Aberdeen, S.D. – Northern State University Athletics hosted the 14^th Annual Maroon Tie Banquet on March 24, sponsored by My Place Hotels of America. NSU honored 131 student-athletes from the Kessler's Champions Club Room with a formal dinner and guest speakers including NSU President, Dr. Alan LaFave, Dr. John Mitchell, Nate Davis, Renea Taylor and President and CEO of My Place Hotels of American, Ryan Rivett.  
 
"Our student-athletes place a premium emphasis on their academics, and the Maroon Tie Banquet is an opportunity for us to highlight and recognize those that have achieved at a high level," explained Director of Athletics, Nate Davis. "We appreciate Ryan and his team at My Place Hotels of America for their partnership in helping us provide a memorable night for our student-athletes. This group represents the best and brightest of the Wolves and we are all very proud of their efforts."
 
The Maroon Tie Banquet was established to recognize and celebrate the academic excellence of Wolves student-athletes. Those honored with the Maroon Tie distinction have demonstrated a commitment to success beyond competition; to be recognized, students must have completed a minimum of one semester at Northern, reached sophomore academic standing, and earned a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher.
 
This tradition reflects the core values of Northern Athletics, discipline, perseverance, and dedication to excellence, in both the classroom and competition. The Maroon Tie symbolizes the balance student-athletes strive to achieve as they represent Northern State University with pride.
 
Honorees at the 2026 event are outlined below. Those with an asterisk denote a graduating senior.
 
Baseball
Palmer Boyd
Kolby Culbertson
Dalton Kesti
Maddox Plack
Owen Douglas
Mason Hoheisel
Kyle Konechne
Joseph Merchlewitz
Owen Douglas
Benjamin Althoff*
Drew Benson*
Tyler Boyum*
Dillon Castellanos*
Scott Jussila*
Easton Rerick*
Jonah Schmidt*
Joshua Steinwandt*
Carson Zimmel*
 
Men's Basketball
Joshua Book
Simon Akena*
Benjamin Bowen*
 
Women's Basketball
Kennedi Deckert?
Lily Klein?
Carli Kuyper
Lucy Moore
Taylor Tool
Morgan Fiedler*
Isabelle Moore*
Megan Counts*
 
Men's Cross Country/Track & Field
Luke Campbell?
Marcus Garza?
Gracen Hansen
Talan Lunders?
Christian Wells
Ross Kortenbusch?
Levi Reis?
Damon Roggenbuck?
Turner Thorson
Taylor Thorson
Jacob Angerhofer*
Dan Istvanovich*
Isaac Ligon*
Geoffrey Mannino*
Blake Stoks*
Samuel Tremelling*
 
Women's Cross Country/Track & Field
Gitte Bellemans?
Payton Kemnitz?
Maggie Kruger?
Grace Kuch?
Rachel Miklos
Brooke Mushatt
Kali Norton?
Emaleigh Olesiak?
Anna Skachenko
Paige Bishop?
Tayla Dobrenski?
Jolie Dugan?
Gracie Eisenbraun
Alexa Fender?
Abby Hasart?
Emma Hunt?
Elisabet Jonsdottir?
Karli Klein?
Avery Miles?
Jordan West?
Bekah Walz
Addison Cumbow*
Romane Maugest*
Kamryn Schwartz*
Morgan Sheldon*
Renea Taylor*
 
Football
Brock Ellingson?
James Hushbeck
Carson LaPlante?
Cashton LaPlante
Thomas Risty?
Dawson Siem
Isaac Johnson?
Gabriel Lindeman
Kegan Mountain?
Kadyn Turnbow
Gavin Geisler?
Jackson Isakson?
Zack Kraft 
Wyatt Block*
Blake Clay*
Brock Longville*
Kyle Thomas*
 
Soccer
Kylie Albert?
Ella Blake?
Jaylee Hofer
Abigail Missman
Clara Nelson?
Lydia Nordquist
Kailyn Poppen?
Ella Ready
Lauren Carpenter?
Chloe Voss?
Lauren Youngquist
MacKenzie Turner*
 
Softball
Aune Boben
Madi Jones
Alysa Lowe?
Brooke Wolf
Tevan Bryant
Grace Humann*
 
Swimming & Diving
Mazie Finch?
Laila Gordillo?
Marie Loest?
Sydney Masgras
Hilary Sonnabend
Jacie Flockhart
Emma Beavers*
 
Volleyball
Linnea Nesheim
Ava Nilsson
Sara Moberg?
Morissen Samuels
Riley Batta
Abby Schauer
Natalia Szybinska
 
Wrestling
Grady Fey?
Sloan Johannsen?
Karstyn Lhotak?
Griffin Lundeen
Teagan Block*
Mason Fey*
Nate Hartman*
Cole Holien*
Tyson Lien*
Nikolas Petsinger*
Nathan Schauer*
Krayle Stormer*