Northern_Today_Spring_2021

NORTHERN TODAY 14 SPRING 2021 ESP I TE D I SRUPT I ONS in their daily lives dating back to March 2020, Wolves student-athletes prevailed both in the classroom and on the field of play. This year the Wolves brought two team conference championships, as well as four individual championships home (prior to the completion of the NSIC spring championship season). In addition, Northern student-athletes continued to maintain their strong showing in the classroom, posting a fall semester GPA over a 3.0 for the 13th semester in a row. The NSU Athletic Department is excited for the opening of the Regional Sports Complex (Dacotah Bank Stadium and Koehler Hall of Fame Softball Field) in the fall and the competition of all 15 intercollegiate athletic programs. MEN’S BASKETBALL WOMEN’S BASKETBALL WRESTLING SWIMMING Northern State won its fourth straight NSIC and NSIC Tournament Championships in 2021, advancing to the NCAA Tournament. The Wolves posted a 19-2 record overall and 13-1 mark in the NSIC under NSIC Coach of the Year Saul Phillips. In addition, Parker Fox was named the North Division Player and Defensive Player of the Year, while Andrew Kallman, Tommy Chatman and Mason Stark earned all-conference accolades. The Wolves hosted the NCAA Central Region Tournament and ultimately fell to the 2021 NCAA National Champions, Northwest Missouri State in the title game. Fox and Stark closed out the year with NABC All- District honors, and Fox went on to earn All-America selections by both the NABC and the D2CCA. Kicking off their season in January, the Northern State women tallied a 5-9 record in 2021, notching NSIC victories over Wayne State, St. Cloud State, UMary, Minot State and MSU Moorhead. Northern closed out the year with Lexi Wadsworth and Rianna Fillipi, earning NSIC All- Conference second and freshman team honors. The Wolves were sixth in the NSIC North Division. The Wolves opened their season in early January, competing in 10 duals before the NSIC Championships. Northern placed sixth overall at the championship meet, earning 209 total points. It was their highest finish since the move to nine competing teams and surpassed MSU Moorhead for the first time in school history. Northern produced its best season in over a decade in 2021, going 5-0 in NSIC action en route to their first NSIC Championship since 2002. The Wolves tallied dual victories over No. 20 Upper Iowa (18-15), No. 22 Wisconsin Parkside (20-12), Minot State (25- 13), Southwest Minnesota State (18-16) and UMary (26-6). NSU hosted the 2021 NCAA Super Region V Tournament and saw five Wolves to the podium. Wyatt Turnquist and James Burks placed fourth at 149 and 165 pounds, Ali’i Loyola took third at 285 pounds, and Kolton Roth and Caden Moore were the regional runner-ups at 141 and 157 pounds. Due to a limited field at the NCAA National Championships, Moore was the lone Wolf to punch his ticket to St. Louis. Rocky Burkett was named both the NSIC and NWCA Central Region Coach of the Year, while Roth and Moore tallied NSIC All-Conference second team accolades. D NSU Wolves Athletics Recap The Northern State University Athletic Department and student-athletes resumed outside competition in January 2021, playing shortened winter and spring seasons.