November 20, 2023
BISMARCK, N.D. – The 2023 North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) Football All-Conference teams were announced Monday afternoon by the conference office. The All-Conference teams and postseason awards were voted by the league coaches.
Dickinson State (N.D.) captured their ninth consecutive conference team title with another undefeated record (8-0 record). The Blue Hawks earned the NSAA’s automatic qualifier to the NAIA Football Championship Series (FCS). DiSU opened with a 35-28 victory on the road at Montana Tech in the opening round on Nov. 18.
Dickinson State, No. 14 seed in the second round of the NAIA FCS playoffs, travels to No. 2 seed Grand View (Iowa) on Saturday.
Noah Sickler of Dickinson State was selected as the Offensive Most Valuable Player. His teammate Krew Mathern was named to the conference’s Defensive Most Valuable Player for the second straight year. Pete Stanton was named as the NSAA Football Coach-of-the-Year award. Jake Lietecky of Mayville State (N.D.) was voted as the NSAA Assistant Coach-of-the-Year.
Below is the entire list of the first-team, second-team, honorable mention, and postseason awards:
2023 NSAA Football All-Conference Teams and Postseason Awards:
First-Team All-Conference Offense
| Position |
Name |
Class |
School |
Hometown |
| QB |
Will Madler |
Junior |
Dickinson State (N.D.) |
Bismarck, N.D. |
| RB |
Braden Zuroff |
Junior |
Dickinson State (N.D.) |
New Salem, N.D. |
| RB |
Jatoviay Hill |
Junior |
Waldorf (Iowa) |
Davenport, Iowa |
| OL |
Nathaniel Woodruff |
Junior |
Dickinson State (N.D.) |
Torrington, Wyo. |
| OL |
Brandon Bennick |
Junior |
Dickinson State (N.D.) |
Torrington, Wyo. |
| OL |
Jacob Romero |
Junior |
Valley City State (N.D.) |
El Paso, Texas |
| OL |
Zach Ceasar |
Grad. Student |
Mayville State (N.D.) |
Lake Charles, La. |
| OL |
William Rollins |
Junior |
Dickinson State (N.D.) |
Lakewood, Colo. |
| TE |
Galen Brantley III |
Junior |
Dickinson State (N.D.) |
Soldotna, Alaska |
| WR |
Noah Sickler |
Senior |
Dickinson State (N.D.) |
Dickinson, N.D. |
| WR |
Javeion Davison |
Junior |
Mayville State 9N.D.) |
Las Vegas, Nev. |
| WR |
Malik Adams |
Senior |
Waldorf (Iowa) |
Cedar Rapids, Iowa |
First-Team All-Conference Defense
| Position |
Name |
Class |
School |
Hometown |
| DL |
Krew Mathern |
Senior |
Dickinson State (N.D.) |
Dickinson, N.D. |
| DL |
Riley Gerhardt |
Senior |
Valley City State (N.D.) |
Valley City, N.D. |
| DL |
Devonte Murphy |
Senior |
Dakota State (S.D.) |
Sioux Falls, S.D. |
| DL |
Georgie Mageo |
Junior |
Valley City State (N.D.) |
Anchorage, Alaska |
| LB |
Jahidi West |
Senior |
Valley City State (N.D.) |
Stockton, Calif. |
| LB |
Nathaniel Jilek |
Sophomore |
Dickinson State (N.D.) |
Dickinson, N.D. |
| LB |
Jeremiah ‘JJ’ Beck |
Senior |
Dakota State (S.D.) |
Gregory, S.D. |
| LB |
Shannen Williams |
Senior |
Waldorf (Iowa) |
Las Vegas, Nev. |
| DB |
Tel Lunde |
Junior |
Dickinson State (N.D.) |
Wibaux, Mont. |
| DB |
Will Stricklin |
Junior |
Waldorf (Iowa) |
San Diego, Calif. |
| DB |
Jayden Heartwell |
Junior |
Dickinson State (N.D.) |
Anchorage, Alaska |
| DB |
Paco Baltazar |
Senior |
Valley City State (N.D.) |
El Paso, Texas |
First-Team All-Conference Special Teams
| Position |
Name |
Class |
School |
Hometown |
| K |
Chase Miller |
Freshman |
Dickinson State (N.D.) |
Torrington, Wyo. |
| P |
Isaac Burgett |
Junior |
Waldorf (Iowa) |
Alden, Minn. |
| Specialist |
Braxton Lacher |
Sophomore |
Dakota State (S.D.) |
Watertown, S.D. |
Second-Team All-Conference Offense
