmgren was quick to point out that he really had nothing to lose coming into the program last season.

“Coming in as a walk-on

freshman year, I kind of had no worry about failing because I couldn’t do worse than where I was at. When you look up and see what you can do, it’s easy to complete those goals with no pressure. Trying to build off success in golf is that there is always something more that you can do,” he said. “If you shoot 70, you can shoot 69 the next time. It’s one of those deals where you monitor your highs and lows.

So when you play horribly, you don’t go breaking your club, you want to, but you don’t. You just manage how high you get and how low you get. Having that level balance makes it fairly easy to keep repeating it.”

Part of coming to NDSU had to do with his brother being here and his familiarity with the program. However, Van notes how much he has learned from his brother on the golf course. “I came in and I knew the social atmosphere I was getting myself into. That made things a lot easier because I knew it was a family, I knew most of the players already so it was easy to gel with the team,” he said. “My whole life, I’ve seen him make some mistakes and I have come into very similar scenarios and I know what he may have screwed up on, so I try to make a change and do it a little different, maybe tweak a few things. I also see all the good things he has done and I’ll repeat those. It’s nice to know the challenges that he has faced and how to deal with those.”

In just his sophomore season, Holmgren has established himself as one of the conference’s best golfers. In the spring schedule, he has been named Summit League Golfer of the Week twice. He has also only finished outside of the top-25 once this season for the Bison. This includes five top-10 finishes including a runner-up result at the Colin Montgomerie Invitational in late February.

Currently, Holmgren has the roster’s best stroke average.

His 72.4 mark is also second best in the Summit League.

With teams now chasing the Bison for conference supremacy, head coach Steve Kennedy has loaded up on young talent to keep NDSU stocked for years to come.

With only two seniors on the roster this season, Holmgren continues to be excited about where this program will go.

“Obviously, our talent is growing and our leadership that Will [Holmgren] and Dax [Wallat] have set is contagious and the team has caught on in how to build people. We want to beat each other, but when we’re competing, it’s about building each other up so we all can succeed,” he said.

“We’re ecstatic because we have the talent, but the team atmosphere is why we’re succeeding. It’s not talent, it’s the long bus rides, the traveling and we’re having fun while we do it.”

Surely there are things Holmgren needs to improve

upon in his two years left in the program. In his view, it’s about staying competitive after a long day on the course. The casual viewer or fan may not know what a collegiate golfer goes through during a 54-hole tournament. However, Holmgren gives as accurate summation as any.

“Golf is not the most physically challenging sport, but after playing the 36hole days, after playing nine hours of golf, you still have the last six holes that matter.

Having the endurance and the mental stability to compete for 10 hours in one single day is excruciating.

Those last few holes, I need to work on completing my second round,” he said.

“They give us an old turkey sandwich with like two pieces of turkey and you’re expected to compete for 10 hours and that’s very tough.

It’s not acute strength like in other sports where you have explosive plays. Mentally, you’re in a jungle for x amount of time and I need to be able to compete for 10 hours a day.”

As Van Holmgren references, he had nowhere to go but up when he decided to continue golfing in college.

For North Dakota State and their men’s golf program, they have to feel good about scoring Holmgren as a walkon. He has only improved as time has gone on and with two years left on campus, there is no reason to believe he won’t be the conference’s top golfer in the near future.

41

men's basketball

bison

summer camps are back!

Youth Camp 1 June 4th - 6th Entering Grades: K - 5th Time: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Youth Camp 2 June 24th - 26th Entering Grades: K - 5th Time: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Big Man/Guard Camp June 16th - 18th Entering Grades: 9th - 12th

Middle School/JV Camp June 18th - 20th Entering Grades: 6th - 9th

Team Camp June 20th - 21st Who: Varsity & JV Teams

Overnight Camp

football Youth Camp 1

women's basketball

June 11 - 13 Grades Fall of 2019: 1-4 Time: 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Youth Camp 1

Youth Camp 2 June 11 - 13 Grades Fall of 2019: 1 - 4 Time: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Team Camp June 14 - 16 Grades Fall of 2019: 9 - 12

Individual Camp June 21 - 23 Grades Fall of 2019: 9 - 12

June 4th - 6th Entering Grades: K - 5th Time: 1:00 - 4:00 PM

Youth Camp 1 July 16th - 18th Entering Grades: K - 5th Time: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

College Prep Camp June 9th - 11th Entering Grades: 9th - 12th

Total Package Team Camp June 11th - 13th Who: Varsity & JV Teams

Offensive Skills Camp June 13th - 15th Entering Grades: 6th - 8th 42

BISON ILLUSTRATED M a y 2 0 1 9

July 23rd - 25th Entering Grades: 7th - 12th

track & field Little Bison Track and Field Summer Camp June 17, 2019 - June 19, 2019 Entering Grades: 4 - 12, Boys and Girl2

NDSU Cross Country Camp June 25, 2019 - June 28, 2019

Hurdles Day Camp June 12, 2019

Shot Put-Discus Day Camp June 12, 2019

Sprints Day Camp June 13, 2019

Javelin Day Camp June 13, 2019

Bison Long Jump/Triple Jump Day Camp June 24, 2019

Bison High Jump Day Camp June 25, 2019

volleyball All Skills Camp June 8-10 Entering Grades: 6-12

soccer

Youth & Positional Camp I June 11-13 Entering Grades: K-7 (Youth), 6-12 (Positional)

Day Camp 1

July 8-10 Entering Grades: 9-12 and Graduated seniors

June 10th-14th Ages: 5 - 14, Boys & Girls Time: 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Team Camp

Day Camp 2

High Performance Camp

July 15th-19th Ages: 5 - 14, Boys & Girls Time: 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM

July 19-20 Entering Grades: Varsity and Junior Varsity

Youth & Positional Camp II July 22-24 Entering Grades: K-7 (Youth), 6-12 (Positional)

Elite ID Girls Camp

wrestling

July 7th-9th Entering Grades: 8th - 12th & Graduating Seniors

Bison Team Camp Dates: June 23rd - 27th Entering Grades: 7th - 12th

43

riley L DO HOW WEL OW YOU KN

johnson uld What wo y? riley sa

T

he pitching staff is always a closely-knit group on a baseball roster. Countless hours spent in the bullpen and dugout gives way to players knowing more than they should about their teammates. Given that fact, we put pitchers Parker Harm and Mitch O'Connor to the test to see if they know fellow pitcher Riley Johnson.

