The Bishop Ryan Lions boys’ basketball team overtook the defending state champion Westhope/Newburg Sioux, 52-33, to win the 2025 NDHSAA Boys Basketball Division B State Championship. This year’s victory was the first time the school has won a state basketball title since 1994.

2. 100th season of Minot State football

The Minot State Beavers football team celebrated their 100th season of football this year. With the start of the 2025 season, the Beavers football team celebrated their 100 year anniversary of when head coach C. E. Bublitz took the first Beavers team out onto the gridiron in 1925.

3. MSU’s first NCAA tourney appearance

MDN Photo No. 2: Minot State sophomore Devan Daniels runs the ball down the field at Herb Parker Stadium at the Beavers’ homecoming game of the 100th season of football against Concordia-St. Paul. Photo by Nathan Beitler/MDN

On March 9, the Beavers heard their name called for the first time ever during the NCAA Division II men’s basketball selection show and were set to play in the NCAA National Tournament on Saturday, March 15, in Kansas. The Beavers set a program record with 26 wins that season, which included starting the season 17-0, also a program record.

4. Minot North boys’ golf wins state

The Minot High boy’s golf team earned their first ever state title at the 2025 Class A Boys State Golf Tournament on Wednesday, June 4. The Sentinels were two strokes down heading into the final day of the championship and beat out Grand Forks Red River, winners of the East Dakotan Conference Regional Tournament, for the state title.

5. Grayson Schaeffer breaks ND high school triple jump record

Then Minot High senior Grayson Schaeffer took home first place in the boys’ Class A triple jump event with a distance of 46 feet 7.75 inches at the 2025 NDHSAA State Track & Field meet on Saturday, May 24. Schaeffer’s jump also broke the North Dakota outdoor triple jump record by .01 meters.

MDN Photo No. 3: MSU men’s basketball coach, Matt Murken, receives the team’s first ever NCAA Division II bid to the NCAA National Tournament Sunday night, March 9. Photo by Kari Gibb/MDN

6. Majettes win state tennis duals championship

The Minot High School girls’ tennis team earned the school’s first state title of the year during their duals tournament on Thursday, May 29. The team beat out Grand Forks Red River in the finals to earn their third state championship title since 2018.

7. Dean Winczewski steps down

After 17 years with the Magicians, Minot High head boys’ basketball coach Dean Winczewski retired from coaching. During his time with the program, Winczewski’s teams won four state titles, including three straight titles from 2015-2017. The fourth came in 2022.

8. Minot Minotauros restructure

MDN Photo No. 4: The Minot North Sentinels boys’ golf team stands with their plaques after they earned their first ever state title at the 2025 Class A Boys State Golf Tournament on Wednesday, June 4. Photo by Nathan Beitler/MDN

The Minot Minotauros began their 15th season with a new coach and a plethora of new players. Tyler Ebner was promoted to the ranks of head coach in the beginning of September following a restructuring within the organization that saw former head coach Cody Campbell shift solely to the role of general manager.

9. Minot North attend the Dakota Bowl for the first time

The Sentinels’ 2025 varsity football team went undefeated through the regular season and made their way to Bismarck for the Dakota Bowl in the 2025 NDHSAA Class AA Football State Playoffs in just their second year of play on Friday, Nov. 14. The Sentinels took on the Devils Lake Firebirds and lost, ending the season as state runner-ups.

10. World of Outlaws returns to Minot

The World of Outlaws Late Model series made their way back to Minot at the Nodak Speedway for the first time in 36 years this year on the weekend of Sunday, June 29.

No. 5: Then Minot High senior Grayson Schaeffer launches into a triple jump attempt at the 2025 NDHSAA State Track & Field meet on Saturday, May 24. Photo by Nathan Beitler/MDN

MDN Photo No. 6: The Minot High girls’ tennis team poses with their state championship trophy and plaques after their win against Red River High School on Thursday night. This is the third time they have won the state championship since 2018. Photo courtesy of Grace Olson.

MDN Photo No. 7: Minot High head boys’ basketball coach Dean Winczewski addresses his team during a timeout during the Magicians’ game against Dickinson on Jan. 14. After 17 years at the helm, Winczewski stepped down as head coach of the program. Photo by Mason Kramer.

MDN Photo No.8: Minot forward Artem Prima takes a slap shot during an NAHL game at Pepsi Rink at Maysa Arena on Saturday, Oct. 25. Photo by Mike Kraft/MDN

MDN Photo No. 9: Minot North senior running back Evan Berg drives the ball down the field in their state finals match against the Devils Lake Firebirds on Friday, Nov. 14 at the Dakota Bowl of the 2025 NDHSAA Class AA Football State Playoffs held at the Fargodome. Photo by Nathan Beitler/MDN

MDN Photo No. 10: Tim McCreadie (No. 9m) takes the inside corner during the World of Outlaws Late Model series at Nodak Speedway in Minot Sunday night, June 29. It was the first time Minot hosted the World of Outlaws series since 1989. Photo by Nathan Beitler/MDN