North Star Athletic Association
Association | NAIA |
---|---|
Founded | 2013 |
Commissioner | Roger Ternes |
Sports fielded |
|
No. of teams | 6 |
Headquarters | Jamestown, North Dakota |
Region | |
Official website | www.playnorthstar.com |
Locations | |
The North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) that began play in the 2013–14 school year.[1] The conference currently has six full member institutions in Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. On December 28, 2023, the conference announced it will disband following the 2024–25 school year.[2]
History
Chronological timeline
- 2013 – The North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) was founded. Charter members included Dakota State University, the University of Jamestown, Mayville State University, Presentation College and Valley City State University, beginning the 2013–14 academic year.
- 2014 – Dickinson State University joined the NSAA in the 2014–15 academic year.
- 2014 – Waldorf University joined the NSAA as an affiliate member for football in the 2014 fall season (2014–15 academic year).
- 2015 – Bellevue University and Viterbo University joined the NSAA (along with Waldorf upgrading to join for all sports) in the 2015–16 academic year.
- 2015 – The University of Winnipeg joined the NSAA as an affiliate member for baseball in the 2016 spring season (2015–16 academic year).
- 2017 – Winnipeg left the NSAA as an affiliate member for baseball as the school dropped the sport after the 2017 spring season (2016–17 academic year).
- 2018 – Jamestown left the NSAA to join the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) after the 2017–18 academic year.
- 2021 – Iowa Wesleyan University joined the NSAA as an affiliate member for football, men's track and field, and women's track and field in the 2021–22 academic year.
- 2023 – Presentation (S.D.) left the NSAA as the school closed after the 2022–23 academic year.[3]
- 2023 – Iowa Wesleyan left the NSAA as an affiliate member as the school closed after the 2022–23 academic year.[4]
- 2024 – Waldorf left the NSAA to join the GPAC after the 2023–24 academic year.[5]
- 2024 – Viterbo left the NSAA to join the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) after the 2023–24 academic year.[6]
- 2024 – Jamestown rejoined the NSAA for the 2024–25 academic year.[7]
- 2025 – The NSAA will cease operations as an athletic conference after the 2024–25 academic year; as many schools left to join their respective new home primary conferences beginning the 2025–26 academic year:[2] Jamestown will transition to the NCAA Division II ranks and join the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC), while the remaining five schools (Bellevue, Dakota State, Mayville State and Valley City State; with Dickinson State rejoining) will join the Frontier Conference.[8][9][10]
Member schools
Current members
The NSAA currently has six full members, two of which are private schools:
Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined[a] | Colors |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bellevue University[b] | Bellevue, Nebraska | 1966 | Nonsectarian | 8,300 | Bruins | 2015 | |
Dakota State University[b] | Madison, South Dakota | 1881 | Public | 3,307 | Trojans | 2013 | |
Dickinson State University[b] | Dickinson, North Dakota | 1918 | Public | 1,800 | Blue Hawks | 2014 | |
University of Jamestown[c] | Jamestown, North Dakota | 1883 | Presbyterian (PCUSA) |
1,500 | Jimmies | 2013;[d] 2024 |
|
Mayville State University[b] | Mayville, North Dakota | 1889 | Public | 1,130 | Comets | 2013 | |
Valley City State University[b] | Valley City, North Dakota | 1890 | Public | 1,623 | Vikings | 2013 |
- Notes
- ^ Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
- ^ a b c d e Bellevue, Dakota State, Dickinson State, Mayville State, and Valley City State will join the Frontier Conference upon dissolution of the NSAA after the 2024–25 academic year.[9][10]
- ^ Jamestown will transition to the NCAA Division II ranks and join the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) upon the dissolution of the NSAA after the 2024-25 academic year.[8]
- ^ Jamestown competed as a full member of the NSAA from 2013–14 to 2017–18.
