North Star Athletic Association Awards Announced; Various Trojans Honored
The North Star Athletic Association yesterday announced their conference awards for both the men and women.
On the women’s side, Savannah Walsdorf, Tabor Teel, Angela Slattery, Caitlin Dyer, Miakkken Vincent and David Moe all were recognized from DSU.
Walsdorf and Teel were both named to First team All-Conference & the All-Defensive teams. Teel also claimed the Defensive Player of the Year honor for the Trojans. Marking back-to-back seasons in which the Trojans came away with that honor. All three honors are firsts for Teel and she did so coming off the bench for DSU. Walsdorf has received a conference honor all five seasons of her career, including three straight NSAA first team honors.
Slattery and Dyer were both named All-Conference Honorable Mention, the first time receiving the honor for both players. Vincent was named the NSAA Champions of Character recipient from Dakota State.
Moe was named the NSAA Coach of the Year for a fifth consecutive season after guiding the Trojans to their fourth straight regular season title and a Top 10 ranking in the NAIA.
On the men’s side, Mison Coilton, Brayden Pankonen and Taylor Edwards were recognized.
Coilton received Second Team All-Conference honors and Pankonen was named Freshman of the Year in the NSAA. Edwards was named the NSAA Champions of Character recipient for DSU. Marking back-to-back times Edwards has received the honor.
Full List of Recipients:
2023-24 North Star Athletic Association Women’s Basketball All-Conference Teams & Postseason Awards
First Team All-Conference
| Name  | School | Class | Ht. | Pos. | Hometown |
| Jordan Zrust ^$+ | Mayville State (N.D.) | Grad. | 6-0 | Guard | Buffalo, Minn. |
| Savannah Walsdorf #&$+ | Dakota State (S.D.) | Senior | 6-0 | Forward | Kiel, Wis. |
| Mackenzie Hughes = | Mayville State (N.D.) | Junior | 5-6 | Guard | Thompson, N.D. |
| Ashlyn Diemert = | Valley City State (N.D.) | Soph. | 5-9 | Guard | West Fargo, N.D. |
| Tabor Teel | Dakota State (S.D.) | Soph. | 5-11 | Forward | Colton, S.D. |
Second Team All-Conference
| Name  | School | Class | Ht. | Pos. | Hometown |
| Gabby Moore | Bellevue (Neb.) | Junior | 5-7 | Guard | Webster Groves, Mo. |
| Samantha Oase = | Dickinson State (N.D.) | Junior | 6-0 | Center | Reeder, N.D. |
| Brooke Dial | Waldorf (Iowa) | Fresh. | 5-10 | Forward | Dallas, Texas |
| Jes Mertens % | Mayville State (N.D.) | Senior | 5-9 | Guard | Devils Lakes, N.D. |
| Emily McCurdy | Viterbo (Wis.) | Junior | 5-10 | Forward | St. Croix Falls, Wis. |
+ 2022-23 North Star Athletic Association Women’s Basketball All-Conference First Team
= 2022-23 North Star Athletic Association Women’s Basketball All-Conference Second Team
% 2022-23 North Star Athletic Association Women’s Basketball All-Conference Honorable Mention
$ 2021-22 North Star Athletic Association Women’s Basketball All-Conference First Team
^ 2020-21 North Star Athletic Association Women’s Basketball All-Conference First Team
& 2020-21 North Star Athletic Association Women’s Basketball All-Conference Second Team
# 2019-20 North Star Athletic Association Women’s Basketball All-Conference Honorable Mention
NSAA Women’s Basketball Postseason Awards
Player of the Year:  Jordan Zrust – Mayville State (N.D.)
Defensive Player of the Year:  Tabor Teel – Dakota State (S.D.)
Newcomer of the Year:  Gabby Moore – Bellevue (Neb.)
Freshman of the Year:  Brooke Dial – Waldorf (Iowa)
Coach of the Year:  David Moe – Dakota State (S.D.)Â
NSAA Women’s Basketball Honorable Mention
Angela Slattery – Dakota State (S.D.)
Ashtyn Arnold – Bellevue (Neb.)
JayCee Richter – Valley City State (N.D.)
Hailey Roberts – Valley City State (N.D.)
Katherine Fox – Dickinson State (S.D.)
Caitlin Dyer – Dakota State (S.D.)
