Bison Illustrated May 2021 by Spotlight Media

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C O M P L I M E N TA RY

CONTENTS

COVER STORY 28

THE BISON BUNCH

Busy times have guided North Dakota State through a wacky spring athletic year. With each sport playing at the exact same time, it can become hard to keep track of it all. Let alone trying to digest wins, losses, ties and statistics. This month, we do the heavy lifting for you as we profile special studentathletes from across numerous athletics programs. In the midst of a busy season, find out what makes these Bison so special.

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RECURRING

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Kenny Sampson in his custom "Thundering Herd" forklift. 14

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A Beacon Of Pride As a lifelong Bison fan, Kenny Sampson understands the word ‘pride’. That pride radiates through Sampson in his life as a diehard NDSU fan.

It’s a cold, cloudy day in north Moorhead, but the attitude inside the D-S Beverages warehouse is anything but dreary. Kenny Sampson, a lifelong Bison fan and D-S Beverages employee, is the one brightening up the warehouse this day. Things begin to flow naturally as Sampson launches into story after story about North Dakota State. Kenny Sampson has been working with D-S Beverages for almost three decades. He has been a Bison fan for nearly five decades. Known for his quick wit and timeless stories, Sampson seems like a man who could spend all day talking about his life. On this day in Moorhead, he sits on an Anheuser-Busch barstool to talk about his favorite topic: the North Dakota State Bison. “That’s the one right there. That one is mine,” he said, pointing to his go-to forklift inside the D-S Beverages warehouse. It’s your standard forklift, but “Thundering Herd” is emblazoned upon the side, complete with NDSU’s logo and a Bud Light logo. Recently, D-S Beverages was able to make Bud Light the “Official Beer of the Bison” thanks to North Dakota State athletics’ new relationship with Learfield IMG College. You see, while Kenny has been committed to his work at D-S Beverages for almost 30 years, he has been committed to North Dakota State even longer. Sampson is a true Bison fan. Not only that, but his relationship with NDSU helped D-S Beverages become the “Official Beer of the Bison.”

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“I see the same things. I think it gets bred into you because you just learn to do things the right way. Each person here works so hard for the benefit of the whole team. It is the same way in the athletic department, regardless of sport. You cannot teach that level of work ethic.” - Kenny Sampson The “Thundering Herd” forklift.

Think of your favorite Bison memory? Chances are Kenny Sampson was there. He was there to pick Gene Taylor up from the airport upon Taylor being hired as the new athletics director at NDSU. Sampson has been there for epic games inside the Fargodome, Scheels Center, BBF and the Bison Sports Arena and of course Dacotah Field before that. Ironically, Sampson did not attend North Dakota State University but he does have an alumni connection to the university. Sampson’s daughter is a graduate of NDSU and one has to assume her father nudged her in a certain direction. For this Bison fan, he sort of fell into a love for the Bison. “I actually went on to graduate from NDSCS in Wahpeton. I got a two-year degree and then I was thinking about being a teacher. I went to Moorhead State for one year and I just went to work after that,” Sampson said of his early years before the Bison came into view. “I worked for a sporting goods store Downtown here and guess who we sold equipment to? North Dakota State. That’s how I really got into Bison athletics and it sort of mushroomed from there.” The first Bison game Sampson ever attended was a night game against South Dakota State in 1976. Played at the old Dacotah Field, Sampson says this was the pivotal moment in him becoming a fan of NDSU. It probably helped that the Bison bested the Jackrabbits 13-0 in that game. The Bison finished the season 9-3 under coach Jim Wacker before losing in the Division II semifinals to Montana State. “I was tickled pink because I thought attending a college football game was a big deal. And it was a big deal,” Sampson said of his unforgettable night at Dacotah Field some 45 years ago. “40 some years later, I get to go

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SPONSORED CONTENT to college football games at Notre Dame, Michigan, Iowa, Iowa State and Arizona State. If you were to tell me that back then, I’d probably call you crazy.” Sampson’s love for the Bison bleeds into how he lives his daily life too. He sees the value system in place within NDSU athletics and uses it in his own life too. Sampson and NDSU are committed to helping their team first. In many ways, Sampson’s employer shares the same values as NDSU athletics. Just as NDSU has a family with athletes, coaches and staff, D-S Beverages has its family of team members and customers. “I see the same things in both organizations. I think it gets bred into you because you just learn to do things the right way,” Sampson said of the similarities between NDSU athletics and D-S Beverages. “Each person here works so hard for the benefit of the whole team. It is the same way in the athletic department, regardless of sport. You cannot teach that level of work ethic.”

The D-S Beverages Trophy Case “Building a culture is also about winning. I’m a competitive person and I like to win.” -Doug Restemayer, President & Owner

Why does Sampson see these values as the right ones to live by? Because they have been proven to work. A simple look inside the Scheels Center trophy case is evidence enough. While there have no doubt been ups and downs in NDSU’s athletics history, Sampson has stuck by the Bison through it all. That level of commitment does not go unnoticed nor should it. Sampson has opted to serve NDSU athletics in numerous ways. Over his years as a member of the Herd, Sampson has been an avid member of Team Makers and served as president in 2001. He has created lifelong friendships with coaches, athletes and staff along the way. It is those relationships that mean the most to Sampson. To this day, Sampson texts each respective coach ‘good luck’ on game day. While the act seems minor in principle, it only affirms the green and yellow running through Sampson’s blood. However, it is the evolution of the athletic department that keeps Sampson invested. “The year I was Team Maker’s president in 2001, we raised $700,000 for the first time. I remember that was such a massive deal when we did it. We were so proud of what we were able to provide student-athletes,” he said. “Now, they are raising something like $5 million for athletics. It’s crazy because it has really evolved, but that is so amazing. The Bison name is everywhere now. I had a cousin text me last night from Scottsdale, Arizona, telling me he was watching the Bison. I never thought that would happen. It has gone way beyond what I would have ever imagined.” “I have been very fortunate and I’m humbled and honored. I’ve been to every place in the Summit League. I’ve been to Georgia Southern. I’ve been to Cal Poly. I’ve been to Cal Davis. I’ve been all over the country just to witness these teams play,” he said. “I’m proud to go and I just know when I get to an airport and I am wearing my Bison visor, people know who the Bison are.”

The D-S Beverages team poses for a photo after being awarded “Big Jake” as a Budweiser Ambassador of Excellence.

D-S Beverages has received gold status in the Ambassadors of Excellence program the past five years. Once you hit three gold you are an “Ambassador of Excellence” and your company receives a trophy known as “Big Jake.” Of the 450 Anheuser-Busch wholesalers, only ten currently have that distinction. In 2018, D-S Beverages was the national champion of those 450 wholesalers. “That was one of the big highlights of my career,” said Doug

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The love for travel and seeing the Bison perform also had its advantages for Sampson in his professional life. Now that NDSU is working with Learfield IMG College, D-S Beverages was able to bill Bud Light as the ‘Official Beer of the Bison’. While Sampson is far too humble to take credit for anything, he did hint at being partly responsible for the current relationship between NDSU and D-S Beverages. “I don’t want to brag, but I’d like to think I had a small something to do with that,” Sampson said, chuckling. For years, Sampson and his friends had a tailgate space for Saturday mornings at the Fargodome. Oftentimes, that tailgate spot would offer former players, coaches and fans some of D-S Beverages’ latest samples. Needless to say, Sampson’s tailgate spot was always a hot commodity. Kenny recalls a couple of his favorite Bison memories as he takes his seat in his forklift. Two events come immediately to mind. “My two highlights are both from Dacotah Field. The first has to be beating UND when they were ranked number one in the country. I believe that was a night game in 1981 and the Bison just crushed them. They ended up going to the national championship game in Division II that year.” NDSU beat UND 31-7 on that night at Dacotah Field. The Bison would lose to Southwest Texas State in that year’s national title game. “The other moment was the 1990 semifinal game against Pittsburg State. That was an electric atmosphere. When I think of events inside that dome, the Georgia Southern semifinal game also jumps out.”

