Bison Illustrated March 2021 by Spotlight Media

MARCH 2021

C O M P L I M E N TA RY

n a h T e r o M e m a AG Li

ed at North rg fo g in be e ar s ip sh felong friend

Dakota State.

CONTENTS

COVER STORY 14

MORE THAN A GAME

One thing that often goes unnoticed in collegiate athletics is the relationships forged off of the court. Season after season, student-athletes from across the country converge on Fargo looking for athletic and academic success. However, these student-athletes are also creating friendships and relationships that go beyond the field of competition. Regardless of background or hometown, there is a connective tissue between all of these student-athletes. That tissue is being a Bison at North Dakota State and lifelong bonds are being built because of it. The best way to illustrate that? Meaningful conversation between teammates and friends.

03/2021

FEATURES 48

RECURRING

KELLYN MARCH

8 Editor’s Note

True freshman Kellyn March has continued a strong 133-pound tradition for NDSU wrestling.

56 Calendar

CADE FEENEY

60 Swany Says

58 Team Makers

We chat with Bison baseball’s freshman ace Cade Feeney.

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Caught In The Camera Eye FROM NOLAN P. SCHMIDT

his entire pandemic era has required me to think differently about this magazine. On the one hand, we have had to find a way to be unique in the way we present stories. There is this oversaturation going on in sports right now. With almost every major sport competing and every collegiate sport playing, it can be hard to stick out. This is a far cry from almost a year ago when the sports market was essentially non-existent. Now, we are working tirelessly to stick out and percolate in the minds of readers. This overexposure is no one’s fault either. It’s just the way of the sporting world in spring 2021. Another challenge I have found is being able to remain

visually interesting. That lends its hand to you picking up the magazine in the first place. I could be writing a Pulitzer Prize-winning novella on these pages, but if the cover does not dazzle, you’re not reading it. Much of that responsibility is on my shoulders. Given the circumstances, we’ve had to lean up our team throughout this pandemic. This has forced me to move behind the camera and take photographs as well as write stories. While I am not a trained photographer, it is something I have enjoyed doing and I am excited about continuing to learn. Becoming the photographer for this issue (and a few of our other publications) has not come without its challenges. However, the

FROM THE EDITOR reward of completing an issue knowing I had a role to play in every step has been a welcome one. It has also allowed me to see content in a different light. Photography has helped me in formulating new ideas for how we present stories to you. Anyone who knows me on a more personal level knows that music often dictates and guides my creative processes. Sometimes it can be used as motivation to accomplish a task and sometimes a simple lyric or note can open up a world of creative fruit ready to be picked from the proverbial tree. Rush is one of those musical groups that guide many of these scenarios. Their music is complex enough to get the brain moving and active. The lyrics and thematic elements

force you to think and ponder. In that state, your brain tends to wander and formulate ideas, good and bad. One of their better-known songs “Limelight” helped create the idea behind the issue.

I wanted to create something that has their voice only and not their voice with a little of mine sprinkled in. I would help guide the conversation, but their voice would take center stage.

“I can’t pretend a stranger is a long-awaited friend.”

Then I recalled that line from the Rush tune. Bison studentathletes come from far and wide to compete in Fargo. When they arrive, they are strangers to some, but they are long-awaited friends to others. Even if they are a stranger, there is something within NDSU’s athletic culture that transitions them to a long-awaited friend by the time their career ends.

Neil Peart wrote that song and that lyric because he despised fame. He did not want to be recognized for his art nor did he want any notoriety. Peart wanted to create music, ride his motorcycle and read. While the thematic elements of the song are ones of the detriments of fame, the above line always gets my mind moving. I knew I wanted to do an issue circling around NDSU teammates conducting an interview with one another.

That is what we wanted to feature. How can kids from across the United States, kids with different backgrounds, different points of view and different upbringings, find

success together at NDSU? Lifelong friendships are made at NDSU. In some cases, those friendships do not even exist if one person makes a different decision. We celebrate these friendships in this issue. We celebrate the diversity within NDSU’s athletic department. Why? Because it needs to be celebrated. It needs to be celebrated now and in the future.

MARCH 2021 | VOLUME 16 ISSUE 3 Bison Illustrated is a free publication distributed monthly (8 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.

Publisher Mike Dragosavich Drago@spotlightmediafargo.com EDITORIAL Editorial Team Lead Nolan P. Schmidt Graphic Designer Kim Cowles Contributors Josh Swanson Creative Strategist Josiah Kopp INTERACTIVE Business Development Manager Nick Schommer nickschommer@spotlightmediafargo.com Digital Marketing Lead Emma Bonnet Videographer Tommy Uhlir Business Development Associate Kellen Feeney Graphic Designer Ben Buchanan ADVERTISING VP of Business Development Paul Hoefer Paul@SpotlightMediaFargo.com Senior Leader of Digital Solutions Brady Sprague Sales Representative Al Anderson Client Relations clientrelations@spotlightmediafargo.com Client Relations Manager Jenny Johnson Client Relations Strategist Cora Sather Marketing Designer Christy German ADMINISTRATION VP of Human Resources Colleen Dreyer Account Strategist Cassie Wiste DISTRIBUTION Delivery John Stuber

FOR ADVERTISING, CALL 701-478-SPOT (7768) or email info@spotlightmediafargo.com Bison Illustrated is published by Spotlight Media, LLC. Copyright 2021 Bison Illustrated & bisonillustrated.com All rights reserved. No parts of this magazine may be reproduced or distributed without written permission of Bison Illustrated. Bison Illustrated and Spotlight Media, LLC is not responsible for, and expressly disclaims all liability for, damages of any kind arising out of use, reference to, or reliance on such information. Spotlight Media, LLC accepts no liability for the accuracy of statements made by the advertisers. Send change of address information and other correspondence to: Spotlight Media LLC. 15 Broadway N, Suite 500 Fargo, ND 58102 or info@spotlightmediafargo.com

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e r o M A

One thing that often goes unnoticed in collegiate athletics is the relationships forged off of the court. Season after season, student-athletes from across the country converge on Fargo looking for athletic and academic success. However, these studentathletes are also creating friendships and relationships that go beyond the field of competition. Regardless of background or hometown, there is a connective tissue between all of these student-athletes. That tissue is being a Bison at North Dakota State and lifelong bonds are being built because of it. The best way to illustrate that? Meaningful conversation between teammates and friends. 14

BISON ILLUSTRATED M A R C H 2 0 2 1

By Nolan P. Schmidt

n a Th e m Ga Photos By Nolan P. Schmidt 15

Tyree Eady Junior | Hometown: Mi ddleton,

Wis.

c i m a n A Dy m e d n a T

Tyree Eady and Rockyleave Kreuser continue tokota a mark on North Da ball State’s men’s basket program.

Head men's basketball coach Dave Richman always talks about leaving a legacy. For his players, that means being as great of a person as you are a player on the basketball floor. As it's said in various forms across campus, it's about leaving your program better than you found it. Tyree Eady and Rocky Kreuser take that legacy discussion to heart. Already two of the top players in the Summit League, Eady and Kreuser's relationship stretches back before their NDSU days. They took their official visit together, immediately became friends and grew that friendship leading up to their freshmen seasons. The two are best friends today thanks to their

BISON ILLUSTRATED M A R C H 2 0 2 1

commonalities. As Eady states, the pair are the same person, just in different bodies.

