Prior to Saturday's doldrum at the Palace the Purple had to pair their roster down to 85. KA-M's first cuts were no surprise and that will likely be the case for the upcoming set of trims. As for last night's game, here are the thoughts.
The past week was chalk-full of nuggets about current & former NDSU athletes, more proof that Summer is in the rear-view. The first tid-bit came from Cincinnati as Cordell Volson got his first practice snaps with the starting offensive line unit. The chance was going to come eventually but to have made that much of an impression already on a team that wants to return to the championship game is massive!
A day later the conference announced the finalized schedules for 2023 & 2024. The team was also pegged at #1 in another preseason poll, with six members of the team making the latest Preseason All-American release.
Track & field also generated some news through to addition of coach Jackson Schepp away from St. Thomas to lead the multi-event & pole vaulters.
Following their trip to Greece Jory Collins decided to keep Emily Dietz around for the upcoming season as a grad manager. Around the same time, the guys had the schedule confirmed for November's Classic in Albuquerque. It also came time for the full women's schedule to drop which confirmed that Minnesota will make it's way to Fargo a week before Thanksgiving. Wisconsin came during the 19/20 season so it's not unprecedented but with the effort Collins is making to get players out of the Cities it could be a significant recruitment piece! Dave Richman concluded the week with the first offer to Andy Stefonowicz, whose parents each played at NDSU (his mom is in the universities hall of fame).
Cross country announced it's additions for the upcoming year with 14 runners from across the heartland.
Softball ended the off-field portion of the week with the announcement of their Fall schedule and try-outs.
The ⚽️ team began their season in Louisiana as the week concluded with ties against Tarleton & Southern University. The first match included the fastest score in program history by the aptly named Paige Goaley!
Moorhead State's addition to the week came via the Conference Preseason Cross Country Poll. Adnew Stueven & Payton Lane were mentioned as competitors to be aware of for the men's & women's teams respectively.
Even as the ramp-up to the Fall seasons continues there have been no undesirable developments for the athletes - no news, is good news!
The Dogs of Winter, Spring & Summer found out the construct of their highly-anticipated 82 game set. One of the quirks is that it will be a different sort of game of runs this season.
Cleveland is still leading the Central but by less, so that's progress, I guess? It's becoming more apparent with each passing week that they are a .500 ball club. They're not especially good or bad, just blah. So unlike the local team, making the Replicants an afterthought is a fair way to proceed.
Playing 13 days in a row agrees with the Birds, if the 10-game winning streak that they came into Sunday with is proof of anything that is. In cruising past Chicago, Sioux Falls & Chicago ago they clinched the first playoff spot in the Association and extended their lead on Kansas City while third place Winnipeg has fallen off in a major way. The team did run out of gas Sunday but with an off-day Monday followed by their final six games at home they will have an excellent chance to get their legs back as well as clinch home field. The one thing that could prove to be a hang-up is the four-game set in KC to end the regular season.
So while minds may be flipping to 🏈, don't forget about this squad!
Reminder that scores are added daily and there's a new home for recruiting news, so check back often!
Now for this week's highlights
Before Friday's lights were powered up came the inaugural coaches polls. North & South were in the top five for Class AA while Kindred, Hillsboro/CV & Central Cass made it for Class A. The lead-up to the games also included the coaches insights from Oak Grove's Melvin Whitney, to go along with Shanley, Horace & Kindred.
Pre-competition also included the first cross country polls.
When the games began Davies torched Central and took down West Fargo. North bounced-back from a slim loss to Sheyenne with a hat trick win over Red River.
North opened the season against Horace and showed that they are going to be a handful for everyone on their schedule. Central Cass & Hillsbor/Central Valley also won going away in their openers, as did Richland, Enderlin & Hankinson in 9-man action.
Beyond the recruitment news of the week, which included some big developments, came word that former Davies skater Cody Haiskanen signed with the affiliated Steelhead of Boise, Idaho.
Summer ball has mostly ended but prior to the final pitches West Fargo found it's way into the 14u semi-finals in Williston but were not able to best the team from California. Fargo's 13u team also fell in the semis, to Massachusetts. Fargo is in a golden era for youth & high school sports and baseball is no exception, nor will it be for the next several years if the players continue to work.