Winona State won its second NCAA DII Men’s Basketball National Championship (2005-06 & 2007-08) in the past three years while Concordia-St. Paul won the NSIC’s first National Championship in Women’s Volleyball in 2007.

Concordia-St. Paul Defeats SMSU 2-1 in NSIC Baseball Tournament

May 8, 2008 | Box Score | Tournament Bracket tag

Wayne, Neb. - Junior Brenden Furrow's (Johnston, Iowa) steal of home plate scored the game winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning for Concordia University (25-14), who defeated Southwest Minnesota State (24-19) 2-1 on Thursday afternoon in the first round of the NSIC Tournament held in Wayne, Neb.

Junior Jake Schmidt (Oakdale, Minn.) improved to 7-0, pitching a complete game with nine strikeouts, scattering eight hits and two walks despite 134 pitches (94) strikes. Schmidt now has 87 strikeouts and is in sole possession of hte single season school strikeout record. His ERA improved to 2.77 in 65.0 innings on the season. (Read More)

SMSU Wins In First Round of NCAA Regional Tournament

May 8, 2008 | Box Score || Regional Site | Bracket tag

PhotoEmporia, Kan. - The No. 12 Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs earned a 3-2 eight inning victory over Northwest Missouri State in the first round of the NCAA Regional Tournament held in Emporia, Kan.

Amanda Burkhart hit the game winning single down the left field line to in the bottom of the eighth to score Erin Dickhausen who reached base earlier in the inning on a walk.

The Mustangs scored their first run in the fifth inning off an RBI single to center field from Erin Dickhausen.  NW Missouri State however went up 2-1 in the sixth after scoring the first run on a double to left field and second on a throwing error by the SMSU catcher.

SMSU’s Kiley Petersen (pictured left) tied it up in the bottom of the sixth with a solo home run over the center field fence.

The Mustangs then prevailed in the bottom of the eighth as Burkhart hit the game winning single down the left field line to advance SMSU to the second round pf the tournament and improve their record to 39-10.

Amanda Johnson earned the win on the mound pitching all eight innings with seven strikeouts.  Kristin Braden led the offense as she was 2-for-3 in the game.

Southwest will face Winona State tomorrow at 12:30 p.m.

Winona State Wins 2-1 in NCAA Softball Regional

May 8, 2008 | Box Score | Regional Site | Bracket tag

PhotoEmporia, Kan. - Mollie Bjelland drove in Amnada Wilhelm with a triple and then scored on an error to give Winona State a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning on the way to a 2-1 win over Central Missouri in the first game of the NCAA Division II North Central Regional Softball Tournament in Emporia, Kan.

The Jennies pulled within a run on Kherri-Dean Hummer's home run in the sixth.

Central Missouri will play at 8 p.m. Thursday against the loser of the Southwest Minnesota State vs. Northwest Missouri State game. Winona State will play at 12:30 p.m. on Friday against the winner of the SMSU vs. NWMSU contest.

Wayne State Defeats Winona State 6-3 in NSIC Baseball Tournament

May 8, 2008 | Box Score tag

File Photo
Marc Manganaro was 3 for 4 with a two-run homer, two runs scored and two RBI's in
Thursday's 6-3 win over Winona State in the first round of the NSIC Baseball Tournament.

Tournament Bracket
Wayne, Neb. - The #15 Wayne State College baseball team opened the 2008 Northern Sun Conference Baseball Tournament Thursday afternoon with a 6-3 win over Winona State in a game played at the Pete Chapman Baseball Complex in Wayne.  The Wildcats move to 39-10 on the season with the win while dropping the defending NSIC Tournament champion Warriors to 21-20 overall.

Winona State opened the scoring in the top of the first inning when Mike Wendland doubled and scored on a sacrifice fly by John Magee, giving the Warriors a 1-0 advantage.  The Wildcats took the lead for good in the bottom of the third inning when Justin Hemauer was hit by the pitch and scored on Marc Manganaro’s two-run homer to left field, his 10th home run of the season to put WSC in front 2-1. 