That has led them to success on the floor, but better people off of it. Eady and Kreuser helped spearhead NDSU basketball's "Walk With Us" initiative which raised over $2,000 for the Boys & Girls Club of the Red River Valley. The initiative featured custom-made shirts and a video to help combat racial injustice in our community and beyond. It is actions like this that will define the careers of the two best friends. We discussed that and more with Eady and Kreuser.

r e s u e r K y k c Ro hite bear senior | Hometown: w

lake, minn

"We get recruited here not only for our basketball skills but for the people that we are. Being able to do this initiative and have it work out the way it did is amazing. We want to be remembered for this as well as what we do on the court. We all wanted to come here and make an impact to change the program for the better." - Tyree Eady

Origins Of A Friendship Rocky Kreuser: We scheduled our official visits with Jordan Meidinger at the same time. I actually had a football game on Friday night, so I didn't get up here until Saturday morning. That is when I really got to be with the guys and stuff. On the official visit, Tyree and I hung out pretty much throughout the entire thing with Jordan Meidinger. Tyree gave me his Snapchat and we started snapping each other. The main thing I remember about the whole situation was Tyree's Snapchat name was 'LilUziTurnt', instead of like Tyree Eady. Tyree Eady: As Rocky said, we visited here together with Jordan Meidinger. Rocky was not here the first night so I really didn't know what to expect. This was my first time in Fargo, North Dakota, and I had no idea where that was before they started recruiting me. When I committed here, Rocky and Jordan had already committed. That is a big part of the reason why I came to NDSU because it made me feel comfortable because I had a friend to come here with. I knew I could really bond with him and relate with him. It's a big reason why I'm here right now.

Bonding Points RK: It was kind of weird because I don't think there was one thing, in particular, that kind of made us click. It was kind of just a mesh of everything. We have similar interests in pretty much everything in life. Off the court, we just get along with each other because our personalities mesh really well. It wasn't one thing in particular that made us some of the of best friends, but it was a combination of everything. TE: If you ask anyone around here, they'll say that we're pretty much the same person just in different bodies. We naturally gelled when we first met and it naturally came about that we were meant to be friends. We've been roommates ever since, we've grown together and we've seen each other change in multiple ways.

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NDSU’s Role In Friendship RK: There are a lot of people I’ve met here that I know I would never have met if I didn’t come to play basketball here in Fargo. I think it’s just an incredible opportunity to look at it and go back and realize that Tyree wouldn’t even be in my life if it wasn’t for having the opportunity to play basketball here. I’m super grateful for it. TE: He was a big part of the college environment itself. It’s just a bunch of people together that came from different backgrounds. If you would have told me that my best friend would be from small town Minnesota five years ago, I would never believe you. Now, we get to go out there and compete in something that we both love. Basketball and time have just naturally grown that friendship and relationship we have. NDSU has everything to do with that because they brought us together and put us in that one space.

Growing As Friends RK: Ever since that official visit when we first really met each other, it’s grown since then. Friendships build up over time and I don’t think there was one scene where everything just changed. I think we just got more and more comfortable with each other. TE: Since we first met, we always had similar interests and have always liked each other, Rooming with someone will really show you who people really are and we’ve grown in that way. I’ve grown up in the past four years and I know Rocky has too. It’s just constant growth and constantly building up trust.

Shared Memories RK: Accomplishments mean so much more when you do it with people you love. To be able to go play in March and things like that are amazing. It's not even just the highs that are amazing when you're with people you love, but it's the lows too. It's being able to lean on someone's shoulder when times get tough. To know that you have someone there for you even when the lows hit like last year when the NCAA Tournament got canceled. I knew we were gonna be okay because Tyree was there, everyone else on the team was there for each other. I can't thank Tyree enough for that. TE: You can't really put a value on memories and moments like the ones we've had. They don't come by very often. We talk about all the past experiences we have had together and we don't realize the scope of it at the time. As Rocky said it's not just the highs, but the lows too. Even things like a 5 a.m. runs where everyone's about to die, but then we talk about it later and laugh on it. You can see that we've built that culture and it comes through in the way we play. We love each other, we argue, but we still get through it. We play tough and you can really tell we've been together for a long time. We love each other.

Friendship In The Face Of Adversity RK: It's been obviously this roller coaster over the past year with the pandemic and all the social injustices and everything. There's definitely been some real low moments. Knowing that there's someone in your corner there ready to go to battle for you, it gives you the confidence to really get through things. When we went home for quarantine and we weren't around the guys, we had to do what we had to do to stay in touch as much as possible. When we got to come back here, it was one of the biggest hugs I think I've ever given when Tyree and I came back. It's just things like that where you know you're gonna get through it because you have those people in your corner. TE: Rocky has seen me at some of my lowest times outside of basketball. When you go through tough times, it just breeds a certain amount of respect and confidence. As Rocky said, just knowing that someone's in your corner fighting for you is everything. I mean, if stuff happens in my life, he is one of the first people that I'll call. So during quarantine, you're not seeing him and the guys, that's really tough on us. When we came back, it was those relationships that really helped us get by.

Little Moments RK: I think the key phrase is that we are feeling blessed. What we’re given here is an incredible opportunity. People are risking their lives trying to help people with the Coronavirus and through this pandemic, we’re out here playing the game of basketball. We should feel blessed with the opportunity to be able to do that. We should feel blessed to be able to go out and hang out with our teammates and share those moments. A lot of people can’t do that right now. They can’t go see their friends or family members that are stuck in nursing homes, for example. I think that’s the best way to look at it. We should be grateful for every opportunity we have because other people in this world aren’t getting those opportunities that we are right now.

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Accomplishments mean so much more when you do it with people you love. To be able to go play in March and things like that are amazing. It’s not even just the highs that are amazing when you’re with people you love, but it’s the lows too. It’s being able to lean on someone’s shoulder when times get tough.” - Rocky Kreuser

TE: You hit it right on the head, I think. This past year with the pandemic, social justice issues and stuff going on in the world has been really humbling. We have really been brought back down to earth and are realizing what’s really important. At the end of the day, we play basketball, but there’s stuff in this world that really matters. Being thankful for all the little things like having a conversation face to face with a friend or FaceTime or even doing things you don’t want to do, but you have the ability to do it. Some people don’t have the ability to go out there and do what they want to do right now. We cannot take anything for granted right now and I really take pride in just be able to do those little things.

Social Justice Initiative TE: During the pandemic and the George Floyd incident, coach [Dave] Richman called me and he was really impacted by that and really wanted to do something to shed light on the issue. He called me and a few other teammates together to just brainstorm some ideas and things we could do. We wanted to use our voice and platform for a bigger meaning. Rocky, Jarius [Cook], Jaxon [Knotek] and coach [Joshua] Jones came together and decided that making a shirt that everyone would see would be the best plan of action. We would also be making a video using the platform that we have here. As I said, we play basketball during the day, but these are issues that really matter. So we settled on the shirt, we designed it, we got it through compliance and we made the video. The final product was when the video showed to a near-packed house, people were wearing the shirts. It was great to see people in the community rally behind it and give so much positive feedback. I'm just grateful that it turned out the way it turned out. The feedback we got was just so positive. It just shows that people really want to make a change. RK: Tyree and the other guys involved did an absolutely incredible job setting up the shirt and then making that video. It was an incredible way to show our fans that we're trying to make a difference. It all culminated when we got to present a check for over $2,000 to a local charity. I think that's what really matters. There is a huge difference between just sitting back and saying you want to do something and really taking a step and putting it into action. We did that by raising that money and it was an incredible feeling being able to hand over that check.

Positive Feedback On The Initiative TE: It was definitely a concern at first about the feedback we would get from it. There were also certain rules and stipulations we had to adhere to. At the end of the day, it's about trusting your gut. This was the plan of action that we decided was best for us, and the best use of our platform. for. We kept the whole thing in-house which made it special too. At the end of the day, if everyone on your team agrees with it, that is all that matters. The feedback within the community was almost entirely positive too. For me, our team was all good with it and that's all that matters. RK: I think it's pretty cool to go around the entire athletics department and see other teams doing the same thing that we're doing. Then you walk around after games and you see people wearing the shirts that we had on sale. It reached out to a degree that I don't think we anticipated. It turned out better than we thought, which is something that I'm very happy with. There are definitely people on both sides of the whole situation, but I'm really glad that people stood with us throughout the entire thing.