THE QUESTIONS

1. What is your strikeout pitch?

2. On a scale of 1-5, how good of a hitter is are you?

3. The best minor league team name is...

4. Seeds or gum?

5. What is the best flavor of Gatorade?

6. Which player did you look up to growing up?

7. MVP Baseball or MLB Slugfest?

RILEY JOHNSON My strikeout pitch would be my changeup

PARKER HARM

Changeup

Changeup

A solid 3

3

Maybe 1, thinks he’s better than he really is

The Akron RubberDucks

Durham Bulls

Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp

Seeds

Seeds

Gum

Cool Blue

Blue

Arctic blitz

Randy Johnson

Joe Mauer

Roy Halladay or Johan Santana?

MVP Baseball

MVP Baseball

Easily Slugfest

winner

loser

5

44

BISON ILLUSTRATED M a y 2 0 1 9

MITCH O’CONNOR

1

Hard Commanding the mound for Bison softball, KK Leddy, Kara O’Byrne and Paige Vargas are downing batters like clockwork.

N

orth Dakota State softball has been privileged in the Division I era. Not only has each roster had incredible hitters, who can rack up runs at-bat after at-bat, but they have also seen some stellar pitchers in that midst too. From Andi Padilla to Jacquelyn Sertic, the Bison have been stingy on the mound, to say the least.

For the most part, Darren Mueller has relied heavily on one pitcher over the course of a season. Padilla pitched a jaw-dropping 246.1 innings in her senior season.

Sertic pitched 230.1 innings last year. Both were far and away the best pitchers in the conference and are two of the best in program history.

However, this year seems different for Mueller and North Dakota State. They have their star in senior KK Leddy, but alongside her are two budding stars in the Bison rotation in sophomore 46

BISON ILLUSTRATED M a y 2 0 1 9

Kara O’Byrne and true freshman Paige Vargas.

All three have proved vital to the Bison’s success this season on the mound. In a recent 20-game win streak (second best in program history and the longest win streak in the Division I era), these three Bison slingers only surrendered 36 total runs. That’s just under two runs per game.

Rather than relying on one or two pitchers over the course of a long season, the Bison have consistently utilized three. As the Summit League Tournament draws closer, these three pitchers have paid dividends for North Dakota State.

Leading The Way This rotation starts and ends with senior KK Leddy.

The Middleburg, Florida, native pitched 114 innings in her junior season behind the aforementioned Sertic.

So far this season, Leddy has pitched 159.1 innings, a career high. While Leddy was an All-Summit League Second Team selection the

past three seasons, she has moved into the First Team discussion so far this season.

Having pitched with Sertic the past three years, Leddy learned how to approach each game. Most importantly, she diligently watched Sertic over the course of her senior season and has implemented her strategy to her senior season.

“Being with Jax for three years, I definitely saw in her senior year that she kind of just forgot about records and stats and results and she just played. She took it pitch by pitch and was always in the moment and didn’t let things get too big. That is really what I took into this season, just having fun with my teammates because I only have so many games left so I’m not going to dwell on if I lost a game,” Leddy said. “Yeah, it sucks, but it’s the next game that counts and just learning from her has definitely helped me this season in being more confident in myself and trust the process. Being here

with my team is what’s been the most fun.”

While Leddy is not paying any attention to her records or stats, North Dakota State fans and observers are. She is leading the conference in wins with 18, which is also in the top 17 in the country.

Leddy is also second in the conference ERA race and is leading the Summit League strikeout category with 152. She leads that fixture by an impressive 39 strikeouts. Perhaps the most impressive mark on Leddy’s senior résumé is the no-hitter she threw on March 14 against South Dakota State. It was Leddy’s first no-hitter of her career and it just so happened to be the first game at the newly renovated Tharaldson Park.

Leddy enjoyed it for a few minutes before the second game of their doubleheader against the Jackrabbits commenced.

“It was nice thinking about it after the game, but we had another game right after that, so it was kind of a short-lived excitement.

dball

BY Nolan P. Schmidt PHOTO BY Hillary Ehlen 47

By Monday it was done with and moving onto the next.

It was definitely cool, even before the game during the national anthem, I was kind of nervous. I looked around the stadium and realized how privileged we are to be able to play there,” she said. “I told myself and it’s a common thing I say to the team, but in the big moments, this is what you play for. Even if you’re down or the bases are loaded, that’s the thrill of softball and that’s what we play for. That’s what I told myself in that moment, but it was awesome seeing a home crowd and being on the field and seeing it fully done is awesome.”

Another thing Leddy must take into account is leading the two underclassmen in the rotation with her.

Sophomore Kara O’Byrne and freshman Paige Vargas have emerged as real threats on the mound. In her final season, Leddy is making a concerted effort to show them the way of Bison softball. However, she is quick to note that they teach her just as much.

“We’re a team inside of a team and we preach that even if you’re having a bad game, we build off each other. We all bring different things to the table, but it’s knowing that you can pitch a game and maybe you’re not doing your best, someone can come in and pick you up.

