Bison Illustrated November 2023 by Spotlight Media

N OV E M B E R 2 0 2 2

C O M P L I M E N TA RY

ELLE EVANS Summit League Freshman of the Year

HARDWOOD

HEROES

Interviews With the Wrestling Team

CONTENTS

COVER STORY 18

NOVEMBER 2023

HARDWOOD HEROES Men’s Basketball 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 38 40

Head Coach Dave Richman Meet The Freshman Meet The Sophomores Meet The Juniors Jacari White Andrew Morgan Tajavis Miller Damari Wheeler-Thomas Boden Skunberg 2023 Men’s Basketball Schedule

Women’s Basketball 44 46 48 50 52 54 58

Head Coach Jory Collins Meet The Freshman Meet The Sophomores Meet The Junior Elle Evans Heaven Hamling 2023-24 Women’s Basketball Schedule

60 62 64 66 68 70

Hit The Mat Head Coach Obenson Blanc Kellyn March Landen Johnson Gavin Drexler 2023-24 Wrestling Schedule

72 Meet The 2023 Bison Athletic Hall Of Fame Class 78 Team Makers

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BISON ILLUSTRATED NOVEMBER 2023

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Dedicated, Competitive, Encouraging, and Fun-Loving

FROM BRADY DRAKE

Recently, our community lost a great individual, Jason Thielges, who was also my head football coach during the four years I attended Davies High School. He taught me about dedication. One of my first interactions with him was when I asked if I could miss a couple of days of fall camp to go to a Lil Wayne concert... Needless to say, I got shot down pretty quickly. However, as a 14-year-old, I didn’t expect to be. I wondered, “What’s the big deal? It’s just a few days.”

But what he taught me then, and continued to show me through the rest of my time in high school, was the importance of absolute commitment and showing up every day. He expected dedication in the weight room and at practice, and if you didn’t practice leading up to game day, you didn’t play. He built people up. He cared about you as a person. He cared about the other activities you were involved in. What stood out to me most about him in this regard was his ability

FROM THE EDITOR to encourage while critiquing. He wouldn’t just yell at you, he would let you know that you were better than what you were doing and that you were capable of more. One moment sticks out to me from a practice where he yelled at me and said, “You’re the best damn corner in the state and you’re going through the motions.” He was mad, I wasn’t giving him the effort that I needed to in order to better myself and the team, but he still built me up while letting me know he was upset with my effort. Anyone who watched me play back in the day could tell you that I was certainly not the best in the state, but Jason made every effort to show his players that they were capable of more.

He had fun. Even though he was one of the most competitive people I have ever been around, he had fun. Every week of practice ended with some sort of competition—a touchdown celebration contest, kicking contest, closest to the pin, and coach imitations are a few that I remember. It didn’t matter how good or how bad of a season we were having, he would light up in those moments, and so did everyone else on the team. Anyone who was around him as an athlete knows that he was dedicated, competitive, encouraging, and funloving—it takes a special person to have all of those characteristics, and I’m very thankful to have had him in my life.

To donate to a college fund for Jason’s three children, head to the Fargo Public School Credit Union located at 1609 32nd Ave S Fargo, ND 58103 and drop off a check addressed to Jason’s wife, Cori Thielges. The memo of the check should say “college fund.”

Sincerely,

NOVEMBER 2023 | VOLUME 18 ISSUE 4 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 EDITORIAL Editorial Team Lead Brady Drake Brady@SpotlightMediaFargo.com Editors Geneva Nodland, Grant Ayers Art Director Kim Cowles Editorial Graphic Designer Ty Betts Creative Strategist Josiah Kopp Content Specialist Gary Ussery Contributors Team Makers INTERACTIVE Business Development Manager Business Development Associate Videographer Director of Creative Strategies Graphic Designer Web Developer

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CHECK OUT SPOTLIGHT MEDIA'S OTHER PUBLICATIONS

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Fargo INC! is our very successful business magazine which covers all things business in the Fargo-Moorhead area. fargoinc.com facebook.com/fargobusiness Twitter: @fargoincmag LinkedIN: Fargo INC

Josiah Kopp

ELLE EVANS

HARDWOOD 18

BISON ILLUSTRATED NOVEMBER 2023

Submitted by NDSU athletics

BODEN SKUNBERG

The 2023-2024 basketball season is underway and anticipation is building around the North Dakota State University men's and women's basketball teams. The women's team, led by Head Coach Jory Collins, is looking to build coming off of the program's most wins since the 2004-2005 season. Concurrently, the men's team, under the stewardship of Head Coach Dave Richman, looks to earn an NCAA tournament berth for the first time since the 2019-2020 season.

HEROES

Both teams, brimming with a blend of seasoned and budding talents, aim to etch a remarkable journey in the Summit League, with Bison Nation cheering along the way.

A PRESEASON INTERVIEW WITH HEAD COACH

DAVE RICHMAN

As we approach the upcoming basketball season, the spotlight shines on Dave Richman, the seasoned Head Men's Basketball Coach at North Dakota State University (NDSU). Embarking on his 10th year at the helm, Richman's tenure is marked by sterling achievements including three NCAA Tournament berths and seven Summit League Tournament championship game appearances. And with a team of players ready to step into the spotlight, the list of accolades could grow in 2023-2024

Q: Having observed the team's offseason workouts, and considering the trip to Costa Rica, what are your impressions of the team so far? A: The beginning of practices these days can seem a bit melodramatic because of how much access we have to the players over the summer. We got a good look at their progress during this time. This team is very cohesive. They have a lot of resilience, work ethic, and integrity. We are still young in many ways, but we're in a better position than this time last year. With 10 returning players, we're able to delve deeper into our training and that will benefit us greatly. Q: In this age when players transfer often, having 10 returning players must feel like a breath of fresh air, right? A: Absolutely. It makes coaching easier and sets a higher starting point for us. While we always strive for growth and improvement, beginning at a more advanced stage because of our experienced players is a luxury. And as they mature, the physical part of the game comes along as well.

Q: It seems your teams consistently peak at the right times during seasons. Is this by design? A: I'd challenge that. We aim for consistent growth throughout the season. While we've had a couple of poor starts in my nine years as head coach, we've mostly had steady performances throughout entire seasons. You don't get 20-win teams without good starts as well. We prioritize continuous improvement rather than being overly focused on wins or losses. Q: Which players have shown significant improvement over the offseason? A: While all our players have grown, Andrew Morgan stands out. He's grown both physically and mentally. Others like Boden, Damari, Jacari, and Tajavis have shown an increased understanding of the game. We're also excited about Noah Feddersen and hope for Josh Streit to showcase his improved skills. Q: Can you tell us about the incoming freshmen?

Q: Is their progress more significant than what you've observed in previous teams? A: Perhaps it seems more pronounced because of how inexperienced we were last year. But our players have shown great character and willingness to grow, which makes a difference. Their holistic growth, both on and off the court, is encouraging.

A: Darik Dissettee, being from North Dakota, is noteworthy. He's a skilled player and will have an impact early in his career. Eli Bradley, known for his shooting, is adjusting to college basketball. "Big Mark" [Nikolich-Wilson] is also promising. Jeremiah Burke, a transfer, has shown great potential and is adjusting well. Q: Is there anything else you'd like to add? A: This is an exciting team. We've performed well in recent years, but we're aiming for greatness. How we achieve it remains to be seen, but this team has the right attributes to excel. Their character and values embody the essence of Bison basketball, and I'm thrilled to be a part of their journey.