Leaving A Legacy TE: I think coach Richman always says it perfectly. We get recruited here not only for our basketball skills but for the people that we are. Being able to do this initiative and have it work out the way it did is amazing. We want to be remembered for this as well as what we do on the court. We all wanted to come here and make an impact to change the program for the better. We always say 'leave it better than you found it' and I

BISON ILLUSTRATED M A R C H 2 0 2 1

think part of this is just leaving this place better than we found it. Hopefully, that continues to build more and more once we leave. RK: One of the goals of our program is to win games and win championships. It's also a goal to be developed as an employee, employer, a man, a father and a husband, you know? Throughout my four years here, we've really developed ourselves and it's just incredible to see what we've been able to do when we really take an action step. Our job isn't over once we leave here either. We have underclassmen and hopefully, they live on to build the legacy further.

What’s Next... TE: I have a lot of areas to grow on the court for sure. Off the court and in life in general, I want to be a better leader and a better people person. I really haven’t seen or experienced that in college basketball. It’s been an eye-opening experience being responsible for some people that you realize look up to you. There are guys that look to you for guidance. I definitely want to grow in that and become a person that people can rally around. RK: There are things on the court that both of us can get better at. I think the main takeaway from everything here and what I want to grow in mostly are things off the court. I want to become a better listener, become a better friend and things like that. Those are the things that will truly impact your life for years to come. Obviously, the memories and time on the court are precious and should be treated as such, but being able to grow off the court will impact us for years to come.

n o s t u n K h s o J , N.D. ts | Hometown: Aurelia Junior | Hurdles/Sprin

Bison s r e t t a M y l i Fam s, Adrian Harris nd ou gr ck ba t en er ff di y Coming from completeelsucceeding alongside one another for and Josh Knutson ar NDSU track & field.

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Adrian Harris Sophomore | Sprints | Hometown: st. petersbu rg

, fla

On paper, there is little in common between Adrian Harris and Josh Knutson. Harris is from St. Petersburg, Fla. while Knutson is from small-town Aurelia, North Dakota. The Florida product comes from a city of nearly 300,000 people. Count the surrounding Tampa area and there are over 500,000 people. On the flipside, Knutson’s hometown has no population data registered. The town opted not to take the United States Census. Two different backgrounds, two different upbringings and two different paths to North Dakota State. Knutson originally committed to play football and Harris had never been to North Dakota before his

official visit. Despite all of that, the pair have become two of the best friends the track & field program has. Part of that is their similarity in events. Harris and Knutson compete in sprinting events as well as NDSU’s 4x400m really team. That team just recently captured a Summit League indoor championship. The Bison men won its fifth Summit League indoor title in six years too. Harris and Knutson talked about their friendship, battling through injuries together and more.

“We’re a family here and we want to build this bond because we got two more years with each other. It’s really important to have people who genuinely care about you and want to push you to be better. Not just caring about you on the track, but outside of track too.” - Josh Knutson

Friendship Origins Adrian Harris: Being on the track team helped expose me to different teammates and people. I had a few upperclassmen take me under their wings, and I was able to meet him and build a bond with him, which is amazing. He’s a great leader to me and a great friend. I think mainly being in sports helped that because when you’re a part of the track team, we have so many teammates around us. Luckily, it’s pretty easy to make friends, especially when you’re all in the same friend group. Josh Knutson: Last year during practice, we would both always be joking around, but we also take our sport really seriously and we both have the same goals. We both want to go get it every practice and we want to get better. We want to joke around and have fun with this too.

Competitive Drive AH: I think it helps a lot when you have someone just as competitive as you. Someone who not only wants to do well, but he wants to see other people do well. He wants to see me do well every day we come in to compete. As he said we’re able to have fun with it. Even though this is our job, we can joke around and we know when it gets serious. Having him and others like that to push each other and know that we are here for a goal and we want to meet that goal. It’s amazing. JK: We definitely push one another which brings us closer. Even before races, we look at each other and we think ‘let’s go right now.’

Difference In Background AH: We joke about that all the time. I’ll make fun of his city or he has made fun of mine, but it is playful. Luckily, he was able to come down to Florida for Christmas break. I actually was able to show him around and show my city. You could tell that everything was a lot different for him. Of course, he’s been there, he has family in Tampa, but to show him around my city and where I grew up. Being able to take him back to my old high school and just show him how different it is from up here. Hopefully, I’m able to go to his town some time and experience that but him coming down definitely brought us close too. It’s just amazing having him as a teammate and I consider him family. Being from different backgrounds, we are from different cities, but I don’t think of it that way. I don’t ever think about that, but it is crazy to see that people from pretty much opposite sides of the nation can come together and become so close. JK: It’s crazy to think about it. I grew up in a small town and he grew up in a big city. Not many people like that are coming together so easily and I do consider him family too. How our friendship has grown over the last year and a half now, it’s crazy to think how it all worked out this way.

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First Impressions JK: One of the first questions I asked him was his name and where he was from? When he said he was from Florida, I asked him if he was crazy. We’ve had that conversation quite a few times but I’m glad he came up here and experienced this coldness. Now when he goes back home, everyone thinks he is crazy. When we hung out in Florida during Christmas break, everyone had coats on and it was 50 degrees. Adrian was wearing a tank top and everyone was giving him weird looks. AH: To this day, my roommates always tell me I’m crazy and that they didn’t know what I was thinking coming here. I don’t regret it at all. My mindset was that I’m just going to take the visit just to experience North Dakota. I had read about it in history books but had never been there. I came and I fell in love immediately and I’m so thankful I chose here.

Josh’s Leadership JK: I kind of knew what it took to be up there with the best. With a whole year of training too, I knew how much you can get worn down from a physical perspective. I would just be talking to him about that and pushing him. I also said that some days you need to take a step back and not go all out. We always joke about ice baths, but it is all about that extra work behind the scenes that leads to success. When he came in as a freshman, you could tell he wanted to succeed as much as us. I knew I wanted to do whatever to help him get acclimated. AH: I honestly think having upperclassmen like him on the team was very helpful and humbling. In my junior and senior years of high school, I was looked up to and everyone in school and on the team always looked up to me. When I came in here, I knew I was not as experienced as some of my teammates. I had never run indoors before. So having people who have been through this and gone through this and done this and know what it takes to succeed is important. They can push me every day and I try to learn something from them each day. I know I can get better each and every day in this because I’m not perfect. I love having a leader like him that can push me and help me get better every day.

Bonding Points AH: That’s a really good question... JK: I noticed that our faith in God builds our morale and values and stuff. We go to FCA and we both want to improve in that area too. I feel like that is one of those outside elements that brings us together other than just track. AH: I think it is that caring trait. I kind of relate to that being that I’m more of a family person and I like putting others first and helping out as much as I can. I know he’s like that too so that kind of made us click. He is very caring of me and helpful. Anything I need or anything he needs, we’re there. On the funny side, this one really loves Mountain Dew. I don’t drink a lot of soda but I think Mountain Dew would be my goto if I did. So I think that brought us close as well, just the love of Mountain Dew. JK: He’s one of the most caring guys I know. That’s what brought us together too. He texts me once and a while and I text him, but it’s not one-sided because we both want to be a part of each other’s lives. We’re a family here and we want to build this bond because we got two more years with each other. It’s really important to have people who genuinely care about you and want to push you to be better. Not just caring about you on the track, but outside of track too. AH: That is another great thing about being part of the Bison family. When it comes down to it, we get serious, we compete, we want to beat each other, but off the track, everyone here cares for you. It’s not fake either, everyone loves you. Just having people like that is amazing.

time with the same injury. We both felt we were a little behind everyone because of that, but we worked hard together to get healthy. Then once we got healthy, we were back and it just made that moment at the conference meet even more special. Seeing the 4x400 doing good and seeing success in the 400, made me proud. AH: To have your best friends have medals around their necks and winning as a team is amazing. We’ve been working since the end of August until now. To hold up that banner was pretty special because our hard work did pay off.

