For Immediate Release
Thursday, November 30, 2017
NSIC Media Relations
Minnesota State Selected as Preseason Favorite in NSIC Men's Indoor Track & Field Coaches' Poll
BURNSVILLE, Minn. - The defending NSIC Champions of Minnesota State University, Mankato were picked to win the NSIC in the preseason men's indoor track & field coaches' poll. The Mavericks received 10 first place votes and tallied 100 points, ranking them ahead of Augustana, which was second with 85 points. Sioux Falls was third with 72 points and the other first place vote.
Minnesota State's Michael Sandle (field) and Sioux Falls' Mason Phillips (track) were selected as the preseason athletes of the year. It marks the second straight season that Sandle has been selected by the league coaches as the NSIC Preseason Field Athlete of the Year.
The 2017-18 NSIC indoor track & field season gets underway on Friday, December 1 with the regular season culminating on Friday-Saturday, February 23-24 at the NSIC Championship held at Myers Fieldhouse in Mankato, Minnesota, hosted by Minnesota State University, Mankato.
| 2017-18 NSIC Men's IDTF Preseason Coaches' Poll |
| 1 |
Minnesota State (10) |
100 |
| 2 |
Augustana |
85 |
| 3 |
Sioux Falls (1) |
72 |
| 4 |
University of Mary |
63 |
| 5 |
MSU Moorhead |
62 |
| 6 |
Minnesota Duluth |
61 |
| 7 |
Wayne State |
50 |
| 8 |
Concordia-St. Paul |
37 |
| 9 |
Northern State |
32 |
| 10 |
Southwest Minnesota State |
29 |
| 11 |
Minot State |
14 |
|
first place votes in ( ) |
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Mason Phillips (Distance/Mid-Distance, Jr., Bailey, Colo. / Platte Canyon HS)
Sioux Falls
- Scored in four events at the 2017 NSIC Indoor Championships
- Ran anchor 1600-meter leg on conference champion DMR squad
- Finished runner-up in 800-meter at NSIC Championships
- Placed fifth in NSIC Championship men's mile and eighth in men's 5k
- Ran anchor leg of seventh-fastest qualifying DMR last season and ran 1200-meter leg of 10th-place team at NCAA Championships
- Reigning NSIC Outdoor 800-meter champion
- Reigning NSIC and NCAA Central Region Cross Country Champion
- Named USTFCCCA Central Region Men's Athlete of the year and earned All-American honors as NSIC's top finisher in cross country
Michael Sandle (Sr., Eden Prairie, Minn. / Eden Prairie HS)
Minnesota State
- Defending NCAA DII Indoor national champion in the triple jump earning All-American honors
- Finished fourth in the NCAA DII national championship in the high jump earning All-American honors
- Set Minnesota State University triple jump record with a leap of 53-10.5
- NSIC Indoor Field Athlete of the Year in 2017
- 2016 NCAA DII Outdoor National Champion in the triple jump
| Augustana University Vikings |
| 2016-17 NSIC Championship Finish |
2017-18 Preseason Poll |
| 4th |
2nd |
| Team Preview |
| Last season, Josh Barrows was the vocal point of the Augustana men’s indoor team. Barrows broke the school record in the 600-meters and earned All-NSIC honors in the 800-meters, qualifying for Nationals in the process. Barrows was a two-time indoor All-NSIC recipient in 2016 in the 4x400 and the 600-meters. Other returning indoor All-NSIC performers include Zach Tuschen (two-time), Paul Meloche, Nate Souther, Nathan Schroeder, Alex Tietz and Nick Larsen. |
| Athletes to Watch |
T: Josh Barrows (Mid-Distance, Jr., Helena, Mont., Helena HS)
F: Anthony Huber (Throws, Sr., Ethan, S.D., Ethan HS) |
| First Event |
| Saturday, Dec. 2 at the SDSU Preseason Open in Brookings, S.D. |
| Concordia University, St. Paul Golden Bears |
| 2016-17 NSIC Championship Finish |
2017-18 Preseason Poll |
| 10th |
8th |
| Team Preview |
| The Golden Bears men’s track and field team heads into the season with much of their young core intact from a team that grabbed 10th place finishes in the indoor and outdoor seasons and will look to make a jump this season with a year more of experience under their belt. On the track, Concordia will rely on a strong group of mid and long distance runners to carry the load after the group put together an impressive cross-country season. Sophomore Ben Allen leads that group after scoring four points in the NSIC Indoor Championships and eight points in the NSIC Outdoor Championships as he came on strong as the year went on. In the field events, sophomore thrower Marcus Gustaveson will look to build off of a breakthrough performance in the NSIC Outdoor Championships in which he earned All-NSIC honors with a second place finish in the shot put as well as an eighth place finish in the discus. |
| Athletes to Watch |
T: Ben Allen (Mid-Distance, So., North St. Paul, Minn. / North St. Paul HS)
F: Marcus Gustaveson (Throws, So., Wheaton, Ill. / Wheaton North HS) |
| First Event |
| Friday-Saturday, Dec. 1-2 at Chuck Peterson Open & Multi (Minnesota State) |
| University of Mary Marauders |