BISON ILLUSTRATED NOVEMBER 2023

Submitted by NDSU Basketball

FRESHMEN MEET THE

#40 Mark Nikolich-Wilson,

#13 Darik Dissette,

#0 Eli Bradley,

#34 Noah Freddersen,

Fr., Arlington Heights, IL

Fr., Minot, ND

Fr., Las Vegas, NV

R Fr., Menomonie, WI

Josiah Kopp

BISON ILLUSTRATED NOVEMBER 2023

MEET THE

SOPHOMORES #2 Tajavis Miller,

#10 Damari Wheeler-Thomas,

So., Lubbock, TX

So., Elgin, IL

#12 Lance Waddles,

#24 Ryan Sletten,

#33 Sam Hastreiter,

So., Shreveport, LA

So., Larimore, ND

So., Lincoln, NE

Josiah Kopp 24

BISON ILLUSTRATED NOVEMBER 2023

MEET THE

JUNIORS

#5 Jeremiah Burke,

#22 Joshua Streit,

#23 Andrew Morgan,

#11 Jacari White,

Jr. Milwaukee, WI

Jr., Watkins, MN

Jr., Waseca, MN

Jr., Orlando, FL

Josiah Kopp 26

BISON ILLUSTRATED NOVEMBER 2023

GUARD, JUNIOR, OLYMPIA, FL

JACARI WHITE NAVIGATING CHANGE In Fargo, ND, a young hooper from the Sunshine State has been shining on the hardwood for NDSU—Jacari White, the talented guard from Orlando, FL. Before coming to the Bison, White’s basketball journey picked up pace at State College of Florida where he showcased his skill on the court in the 2021-2022 season after playing sparingly in high school due to injuries. His freshman year at the junior college saw him average 13.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game, earning first-team all-conference honors. With an impressive 71 three-pointers on 39 percent shooting from beyond the arc, and a stellar free-throw percentage of 92, White was a key player for the Manatees. His performances earned him five games with 23-plus points, shooting 50 percent or better in four of those games.

The call from North Dakota State came at the right time for the overlooked White, who was ready to transition to a higher level of collegiate basketball. The shift not only represented a geographical change but also a step up in competitive intensity. In his first season with the Bison (2022-2023), he played in 31 of 33 games, making 10 starts. Off the court, the transition to North Dakota was marked by a stark contrast in weather and a shift from the bustling city life of Orlando to the quieter Fargo. White’s unique journey mirrors his evolving game. While injured in high school, White studied Damian Lillard, his favorite NBA player, in an attempt to mold his game after him. Lillard is still the player that White studies today as he continues to navigate change while shining at NDSU.

2022-2023 STATS Games Played: 31

Points Per Game: 7.5

Games Started: 10

Rebounds Per Game: 1.9

Average Minutes Per Game: 22

Assists Per Game: 1.1

BISON ILLUSTRATED NOVEMBER 2023

DID YOU KNOW? Jacari White's favorite show is Stranger Things.

Submitted by NDSU Basketball

FORWARD, JUNIOR, WASECA, MN

ANDREW MORGAN ASCENDING Standing tall at 6-foot-10 and weighing 245 pounds, Andrew Morgan, the Waseca, MN native, has been a notable presence on the Bison’s roster. His basketball journey took a significant turn during his high school years at Waseca HS, where he led his team to a state championship in his senior season, earning him a spot as a Minnesota Mr. Basketball finalist in 2020-21. His performances also saw him named to the Associated Press All-State second team in 2021, and by the time he concluded his high school career, Morgan was ranked the No. 3 player in Minnesota’s Class of 2021 and recognized as a Top 250 player nationally by Prep Hoops. Morgan contributed right away for the green and gold during his freshman season. During that 2021-2022 campaign, Morgan played in 21 of 33 games, averaging 5.3 points and 3.3 rebounds per game while leading the team with a 63% field goal percentage.

However, last season, Morgan took a big step forward, averaging 10.15 points and 5.3 rebounds. Among his notable performances were a season-high 29 points against Kansas City and a 24-point, 13-rebound doubledouble in a victory over South Dakota State. Heading into this season’s campaign, Morgan says he has been working on his 3-point shot and he feels much more confident beyond the arc. Morgan’s increased confidence in shooting threes will undoubtedly open a new dimension to the Bison’s offense. Off the court, Morgan likes his teammates and values the camaraderie within the Bison squad whether it’s bowling or movie nights.

2022-2023 STATS Games Played: 32

Rebounds Per Game: 5.3

Games Started: 30

Assists Per Game: 1.2

Points Per Game: 10.5

BISON ILLUSTRATED NOVEMBER 2023

Submitted by NDSU Basketball

MR. MINNESOTA At Waseca Junior and Senior High School, Andrew Morgan was a dominant force and helped lead his school to their first boy’s basketball state championship in over 100 years. This earned him a spot among the five finalists for the Minnesota Mr. Basketball award.

BIG MAN Andrew Morgan stands 6-foot-10 and weighs 245 pounds.

GUARD, SOPHOMORE, LUBBOCK, TX

TAJAVIS MILLER

FROM FRESHMAN TO FLOOR GENERAL When Tajavis Miller took to the court for North Dakota State last year, many were surprised to see a freshman being handed such significant responsibilities. Making the leap from high school to Division I basketball is no small feat, but Miller embraced the challenge with remarkable maturity.

But what did he learn in that critical first year? “My decision-making and pace changed significantly,” he said. “Understanding when to accelerate and when to slow down was crucial.” This ability to adapt his pace, he reveals, was a key component of his development over the year.

“It was pretty cool at first,” Miller said, reflecting on his debut season. “Stepping in right away, having a big role on the team as a freshman was a step up.” The initial stages of his freshman year were challenging, as he grappled with understanding his role and adapting to a new playing style. “What I learned in my school was completely different,” he admits. However, as the season progressed, Miller found his rhythm, “Once you get it figured out, it’s not too bad.”

Growing up, Miller idolized NBA legend Kobe Bryant. Today, while he doesn’t single out a current favorite player in the league, his passion for the game remains. As for the upcoming season, Miller is buzzing with excitement. “I’m pretty excited about all the games,” he said, emphasizing his eagerness to see how the team performs together.

One of the highlights of Miller’s freshman year was his crucial layup in the dying seconds of the Summit League quarterfinals against South Dakota, sealing a 70-68 victory for the Bison. It’s moments like these that paint a picture of a player with not just the skills, but also the temperament required to succeed at this level.

An injury saw him sidelined for a while, a broken toe, but now he’s back, fully recovered and ready to give it his all. The offseason was spent in Fargo, where Miller and his teammates laid the groundwork for the upcoming challenges. “We’ve grown a lot since the beginning of summer,” he said, highlighting the team’s improved decision-making and ability to control the game’s tempo.

2022-2023 STATS Games Played: 30

Points Per Game: 7.9

Games Started: 20

Rebounds Per Game: 3.3

Average Minutes Per Game: 26

SEASON HIGHS

Points: 20 Assists: 9 Rebounds: 8

BISON ILLUSTRATED NOVEMBER 2023

TALENTED TAJAVIS Did you know that Tajavis Miller can juggle?

Submitted by NDSU Athletics

GUARD, SOPHOMORE, ELGIN, IL Submitted by NDSU Athletics

FANTASTIC FRESHMAN Last season, WheelerThomas started 28 of 33 games as a true freshman!