What’s Next... AH: As far as our relationship, I think we just continue to do the same thing. Don’t switch up our routine. I mean, we hang out a lot and we check in on each other a lot, right? We pretty much do everything together. I think as far as our relationship, we won’t change anything because it’s been working very well. As far as track for me, I’m still dealing with a nagging groin injury. Luckily, we have a few weeks off before outdoor so I’m going to get into rehab make sure I’m back. JK: We spend a lot of time together, but it’s not too much. I’ve had injuries quite a bit, but right now I feel healthy. So staying healthy and I have 400 hurdles this season which I have not run in a while. Practicing for that will also be very important for me, individually.

Sharing Accomplishments With One Another JK: For us individually, we both got injured around the same

“When you’re exposed to a different amount of people from different areas, different places, you learn more. You’re able to understand people of different backgrounds. Obviously, we all know people, but not everyone is like you. I think just being a part of a family like this, not even looking at just track, is good to be around.”

- Adrian Harris

Leaning On Each Other During Injury JK: It's very important that you have a person that reigns you in a bit. I got a knee injury right away and Adrian was adamant that I should sit out, but both of us are so competitive. We want to be on the track. We want to run. We realize when we shouldn't run because it is a long season ahead of us. He constantly reminded me that the team didn't need me right now, they needed me for conference. Having someone that is able to remind you of that and support you is big. AH: This year was the first time in my life I had an injury that I had to miss competition for. I missed about two or three weeks where I didn't run the 400 and it took a mental toll on me. I didn't want to come back and look slower or that I lost a step. Having him and other people tell me not to rush that injury was so important. People who support you like that are very cool.

Changing Perspectives In A Diverse Environment AH: When you're exposed to a different amount of people from different areas, different places, you learn more. You're able to understand people of different backgrounds. Obviously, we all know people, but not everyone is like you. I think just being a part of a family like this, not even looking at just track, is good to be around.

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JK: Even if you do put the track part into it, we're all different. We're all built differently and it's cool that we can all come together in that way. People are different in their own way, but we all can go do our jobs. No matter what, we're going to put the work in and find a way to succeed.

Christian Watson wide receiver | junior | Hometown: tampa, fl a

n o s i B A d o o h r e h t o r B Christian Watson and y, tr un co e th of ds en te From opposi thriving at NDSU. es lv se em th nd fi er eb W Dawson

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r e b e W n Dawso town: ELK GROVE, safety | junior | Home

Add up the populations of Tampa, Fla. and Sacramento, Calif. and you’ll have a number near one million. That is almost 900,000 more people than the overall population of Fargo. For Bison juniors Christian Watson and Dawson Weber, who grew up in Tampa and Elk Grove, Calif. (just outside Sacramento) respectively, that big city upbringing guided them to one another. Couple that with the coastal climate of Florida and California and you’ll find that Watson and Weber have more in common than you think. Despite growing up some nearly 3,000 miles from one another, the pair have found a lifelong friend while suiting up for North Dakota State.

CALIF.

Watson is an All-Missouri Valley caliber wide receiver for the Bison. While Weber was a standout wide receiver in high school, he was moved to safety upon arriving in Fargo. Both Watson and Weber were in constant contact with one another before arriving in Fargo in 2017. Using a group Snapchat as the platform, the two bonded over music, family and hobbies. Now, they sit together inside the Fargodome and discuss their friendship, NDSU’s role in that relationship and more.

“I think ju st more thin culturally, Tampa a gs nd though w in common than Fa Sacramento have a rg e grew up l so far aw o. The way we gre ot with one w a y, w ano up, hobbies o ther. Having the sa e had more similar even r things y it ou do out me interests like m ies we conne s u ide of sch cted more ool, I just sic, .” - Ch f elt like ristian W

atson

Genesis Of A Friendship

Coming From The Coasts

Christian Watson: I'd say the first thing that kind of just sparked our interest in each other was a Snapchat group we had with our recruiting class. It just seemed like we were both into the same type of things. Everyone else would just send random pictures to one another. Dawson and I were just talking back and forth to each other to see what each other was doing. When I came on my official, I didn't come on my official with Dawson, but not having met him, I could see we had the same interests. We were able to start a little friendship before we both even got here.

DW: It was big to have someone to connect with on that front. When we got up here, we had to adjust to the weather and stuff like that. We both were cold. We both came from bigger cities and bigger populated areas so coming here was a little smaller for us. There are some kids on the team who think of Fargo as a big city. To both of us, Fargo is more of a small city.

Dawson Weber: He was actually the first person in our class to commit here. I was coming in a little bit later to that class. It was cool to have somebody who knew about the culture more than I did. That's kind of what drew me to him at first and like he said, we had similar interests and hobbies. Similar tastes in music and stuff too. That was a big thing that brought us together.

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CW: I think just culturally, Tampa and Sacramento have a lot more things in common than Fargo. The way we grew up, even though we grew up so far away, we had more similarities with one another. Having the same interests like music, hobbies or things you do outside of school, I just felt like we connected more. I just had more similarities with Dawson than some of the other guys on the team.

“ I feel with our parents, I think our moms both did a great job raising us. They were instilling morals and values in our everyday lives. I feel like our moms see eye to eye on a bunch of things that trickle down to us.” - Dawson Weber

Bonding Points

The Pandemic And Friendship

CW: I think it just points back to some of the things we do. When we would be sending Snapchats back and forth, it just seemed like we were doing the same things at the same time. Whether that's outside of school, our sports and stuff like that, it just seemed like we were always doing the same thing.

CW: You need those strong friendships during bad times more than any. It is a lot about football, but it's not always about football. There's a big mental side to these types of things. Even football there's a big mental side to it. I think a lot of athletes out there have a tough time mentally even more so now with COVID. Being able to have that friendship outside of football, those relationships and those friendships, it definitely helps you. When you're in those tough places, it's important to have moments where you just sit back at home, have conversations or play video games. Doing those things helps you not have to worry about football for a second. That has definitely helped me during these tougher times.

DW: Piggybacking off of that I feel with our parents, I think our moms both did a great job raising us. They were instilling morals and values in our everyday lives. I feel like our moms see eye to eye on a bunch of things that trickle down to us.

Football's Role In Friendship DW: The culture is bigger here with the football team and within our team as a whole. I feel like we stress a lot about brotherhood here and a lot about a family. That's a big part of it. I feel like understanding brotherhood and family just drew us closer and allowed us to dig deeper into each other's lives. We really got to know each other more as we got here.

DW: I know we both had Oregon circled on our schedule. I feel like with the pandemic and everything going on it, it's easy to lose track of what's important. We came here for football, but life isn't about football, there's more to life. It allowed us to step away from football for a little bit and really find hobbies elsewhere and find interests elsewhere. It also really helped us dig deeper into our faith too.

CW: Getting into the flow of a freshman year can be really intimidating. You got like 200 things to do in a day that you didn't really have to do in high school. Having someone to hold you accountable for those things helps your friendship grow.

Social Justice DW: I would say social justice has a huge impact on our team. We all feel passionate about it. Everybody has opinions and different ways to go about social injustices. I feel like taking a knee in the fall as some people did, including myself, was all directed towards all the social injustices. I feel like some people who saw it the wrong way, were looking at it from a different lens. Me being a white male, I have to be able to listen, understand and feel for my black brothers on my team. Our voices are being heard. I want to continue to try and find ways to keep our voices at the forefront. CW: I definitely think it's a tough conversation to have. Especially with people from all over the place and people being raised in different ways. Not necessarily saying people have been raised poorly or anything but, people just see things in a different way. It's kind of tough to passionately explain something to someone else when they don't really fully understand it. The toughest thing about these conversations is making sure people are understanding the action. The questions for us have been how can we do this and bring awareness and not have people giving us a cold shoulder.

