Northern Today Spring 2020

NORTHERN TODAY 15 SPRING 2020 The Wolves opened the 2019-20 season with one of the largest rosters in program history with 21 swimmers ready for competition. NSU tallied a 166-64 dual victory over Minnesota Morris in their lone home competition of the season. Northern placed seventh as a team from the 2019-20 NSIC Championships, with 157 team points. Freshman Lauren Forsyth just missed NSIC All-Conference honors in the 200 fly, taking fourth by just four tenths of a second. She also broke the Northern State freshman record in the 200 fly. SWIMMING SOFTBALL BASEBALL The Wolves took fourth (men) and ninth (women) from the NSIC Indoor Track and Field Championships in 2020, producing nine all-conference performances and two NSIC Championships in the weight throw (Tanner Berg) and pole vault (Kealy Hill). All-conference performers for the Wolves included Berg; Hill; Bryce Malsam (heptathlon/60m hurdles); Isaiha Fletcher (400m); Devin Sheridan (600m); Dakota Hutzler (pentathlon); Shanice Burrell (60m hurdles); and the 4x400m team of Sheridan, Fletcher, Tafara Hondonga and Ronald Stephenson. The fourth place finish by the men was the highest for the program since the 2009-10 season. In addition, three Wolves qualified for the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in the weight throw (Berg), pole vault (Hill) and heptathlon (Bryce Malsam). Throughout the indoor season seven school records fell in the men’s weight throw, men’s 200m, men’s 300m, men’s heptathlon, women’s pole vault, women’s shot put and women’s pentathlon. TRACK AND FIELD In 2019-20, Northern went 9-8 overall and qualified one student-athlete for the NCAA Wrestling Championships, in Walker Carr (157). The Wolves tallied wins over nationally ranked opponents UNC Pembroke (22-18), New Mexico Highlands (39-3), Fort Hays State (24-19) and Minot State (29-12). Northern spent a majority of the season ranked in the NWCA Top-25 or receiving votes, while Dayne Morton, Caden Moore, James Burks and Marcus WRESTLING Northern opened the season against some stiff competition, matching up with nationally ranked St. Cloud State and perennial post-season qualifier Regis University. The Wolves defeated the Huskies, who were ranked sixth in the nation, in what ended up being their final game of the 2020 season. NSU was led by Chad Hinkle and Spencer Sarringar who went 5-for-5 and 4-for-5 at the plate with a combined five runs scored and one RBI. The Wolves went 15-4 in spring 2020, prior to the cancellation of the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 15-4 start was the best for Northern in program history, as the Wolves opened the year on a 10- game win streak. When the season came to an end, five starters were hitting over .300, while the pitching staff was led by freshman Meghan Anderson with a 10-1 record and 1.15 ERA. Three single game and career records were broken by the Wolves, including Kennady Thompson becoming the all-time leader in average and RBI. Senior Jen Martin was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District team in early May, capping off a strong two-year career with the Wolves. Lauren Forsyth, Freshman Durban, South Africa Placide each held national rankings during the year. Placide was named to the NSIC All-Conference second team at 184 pounds. Jen Martin, Senior Homer Glen, Ill. Tanner Berg , Junior Watertown, S.D. Kealy Hill, Junior Gillette, Wyo. Spencer Sarringar, Junior Pierre, S.D. Walker Carr, Junior Carrington, N.D.