Sampson discussing some of his favorite Bison memories.

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Chat with him longer and you may get to hear the story of him chopping it up with Rocky Hager at the Bison Sports Arena (that is a story for another time). Whatever memory he does come up with, you will no doubt be entertained by Kenny Sampson. It is that commitment to history and tradition that has made Kenny Sampson such a beloved figure in the Bison community. His love for the school, its student-athletes, coaches and staff is truly a quality to behold. Kenny Sampson is and always will be a Bison. If you were to ask him, that is all he ever wanted.

201 17th St N, Moorhead 218-233-1343 d-sbeverages.com

Tailored For The Herd As the official clothiers of NDSU athletics, Halberstadt's West Acres wants to make every member of the Herd look their best.

Ahead of a football game day inside the Fargodome, Matt Entz prepares for the next Bison opponent in a comfortable, breathable suit.

Head men's basketball coach Dave Richman in one of Halberstadt's stylish custom-fitted suits.

The Right Fit For over 25 years, Halberstadt's West Acres has made it their duty to provide high-quality, fashionable menswear to the Fargo-Moorhead community. While they have no doubt established their name in Fargo, the team at Halberstadt's West Acres is always looking to push the envelope. This could be in the form of custom-suit fitting for the important moments in a man's life. Halberstadt's West Acres is committed to providing the right fit for the right moment be it a wedding, prom or job interview. Halberstadt's West Acres also wants North Dakota State coaches and staff to look their best on game day. Whether it be head basketball coaches Dave Richman and Jory Collins or football coach Matt Entz, the team at Halberstadt's has carefully crafted perfect outfits for NDSU athletics. That is part of the reason why they are the official clothiers of NDSU athletics.

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Head women's basketball coach Jory Collins looks his best on the sideline thanks to Halberstadt's West Acres.

Why Halberstadt's West Acres Decided To Partner With NDSU Athletics Halberstadt’s West Acres has been a part of the Fargo/ Moorhead community for over 25 years - and the opportunity to partner with NDSU, an institution so deeply ingrained in our community, was one we could not pass up. It has been an absolute pleasure working with such a phenomenal group of people at NDSU, from coaches to administrative officials, assisting with their menswear needs. We have provided looks for press conferences, courtside attire, and pregame interviews with the ultimate goal of making each individual look and feel their best. We also recently incorporated an exclusive line of NDSU clothing in our store from Cutter & Buck - allowing us the chance to provide a wide variety of Bison gear to anyone who comes into the store.

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Beyond Menswear For those cold days in the Fargodome tailgating lot, Halberstadt's West Acres has an exclusive collection with Cutter And Buck. This includes this warm and comfortable Bison jacket.

Eyeing a new pullover? Halberstadt's West Acres has what you're looking for.

An exclusive NDSU windbreaker is essential to any Bison fan's closet.

Why It Is So Special For Halberstadt's To Be The Official Clothiers Of NDSU Athletics

The Fargo-Moorhead community knows Halberstadt's West Acres for their menswear products. It could be a suit jacket, shirt, shoes or belt, but the community-at-large knows that traditional menswear is Halberstadt's bread and butter. What people may not know is that Halberstadt's West Acres offers the biggest Bison fan must-have NDSU apparel.

Being the Official Men’s Clothiers of NDSU Athletics means Halberstadt’s West Acres provides menswear to multiple members of the Bison coaching and administrative staff for everything from the games themselves to press events to casual NDSU attire. We are also able to offer one of a kind Bison gear via our Cutter & Buck NDSU collection to all customers in the store.

This collection is exclusive to Halberstadt's West Acres and cannot be found anywhere else in Fargo-Moorhead. In need of a sleek new pullover? Or perhaps you need a nice new polo for your next golf outing? Halberstadt's West Acres offers all of that and more for the diehard Bison fan. The weather is getting warmer and if hitting the links is your thing, Halberstadt's has a stellar selection of NDSU polos.

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Check It Out Are you wanting to look and feel your best for your next big occasion? That could be a wedding or it could be a game day at the Fargodome. Either way, Halberstadt's West Acres is here to provide a solution. Whether it is a tailored suit or a stylish Bison pullover, you will not leave Halberstadt's West Acres unsatisfied.

Halberstadt's West Acres

3902 13th Ave S # 407, Fargo (Inside the West Acres Mall) halberstadtsnd.com 701-277-0745 Facebook: @HalberstadtsND Instagram: @HalberstadtsND

Hours

Monday-Saturday: 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. Sunday: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.

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bisonshots

ison senior Rocky Kreuser rises for a dunk as teammate Tyree Eady looks on. Kreuser, who plans to return to North Dakota State next year, scored 34 points against Oral Roberts in the Summit League Championship game. The Bison were down by as many as 25 points in this game against the Golden Eagles. A committed and hungry Bison team came out of the locker room built for a comeback. They were eventually able to tie the game but ultimately fell to Oral Roberts in the end. Surely this loss will fuel a formidable and talented Bison squad heading into 2021-22.

Want to contribute? Email your best photos to: nolan@spotlightmediafargo.com 24

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Photo by Dave Eggen/Inertia

bisonshots

ison guard Heaven Hamling goes up for a shot on March 7 against Denver. In North Dakota State’s quarterfinal matchup at the Summit League Tournament in Sioux Falls, S.D., the Bison bested Denver for the second straight year. The 79-67 victory for Jory Collins and company was the program’s second conference tournament win in as many years. In her first Summit League Tournament game, Hamling scored 16 points to lead North Dakota State. Hamling was named to the All-Summit League second team, the conference’s All-Newcomer team and was the Summit League’s Newcomer of the Year.

Want to contribute? Email your best photos to: nolan@spotlightmediafargo.com 26

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Photo by Dave Eggen/Inertia

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Busy times have guided North Dakota State through a wacky spring athletic year. With each sport playing at the exact same time, it can become hard to keep track of it all. Let alone trying to digest wins, losses, ties and statistics. This month, we do the heavy lifting for you as we profile special student-athletes from across numerous athletics programs. In the midst of a busy season, find out what makes these Bison so special. 29

the bison bunch

In A

Flash...

Senior Madyson Camacho is reveling in her role for Bison softball. What was your decision-making process in deciding to return for this spring? I wasn't really expecting to even get the opportunity to come back. I thought that my career was done. Then, Darren [Mueller} called me and was like 'hey, do you want to come back?' My first reaction was to immediately come back. Then I l had to sit down, talk to my parents about it. In all, it wasn't 30

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really a hard decision for me to say yes, but I don't regret my decision at all. I'm living the dream here.

And how do you handle an emotional roller coaster like the one you experienced last spring? I was just sitting with my seniors and sitting with our team when he told us the news. At the time, it was just heartbreaking. I thought that I was really done and we did not expect it

either. It was really hard. That moment was incredibly difficult because you say goodbye to these people like you will never seen them again. This place became like a second family to me. I love this family, I love the culture that Darren built and the idea of leaving that was hard. Luckily, things changed course a bit, but I would not wish those feelings on anyone.