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We're just trying to figure out ways to not have people misconstrue what we're trying to get out there. We're trying to advocate. DW: I felt like a bunch of people look at us as football players and only football players. As a team, our purpose and the most important thing behind this is making it more than a game day action. What are we going to do after the game? What will we do throughout the week? What are we going to do for social justice outside of game day? We talked and discussed making these actions a weekly, monthly and yearly thing. That is something where we can instill change in these next generations.

NDSU's Role In Friendship DW: This place is truly special to me. I feel like it changed my life and it actually helped me grow into the person that I am today. I came in as a freshman and I didn't know what to expect. I was taking it day by day not knowing the importance of team camaraderie, Bison Pride and all this stuff that the older guys have talked to us about. Having been here for four years now, I've stepped into the role of understanding the importance

of brotherhood, Bison Pride and that family aspect. Us being here for so long and stepping back and understanding the importance of this place is truly special. CW: Taking a step back and looking back and wondering if I had done something different, it's interesting. I take a step back and look back at all the things that I can be thankful for and all of the opportunities that I would have missed out on if I would have gone elsewhere. It just kind of reminds me of how blessed I am. NDSU was my one and only offer to play college football. If I would have decided to do something else, it's hard to think about because I didn't really have many options. Being able to look back and look at all the things that I've learned and how much I've grown as a man and as a football player is important. I'm thankful for the opportunities I've been given here at NDSU. Looking back at it, I wouldn't have changed a single step.

Ashleigh Heely Freshman | defender/m idfield | Hometown: to rrance, ca

lif.

e c n a t Dis g n i n r Lea d Kelsey Kallio forged0 an y el He gh ei hl As en hm es True fr e nearly 2,00 th e it sp de SU ND re fo be ip a real friendsh . miles between them

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Kelsey Kallio freshman | midfield/fo rward | Hometown: an dover, mi

nn.

Before Ashleigh Heely and Kelsey Kallio stepped onto campus at North Dakota State, they had each other in their respective corners. The two Bison freshmen got to know one another quite well leading up to their collegiate careers. This was done via text, Snapchat and FaceTime, which the pair would do every day. Heely and Kallio were able to create that strong friendship at a distance. Kallio is a native of Andover, Minnesota, which is located just north of the Twin Cities. Heely grew up some 2,000 miles away from Andover in Torrance, California, a part of the greater Los Angeles area.

So when the pair finally arrived in Fargo, they already had chemistry established. Their friendship allowed them to acclimate to college life rather quickly. So much so that both Heely and Kallio are everyday contributors for Mike Regan’s club. Despite being in their first year, they are already making a strong impact on the soccer program and their teammates. Great success is most certainly in the duo’s future. For now, they discussed their long-distance friendship, the privilege of playing Division I and more.

A Friendship Blooms

The Transition To College

Ashleigh Heely: After our official visit, that's when Kelsey and I got really close. We would talk all the time, FaceTime every day and just build our relationship on that.

KK: Having someone who we already knew helped ease us into coming here, for sure. For me, knowing a familiar face when we first got to campus was really important. We actually ended up not living in the same room in the summer, so we were able to have our personal time too. That was a good mix on top of hanging out with Ash in her room or whatever.

Kelsey Kallio: I think the biggest thing was that we were just so excited to actually get to meet each other in person. Obviously, we live in two different states and it is really hard because we couldn't meet up like you could have with your club soccer friends. I think when we first came in the summer was the most exciting part. We were actually able to see each other consistently. AH: Right off the bat, everyone kind of knew we were super close. We really focused on just building that relationship between July and October.

Bonding Points AH: I think we have very similar music tastes. We bonded over music a lot or we would always send each other new songs. That's mainly how we got started getting to know each other. KK: That was the stem of our friendship, honestly and it does kind of sound weird to say now. We were also getting to know each other on a more personal level too. We both have older sisters, we play similar positions so we bonded over those facts too.

AH: Coming in, I didn't know one person here. I think Kelsey had a few people from Minnesota she knew, but I didn't know anyone. So it was nice to have someone to immediately talk to and be comfortable with.

The COVID-19 Cancelation AH: I think the advantage is that we really got to learn what being a Division I soccer player is like. We had to learn how to manage our time right away. I think it gave us the ability to really get to know the team chemistry and get even more prepared for the season. Playing in the spring rather than the fall, we knew the team was going to be so much better than it was because the chemistry was already there. KK: I would agree with that. Going off of that, coming in as a freshman, it’s super hard to learn a Division I program. Especially like game models and offensive and defensive strategy. The spring season gave us some extra months to learn those aspects as well as create meaningful relationships with our teammates on and off the field.

AH: Kelsey came out to California for a game and I went and watched her play. I think that's also where we got closer because we got to connect in person.

minds “We have talked about this a lot like it blows our we to this day. If one of us makes a different decision, huge wouldn’t know each other. I think we all have had life so impacts on one another and it has made everyone’s ing much better in a positive way. I can’t imagine not hav else.” our team as a whole in my life or going anywhere

- Ashleigh Heely

Making An Impact KK: For me personally, I think it's such a blessing being able to play at a Division I level. Getting the opportunity to step on the field as a freshman has been very impactful to me as a player. I'm sure Ash feels the same way, but it's just mind-blowing how much fun it is and how much better the competition is than playing at a high school level. AH: I've been dreaming of playing Division I soccer ever since I was little. Being here and being around people that also really want to be here has just made the experience amazing. We're all so grateful to be here, and it really shows on the field. To be able to play as a freshman I think is a huge accomplishment. It just makes me realize that there are so many people that would want to be in this position. We just need to take it day by day and just be grateful for everything we have.

The Gravity Of This Situation KK: It's kind of jaw-dropping, honestly. If we both would have never made the decision to come here and play soccer, we would have never known each other and built the connection that we have. AH: We have talked about this a lot like it blows our minds to this day. If one of us makes a different decision, we wouldn't know each other. I think we all have had huge impacts on one another and it has made everyone's life so much better in a positive way. I can't imagine not having our team as a whole in my life or going anywhere else.

“For me personally, I think it’s such a blessi ng being able to play at a Division I level. Getting the oppo rtunity to step on the field as a freshm an has been very impa ctful to me as a player. I’m sure As h feels the same way, but it’s just mind-blowing how m uch fun it is and how much better the competition is than pl aying at a high school level.” - Ke

lsey Kallio

Changing Perspectives AH: I wouldn't necessarily say my perspective changes upon coming here. I love learning about where other people have lived, how their high school was, how they grew up or how their family was. I wouldn't necessarily say my perspective changed. I just really enjoy learning about what the differences are between each state and where everyone's from, KK: I would agree with that. Also, having a bunch of Canadians on the team has really opened up how different life is there versus in the states. We've learned about Canadian Thanksgiving and all these new things. As Ashley said, it hasn't changed my perspective at all. It's so refreshing to get to know more about people and their home lives. I think the funniest thing for us is sometimes in the summer we would just sit in a circle and name off certain words. We would ask each other 'how do you say bagel?' or 'how do you say bag?' and things like that. It was so funny to hear everyone say it differently.

What's Next... KK: I think just continuously finding time outside of soccer to actually

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grow and build friendships off of that. Obviously, it's super important to have those strong relationships on the field too. Getting to know someone more personally each and every day can just impact your playing style with them. Feeling more trust with my teammates on the field and off the field is going to be huge. AH: The way I think we all can grow as not just individuals, but as a freshman class is that we need to be there for the classes that come in next. The classes ahead of us do the same for us and are leaders. The next three classes that come behind us will need leadership and we have to be able to provide that. KK: The accountability piece is something that has been very repetitive. We want to be accountable for everyone, no matter any circumstance. Us holding ourselves accountable to being leaders for the classes that come next is important. AH: Our coaches are really big on having those relationships. I think one way we could grow is just by reaching out to someone new. We're all fairly close on the team, but even if you don't hang out with someone all the time, reaching out can go a long way.