| 2016-17 NSIC Championship Finish |
2017-18 Preseason Poll |
| 5th |
4th |
| Team Preview |
| Upperclassmen Derek Myers and Luxon Glor will lead a very young team that shows a lot of promise but is not yet proven. Fresh off a strong cross country season that included all-conference and all-region honors, Myers was the NSIC runner-up in the 3k and third in the 5k at the 2017 indoor championships. He also earned all-NSIC honors outdoors in the 5,000 meter run last spring. Glor, who placed 11th in the nation last spring in the long jump, had a huge indoor season in 2017. The junior won the 60 meter dash, placed second in the 200, and was third in the long jump. Two-time all-NSIC performer Teegam Olson placed 6th last year indoors in the 800 before jumping to second outdoors. Junior Marceau Jovin was 6th indoors in the 60 meter hurdles and earned all-conference honors in the 110 meter hurdles outdoors last spring. In the high jump, both Sam Mackedanz and Shenley Allen placed during the indoor conference meet. |
| Athletes to Watch |
T: Derek Myers (Distance, Sr. Gillette, Wyo. / Campbell County HS)
F: Luxon Glor (Jumps/Sprints, Jr., Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada / Vauxhall Prep) |
| First Event |
| Friday, Dec. 8 at NDSU Dakota Classic in Fargo, ND |
| University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs |
| 2016-17 NSIC Championship Finish |
2016-17 Preseason Poll |
| 6th |
6th |
| Team Preview |
| The Bulldogs will welcome back 11 individuals who produced points at last year’s NSIC Indoor Track and Field Championships. That includes Henry Jessen (3,000 and 5,000 meters), Austin Carlson (400 meters and 4 x 400 relay), Wyatt Midtvedt (1,000 meters), Conner Behm (4 x 400 relay and distance medley relay), Nate Comer (distance medley relay), Grant Pulver (distance medley relay), Ryan Tolkinen (4 x 400 meter relay), Clinton Treichel (shot put), Chris Timm (pole vault), Dan Clark (pole vault) and Logan Rubeck (hepthathlon). Cody Sedbrook, the school record holder in the 5,000-meter run also returns. |
| Athletes to Watch |
T: Cody Sedbrook (Distance, Sr., Rosemount, Minn. / Rosemount HS)
F: Logan Rubec (Multis, Sr., Eau Claire, Wis. / Fall Creek HS) |
| First Event |
| Saturday, Dec. 9 at the Opener (College of St. Scholastica) |
| Minnesota State University, Mankato Mavericks |
| 2016-17 NSIC Championship Finish |
2017-18 Preseason Poll |
| 1st |
1st |
| Team Preview |
| Minnesota State will be looking to earn its seventh consecutive NSIC men’s indoor track & field championship this year. Top returnees for the Mavericks include defending NCAA DII ITF national champion in the triple jump, Michael Sandle. Also returning is junior Mitchell Valli who earned All-American in the pole vault. This marks the first season for Minnesota State head coach Mike Turgeon after being hired last summer. Turgeon brings 13 years of experience with the Winona State track and field program, and personal experience as a two-time NCAA Division III national champion in discus, to the program. |
| Athletes to Watch |
T: John Schuster (Sprints, Jr., Wells, Minn.)
F: Michael Sandle (Jumps, Sr., College Station, Texas) |
| First Event |
| Friday, December 1st at Chuck Peterson Open |
| Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragons |
| 2016-17 NSIC Championship Finish |
2017-18 Preseason Poll |
| 7th |
5th |
| Team Preview |
| MSUM returns three-time NSIC indoor long jump champion Brian Huber, who also earned All-NSIC honors indoors in the 200 last season. Huber, a four-time NSIC champion in the long jump (indoors and outdoors), is now a senior and is a past All-American in the long jump indoors. Senior Josh Young was an All-American in the mile indoors last season and earned two All-NSIC honors. Also returning is sophomore Zach Sweep who was fourth in the 60-meter hurdles at the NSIC Indoor in 2017. Senior Brady Speicher returns to help anchor the distance corps. The Dragons are in their first season under the direction of Head Coach Ryan Milner, who had been an assistant coach/head cross country coach the previous six years. |
| Athletes to Watch |
T: Josh Young (Distance, Jr., Moorhead, Minn. / Moorhead HS)
F: Brian Huber (Long Jump, Sr., Staples, Minn. / Staples-Motley HS) |
| First Event |
| Friday, Dec. 8 at Dakota Classic in Fargo, N.D. |
| Minot State University Beavers |
| 2016-17 NSIC Championship Finish |
2017-18 Preseason Poll |
| 11th |
11th |
| Team Preview |
| Minot State finished 11th overall at the 2016-17 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Championships. Junior Daniel Daffinrud and senior Tanner Gust were tabbed as Preseason Players to Watch for the Beavers. Daffinrud was a member of the MSU 4x400 relay team that placed ninth at the NSIC Indoor Championships and placed 16th and 17th in the 100 and 200 meter dashes in the NSIC Outdoor Championships. Gust placed 17th in the weight throw at the NSIC Indoor Championships and holds the Minot State school record for hammer throw. |