Former members
The NSAA had three former full members, all of which were private schools:
Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Nickname | Joined[a] | Left[b] | Subsequent conference |
Current conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Presentation College | Aberdeen, South Dakota | 1922 | Catholic (P.B.V.M.) |
Saints | 2013 | 2023 | Closed in 2023 | |
Viterbo University | La Crosse, Wisconsin | 1923 | Catholic (Franciscan) |
V-Hawks | 2015 | 2024 | Chicagoland (CCAC) (2024–present) | |
Waldorf University | Forest City, Iowa | 1903 | For-profit[c] | Warriors | 2015[d] | 2024 | Great Plains (GPAC) (2024–present) |
- Notes
- ^ Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
- ^ Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition end.
- ^ Formerly affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) until 2010.
- ^ Waldorf competed in the NSAA as an affiliate member for football only during the 2014 fall season (2014–15 school year); before becoming a full member, effective the 2015–16 school year.
Former affiliate members
The NSAA had three former affiliate members, one was a public school and the other two were private:
Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Nickname | Joined[a] | Left[b] | NSAA sport |
Current primary conference |
Conference in former NSAA sport |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Iowa Wesleyan University[4] | Mount Pleasant, Iowa | 1842 | United Methodist | Tigers | 2021 | 2023 | football, men's track & field, women's track & field |
Closed in 2023 | |
University of Winnipeg[11] | Winnipeg, Manitoba | 1871 | Public | Wesmen | 2015 | 2017 | baseball | Canada West (CWUAA)[c] | dropped program |
Waldorf University | Forest City, Iowa | 1903 | For-profit | Warriors | 2014 | 2015[d] | football | Great Plains (GPAC) |
- Notes
Membership timeline
Full member (all sports) Full member (non-football) Associate member (football-only) Associate member (other)
Conference sports
The North Star Athletic Association currently fields 18 sports (9 men's and 9 women's):
Sport | Men's | Women's |
---|---|---|
Baseball | ||
Basketball | ||
Cross Country | ||
Football | ||
Golf | ||
Softball | ||
Track & Field - Indoor | ||
Track & Field - Outdoor | ||
Volleyball |
Men's sports
School | Baseball | Basketball | Cross country |
Football | Golf | Track & field (indoor) |
Track & field (outdoor) |
Total NSAA Sports |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bellevue | 6 | |||||||
Dakota State | 7 | |||||||
Dickinson State | 7 | |||||||
Jamestown | 7 | |||||||
Mayville State | 4 | |||||||
Valley City State | 7 | |||||||
Totals | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 38 |
Men's varsity sports not sponsored by the North Star Athletic Association which are played by NSAA schools
School | Hockey | Soccer | Volleyball | Wrestling |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bellevue | — | CAC | — | — |
Dickinson State | — | — | — | Heart of America |
Jamestown | ACHA | TBD | TBD | TBD |
Women's sports
School | Basketball | Cross country |
Golf | Softball | Track & field (indoor) |
Track & field (outdoor) |
Volleyball | Total NSAA Sports |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bellevue | 7 | |||||||
Dakota State | 7 | |||||||
Dickinson State | 7 | |||||||
Jamestown | 7 | |||||||
Mayville State | 4 | |||||||
Valley City State | 7 | |||||||
Totals | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 46 |
Women's varsity sports not sponsored by the North Star Athletic Association which are played by NSAA schools
School | Hockey | Soccer | Swimming | Wrestling |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bellevue | — | CAC | — | — |
Dickinson State | — | — | — | Heart of America |
Jamestown | ACHA | TBD | KCAC |
Conference Championships
Football
|
|
- NSAA champions by year
Year | School | Record |
---|---|---|
2013 | Valley City State Jamestown |
3–1 |
2014 | Valley City State | 6–0 |
2015 | Dickinson State | 5–1 |
2016 | Dickinson State | 6–0 |
2017 | Dickinson State | 8–0 |
