For Immediate Release
Thursday, November 30, 2017
NSIC Media Relations

Minnesota State Selected as Preseason Favorite in NSIC Women's Indoor Track & Field Coaches' Poll

BURNSVILLE, Minn. - The defending NSIC Champions of Minnesota State University, Mankato were picked to win the NSIC in the preseason women's indoor track & field coaches' poll. The Mavericks received 13 first place votes and tallied 194 points, ranking them ahead of the University of Mary (183) and Augustana (159).  UMary and Augustana each received a first place vote.

Wayne State's Michaela Dendinger was selected as the preseason field athlete of the year while UMary's Alexis Zeis was named the preseason track athlete of the year. 

The 2017-18 NSIC indoor track & field season gets underway on Friday, December 1 with the regular season culminating on Friday-Saturday, February 23-24 at the NSIC Championship held at Myers Fieldhouse in Mankato, Minnesota, hosted by Minnesota State University, Mankato.
 

2017-18 NSIC Women's IDTF Preseason Coaches' Poll

1	Minnesota State (13)	194
2	University of Mary (1)	183
3	Augustana (1)	159
4	Minnesota Duluth	155
5	Winona State	152
6	Northern State	120
7	Sioux Falls	104
8	MSU Moorhead	101
9	Concordia-St. Paul	97
10	St. Cloud State	84
11	Southwest Minnesota State	65
	Wayne State	65
13	Bemidji State	49
14	Minot State	30
15	Upper Iowa	17
	first place votes in ( )

Alexis Zeis (Distance, Sr., Bismarck, N.D. / Bismarck HS)
University of Mary
- 2017 NCAA indoor national champion in the 5,000 meter run
- 2017 NCAA indoor All-American in the 3,000 meter run (7th place)
- 5-time NSIC indoor champion
- Won three straight NSIC indoor 3,000 meter run titles (2015-17)
- Won the 2015 and 2017 NSIC indoor 5,000 meter run titles
- 4x NCAA Indoor All-American
- 13-time All-Northern Sun competitor (including cross country and indoor and outdoor track)
- 10-time NCAA All-American (including cross country and indoor and outdoor track)
- 2-time national champion (2015 cross country, 2017 NCAA indoor 5k run)
 
Michaela Dendinger (Throws, Sr. Coleridge, Neb. / Hartington HS)
Wayne State
- Earned All-NSIC honors in shot put and weight throw last season
- Placed second in weight throw (63’ 4 ¼”) and third in shot put (46’ ¾”)
- Was NCAA Indoor National Qualifier in both events for second straight season
- Earned USTFCCCA Second Team All-American honors in shot put and weight throw
- Named USTFCCCA All-Region in the shot put and weight throw
- Took first place in shot put at two meets last year
- Was first place in the weight throw at two meets last year

 

Augustana University Vikings

2016-17 NSIC Championship Finish	2017-18 Preseason Poll
5th	3rd
Team Preview
Mackenzie Kelly is the lone Indoor All-NSIC honoree for the Vikings that will compete this indoor season from last year. Kelly took home All-NSIC honors in the 3,000-meters and looks to build off of an All-American cross country season. Senior Valerie Gildemaster (Moos) and true freshman Callie DeWitt were named Viking athletes to watch. Gildemaster is a two-time indoor All-NSIC recipient in the 4x400 relay (2016) and the DMR (2015). Other returning indoor All-NSIC honorees are Leah Seivert (three-time), Brooke DeVos, Avery Selberg and Annie Kruse.
Athletes to Watch
T: Valerie Gildemaster (Moos) (Sprints/Hurdles, Sr., Sioux Falls, S.D., Roosevelt HS) F: Callie DeWitt (Jumps, Fr., Sioux Falls, S.D., O’Gorman HS)
First Event
Saturday, Dec. 2 at the SDSU Preseason Open in Brookings, S.D.

Bemidji State University Beavers

2016-17 NSIC Championship Finish	2017-18 Preseason Poll
14th	13th
Team Preview
Bemidji State returns most of its roster and added some excellent athletes including Kelsey Hurley, a transfer from Iowa Western Community College, with a high jump best of 5-8.75.  Joining Kelsey in the jumps is Cheri’A Adams, a freshman with a triple jump best of 38-2.5 and a 100m best of 12.23, and freshman Mikayla Brouette a 37-9.25 triple jumper. BSU returns sprinter Jada Barker who had a 60m best time of 7.95, and run a 200m time of 24.83.  Freshman Venice Stewart will be fun to watch coming in with bests in the 200m and 400m of 24.85 and 58.53.  Freshman Aneesa Tucker was Wisconsin State Champion in the 800m with a 2:13 best. Beaver throws returns top three weight throwers in seniors Samantha Velde and Samara Tobeck, and sophomore Gena Baklund. In the distance events, Bemidji State looks for leadership from senior Madison Kealy as the top returner in the 1000M run, junior Sarone Paulzine, and the 2017 top Cross Country performer a freshman, Brittny Hillstrom.
Athletes to Watch
T: Venice Stewart (Sprints, Fr., Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. / Palm Beach Gardens HS) F: Kelsey Hurley (HJ/Multi’s, Jr., Tabor, Iowa / Iowa Western CC)
First Event
Friday, Dec. 1 at SDSU Holiday Open & Multi