I think we work really well 48

BISON ILLUSTRATED M a y 2 0 1 9

in that way and we have a fun time off the field too,” she said. “Seeing them grow is something fun and seeing the strides that they’ve made.

I learn from them too so it’s not like they just learn from me because I learn from them. We’re just like a group of sisters kind of. It’s been nice seeing them grow up and the different things they’ve learned and seeing how they get better each and every game.”

Having three pitchers that can come in and be consistent on the mound is comforting for Leddy.

Previously being in a rotation with only two pitchers, having three this season is relieving. “It’s nice having that privilege because the last few years, it’s just been me and Jax [Sertic], so we would have to hope that one of us was on that day. Darren [Mueller] always tells us that we can’t all have a bad day.

It’s definitely nice knowing that we can all come in for each other and what we bring to the game,” she said. “Just pitching-wise, it’s different and that is what’s nice because you don’t want all three pitchers to be the same. Knowing that I have full trust in them pitching and that I have them is really comforting.”

With the Summit League Tournament approaching and North Dakota State looking to defend their title in said tournament, Leddy

knows this team needs to stay focused. A key mantra within the program is not letting the moment get too big. It is one Leddy zeroes in on as the postseason draws closer.

“From a team dynamic, I think we need to continue to not make this bigger than what it is and taking it as a game. When we’re present and attacking each pitch, that’s when we play our best,” she said. “There have been innings where you can see the hitter feed off of each other and pitching feeds off the defense and vice versa.

Just being present as a whole and just attacking each pitch because that is really all that matters too.”

With what she has done in her senior season, it will come as no surprise to see KK Leddy on the All-Summit League First Team. In fact, she is far and away the conference’s best pitcher and should be rewarded as such as the season winds down.

An Immediate Impact Paige Vargas was not anticipating to pitch much in her freshman season. The Mission Viejo, California,

product was thrown into the fire in the team’s first series in Texas. From then on, she has been shouldering much of the pitching load outside of Leddy. However, for how fast she was thrust into action at North Dakota State, she has thrived.

“I came in not really expecting anything, I didn’t know if I would pitch a lot, just because I knew how good Jax [Sertic] was last year and I knew KK was going to have to step up as a senior, which she has, she has been doing great. I didn’t really know what to expect, but ever since our first weekend at Texas State, I was kind of thrown into the fire a little bit, but I didn’t really put too much pressure on myself knowing that I am a freshman,” Vargas said. “Just learning how the ropes of college softball are too. I feel like I’ve definitely grown a lot this year, but I just take it one game at a time, one pitch at a time, learning from what I’ve done wrong, learning from what I’ve done right.

With the support of my teammates, it’s really helped me so far this year.”

Vargas has pitched 108 innings so far this season

and has accumulated 12 victories. That is third best in the Summit League. She is also third in the conference in strikeouts with 83. For Vargas, getting into her comfort zone early has been a key to her success during her freshman year. “My first few games I pitched, I felt like I was still in travel ball. It kind of feels the same because, in travel ball, everyone is bigger, stronger and faster which college softball is too. I don’t think I was really pitching like myself until the Auburn weekend,” she said. “Then again, I try not to get too comfortable because I know that even if you let up a little bit, no matter the team you’re playing, they’ll get on you. I’m not comfortable, but I’m always trying to challenge myself and I know with tougher teams they are challenging me. I think that is what has gotten me to bump up my level this year.”

Much of this success is thanks to the lone senior in the rotation in Leddy.

Vargas has relied heavily on Leddy in her true freshman season and says they have developed a great relationship with one another.

“She has had a huge influence on me. We got along right off the bat, our relationship is kind of like a love/hate relationship because we’ll say things to each other, but it’s solely out of love. She has really pushed through this year and I’ve never really seen her show anything,” Vargas said of Leddy. “Whether she is doing her best or not her greatest, she is always pushing and being positive. I’m really proud of her because I don’t know what she has done the last three years here, but she has really done a great job and I’ve taken some things from her that I can use the

rest of this year and my next three years. I love having her as my senior and even our whole senior class is just amazing, I couldn’t have asked for a better class.”

Vargas, who will be pitching in her first Summit League Tournament in early May thinks that staying loose is a key to postseason success.

With their 20-game win streak behind them, Vargas believes this team is looser than they ever have been.

“I really think the secret to our success is just being loose and having fun. Even when we were on that winning streak, we didn’t really think about it, we just went one game at a time, one pitch at a time. We just enjoyed it, we never pressured ourselves to keep it and in a way, I think we’re kind of relieved now. Obviously, we’re upset that the streak is gone, but now we can start new and we can learn from what we did right, what we did wrong, especially in that last game,” she said. “The key is just to have fun and we all believe in each other, we all trust each other, support each other. I think as long as we are all pressured to think about the results or performances and just have fun and stay in our groove, I think that is what is best for us.”

It’s clear given her instant success at North Dakota State that Paige Vargas is destined for a successful career in Fargo. She will no doubt be at the forefront of the Bison rotation for years to come.

Slamming The Door Sophomore Kara O’Byrne is a key asset to Darren Mueller on the mound. While she has only pitched 34.1 innings so far this season, she has been stingy in a relief and spot

starter role for the team. So much so, that she was named the Summit League Pitcher of the Week in mid-March.

O’Byrne went 2-0 in starts that week and threw one complete game. She also struck out six and had a very impressive 0.53 ERA in those two starts. In all, she has three victories to only one loss this season. In her role, O’Byrne sees the importance of having one another’s backs each game.

“It’s extremely important as a pitching staff and it really helps to know that we have each other’s backs. We love each other, we guide each other and we’re always there for each other and we know we can get the job done,” O’Byrne said. “That’s what we work for in practice just to be there for each other.