The Wildcats then struck for four runs in the fifth inning to grab a 6-1 lead.  Sean Soderberg’s bases-loaded double was the big hit in the inning, scoring three runs, while Nick Bidroski chipped in with an RBI single to score Soderberg with the final Wildcat run. (Read More)

Bemidji State Defeats Upper Iowa 5-2 in NSIC Baseball Tournament

May 8, 2008 | Box Score tag

File Photo

Tournament Bracket
Wayne, Neb. - Bemidji State used a strong pitching performance from Casey Allar (Jr., Sartell, Minn.) to upset the No. 2 seed Upper Iowa Peacocks, 5-2, in the first round of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) tournament today in Wayne, Neb.  The win for the Beavers is just the third win in the NSIC tournament all-time and the first in tournament play since the 1997 season. (Read More)


WSU Falls 5-0 to NWMS in NCAA W-Tennis Regionals

May 8, 2008 | Box Score | Tournament Bracket

PhotoMARYVILLE, MO -- Winona State University dropped the opening match to the NCAA Division II North Central Region Tournament by a 5-0 count to No. 31-nationally ranked Northwest Missouri State University.

The Warriors (8-15) came into the region match as the No. 4 Seed, while the Bearcats (22-4) were the No. 1 Seed.

WSU lost all three of the doubles matches, with the No. 1 pair of Heather Pierce and Mary Hesterman coming the closest to a win when they lost 8-6. The other doubles matches were lost by an 8-0 and 8-1 count.

Pierce and Amanda Asche then went on to play singles matches with Pierce losing at No. 1 6-0, 6-1 and Asche dropping sets by 6-2, 6-0 counts at No. 3.

Two other matches were in progress, with WSU trailing in each, but in tournament play, the team to secure five points first is declared the winner.

Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-Region Team

May 7, 2008 | Regional Site tag

Starkville, Miss. - The 2008 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division II All-Region Teams were announced today. The NSIC had four players named to the North Central Region Team including three on the first team. Southwest Minnesota State boasts two first teamers in pitcher Amanda Johnson and catcher Erin Dickhausen. Johnson is the three time reigning NSIC Pitcher of the Year while Dickhausen has been named NSIC Player of the Year the last two seasons. For Dickhausen, it is the third time in her career that she has earned NFCA first team all-region honors, while Johnson was named to the second team in each of her first two seasons. Abby Brundidge of Concordia-St. Paul was named first team at the Utility/Non-Pitcher slot. Winona State's Chelsea Rosenow was named second team outfielder.

PhotoDickhausen, a senior catcher from Watertown, Minn., is second for the Mustangs with a .348 batting average and leads the team with 57 hits, 38 runs scored, 14 stolen bases and five triples.  She also has 23 runs batted in, 10 doubles and two home runs.  Last week, she was named first team All-NSIC and NSIC Player of the Year.  She also earned NSIC Player of the Week honors on Mar. 31.  She currently holds career records at SMSU for runs scored (154), hits (220), triples (22), home runs (26), runs batted in (126), total bases (371) and stolen bases (72).  Dickhausen is also second in slugging percentage (.597) and fifth in batting average (.354).

PhotoJohnson, a junior pitcher from Fremont, Neb., leads the Mustangs with a 1.11 ERA in 220 innings with 259 strikeouts.  She has 23 complete games and nine shutouts, while posting a 27-4 record with five saves.  Opponents have just 164 hits against her (.201 opponents’ batting average) and she has walked just 23 batters.  Last week, she was named first team All-NSIC and NSIC Pitcher of the Year.  She has been named NSIC Pitcher of the Week twice this spring.  She already holds career school records for strikeouts (834), strikeouts per seven innings (8.69), fewest walks per seven innings (1.18), wins (77), saves (13), shutouts (25), complete games (75), innings pitched (671.2), appearances (119), games started (86) and is second in ERA (1.34).

PhotoBrundidge, a sophomore designated player from Neekoosa, Wis., has played the outfield, designated player, first base and second base for the Golden Bears.  In all games, she leads the NSIC in batting average (.397), is second in slugging percentage (.596), fourth in RBI (35), and fifth in on-base percentage (.430).  She leads the Golden Bears in hits with 56, doubles (14) and total bases (84).

Rosenow is a four-time NSIC All-Conference team member.

2008 Daktronics Division II SIDs All-North Central Region Softball Team

May 7, 2008 | Full Release tag

Starkville, Miss. - The 2008 Daktronics DII SIDs All-North Central Region Teams were announced today. The NSIC had seven players named to the North Central Region Team including three on the first team. The first team selections will advance to the Daktronics Division II SIDs All-America Team ballot. The All-Region team is voted on by the Sports Information Directors from the North Central Region of Division II.

First Team
Pitcher
*Amanda Johnson, Jr., Southwest Minnesota State, Fremont, Neb.
1st Base
*Jennifer Radley, Fr., Wayne (Neb.) State, Des Moines, Iowa
Designated Player
*Abby Brundidge, So., Concordia-St. Paul, Nekoosa, Wis.