DAMARI WHEELERTHOMAS

CONTINUED >

BISON ILLUSTRATED NOVEMBER 2023

GUARD, SOPHOMORE, ELGIN, IL

DAMARI WHEELERTHOMAS BURSTING ONTO THE SCENE Damari Wheeler-Thomas faced a challenging start to his college basketball experience due to a tibia fracture that required surgery and kept him sidelined throughout the preceding summer. However, he managed to make a significant impact upon his return... as a true freshman. And Bison fans, he wasn’t even 100%. “I feel like it took me about halfway through the year for me to feel like myself again,” Wheeler-Thomas said. “I still feel like I’m getting back in a way.”

He highlighted the pace as being one of the major differences between high school and Division I college basketball. However, his role with the team last year, in which he started 28 of the team’s 33 games. Before his collegiate career, Wheeler-Thomas had an impressive high school basketball journey. He led Larkin HS to an unbeaten conference title with a 31-4 record in his senior year (2021-22) and was named to the IBCA all-state second team after averaging over 19 points per game.

2022-2023 STATS Games Played: 32

Rebounds Per Game: 2.0

Games Started: 28

Assists Per Game: 1.6

Average Minutes Per Game: 7.1

BISON ILLUSTRATED NOVEMBER 2023

GUARD, SENIOR, JAMESTOWN, ND

BODEN SKUNBERG North Dakota isn’t necessarily a basketball hotbed, but you wouldn’t know that by watching some of the recent in-state players that have stepped on the court for NDSU, including Boden Skunberg. Growing up in Jamestown, ND, Skunberg was raised in a basketballcentric environment thanks to his mother who played collegiately at Jamestown. The aspiration to play college basketball himself was a dream from a young age, a dream that started becoming a reality post-eighth grade when he received his first scholarship offer from Jamestown University. However,

the real game-changer came after his freshman year when NDSU spotted and offered him a scholarship. Transitioning from high school to college basketball wasn’t just about moving from Jamestown to Fargo for Boden, but it was about adapting to a new team, a new rhythm, and a heightened level of competition. However, his high school experience had armed him with a formidable foundation, a foundation that led him to crack the lineup as a true freshman, contribute as a sophomore, and star as a junior.

*Boden Skunberg is the only senior on the roster

2022-2023 STATS Games Played: 32

Rebounds Per Game: 5.4

Games Started: 28

Assists Per Game: 1.5

Points Per Game: 15.4

BISON ILLUSTRATED NOVEMBER 2023

Submitted by NDSU Athletics

DIRTY THIRTY Last season, Skunberg dropped a career-high 30 points in a win over Denver.

SHARP SHOOTER Boden shot 39.5% from beyond the arc last season.

2023 MEN’S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE

vs. St. Olaf Oct 27, 7 p.m. Fargo, ND

vs. Western Michigan Nov 6, 6 p.m. CT Western Michigan

vs. Mount Marty Nov 7, 7 p.m. Fargo, ND

vs. Creighton Nov 11, 1 p.m. #8 Creighton

vs. UC Davis Nov 14, 3 p.m. CT UC Davis

vs. Montana Nov 16, 9 p.m. CT Montana

vs. Wisconsin-Stout Nov 20, 7 p.m. Fargo, ND

vs. Grand Canyon Nov 25, 7 p.m. CT Grand Canyon

vs. San Jose State Nov 27, 10 p.m. CT San Jose State

vs. San Jose State Dec 4, 7 p.m. Fargo, ND

vs. Portland Dec 7, 7 p.m. Fargo, ND

vs. Oak Hill Christian Dec 10, 1 p.m. Fargo, ND

BISON ILLUSTRATED NOVEMBER 2023

A PRESEASON INTERVIEW WITH HEAD COACH

JORY COLLINS Jory Collins has significantly elevated the women’s basketball program since joining in April of 2019. And the 2022-23 season marked the best yet as the Bison went 18-12 on the season, their best finish since 2004-2005. The finish landed them in the Women’s National Invitational Tournament (WNIT) for the first time in program history. The season was punctuated with individual accolades from Heaven Hamling and Elle Evans who both earned All-Summit League honors, with Evans making history as the first player from the program to be named Summit League Freshman of the Year. Let’s see what Jory has in store this year! Q: What did you see from the team last year? How do you continue that momentum into this next year? A: Last year, the difference was the players were committed and committed to each other, and we had a great locker room. When you have those kinds of things, you’re able to really focus on basketball. We had an influx of new players that were really impactful. Obviously, Elle Evans was terrific as a freshman, but so was Abby Graham. Taylor Brown coming in as a fifth-year grad transfer last year helped us a ton with her experience. Hopefully, it was a jumping-off point for us to get to a certain level where we can say, ‘Hey, this is who we are.’ Q: Speaking of Elle Evans, did you expect her to have the kind of year she did last year? A: She was obviously always very capable when we watched her in high school. We evaluated her a lot in the summer as well. Her potential, and especially how we play and wanted to use her, it was just a really good match. She’s a very, very hard worker. She spends a lot of time in the gym on her own, and she wins every sprint in practice. She’s just one of those kids where if you can get them in the right environment, they are going to excel. She was really good for us as a freshman and going into this year, she’s got a chance to be one of the best players we’ve had. Q: Who have you seen taking steps forward this offseason? A: I think the thing I liked the most about this team is we’re very close. We have a great mix of some veterans coming back in Heaven [Hamling] and Abby Schulte. You throw in Kristina [Ekofo Yomane] and Abby Draper, who both played a lot last year, in with our veterans and influx of young kids—I think we have nine freshmen and sophomores that are all very tough— and we have a good mix. Were a little bit longer, a little bit more athletic than we’ve ever been physically. We have a team that I think is going to be ultra-competitive all year long and have a chance to win a lot of games. We’re going to have some growing pains with the youth early on, but I think once those guys figure it out, we got a chance to be pretty awesome.

BISON ILLUSTRATED NOVEMBER 2023

Q: Can you tell our readers about the freshman class you have coming in? A: Abby Krzewinski is a freshman from Minneapolis. She is an athletic 5’ 11’’. She’s the kid in the class who could play multiple positions. We got her a little bit later in the process. Last year, she decommitted from another school and we were fortunate to be a good landing place for her and a good fit. Miriley Simon from West Fargo here has always been an excellent offensive player—she showed that this summer and so has shown that so far this spring. As she continues to learn defense and get good basketball shape, she’s going to be a factor in our league. Everybody’s going to know Taryn Hamling, Heaven’s little sister. She had a prolific high school career and has a lot of the same traits as Heaven. You’ll see the same mannerisms, they talk the same, they do all those things, but they’re a little bit different players. Heaven is kind of more of an all-around playmaker. Taryn is kind of a sniper shooter. But she has a very high ceiling also as soon as she gets into college a little bit and gets a little bit more experienced at this level. And then there’s Avery Koenen from Montevideo, MN. Obviously, we’re really excited about her athleticism. She’s 6’3’’ and runs like a deer. She was the state champion triple jumper last year. The way she can get up and down the floor is really going to be something different for us. I think everybody got to watch Elle run the floor last year. Adding Avery to that mix is going to be awesome. And then our redshirt freshman, Marwa Bedziri from Sweden, runs that way too. Q: Is there anything else you want to say? A: Come out and watch us play! We’ve increased our attendance just about every year I’ve been here. I would love to get 1,000 fans a game this year. We’re going to be a fun team to watch.