"The legacy I want to leave behind is I want to be known as the teammate that busted her tail for everyone. I just want to be known as the person who was able to lay it down on the line for her team." -Madyson Camacho

the bison bunch How do you focus on your controllable variables? Like you cannot control a positive test or anything like that. How do you focus on what's in front of you?

Madyson Camacho Outfield | Senior Hometown: Homela nd, Calif.

I think we're doing our part of staying healthy and we're making the right decisions. If someone does test positive, it sucks, but it's going to happen at some point. You just got to follow the rules and hope for the best.

How have you gone about establishing yourself as a leader on this team? For me, I thought about what I want to leave behind here. I am always asking myself if I am doing enough for these girls, if I am being a good teammate, if I'm being a good leader or even if I know these girls well enough. Those are factors I feel are important to being a good leader. We're trying to show them the way of Bison culture, but we are also trying to build a great culture here at NDSU.

Where have you seen yourself improve the most? I think I have grown up a lot. I probably would say I was the troublemaker my freshman year. I just realized that I need to grow up and this is my dream and I want to make something out of it.

my freshman year. I wasn't really trusting the process. Once I really did trust the process, I feel like that's when I grew a lot as a person.

How does your hard non-conference schedule help you succeed in Summit League play? We are very competitive and we always stick right with those really good teams. We'll have our losses and we'll have our great wins, but it does prepare us pretty well for Summit League play. Everybody wants to beat us and we want to beat everybody. We are going to do our absolute best to be the winner.

What do you want your legacy to be here at NDSU? I'm definitely not taking this year for granted. I think it was our first weekend in Arkansas and we were just hanging out playing hacky sack. I just looked around, looked at the field and looked at my teammates and I was crying because I was so grateful to be there. It was such an emotional moment. The legacy I want to leave behind is I want to be known as the teammate that busted her tail for everyone. I just want to be known as the person who was able to lay it down on the line for her team.

How did you go about that maturation process throughout your time here? I guess I really didn't know what it meant to be a Bison 33

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Lightnin’...

Redshirt freshman Jalen Bussey has become a source of instant offense in the backfield. You were able to use the fourgame rule to your advantage. How much did having that availability help your development? I think it helped a lot. Being able to use the four games, I played in a few of them and just was learning the system and just becoming confident in it. I’d say that that’s what helped me grow and has helped me get to where I am now. 34

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Were there any advantages to having the longer layoff in the fall to prepare for the spring season? In the fall, we were able to get in the weight room more, put more muscle mass on my body. The aim was so that I could last the whole season this spring. In practice, we got to take more reps and learned more about the system. That is

where I think the fall was a good thing for us.

There has been a lot of turnover on the roster. How much accountability have you taken to take a big step forward both on and off the field for this team? Being young and having to step into a leadership role wasn’t ideal. But you got to make the best of the situation. We

“Being young and having to step into a leadership role wasn’t ideal. But you got to make the best of the situation. We couldn’t let our position group or team die off because we had guys leave. Being able to step up early on was good, but I also want to make my teammates better too.” -Jalen Bussey

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couldn’t let our position group or team like die off because we had guys leave. Being able to step up early on was good, but I also want to make my teammates better too.

How has the running back group come together throughout this transition? With me and Kobe [Johnson] being the oldest we kind of took the lead a bit, but we all lean on each other. Dom’s [Gonnella] doing a great job providing valuable snaps in place for us. It wasn’t ideal that we had stuff go down but we always have that ‘next man up’ mentality.

What has worked right for you guys on the ground so far this spring? Everybody is buying in and trusting in the process. Our o-line is doing a great job getting people moved at the line of scrimmage, fullbacks are doing a great job kicking out making great key blocks and then we’re trusting our tracks as running backs. We are trying to stay true to our keys of being inside the hip or knowing whom we’re supposed to be reading.

How do you want to continue to improve beyond this season?

Jalen Bussey

Running Back | Redshirt Freshman Hometown: Brandon, Fla.

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I want to get better with receiving and being a receiving back. I’d like to see myself in positions where I can be in the slot. Us being versatile as a group and being able to catch the ball out of the backfield, run routes and

have teams defend us all. That’s definitely something I want to be better at.

Where do you think your biggest strength lies on the field? I’d say having that big playability. Being able to make people miss and taking pride in that. I take pride in being a little bit of a smaller back. You want to make people miss so you can avoid the one-on-one big hits. Being able to make people miss has been a strong suit. I’m always on the ladders trying to get my feet right so I can make quick cuts and everything.

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Fab

Frosh...

Freshman Ali Hinze looks back on her stellar Summit League Freshman Of The Year campaign. You were able to succeed to the point of winning the Summit League’s Freshman of the Year award. How were you able to transition so seamlessly to the college game from high school? My club MN Select did a really good job preparing me for the type of play that happens at the college level. The biggest 38

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challenge I had on the switch was time management. I never realized how much volleyball would take over my life, so having time to work on my studies and doing all the other side things a studentathlete has to do was the hardest part for me.

Now that you have had some time to think since the season concluded, how do you reflect on all that you accomplished in just your first year in Fargo? Coming in as a freshman and having teammates and coaches excited to see me play right away was a big thing for me. Seeing that my coaches and teammates

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“Coming in as a freshman and having teammates and coaches excited to see me play right away was a big thing for me. Seeing that my coaches and teammates trusted me made me have the confidence in myself to go out and play every day the way I know I can. Year one wasn’t easy at times, but always knowing that my volleyball family had my back was one of the best feelings.” -Ali Hinze

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trusted me made me have the confidence in myself to go out and play every day the way I know I can. Year one wasn’t easy at times, but always knowing that my volleyball family had my back was one of the best feelings.

The Summit League was full of great freshmen this season, but you were named the best of that group. How do you feel knowing you beat out other great freshmen for the award? There are so many talented freshmen out there in the Summit League including Taylor Quan and Alex Lyle whom I live with. To be selected for this award was such a huge honor. There is no way I could’ve gotten this award without my teammates, coaches, Melissa, Nicki, Jason and even NDSU athletics for giving me this opportunity. It truly is just all a blessing.

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Outsid : Maple Grov shman e Fre town Home mmit Leagu u S e e Y ar 2020 Of Th

This program has plenty of youth within it and these younger players are the future of Bison volleyball. How excited are you about the prospect of sharing the court with these girls for another three seasons? The other freshman and sophomores on this team are awesome. We’ve all become so close together on and off the court. To know that every single person on this team has each other’s back is what really stands out to me. Every single one of them is truly amazing and I couldn’t ask for better teammates.

Given your success in year one, how do you go about defining what you want to accomplish in the future? How do you and the team move forward into the offseason? My future goal for our team is always to win the conference and get a chance to play in the NCAA tournament. We had close games with just about all the top teams this year but fell a little short each time. We need to fine-tune a few areas to make sure we are competitive and able to win those matches next year. I want to improve my allaround game but really focus on my hand contact and blocking. Another big goal I want to work towards is my leadership skills and having a bigger voice on and off the court. 43

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For The

Fences...

Senior shortstop Bennett Hostetler is taking the nation by storm thanks to his play on the field. What was your decision-making process in opting to return to this program this spring? I think having the option was always really a blessing. Our athletic department and our boosters were able to give us another year on scholarship. I think that was really great of them and they do a great job taking care of the athletes that are here. With the ability to be able to come back, I don’t think anything ever 44

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changed my mind. To get another year of schooling was also a big factor because I graduated last spring with one degree and so I’m just finishing up another one right now.