Speaking Your Business Language for 45 Years Ser ving the Upper Midwest

For ward Thinking. Reliable Advice. 701-237-6022 wr.cpa

DESTINED FOR GREATNESS True freshman Kellyn March has continued a strong 133-pound tradition for NDSU wrestling. By Nolan P. Schmidt Nolan P. Schmidt 48

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s just a true freshman, Kellyn March has been tasked with a tall order within North Dakota State's wrestling program. Wrestling at 133 pounds, March is filling a position that produced NDSU's first Big 12 champion in Cam Sykora last season. For some, that role can be filled with over-the-top expectations and pressure. Regardless of if that is true or not, March has helped continue making 133 pounds a dangerous spot for Roger Kish and the Bison. In only his first year on campus, the Canton, S.D., native has eyes set on wrestling's top prizes. March began his path to success in his very first collegiate match. Facing Oregon State, the Beavers trotted out Devan Turner, the seventhranked 133 pounder in the country, for March

to battle. The freshman, March, not only won said match, but he dominated the seventhranked Turner. March won by a major decision 14-5 and picked up another victory when the Bison faced Missouri later that day. In total, March picked up five wins in the regular season including two wins in his last three matches leading into the Big 12 Championships. This included his first collegiate pin on South Dakota State's Greg Coapstick. With big goals in mind, we sat down with the South Dakota native to discuss the hot start and carrying the 133-pound baton for NDSU.

Kellyn March

Freshman 133 pounds Hometown: Canton, S.D. Picked up his first collegiate victory over seventh-ranked 133-pounder Devan Turner of Oregon State on January 3

NDSU has had a lot of success at 133 pounds, especially in the last four or five years with Cam [Sykora] becoming the first Big 12 champion for the program. How did you approach this role from a mental standpoint, knowing all of the history behind this weight class and the fact that it has been so successful for a very long time? To fill the shoes that Cam left is a big thing. It's one of those things where you want to live up to those expectations and more. For me, I always have had big goals for my wrestling and stuff like that. I'm that type of person that's going to try to one-up everyone. So now, I'm going to try to shoot for at least two Big 12 titles. Hopefully, I can be a part of that great group of 133-pounders one day. That would be something really cool. What did winning your first few matches do for your confidence? Being able to get some victories in the early going, especially in your first collegiate matches. How important was that to really get off to a hot start? I think it's huge because of the COVID year. There are a lot of downsides and upsides to it. It's good for us

freshmen because normally we'd only have open tournaments, and we'd only be wrestling kids that are other freshmen. Being able to actually wrestle throughout the season as our redshirt year and getting to gauge and see where we're at is something very special that nobody has really ever had. For us freshmen, it's an advantage. Was there a point where you and the coaching staff discovered that this is a situation where you could step in right away and not need to take a redshirt year? We knew that because we had such a young team that our young guys were just going to get better and better for us as a team. For me just getting in the wrestling room and getting to learn was big. Even the conditioning and the techniques are way different at the Division I level compared to high school. When I was getting in the room, I started making some of the transitions and getting a lot better in some of those positions. It kind of just made sense that it was time to step on the mat. What were some of the biggest hurdles for you in making that jump? You need to be very precise with your techniques. You can have good technique when you are competing, but when it comes to the difference between high school and Division I, it is that difference in your technique. You could be making little mental errors in some of the techniques that can cost you positions. Being able to get in the room and wrestle with some of those Division I guys that have been there and getting to pick their brains was important. You'll end up making some of the moves that you have done in high school and over the course of doing that, you'll learn that some of you old moves won't work at this level.

“IT’S GOOD FOR US FRESHMEN BECAUSE NORMALLY WE’D ONLY HAVE OPEN TOURNAMENTS, AND WE’D ONLY BE WRESTLING KIDS THAT ARE OTHER FRESHMEN. BEING ABLE TO ACTUALLY WRESTLE THROUGHOUT THE SEASON AS OUR REDSHIRT YEAR AND GETTING TO GAUGE AND SEE WHERE WE’RE AT IS SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL THAT NOBODY HAS REALLY EVER HAD.” - KELLYN MARCH

From there, you can diagnose what to fix. Fixing those little mental errors that you had in high school helps you make that big jump in college. What was your decision-making process to take that jump across the border to North Dakota State instead of a school closer to home in South Dakota? A lot of it was the coaches and just the fan base. When recruiting first opened up for me, [Roger] Kish and all those guys were the first coaches to contact me. Through the entire recruiting process, they never pressured me into making decisions, they did everything based on my timeline, they never forced me into making decisions. They were very nice to me. When I finally got to come on my official visit, just getting to witness the fan base for the football team and stuff like that, it just draws you in. You want to be a part of something like that. You get to compete on the biggest stages in wrestling. Be that the Big 12 Championships or the NCAA Championships. You grew up competing in tournaments in Tulsa where the Big 12 Championships are held. Does that opportunity bring this thing full circle for you? Knowing that you became a great wrestler as a youngster in Tulsa and now you can prove your one of the nation's best in the same city? Yeah, it's gonna be something really special because the last time that I went to Tulsa was my eighth grade year. It was for a big national tournament and so getting to see the difference will be special. From being there as a middle school kid going to a high school national tournament to being Division I and getting to go back to Tulsa and wrestle there again is going to be something really special. 51

Immediate Impact Chatting with true freshman ace Cade Feeney on what he brings to the bump for the Bison.

Cade Feeney’s athletic heritage stretches far and wide. His father, Steve, played football for the University of North Dakota. His cousin Trey just committed to play football for the Fighting Hawks as well. Kevin, Cade’s uncle (and Trey’s father), is still regarded as one of NDSU’s best quarterbacks. That is not even mentioning his brother Dalton, who currently pitches for North Carolina State and was drafted by the Detroit Tigers.

Needless to say, Cade Feeney has the heritage behind him. However, what makes the youngest Feeney sibling so special is that he is forging his own path. While he holds his family’s successes in high regard, it is his own personal success that is top of mind. Given his body of work in his prep career. Feeney looks to become another dominating force on the mound for North Dakota State. Potentially one of the most highly-touted recruits in program history, Feeney dazzled for Bismarck Century High School. In his final prep season, he finished with a remarkable .80 ERA for the Patriots. His dominance on the bump led

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to him garnering Gatorade Player of the Year honors in 2019.

It should come as no surprise that Tod Brown was interested in Feeney. Now a big piece to NDSU’s puzzle in 2021, Feeney has already caught the eye of several Summit League teams. The freshman was named the preseason Freshman Of The Year before he even stepped foot on the mound for the Bison. That distinction alone should illustrate just how good Cade Feeney is. We discussed a transition to college life and more with Feeney. Growing up in a family where your dad went to school at UND, how did you decide to make NDSU your choice for school? Yeah, it was tough. I know talking with my dad, he always wanted me and my brother to play football. When my brother Dalton committed to play baseball, it just took a turn on me where I thought baseball was my path too. I was a little better in baseball than I was in football, but he's been the most supportive of me throughout all my years. I think he was happy with

whatever decision I made. I think he's just happy that I'm playing college baseball. What jumped out to you about the program here at NDSU? What led to you wanting to come here? On my visit, I think the coaches did a tremendous job of showing me around and introducing me to the guys. I felt the good chemistry right away with the recruits coming in. I think just talking on the phone with the coaches continuously was the biggest thing for me. They've always been supportive. No matter what, whatever I was going through, be it an injury or whatever, they've always been there. I think that was the biggest thing. They're one of the most supportive coaching groups that I've talked to. I think they just do a great job of talking with you and showing you everything. Simple things like walking around campus or baseball aspects too. I've learned so many new things from them in just half a year so far. How have you guys navigated these pandemic waters that are changing each day? I think the answer is in the question. We don't know if we're going to have a next