Josiah Kopp

FRESHMEN MEET THE

#40 Abby Krzewinski,

#32 Miriley Simonson,

#12 Taryn Hamling,

#22 Avery Koenen,

Fr., Wayzata, MN

Fr., West Fargo, ND

Fr., Grand Rapids, MN

Fr., Montevideo, MN

Josiah Kopp 46

BISON ILLUSTRATED NOVEMBER 2023

SOPHOMORES MEET THE

#10 Abby Graham, So., Portland, OR #5 Marwa Bedziri, RFr., Stockholm, #21 Elle Evans,

Sweden

So., Edwardsville, IL

#1 Grace Massaquoi,

#3 Leah Mackenzie,

So., Minneapolis, MN

RFr., Melbourne, Australia

Josiah Kopp 48

BISON ILLUSTRATED NOVEMBER 2023

JUNIOR MEET THE

DID YOU KNOW? Abbie Draper scored in double digits three times last season.

#2 Abbie Draper, Jr., Waverly, IA

Josiah Kopp 50

BISON ILLUSTRATED NOVEMBER 2023

GUARD, SOPHOMORE, EDWARDSVILLE, IL

ELLE EVANS In her freshman year at North Dakota State University, Elle Evans swiftly emerged as a force to be reckoned with on the basketball court. It can’t be said enough how impressive Evans was in earning the program’s first Summitt League Freshman of the Year award.

These accomplishments led to her being named to the 2022-23 Summit League All-Defensive Team and All-Newcomer Team. This summer, Evans has been honing her mid-range game, aiming to capitalize on her height and athleticism to become even more unguardable on the court.

Evans’ journey began much before her time at NDSU. A threeyear starter at Edwardsville High School, she averaged 9.65 points with 4.15 rebounds and 2.31 assists per game over three seasons, guiding her team to two regional and three conference championships.

“I stayed in Fargo most of the summer,” Evans said. “I did go home to see my family, but that was it.”

Upon her arrival at NDSU, Evans’ impact was instantaneous. She appeared in all 30 games, starting in 29. Remarkably, Evans ranked fifth in the Summit League with a field goal percentage of 43.8% and showcased her defensive skills by leading the team with 42 blocks, ranking second in the Summit League.

According to Evans, the shared experience of participating in the NIT last year has further galvanized the team’s resolve to aim for the NCAA postseason in the upcoming season. Evans is ready to embrace a leadership role, drawing from the invaluable experiences garnered in her remarkable freshman year. We can’t wait to see what she does!

2022-2023 STATS Games Played: 30

Points Per Game: 13.4

Games Started: 29

Rebounds Per Game: 4.9

Average Minutes Per Game: 32.2

Assists Per Game: 1.7

SUMMITT LEAGUE SENSATION 2022-23 Summit League Freshman of the Year

2022-23 Honorable Mention All-Summit League

2022-23 Summit League All-Defensive Team

Summit League Academic Honor Roll (2022-23)

2022-23 Summit League All-Newcomer Team

BISON ILLUSTRATED NOVEMBER 2023

Josiah Kopp

GUARD, SENIOR, GRAND RAPIDS, MN Josiah Kopp

HARDWOOD TO CONCRETE Hamling, who has an undergraduate degree in Construction Management, is on the cusp of a professional career in which she hopes to work on building stadiums!

FIRSTTEAM In 2022-2023, Hamling became the first NDSU Women’s Basketball player to be selected to the Summit League First-Team since 2016

SCORING SENSATION Last season, Hamling paced the Bison with 16.5 points per game, fourth most in the conference.

HEAVEN HAMLING 54

BISON ILLUSTRATED NOVEMBER 2023

CONTINUED >

GUARD, SENIOR, GRAND RAPIDS, MN

HEAVEN HAMLING BURSTING ONTO THE SCENE Heaven Hamling has been dropping buckets in the Summit League since the 2020-2021 season. And now, she’s getting ready for her final campaign with the green & gold with the Summit League Championship glinting as the coveted prize.

Hamling has been a part of previously.

Hamling’s journey began in 2018 when Heaven first tasted the rigors of college basketball, albeit at a different institution. A year later, the allure of closer ties and familiar terrains brought her to NDSU where she has starred for the past three seasons, earning all-conference honors every year.

If the progress that Hamling has been an integral part of catalyzing for the program isn’t special enough, Hamling has another rare opportunity this season—to play with her sister, Taryn Hamling, a freshman on the team.

The impending season looms as a curtain call, yet the flame of competition burns. “Yeah, it’s actually hit me... but I’m just coming in this year with everything I got and hoping to win a championship,” Hamling said.

Hamling, along with her teammate Elle Evans, garners a spot in the Preseason All-Summit League First Team— high hopes rest upon their shoulders.

“I just turned 23, And she’s 18... it’s just been a blessing. And I’m so excited to be able to experience these opportunities with her,” Hamling said. And she thinks the team can get it done this season. “I see that everyone likes each other... And everybody wants to come in here and work hard... And we’re always in here working hard and sticking together as a team and growing together,” Hamling said.

And the goal is real and attainable for the Bison which were picked second in the Summit League preseason coaches’ poll—a far cry from expectations of teams

2022-2023 STATS Games Played: 30

Points Per Game: 16.5

Games Started: 30

Rebounds Per Game: 4.9

Average Minutes Per Game: 33.1

Assists Per Game: 3.7

BISON ILLUSTRATED NOVEMBER 2023

2023-24 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE

#23/22 Creighton Nov 6, 6 p.m. Sioux Falls, SD

vs. Jamestown Nov 9, 5 p.m. Fargo, ND

at Minnesota Nov 15, 7 p.m. Minneapolis, MN

at N. Colorado Nov 20, 7 p.m. CT Greeley, CO

vs. Harvard Nov 24, 4:30 p.m. San Diego, CA

vs. Toledo Nov 25, 2 p.m. San Diego, CA

vs. E. Michigan Dec 1, 7 p.m. Fargo, ND

vs. Mayville State Dec 3, 1 p.m. Fargo, ND

at Drake Oct 27, 7 p.m. Des Moines, IA

at Iowa State Dec 10, 5 p.m. Ames, IA

vs. Central Michigan Dec 20, 7 p.m. Fargo, ND

at South Dakota Dec 29, 7 p.m. Vermillion, SD

at Montana State Jan 3, TBD Bozeman, MT

vs. N. Arizona Jan 6, 1 p.m. Fargo, ND

vs. Kansas City Jan 11, 7 p.m. Fargo, ND

vs. Omaha Jan 13, 1 p.m. Fargo,ND

at Denver Jan 18, 7 p.m. Denver, CO

at Oral Roberts Jan 20, 2 p.m. Tulsa, OK

vs. St. Thomas Jan 25, 7 p.m. Fargo, ND

vs. SD State Feb 1, 7 p.m. Fargo, ND

at UND Feb 3, 1 p.m. Grand Forks, ND

at Kansas City Feb 8, 7 p.m. Kansas City, MO

at Omaha Feb 10, 2 p.m. Omaha, NE

vs. Oral Roberts Feb 15, 7 p.m. Fargo, ND

vs. Denver Feb 17, 1 p.m. Fargo, ND

at St. Thomas Feb 22, 7 p.m. St. Paul, MN

vs. UND Feb 24, 4 p.m. Fargo, ND

vs. South Dakota Feb 29, 7 p.m. Fargo, ND

at SD State Mar 2, 2 p.m. Brookings, SD

Summit League Mar 8-12 Sioux Falls, SD

BISON ILLUSTRATED NOVEMBER 2023

WRESTLING

HIT THE MAT The upcoming wrestling season at North Dakota State University is sure to be exciting. Young athletes like Gavin Drexler and Landen Johnson will have to rise to the occasion while seasoned veteran like Kellyn March are ready to hold court. As the season nears, the energy at the SCHEELS Center builds with the Herd ready to roll.