Second Team
Pitcher
Stacey Struzynski, Fr., Winona State, Homewood, Iowa
Catcher
Erin Dickhausen, Sr., Southwest Minnesota State, Watertown, Minn.
Outfield
Chelsea Rosenow, Sr., Winona State, Chippewa Falls, Wis.
Utility
Leslie Benavidez, Sr., Mary, Albuquerque, N.M.
*=Leading vote-getter at her position

NSIC Baseball All-Conference Release

May 8, 2008 | Full Release tag

St. Paul,  Minn. – The 2008 NSIC Baseball All-Conference Team has been announced as voted on by the league coaches. NSIC Regular Season Champions from Wayne State lead all teams with seven picks, including five first team members and three specialty awards. WSC's Nick Schumacher was named NSIC Pitcher of the Year while Marc Manganaro was NSIC Co-Player of the Year and Nick Bidroski was NSIC Co-Freshmen of the Year. Northern State's Adam Kampsen, the NSIC Preseason Player of the Year, shared Player of the Year honors with Manganaro while Minnesota, Crookston's Jake Poehler shared Freshman of the Year with Bidroski. Concordia-St. Paul's Joe Abellera was named NSIC Newcomer of the Year while Upper Iowa's Mark Danker was named NSIC Coach of the Year. Danker led the Peacocks to a 24-8 mark in the NSIC, good enough for second place.

2008 All-Conference First Team
#
Name
Pos.
Yr.
School Hometown
15
Nick Schumacher
P
Sr.
Wayne State Nebraska City, Neb.
29
Jake Schmidt
P
Jr.
Concordia-St. Paul Oakdale, Minn.
33
Mitch Herrick
P
Sr.
Wayne State Council Bluffs, Iowa
10
Bryan Ruff
P
Sr.
Winona State Lakeville, Minn.
16
Brandon Wilhelmi
R-P
Sr.
Southwest Minnesota St. Clements, Minn.
11
Chris Herbert
C
Jr.
Concordia-St. Paul Wht Br Lake, Minn.
7
Marc Manganaro
1B
Sr.
Wayne State Laurel, Neb
21
Jake Waldman
2B
Sr.
Concordia-St. Paul Hopkins, Minn.
5
Adam Kampsen
SS
Sr.
Northern State Paynesville, Minn.
10
Alex Koch
3B
Jr.
Wayne State Omaha, Neb.
13
Nick Fjelland
IF
Sr.
Upper Iowa Alleman, Iowa
7
Mike Feldman
OF
Sr.
University of Mary Bismarck, N.D.
3
Brendon Furrow
OF
Sr.
Concordia-St. Paul Johnston, Iowa
2
Joe Abellera
OF
Sr.
Concordia-St. Paul Hopkins, Minn.
20
Joe Wendte
OF
So.
Wayne State South Sioux City, Neb.
27
Andrew Kes
DH
Jr.
Winona State Eagan, Minn.
All-Conference Second Team
# Name Pos. Yr. School Hometown
8
Brian Solemsaas
P
Jr.
Upper Iowa Bismarck, N.D.
34
Ross Hellenbrand
P
So.
Winona State Middleton, Wis.
10
Jared Pick
P
So.
Southwest Minnesota St. Luverne, Minn.
20
Donny Erdall
P
Sr.
Winona State Bloomington, Minn.
12
Blaze Culliton
R-P
Jr.
University of Mary  Great Falls, Mont.
8
Anthony Stoloski
C
Sr.
Bemidji State Half Moon Bay, Calif. 
34
Ross Hellenbrand
1B
So.
Winona State Middleton, Wis.
12
Ronnie Olson
2B
So.
Winona State Rochester, Minn.
11
Lex Reinke 
SS
Sr.
Southwest Minnesota St. Shoreview, Minn.
28
Zane Froelich
3B 
Jr.
Concordia-St. Paul Sioux Falls, S.D.
6
Greg Laughlin
IF
Jr.
Southwest Minnesota St. Eden Prairie, Minn.
8
Jake Poehler
OF
Fr.
Minnesota, Crookston Coon Rapids, Minn.
21
Kreston Albright
OF
Jr
Upper Iowa Snohomish, Wash.
25
Justin Hemauer
OF
Jr.
Wayne State Moundsview, Minn.
9
Sean Soderberg
OF
Jr.
Wayne State Fremont, Neb.
12
Lucas Wilsing
DH
So.
Upper Iowa Sheboygan, Wis.