NSAA Women’s Basketball All-Defense Team
Tabor Teel – Dakota State (S.D.)
Savannah Walsdorf – Dakota State (S.D.)
Jordan Zrust – Mayville State (N.D.)
Jes Mertens – Mayville State (N.D.)
Macy Stellner – Viterbo (Wis.)
NSAA Women’s Basketball Champions of Character recipients
Bellevue (Neb.) – Aminah Hall
Dakota State (S.D.) – Miakken Vincent
Dickinson State (N.D.) – Hannah LaBree
Mayville State (N.D.) – Taylor Dean
Valley City State (N.D.) – Elyse Hebrink
Viterbo (Wis.) – Lydia Niederstadt
Waldorf (Iowa) – Lindsey Field
2023-24 North Star Athletic Association Men’s Basketball All-Conference Teams & Postseason Awards
First Team All-Conference
| Name  | School | Class | Ht. | Pos. | Hometown |
| Darren Jones | Mayville State (N.D.) | Junior | 6-8 | Forward | San Bernardino, Calif. |
| Khyle Washington % | Waldorf (Iowa) | Senior | 6-3 | Guard | Atlanta, Ga. |
| Jack Monis &!$ | Viterbo (Wis.) | Senior | 6-5 | Forward | Oconomowoc, Wis. |
| John Evans +#$ | Dickinson State (N.D.) | Junior | 6-4 | Guard | Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada |
| Thomas Gieske !$ | Mayville State (N.D.) | Grad. | 6-3 | Guard | Sartell, Minn. |
Second Team All-Conference
| Name  | School | Class | Ht. | Pos. | Hometown |
| Mison Coilton | Dakota State (S.D.) | Junior | 6-2 | Forward | Stockton, Calif. |
| Jerome Bynum | Bellevue (Neb.) | Senior | 6-0 | Guard | Chicago, Ill. |
| Ugo Ejiofor | Waldorf (Iowa) | Junior | 6-8 | Center | Dallas, Texas |
| Cleveland Bedgood | Valley City State (N.D.) | Senior | 6-3 | Guard | Miami, Fla. |
| Trey Stevens | Dickinson State (N.D.) | Junior | 6-2 | Guard | Sparks, Nev. |
$ – 2022-23 North Star Athletic Association Men’s Basketball All-Conference First Team
% – 2022-23 North Star Athletic Association Men’s Basketball All-Conference Second Team
! – 2021-22 North Star Athletic Association Men’s Basketball All-Conference First Team
# – 2021-22 North Star Athletic Association Men’s Basketball All-Conference Second Team
& – 2020-21 North Star Athletic Association Men’s Basketball All-Conference First Team
+ –Â 2020-21 North Star Athletic Association Men’s Basketball All-Conference Honorable Mention
NSAA Men’s Basketball Postseason Awards
Player of the Year:  Darren Jones – Mayville State (N.D.)
Defensive Player of the Year:  Ugo Ejiofor – Waldorf (Iowa)
Newcomer of the Year:  Darren Jones – Mayville State (N.D.)
Freshman of the Year:  Brayden Pankonen – Dakota State (S.D.)
Coach of the Year:  Lucas Gabriel – Bellevue (Neb.)
NSAA Men’s Basketball Honorable Mention
Jamison Kramer – Mayville State (N.D.)
TJ Fritz – Bellevue (Neb.)
Nick Malovrh – Viterbo (Wis.)
Khalil Grayson – Waldorf (Iowa)
Kose Egbule – Dickinson State (N.D.)
NSAA Men’s Basketball All-Defense Team
Ugo Ejiofor – Waldorf (Iowa)
Kose Egbule – Dickinson State (N.D.)
Khyle Washington – Waldorf (Iowa)
Liam Thompson – Bellevue (Neb.)
Nick Malovrh – Viterbo (Wis.)
NSAA Men’s Basketball Champions of Character recipients
Bellevue (Neb.) – Makeem Loudermill
Dakota State (S.D.) – Taylor Edwards
Dickinson State (N.D.) – Tyce Dahlberg
Mayville State (N.D.) – Steele Senske
Valley City State (N.D.) – Hunter Lyman
Viterbo (Wis.) – Cole Crubel
Waldorf (Iowa) – Noah Miller