BISON ILLUSTRATED NOVEMBER 2023

A PRESEASON INTERVIEW WITH HEAD COACH

OBENSON BLANC Obenson Blanc, NDSU’s new head wrestling coach, has an impressive resume. As a competitor, Blanc made five consecutive U.S. national teams from 2009 to 2013. During that span, he was a three-time Pan-American finalist and a two-time winner of the U.S. Open and US World Team Trials. Blanc was also an alternate for the 2012 London Olympic Games. Prior to representing Team USA, Blanc wrestled at Lock Haven and Oklahoma State, earning All-America honors in 2007 at Lock Haven and amassing a remarkable 118-41 career record with 25 pins. Blanc’s assistant coaching career started at North Carolina State where he helped the program earn multiple ACC Championships and a fourth-place finish at the 2018 NCAA National Championships. Though he is our new favorite head wrestling coach, he is not new to the Bison program. Blanc joined the Green & Gold as an assistant in 2019 and has already made a profound impact on the program. He has already helped to mentor two All-Americans and all three of NDSU’s Big 12 Conference champions, alongside 19 NWCA Scholar All-Americans. His leadership, coupled with his past experiences, brings a promise of continued success and growth for the program. We sat down with him prior to the season to talk about his journey and the year ahead. Q: It has been a long road from your wrestling days to assistant coaching to where you are now. What has the experience been like? A: It’s been an enjoyable process. It was around that time for me at NC State where I really started working with our studentathletes and realized I really have a passion for development and I’ve got to have a good knack for it. I kind of understand the student-athlete and what they need to grow. I like building and I like leadership—that’s really what brought me to NDSU. NDSU is a program with a great history. At the time I came on, I didn’t think it was living up to its potential and I thought I could maybe help with that. I think there is a very strong administration here with great resources. And I knew that if the right people were leading this thing, we could really have a lot of success. So, I saw an opportunity to help this program continue to grow and an opportunity to add to the strong legacy that Coach Bucky Maughan built here. I think I’ve been able to help the program have some success and the administration was able to kind of see the value I could bring. I’m grateful and really excited to see if I can do the things I want to do here. Q: Did you know all along your wrestling career that you wanted to coach eventually? A: No, not at all. Actually, my undergrad was in sports administration and my postgrad was an international business. So, I thought I’d be in business. I always knew I wanted to be a leader, a CEO type of individual who develops—whether that’s people, businesses, companies, whatever that might be. I knew that was the route I wanted to go. I did not know that wrestling would be that route. I had really no real intention of coaching. I kind of got thrust into it. When I went to NC State, I was a

BISON ILLUSTRATED NOVEMBER 2023

volunteer assistant and I was also training at that point. So, I was working with the guys, but I wasn’t not really doing a ton of recruiting and the responsibilities weren’t too great. I was still able to kind of focus on my training. At the time, one of the assistants left for another job and that created a vacancy. I was elevated and my responsibilities increased. It was then that I really started to work with a lot of student-athletes and got involved with recruiting—I was just doing the whole thing. Ultimately, I really liked it and I had a bit of an IQ for it. I really enjoy the aspect of helping people grow and realize their goals and dreams. Q: Who are some key wrestlers that our readers should be aware of? A: We are young but our guys are hungry. The majority of my starters are going to be guys that are coming off of a redshirt. These guys had a lot of success in their high school time. We have guys like Carlos Negrete Jr. who I think is going to have a great season. This was a guy that was as high as top five in the country in his weight class in high school. He didn’t have the season he wanted last year with some injuries and things of that nature. He’s really grown into his weight. He got some experience, got healthy, and now he’s dialed in and excited to have a great year. We have Fernando Barreto, who has been a tremendous leader for our team. We are very, very excited about him. I think he’s going to have a lot of success. His mindset and mentality is what it takes to be successful. We’ve got Gavin Drexler at 141 from Wisconsin who is a young man who placed at USA Nationals, the biggest tournament in the country for high schoolers. He’s a guy that we think’s going to have great success. He’s very dialed in. Kellyn March is a

returning NCAA qualifier and we’re excited about him. He’s just at that point in his career where he can really do some big things. He is one of the older guys and it’s time to go—it’s time to do something great.

Submitted by NDSU Athletics

We have Landen Johnson at 157, we’re excited about him coming off a redshirt. He had a very strong redshirt season and he won a couple of open tournaments. We got Brendan Howes at 165—this is a young man that took down Michael Caliendo in practice last year. This is a young man who has tons of potential. We’ve really been working a lot with him on his mentality and mindset and goal-setting overall. I’m very excited for him. We have Gaven Sax at 184 who’s one of the older guys who wants to be a leader in everything he does and how he competes. He hasn’t been to the NCAA yet, but he has wrestled in multiple Big 12 tournaments and it’s time to punch through. Spencer Mooberry is a guy that had a lot of success this summer. He did really well at some of the USA national and world team trials. He had some injuries to deal with last year, but he’s excited to step up at 197. He had a lot of success in high school, but he just really needed the experience in college. At heavyweight, we have Devon Dawson, who is a multipletime Junior College All-American. He’s got some experience under his belt he’s really looking to cement himself at the Division I level. Q: Can you tell our readers about the freshman coming in and who they should be aware of? A: We have a really strong group. First I’ll start with Boeden Greenley. He is a North Dakota kid from Lisbon. He was a USA Wrestling All-American and he is a guy that has a strong mind strong work ethic. He is a guy that is going to do great things here at NDSU. I see a bright future for him. We have Luke Barker from Kansas who was a top 100 recruit. He also has a great work ethic and a great outlook on his career and what he wants to do. We have a young man named Amantee Hills who was a NHSCA National Champion and a four-time state champion. He had a lot of success and he really has a lot of raw talent that we think is really going to flourish here. We have Markell Rivera-Cain, who is a big guy that we’re trying to get comfortable at the college level. I think he’s a guy who’s very talented and who is going to have a bright career once he gets a little bit bigger, a little stronger. He’s a guy that has a high IQ and that can have a lot of in my opinion. We have Aidan Brenot who is a guy that I think, with his mentality, is going to be able to shock a lot of people here. We also have Adam Cherne from Minnesota who has been progressing really well for us and we’re excited to see how he takes off.

