There may be snow on the ground in Minot, but the defending NSIC baseball regular reason champions open their 2019 season at Colorado State-Pueblo on Friday and Saturday in Pueblo, Colo.

The Beavers and ThunderWolves begin with a doubleheader on Friday at 1:30 p.m. and the series finale on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Quick Hits

— Minot State finished the 2018 season with a 34-16 overall record and 29-6 mark in NSIC play to capture the NSIC regular season title.

— The Beavers posted school records for wins in a season and had five players named to the All-NSIC team while head coach Scott Eul was named the NSIC Coach of the Year and National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Central Region Coach of the Year.

— Minot State returns four of five All-NSIC players from last season, led by senior Celestino Rodriguez who was named First Team All-NSIC and honorable mention designated hitter on the All-Central Region team.

— Seniors Wyatt Schlosser and Michael Borst also return for Minot State after earning second team all-conference honors last season while senior Darrel Doll returns after being named the NSIC Newcomer of the Year last season.

— Trevaun Smith, Geordie McDougall and Ethan Fleming also return as starters for the Beavers from last season.

— Tannar Galey, Aaron Kern, Jack Gamba, Andres Hackman, Jaymon Cervantes, Aaron Bernal and Reilly O’Rourke all return on the mound for the Beavers in 2019.

— MSU athletics

O’Keefe, Knutson tabbed to

lead Beaver

golf programs

Kayla O’Keefe and Kyle Knutson have been named the head women’s and men’s golf coaches at Minot State, Director of Athletics Andy Carter announced on Thursday.

O’Keefe will direct the women’s program while Knutson will guide the men’s program.

No stranger to Beaver athletics, O’Keefe returns to Minot State after a member of the women’s golf program from 2013-17. She won a tournament and was named NSIC Player of the Week once in her time at Minot State.

“We are excited that Kayla would agree to lead our team through this season,” said Carter. “Her knowledge and familiarity with our program and her past success makes her a great fit.”

O’Keefe is currently an assistant golf professional at The Links of North Dakota and was an assistant golf coach for the Williston High School girls golf team in 2017.

Knutson returns to Minot State after being a member of the men’s golf program for two seasons and earning all-conference honors in 1996.

“Kyle came highly recommended from our strong golf community here in Minot,” mentioned Carter. “His knowledge and passion for golf is off the charts. We are excited that he has agreed to lead our team.”

Knutson has a long history of player and teaching golf in the Minot area and continues to help with golf instruction where he assists golfers of all ages and experience levels.

The men’s and women’s golf programs open the spring portion of their schedule at the Minot State Beaver Invitational on March 8-9 in Las Vegas, Nev.

— MSU athletics

Akibo garners

All-NSIC honors

BURSNVILLE, Minn. – Senior David Akibo was selected to the All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Second Team, the league office announced Thursday.

The London, England, native averaged 18.5 points and 8.1 rebounds to help lead Minot State to a 14-18 mark on the season.

“We are very excited to see David recognized as an all-conference performer,” said head coach Matt Murken. “With 16 NSIC teams and only 20 all-conference selections, it really is a prestigious group. David has put in a lot of work to improve his game, and it’s good to see his accomplishments rewarded.”

Akibo finished the season ranked in the top 20 of the NSIC in three statistical categories. He ranked fourth in rebounding (8.1 rpg), eighth in scoring (18.1 ppg) and 20th in field goal percentage (.465).

Akibo tallied 10 double-doubles on the season and earned NSIC Player of the Week honors on Jan. 3 after netting 29 points and 14 rebounds and shooting 10-of-22 from the floor in a win against U-Mary.

— MSU athletics

Wald selected to

All-NSIC second team

BURSNVILLE, Minn. – Senior Madison Wald was selected to the All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Second Team, the league office announced Thursday.

The Minot native averaged 13.5 points per game while shooting 41.8 percent from the field this season.

“Maddie has had a great four years here at Minot State, and she is very deserving of this all-conference award,” said head coach Mark Graupe. “She has worked hard to get to where she is at, and I have really enjoyed coaching her these past two seasons.”

Wald finished the season ranked in the top 20 of the NSIC in four statistical categories. She ranked seventh in three-pointers per game (2.0), 10th in field goal percentage (.418), 11th in scoring (13.5 ppg) and 18th in assists per game (2.5).

Wald scored in double-figures in 21 games this season, including eight games with at least 20 points while surpassing the 1,000-point mark for her career. She tied her career-high with 24 points twice against Northern State and Bemidji State.

— MSU athletics

Askvig named

NSIC Player of the Year, Bohl earns NSIC honors

BURNSVILLE, Minn. – The top scoring duo in the Northern Sun out of the University of Mary have both earned all-conference honors. Junior forward Cassie Askvig was selected as the NSIC Player of the Year and earned first team All-NSIC honors. Junior post Gabbie Bohl received first team all-conference honors, as well as a spot on the all-defensive team.

Both from Minot, the Marauders front court pair combined to average 36.1 points per game, tops among a pair of teammates in the NSIC this season. Additionally, Askvig and Bohl combined for 18.7 rebounds per game, second among any team’s duo in the league.

Askvig averaged 18 points per game and hauled down 9.3 rebounds per game while recording 2.3 assists/game and shooting 50.2 percent from the field and 46.4 percent from deep. She has nine double-doubles this season and has reached double figures in points in 22 of 24 games. The U-Mary forward ranks second in the NSIC in scoring, fourth in field goal percentage, fifth in free throw percentage, and sixth in rebounding.

Askvig is the first U-Mary women’s basketball player to win NSIC Player of the Year honors.

After three seasons Askvig has 1,079 points and 605 rebounds. She now ranks 17th all-time in scoring and 11th in rebounding for U-Mary.

Gabbie Bohl earned All-NSIC first team honors for the second straight season and all-conference honors for the third time in her career. Bohl is the first U-Mary women’s basketball player to receive All-NSIC honors three times. She was the 2017 NSIC Freshman of the Year and earned All-NSIC second team honors as a freshman. She earned All-NSIC first team honors as a sophomore and now All-NSIC first team honors as a junior.

Bohl was also honored with all-defensive team honors this season. She is only the fourth athlete to receive this award for U-Mary.

Bohl averaged a team-high of 18.1 points per game and pulled down 9.4 rebounds per game while blocking 1.4 shots/game and shooting 49.5 percent from the field. She has 12 double-doubles and reached double figures in points in 23 of 25 games. The U-Mary post player ranks first in the NSIC in scoring, fourth in rebounding, fifth in field goal percentage, and seventh in blocked shots. Her 181 free throw attempts rank her first in the conference and 16th in the nation.

After three seasons with U-Mary, Bohl has 1,431 points, 624 rebounds, and 99 blocks. Bohl ranks eighth all time in career points, 10th in rebounds, and third in blocked shots.

— U-Mary athletics