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A look back at the 2010-11 Dakota State Athletics season
June 22, 2011
Dakota State University Athletics had another memorable season. With the 2011-12 academic year only two months away, here is a 2010-11 Trojan Athletics year in review.
Dakota State leaves Dakota Athletic Conference (DAC), joins the Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.)/DSU awarded the opportunity to host basketball national qualifying tournament
On Aug. 6, 2010, Dakota State announced its move to the A.I.I. The DAC conference had dwindled down to four members - all from North Dakota - while Minot State, Black Hills State and South Dakota Mines made their decision to move to NCAA Division II. During the NAIA convention in mid-April, DSU was awarded the opportunity to host the ten-team (five women's and five men's) independent qualifying tournament in Madison, S.D. on Feb. 23-25, 2012. The A.I.I. champion and runner-up teams each will receive an automatic bid to the NAIA Division II Basketball National Tournament (women's in Sioux City, Iowa and men's in Point Lookout, Mo.).
Men's Cross Country ranks 15th in the first national poll (highest ever in school history), captures second place in final DAC cross country meet
After winning the 2009 DAC title, the DSU men's cross country team had another solid year. They started the season ranked 15th in the nation, the highest in school history. They kicked off the 2010 season winning the Dakota Wesleyan Invitational and their own Herb Blakely Invitational at the Madison Country Club. They were second in the DAC meet held in Jamestown, N.D. on Nov. 5, 2010. Coy and Berkness along with Matt Fideler competed at the NAIA Cross Country national meet in Vancouver, Wash.
Dakota State recognizes as NAIA's Champions of Character Five Stars Institution
DSU was one of the 204 college and universities to receive the Champions of Character Five Star award. To receive the award, members scored 60 or more points on the NAIA Champions of Character scorecard. The scorecard process is based on the NAIA's flagship program Champions of Character, which emphasizes the five cores of integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership. Dakota State was one of the top three schools in the state of South Dakota to rank in the top 30.
Men's Basketball team upsets NCAA Division II Augustana, records first winning season since 1993
With Augustana leading 51-49 with two minutes left in regulation, DSU's Spencer Adams hit a 3-pointer to give the Trojans a 52-51 with less than 90 seconds left in the game. The Vikings missed two opportunities in the final 24.7 seconds of the game as the Trojans posted an exhibition win over an NCAA Division II team. It was the first loss by Augustana in 13 meetings with DSU. Later in the season, the Trojans posted their first winning season for the first time since 1993 with an overall record of 15-14.
Rowe wins DAC indoor track high jump for third straight year, earns fourth straight NAIA Indoor Track and Field All-American honor at nationals; Coy captures two individual titles at DAC Indoor Track, earns second straight NAIA Indoor Track and Field All-American
Senior Danielle Rowe won her third straight DAC Indoor Track and Field high jump at the Donald E. Young Gymnasium in Spearfish, S.D. on Feb. 19, 2011. She leaped to a new DSU school record measurement of five-feet-and-seven-inches. She ended her stellar collegiate indoor track and field career by capturing a fourth-place finish (five feet and 3.75 inches) at the NAIA Indoor Track and Field national meet on March 5, 2011 in Geneva, Ohio. Rowe earned her third straight NAIA Indoor Track and Field All-American honor at Dakota State and fourth overall (Cornerstone University in her freshman year).
Sophomore Andy Coy won the men's 800-meter and one-mile runs at the DAC Indoor Track and Field championship meet. He produced the qualifying times of 1:57.10 in the 800-meters and 4:19.54 in the one-mile. Coy ran the fastest time in the men's 1000-meter run semifinals with a new DSU school record time of 2:25.47 at the NAIA Indoor Track and Field national meet. He finished second in the finals with a time of 2:27.41 and earned NAIA All-American honors for his second straight year.
Softball shatters records at Snowbird Tournament in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
The Trojans played their best ball of the season in March in South Carolina. Not only did the Trojans go 9-2, but they set several records in doing so. DSU shattered individuals and team records during the tournament, including most home runs, doubles, RBIs, walks and runs in a game. Natasha Fritz tied a DSU school record for most at-bats in a single game with six versus Southern Vermont. In the same game, she broke a school record for most hits in a single game - six. Emily Kulp had three home runs and eight RBIs in the game, both a school record. Also, they had 14 walks, 27 runs and 27 RBIs, which are records for a single game.
Berkness and Drealan capture individual outdoor track titles at final DAC event; both Berkness and Drealan shatter DSU record book in 10,000-meter run
Seniors Devon Berkness and Anthony Drealan dominated the DSU long distance runs in outdoor track. Berkness captured the men's 10,000-meter run with a new DAC meet record time of 31 minutes and 22.14 seconds. Drealan came from behind to win the men's 5000-meter run with a time of 15:35.33. Berkness and Drealan were listed in DSU's record book top five in the 10,000-meter run. Berkness set a new school record time of 30:37.57 for a 12th place finish at the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field national meet. He also ran the third (30:47.15) and fifth (31:22.14) fastest times in the record book, while Drealan ran the second best time of 30:41.15.
DSU student-athletes' academic accomplishments
Josh Windsor made several plays for the Trojans on the football field. Off the field, Windsor graduated with a 3.70 grade point average. The Harrison, Neb. native was nominated as a National Football Foundation National Scholar-Athlete. A senior team captain, Windsor was also named to ESPN Academic All-District VII third team College Division earlier this season. He was named to the Daktronics-NAIA Football Scholar Athlete honor in his junior and senior seasons. In May, he was given a scholarship for service award, which was made possible through a $1.3 million National Science Foundation grant. The football star was given the male NAIA Champions of Character award by DSU at the annual athletic banquet. 
Windsor was an outstanding athlete and student academically at Dakota State. He displayed good leadership for his teammates, according to head football coach Josh Anderson.
Katie Bourk, a Blunt, S.D. native, made several 3-pointers and defensive plays as a DSU basketball player. Off the court, she was named to the NAIA All-American Academic honors for three straight years. The 2011 Magna Cum Laude Physical Education major graduate was named the DSU women's NAIA Champions of Character at the annual award banquet. 
Bourk was the lone senior to play for all three years for coach Joe Reints. "Katie is an outstanding athlete and student academically," said Reints. "She was a good leader on the team and on the DSU campus." Bourk was the team captain for the Trojan women's basketball team.
In women's cross country, Samantha Drealan (Warnke) earned her third straight national scholar athlete recognition from the NAIA. Amy Pheneger earned Daktronics-NAIA Scholar Athlete honors for two straight years in volleyball and track. Track student-athletes Brandi Gau and Jerad Schlobohm each also received this honor for two straight years.
In addition, Ashley Stevenson (softball), Margie Anthony (volleyball), Stephanie Kruggel (volleyball), Brittany Pearson (track) and Stephanie Uher (track) earned their first national academic honor from the NAIA.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
Ariy-El Boynton, Madison Daily Leader Sports Editor