That is a part of being a pitcher, it’s a staff, not you, it’s a staff, all of us together, working together on the mound.”

Like Vargas, O’Byrne has learned a great deal from senior KK Leddy this season. Most notably, Leddy has taught the two underclassmen the tradition of Bison softball. “KK has done a great job of passing down the tradition of Bison softball and the culture and mentality we have,” she said.

“The leadership that she brings and energy to practice and games, we’ll definitely take that into next year. She brings a lot to the pitching staff and we’ve learned a lot from her.”

Success breeds success at North Dakota State. The softball program is no different in that respect.

However, what is most impressive about Darren Mueller’s bunch is their chemistry on and off the field. That cohesiveness breeds success on the field

for the Bison. Hence, why the team is at the top of the conference standings this season. O’Byrne knows that is what has brought them success this season.

“As the year starts and we’re around each other more and more we just start to develop our little things together. It can start with just a handshake or asking each other how we’re doing,” she said. “We genuinely care about each other and want to learn and be close with one another. As we develop those relationships, we make stronger bonds and it translates onto the field.”

With a tough nonconference schedule each season, it prepares NDSU for the Summit League season.

O’Byrne and the Bison pitchers welcome those challenges but also do not view those games as more important than a conference game. It’s the same process for each game.

“Going in and playing big teams is just a fun experience. It’s fun going in and having the underdog mentality and stuff, but obviously tougher competition helps you get ready too,” she said. “It’s the same game no matter who you’re playing, you just have to remember that. You attack it with the same process.”

While Kara O’Byrne has not seen as much action as both Leddy and Vargas, she has been wildly effective in her time on the mound. Her ability to come in and slam the door on opponents has given the Bison an asset they have not had in past seasons.

Now, she will continue to ascend the ranks as her career moves along.

49

may & june

athletics calendar MAY

5/3 Men’s And Women’s Track & Field Howard Wood Dakota Relays Sioux Falls, S.D.

5/3 Baseball vs Omaha Fargo, N.D. 6:30 p.m.

5/4 Men’s And Women’s Track & Field

5/5

5/9

5/9

Softball

Men’s And Women’s Track & Field

Softball

North Dakota Fargo, N.D. 11 a.m.

5/5 Baseball vs Omaha Fargo, N.D. 1 p.m.

5/6 Baseball Concordia Moorhead Fargo, N.D. 6:30 p.m.

Howard Wood Dakota Relays Sioux Falls, S.D.

5/6

5/4

NCAA Regional

Softball North Dakota Fargo, N.D. 12 p.m.

Women’s Golf

5/7 Women’s Golf NCAA Regional

5/8

5/4 Baseball

Softball

vs Omaha Fargo, N.D. 1 p.m.

Summit League Tournament Fargo, N.D.

5/4 Softball

Men’s And Women’s Track & Field

North Dakota Fargo, N.D. 2:15 p.m.

Summit League Outdoor Championships Macomb, Ill.

5/8

5/8 Women’s Golf NCAA Regional

50

BISON ILLUSTRATED M a y 2 0 1 9

Summit League Outdoor Championships Macomb, Ill.

Summit League Tournament Fargo, N.D.

5/10 Baseball Purdue Fort Wayne Fargo, N.D. 6:30 p.m.

5/14

5/22

5/27

Men’s Golf

Women’s Golf

Men’s Golf

NCAA Regional

NCAA Championships

NCAA Championships

5/15

5/23

5/28

Men’s Golf

Men’s And Women’s Track & Field

Men’s Golf

NCAA Regional

5/16 Baseball South Dakota State Fargo, N.D. 6:30 p.m.

5/10 Men’s And Women’s Track & Field

5/17 Women’s Golf NCAA Championships

Summit League Outdoor Championships Macomb, Ill.

5/17

5/10

South Dakota State Fargo, N.D. 6:30 p.m.

Softball Summit League Tournament Fargo, N.D.

5/11 Baseball Purdue Fort Wayne Fargo, N.D. 1 p.m.

5/11 Softball Summit League Tournament Fargo, N.D.

5/12 Men’s Golf NCAA Regional

5/12 Baseball Purdue Fort Wayne Fargo, N.D. 1 p.m.

5/13 Men’s Golf NCAA Regional

Baseball

5/18 Women’s Golf

NCAA West Preliminary Rounds Sacramento, Calif.

5/23

Baseball South Dakota State Fargo, N.D. 1 p.m.

5/19

6/5

5/24 Men’s Golf NCAA Championships

5/24 Men’s And Women’s Track & Field NCAA West Preliminary Rounds Sacramento, Calif.

5/24

Men’s And Women’s Track & Field NCAA Outdoor Championships Austin, Texas

Men’s And Women’s Track & Field

5/25

NCAA Outdoor Championships Austin, Texas

Men’s Golf NCAA Championships

NCAA West Preliminary Rounds Sacramento, Calif.

6/8 Men’s And Women’s Track & Field NCAA Outdoor Championships Austin, Texas

5/25

NCAA Championships

Baseball

5/22

Summit League Tournament Tulsa, Okla.

Summit League Tournament Tulsa, Okla.

6/6

6/7

5/20

Baseball

NCAA Outdoor Championships Austin, Texas

Summit League Tournament Tulsa, Okla.

Men’s And Women’s Track & Field

Women’s Golf

Men’s And Women’s Track & Field

Baseball

5/25

5/21

NCAA Championships

JUNE

NCAA Championships

NCAA Championships

Men’s Golf

Summit League Tournament Tulsa, Okla.

