November 10, 2025
MADISON, S.D. – Two Dakota State (S.D.) senior runners were awarded the 2025 Frontier Conference Cross Country Champions of Character, presented by WinWon Technologies, Friday afternoon after the conclusion of the conference meets at Amend Park in Billings, Mont., hosted by Rocky Mountain (Mont.).
The head coach from each Frontier Conference member selects the recipient that fits to the NAIA's Champions of Character initiative program's five cores that include integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership.
The mission of the NAIA's Champions of Character program is to provide training to instill the values that build character so that students, coaches, and parents know, do, and value the right thing on and off the field.
The Champions of Character program helps participants find balance by keeping the five core values at the heart of the athletics experience. In the NAIA, we strive to be 'The Right Way to Play!'
Brooke Beaucaire, a native of Beaumont, Calif., was awarded for the women's cross-country Champions of Character recipient for DSU. She is majoring in cyber leadership and intelligence.
"She came to DSU as a shy and timid little freshman but has blossomed into a great leader and someone that cares for everyone on the team," said head coach
Alex Glover. "She isn't your typical vocal leader, but someone that leads by her actions and her work ethics."
"Brooke is someone that has always put the team and her teammates in front of herself," added Glover. "She has juggled an extremely rigorous class workout, work study jobs, and being a resident assistant, and has still turned herself into one of the best distance runners in the history of the program. I'm very proud of her."
Blake Schmiedt, a senior computer science major from Dakota Dunes, S.D., was named the men's cross-country Champions of Character award for Dakota State.
"Blake has been a leader for this program for multiple years, always holding his teammates accountable, while always being willing to offer a hand when someone needs it," explained Glover.
"He's a big voice and a big personality that resonates with his teammates. He has always been of the mindset to 'leave things better than you found it,' which I have been very appreciative of," said Glover.
Dakota State ended their cross-country season at the 2025 Frontier Conference Cross Country Championships, where the women's placed fourth and men's finished fifth.