| Athletes to Watch |
T: Daniel Daffinrud (Sprints, Jr., Sartell, Minn./Sartell HS)
F: Tanner Gust (Throws, Sr., Minot, N.D./Minot) |
| First Event |
| Saturday, Jan. 20 at Concordia Cobber Duals – Moorhead, Minn. |
| Northern State University Wolves |
| 2016-17 NSIC Championship Finish |
2017-18 Preseason Poll |
| 9th |
9th |
| Team Preview |
| The Northern State University men’s track and field team returns 31 athletes from a season ago, while welcoming nine new faces to the program. The men finished ninth as a team from the NSIC Indoor Championships with 39 total team points. Itoitz Rodriguez and Bryce Malsam were picked as the Wolves athletes to watch for the 2017-18 season. Rodriguez returns for the Wolves after a fourth place finish in the 400m (49.17) from the NSIC Championships. Also returning for the Wolves is All-Conference performers Luke Wietgrefe in the 600m (1:21.94) and the 4x400m relay team (3:21.51) of Wietgrefe, Rodriguez, Zach Six, and Romario Thomas. Malsam returns for his second season of multis competition after showing strong performances in the high jump, pole vault, and 60m dash. The Wolves will open the season from the SDSU Holiday Open this weekend. |
| Athletes to Watch |
T: Itoitz Rodriguez (Sprints, Jr., Usurbil, Spain)
F: Bryce Malsam (Multis, So., Roscoe, S.D. / Edmunds Central HS) |
| First Event |
| Friday-Saturday, Dec. 1-2 at SDSU Holiday Open & Multi |
| University of Sioux Falls Cougars |
| 2016-17 NSIC Championship Finish |
2017-18 Preseason Poll |
| 2nd |
3rd |
| Team Preview |
| University of Sioux Falls Track & Field are coming off a runner-up finish at the NSIC Championships, the second time they finished runner-up at the conference meet. Returning from last year’s second-place squad, USF boasts three of their five individual conference title winners and three of the four members of the conference champion DMR squad. Trey Furgeson won the 600-meter title after breaking the USF record earlier in the season, Jase Kraft captured his second career NSIC Indoor Mile title and Derrick Sheppard won the men’s weight throw with a near-USF record throw. Billy Beseman, Israel Parsons, and Mason Phillips return as members of the NSIC Champion distance medley relay squad. The NSIC Preseason Track Athlete of the Year, Phillips comes off a historic cross country season, winning five events, including the NSIC and Central Region championships. Phillips is the reigning outdoor 800-meter run champion, and scored in three events at last year’s NSIC Championship, including second place in the 800m. |
| Athletes to Watch |
T: Mason Phillips (Jr., Bailey, Colo. / Platte Canyon HS)
F: Derrick Sheppard (Sr., Fremont, Neb. / Fremont HS) |
| First Event |
| Friday, Dec. 1 at SDSU Holiday Open |
| Southwest Minnesota State University Mustangs |
| 2016-17 NSIC Championship Finish |
2017-18 Preseason Poll |
| 7th |
10th |
| Team Preview |
| Southwest Minnesota State placed seventh at the 2017 NSIC Indoor Championships—the highest finish in team history at the Division II level. Sophomore Bashir Aidrus, coming off an All-American cross country season, will be one of the team’s top runners. Junior Josh Behning placed third in the shot put last winter to earn All-NSIC honors. Senior sprinter Zach Jones also returns after placing fifth in the 400 meters. |
| Athletes to Watch |
T: Bashir Aidrus (So., Waite Park, Minn.)
F: Josh Behning (Jr., Crystal Lake, Ill.) |
| First Event |
| Dec. 1, South Dakota State Holiday Open |
| Wayne State College Wildcats |
| 2016-17 NSIC Championship Finish |
2017-18 Preseason Poll |
| 3rd |
7th |
| Team Preview |
| The Wildcats return all but two points scored from last year’s indoor team that placed third at the NSIC Championships with 69 points. WSC returns a pair of conference champions in senior Antoine Bardou, who won the 1,000-meter run last year, and junior Robert Sullivan, the NSIC heptathlon champion who was an NCAA Indoor National qualifier. Senior Derek Lahm scored points in three events last year at the NSIC meet, including All-NSIC honors with a third place finish in the heptathlon. Other returning All-NSIC performers include senior sprinter Braxton Adams (second in the 60 meter dash) and senior Brady Metz (third in the triple jump). WSC also looks to be stronger in the throws where junior Matt Nemec and sophomore Cade Kalkowski placed sixth and seventh in the weight throw last year. |
| Athletes to Watch |
T: Antoine Bardou (Mid-Distance, Sr., St. Chely D’Apcher, France / Indian Hills CC)
F: Robert Sullivan (Multis, Jr., Bennington, Neb. / Omaha Burke HS) |
| First Event |
| Friday, December 1 at SDSU Holiday Open in Brookings, S.D. |
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