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2024 NAIA Fall Sports Daktronics Scholar Athlete - 11/27/24

Athletics Nick Huntimer, Dakota State (S.D.) Sports Information Director

38 Trojans receive 2024 NAIA Fall Sports Daktronics Scholar Athlete award

Football (14), men's cross country (11), and women's cross country (5) set program records; volleyball landed eight recipients

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 Women's Volleyball
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Players Mentioned

Matthew Birkeland

#32 Matthew Birkeland

RB
5' 9"
Redshirt Freshman
Collin Brueggeman

#55 Collin Brueggeman

LB
6' 2"
Senior
Jasper Gibson

#88 Jasper Gibson

WR
6' 5"
Sophomore
Tysen Grinde

#15 Tysen Grinde

WR
6' 3"
Redshirt Freshman
Owen Heath

#8 Owen Heath

TE
6' 2"
Sophomore
Aidan Jahns

#26 Aidan Jahns

FS
6' 3"
Sophomore
Maddox Kihne

#4 Maddox Kihne

WR
5' 10"
Sophomore
Braxton Lacher

#98 Braxton Lacher

Snapper
6' 0"
Senior
Austin Lake

#5 Austin Lake

WR
6' 0"
Senior
Dylan Langerock

#10 Dylan Langerock

WR
6' 3"
Redshirt Freshman

Players Mentioned

Matthew Birkeland

#32 Matthew Birkeland

5' 9"
Redshirt Freshman
RB
Collin Brueggeman

#55 Collin Brueggeman

6' 2"
Senior
LB
Jasper Gibson

#88 Jasper Gibson

6' 5"
Sophomore
WR
Tysen Grinde

#15 Tysen Grinde

6' 3"
Redshirt Freshman
WR
Owen Heath

#8 Owen Heath

6' 2"
Sophomore
TE
Aidan Jahns

#26 Aidan Jahns

6' 3"
Sophomore
FS
Maddox Kihne

#4 Maddox Kihne

5' 10"
Sophomore
WR
Braxton Lacher

#98 Braxton Lacher

6' 0"
Senior
Snapper
Austin Lake

#5 Austin Lake

6' 0"
Senior
WR
Dylan Langerock

#10 Dylan Langerock

6' 3"
Redshirt Freshman
WR