And with that group of older guys, how have you been able to cultivate chemistry within the roster?

The group that we have here was another big factor. Obviously, what you see right now on the field with our success is thanks to the age of the team. A lot of our older guys are guys I came in with and I know how talented they are. That was another deciding factor.

When our season got canceled last year, the majority of the guys were still in Fargo. I think we already had pretty good chemistry to begin with, but we used this time to solidify things that maybe weren’t solidified last year. I think another advantage would be just having another

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“The mentality that we have is that we’re not going to let excuses beat us ever. We think that we have a good enough team in the locker room and on the field to where we should be competitive in every single game. If it’s a close game and nobody is scoring, I think our pitching is good enough to play with pretty much anybody. Then I think our offense is good enough to play with pretty much anybody.” -Bennett Hostetler year to get stronger in the weight room. We got to fix things baseball-wise that maybe we didn’t have time for in a normal year. I also believe it allowed our team to get back to normal from a health perspective too.

What is the mentality of the team when you have to go on those long road stretches early in the season? The mentality that we have is that we’re not going to let excuses beat us ever. We think that we have a good enough team in the locker room and on the field to where we should be competitive in every single game. If it’s a close game and nobody is scoring, I think our pitching is good enough to play with pretty much anybody. Then I think our offense is good enough to play with pretty much anybody. We got a second chance to come back and play and there are a lot of excuses that we could have but we’re not going to let them affect how we play. That’s our mentality going forward because we do this every single 45

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Bennett Hostetler Shortstop | Senior Hometown: Bozeman, Mont.

year where we’re on the road for long periods of time. I mean, two years ago we were the last team in the country to play a home game. We know this feeling.

You have become a real offensive threat this season, how have you been able to grow at the plate throughout your career? How have you grown that confidence out there? I think it depends on whom you ask. I think for some people who maybe haven’t played as much, just getting in the lineup and being consistent with playing time is a boost. For me, it was more of a consistency thing. I am consistently having the same approach with my routine, going up to the boxes the same, my mentality is the same. That’s not to say that I didn’t have a consistent approach in the past, I think I just have a better understanding of how I’m going to get pitched to now though. I have a better idea of what to expect from pitchers and that allows me to remain consistent.

Does consistency like that come from skill or experience? There is definitely a maturation process for each individual person. For someone like me who’s played since my freshman year, you get thrown into the fire quickly. You have to grow up fast from a baseball perspective. I did a good job of that early on, I believe. Part of it too is that over the years I have watched some of the upperclassmen who were playing. I was picking up things here and there from what made them successful. 46

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You talked about upperclassmen who helped you. How have you taken on that role now as a fifth-year senior? I take a lot of pride in that. This year’s a little bit different than in the past. In the past, we’ve only had two captains and we have five this year. On the field, in the weight room, in the locker room and things like that, I’m not really a vocal person, I just kind of try to lead by example. When we’re doing drills or we’re practicing, I try to give the younger guys some little bits and pieces here and there. I try to just talk to them about what they’re feeling at the plate, what they’re thinking at the plate, what helps me, what doesn’t help me, things like that. I like trying to provide them some information that can help them be more successful.

How have you gone about leaving this program better than you found it? I think myself and the group that I came in with, all came in and we had a chance to play for a conference championship my freshman year. We ended up losing to Oral Roberts. I think the main goal for us is that we want that chance again and we want to leave here with a conference title. On a smaller scale, we want to show the younger guys the right processes to succeed. Whether that is in the weight room or practice, we want to show these guys the right things to do.

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Pin-Seeker As the lone senior on this year’s Bison golf roster, Alexis Thomas is just enjoying the ride. As the only senior on the roster this season, how have you taken on a leadership role within the team?

Compare how you were feeling a year ago with no competition to today where you are out playing in tournaments again?

We definitely have our upperclassmen as leaders, but I think the young group we do have has done a great job. From my perspective, It’s challenging, honestly, because I don’t want this season to end. I’ve definitely been trying to stay in the mindset of taking each day at a time and just enjoying each day that I have out here. I don’t want it to end and I don’t want to leave with any regrets.

There is a lot of gratitude, that’s for sure. We’re super lucky to be out there playing again and I’m also really thankful that I get to be playing my senior season. I really want to end with a strong finish, that’s for sure. We try to have the mentality of stepping out on the course and just being thankful for every shot and every opportunity we have out there.

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You all had one of your first tournaments back canceled due to weather? How do you handle situations that are out of your control like the pandemic or even something simple like the weather? I think a lot of us wanted to go back out there and prove ourselves, especially for myself, I didn’t play well those first few days of that tournament. So I was excited to turn the page and get going again. In the end, it’s something we have

“Golf is a game of mentality and just learning how to stay positive, even in the bad shots and hard rounds is a challenge. Staying focused when we’re out there is a big key to success. Some of it is a matter of perspective, too. I know one shot isn’t gonna ruin my whole game and I try not to get down on myself. If I let one shot dictate my game, then I know it will be a struggle. When I’m going out and playing, I’m just so thankful for all of it. Every shot over the last four years has been special.” -Alexis Thomas

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Alexis Thomas

Senior Hometown: Middl

eton, Wis.

experienced before. COVID was definitely one of the harder adversities we have faced, but now going into tournaments, we are hoping we have good weather and that we’re going to be playing the two days. That needs to be our mindset.

Where have you seen your golf game grow over your years at NDSU? I would definitely say my mental game. Golf is a game of mentality and just learning how to stay positive, even in the bad shots and hard rounds is a challenge. Staying focused when we’re out there is a big key to success. Some of it is a matter of perspective, too. I know one shot isn’t gonna ruin my whole game and I try not to get down on myself. If I let one shot dictate my game, then I know it will be a struggle. When I’m going out and playing, I’m just so thankful for all of it. Every shot over the last four years has been special. I know that when golf is over, it will be sad and difficult for me personally. So keeping a positive attitude is big too.

As a senior, have you found yourself savoring the little moments with your teammates more than say your freshman year? I’m definitely been appreciating every moment. I’m really thankful for our team over these four years and that our team chemistry has been awesome. We’re more than just teammates. We’re like best friends out there. So that’s something that I’m really thankful for, for having these lifelong friends.

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Might As

Well Jump...

Bismarck native Brandon Lewis is leaping for greatness at NDSU. You played a few different sports growing up in Bismarck. How did you settle on track & field as the one to truly pursue? I started doing track in middle school and I wasn’t very good at all so I didn’t even run my freshman year of high school. The head track coach at Legacy was subbing my PE class my sophomore year of high school. We were playing basketball and he went over and asked 52

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me if I wanted to do track. I said no because I had been so bad at it previously.

But I wouldn’t change anything about that because it got me to where I am now.

I was actually pretty adamant that I wouldn’t do track. Two weeks later, he ends up subbing us again. He had me come to his office and I was thinking I was in some big trouble or something. He just put down a document for me to sign and after I did he shook my hand and said I was on the track team. He kind of swindled me.

And what sold you on North Dakota State track & field specifically? It was the coaches. My mind wasn’t really set on needing to compete for my home state or anything. My whole decision revolved around the coaching staff and how welcoming they were.