Women’s Golf

Women’s Golf

5/29

Baseball

NCAA Championships

5/18

NCAA Championships

5/26 Men’s Golf NCAA Championships

51

TEAM MAKERS

I

BY Joshua A. Swanson

a bison’s bison

Simmers leaves legacy at North Dakota State 52

BISON ILLUSTRATED M A y 2 0 1 9

t was a Thursday in early April, an informal gathering at Herd & Horns across the street from North Dakota State’s still snowy campus. It was the first of many salutes, formal and informal alike, to one of the best that’s ever done it at NDSU, Pat Simmers. Since 1998, “Simms” has been the executive director of NDSU’s Team Makers Club, and a larger than life figure doing most of his work behind the scenes for Bison athletics. To sit and listen to his stories is to receive a firsthand education about the last 40 years of NDSU, tempered with a certain amount of wisdom that’s familiar to those who have been privileged to listen – myself included.

How many people, today, devote the better part of an entire career building something, working for a purpose of something bigger than themselves.

That’s what Simmers has done at NDSU, whether he’s conscious of it or not.

He’s a builder. Steadily, day-after-day, year-after-year, he’s built relationships and developed friendships that have strengthened the athletic department, and in so doing, strengthened the university. What makes Simmers unique and so well-suited for this task – raising

money for Bison athletics – wasn’t an ability to work long hours and put others at ease on a golf course, or around a happy-hour table. Although it probably helped, lots of us work long hours and can tell tales for hours on end.

It was, and is his Bison Pride. I’ve met a lot of Bison. Nobody and I mean nobody, understands what Bison Pride is, and what it means, better than Simms. From his days as a student-athlete, to, along with his better-half, his wife Susie, raising three boys, Chris, Chad and Ryan, who all played football for the Bison, Simmers knows firsthand that it can be a struggle. I think that’s what I appreciate most about him. It hasn’t been easy. Life isn’t all about winning conference or national championships.

For guys like Simmers that have devoted a lifetime to NDSU, some days are a grind. It’s about life on the road, about hearing “no” more times than “yes, I’ll write that check.” There’s sacrifice, there are hardships, time spent away from family, injuries and overcoming defeat, and waking up the next day to do it all again.

We see and experience pinnacle moments like the championships in Frisco, NCAA Tournament runs, and visits from ESPN. The sweat equity, though, that went into growing NDSU to a point that it could make this seemingly impossible moon shot was only possible because of people like Simmers. As that old adage goes, money doesn’t grow on trees, especially the $6.75 million that Team Makers raised in 2018. To put that in perspective, in its history, Team Makers hit the $1 million mark for the first time in 2004. That is the Strength of the Herd, and Simmers, despite any titles, acclaim or hierarchy, has been at the forefront helping to lead the Herd for decades.

Few have served with his dedication.

In the proud history of NDSU athletics, Simmers stands out, he’s a Bison’s Bison.

I think that’s the ultimate compliment you can give someone in the Bison Family, and it’s something not to be tossed around lightly. Few understand and appreciate, and I mean truly appreciate, where NDSU has come from,

and the mountains it has climbed, like Simms. From the then-daunting task of exponentially increasing the fundraising prowess of Team Makers virtually overnight when NDSU transitioned to Division I athletics, to the continued pressures to raise more money to fund everything from scholarships to practice facilities, Simmers showed up and delivered.

We give credit, or at least should, to the trifecta of Joe Chapman, Gene Taylor and Craig Bohl for their grand visions and leadership of what NDSU could be.

We give credit, and rightfully so, to the “Big Three’s” successors, Dean Bresciani, Matt Larsen and Chris Klieman, for continuing the legacy. These visions and their recent iterations would have remained just that, visions, but for the unseen and unheralded legwork of Bison like Simmers. Those visions took money, and lots of it, to become a reality.

Simms was among those charged with finding it. And find it he did.

The list of key players, pioneers there at the beginning, at the genesis of the university-defining the decision to move to Division I, is shrinking as the years advance. It is important we pause to reflect on their contributions. Hall of Famers should be for the living, not the dusty archives. We cannot forget the work of these pioneers. After all, isn’t that what NDSU is – a living and breathing institution of pioneers that continue pushing the threshold, reaching for greater heights and doing what others say is impossible.

Simmers reach, while not as publicized as that of a starting quarterback, makes what the legendary quarterback does possible. His name might not grace the entryway of any buildings, but his work has built the intangible, the relationships that help make those new buildings possible. From the dim, VHS-lit corridors of the Bison Sports Arena, to the frosty belly of Dacotah Field, Simmers was there.

Pat Simmers may be “retiring” as executive director of Team Makers this May, but he’ll always be a Bison’s Bison.

Job well done, Simms, job well done.

Team Makers Golf Outings Are Back!

With the weather warming, that can only mean one thing: it’s golf season! Per usual, NDSU Team Makers will be hosting a bevy of golf outings this summer. Take advantage of these outings when Team Makers comes to your home course.

Detroit Lakes Bison Golf Open June 13 Detroit Country Club 24591 Co Highway 22, Detroit Lakes, MN

Hawley Bison Golf Open June 17 Hawley Golf & Country Club 301 Highway 10, Hawley, MN

Devils Lake Bison Golf Open June 27 Creel Bay Golf Course 515 Country Club Road, Devils Lake, ND

Wahpeton Bison Golf Open July 25 Bois de Sioux Golf Course 1305 R J Hughes Drive, Wahpeton, ND

Lynn Dorn Women’s Golf Classic August 7 Edgewood Golf Course 19 Golf Course Road, Fargo

Edgewood Bison Golf Open August 14 Edgewood Golf Course 19 Golf Course Road, Fargo

Fargo Bison Golf Open September 9 Fargo Country Club 509 26th Ave South, Fargo

To register for any and all of these summer golf outings, visit ndsuathleticfund.com/events

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herd

trivia

The school year is almost over!

