SDSU Runner Bongard Returns from Iraq

Top-tier athletes face many decisions. 

Some are gifted enough to have to choose which sport they’ll pursue. Some choose how to balance academics and athletics. And some are forced to give up their desire to serve their country in order to pursue their athletic dreams. 

But some, like Anthony Bongard, choose to go after both.
Bongard is a senior cross country and track and field runner from Redwood Falls, Minn., but he’s also a combat engineer with the Minnesota National Guard.

Preseason Prognostications, Part II

The Summit League’s official basketball Twitter account (@summithoops) recently completed a “Tweetdown” of the Athlon Sports 2012-13 College Basketball Preview projections.

The publication tabbed South Dakota State as the preseason favorite followed by Oakland, North Dakota State and Western Illinois. SDSU's Nate Wolters, the pick for Player of the Year, was joined by Oakland’s Travis Bader, North Dakota State’s Taylor Braun, Western Illinois’ Ceola Clark III and Fort Wayne’s Frank Gaines on the all-league team.

Wolters also received honorable mention All-America recognition and was ranked fifth in a list of the nation’s best scorers.

A quick synopsis is below.

Predictions
1) South Dakota State
2) Oakland
3) North Dakota State
4) Western Illinois
5) Fort Wayne
6) IUPUI
7) Kansas City
8) South Dakota
9) Omaha

All-League
Nate Wolters, South Dakota State (Player of the Year); Travis Bader, Oakland; Taylor Braun, North Dakota State; Ceola Clark III, Western Illinois; Frank Gaines, Fort Wayne.

To read the entire Summit League breakdown, purchase Athlon Sports’ 2012-13 College Basketball Preview at your newsstand or online at athlonsports.com

Omaha Adds Alvidrez to Women's Basketball Coaching Staff

UNO women's basketball head coach Chance Lindley has completed his coaching staff by adding Rebecca Alvidrez as an assistant coach.

Alvidrez was previously the associate head coach at Alaska Anchorage for six years, where she helped turn the Seawolves into a national powerhouse. In Alvidrez's six years as the lead recruiter at UAA, the Seawolves posted a combined record of 165-31, winning an astounding 84.2 percent of their games.

A two-time All-Big Sky Conference selection and the newcomer of the year during her playing days at Montana State, Alvidrez will coach both guards and posts at Omaha, while serving an integral role in recruiting. Alvidrez brings strong international and West Coast recruiting ties to the Maverick program.

Summit Hoops on the "Worldwide Leader"

At least three Summit League men's basketball teams will make appearances on ESPN's Family of Networks during the upcoming season. While the full ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU broadcast schedule is expected to be released next month, three dates involving Summit League teams have already been announced:

Nov. 9: South Dakota State at Alabama, 9 p.m. ET on ESPNU
Nov. 12: IUPUI at Michigan, 9 p.m. ET on ESPNU (NIT Season Tip-Off)
Dec. 19: Oakland at West Virginia, 9 p.m. ET on ESPNU

The Summit League Championship Games on March 12 are also part of the schedule. The men's title will air on either ESPN or ESPN2 at 9 p.m. ET. ESPNU will broadcast the women's championship at 4 p.m. ET.

All nine Summit League men's teams will participate in the Sears BracketBusters on Feb. 23, which may include additional television opportunities on ESPN's Family of Networks.

@summithoops

Preseason Prognostications, Part I

A month before the start of practice for the 2012-12 men's basketball season, the first college basketball preview magazine hit the newsstands. Lindy's Sports College Basketball is the initial such publication available and provides analysis of all 340 Division I teams.

Lindy's puts The Summit League at No. 18 in its rankings of the 31 conferences. The magazine tabs South Dakota State as the league champion and Nate Wolters as its Player of the Year. Wolters is also listed as the nation's No. 10 point guard.

@summithoops held a "Tweetdown" of the nine Summit League teams and the all-league and honor roll selections as chosen by Lindy's. A quick synopsis is below.

Predictions
1) South Dakota State
2) North Dakota State
3) Oakland
4) Western Illinois
5) IUPUI
6) Fort Wayne
7) Kansas City
8) South Dakota
9) Omaha

All-League
     1st Team: Nate Wolters, South Dakota State; Ceola Clark III, Western Illinois; Frank Gaines, Fort Wayne; Taylor Braun,  North Dakota State; Jordan Dykstra, South Dakota State.
     2nd Team: Travis Bader, Oakland; Lawrence Alexander, North Dakota State; Ian Chiles, IUPUI; Terell Parks, Western Illinois; Marshall Bjorklund, North Dakota State.

Player of the Year: Nate Wolters, South Dakota State
Newcomer of the Year: Duke Mondy, Oakland

Honor Roll
Best Shooter: Travis Bader, Oakland
Best Rebounder: Terell Parks, Western Illinois
Best Playmaker: Nate Wolters, South Dakota State
Best Defender: Ceola Clark III, Western Illinois
Most Versatile: Nate Wolters, South Dakota State
Best NBA Prospect: Nate Wolters, South Dakota State

To read the complete scouting reports for each of The Summit League's nine teams, pick up a copy of Lindy's Sports College Basketball 2012-13 at your local newsstand or purchase online at lindyssports.com.

Former IUPUI Golfer Set to Take on Q-School

Former IUPUI men's golf standout Michael Davan is ready to take on the next step in his career on the links. Next week, the Illinois-native will begin pre-qualifications for Q-School, playing 54 holes at the BlackHorse Course at Bayonet and BlackHorse on Monterey Bay. 

Davan will start two days of practice on Sunday (Sept. 9) before teeing off on Tuesday (Sept. 11).

Oakland Adds Two to Baseball Coaching Staff

Ty Rogers and Ryan Hilton will join Oakland as assistant baseball coaches for the 2012-13 season, head coach John Musachio announced on Wednesday. 

Rogers will work with recruiting and infielders in addition to assisting with the offense, Hilton will work with the catchers and assist hitters.

SDSU Names Nord Assistant Women's Basketball Coach

South Dakota State University women's basketball head coach Aaron Johnston announced Friday that Carissa Nord has been elevated to a full-time assistant coaching position.

 

A graduate assistant during the 2011-12 season in which the Jackrabbits made their fourth consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament, Nord replaces Emilee Thiesse, who was named head coach at Minnesota State, Mankato, earlier this week.

SDSU's Somsen Named Coastal Plain League Pitcher of the Year

The Coastal Plain League announced today that Layne Somsen of the Fayetteville SwampDogs has been named the 2012 Rawlings CPL Pitcher of the Year.

Somsen, a 6-0, 185-pound junior from South Dakota State went 5-0 with an impressive 1.29 ERA during the regular season. In seven starts the right-hander pitched 42 innings of work, surrendering just eight runs - six earned - on 18 hits. Meanwhile, he walked only 15 and struck out 47. He also was a part of two combined shutouts, featured a 0.79 WHIP and opposing batters hit a mere .129 against him.

Reggie Hamilton to Play Professionally in Italy

Reggie Hamilton

Former Oakland guard Reggie Hamilton has signed to play professional basketball in Italy and will join Victoria Libertas Pesaro in the Italian Serie A. The Summit League's first NCAA scoring champion with 26.2 points per game in 2011-12 was recently invited to play for the Indiana Pacers in the NBA Summer League. Hamilton owns The Summit League's single-season record for points (942 in '11-12) and ranks seventh on the career scoring list (2,185).