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“when you work your butt off, you earn people’s respect. Once you earn respect from coaches, teammates and even other schools, stress is more easily managed. Sure, there may be a lot more stress because you want to be great, but it’s a lot more relaxing because you know what it is going to take to be great. It’s kind of up to you to decide if you want to be great or not.” -Brandon Lewis The first time I met [Don] Lars, it felt like I was talking to my grandpa. You could tell him anything and he’ll give you so much wisdom. He steered me to NDSU really and then I eventually met Clayton [Pritchard]. Knowing how his mind worked with how technical everything was and how young and relatable he is was big too. Having all that knowledge and relatability really helped me choose North Dakota State because the coaches are like family.

What were the biggest learning curves for you when coming to college from high school? Well, freshman year was pretty difficult. I did not know how to do school whatsoever. I had to really dive deep and be diligent in my schoolwork initially. That meant taking designated study

times, setting reminders and things like that. Coming here was a huge wake-up call for me because I had to become selfsufficient quickly. The biggest thing is just trying to keep your mind open about things. Yes, you are working so hard and so often, but just because you’re working over and over and over again on specific things doesn’t necessarily mean they’re going to improve overnight. That was a huge thing in my mind because I was a preferred walk on coming in. I kind of put a chip on my shoulder and felt like I needed to prove myself because I think I deserved this opportunity. I didn’t care what anybody else thinks, but I knew I deserved it. When you work your butt off, you earn people’s respect. Once you earn respect from coaches, teammates and even other

schools, stress is more easily managed. Sure, there may be a lot more stress because you want to be great, but it’s a lot more relaxing because you know what it is going to take to be great. It’s kind of up to you to decide if you want to be great or not. You will learn how to subconsciously and cognitively feel and learn everything once you get here.

Where have you seen yourself improve the most? Has it been more of a mental growth or a physical one? I think it’s both honestly. I’ll say more maturity-wise, right? Obviously, when you’re going through college, there’s a lot of stuff going on, you have to mature and have to deal with the consequences 53

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for doing certain things. I wouldn’t necessarily put that up against physical growth because they are very different. Obviously, there are ups and downs to both of them, like injuries or mental illness. I know I’ve struggled in both of those categories and I’ve bounced back from both those categories. Having to learn how to balance, manage and cope with everything can be hard. Each day, I try and remember that today’s a new day and that it will be a great day. Keeping a positive attitude helps when you’re trying to balance all of these things.

Brandon Lewis

Jumps/Sprints | Sophomore Hometown: Bismarck, N.D. 2020 Summit League Indoor Champion - Long Jump

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Now that you have had time to reflect on the conference indoor meet, what do you have to say now? Not only did the team perform, but you were a conference champ as well. That whole week leading up to it, I was having major calf issues. I was doing my nerve stretches the night before we were leaving, right? And it popped. My calf tightened up and I couldn’t walk the Friday before conference. We got to the hotel, we did our practice and I still couldn’t walk. I just went over to coach, sat down and just started bawling. I was so mad that I may have taken a spot from somebody else that would be able to go out there and succeed. There are so many people on this team that deserve that spot. I didn’t want to be the one to show up and not do anything. Coach just said that we would need to see how I felt in the morning.

If I could jump, I would, but we wanted to be cautious. That was the first meet ever since high school where I took all six jumps in the long. Having to go out and do that after the emotional breakdown I had was very challenging. I posted on Instagram that it was one heckuva roller-coaster week. Even after triple jump, I cried too, but it was just a surreal feeling given everything leading up to it.

What is next? What goals have you set for yourself that will allow you to succeed in the future? I don’t know. I explained this to coach yesterday: winning for me isn’t necessarily everything. This is going back into the indoor season, but this was my first time in two years where I long jumped. At the first meet, I didn’t have a mark after two jumps. I knew I needed a mark, but I had jumped over 25 feet on my previous two jumps, I just fouled on them. I then got a decent mark and it ended up winning at the meet, but I didn’t really care about that. I cared about how I jumped over 25 feet multiple times. Coming into any season, I want to have that mindset. I can jump 25 feet, I can jump these big marks, but I just need to get them officially registered as marks. That’s the next goal for me. Obviously, making regionals and nationals is the big goal every year. I want to get on that big wall inside the track facility and that gets done at those big events.

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Victory With years of experience at his disposal, local product Lucas Johnson is savoring his time at North Dakota State.

Lap...

As one of the few upperclassmen on this roster, how much accountability have you placed on yourself to be a leader?

Can you describe the change in your attitude from a year ago? From not playing at all to getting to travel and compete once again.

I love having the young guys come in and there’s a lot of good talent here. I think the biggest thing is we go back to so many courses and being here for so many years, having that experience is vital. Knowing what types of challenges a course can present is very advantageous to me and the team. I’m not the type of person to be at the forefront of everything, but whenever guys need tips or something, I want to be that resource for them.

Last year was tough because we were down in Phoenix playing our practice round and they called it off. It was crushing, I guess you’d say. Then to have to try and find the motivation to keep practicing was a big hurdle. Golf is a summer sport and that is kind of when all of our work gets done. Since we had months off, it was hard to motivate initially. Now, it’s just great to be playing again and I think it’s allowed me to have a little bit more fun with the game. I am

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not taking anything for granted which has made this season so much fun.

Can you speak to just how challenging it was to motivate yourself in the summer? Especially without any guarantee of a season this year. I would say it was easier than just starting a school season. You always want something to work towards and the tough part was fall season was so inconclusive. We just didn’t know if we were playing and in how many tournaments. So it was tough to stay motivated, but you’re playing golf, and

“I think that my patience has really grown. Everyone knows that golf can be a frustrating game and it is easy to post big numbers. Learning how to come back and take it one shot at a time is so important.” -Lucas Johnson luckily our sport just kind of naturally social distances. In a pandemic scenario, like we are in, golf is a very suitable game. We were very fortunate to be able to play in the fall whereas football, volleyball, hockey and others could not. That was part of it, too because we couldn’t take for granted our opportunity to compete. Not everyone got that in the fall.

many people who would love to do that. I’ll come back next year and play a fifth year, but the pandemic illustrated to me the value of time. Things are winding down and I’m not going to be able to have this opportunity for the rest of my life. To be able to take that opportunity and say I cherished it is important. I want to have some fun with it.

Given what you just said, have you found yourself savoring this experience more?

Where have you seen the biggest jumps in your game? Is it mental or physical?

I think it definitely kind of brought things into perspective. A lot of the time was spent alone with your thoughts and you really realize how special this is. I mean, we get to play golf and travel. There are so

You grow so much mentally in college, that’d be probably the easiest one, right? No matter what the sport is, I think anytime a high school athlete comes into the collegiate level, there’s a certain learning curve. That is where you

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really begin to take strides in the mental portion of golf. For me, I think that my patience has really grown. Everyone knows that golf can be a frustrating game and it is easy to post big numbers. Learning how to come back and take it one shot at a time is so important.

son LucasJuJnoiohr n Minn ead,

n: Moorh

Hometow

With that, I’ve definitely gotten stronger, too. I mean, I think I have put on close to 35 pounds in my time here. With that growth comes distance on shots and the game changes a little bit. When you hit the ball farther, it’s a lot more fun to play sometimes. The great strength and conditioning staff here really helped me to develop the physical side of my game. Distance is a large part of golf today, so keeping up means everything.