Concordia University, St. Paul Golden Bears

2016-17 NSIC Championship Finish	2017-18 Preseason Poll
6th	9th
Team Preview
The women’s team put together one of their best ever showings in the NSIC Indoor Championships last season with 45.66 points and a sixth place finish and will look to carry that momentum into this season. A major reason for the team’s success was their two All-NSIC multi-event athletes, Wakpor Ighovojah and Kalle Burney. Ighovojah parlayed a second place finish in the NSIC Indoor Multi-Event Championships into the program’s first ever female All-America performance as she grabbed 10th in the NCAA Championships in the pentathlon. Burney followed close behind as she took third in the NSIC Indoor Multi-Event Championships and 13th in the NCAA Indoor Championships. Burney followed it up in the spring with a school record and a second place finish in the NSIC Outdoor Multi-Event Championships while earning another trip to the NCAA Championships. Hannah Gustafson adds another returning point scorer from the indoor season while Erika Shady, Leah Amundson and Kalle Burney all helped gain points as well.
Athletes to Watch
T: Wakpor Ighovojah (Multi-Event, Sr., Woodbury, Minn. / Woodbury HS) F: Kalle Burney (Multi-Event, Sr., Minneapolis, Minn. / St. Croix Lutheran HS)
First Event
Friday-Saturday, Dec. 1-2 at Chuck Peterson Open  (Minnesota State)

University of Mary Marauders

2016-17 NSIC Championship Finish	2017-18 Preseason Poll
2nd	2nd
Team Preview
Headlined by national champion Alexis Zeis, the University of Mary features a deep squad that is one of the favoritres to win a Northern Sun championship. After dominating last winter’s conference indoor meet by winning the 5k and the 3K, Zeis went on to win the NCAA indoor championship in the 5,000 meter run. It was the senior’s second national championship (2015 NCAA cross country champion). The national runner-up this fall in cross country, the Marauders expect to have success in the distance events. The Marauders will also excel in the sprints and hurdles. Senior All-American Tonie-Ann Pandohie won the NSIC indoor 60 meter hurdles and 4x400 meter relay in 2017 and placed second in the 200. She qualified for the 60H at the NCAA championships. Sophomore Tanesha Davis was the runner-up in the 60 meter dash. Maria Bolibruch is back after qualifying for the NCAA indoor championships in the 60 meter hurdles. Julia Hammerschmidt, Richards, Bolibruch and Pandohie raced indoors at the NCAA indoor championships in the 4x400 relay. Also back are Kate Fox, Jaiden Schuette and Bree Erickson who ran with Hammerschmidt on the Marauders Distance Medley Relay team at the NCAA indoor championships.
Athletes to Watch
T: Alexis Zeis (Distance, Sr., Bismarck, ND / Bismarck HS) F: D’Andre Morris (Jumps, Fr., Kingston, Jamaica)
First Event
Friday, Dec. 8 at NDSU Dakota Classic in Fargo, ND

University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs

2016-17 NSIC Championship Finish	2017-18 Preseason Poll
4th	4th
Team Preview
UMD retains the services of eight individuals who scored at the 2017 NSIC Indoor Track and Field Championships. That includes senior Emi Trost, who for the second straight year reigned as the top individual point producer at that event, doing so by winning three titles (mile run, 600-meter run and 1,000-meter run) and setting two conference records (mile and 600).  For her efforts, Trost was selected the NSIC Indoor Track Athlete for the second time in a row. Also returning are Maria Berg, Paige DuBois and Elizabeth Kyes (NSIC record in the distance medley relay), Danielle Kohlwey (60-meter hurdles and 200-meter dash), Erica Kesseh (60-meter dash), Melissa Drenckhahn (5,000-meter run) and Katherine Hawkinson (long jump). Kyes (800-meter run) and DuBois (600-meter run) both registered points in one other event.
Athletes to Watch
T: Danielle Kohlwey (Hurdles/Sprints, Jr., Onalaska, Wis. / Holmen HS) F: Alexandra Headley (Throws, Fr., Plano, Texas, Plano HS)
First Event
Dec. 9  at the Opener hosted by College of St. Scholastica

