BISMARCK, ND (PlayNorthStar.com) – Dickinson State (N.D.) captured the closely tight 2022-23 North Star Athletic Association Commissioner’s Cup race, edging out Dakota State (S.D.) by just 0.25 points difference. The conference office announced its commissioner’s cup and annual awards.
Commissioner’s Cup (All-Sports Trophy)
“The 2022-23 academic year was exceedingly competitive with four of our institutions within 10 points of the cup championship,” said NSAA Commissioner Roger Ternes. “Congratulations to Dickinson State University and their diverse athletic program for winning the 2022-23 NSAA Commissioner’s Cup Award.
The Blue Hawks collected 81.75 points toward the commissioner’s all-sports trophy, earning their second conference cup in the past three seasons. The Trojans, last year’s Commissioner’s Cup winner, finished second with 81.5 points.
Bellevue (Neb.) edged Viterbo (Wis.) by 0.75 points to finish third in the standings. The Bruins recorded 72.75 points, while the V-Hawks registered 72 points. Valley City State (N.D.) was fifth with 58.25 points, followed by Waldorf (Iowa) sixth with 44.75 points. Mayville State (N.D.) was seventh after tallying 41.25 points and Presentation (S.D.) finished eighth with 17.25 points.
Points were awarded for a school’s finish in season-long standings and at NSAA Championship events. A team earned 1.5 points per finish/place in their sport if that sport had a regular-season schedule and a regular-season conference champion. The sports included football, volleyball, basketball, baseball, and softball.
A team earned one (1) point counted when teams are competing in a single-event NSAA conference championship. Single-event NSAA conference championship sports included cross country, track & field (indoor and outdoor), and golf.
Below is the complete breakdown of the 2022-23 North Star Athletic Association Commissioner’s Cup:
| 2022-23 North Star Athletic Association Commissioner’s Cup All-Sports Trophy | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | BU | DaSU | DiSU | MSU | PC | VCSU | VU | WU |
| Baseball | 12 | 10.5 | 6 | 7.5 | 1.5 | 3 | 4.5 | 9 |
| Football | – | 6.75 | 9 | 1.5 | 3 | 6.75 | – | 4.5 |
| Men’s Basketball | 6 | 4.5 | 9.75 | 12 | 1.5 | 7.5 | 9.75 | 3 |
| Men’s Cross Country | 3 | 6 | 5 | – | – | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| Men’s Golf | 6 | 1 | 5 | – | – | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Men’s Indoor Track & Field | 2 | 6 | 5 | – | – | 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Men’s Outdoor Track & Field | 1 | 6 | 5 | – | – | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Softball | 12 | 7.5 | 9 | 1.5 | 4.5 | 10.5 | 6 | 3 |
| Volleyball | 11.25 | 8.25 | 2.25 | 8.25 | 5.25 | 5.25 | 11.25 | 2.25 |
| Women’s Basketball | 9 | 12 | 6.75 | 10.5 | 1.5 | 6.75 | 4.5 | 3 |
| Women’s Cross Country | 2.5 | 4 | 5 | – | – | 2.5 | 6 | 1 |
| Women’s Golf | 6 | 1 | 2 | – | – | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Women’s Indoor Track & Field | 1 | 4 | 6 | – | – | 3 | 5 | 2 |
| Women’s Outdoor Track & Field | 1 | 4 | 6 | – | – | 3 | 5 | 2 |
| Totals | 72.75 | 81.5 | 81.75 | 41.25 | 17.25 | 58.25 | 72 | 44.75 |
| 2022-23 NSAA Commissioner’s Cup Standings | |
|---|---|
| School | Points |
| Dickinson State (N.D.) | 81.75 |
| Dakota State (S.D.) | 81.5 |
| Bellevue (Neb.) | 72.75 |
| Viterbo (Wis.) | 72 |
| Valley City State (N.D.) | 58.25 |
| Waldorf (Iowa) | 44.75 |
| Mayville State (N.D.) | 41.25 |
| Presentation (S.D.) | 17.25 |
| Previous NSAA Commissioner’s Cup Winners | |
|---|---|
| School | Season |
| Dickinson State (N.D.) | 2022-23 |
| Dakota State (S.D.) | 2021-22 |
| Dickinson State (N.D.) | 2020-21 |
| Valley City State (N.D.) | 2018-19 |
| *2019-20 – no winner due to COVID-19 pandemic | |
NSAA Annual Athletics Awards
Athletics Director of the Year – Pete Stanton – Dickinson State (N.D.)