SR., CANTON, SD

KELLYN MARCH As the wrestling season edges closer, anticipation within the North Dakota State University (NDSU) community is building with much of it surrounding their promising wrestler, Kellyn March. Coming off a remarkable season last year in which he qualified for the NCAA Championships, March carries the hopes and expectations of his team into the new season. His journey over the offseason has seen him transition into a leadership role, filling the void left by some key departures from the team. Q: How are you feeling coming into the season? A: I’m really excited and looking forward to this season. Obviously, we have a lot of new pieces. I’m just excited to see where we can go. Q: What do you think allowed you to have the success that you had last year? A: A lot of work in the wrestling room. I was also in a healthier weight class for me, but I also put in a lot more time in the wrestling room to make sure that I fine tuned a lot of mistakes that I was making my first two years and just working on getting better. Q: What do you think you need to improve on? A: [The] thing that I probably need to work most on is getting turns on top, and then also on my feet and protecting my right leg a little bit more.You just have to work hard every day for everything. Q: Was that mostly what you were trying to work on this offseason? How do you think you’ve grown as a wrestler? A: A lot of my growth this year, this offseason was just learning to be a little bit more of a leader on this team with us losing some major parts of our team. I need to be able to kind of step in and fill that role that Jared Franek and a couple of those other guys had. But along with that, yes, I’ve worked a lot on my feet and defending my right leg, and then also getting more turns on top. Q: What does your leadership style look like? A: Kind of everything. I mean, I will do anything for this team. I don’t care if I have to get in the middle of a fight to make sure

BISON ILLUSTRATED NOVEMBER 2023

that my teammates are taken care of. Or if it’s putting my body on the line for my team—I will do anything to make sure that we succeed and we’re doing the right stuff. Q: Do you take it upon yourself to guide some of the younger wrestlers coming into the program? A: Yeah, that’s one of the big things I see for being a leader. It’s important to help guide them and make sure that they know our culture and that they know how to apply it to people in the future. Q: What have you seen out of that young group so far? Is there anyone that’s been standing out early on? A: It’s tough to say, we have a lot of young talent that’s coming in. A lot of them have only been here for a week or two throughout the summer. So we haven’t gotten to see a lot of what they’re capable of yet. But, over the course of preseason and starting to get into the beginning of this season, we’ll really see some of these younger guys step up and see what they’re really capable of doing. Q: What are you most excited about this season? A: I’m just excited to build off what we did last year. I know we came off one of the best seasons we’ve ever had at NDSU as a Division I school and so we’re just excited to keep setting that bar higher and higher and keep building.

Josiah Kopp

BIG 12 CONTENDER Kellyn March has placed twice at the Big 12 Championships, taking seventh place in 2021 and fourthplace in 2023.

RFR., OWATONNA, MN

LANDEN JOHNSON TRANSITION Landen Johnson’s trajectory reflects the epitome of a dedicated athlete progressively honing his craft. Johnson, a lanky wrestler from Owatonna, Minnesota, landed at NDSU with a remarkable high school legacy. His tenure at Owatonna High School saw him crowned a two-time state champion. Stepping onto the collegiate mat, Johnson embraced a redshirt season that afforded him the opportunity to compete in four different tournaments, clinching victories at the North Country Open and Don Parker Open, and seizing a notable second place at the Bison Open. This season showed that Johnson has more in store after posting a 13-3 overall record, with an undefeated 8-0 at 165 pounds.

Q: What was it like redshirting, did you mostly train? A: Yeah, we competed. I competed at four different tournaments last year. Other than that, just a lot of practice and everyday lifting once or twice a day. Just kind of getting prepared for next season, this season.

wrestling is so much different. Everything’s more intense, and everything is just kind of harder to do. It’s not the same as high school where you’re kind of the top dog. You get in here and everyone is really, really good. You just have to work hard every day for everything. Q: What was that adjustment like?

Q: I know you had quite a bit of success in those tournaments that you actually were able to wrestle. What do you think allowed you to do that last year? A: Coming in and working hard like everyone else. Just sticking to the game plan that you’re doing the same thing as everyone else on the team. Even though you’re redshirting, it’s still kind of the same game plan. You’re still coming to practice, and doing the same stuff almost every day. It doesn’t really change too much training wise. Q: What were your first impressions of the program? A: Being at NDSU, everyone’s very welcoming. Not even just the wrestling team—all the sports are really nice and supportive of each other. So that’s really cool. College

BISON ILLUSTRATED NOVEMBER 2023

It was challenging at first, but you kind of understand that that’s what everyone goes through. And you’ve kind of got to get to that initial part. Then you get to that point where you can kind of hold your own with everyone. Q: What are your goals for the coming season? A: My goals are just compete hard and hopefully, you know, be awesome in March when it’s tournament time.

DID YOU KNOW? Landen Johnson was a two-time state champion in the state of Minnesota.

Josiah Kopp

RFR., STRATFORD, WI

GAVIN DREXLER NEW HORIZONS North Dakota State University’s (NDSU) redshirt freshman, Gavin Drexler, is swiftly making a name for himself in the collegiate wrestling scene, following a commendable 15-5 record in his freshman year. Hailing from Stratford, Wisconsin with a remarkable high school wrestling record, Drexler transitioned into NDSU’s competitive environment with an evident ease, attributing much of his success to the support from coaches and teammates. Now stepping into his second season, his accrued experience and sharpened technique prepare him for higher stakes.

Q: What do you think allowed you to have success in your freshman season? A: Definitely the support from not only the coaches, but from my teammates—everyone was kind of involved in making the journey a little bit easier and we’ve been good about just looking after one another. Q: How do you feel different coming to your second season, as opposed to your first? A: I feel more experienced, number one. Number two, I feel more confident. I’m also just just excited about getting to compete at the varsity level and just kind of make a name for myself and represent NDSU. Q: How do you think you’ve grown as a wrestler coming in this year? A: Probably in all aspects of the game. I think I’ve improved as far as different types of positions and situations and I feel like I’ve improved and definitely sharpened up on my technique a lot. I’ve just been focusing on basics and keeping it simple because basics win. Q: What was the most difficult thing about the transition to the program? I would say probably just that everyone here is a killer and you have to be ready to compete. Nothing is handed to you easily, you have to work for it. As much as you have other people here to lean on, you need to take the initiative yourself and kind of do things independently.

BISON ILLUSTRATED NOVEMBER 2023

Q: What has the experience been like under the new coach? A: So far, it’s been great. My first year here with him as head assistant coach was fantastic. He was doing an outstanding job running a lot of our workouts and now with being a head coach, it’s really nice. He’s been doing a great job. Under his role, I definitely feel like we’ve already seen improvements in our team. I’m just excited to continue to keep learning from him. Q: This is a sport where conditioning is obviously super important. You have to make weight, you have to be in incredible cardio shape—it’s probably the most brutal sport from that perspective. How much time do you take off in the offseason? A: It all kind of depends on who you are as a person. If you don’t want to take time off or you feel like you don’t need to, then you can just keep going. But for me, I like a couple of weeks off right away to let my body recover and mentally just recover. Q: Did you try anything different this offseason? A: Yes, I focused strictly on training and not competing. We had one competition after our normal wrestling season, which was a freestyle tournament, and I trained up until then, but since then, I’ve just been focused on getting better and not worrying about anything as far as competing or making weight.

DID YOU KNOW? Gavin Drexler was ranked as the No. 22 recruit at 138 pounds coming out of high school.

