November 4, 2026
MADISON, S.D. — Dakota State (S.D.) led the Frontier Conference with 13 men's cross country student-athletes earning Academic All-Conference honors, the league office announced Tuesday. The 2026 Academic All-Conference awards are presented by Billings Clinic and Logan Health.
The Trojans topped the conference's academic honors list for the second consecutive year, increasing their total from 12 recipients in 2025 to 13 this fall.
A total of 44 men's cross country student-athletes representing 10 Frontier Conference institutions received Academic All-Conference recognition. Dakota State led the league with 13 honorees, followed by Montana Tech with seven and Carroll (Mont.) with six.
Montana Western and Valley City State (N.D.) each collected four recipients, while Bellevue (Neb.) and Dickinson State (N.D.) each had three. Rocky Mountain (Mont.) added two selections, followed by Bismarck State (N.D.) and MSU-Northern with one each.
To qualify for Academic All-Conference recognition, student-athletes must be at least a sophomore in academic standing and maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.25.
Dakota State's 13 Academic All-Conference recipients represent a variety of academic programs, including cyber operations, computer science, education technology, physical education, exercise science, biology and business accounting.
The following Dakota State men's cross country student-athletes earned 2026 Frontier Conference Academic All-Conference honors (name, academic year, major, hometown):
- Kaiden Akey – senior, cyber operations, Mankato, Minn.
- Evan Armstrong – senior, cyber operations, Aurora, Colo.
- Solomon Carter – junior, computer science, Leavenworth, Kan.
- Lane Henrichs – senior, cyber operations, Doon, Iowa
- Reese Henrie – graduate, Master of Science in education technology, Philip, S.D.
- Holden Jelen – junior, cyber operations, Tea, S.D.
- Franklin Johns – senior, physical education, Gordon, Neb.
- Grayson Madsen – senior, exercise science/biology integrative, Rosholt, S.D.
- Finley McConniel – sophomore, business accounting, Marion, S.D.
- Tyler Nicke – graduate, Master of Science in cyber operations, Hartington, Neb.
- Logan Recoy – senior, computer science, Arnold, Neb.
- Benjamin Strunk – senior, cyber operations, Hartford, S.D.
- Jonah Thiele – graduate, Master of Science in computer science, Olathe, Kan.
The Trojans will turn their attention to the 2026 Frontier Conference Men's Cross Country Championships Friday, Nov. 6, at Amend Park in Billings, Mont. Rocky Mountain (Mont.) will serve as the host for the conference championship meet.
The men's 8-kilometer championship race is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Central Time (10:30 a.m. Mountain Time). The team winner will earn the automatic bid to the NAIA Men's Cross Country on Friday, Nov. 20 at Fort Vancouver Historic Site in Vancouver, Wash.
The Frontier Conference All-Conference and post-season awards will be presented Friday afternoon following the conclusion of the championship meets.
