BISMARCK, N.D. – Bismarck State College is proud to announce that 27 student-athletes have been named NAIA Scholar-Athletes for the 2025-2026 academic year.

To qualify as an NAIA Scholar-Athlete, students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, appear on the eligibility certificate for their sport, and have attended their institution for at least one full year. This year's list features an impressive number of Mystics who have met these rigorous standards.

Here is the student-athlete breakdown by sport:

Volleyball – 5
Softball – 5
Women's Track & Field – 4
Women's Cross Country – 4
Baseball – 3
Men's Track & Field – 3
Women's Basketball – 3
Men's Basketball – 1

Here are the student-athletes who were named NAIA Scholar-Athletes:

Baseball
Alex Panitzke (Glenwood, Minn. / Minnewaska Area High School / So. / Finance)
Cole Shirley (Minneapolis, Minn. / Washburn High School / So. / Engineering & University Studies)
Josh Bourbeau (Bonnyville, Alberta / Ecole Notre Dame High School / So. / Chemical Engineering)

Men's Basketball
William Ware (Bismarck, N.D. / Century High School / Jr. / Foundations of Teaching)

Men's Track & Field
Jordan Sunstrom (Grafton, N.D. / Grafton High School / So. / Cybersecurity & Information Technology)
Nathan Mathern (Bismarck, N.D. / Legacy High School / Jr. / University Studies)
Nicholas Pegors (Bismarck, N.D. / Legacy High School / Jr. / Business Administration)

Softball
Brielle Wrangham (Bismarck, N.D. / Bismarck High School / So. / Organizational Management & Leadership)
Brynn Arnold (Bismarck, N.D. / Legacy High School / So. / Occupational Therapy)
Grace Grimm (Bismarck, N.D. / St. Mary's Central High School / So. / Education)
Savannah Gustavsson (Mandan, N.D. / Mandan High School / So. / Sports and Exercise Science)
Tayler Falcon (Minot, N.D. / Minot High School / So. / Radiology)

Volleyball
Reese Duchsherer (Bismarck, N.D. / Legacy High School / So. / Elementary Education)
Chelsa Krom (Bismarck, N.D. / Legacy High School / Jr. / University Studies)
Paige McAllister (Fargo, N.D. / Shanley High School / Jr. / Finance)
Brooklyn Sand (Bismarck, N.D. / Legacy High School / So. / Nursing)
Kate Zimmer (Kenmare, N.D. / Kenmare High School / Jr. / Elementary Education)

Women's Basketball
Adeia Erickson (Billings, Mont. / Billings Christian High School / So. / Agribusiness)
Aleah McPherson (Bismarck, N.D. / Legacy High School / So. / Nursing)
Kali Dauenhauer (Bismarck, N.D. / Legacy High School / So. / Education)

Women's Cross Country
Sophia Fafard (Rocanville, Saskatchewan / Rocanville High School / So. / Mass Communication)
Paysha Rex (Bowman, N.D. / Bowman County High School / Jr. / Graphic Design & Communications)
Alexis Ritzman (Mandan, N.D. / Mandan High School / Jr. / Finance)
Ava Stafford (Cody, Wyo. / Cody High School / Jr. / Nursing)

Women's Track & Field
Aisha Zaffino (Beulah, N.D. / Beulah High School / Jr. / Finance)
Aliya Schock (Bismarck, N.D. / Shiloh Christian High School / Jr. / Exercise and Sports Studies)
Ava Stafford (Cody, Wyo. / Cody High School / Jr. / Nursing)
Kaylea Kealoha (Williston, N.D. / Williston High School / So. / Exercise Science)
 

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Additionally, BSC also has 19 student-athletes selected to CSC Academic All-District teams. The teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performance in the classroom and in their events.

Here were the honorees from this year (* signifies that the student advanced to the final round voting for Academic All-American status):
 

Baseball
Alex Panitzke (Glenwood, Minn. / Minnewaska Area High School / So. / Finance)
Cole Shirley (Minneapolis, Minn. / Washburn High School / So. / Engineering & University Studies)
Kaeden Wilcox* (Casper, Wyo. / Natrona County High School / So. / Business Administration)

Men's Track & Field
Nathan Mathern (Bismarck, N.D. / Legacy High School / Jr. / University Studies)

Softball
Brielle Wrangham* (Bismarck, N.D. / Bismarck High School / So. / Organizational Management & Leadership)
Grace Grimm (Bismarck, N.D. / St. Mary's Central High School / So. / Education)
Savannah Gustavsson (Mandan, N.D. / Mandan High School / So. / Sports and Exercise Science)
Tayler Falcon (Minot, N.D. / Minot High School / So. / Radiology)
Jamison Langlois (Liberty, Saskatchewan / Williston State College. / Jr. / Exercise and Sports Studies)

Volleyball
Reese Duchsherer (Bismarck, N.D. / Legacy High School / So. / Elementary Education)
Chelsa Krom* (Bismarck, N.D. / Legacy High School / Jr. / University Studies)

Women's Basketball
Aleah McPherson (Bismarck, N.D. / Legacy High School / So. / Nursing)
Kali Dauenhauer (Bismarck, N.D. / Legacy High School / So. / Education)
Natalie DeCoteau (St. John, N.D. / St. John High School / Jr. / Exercise Science)
Kennedy Stormer* (Mandan, N.D. / Mandan High School / Sr. / Finance)

Women's Track & Field / Cross Country
Aisha Zaffino (Beulah, N.D. / Beulah High School / Jr. / Finance)
Aliya Schock (Bismarck, N.D. / Shiloh Christian High School / Jr. / Exercise and Sports Studies)
Ava Stafford (Cody, Wyo. / Cody High School / Jr. / Nursing)
Kennedy Harter (Driscoll, N.D. / Kidder County High School / Jr. / Health Administration & Surgical Technology)

Be sure to visit BSCMystics.com and download the MysticNation app to continue to stay up to date with everything going on in Mystic Athletics.

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