Being a local kid, does playing golf at NDSU mean exponentially more compared to someone not from the Fargo-Moorhead area? I absolutely love it. We have a freshman coming in next season who is also from Moorhead, so I have loved being able to share my experiences with him. I can’t imagine going anywhere else because it’s such a great community. The athletics community alone, with staff, boosters and facilities like this have been reason enough to stay. When I was growing up, coach Kennedy coached high school with my grandpa, so I knew him too. It just felt right and it’s a great fit still. I can’t complain too much, right? I’m 20 minutes from a homecooked meal or maybe some laundry, too. A lot of kids want to go south and they want to try and play in the warm weather. I think with technology and our schedule, we get to the south. It’s not like we’re playing exclusively in the Dakotas or upper Midwest, but we also have the new simulator and the bubble. Having both of those offerings is great. Guys can get better here and I think that’s one of the reasons why I am so happy with coming here. I chose to be here because it’s such a great atmosphere and aside from the negative 20 days, I can’t imagine going anywhere else. It’s just such a great community here. 59

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Within Striking

Distance...

Transferring in from Arizona, distance runner Jennie Baragar-Petrash has already etched her name in Bison history. So you were born in Winnipeg, originally attended school at the University of Arizona and now you are in Fargo. How did you end up as a member of the Bison? I felt like I needed a change in the overall team dynamic as well as a coach that was willing to work with me. I just wanted to make a change that had more of a positive atmosphere and I wanted to really feel like I had the support that I needed. I think that’s very evident in 60

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why I choose NDSU because they are offering all of the things I looked for.

Sometimes transferring somewhere new can be a challenge initially. How did you go about integrating yourself within the team when you did arrive here? I mean, we do see each other pretty much every single day on the distance squad. I

just generally see a lot of different faces and different event groups at the track when I’m training. I feel like I’ve gotten very close with a lot of the women on the team and on the distance team quite quickly. I also feel like I’ve gotten to know people at different event groups here, not even just through competitions and watching them compete, but through practices as well. Since everybody’s so friendly here and very supportive of one another, it makes that part a little easier.

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“I feel like I’m my biggest competitor because I always have goals just to be my personal best in every race that I go into, whether that be in a big field of competitive athletes or alone. I think I really surprised myself with my personal bests that I ran at conference in the mile and in the 3k on my own. That gave me confidence going forward and I think that I really proved to myself that I could do it.” -Jennie Baragar-Petrash It’s only been a short time that you have been here, but where have you seen your biggest improvements? I knew coming into NDSU, that I had two years of eligibility left because of COVID. I had kind of pictured that it was going to be a bit of a different system in terms of training and getting used to different training programs. Since I am a little older, I was ready to take on a little bit tougher training.

Andrew [Carlson] seemed like he was very confident in where my future was headed in racing and that gave me confidence in myself as well. I had some longer-term goals that included making the NCAA Championships, but they were long-term goals. I was able to race really well right away and accomplish that goal sooner than I had anticipated.

And now that you have had time to reflect, how does it feel to accomplish that goal of winning a conference title? I wasn’t too sure if I was gonna have eligibility and I was very fortunate that I was able to in the end. The week of the indoor conference championships, I found out that I was able to regain my indoor eligibility, both this year and next year because I had to get some extra paperwork completed. 61

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I didn’t really know what to expect because I had been competing in a different conference. The Summit League is also quite different compared to the Pac 12. I was just so thrilled to be there that I think that adrenaline was what really got me through the races.

How have you approached setting goals now?

gara r a B e JenniPetrashior Sen nitoba ance |

Dist g, Ma innipe door Track W : n tow e In Home Leagu mmit u S P 0 V 2 M 20

Qualifying for an indoor national championship was more of a longer-term goal, as I said, but my goals are always big. I feel like I’m my biggest competitor because I always have goals just to be my personal best in every race that I go into, whether that be in a big field of competitive athletes or alone. I think I really surprised myself with my personal bests that I ran at conference in the mile and in the 3k on my own. That gave me confidence going forward and I think that I really proved to myself that I could do it.

Now that you are searching for more long-term goals, what are some of those things you’d like to accomplish this season and beyond? I would love to continue running personal bests. I think for a longer-term goal this season, I think that I would like to try my best to qualify for outdoor nationals in the 5000 meters. I’m a little bit far off right now, but post-NCAA I think the Olympics would be my longestterm track goal. I don’t believe it is impossible to accomplish that. 63

Scenes From NDSU Pro Day Photos By Nolan P. Schmidt

Former Bison Dillon Radunz, Marquise Bridges and Trey Lance take center stage at North Dakota State's annual Pro Day. The National Football League descended on the Fargodome with 30 of the league's 32 teams in attendance. ESPN and NFL Network were also on hand to nationally televise the event leading up to the NFL Draft on April 29. 66

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Quarterback Trey Lance weighed in at 224 pounds on Pro Day.

Radunz hit 24 reps at 225 pounds on the bench press.

Former defensive back Marquise Bridges tallied 13 reps at 225 pounds on the bench press. Bridges also recorded a 33-inch vertical jump and a 9-foot-11 broad jump.

Lance's throwing workout was televised live on NFL Network.

Former offensive lineman Dillon Radunz had a vertical jump of 32 inches and a broad jump of nine feet, four inches. The 300-pound Radunz ran his 40-yard dash in

Lance completed 58 of his 66

just over five seconds.

pass attempts on Pro Day. 67

High above Pro Day as 30 NFL teams watch Lance throw.

Lance talks with his family after the throwing workout.

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Among the wide receivers catching passes from Lance was former Bison great Darrius Shepherd.

Lance talks with ESPN analyst Louis Riddick.

april/may/June

athletics calendar APRIL 4/30 Baseball at Kansas Lawrence, Kan. 6 p.m.

MAY

Softball vs North Dakota (Doubleheader) Fargo, N.D. 11 a.m. Baseball at Kansas Lawrence, Kan. 12 p.m.

5/1 Men’s Golf Summit League Championships Newton, Kan. Softball vs North Dakota (Doubleheader) Fargo, N.D. 12 p.m. Baseball at Kansas Lawrence, Kan. 1 p.m. Football FCS Playoffs: Quarterfinals Men’s And Women’s Track & Field Ron Masanz Classic Moorhead, Minn. Men’s And Women’s Track & Field Rock Chalk Classic Lawrence, Kan.

5/2 Men’s Golf Summit League Championships Newton, Kan.

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5/3 Men’s Golf Summit League Championships Newton, Kan.

5/4 Baseball vs Mayville State Fargo, N.D. 5 p.m.

5/7 Softball at South Dakota State (Doubleheader) Brookings, S.D. 12 p.m. Baseball vs Omaha (Doubleheader) Fargo, N.D. 3 p.m.

5/8 Softball at South Dakota State (Doubleheader) Brookings, S.D. 11 a.m. Baseball vs Omaha Fargo, N.D. 2 p.m.

Football FCS Playoffs: Semifinal

5/9 Baseball vs Omaha Fargo, N.D. 1 p.m.

5/10 Baseball vs Concordia-Moorhead Fargo, N.D. 6:30 p.m.

5/12 Softball Summit League Championships Fargo, N.D.

5/13 Softball Summit League Championships Fargo, N.D. Men’s And Women’s Track & Field Summit League Outdoor Championships Vermillion, S.D.

5/14 Softball Summit League Championships Fargo, N.D. Baseball vs South Dakota State (Doubleheader) Fargo, N.D. 3 p.m.

Men’s And Women’s Track & Field Summit League Outdoor Championships Vermillion, S.D.

5/15 Softball Summit League Championships Fargo, N.D. Baseball vs South Dakota State (Doubleheader) Fargo, N.D. 2 p.m. Men’s And Women’s Track & Field Summit League Outdoor Championships Vermillion, S.D. Football FCS National Championship Frisco, Texas

5/16 Baseball vs South Dakota State (Doubleheader) Fargo, N.D. 1 p.m.

