NORTHERN STATE THUNDER AWARDS

PRESENTED BY NSU SAAC

Each spring the Northern State University athletics department hosts the annual Thunder Awards honoring Wolves student-athletes, coaches, and members of the community for their achievements each academic year. Nominations are taken throughout the year, with Northern State student-athletes, coaches, and administrators voting on the finalists prior to the awards ceremony. The Thunder Award categories are as follows: Male and Female Performance of the Year, Male and Female Freshman of the Year, Coach of the Year, Team of the Year, Upset of the Year, Comeback of the Year (NEW in 2019), Volunteer of the Year, Volunteer Team of the Year, Professor of the Year, Corporate Champion of the Year, and Wolf Pack 'Alpha Wolf' Fan of the Year. The annual Northern State Clark Swisher and Hildred Wolfe Awards are also announced at the ceremony. Below you will find a full list of award winners, as well as photo galleries from past ceremonies. 

  • Male Performance of the Year: Blake Perryman
  • Female Performance of the Year: Hailey Busch
  • Male Freshman of the Year: Tanner Berg
  • Female Freshman of the Year: Laura Snyder
  • Coach of the Year: Paul Sather
  • Team of the Year: Men's Basketball
  • Upset of the Year: Tanner Olson vs. St. Cloud State
  • Volunteer of the Year: Kalina Emaus
  • Volunteer Team of the Year: Volleyball
  • Professor of the Year: Dr. Jon Mitchell
  • Corporate Champion of the Year: Dacotah Bank
  • 'Alpha Wolf' Fan of the Year: Derrick Dinger
  • Clark Swisher Award: Jack Schmidt
  • Hildred Wolfe Award: Miranda Ristau
  • Male Performance of the Year: Tanner Berg
  • Female Performance of the Year:  Hannah Kastigar
  • Male Freshman of the Year: Dakota Larson
  • Female Freshman of the Year: Sally Gaul 
  • Coach of the Year: Rocky Burkett
  • Team of the Year: Volleyball 
  • Upset of the Year: Wrestling vs. Augustana
  • Comeback of the Year: Jacob Conklin
  • Volunteer of the Year: Kalina Emaus
  • Volunteer Team of the Year: Swimming
  • Professor of the Year: Sara Christensen Blair
  • Corporate Champion of the Year: Primrose
  • 'Alpha Wolf' Fan of the Year: Howard & Arlowine Dahme
  • Clark Swisher Award: Ian Smith 
  • Hildred Wolfe Award: Hannah Kastigar

2020 Virtual Awards Show

  • Male Performance of the Year: Mason Stark
  • Female Performance of the Year: Kealy Hil
  • Male Freshman of the Year: Tommy Chatman
  • Female Freshman of the Year: Peyton Ellingson
  • Coach of the Year: Saul Phillips
  • Team of the Year: Men's Basketball
  • Upset of the Year: Women's Basketball vs. Concordia-St. Paul  (NSIC Tournament)
  • Comeback of the Year: Sara Tvedt
  • Volunteer of the Year: Hazel Ohm
  • Volunteer Team of the Year: Baseball
  • Professor of the Year: Dr. Jon Mitchell
  • Corporate Champion of the Year: Ken's SuperFair Foods
  • 'Alpha Wolf' Fan of the Year: Charlie & Shawnee Jakober
  • Clark Swisher Award: Gabe King
  • Hildred Wolfe Award: Ashley Rozell

2021 Awards Show

  • Male Performance of the Year: Tanner Berg
  • Female Performance of the Year: Tava Berg
  • Male Newcomer of the Year: Terry Towah
  • Female Newcomer of the Year: Rianna Fillipi
  • Coach of the Year: Lynne Dingman
  • Team of the Year: Wrestling
  • Upset of the Year: Softball vs. #13 Winona State
  • Comeback of the Year: Kolton Roth
  • NSU Inspiration Award: DJ Ah Sam
  • Pride in the Pack Award: Athletic Training Staff (Brandon Tetrault, Shannon Curtin, Vicki Hanline, Brooke Reyerson, Ariana Gutierrez, Dalton Foley)
  • Professor of the Year: Dr. Anna Schwan
  • Corporate Champion of the Year: Eide Bailly
  • 'Alpha Wolf' Fan of the Year: Jordan & Allie Ryckman
  • Clark Swisher Award: Parker Fox
  • Hildred Wolfe Award: Laura Snyder