Stanton had been the athletics director at Dickinson State since 2017. The sports of golf and baseball were brought back in 2020. The Blue Hawks also added women’s wrestling program this year. Dickinson State now has over 400 student-athletes that compete in 16 different sports programs.
“It is an honor to be recognized by the conference for this award,” said Stanton. “I am very fortunate to be a university that has an administration, faculty, and staff that is very supportive of all we do in athletics.”
“We have an outstanding staff of coaches that are only great colleagues, but most importantly do what is best to help be a positive influence toward all of our student-athletes at Dickinson State,” added Stanton.
Sports Information Director of the Year – Steve Field – Bellevue (Neb.)
Field became Bellevue’s Sports Information Director in April 2009 after serving as the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Associate Sports Information Director for 19 years.
He is an active member of CoSIDA, the NAIA-Sports Information Directors Association (NAIA-SIDA), and the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA). For three years, he served on the CoSIDA Publications Contest Committee.
Active within the NAIA, Field serves on the NAIA’s voting committee for National Player of the Week for the following sports: cross country, track, wrestling, golf, and tennis.
“Steve is a great SID who takes his job seriously and is always on top of every event for our teams, both home and away,” said Bellevue’s Athletics Director Ed Lehotak.
Athletic Trainer of the Year – Blake Spindler – Presentation (S.D.)
Spindler completed his 10th season at Presentation as the Director of Athletic Training Services, as well as interim athletics director in 2022-23. He is an alumnus of Presentation and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in health and human performance in 2010. He then went on to earn a Master of Athletic Training (MATrg) degree from North Dakota State University in 2012. During graduate school, Spindler spent a season with the North Dakota State University FCS national championship football team in 2011.
At Presentation, Spindler has served as a Preceptor for Athletic Training Program, an instructor in the exercise science department, and a former state representative for the Athletic Training Young Professional Committee (2015-18). He was a member of the C.A.R.E. team and served as part of the COVID-19 task force at Presentation.
“Blake is well deserving of the NSAA Athletic Trainer of the Year recognition,” said Chesley Albrecht, PC’s Associate Athletic Director/Senior Women’ Administrator. “Over the past ten years, Blake has selflessly dedicated himself to serving the student-athletes and athletic department at Presentation. His contributions made a lasting impact on those he served.”
Faculty Athletic Representative of the Year – Dave Bass – Valley City State (N.D.)
Bass has served as Valley City State’s Faculty Athletic Representative for more than 20 years, acting as a liaison between the athletic department and the institution. He handles athletic eligibility and answer questions in regards with academics.
Bass also serves as the North Star Athletic Association eligibility chard and the FAR liaison to the NSAA Board of Directors.
“Dave is extremely dedicated to the success of not only our VCSU athletes, but also those in the entire NSAA,” said Valley City State’s interim Athletics Director Dennis McCulloch. “His passion for Viking athletics in unmatched and we are grateful to have him as a resource on our campus.”
“He is without a doubt the go-to-guy for eligibility questions and compliance at Valley City State and many other NSAA institutions,” added McCulloch.
NSAA BOSA Cup Winner – Bellevue (Neb.)
Bellevue (Neb.) is the 2022-23 North Star Athletic Association Board of Student-Athletes Cup winner after scoring 17,850 points.
In addition to the champions, Viterbo (Wis.), Presentation (S.D.), Waldorf (Iowa), Mayville State (N.D.), and Valley City State (N.D.) each received the Platinum Level award for earning over 5,000 points.