5/20 Baseball at Eastern Kentucky Richmond, Ky. 5 p.m.

5/21

5/29

Baseball at Eastern Kentucky Richmond, Ky. 5 p.m.

Baseball Summit League Championships Omaha, Neb. Men’s And Women’s Track & Field NCAA West Preliminary College Station, Texas

5/22 Baseball at Eastern Kentucky Richmond, Ky. 11 a.m.

5/27 Baseball Summit League Championships Omaha, Neb. Men’s And Women’s Track & Field NCAA West Preliminary College Station, Texas

5/28 Baseball Summit League Championships Omaha, Neb. Men’s And Women’s Track & Field NCAA West Preliminary College Station, Texas

june 6/9 Men’s And Women’s Track & Field NCAA Championships Eugene, Ore.

6/10 Men’s And Women’s Track & Field NCAA Championships Eugene, Ore.

6/11 Men’s And Women’s Track & Field NCAA Championships Eugene, Ore.

6/12 Men’s And Women’s Track & Field NCAA Championships Eugene, Ore.

TEAM MAKERS

A Privilege to Play:

Edie M. Boyer Scholarship Endowment For Edie Boyer ’89, competing in NDSU athletics was a privilege. As a student-athlete, she received financial support through scholarships and grants while playing multiple sports and earning her degree. She established a scholarship endowment to extend opportunities to current and future NDSU student-athletes. By Micaela Gerhardt

die Boyer ‘89 hardly remembers a time in her life without sports. Growing up, she and her three brothers and two sisters played them all — baseball, basketball, softball, soccer, wiffle ball in the backyard, and street hockey in the driveway. Her love of sports is part of the reason Edie was inspired to give back to NDSU Athletics. In 2001, she established a scholarship endowment to support student-athletes competing in women’s sports at NDSU. Edie, who lost 80% of her hearing before the age of one, said sports helped her overcome the insecurities and

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shyness she sometimes felt due to her hearing loss. With a hockey stick or basketball in hand, and her siblings by her side, it was so much easier to meet other kids and make friends. When Edie began applying to colleges, she knew she would have to narrow her focus. She was torn between playing hockey, the sport she calls her first love, at a university out east or playing basketball at NDSU, a school much closer to her home in Hastings, Minnesota. Then, in 1984 she came to NDSU on a recruitment visit. She loved the engineering program and she met

Amy Ruley, the women’s basketball coach and a major advocate for women’s athletics at NDSU. “During that visit, I was able to see a bit of what NDSU stood for,” Edie said, “strong academic and athletic programs for men and women — and I saw myself fitting in and being a part of the Bison family for life.” Under the guidance of Ruley — or “Coach,” as Edie refers to her — Edie and her teammates learned to adapt and communicate on the court. As a team, they used signals and developed plays.

Edie’s hearing loss was never an issue. In fact, it may have improved another one of Edie’s senses — her sight.

“Cal-Poly was a great team,” Edie said, “and the caliber of the competition was amazing.”

When people lose one of their senses early in life, research shows the pathways in the brain can reroute. In an individual with hearing loss, for example, the part of the brain that typically processes sound can process additional visual information. Perhaps that’s why one of Edie’s strengths on the court was her ability to visually assess, interpret, and anticipate people’s next moves.

It was just one of the experiences at NDSU that taught Edie to carry herself high on and off the court, something Coach always reminded her team to do.

“When I’m playing, I’m able to see a lot of what’s going on,” Edie said, “and I lip-read very well. I just have to remember to look all the time — look at my teammates, look at the coach, look around on the court.”

But basketball wasn’t the only sport Edie played at NDSU. She also competed in track and field, where she threw discus and shot-put. Throwing required a different skill set than basketball. Yes, Edie needed strength and coordination, but more than that, she needed rhythm.

Edie and her teammates competed during a time of growth for women’s athletics at NDSU and beyond. The first Division II NCAA women’s basketball championship was held just two years before Edie started college, in 1982. That year, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona won the title. Four years later, Edie and her teammates faced Cal Poly Pomona in the Division II NCAA championship game. It was a high stakes contest between a noteworthy team from the sunny west coast and a lesser-known team from the “frigid” Midwest. A headline at the time read “Fire vs. Ice.” “People didn’t expect this team from NDSU — ‘cold, frozen country’ — to make it to the Final Four for women’s basketball,” Edie said. “It was amazing. We were on ESPN. We had never had that kind of exposure before.” NDSU put up a good fight and earned second place that year. The final score was 70-63.

“Being a part of NDSU women’s basketball definitely made a big impact on my life and who I am now,” Edie said. “I had a wonderful family at NDSU — it was a family away from family. It really was.”

“It’s hard to explain, but for any kind of throwing event, and especially with discus, you have to be able to feel that rhythm,” Edie said. “You start with a wind-up, slowly building up the tempo to a crescendo, and then you release and let the discus fly.” Although she had to shift gears from basketball to track and field, the discus eventually became Edie’s bread and butter. After graduating from NDSU in 1989 with a degree in electrical engineering, Edie went on to train in discus with two former Olympian coaches and a strength coach at the University of Minnesota. There, she prepared to compete nationally and internationally — all while working a full-time job as an engineer at Xcel Energy. “There’s a time and place for everything,” Edie said. “First, it was hockey, then basketball, then track. Track — I would say I was a late bloomer.”

She stressed the importance of having a plan, a strong work ethic, self-discipline, and a “cautious sense of self-confidence.” To be successful, Edie felt she needed to believe in herself while also being realistic. “I’ve always had that self-confidence in myself when I’m competing in sports,” Edie said, “but it’s my nature to do it quietly. For example, people have asked me, ‘Hey, do you think you’re going to make it to the Olympic Trials?’ and I’d say, ‘Well, that’s my plan.’ But I felt I knew. I knew I was going to get there because I had a plan to get there.” In 1995, Edie’s training sessions were going well, her meets were going well, and she made her way to the USA Track and Field National Championships in Sacramento, California. She had nothing to lose, she said. Her approach was just to compete and have fun. Before stepping up to the circle in the discus cage, Edie practiced selfvisualization, repeatedly running herself through the motions, imagining herself successfully making the throws. And she won. “When it was all over, I was still pinching myself,” Edie said. “I couldn’t believe it.” That summer, she also competed in the USA versus Great Britain dual meet and the 1995 World Championships. “When I came back, my brothers kept me humble,” she added laughing, “Oh, they kept me grounded!” The following year, Edie competed in the Olympic Trials. Going into the event, her approach was the same: she wanted to compete and have fun. But this time, her goals were loftier: she planned on making the Olympic team and retiring after the 1996 Olympics.

TEAM MAKERS “People have asked me, ‘Hey, do you think you’re going to make it to the Olympic Trials?’ and I’d say, ‘Well, that’s my plan.’ But I felt I knew. I knew I was going to get there because I had a plan to get there.” own experience at NDSU, which helped catapult her to success in both her athletic and professional careers, was made possible through scholarships and grants. “It’s a privilege to be a studentathlete attending NDSU, especially when you’re getting financial aid, when you’re getting scholarships,” Edie said. “I never took it for granted.” So, she established an endowed scholarship fund to help support student-athletes competing in women’s sports at NDSU.