Take this year-end final to test your Bison athletics knowledge.

question1 Quarterback Easton Stick led the Bison in rushing touchdowns, how many did he have in 2018?

A. 15 B. 16 C. 17 D. 18

question2 Junior Parker Harm has cemented himself as a strikeout pitcher for the Bison. In just three and a third innings against Western Illinois on March 22, Harm struck out how many Leathernecks?

A. 6 B. 9 C. 7 D. 5

question3 Vinnie Shahid led the men's hoops team in points per game, how many did he average per game?

A. 12 B. 13 C. 14 D. 11

question4 Sophomore golfer Taylor McCorkle set a school record on March 15 for the lowest 18-hole round. What did she shoot on that day?

A. 66 B. 68 C. 64 D. 65

A. 41%

B. 40%

C. 39%

D. 43%

question7

Emily Halverson was the top blocker on the volleyball team this season.

How many blocks did she have by year's end?

A. 105 B. 106

C. 97 D. 101

true or false Mariah Haberle netted a team-high seven goals this season for the soccer team.

answers

A. Shot Put B. Weight Throw C. Decathlon D. Both A And B

Michelle Gaislerova made 75 three-pointers this past season. What was her three-point shooting percentage this season?

5. D 6. B 7. True 8. B

Senior Payton Otterdahl became the first track & field National Champion in school history during the Division I era. What event did he win?

question8

question6

1. C 2. A 3. B 4. D

question5

POpQUIZ WITH NDSU ATHLETES

What are you most looking forward to about the summer?

What is the best genre of music for warm weather?

Marcus Walton

MEN'S TRACK & FIELD

Walton has become a force in the high jump during his sophomore season in Fargo. He took the crown in the event in the first two indoor meets of the season. He was also the conference's runner-up at the Summit League Indoor Championships in late February. The Springfield, Missouri, native has carried that success into the outdoor season too, winning the high jump at the IMG Academy Invitational in March.

I’m looking forward to having time to rest after two long seasons and semesters

90’s rap/r&b is the best genre of music for any type of weather

Larkin Walter Walter has proven valuable in the hurdles for NDSU track & field. During this indoor season, she competed in all but one meet.

Of the meets she competed in, she finished in the top ten twice for the 60m hurdles.

Also running on the team's 4x400m relay team, Walter and the Bison finished fourth in that event at the Bison Team Cup on January 19.

Being out on the lake with my friends, and of course my teammate Dakota Wood’s wedding

Country music always hits better when it’s nice out, but you can’t go wrong with any music when it gets over 70

Spending time with family and friends

Country

Playing in golf tournaments

Country

This summer I am most looking forward to warm weather, time with friends and getting to play baseball every day on my summer team

The best genre of music for warm weather is definitely country music

WOMEN'S TRACK & FIELD

Morgan Olson The redshirt sophomore has seen limited time in her 2019 campaign but has pitched in just over three innings, pitching in a win against Abilene Christian on February 10. Olson was a 2018 NFCA Scholar Athlete for the Bison and was also on the Summit League's Academic Honor Roll and Commissioner's List last year.

SOFTBALL

Nate Deziel The true freshman from East Grand Forks, Minnesota, seems to be a budding star for Steve Kennedy and Bison golf. Deziel shot a career-low 72 at the Grand Canyon Invitational on March 16. That round included him netting four birdies and helping the Bison to a tie for seventh place as a team.

MEN'S GOLF

Jack Simonsen Used in a utility role for Tod Brown and the Bison, Simonsen plays catcher, first base and in the outfield. Only a sophomore, the Sioux Falls, South Dakota, product was an all-conference selection in high school. Simonsen has also proven effective at the plate for NDSU, hitting for a .299 average and driving in 23 runs in 97 at-bats.

BASEBALL

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BISON ILLUSTRATED M A y 2 0 1 9

Best way to pass the time during the summer is...

Are you more likely to get a tan or get a sunburn?

Which would you prefer: lake day or backyard barbecue?

Hangout with friends or play video games

Definitely tan

Backyard cookout for sure

Taking advantage of the weather and doing anything outdoors

Tan and freckle

Can’t beat a day on the lake tanning, wakeboarding and tubing

Relaxing at the lake

Sunburn

Lake day

Grinding on the golf course

Soaking up the rays and gettin' a tan

Lake day all day long

I am definitely more likely to get a sunburn than a tan

I'd prefer a lake day over a backyard barbecue.

Fishing, boating, tubing, swimming and hanging out with friends on the lake

The best way to pass the time during the summer is just doing things outside, taking advantage of the warm weather

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the ross

BY ross uglem

Uglem is a native of Northwood, North Dakota, and covers NDSU basketball and football for Bison Report, a division of 247 Sports.

bison baseball fm’s best kept secret

W

hen I got married last August, I was fortunate enough to also receive an instant family. I went from a bachelor who was correctly given almost no responsibilities by anyone to someone who is occasionally charged with keeping four young humans alive.

Aside from the obvious adjustment in lifestyle, one of the things you find out quickly about children is that they are expensive.

More specifically, they make everything you used to do more expensive. The movies might have been a $20 adventure before. That life is no longer a reality. Neither is a Bison football game, the grocery store, going out to eat (especially if there's an arcade) or really any kind of travel.

If you are of my vintage, (turned 31 at the end of April), you may have kids and you may appreciate this: for less than two $20 bills I was able to bring four children to the game, buy two hot dogs, two orders of nachos, M&Ms, a Coke and a bottled water. We sat in the first row right behind the

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BISON ILLUSTRATED M a y 2 0 1 9

PHOTO BY Nolan P. Schmidt

Report

dugout in a beautiful minor league ballpark.

