For Immediate Release
Tuesday, May 18, 2021
NSIC Media Relations
PDF Release

NSIC Player of the Year & NSIC *Newcomer of the Year
#1 Joey Werner (OF, 5-9, 185, Sr., Hastings, Minn. / Hastings HS / TA&M-CC)
Minnesota State University, Mankato
- Led the NSIC with a .434 batting average and 48 RBI
- Second in on-base percentage (.509) and third in slugging percentage (.743)
- Second in the conference with 59 total hits
- Played and started in 39 of MSU’s 41 games this season
- Sports a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage with 50 putouts and three assists from right field

NSIC Pitcher of the Year
#15 Collin Denk (RHP, 6-3, 180, So., Lakeville, Minn. / North HS) 
Minnesota State University, Mankato
- Fifth Maverick in program history to earn NSIC Pitcher of the Year honors
- Owns lowest ERA in the NSIC (1.37) for sixth lowest in NCAA Division II
- Has a perfect 9-0 record in nine starts for the NSIC’s highest amount of wins this season
- Sixth in the NSIC with 68 strikeouts while only walking a conference best four batters all season
- Is 10th in the NSIC in opponent batting average (.222)

NSIC *Freshman of the Year 
#5 Calvin James (IF, 5-10, 190, Fr., Buffalo, Minn. / Buffalo HS)
University of Mary
- Helped the Marauders to the program’s first NSIC tournament appearance
- Hit .358/.443/.636 with 34 runs scored, 13 doubles, 9 home runs and 34 RBI
- Led UMary in batting average, on base percentage, runs scored, doubles and RBI
- Reached bases 21 times on walks and was hit by three pitches while striking out only 13 times
- Posted a fielding percentage of .930 and started six double plays
- Set UMary NCAA-era single game records for RBI (6) and Total Bases (12) and tied the mark for home runs (2) and hits (5)

NSIC Coach of the Year
Matt Magers (13th Season)
Minnesota State University, Mankato
- Four-time NSIC Coach of the Year
- Earned his 500th career win May 14 vs. Sioux Falls to advance in 2021 NSIC Baseball Tournament
- Owns 500-158 (.760) all-time record at MSU
- Second on MSU’s all-time wins list behind Dean Bowyer (1977-2008 / 990-487-7)

*Freshman & Newcomer of the Year Awards were open to any players that were eligible in 2020 and 2021 season due to no awards in 2020 beacuse of COVID.
 

2021 All-Conference First Team
#	Name	Pos.	Yr.	School	Hometown
15	Collin Denk	RHP	So.	MSU	Lakeville, Minn.
37	Ryan Jares	RHP	So.	AUGIE	Windsor, Colo.
29	Jon Ludwig	RHP	Sr.	MSU	Plymouth, Minn.
16	Seth Brewer	RHP	Jr.	NSU	Rapid City, S.D.
25	Hunter Even	Relief	Sr.	MSU	Chanhassen, Minn.
9	Will Olson	C	Jr.	AUGIE	Omaha, Neb,
23	Derek Shoen	1B	So.	UMary	Truman, Minn.
21	Mason Ruhlman	2B	Sr.	UMC	Algonac, Mich.
2	Teddy Petersen	2B	Sr.	MSU	Glencoe, Minn.
7	Sam Baier	SS	Sr.	AUGIE	Springfield, Minn.
1	Jordan Barth	3B	Jr.	AUGIE	Cold Spring, Minn.
5	Calvin James	3B	Fr.	UMary	Buffalo, Minn
3	Carter Howell	OF	So.	AUGIE	Moorhead, Minn.
1	Joey Werner	OF	Sr.	MSU	Hastings, Minn.
20	Brock Reller	OF	Sr.	UMC	Grand Forks, N.D.
7	John Nett	OF	Fr.	SCSU	Appleton, Wis.
14	Austin Savary	DH	Sr.	WSU	Dubuque, Iowa
2021 All-Conference Second Team
#	Name	Pos.	Yr.	School	Hometown
13	Koby Bishop	LHP	Sr.	AUGIE	Fort Collins, Colo.
21	Max Steffens	RHP	Sr.	AUGIE	DeWitt, Iowa
23	Brendan Knoll	RHP	Jr.	MSU	Kasson, Minn.
33	Jake Dykhoff	RHP	Jr.	UMC	Wadena, Minn.
38	Jordan Chappell	Relief	Jr.	MINOT	Colorado Springs, Colo.
27	Derek Baumgartner	C	Jr.	WSU	Almond, Wis.
16	Jake Shusterich	1B	Sr.	SCSU	Nipomo, Calif.
33	Sam Kohnle	1B	Sr.	WSU	Tisch Mills, Wis.
6	Nathan Kuhn	2B	Sr	SMSU	Eagan, Minn.
8	Max Gamm	SS	Jr.	SCSU	Woodbury, Minn.
3	Jarod Wandersee	3B	Jr.	CSP	Minnetonka, Minn.
2	Henry George	OF	Sr.	UMD	Woodbury, Minn.
20	Alex Logelin	OF	Jr.	WSC	Cologne, Minn.
23	Nick Thimsen	OF	So.	CSP	Minnetonka, Minn.
31	Matthew Quade	OF	Sr.	SCSU	St. Cloud, Minn.
10	Will Zimmerman	OF	Sr.	UMC	Park River, N.D.
29	Sam Kalberer	DH	Jr.	BSU	Tucson, Ariz.
2021 NSIC All-Defensive Team
#	Name	Pos.	Yr.	School	Hometown
34	Duncan Snider	RHP	Sr.	UIU	Muscatine, Iowa
19	Spencer Sarringar	C	So.	NSU	Pierre,S.D.
11	Matt Bezdicek	1B	Sr.	SMSU	Plymouth, Minn.
2	James Martin	2B	Jr.	UMary	Missoula, Mont.
1	Ryley Humrighouse	3B	Sr.	MINOT	Castle Rock, Colo.
8	Noah Gyldenvand	SS	Jr.	UIU	Des Moines, Iowa
2	Henry George	OF	Sr.	UMD	Woodbury, Minn.
10	Will Zimmerman	OF	Sr.	UMC	Park River, N.D.
2	Connor King	CF	So.	USF	Rapid City, S.D.

About the NSIC
The NSIC is a 16-team, 18-sport, NCAA Division II conference with institutions located in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The NSIC is a model Division II conference that uses high-level athletics competition to develop champions in the classroom and community while empowering student-athletes to be impactful and positive leaders. Formed in 1992 by the merger of the Northern Intercollegiate Conference (men’s league) and the Northern Sun Conference (women’s league), the NSIC has flourished over the past quarter century, maturing into a 16-team union of Upper Midwest colleges and universities. The NSIC has won 23 team national championships and crowned 77 individual national champions. For additional information, visit NorthernSun.org.

About NCAA Division II
The NCAA, the national governing body for college athletics, is a volunteer association of more than 1,000 colleges and universities that classify their athletics programs in one of three membership divisions. The 300+ institutions in NCAA Division II support a balanced approach in which student-athletes have the opportunity to earn scholarships based on their athletic ability, pursue their desired academic degree, and participate in all the campus and surrounding community have to offer. Division II student-athletes annually graduate at rates higher than their student body peers, and they have access to the best championships-participant ratio among the NCAA’s three divisions. Division II gives student-athletes the unique opportunity to compete in the classroom, on the field, in their career, for their causes, and on their terms. For additional information, visit NCAA.org.