Minnesota State University, Mankato Mavericks

2016-17 NSIC Championship Finish	2017-18 Preseason Poll
1st	1st
Team Preview
The Mavericks are seeking their third consecutive NSIC women’s indoor track and field championship this season. The Mavericks return senior Brieanna Puckett, the school record holder in the long jump. This marks the first season for Minnesota State head coach Mike Turgeon after being hired last summer. Turgeon brings 13 years of experience with the Winona State track and field program, and personal experience as a two-time NCAA Division III national champion in discus, to the program.
Athletes to Watch
T: Eboni Coby (Sprints, Jr., Dallas Texas) F: Brieanna Puckett (Jumps, Sr., Brooklyn Park, Minn.)
First Event
Friday-Saturday, Dec. 1-2 at Chuck Peterson Open  (Minnesota State)

Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragons

2016-17 NSIC Championship Finish	2017-18 Preseason Poll
9th	8th
Team Preview
The Dragons will be led by a senior group which includes jumper Bailey Reiner, sprinter Judith Robinson, distance runner MaKenzie Smith and sprinter Mady Vaudrin.  Reiner has earned two All-NSIC honors in the long jump previously. Robinson  and Vaudrin have each been a key in the sprints and relays.  Smith will bolster the Dragons in the distance events. Junior sprinter Kiarah Johnson, junior thrower Emily Waletzko and junior distance runner Marissa Carlson  are also expected to be key contributors this season.
Athletes to Watch
T: Judith Robinson (Sprints, Sr., Essendon, Victoria, Australia) F: Bailey Reiner (Jumps, Sr., Bismarck, N.D.)
First Event
Friday, Dec. 8 at Dakota Classic, Fargo, N.D.,

Minot State University Beavers

2016-17 NSIC Championship Finish	2017-18 Preseason Poll
13th	14th
Team Preview
- Minot State finished 13th overall at the 2016-17 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Championships. The Beavers will be led by juniors Jana Jones and Amber Hunsaker. Jones placed 8th overall in the 800 at the NSIC Indoor Championships last season while Hunsaker did not compete last season. Hunsaker qualified for the NCAA Division II National Championships in the 2016 Outdoor season in the javelin. Seniors Emily Westlake and Patience Albertson will look to contribute in the distance events after finishing 17th and 23rd in the 5K in last season’s NSIC Indoor Championships.
Athletes to Watch
T: Jana Jones (800/mile, Jr., Eastvale, Calif. / Eleanor Roosevelt) F: Amber Hunsaker (Throws, So., Thompson, N.D. / Thompson)
First Event
Saturday, Jan. 20 at Concordia Cobber Duals – Moorhead, Minn.

Northern State University Wolves

2016-17 NSIC Championship Finish	2017-18 Preseason Poll
7th	6th
Team Preview
The Northern State University women’s track and field team returns 17 from a season ago, while adding 11 new faces in 2017-18. The Wolves finished seventh as a team at the NSIC Indoor Championships with 41 total team points. Hanneke Oosterwegel and Jordan Menken were tabbed as the team’s athletes to watch this season. Oosterwegel returns for the Wolves after breaking four indoor school records and finishing fourth in the 200m dash (24.97) and first in the 400m dash (55.62) at the NSIC Championships. Oosterwegel qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships in the 200m and 400m dashes, finishing 15th in each event. The Wolves also return Sasha Hovind, the 9-time All-American who finished fourth in the 3000m run and second in the 5000m run at the NSIC Championships and 12th in the 5000m run at the NCAA Championships. Menken joins the Wolves as the South Dakota State Champion in the shot put and a state placer in the discus. The Wolves will open the season at the SDSU Holiday Open this weekend.
Athletes to Watch
T: Hanneke Oosterwegel (Sprints/Hurdles, Jr., Diepenveen, Netherlands) F: Jordan Menken (Throws, Fr., Custer, S.D. / Custer HS)
First Event
Friday-Saturday, Dec. 1-2 at SDSU Holiday Open & Multi