By Nolan P. Schmidt Photo By Nolan P. Schmidt

cade feeney

Freshman Pitcher/Infield Hometown: Bismarck, North Dakota

I think I just bring confidence on the mound, I think that’s my biggest role. If coach has put me out there, I’m out there for a reason. I think that they’ve put a lot of trust in me and I have that trust in them. On the mound, having a presence and getting the job done to get our team into a position to win is the biggest thing.” - Cade Feeney

weekend or anything like that. With COVID testing, you never know if you're going to be contacted for tracing. That's just more reason to go out and perform your hardest because you never know if you're going to get that next weekend. What do you think you bring to this program? What are some of your strong points that you think can help this program? I think I just bring confidence on the mound, I think that's my biggest role. If coach has put me out there, I'm out there for a reason. I think that they've put a lot of trust in me and I have that trust in them. On the mound, having a presence and getting the job done to get our team into a position to win is the biggest thing. From a chemistry standpoint, how have you gone about finding your role on a team that has a lot of returners? The older guys did a great job of helping me and trying to show me the ropes of it. I think that they've done a great job teaching me. I know that I've looked up to a lot of these older guys in the fall and in this winter to try to prepare me for this spring and they've done a great job. They've been talking with me on what other teams like to do and their strengths or weaknesses. The older guys have just

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done a tremendous job bringing me in and teaching me.

it isn't much else. This spring has been a whole different ballgame and I like it.

Your family has a history of athletic excellence, how do you go about blocking out expectations and pressure in that regard? How do you focus on what you can control?

How do you kind of go about handling the ups and downs the game can bring from a mental point of view?

I wouldn't say there's that much pressure. If I'm playing a game that I love, that's the biggest thing for me. Yeah, there's a lot of history and some people are looking at me for something, but to me, it's just coming out here every day trying to do my best and trying to help the team win. I think if I do those things, my career can speak for itself. What are some things that you want to see yourself grow in over the course of the next couple of months here as the season progresses a little bit? Class in the spring with our travel is challenging, I have definitely noticed that. It's tough to keep up with grades and all that. On the field, I'd say probably hitting for sure is my biggest area of improvement. I'm just working with [David] Pearson and he's done a tremendous job teaching me so many new things that that I just never knew. On the mound, I think [Tyler] Oakes has done a great job of teaching me everything. Coming from high school, it's just about getting on the mound and

We do a lot of visualization that Oakes does with us so we can kind of prepare ourselves before we actually get into those tough situations. When runners get on or someone just smacks a leadoff double or whatever, it's just about battling through it. I think Oakes does a great job preparing us for that. It all comes down to just wanting it more than the batter and you just got to go out and keep attacking and not veer off or get scared. We just have to keep attacking.

march/april

athletics calendar March 3/12 Softball vs Illinois State Murfreesboro, Tenn. 10 a.m. Men’s And Women’s Track & Field NCAA Indoor Championships Fayetteville, Ark. Women’s Golf Pizza Hut Lady Thunderbird Invitational St. George, Utah Soccer at North Dakota Grand Forks, N.D. 2 p.m. Baseball at Dayton Dayton, Ohio 2 p.m. Softball at Middle Tennessee State Murfreesboro, Tenn. 3 p.m. Volleyball vs Omaha Fargo, N.D. 7 p.m.

3/13 Softball vs Dayton Murfreesboro, Tenn. 10 a.m.

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Men’s And Women’s Track & Field NCAA Indoor Championships Fayetteville, Ark. Baseball at Dayton Dayton, Ohio 12 p.m. Football vs Illinois State 2:30 p.m. Softball Middle Tennessee State Invitational Murfreesboro, Tenn. 3 p.m. or 5:30 p.m. Volleyball vs Omaha Fargo, N.D. 5 p.m.

3/14 Softball Middle Tennessee State Invitational Murfreesboro, Tenn. 10 a.m. or 12:30 p.m. Baseball at Dayton Dayton, Ohio 12 p.m. Soccer at North Dakota Grand Forks, N.D. 2 p.m.

3/15 Women’s Golf BYU Spring Classic Hurricane, Utah Men’s Golf GCU Invitational Phoenix, Ariz.

3/16 Women’s Golf BYU Spring Classic Hurricane, Utah Men’s Golf GCU Invitational Phoenix, Ariz. Baseball at Dayton Dayton, Ohio 12 p.m.

3/18 Wrestling NCAA Championships St. Louis, Mo.

3/19 Wrestling NCAA Championships St. Louis, Mo. Softball Kansas Rock Chalk Challenge Lawrence, Kan. Baseball at Western Illinois (Double Header) Macomb, Ill. 12 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Volleyball at Denver Denver, Colo. 7 p.m.

3/20 Wrestling NCAA Championships St. Louis, Mo. Softball Kansas Rock Chalk Challenge Lawrence, Kan. Baseball at Western Illinois Macomb, Ill. 1 p.m. Football vs North Dakota Fargo, N.D. 2:30 p.m. Volleyball at Denver Denver, Colo. 7 p.m.

3/21 Softball Kansas Rock Chalk Challenge Lawrence, Kan. Baseball at Western Illinois Macomb, Ill. 1 p.m.

Baseball at Oral Roberts Tulsa, Okla. 1 p.m. Soccer vs South Dakota State Fargo, N.D. 1 p.m.

April 4/1 Soccer at South Dakota Vermillion, S.D. 6 p.m.

3/26 Baseball at Oral Roberts (Double Header) Tulsa, Okla. 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

4/2 Volleyball Summit League Championships Sioux Falls, S.D.

Soccer vs South Dakota State Fargo, N.D. 6 p.m.

Softball at Kansas City (Double Header) Kansas City, Mo. 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.

Volleyball at North Dakota Grand Forks, N.D. 7 p.m.

Baseball at Omaha Omaha, Neb. 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

3/27

4/3

Softball at Western Illinois (Double Header) Macomb, Ill. 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.

Volleyball Summit League Championships Sioux Falls, S.D.

Football at South Dakota Vermillion, S.D. 1 p.m.

Softball at Kansas City (Double Header) Kansas City, Mo. 11 a.m.

Baseball at Oral Roberts Tulsa, Okla. 2 p.m.

Soccer at South Dakota Vermillion, S.D. 1 p.m.

Volleyball at North Dakota Grand Forks, N.D. 7 p.m.

Football vs South Dakota State Fargo, N.D. 2:30 p.m.

3/28

Baseball at Omaha Omaha, Neb. 3 p.m.

Softball at Western Illinois Macomb, Ill. 11 a.m.

4/4 Baseball at Omaha Omaha, Neb. 1 p.m.

4/5 Men’s And Women’s Golf Golfweek Spring Invitational Pawleys Island, S.C.

4/6 Men’s And Women’s Golf Golfweek Spring Invitational Pawleys Island, S.C.

4/9 Baseball vs Western Illinois (Double Header) Fargo, N.D. 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Soccer vs Oral Roberts Fargo, N.D. 6 p.m.

4/10 Softball vs South Dakota (Double Header) Fargo, N.D. 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. Baseball vs Western Illinois Fargo, N.D. 2 p.m. Football at Northern Iowa Cedar Falls, Iowa 4 p.m.

4/11 Softball vs South Dakota (Double Header) Fargo, N.D. 11 a.m.

DOWN THE ROAD 4/12 Men’s And Women’s Golf Stampede At The Creek Elkhorn, Neb.

4/13 Men’s And Women’s Golf Stampede At The Creek Elkhorn, Neb.

4/15 Soccer Summit League Championships Omaha, Neb.

4/16 Baseball vs Oral Roberts (Double Header) Fargo, N.D. 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Softball vs Iowa State Fargo, N.D. 4 p.m.