2008 NSIC Co-Players of the Year:
Adam Kampsen, Northern State (Sr., SS, Paynesville, Minn.)
Marc Manganaro, Wayne State (Sr., 1B, Laurel, Neb)

2008 NSIC Pitcher of the Year:

Nick Schumacher, Wayne State (Sr. RHP, Nebraska City, Neb.)

2008 NSIC Newcomer of the Year:

Joe Abellera, Concordia-St. Paul (Sr., OF, Hopkins, Minn.)

2008 NSIC Co-Freshmen of the Year:

Nick Bidroski, Wayne State (Fr, 2B, Omaha, Neb.)
Jake Poehler, Minnesota, Crookston (Fr., OF, Coon Rapids, Minn.)

2008 NSIC Coach of the Year:

Mark Danker, Upper Iowa

Northern Sun Presidents Rise to Occasion

May 6, 2008 | NCAA Release Tag

NSIC Presidents Signatures Supporting DII game-environment initiativeBy Gary Brown, NCAA News
Presidents from every Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference member institution have pledged their support to Division II’s game-environment initiative.

The Northern Sun is the first conference to demonstrate unanimous support after presidents of league governing boards convened with the Division II Presidents Council two weeks ago to talk about game-environment issues.

Presidents and chancellors at the April 23 meeting signed a pledge form that stated:

“The Division II Presidents Council and representatives from Division II conference governing boards affirm that athletics events should reflect the values of higher education and the mission of each institution. Division II emphasizes learning and development in a personal setting. As chancellors and presidents, we are concerned about the uncivil behavior exhibited at college athletics contests, and, thereby, pledge to work together to make respectful, family-friendly events a standard of the Division II experience.”

Presidents at the April 23 meeting signed the form, but many also pledged to take the matter back to their conferences for additional support. It took only a few days for the Northern Sun members to get on board. At the league’s spring meetings April 28, Presidents Council member and Southwest Minnesota State President David Danahar and Minnesota State Moorhead President Roland Barden relayed actions from the earlier meeting to their Northern Sun peers.

“We explained our discussion about game environment and how it was desired for us to present a strong position on this for practical and ethical reasons,” Danahar said. “As you can see, there was no confusion about the importance of monitoring the atmosphere at our collegiate events.”

The presentation included a preview of the new Division II game-environment Web site (www.diicommunity.org/gameenvironment/), which features one of the league’s member schools, Winona State, as an institution that has implemented programming and tools to create a positive atmosphere at basketball events.

“As you might expect, that presentation played very well with our group,” Danahar said.

Northern Sun athletics directors, senior woman administrators and faculty athletics representatives also viewed the presentation at the league meetings to ensure that all levels of athletics oversight understood the value of the initiative.

Division II’s game-environment effort is one that combines the need for sportsmanship from players and coaches on the courts and fields, but extends to ensuring that the venues are family-friendly, comfortable and lively. The newly launched Web site, which includes resources, success stories and teachable moments about game-environment issues, launched with almost 50 suggestions already from Division II members about staging a positive game environment. Those examples are expected to grow – much like the community-engagement ideas did – as more members use the site in the coming months.

Signatures on the Northern Sun game-environment pledge card:
David Danahar, Southwest Minnesota State
Robert Oliver, Augustana (South Dakota)
Jerry Fischer, Mary (on behalf of President Sister Thomas Welder)
Bill Wade, Minnesota Duluth (on behalf of Chancellor Kathryn Martin)
Jon Quistgaard, Bemidji State
Charles Casey, Minnesota-Crookston
Judith Ramaley, Winona State
Earl H. Potter, St. Cloud State
Alan Walker, Upper Iowa
Robert Holst, Concordia-St. Paul
Richard Collings, Wayne State (Nebraska)
Richard Davenport, Minnesota State Mankato
Patrick Schloss, Northern State

Minnesota Moorhead President Roland Barden signed the pledge at the April 23 Division II meeting; Davenport and Schloss pledged support via conference call.

Watch Web Stream of NSIC TV Showcase #4

Click Here for March 12 ,2008 NSIC Showcase

Mike Woodley and Butch Raymond

Show four features highlights from the 2008 NSIC Men's and Women's Basketball Tournament, NSIC Track & Field Championships along with all-conference awards as well as a feature on the WBCA "Think Pink" promotion.

NSIC Radio Spotlight - Week 20

March 4, 2008

Week 20 Northern Sun Spotlight Radio Show
Guests: Wayne State MBB Coach Rico Burkett & U-Mary Head T&F Coach Mike Thorson

http://northernsun.org/radio/NSIC_WEEK20_04Mar08.wma

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