2022 Opening Video

  • Male Performance of the Year: Cole Huss
  • Female Performance of the Year: Megan Fastenau
  • Male Newcomer of the Year: Jacksen Moni
  • Female Newcomer of the Year: Megan Fastenau
  • Coach of the Year: Rocky Burkett
  • Team of the Year: Soccer
  • Upset of the Year: Volleyball vs. #10 Concordia-St. Paul
  • Comeback of the Year: Peyton Ellingson
  • NSU Inspiration Award: Wolves Wrestling
  • Pride in the Pack Award: Terri Holmes
  • Professor of the Year: Dr. Justin ‘Gus’ Foote
  • Corporate Champion of the Year: The Zoo Bar / Lagers Inn
  • 'Alpha Wolf' Fan of the Year: Kyle Schwan
  • Clark Swisher Award: Tanner Berg
  • Hildred Wolfe Award: Tava Berg

2023 Opening Video

  • Male Performance of the Year: Wyatt Turnquist
  • Female Performance of the Year: Renea Taylor
  • Male Newcomer of the Year: Josh Martin
  • Female Newcomer of the Year: Lilly Grebner
  • Coach of the Year: Saul Phillips
  • Team of the Year: Men's Basketball
  • Upset of the Year: Wrestling vs. #3 Nebraska Kearney
  • Comeback of the Year: Hannah Smith (Women's Soccer)
  • Pride in the Pack Award: Kory Burdick
  • Professor of the Year: Dr. Chelsee Shortt
  • Corporate Champion of the Year: Steven Lust Automotive
  • 'Alpha Wolf' Fan of the Year: Dennis & Edna Stoebner
  • Clark Swisher Award: Jackson Harrison
  • Hildred Wolfe Award: Sally Gaul
  • Male Performance of the Year: Seth Brossard
  • Female Performance of the Year: Madelyn Bragg
  • Male Newcomer of the Year: Birnir Finnsson
  • Female Newcomer of the Year: Decontee Smith
  • Coach of the Year: Paula Kruger
  • Team of the Year: Women's Basketball
  • Upset of the Year: Women's Basketball vs. #14 Minnesota State
  • Comeback of the Year: Devin Bahr
  • Pride in the Pack Award: Peggy Hallstrom
  • Professor of the Year: Dr. Hannah Walters
  • Corporate Champion of the Year: RhodesAnderson Insurance
  • 'Alpha Wolf' Fan of the Year: Joan Marlette & Rita Pond
  • Clark Swisher Award: Dakota Larson
  • Hildred Wolfe Award: Cassidy Gough
  • Male Performance of the Year: Jake Adams
  • Female Performance of the Year: Michaela Jewett
  • Male Newcomer of the Year: Gabe Gutierrez
  • Female Newcomer of the Year: Aune Boben
  • Coach of the Year: Brent Aldridge
  • Team of the Year: Women's Basketball
  • Upset of the Year: Football vs. (RV) Bemidji State
  • Comeback of the Year: Tyson Lien
  • Pride in the Pack Award: Behind the Pack (John Jacklin, Nile Hesson, Blake Clay)
  • Professor of the Year: Dr. Jon Mitchell
  • Corporate Champion of the Year: Buffalo Wild Wings
  • 'Alpha Wolf' Fan of the Year: George Rahm
  • Clark Swisher Award: Wyatt Turnquist
  • Hildred Wolfe Award: Megan Fastenau

AWARD SHOW PHOTOS