For Immediate Release
Saturday, November 7, 2026
NSIC Media Relations
NSIC Elite Team Award

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Northern State University has been named the recipient of the NSIC Elite Team Award, presented by North Star Mutual Insurance, for women’s cross country after recording a team cumulative grade-point average of 3.821. The Wolves were presented the award during the post-championship awards ceremony at the NSIC Cross Country Championships, being held at Yankton Trails in Sioux Falls, South Dakota; hosted by Augustana University. 

The NSIC Elite Team Award recognizes outstanding team academic achievement within the conference, honoring teams that have achieved success in the classroom and in competition. The award is presented to the team with the highest cumulative team GPA in each NSIC-sponsored sport based on established eligibility criteria. As part of the award criteria, all NSIC cross country programs are eligible for the NSIC Elite Team Award, recognizing the academic accomplishments of student-athletes across the conference.

The NSIC Elite Team Award builds on the conference’s commitment to celebrating academic achievement alongside competitive success. Established during the NSIC’s 25th Anniversary celebration in the 2016-17 academic year, the NSIC Elite 18 Award recognizes the individual student-athlete competing at the championship level in each sport who holds the highest cumulative grade-point average among their peers.

The addition of the Elite Team Award expands that recognition to the collective academic accomplishments of NSIC teams, highlighting the dedication student-athletes demonstrate in pursuing excellence in both academics and athletics.

Northstar Mutual Insurance serves as the presenting sponsor of the NSIC Elite Team Award.

About North Star Mutual Insurance Company
North Star Mutual Insurance Company is a Midwest property-casualty insurance company serving the states of Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Kansas. Formed in 1920, the company offers farm, home, auto and commercial insurance exclusively through a network of over 2,000 independent agencies. North Star Mutual has grown substantially over the last century by providing outstanding insurance protection and service to their 400,000+ policyholders. With a dedicated and experienced staff, North Star Mutual emphasizes superior protection with fast, fair, and friendly service. North Star Mutual writes approximately $900 million in premium annually and is rated “A+” Superior for financial stability by A.M. Best. For additional information, visit NorthStarMutual.com.

About the NSIC
The NSIC is a 16-team, 18-sport, NCAA Division II conference with institutions located in 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 union of Upper Midwest colleges and universities. The NSIC has won 27 team national championships and crowned 128 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 can 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.