“Things were falling into place,” Edie said, “so I felt really good and ready to go, but when I got to the Olympic Trials, the outcome just wasn’t meant to be. It was a huge, huge disappointment for me.” When she didn’t qualify, she decided to keep competing. She said she wanted to go out and finish her career on a high note. “Sometimes you learn when you fall,” Edie said. “You ask, ‘What can I do differently?’ and you go from there. Looking back on it, I’m glad I kept going.” Edie continued to throw discus until 2000, competing in the 1997 World Championships, 1998 Goodwill Games, and the 2000 Olympic Trials, among other events. In 2006, she was inducted into the NDSU Bison Athletic Hall of Fame in recognition of her remarkable athletic achievements. She says her

“I believe NDSU has one of the top athletics programs to offer student-athletes, especially for female student-athletes,” Edie said. “By supporting studentathletes financially, they’ll have the opportunity to attend and compete in a top-notch program.” Edie believes in investing in current student-athletes to show her appreciation and to offer exceptional opportunities to dedicated and ambitious young people who need financial assistance. Current and future gifts to the Edie M. Boyer Scholarship Endowment are making a difference for NDSU studentathletes through In Our Hands: The Campaign for North Dakota State University.

“I know there are people looking for help,” Edie said, “whether it’s financial or just someone looking out for them in general. I always believe if I can help in any way, it’s the least I can do.” Edie remains involved in sports by coaching her daughters Evie (8) and Alex (6) in soccer and hockey, where, she said laughing, she wears a pair of ice skates she bought back in 1980.

If you would like to contribute to the Edie M. Boyer Scholarship or receive information on how to fund your own endowment, contact Jack Maughan, NDSU senior associate athletic director, at 701-231-8984 or Stefanie Kelly, director of athletic development, Twin Cities, at 612270-6171. North Dakota taxpayers are eligible for a 40% state tax credit for contributions to an existing endowment or upon establishing an endowment.

SWANY SAYS

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

Déjà Vu All Over Again SHADES OF THE PAST IN THE PRESENT FOR NORTH DAKOTA STATE

orth Dakota State wins its ninth national championship in the last ten years. After two regularseason losses, a young Bison team with 23 freshmen and sophomores on its twodeep depth chart rallied behind a freshman quarterback, its traditionally strong ground game and a resurgent defense to end up in that same familiar spot on the stage at Toyota Stadium raising the national championship trophy.

“I hate those guys. I really, really hate those guys,” said South Dakota State coach John Stiegelmeier following NDSU’s win over their fellow Missouri Valley Football Conference power in Texas, revenging a loss at the hands of the Jackrabbits in the regular-season finale. Echoing former South Dakota 76

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coach Dave Triplett, whose Coyotes lost to the Bison 27-7 in the 1986 national championship game, Stiegelmeier pulled no punches.“I wish to hell they would get out of the FCS.” In the coming days and weeks, we’ll know how well this prediction and glimpse into the crystal ball ages. Most folks who follow the FCS – from Harrisonburg, Virginia, to Huntsville, Texas, over to Cheney, Washington and across to Brookings, South Dakota – say the reigning dynastic champ is vulnerable. Ask Eastern Washington quarterback Eric Barriere, the favorite for the Walter Payton award, and his coach Aaron Best, just how “down” NDSU is after the Bison limited the high-flying Eagles offense to 64 yards in the second half en route to a 42-20 playoff win at the Fargodome. The Bison rushed 57 times for 422 yards in that one. To paraphrase Mark Twain, rumors of NDSU’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. “They’re getting better, and they’re starting to understand what Bison

Pride is all about,” said NDSU coach Matt Entz after the first-round playoff victory. Caveat emptor, buyer beware, anyone doubting the team that’s won eight of the last nine national titles may be in for a harsh reality. Young? Yes. But talented? Oh baby, check please, more than we appreciate right now. Or, as linebackers coach and former NDSU great Grant Olson told the Forum’s Jeff Kolpack, “We’re not recruiting very many Grant Olsons anymore,” instead, “We’re recruiting the Jabril Coxes, the Jasir Coxes, and the James Kaczors as much as possible.” Translation: the level of athlete the Bison are getting across the board is on par with FBS programs, not the vast majority of their FCS brethren. That’s from a guy, in Olson, who was a recordsetting All-American linebacker that won three national championships and was part of a team that hosted ESPN’s College GameDay after beating defending Big XII champ Kansas State. Olson’s point was this. The Bison have some awfully good young players that

have their coaching staff salivating at what the future looks like. That future includes the next few weeks. The Bison are in the proverbial hunt for more championship hardware despite three of their alums and would-be players in Trey Lance, Dillon Radunz and Jabril Cox being high-round NFL draft picks. The Bison have a real shot to get back to Frisco despite the mid-season loss of their all-conference cornerback, Josh Hayes, to the transfer portal. To pile on, NDSU lost their top two tailbacks entering the spring, Seth Wilson and Kobe Johnson, to injuries during the course of Missouri Valley play. The Herd also had to deal without having one of their starting receivers, and one of the most dangerous offensive weapons in the league, Phoenix Sproles, who was unable to play this spring because of injury. No matter. As of this writing, the Bison have a playoff date with familiar foe Sam Houston State in the quarterfinals. Should NDSU advance, it’s a trip to said Harrisonburg to dance with James Madison or an in-state winner-takeall cage match with the University of North Dakota for a chance at the title belt. All that during a challenging spring season with the aforementioned 23 underclassmen playing prominent roles, guys leaving to the NFL or via transfer portal and key injuries. “Our young guys are our depth. It’s been a good thing, there have been growing pains at times,

but it will all payoff in the long run,” said Entz of the youth movement. That may even be an understatement from the old ball coach. Here’s why you should be bullish on the Bison. As those freshmen and sophomores get more repetitions and games under their belts, they’re getting better. Case in point, redshirt freshman Dom Jones, NDSU’s free safety. Jones had a game-changing interception against Barriere when the Herd led 21-20 early in the third quarter off a tipped ball that led to a Bison touchdown. Jones and his defensive back buddies shut down Barriere and his big wide receivers in the final thirty minutes. One of those buddies, true freshman Courtney Eubanks, had no qualms putting the hurt on the Eagles while matching up against their 6-foot-5 and 6-foot-3 receivers. Eastern Washington’s receivers were averaging 387 yards in their six games before playing the Bison. “If you were able to see the all-22, you would see Courtesy Eubanks isn’t afraid of anybody,” said Entz, referring to the coach’s game film versus the Eagles. On the other side of the ball, NDSU’s true freshman quarterback Cam Miller and redshirt freshman offensive lineman Jack Rock made their first collegiate starts under the bright lights of a playoff game no less. Two other freshmen, running backs Dom Gonnella and Jalen

Bussey, combined for 306 rushing yards on 33 carries, good for 9.27 yards per carry against EWU. “I’d say nasty, dirty, stinky, nasty is what we preach all week,” said Gonnella, who was signed by the Arizona Diamondbacks last summer. Along with their other backfield mate, Hunter Luepke, a sophomore with six touchdowns in five games, it’s déjà vu with another young NDSU backfield from the early 1980s that featured the likes of Bentrim, Stark and Molstre. Those young guys went on to play in four national championship games, winning three. “We’ve got a good group of kids right now that are really excited to get another chance to play together,” said Entz. Bison fans should be excited, too. If this group of young talent sticks together, coupled with the veteran playmakers on the roster like Christian Watson, Josh Babicz, Noah Gindorff, Michael Tutsie, Jackson Hankey, Spencer Waege, etc., etc., it won’t be too long before everyone else in the FCS is wishing the Bison finally at long last take their ball and go someplace else, decades after Triplett’s wish back in 1986. Everybody up for the kickoff, the march is on!