Josiah Kopp

2023-24 WRESTLING SCHEDULE

vs. Nebraska Nov 4, 2 p.m. Fargo, ND

Bison Open Nov 11, 9 a.m. Fargo, ND

at Oklahoma Nov 19, TBA Norman, OK

vs. Virginia Dec 2, 7 p.m. Fargo, ND

at Minnesota Dec 10, 1 p.m. Minneapolis, MN

Stanford Dec 19, 9 a.m. Buies Creek, NC

at Campbell Dec 19, 11 a.m. Buies Creek, NC

Purdue Dec 19, 1 p.m. Buies Creek, NC

Southern Scuffle Jan 2, 8 a.m. Chattanooga, TN

Southern Scuffle Jan 2, 10 p.m. Chattanooga, TN

Oregon State Jan 13, TBA Las Vegas, NV

California Baptist Jan 20, 7 p.m. Fargo, ND

Northern Colorado Jan 21, 2 p.m. Fargo, ND

vs. Air Force Jan 28, 1 p.m. Fargo,ND

at Utah Valley Feb 2, 1 p.m. Orem, UT

at Wyoming Feb 4, TBA Laramie, WY

vs. Missouri Feb 16, 7 p.m. Fargo, ND

at SD State Feb 25, 2 p.m. Brookings, SD

Big 12 Mar 9, TBA Tulsa, OK

Big 12 Mar 10, TBA Tulsa, OK

NCAA Mar 21, TBA Kansas City, MO

NCAA Mar 22, TBA Kansas City, MO

NCAA Mar 23, TBA Kansas City, MO

BISON ILLUSTRATED NOVEMBER 2023

Submitted by NDSU Athletics

ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY HONORED SEVEN INDIVIDUALS AND ONE TEAM BY PERMANENTLY ENSHRINING THEM INTO THE BISON ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME DURING THE 51ST INDUCTION CEREMONY. LET'S MEET THE CLASS.

BISON ILLUSTRATED NOVEMBER 2023

Tamara Brudy

WOMEN'S TRACK & FIELD, 2001 Tamara Brudy, born and raised in Saint Kitts and Nevis, secured a position on her first national team at the age of 13. Not long after, she was catapulted onto the global stage when she competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics held in Atlanta. During the event, she played a crucial role as the anchor for the 4x400 relay team during her country's inaugural appearance in the Olympics. In 1997, Tamara moved to the United States to attend NDSU where she would become a 16-time All-American. A crowning achievement came in 2002 when she anchored the 4x400 indoor relay team to a national championship, propelling the Bison to clinch the NCAA Division II indoor national title. Throughout her career, Tamara secured four national runnerup finishes. These accolades include the 400-meter dash—both indoors and outdoors in 2002, the 4x400 relay outdoors in 2002, and the 4x400 relay indoors in 2000. Additionally, she attained three third-place finishes, further testifying to her remarkable consistency. Tamara's name became synonymous with victory in the North Central Conference, where she emerged as a champion 14 times. Her victories spanned across various events including eight relays (4x100 and 4x400) and the 400 meters. She was an instrumental member of seven NCC championship teams, contributing to three indoor and four outdoor titles. Upon graduation, Tamara left a lasting legacy at NDSU, holding the Bison Sports Arena indoor record of 24.62 seconds in the 200 meters. Her name also adorned the school's record books with indoor records in the 400 meters (:54.58), 4x400 relay (3:41.58), and 200 meters (:24.30). Her outdoor records were equally impressive, setting new benchmarks in the 200 meters (:23.94), 400 meters (:53.43), 4x200 relay (1:41.01), 4x400 relay (3:38.54), and sprint medley relay (3:56.89). Besides her athletic accomplishments, Tamara excelled academically as well. She was a three-time All-Academic honoree and went on to complete a master’s degree in education. Today, she channels her passion for sports and education into her career as a physical education teacher, continuing to inspire and nurture the next generation of athletes.

BISON ILLUSTRATED NOVEMBER 2023

Jess Christensen Hodgson SOFTBALL, 2003

Jess Christensen Hodgson started in center field for NDSU as a true freshman on the 2000 NCAA Division II National Championship team. That’s quite the start to a collegiate career. Throughout her time with the Bison, the team advanced to the NCAA tournament every season, clinching three North Central Region championships in the process. Following their national title win in 2000, the Bison continued their run of commendable performances by securing a fifthplace national finish in 2002 and a third-place finish in 2003. During Jess’s time at NDSU, the softball team posted a record of 213 wins to 37 losses, with the 2000 season being exceptionally notable as they set a Division II record for singleseason wins with a 68-10 record. Hodgson’s was recognized in 2003 when she was named to the NFCA Division II AllAmerica first team. During the title run in 2000, Jess was named the North Central Conference Freshman of the Year—thoughout her career she would become a three-time All-NCC pick. At the plate Jess maintained a .354 batting average, hitting eight home runs, and accumulating 135 RBIs. She showcased her durability and commitment by starting in 232 out of 237 games played, during which she scored 181 runs, hit 61 doubles, and made 13 triples. One of her unforgettable plays came as a freshman during the national championship game against Kennesaw State. In a dramatic turn of events, Hodgson made a crucial catch at the fence in left-center field, denying a home run while the bases were loaded and with two outs in the first inning. Even after the conclusion of her college softball career, Hodgson’s name still resonated in NDSU’s records. She remained ranked in NDSU’s career top 10 in nine different categories, including holding the No. 2 spot in triples (13), No. 3 in doubles (61), and No. 5 in sacrifice hits (30). Beyond the softball field, Hodgson pursued academic excellence by completing a master’s degree in education at the University of Minnesota. Following her graduation, she embarked on a teaching career in family and consumer science. In 2021, her high school recognized her exceptional contributions to the sport by inducting her into the Mankato East High School Hall of Fame.

Jared Essler

FOOTBALL /MEN’S TRACK & FIELD, 2005 Jared Essler, an alumnus of Bishop Ryan High School in Minot, contributed to two state championship football teams during his high school career. His senior year in 1999 was extra special as he was honored as the Class 2A Player of the Year. That same year, he would go on to clinch the MVP title at the Class B basketball state tournament. By the time he left school, Essler had completed a track and field journey as a 10-time Class B state champion and was celebrated as the Gatorade State Track and Field Athlete of the Year. Transitioning to college, Essler’s athletic excellence continued. He earned the title of a six-time All-American in track and field and became an eight-time North Central Conference champion. His scholastic achievements ran parallel to his athletic success; he was recognized as a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American, with one accolade each in football and track and field. Moreover, he received the Academic All-NCC football honor and was named to the Great West Football Conference All-Academic team as well as the AFCA Good Works Team. Essler secured an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship and served as a graduate assistant for the Bison football program in 2005. His track record included a remarkable 48.07 indoor 400m time, which stands as the fourth fastest in school history. Essler was a key member of the 4x200 and 4x400 record-setting relays both indoors and outdoors, and he ran on six of the seven fastest 4x100 outdoor relay teams in Bison history. In 2004, his leadership on the football field was acknowledged as he was named the football team captain. Essler showcased his defensive skills by leading the 2003 football team in interceptions (5) and passes defended (8). Additionally, he recorded a team-high 73 total tackles in 2002. One of his notable plays includes a 73-yard interception return touchdown against Omaha in 2001, which, at the time, was the seventh-longest pick-six in school history. Throughout his college football career, Essler participated in 42 games, amassing 197 total tackles and defending 22 passes, which included nine interceptions.

