November 27, 2024

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) produced the most combined fall sports scholar athletes with 38 individuals receiving the 2024 NAIA Daktronics Scholar Athlete award, announced by the national office Monday.

This honor recognizes student-athletes in each of the fall sports who have excelled academically including football, men's cross country, women's cross country, and women's volleyball.

To qualify as a Daktronics NAIA Scholar Athlete, students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, appear on the eligibility certificate for their sport, and have attended their institution for at least one full year.  This year, the list features an impressive number of student-athletes who have met these criteria.

Three Dakota State fall sports programs had established a single school record for most NAIA scholar athletes.  The football program recorded 14 individuals, while the men's cross country landed 11 recipients.  The women's volleyball team collected eight scholar-athletes, and the women's cross country team recorded five recipients to the national academic list.

The DSU men's and women's cross country teams produced the most NAIA scholar athletes in the North Star Athletic Association.

Below is the list of 2024 NAIA Fall Sports Daktronics Scholar Athletes by each sport (name – year – hometown – major):

Football

• Matthew Birkeland – redshirt freshman – Murdo, S.D. – business finance
• Collin Brueggeman – senior – Pierre, S.D. – cyber operation
• Jasper Gibson – sophomore – Perth, Western Australia – finance
• Tysen Grinde – redshirt freshman – Spring Grove, Minn. – computer science
• Owen Heath – sophomore – Hartford, S.D. – business management
• Aidan Jahns – sophomore – Rochester, Minn. – exercise science
• Maddox Kihne – sophomore – Sioux Falls, S.D. – exercise science
• Braxton Lacher – senior – Watertown, S.D. – biology
• Austin Lake – senior – Tea, S.D. – business management
• Dylan Langerock – redshirt freshman – Brandon, S.D. – business
• Cole Paulson – sophomore – Pipestone, Minn. – business education
• Gus Sanford – junior – Aitkin, Minn. – special education
• Jordan Upton – redshirt freshman – Columbus, Ohio – exercise science
• Niyongabo Yohana – redshirt freshman – Sioux Falls, S.D. – computer information systems

Men's Cross Country

• Kaiden Akey – sophomore – Mankato, Minn. – cyber operations
• Cody Farland – senior – New Underwood, S.D. – cyber operations
• Lucas Harr – senior – Sioux Falls, S.D. – cyber operations
• Lane Henrichs – sophomore – Doon, Iowa – cyber operations
• Curtis Johnson – junior – Indianola, Iowa – cyber operations
• Yohannes Kassa – senior – Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – computer science
• Grayson Madsen – sophomore – Rosholt, S.D. – exercise science
• Taylor Myers – graduate student – Estherville, Iowa – cyber operations
• Tyler Nicke – sophomore – Hartington, Neb. – cyber operations
• Blake Schmiedt – junior – Dakota Dunes, S.D. – cyber operations
• Jonah Thiele – sophomore – Olathe, Kan. – computer science

Women's Cross Country

• Brooke Beaucaire – junior – Beaumont, Calif. – cyber leadership/intelligence
• Valerija Curikova – sophomore – Riga, Latvia – computer science
• Kierra Miller – sophomore – Hemingford, Neb. – integrated biology
• Saddie Palmquist – senior – Howard, S.D. – cyber operations
• Lindsey Roth – junior – Parkston, S.D. – elementary education

Women's Volleyball

• Brooklyn Grage – senior – Brandon, S.D. – computer information systems
• Madalyn Groft – graduate student – Mellette, S.D. – math education
• Sydney Schell – senior – Aberdeen, S.D. – cyber operations
• Kate VanRooyan – sophomore – Dakota Dunes, S.D. – general studies
• Reagan VanRooyan – sophomore – Dakota Dunes, S.D. – general studies
• Shelby Vander Vorst – sophomore – Strasburg, N.D. – exercise science
• Gwendolyn Vongkasemsiri – junior – Murfreesboro, Tenn. – cyber operations
• Hailey Wathen – senior – Rapid City, S.D. – physical education