4/17 Soccer Summit League Championships Omaha, Neb. Softball vs Iowa State Fargo, N.D. 1 p.m. Baseball vs Oral Roberts (Double Header) Fargo, N.D.

4/18 Softball vs Iowa State Fargo, N.D. 12 p.m.

Soccer vs Oral Roberts Fargo, N.D. 12 p.m.

Baseball vs Oral Roberts (Double Header) Fargo, N.D. 1 p.m.

Baseball vs Western Illinois Fargo, N.D. 1 p.m.

All game times and locations are subject to change.

TEAM MAKERS

Teeing Up With Team Makers Team Makers golf opens are back and one event celebrates a monumental anniversary.

t’s that time of year again, Bison Nation. As the weather warms and the snow thaws, the fairways and greens of our region’s finest golf courses begin to prepare for its busiest season. With avid golfers taking to the links, North Dakota State Team Makers will be hosting their annual array of golf outings. Not only are Team Makers golf outings a wonderful way to support Team Makers, but it is also a great networking event. The camaraderie associated with these golf outings is second to

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none as Bison fans and coaches tee off for the sake of Bison student-athlete scholarships. Over the years, Team Makers has been able to expand their reach for these golf outings, with events stretching as far as the Twin Cities. The Twin Cities Open (sponsored by SCHEELS) will take place for the first time at the Bent Creek Golf Club in Eden Prairie. A new event to the golf lineup, the Twin Cities Open is designed to include the wide NDSU alumni population throughout the

Minneapolis-St. Paul area. Team Makers will look to build its turnout for this event exponentially as the summers pass. Events in Detroit Lakes, Hawley, Devils Lake and Wahpeton will follow the Twin Cities outing. An annual staple for Team Makers, it provides an opportunity for the group to reach areas they may not normally find themselves in. It also is a way to reach every corner of Bison Nation in North Dakota and Minnesota.

2021 Team Makers Golf Outing Schedule Twin Cities Open (Sponsored By SCHEELS) Bent Creek Golf Club (Eden Prairie, Minn.) Monday, June 7

Detroit Lakes Open Detroit Country Club (Detroit Lakes, Minn.) Thursday, June 10

Hawley Open Hawley Golf & Country Club (Hawley, Minn.) Monday, June 21

Devils Lake Open Creel Bay Golf Course (Devils Lake, N.D.) Thursday, June 24

Wahpeton Open Bois de Sioux Golf Course (Wahpeton, N.D.) Thursday, July 29 The highlight of the summer will most certainly be the annual Lynn Dorn Bison Women’s Golf Classic in Fargo on August 4. Named after NDSU’s former women’s athletic director, it is a testament to the hard work Dorn put into the athletic department for decades. 2021 will mark the 25th year of the women’s classic for Team Makers. A true milestone, the Lynn Dorn classic is one of the most highly attended events Team Makers holds. In its 25th year now, it is sure to be a busy and exciting day at Edgewood Golf Course for Team Makers.

To round out the summer, Team Makers will host its duo of Fargo outings. The golf outing schedule will conclude in mid-September at Fargo Country Club for the Fargo Open. Be sure to compete at one of these great events this summer to help support Team Makers and their goal of fueling academic and athletic excellence at North Dakota State.

Lynn Dorn Bison Women’s Golf Classic (25th Anniversary) Edgewood Golf Course (Fargo, N.D.) Wednesday, August 4

Edgewood Open Edgewood Golf Course (Fargo, N.D.) Wednesday, August 11

Fargo Open Fargo Country Club (Fargo, N.D.) Monday, September 13 For more information and to register go to ndsuathleticfund.com/events. 59

SWANY SAYS

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

A Hoops Dream Deferred n the snowy haze of a late Washington afternoon, a dream was deferred because of a fumble that never was. That dream deferred did not dry up or fester. No, it exploded into eight national championships over the next nine seasons. North Dakota State used that crushing loss in December 2010 at the hands of Eastern Washington as a catalyst.

Fast forward a decade or so. On a Tuesday night of an unseasonably warm day in early March 2021, another NDSU team was on the cusp as the Bison rallied from a 25-point halftime deficit, down a single point in the game’s closing seconds, with a chance to beat Oral Roberts and clinch a spot in the NCAA Tournament. 60

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It wasn’t to be. Trailing by that single point, Sam Griesel positioned himself inside the circle only feet from the hoop for a potential game-winner. Griesel was fouled. The only problem, like that snowy day in Washington, was that the official standing with a clear view two yards away never called the foul. While photo evidence shows Griesel being mauled by ORU’s Francis Lacis, an unwhistled foul deferred, at least temporarily, NDSU’s dreams of making noise in March. What happens to a hoops dream deferred? There were only two seniors on NDSU’s roster this winter. The only one taking part in the annual Senior Day ceremony was Tyler Witz. That other senior, Rocky Kreuser, is one of the best players in the Summit League. Kreuser was named to the all-league first team this year, is eligible to return next year, and by all reports, intends to do so. The 6-foot-10 forward from White Bear Lake, Minn., took over the Summit League Tournament’s

championship game in the second half, finishing with 34 points. In addition to Kreuser, the Bison return all four starters that took the court at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls. This includes Sam Griesel, who made the All-Summit League second team, and freshman Grant Nelson, who was named the league’s Sixth Man of the Year. Don’t forget about Tyree Eady, Jarius Cook and Maleeck Harden-Hayes, who all averaged over nine points per game. Beyond the talent, seeing past the points and rebounds, this team has the intangibles stacked heavily in its favor. Don’t get fixated on statistics like the fact the Bison have over 99 percent of their scoring and 98.7 percent of their rebounding coming back. Focus on this. NDSU is led by the best coach, and coaching staff, in the Summit League. They have a hard-working roster that’s been together for several years. They have that “it” factor, the great unquantifiable that allows a team to erase a 25-point halftime deficit when most teams would have packed it in and chalked up things to a bad night.

DAVE EGGEN/INERTIA

Not these guys. What they did takes the sort of heart and poise that can propel a team to bigger things. We’re talking the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament big things. It takes experience and leadership. It takes a certain sort of resiliency and intestinal fortitude. It takes a darn good basketball team, and program. It takes belief. “Really thrilled with the leadership of this group,” said NDSU head coach Dave Richman after a 79-75 win over South Dakota in the tournament semifinals. “I tell everybody who is listening right now what I just told these guys … we have simply jumped on the back of three young men [Kreuser, Griesel and Eady] who exemplify everything that I want this program to be about.” Now, they have that bad taste of falling agonizingly short to fuel their dream deferred, only if that dream is put off by a year. While the first ball hasn’t even tipped this March, for this group of Bison, all eyes are on next March. A lesson learned, a building block,

absolutely. A lesson and building block that hurts like hell, but one that can serve as a catalyst. It’s a mistake to overlook or downplay how a game like this can fuel a competitor. Just ask the rest of the FCS in the wake of NDSU’s loss at Eastern Washington some 11 years ago. Players and coaches often mention that game, and fans still talk about it as a key reference point for what followed. It was the prelude. I suspect we’ll be hearing a lot, one-year from right now, how a second-half rally in March 2021 in Sioux Falls served as a rocket-fueled catapult for a team entering the 2022 NCAA Tournament with the potential to take down some big boys. Who knows, Bison fans could even find themselves making a familiar drive down I-29 as one of the sites for next year’s tournament’s First and Second Rounds is Fort Worth, Texas, at Dickies Arena, just a long threepointer from friendly haunts in Frisco and Plano. We could have a decided home-court advantage in a place Bison fans affectionately call “Fargo South.”

“It’s hard to figure it out now, but somewhere down the road, we’re going to be better for this,” said Richman after losing to ORU. While NDSU’s hoops dream may be deferred until next March, do not expect it to dry up, fester or sag. Expect it to explode. Everybody up for the tip-off, the March is on.