Jeni Jost Gunderson WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL, 1998

In high school, Jenni Jost Gunderson was an all-state performer in both volleyball and basketball at Detroit Lakes High School in Minnesota. She was inducted into the school’s inaugural hall of fame class in 2008. With the Bison, Jenni played as a middle hitter for the volleyball team from 1992 to 1995. During her time in Fargo, she played a pivotal role in propelling NDSU to three NCAA tournaments, which included an appearance in the national quarterfinals in 1992. Additionally, she was a key player in clinching two North Central Conference championships. In 1995, Jenni’s athletic prowess was acknowledged as she was named to the AVCA All-Region first team. Her consistent performance earned her the title of All-North Central Conference three times consecutively from 1993 to 1995. She was also honored as the AVCA National Player of the Week twice, in 1993 and 1995. Jenni led the Bison in hitting percentage across all four seasons she played, peaking with a career-best .368 hitting percentage and 472 kills in 1995. She also topped the Bison in total blocks for three consecutive years (1993, 1994, 1995), with a career-best 121 blocks as a junior. In 1994 and 1995, Jenni led NDSU in kills. Her college volleyball career stats are impressive. Jenni ranks seventh in school history with 1,523 kills over 134 matches and 481 sets played. In the NDSU career charts, she holds the fourth position with a .327 attack percentage, fifth with 460 total blocks and 3.94 points per set, seventh with 3.17 kills per set, eighth with 1,894.5 points, and tenth with 0.96 blocks per set. A graduate of the NDSU nursing program, she was the first from the volleyball program to be named an Academic AllAmerican, earning honors on the second team in 1994 and first team in 1995. Additionally, she was named Academic All-NCC three times consecutively from 1993 to 1995.

Following his collegiate athletic career, Essler transitioned into a role of mentorship and coaching. Since 2006, he has been a dedicated teacher and coach in the Twin Cities area. In 2011, he took on the role of head football coach at St. MichaelAlbertville, where he has been recognized ast State Coach of the Year on two occasions. 75

Tim Strehlow

LISA KRESKY-GRIFFIN

Hailing from Wausau, Wisconsin, Tim Strehlow showcased a trifecta of athletic prowess at D.C. Everest High School as an all-conference basketball player, an all-state hurdler, and a USA Today All-American on the football field. His excellence continued at NDSU where he emerged as one of the top wide receivers and return specialists in the program’s history.

A standout athlete at Grant Park High School in Winnipeg, she was a six-time provincial champion and represented Team Canada in the junior heptathlon for a 1990 competition against Team USA.

FOOTBALL , 2000

In 1999, Tim’s all-rounded skills were recognized nationally when he was named to the Division II AllAmerica first team as an all-purpose player on both the Daktronics/CoSIDA and Football Gazette squads. Additionally, he earned a place on the second team Associated Press All-American roster. He was also selected as an All-North Central Conference first team wide receiver in 1999, a second team member in 1998, and an honorable mention in 1997. His stellar play also earned him a spot in the Snow Bowl Division II all-star game. Tim’s versatility as an all-purpose player was epitomized by his graduation as NDSU’s career leader in touchdown receptions (26), punt returns (58), and punt return yardage (602). At the time of his departure from NDSU, he was ranked second in career receptions (121) and receiving yards (2,332). His consistency was displayed through having at least one reception in his final 26 games. Tim also holds the distinction of having one of only three 200-yard receiving games in NDSU history. During his senior year, his 828 receiving yards and nine receiving touchdowns ranked second at NDSU. He led the team in pass receptions and punt return yards in each of his final three seasons, and his leadership was acknowledged as he was named the 1999 team captain. Tim is currently employed as a physical education teacher at his alma mater, D.C. Everest High School in Schofield, Wisconsin. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Tim serves as the head track and field coach as well as the head football coach. 76

BISON ILLUSTRATED NOVEMBER 2023

WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD, 2022

For the Bison, she was a seven-time NCAA Division II All-American. At the NCAA indoor championships, she placed fifth in the long jump in 1994, and finished fourth in the long jump and fifth in the 55-meter hurdles in 1996. At the NCAA outdoor championships, she was runnerup in the heptathlon and sixth in the 4x100 relay in 1996, and seventh in the heptathlon and eighth in the 4x100 relay in 1994. She was named the 1994 North Central Conference indoor MVP and the 1996 NCC outdoor MVP. Eight-time North Central Conference champion. Indoors, won the 55-meter hurdles in 1994 and 1995, long jump in 1996, and the pentathlon in 1994 and 1996. Outdoors, won the 100-meter hurdles in 1996, and the heptathlon in 1994 and 1996...Set an indoor school record in the long jump at 19 feet, 8 ½ inches...On the NDSU outdoor list, finished second in the heptathlon with 5,158 points. Previously she held top-10 marks in the long jump (19-8) and 100m hurdles (:14.19). Following her time at NDSU, she transitioned to distance running, completing 11 consecutive Boston Marathons and several ultramarathons and triathlons.Established the South of the River Endurance Club in the Twin Cities area in 2020. Her professional career began in 1998 with Connecticutbased Frontier Communications, where she is a senior network engineer and part of a complex solutions engineering team managing natural disaster restoral, multi-site technology deployments, and internal network development. She is married to Jeff Griffin, a former NDSU men’s basketball player.

THE 1983 FOOTBALL TEAM

In 1983, the Bison football team clinched the program’s fourth national title—the program’s first title determined through the playoff format. With a squad brimming with seasoned players, NDSU had a strong foundation, thanks to the return of 34 lettermen and 18 starters from the 1982 team that boasted a 12-1 record, reaching the NCAA semifinals. This talented lineup helped the Bison secure their third consecutive North Central Conference crown, their 15th in two decades, tying with Omaha with an 8-1 record in league play. In the playoffs, the Bison demonstrated their dominance by defeating Towson and UC Davis, which paved the way to the Palm Bowl. In this decisive match held in McAllen, Texas, the Bison triumphed over Central State of Ohio with a score of 41-21, clinching the national championship. This remarkable 1983 team saw nine of its members later being inducted into the Bison Hall of Fame,

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TEAM MAKERS

FARGODOME Reimagined: A Vision of Impactful Benefits for NDSU Bison Football By Eric Dodds, President on the 2023-2024 Team Makers Board of Directors

BISON ILLUSTRATED NOVEMBER 2023

hen it comes to the North Dakota State University Bison football program, it’s no secret we take pride in our rich history and winning tradition. We have a legacy built on hard work, dedication and unwavering support from our loyal fans. The vision for the FARGODOME, home of the Bison, will not only enhance the game day experience but also cement our commitment to excellence. As the President of Team Makers for 2023-2024, I have had the privilege of working closely with the City of Fargo to bring this project to life. This initiative is more than just bricks and mortar; it represents a bold and necessary step forward in ensuring the continued success and growth of Bison football, as well as our community. Team Makers is in full support of this project and asks for a resounding YES vote from Bison Nation on December 5.

YES” “ e t Vo c5 on De

The Heart of Bison Nation

Enhancing the Game Day Experience

Supporting Our Student-Athletes

The FARGODOME has long been the heartbeat of Bison Nation. It is the place where unforgettable memories have been made, where dreams become reality and where Bison Nation comes together to celebrate our team. Over the years, NDSU football has thrived in the FARGODOME, consistently drawing record crowds, winning championships and nurturing the development of exceptional student athletes.

One of the primary goals of the project is to elevate the game day experience for fans. This will allow for a firstclass atmosphere that rivals the best in college football. The redesigned FARGODOME will feature upgraded amenities, including premium seating options, expanded concourses, more bathrooms, especially for women, additional upgraded food and beverage offerings and ADA compliant accessibility. These enhancements will ensure that every fan can enjoy Bison football in comfort and style. Additionally, the convention center space could provide exciting and unique game day and tailgating opportunities.

At NDSU, we take immense pride in the holistic development of our student-athletes. The FARGODOME Reimagined project will provide them with world-class facilities to compete at the highest level. We understand success on the field is just one aspect of their journey, and we are committed to providing them with the resources they need to excel academically and personally.

As we look toward the future, we recognize the need for growth and improvement. The FARGODOME Reimagined expansion project is a testament to our unwavering commitment to our fans, studentathletes and the entire Fargo community.