November 19, 2025

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) proudly announces the 2025 NAIA Scholar-Athletes for fall sports.  The honor recognizes student-athletes in each of the fall sports who have excelled academically, including women's cross country, men's cross country, women's volleyball, and football.

To qualify as an 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 rigorous standards.

Dakota State tallied 37 scholar-athletes on the national academic list.  The Trojan football team landed 14 recipients, followed by men's cross country with 11 athletes, women's cross country with seven athletes, and women's volleyball with five athletes.

Below is the complete list of the 2025 NAIA Scholar Athletes for Dakota State (name – year – hometown – major):

Women's Cross Country (7)

• Brooke Beaucaire – senior – Beaumont, Calif. – cyber leadership/intelligence
• Valerija Curikova – junior – Riga, Lativa – computer science
• Kierra Miller – junior – Hemingford, Neb. – integrated biology
• Lindsey Roth – senior – Parkston, S.D. – elementary education
• Anna Schneider – junior – Sioux Falls, S.D. – professional accountancy
• Presli White – junior – Sioux Falls, S.D. – exercise science
• Sheridyn Winter – junior – Sioux Falls, S.D. – business management

Men's Cross Country (11)

• Kaiden Akey – junior – Mankato, Minn. – cyber operations
• Evan Armstrong – junior – Aurora, Colo. – cyber operations
• Lucas Harr – graduate student – Sioux Falls, S.D. – cyber operations
• Lane Henrichs – junior – Doon, Iowa – cyber operations
• Holden Jelen – sophomore – Tea, S.D. – cyber operations
• Grayson Madsen – junior – Rosholt, S.D. – exercise science
• Tyler Nicke – junior – Harrington, Neb. – cyber operations
• Logan Recoy – sophomore – Arnold, Neb. – cyber operations
• Blake Schmeidt – senior – Dakota Dunes, S.D. – cyber operations
• Benjamin Strunk – sophomore – Hartford, S.D. – computer science
• Jonah Theile – junior – Olathe, Kan. – computer science

Women's Volleyball (5)

• Gabi Borresen – sophomore – Tyler, Minn. – special education
• Tristyn Maras – sophomore – Windom, Minn. – integrative biology/exercise science
• Sophie Tuttle – sophomore – North Sioux City, S.D. – integrated biology
• Kate VanRooyan – junior – Dakota Dunes, S.D. – exercise science
• Reagan VanRooyan – junior – Dakota Dunes, S.D. – exercise science

Football (14)

• Bonnard Bosler – sophomore – Sioux Falls, S.D. – business management
• Trent Foss – sophomore – Wanamingo, Minn. – finance
• Tim Halbur – sophomore – Tea, S.D. – business finance
• Owen Heath – junior – Hartford, S.D. – business management & marketing
• Preston Iverson – sophomore – Hot Springs, S.D. – computer science
• Aidan Jahns – junior – Rochester, Minn. – business
• Brooks Jansen – senior – Emery, S.D. – computer science
• Maddox Kihne – junior – Sioux Falls, S.D. – biology
• Brandon Kjetland – sophomore – Emery, S.D. – business administration
• Caden Langenfeld – sophomore – Spearfish, S.D. – business management
• Cole Paulson – senior – Pipestone, Minn. – business education
• Gus Sanford – senior – Aitkin, Minn. – special education
• Jordan Upton – junior – Columbus, Ohio – exercise science
• Kaden Van Otterloo - sophomore - Sioux Falls, S.D. - business management