As I watched Fargo's own Carter Thompson hit one out to left in the second inning, I thought to myself: "Why aren't there more people here?"

It was partly cloudy, but it was 66 degrees and one of the first truly nice spring evenings. Granted, it was weeknight and the opponent (Dakota State) didn't exactly light up the marquee, but it was an awesome night to be at the park.

From what I saw, the Bison play an entertaining brand of baseball. They were aggressive on the basepaths, the pitchers pounded the strike zone (no walks in 8 innings) and the hitters played good defense and were unafraid to swing for the fences. If you ever get a chance to meet and interact with Head Coach Tod Brown, a Fargo family man, he's quite entertaining as well.

Bison baseball might not be currently enjoying the level of success of football, or even it's softball counterpart, on the diamond this season.

However, they have reached the pinnacle of mid-major baseball under Brown before.

The 2014 Bison won the Summit League and were part of the playoffs for the

College World Series. The CWS, played in withindriving-distance in Omaha, Nebraska, is perhaps the only event the NCAA has that rivals March Madness in terms of raw excitement.

Part of what brings that excitement is the "anything can happen on any given night" aspect of college baseball. Since 2011, the Bison have defeated Arizona, Minnesota, Navy and Kansas. That includes a 2016 victory over the Gophers at Newman Outdoor Field when the Maroon and Gold were nationally ranked inside the top 20.

There's also a decided local flavor in Bison baseball. 26 of the 33 student-athletes on the roster either hail from North Dakota, South Dakota or Minnesota. Coach Brown also added two North Dakotans to the roster on signing day this spring.

So head to the park. Grab your kids, grab a date, grab your buddies. You're going to love the concession prices, especially if you've been to a major league park. No, there's no beer, but there is high-quality baseball, a beautiful venue and a sense of community.

Take you out to the ballgame.

slaubaugh's

scoop

BY DAN SLAUBAUGH Slaubaugh is a Bismarck, N.D., native and is currently a senior at North Dakota State University. Slaubaugh has spent time as an intern for NDSU athletics.

F Loven Every Minute Of It

reshman pitcher Max Loven didn’t know what his role would entail on the North Dakota State baseball team when he arrived on campus in the fall of 2018.

While he was confident in his pitching ability, he was simply hoping to carve out a role of any nature for the upcoming baseball season.

Head Coach Tod Brown had different plans, and it would prove to be a wise decision for the winningest active head coach in The Summit League.

Loven has taken the mound in nearly a third of the Bison’s games. As of putting this to pen, the left-hander has posted a 2.86 ERA and .261 opponents batting average in 56.2 innings

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BISON ILLUSTRATED M a y 2 0 1 9

Photo By Christian Campbell

True freshman pitcher Max Loven has become an immediate difference maker for Bison baseball this season.

“Coming in as a freshman, I knew I didn’t throw that hard and there were a lot of guys that threw hard. So it was just a little intimidating at first,” Loven said. “My expectations were to be a reliable bullpen pitcher coming in maybe once a weekend and throw an inning or two. That’s what I was hoping for.”

pitched while preventing free passes like nobody’s business (1.30 BB/9). The young southpaw has struck out 53 en route to an uberimpressive 8.42 strikeout-towalk ratio, spearheading a team-leading seven quality starts.

The Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, native has shown the talent to place his pitches anywhere he wants within the strike zone; he is able to throw not just strikes, but good strikes, which he says has always been a strength of his.

“Growing up, I’ve never been the hardest thrower. I threw hard enough, but never too overpowering or anything,” said Loven. “I developed strong control at an early age growing up and now I really take pride in being able to throw where I want to throw and getting strikes.”

Fastball, curveball and changeup -- these are the tools of Loven’s trade. The weapons he takes with him to battle opposing hitters.

At 6-foot-1, 205 pounds, Loven doesn’t necessarily overpower hitters with speed. Instead, his bread and butter are predicated on hitting spots and keeping hitters off balance with a balanced pitch usage.

“He’s left-handed and throws strikes,” Tod Brown told KVRR’s Keith Albertson last month. “He’s got an excellent fastball 85-88 miles per hour, a great curveball and a developing changeup.

He’s one of the best control pitchers that I’ve had here in my 12 years. Throwing strikes with three pitches

and being left-handed, that’s a recipe for success right away.”

Loven ranks 29th in the nation in walks allowed per nine innings at 1.3, while also ranking 29th in strikeoutto-walk ratio at 6.0. Loven says it’s a little surreal seeing his name listed among the nation’s leaders.

“Growing up, you’re watching college baseball and professional sports in general; you never expect to be on a leaderboard like that.

Like a national…anything.”

Loven has certainly made his mark on the baseball team in year one of his collegiate career. However, he’ll never take full credit himself. Talk to him for five minutes, and you’ll be quick to notice the genuine, hard-working and humble kid whose love for baseball drives his success.

Growing up, that love inspired a goal to play at the

collegiate level.

“For me, I’ve always liked baseball. I’ve been around baseball forever. My dad played town team baseball so when I was a kid I went to his games. It’s always been something I wanted to do. I didn’t think much about it until schools started contacting me and realized it was a possibility.”

Remarkably, Loven’s only Division I offer was North Dakota State. Two months into the season, it’s fair to suggest many head coaches across the country are kicking themselves for failing to notice Loven as a Division I caliber pitcher.

With Omaha unpredictably leaps and bounds ahead of everyone else in the Summit standings and Oral Roberts looking vulnerable for the first time in decades, it’s been an unpredictable year in the Summit. For Loven, as long

as the Bison keep focus, he likes their chances of making some noise in the conference tournament.