| Position |
Name |
Class |
School |
Hometown |
| QB |
Tim Salmon |
Junior |
Mayville State (N.D.) |
New Richmond, Wis. |
| RB |
Justice Bice |
Senior |
Valley City State (N.D.) |
Bonifay, Fla. |
| RB |
Tyce Ortman |
Junior |
Dakota State (S.D.) |
Canistota, S.D. |
| OL |
Logan Miller |
Junior |
Waldorf (Iowa) |
Madison Lake, Minn. |
| OL |
Tyler Kjetland |
Sophomore |
Dakota State (S.D.) |
Emery, S.D. |
| OL |
Troy Dietz |
Senior |
Valley City State (N.D.) |
Gwinner, N.D. |
| OL |
Kade Kloster-Hodak |
Senior |
Waldorf (Iowa) |
Mason City, Iowa |
| OL |
Carson Lunak |
Sophomore |
Dickinson State (N.D.) |
Havre, Mont. |
| TE |
Nathan Schumacher |
Senior |
Dickinson State (N.D.) |
Grand Forks, N.D. |
| WR |
Kaden Kuntz |
Senior |
Dickinson State (N.D.) |
Dickinson, N.D. |
| WR |
Dom Watt |
Senior |
Waldorf (Iowa) |
Hollywood, Fla. |
| WR |
Cameron Sheppard |
Junior |
Dickinson State (N.D.) |
Surprise, Ariz. |
Second-Team All-Conference Defense
| Position |
Name |
Class |
School |
Hometown |
| DL |
Matt Anderson |
Junior |
Dickinson State (N.D.) |
Jamestown, N.D. |
| DL |
Bailey Mullenberg |
Junior |
Mayville State (N.D.) |
Somerset, Wis. |
| DL |
Austin Dennis |
Senior |
Dickinson State (N.D.) |
Park City, Mont. |
| DL |
Georgia Mageo |
Sophomore |
Valley City State (N.D.) |
Anchorage, Alaska |
| LB |
Devon Woods |
Sophomore |
Mayville State (N.D.) |
Las Vegas, Nev. |
| LB |
Brooks Talbot |
Sophomore |
Dickinson State (N.D.) |
Bozeman, Mont. |
| LB |
Riley Waters |
Sophomore |
Dickinson State (N.D.) |
Sidney, Mont. |
| LB |
Thomas Edwards |
Senior |
Waldorf (Iowa) |
Irving, Texas |
| DB |
Danzele Navy |
Junior |
Mayville State (N.D.) |
Brooklyn Park, Minn. |
| DB |
Micah Olson |
Junior |
Valley City State (N.D.) |
Dawson, Minn. |
| DB |
Will Flemons |
Junior |
Mayville State (N.D.) |
White Bear Lake, Minn. |
| DB |
Emanuel Spiyee |
Freshman |
Valley City State (N.D.) |
Fargo, N.D. |
Second-Team All-Conference Special Teams
| Position |
Name |
Class |
School |
Hometown |
| K |
Braeden Lacombe |
Sophomore |
Mayville State (N.D.) |
Peoria, Ariz. |
| P |
Kaden Johnson |
Junior |
Mayville State (N.D.) |
Cottage Grove, Minn. |
| Specialist |
Dom Watt |
Senior |
Waldorf (Iowa) |
Hollywood, Fla. |
NSAA Football Postseason Awards
NSAA Football Offensive Most Valuable Player: Noah Sickler – Dickinson State (N.D.)
NSAA Football Defensive Most Valuable Player: Krew Mathern – Dickinson State (N.D.)
NSAA Football Coach-of-the-Year: Pete Stanton – Dickinson State (N.D.)
NSAA Football Assistant Coach-of-the-Year: Jake Lietecky – Mayville State (N.D.)
2023 NSAA Football All-Conference Honorable Mention
Dakota State (S.D.)
Tray Hettick – quarterback
Cole Sylliaasen – punter
Caleb Dwyer – defensive lineman
Marcis Hausman – defensive back
Dickinson State (N.D.)
Edward Aranda Calixto – offensive lineman
Joey DeMarco – defensive back
Mayville State (N.D.)
Jared Gay – defensive lineman
Darrick Frederick – tight end
Kelby Azure – tight end
Mason Ollman – running back
Valley City State (N.D.)
Kade Queen – offensive lineman
Taylor Jones – offensive lineman
Austin Young – wide receiver
Trent Finney – tight end
Waldorf (Iowa)
Kasen Handal – defensive back
Keegan Handal – linebacker
Taye Buchanan – running back
Jordan Cooper - quarterback
2023 North Star Athletic Association Football Champions of Character recipients
Dakota State (S.D.): Cole Sylliaasen
Dickinson State (N.D.): Alex Praus
Mayville State (N.D.): Gavin Bohlman
Valley City State (N.D.): Avery Thorsgard
Waldorf (Iowa): Kade Kloster-Hodak