By: Dickinson State (N.D.)
Sagan Osborne – Dickinson State Sports and Marketing Information Director
Dickinson, N.D. – It was a big day for Dickinson State athletics on Monday, as two former athletes were inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame and one current athlete received a national award.
Allan Ayala (Men’s Track and Field) and Justin Schlecht (Men’s Wrestling) were both named as members of the 2024 NAIA National Hall of Fame Class while Kaitlyn McColly received the A.O. Duer Scholarship Award.
Allan Ayala – Men’s Track & Field
Originally from Guatemala, Allan Ayala was a dominant force in NAIA track and field during his expansive career at Dickinson State.
Allan’s accolades include 12 All-American honors and seven NAIA national championship titles in the 400m hurdles and 4x400m relay. Allan was also named Dakota Athletic Conference’s “Outstanding Track Performer” four times and honored as the conference’s “Outstanding Senior” of 2010.
Remarkably, Allan only lost the 400m hurdles twice during his collegiate career, solidifying his status as one of the most dominant hurdlers in NAIA history. Today, Allan still holds school records in the 400m hurdles, 4x400m outdoor relay, and 4x400m indoor relay, in addition to a Guatemalan national record in the 400m hurdles.
Following his standout career at DSU, Allan spent four years representing Guatemala at international track and field competitions. Allan retired in 2014 and became a coach, advocate, and interpreter, helping advance track and field initiatives throughout Guatemala and across the globe.
"No words can express how I feel after receiving this news,” said Ayala. “I can only be thankful of being a part of a team that pushed me every single day of my college career. Me being coach Stanton's fifth athlete being included in the NAIA HOF is a testament of the quality of training I had. I am honored and humbled, I look forward to the induction (ceremony) and being able to share that moment with my family"
Stanton added: “Allan Ayala will go down as one of the all-time greats in NAIA track and field. His accomplishments of being a 3-time national champion in the 400 hurdles and a 5-time national champion in the 4x400 relay speak for themselves. Most importantly, Allan was successful because he was an outstanding worker, person, and teammate. He is certainly deserving of this incredible honor.”
Justin Schlecht – Men’s Wrestling
With a 140-22 overall record, including 69 pins, Justin Schlecht’s wrestling career at Dickinson State was defined by remarkable success and an unrelenting commitment to the sport.
After finishing third at his first NAIA national championship in 2005, Justin won three consecutive national championship titles from 2006 to 2008 in the 197-lb weight class. Justin’s 17-1 record at these championships helped propel his team to three top five finishes. In recognition of these achievements, Justin received the 2008 NAIA Outstanding Wrestler of the Year award and was named the National Wrestling Coaches Association’s NAIA Wrestler of the Year in both 2006 and 2007.
Today, Justin remains at the forefront of the sport as the head men’s wrestling coach at Dickinson State.
“This honor is really a tribute to Blue Hawk wrestling and a tradition of success started by Coach O’Donnell and my teammates,” said Schlecht. “I was blessed and will always be grateful for the support of individuals around me and being part of teams that had high standards. To be honored at this level is not what I would have ever put into thoughts when I started my career at Dickinson State University. Coach O’Donnell gave me a chance and supported as well as pushed my teammates and myself to improve every day. There are no words that I can come up with, to describe the debt owed to my family, teammates and coaches for supporting me. My wife, parents, brother and sister were instrumental in the success that I had while competing and they all continue to help me with my current pursuits. Dickinson State University was, is, and always will be a great place to be part of. Again, I am honored and very grateful to be the representative that receives this award that truly should be given to my entire support group. Sacrifices made by Coach O’Donnell, my family, my wife, and my teammates created the opportunity for me to be successful and grow every day.”
“We are very proud of Coach Schlecht on this well-deserved honor,” said Stanton. “Justin will go down as one of the top wrestlers in NAIA history. His story is incredible and the things he continues to do on campus and is life are a credit to the person he is. We are very proud of him.”
Thadd O’Donnell, Schlecht’s coach added: “"Justin’s induction into the NAIA Hall of Fame is a well-earned recognition of his incredible achievement—winning three national titles. This rare feat alone places him among the all-time greats. The entire Blue Hawk Wrestling family is proud, and this honor perfectly reflects his exceptional career."
Kaitlyn McColly – Women’s Track & Field
Kaitlyn McColly is a standout member of the Dickinson State track and field team. Specializing in the heptathlon and pentathlon, Kaitlyn’s tireless work ethic and dedication to excellence have made her a key contributor to the team’s success.
Kaitlyn captured two national championship titles in the outdoor heptathlon (2023) and indoor pentathlon (2024) while racking up an impressive array of accolades. Some of her achievements include being named a four-time NAIA All-American, earning the USTFCCA Regional Athlete of the Year honor for both indoor and outdoor track and field, and receiving the North Star Athletic Association’s Most Valuable Athlete and Field Athlete of the Year titles. Additionally, Kaitlyn has been recognized as an NSAA All-Conference Performer in more than ten events and was selected to represent Team USA in the heptathlon at the 2023 World University Games in Chengdu, China.
Beyond her athletic achievements, Kaitlyn excels academically as a nursing major, maintaining a 4.0 GPA and earning USTFCCA and Daktronics Scholar-Athlete awards. As an undergraduate, Kaitlyn is already utilizing her degree by working as a licensed practical nurse, where she is dedicated to making a difference in the lives of those in need.
“We are very proud of Kaitlyn for being selected for this very prestigious honor,” said athletic director Pete Stanton. “Kaitlyn exemplifies all we look for in a student athlete at Dickinson State. She achieves at all the highest levels athletically, academically, and as a teammate and person. We are thrilled for Kaitlyn.”
Her head coach Shayne Wittkopp added, “Kaitlyn is really the best of what it means to be Blue Hawk. She’s a unique student athlete that seems to excel at all her endeavors. Her efforts in and out of the classroom and on and off the track have made her a very deserving winning of this award. We are very proud of her.”