“We just need to keep on working hard and don’t get complacent. We have to keep on pushing and do our best to stay focused and keep giving it our all.”

While the Bison, a team stacked with underclassmen, aren’t favored to win, they have Max Loven.

And as the old baseball cliché goes, “pitching wins championships.” With Loven, the epitome of consistency, the Bison know they will be given a chance to compete when it’s his turn at the hill.

I’m Dan Slaubaugh and this is your Slaubaugh Scoop.

Thanks for reading. Have a wonderful May. Go Bison. *All statistics are accurate as of April 25, 2019

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SWANY SAYS

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

FOLLOW @swany8

I

t’s a question often asked of North Dakota State and its historic success.

What’s the secret to this dynasty.

How do you win seven national

championships in eight years? With new coaches, players graduating, injuries and a plethora of high-caliber teams gunning for you each season, how in the name of 62

BISON ILLUSTRATED M a y 2 0 1 9

This question fascinates me. Harvard Business Review needs to do a case study and feature it in one of their quarterly issues. No other organization – sports or business – has been as successful as the NDSU football program this decade. Chris Klieman quipped last fall that if he knew the answer to this question, he’d bottle it up and sell it for millions of dollars. In fact, that’s sort of what he did in taking the Kansas State job. Gene Taylor and the rest of the Kansas State fan base is banking on Klieman applying the same formula to win championships in the Big 12.

There are underlying factors that have contributed to this championship run, a cornerstone that anchors the foundation. “Individual commitment to a group effort – that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.” Those words aren’t from a grand statesman. They’re from Vince Lombardi, one of the greatest coaches that ever lived. Lombardi was a leader, philosopher and thinker. When it came to understanding what made people tick, what motivated them and how to lead them to a shared goal, Lombardi was a genius. The legendary Green Bay Packers coach often preached about commitment from the individual for the team’s success. “People who work together will win, whether it be against complex football defenses or the problems of modern society.”

Individual commitment to a group effort.

There’s a good starting point. No, it’s the

PHOTO BY Hillary Ehlen

tHE DECISIVE FACTOR

hard red spring wheat do the Bison keep winning titles like John Wooden’s great UCLA basketball teams of the 1960s and mid-1970s, or Casey Stengel’s midcentury New York Yankees.

panacea for our analysis. How do you get a group of individuals as diverse in their backgrounds and life experiences as a college football team, or, really, any organization, to buy into a repeated individual commitment for the team’s success? I mean really, really, buy in. Not just the clichéd “culture” speak we hear about at work retreats, in Jon Gordon books or at press conferences. You can’t teach that in a day, a week or at any conference. There’s a video floating around YouTube with dozens of coaches emphasizing culture. If it were really that easy, fewer coaches would be fired.

Many say it, fewer understand it and even fewer can teach it.

That individual commitment to the team has a much-less appealing name.

Sacrifice. Much can be learned from Lombardi beyond his throwback, “Winning is not a sometime thing, it is an all the time thing.” That quote is almost always taken out of context. The second sentence of this Lombardi-psalm is often ignored. It shouldn’t be. “You don’t do things right once in a while… you do them right all the time.” That was Lombardi’s foundation for his great teams. Today, we call this “the process.”

Modern-day hype men didn’t invent “the process,” they’ve just invented an entrepreneurial-way to make a boatload of cash talking about it. What they’re saying isn’t new. It’s been around for centuries. You can even download it for free on your iPad. Search the Stoics.

There’s a reason Nick Saban, one of the greatest coaches that ever lived, talks about Ryan Holiday’s book, “The Obstacles Is The Way.” The roots of NDSU’s success, going back to the 1960s and the lessons imparted by guys like Denis “Izzy” Isrow, harkens to the ancients like Marcus Aurelius and Seneca. “Every habit and capability is confirmed and grows in its corresponding actions, walking by walking, and running by running… therefore if you want to do something make a habit of it,” said the Greek Stoic philosopher Epictetus in his Discourses.

You’ve heard this described in much simpler terms as “Attack The Process.”

That is why good coaches truly value and have heartburn over bad practices.

Like wins, losses don’t just happen on Saturdays, they happen at practice.

They happen in the little things, the seemingly insignificant minutiae details such as perfecting fundamental techniques, i.e., wrapping up and exploding with the hips when tackling, properly securing the football, or keeping a proper stance when blocking.

Saban takes heat, and undeservedly so, for saying things like this: “I know I get criticized for that. Everybody says, ‘He just won 31-3. What’s he complaining about?’ But it goes back to the inner scoreboard versus the outer scoreboard.

Which one is more important? If you’re trying to accomplish your goals, it’s

always the inner scoreboard.” If you’ve read the Stoics, you know why this was so critical for Lombardi and is gospel to Saban. Saban’s Alabama teams, like Lombardi’s Packers, win because they focus on doing things right, repeatedly, and not getting caught up in the “outer scoreboard,” or other’s perceptions of success. If Saban sees bad footwork from his defensive backs, it doesn’t matter what the score is, because that bad footwork could become a habit and cost his team down the road.

That’s the tougher part and challenge of the buy-in, convincing a group of individuals to be so laser-focused and committed to the “inner scoreboard,” of doing things right every practice, day after day, and not taking shortcuts, not going through the motions because, hey, we’re NDSU or Alabama. The Bison have mastered that. It’s ingrained into the very being of who, and what, NDSU is. During his introductory press conference in January, Bison head coach Matt Entz said, “I believe in who we are. The things that made our football program special will not change.”

To borrow from Lombardi, “The spirit, the will to win and the will to excel – these are the things that will endure and these are the qualities that are so much more important than any of the events themselves.” That is the decisive factor, and we can all learn something important from that.

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