University of Sioux Falls Cougars

2016-17 NSIC Championship Finish	2017-18 Preseason Poll
10th	7th
Team Preview
University of Sioux Falls Track & Field looks to build off an impressive year by a young team last season and they enter the 2017-18 season picked seventh in the league. Already a success on the cross country circuit, freshman Taryn Ceglowski, looks to make her mark on the track. Joining Ceglowski as one of USF’s athletes to watch, sophomore Clara Paul enters her sophomore season after a great start to her career in the horizontal jumps. Sarah Troescher broke, then re-broke, the USF women’s 60-meter dash record with her personal-best time of 7.75 seconds set at the NSIC Championships. Jessica Justin also broke a USF record at the NSIC meet and she now owns the 200-meter mark for USF. Laura Kunz, Jessica Justin, Keegan Day, and Kiana Kraft return after a fifth-place finish in the NSIC DMR. Josie Spitz placed fifth in the pole vault and she returns for her sophomore season.
Athletes to Watch
T: Taryn Ceglowski (Fr., Distance, Salida, Colo./Salida HS) F: Clara Paul (So., Jumps, Roseville, Minn./Concordia Academy)
First Event
Friday, Dec. 1 at SDSU Holiday Open

Southwest Minnesota State University Mustangs

2016-17 NSIC Championship Finish	2017-18 Preseason Poll
12th	t-11th
Team Preview
Southwest Minnesota State finished 12th at last season’s NSIC Indoor Championships. Kim Shabino placed sixth at last year’s championship. Senior Nikki Atwood returns as one of SMSU’s top sprinters.
Athletes to Watch
T: Kim Shabino (Sprints, Sr., Spencer, Iowa) F: Angela Prokosch (Sr., Redwood Falls, Minn.)
First Event
Dec. 1, South Dakota State Holiday Open

St. Cloud State University Huskies

2016-17 NSIC Championship Finish	2017-18 Preseason Poll
8th	10th
Team Preview
The Huskies, who finished eighth in the NSIC during indoor track and field season in the winter of 2017, are a young squad with 24 freshmen and sophomores on the roster.  The program will count on redshirt freshman sprinter Emelia Burris as the team’s Indoor Track Athlete to Watch as well as senior multi Natalie Gottschalk, selected as the Indoor Field Athlete to Watch to lead the team. Gottschalk achieved an NCAA Provisional qualifying mark in finishing fourth in the pentathlon (3,544 pts.) at the NSIC Indoor Championships. Also returning is sophomore sprinter Bailee Brazerol, who had the team’s top times in the 60m (7.81) and the 200m (26.07). The distance group will be led by sophomore Chrissy Lofgren, who had the team’s top 1,000m time last season (3:03.88). The team’s top returning thrower is sophomore Dominique Buechel, who had the squad’s top marks in the shot put (10.60m) and the weight throw (13.42m) during indoor season last year.
Athletes to Watch
T: Emelia Burris (Redshirt Freshman, Sprints/Jumps, Wood Dale, Ill. / Fenton HS) F: Natalie Gottschalk (Senior, Multi/Jumps, Waukesha, Wis. / Waukesha South HS)
Friday-Saturday, Dec. 1-2 at Chuck Peterson Open  (Minnesota State)

Upper Iowa University Peacocks

2016-17 NSIC Championship Finish	2017-18 Preseason Poll
T-14th	13th
Team Preview
Upper Iowa returns for their third season of indoor track and field under Head Coach Nate Rucker after a previous 12-year hiatus. The Peacocks will participate in seven regular season meets before the NSIC Championships in February. UIU set multiple school records last season in just their second year back with the program, including the 4X200 meter relay at the Ranger Relays, the shot put by Brinn Grunder at the same meet, and the triple jump by Mekenzie Soeken at the Chuck Peterson Open. Grunder also placed 12th last season at the NSIC Indoor Championships
Athletes to Watch
T: Mekenzie Soeken (So., Ely, Iowa, Cedar Rapids-Prairie HS) F: Brinn Grunder (So., Durant, Iowa, Durant HS)
First Event
Friday-Saturday, Dec. 1-2 at Chuck Peterson Open  (Minnesota State)

Wayne State College Wildcats

2016-17 NSIC Championship Finish	2017-18 Preseason Poll
11th	t-11th
Team Preview
Senior All-American thrower Michaela Dendinger will lead a young Wayne State women’s indoor track team that has just two seniors and 12 freshmen to go with one junior and four sophomores.  Dendinger earned All-NSIC honors last year in a pair of field events, placing second in the weight throw and third in the shot put while qualifying in both events for the NCAA Indoor Nationals for a second straight season.  Senior Tessa Ives, sophomore Tia Jones (seventh in the weight throw last year) and freshmen Kenzie Sullivan and Jadin Wagner will also contend for points in the throws this season.  Gillette College transfer Joan Jelimo brings quality mid-distance experience to the Wildcat squad.
Athletes to Watch
T: Joan Jelimo, Soph, Eldoret, Kenya (St. Michael’s Kabisaga HS) Mid-Distance F: Michaela Dendinger, Sr. Coleridge, Neb. (Hartington HS) Throws
First Event
Friday, December 1 at SDSU Holiday Open in Brookings, S.D.

Winona State University Warriors