2018 | Dickinson State | 6–1 |
2019 | Dickinson State | 6–1 |
2020 | Dickinson State | 9–0 |
2021 | Dickinson State | 8–0 |
2022 | Dickinson State | 6–0 |
2023 | Dickinson State | 8–0 |
2024 | Dickinson State | 8–0 |
Volleyball
|
|
- NSAA regular season and tournament champions by year
Year | Regular Season | Tournament |
---|---|---|
2013 | Jamestown | |
2014 | Jamestown | |
2015 | Viterbo | |
2016 | Viterbo | |
2017 | Viterbo | |
2018 | vacated[a] | |
2019 | Viterbo | |
2020 | Bellevue | Viterbo |
2021 | Viterbo | |
2022 | Bellevue Viterbo |
Viterbo |
Men's basketball
|
|
- NSAA regular season and tournament champions by year
Year | Regular Season | Tournament |
---|---|---|
2013–14 | Jamestown | |
2014–15 | Dakota State Jamestown |
Dakota State |
2015–16 | Dakota State | |
2016–17 | Bellevue Dickinson State Jamestown |
Bellevue |
2017–18 | Bellevue | Mayville State |
2018–19 | Bellevue Presentation |
Mayville State |
2019–20 | Bellevue | Mayville State |
2020–21 | Mayville State | Bellevue |
2021–22 | Bellevue Viterbo |
Bellevue |
2022–23 | Mayville State |
Women's basketball
|
|
- NSAA regular season and tournament champions by year
Year | Regular Season | Tournament |
---|---|---|
2013–14 | Jamestown Mayville State |
Mayville State |
2014–15 | Jamestown | |
2015–16 | Jamestown | |
2016–17 | Jamestown | |
2017–18 | Jamestown | Valley City State |
2018–19 | Bellevue Mayville State |
Bellevue |
2019–20 | Bellevue Mayville State |
Mayville State |
2020–21 | Dakota State | |
2021–22 | Dakota State | |
2022–23 | Dakota State | Mayville State |
Baseball
|
|
- NSAA regular season and tournament champions by year
Year | Regular Season | Tournament |
---|---|---|
2014 | Jamestown | |
2015 | Jamestown Mayville State |
Mayville State |
2016 | Bellevue | |
2017 | Bellevue | Mayville State |
2018 | Mayville State | Bellevue |
2019 | Bellevue | |
2020 | none[c] | |
2021 | Bellevue | Mayville State |
2022 | Bellevue | |
2023 | Bellevue |
- ^ Dickinson State was a member of the Frontier Conference, which does not sponsor baseball, in 2014. The 2014 NSAA tournament, known that year as the NSAA/Frontier Tournament, included Dickinson State. Regular-season games against Dickinson State in 2014, are not counted as conference games and are excluded from the teams' regular-season records, since Dickinson State was not an NSAA member. However, 2014 conference tournament games involving Dickinson State are counted as tournament wins and losses, since Dickinson State was a tournament participant that year.
- ^ Dickinson State dropped their baseball program after the 2017-18 season, and then reinstated it for the 2020-21 season.
- ^ The 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Softball
|
|
- NSAA regular season and tournament champions by year
Year | Regular Season | Tournament |
---|---|---|
2014 | Valley City State | Dickinson State[e] |
2015 | Jamestown | Dickinson State |
2016 | Dickinson State | |
2017 | Bellevue | Jamestown |
2018 | Jamestown | Dickinson State |
2019 | Valley City State | |
2020 | none[f] | |
2021 | Valley City State | Dickinson State |
2022 | Bellevue | Valley City State |
2023 | Bellevue | Valley City State |
- ^ Total does not include 2014 NSAA/Frontier Tournament Championship when they were a member of the Frontier Conference.
- ^ Dickinson State and Great Falls were members of the Frontier Conference, which does not sponsor softball, in 2014. The NSAA tournament, known that year as the NSAA/Frontier Tournament, included Dickinson State and Great Falls. Regular-season games against those two clubs in 2014, are not counted as conference games and are excluded from the teams' regular-season records, since they were not NSAA members. However, 2014 conference tournament games involving either Dickinson State or Great Falls are included as tournament wins and losses, since both teams were tournament participants that year.
- ^ Great Falls was never a member of the NSAA, but played in the 2014 NSAA/Frontier Tournament, since the Frontier does not sponsor softball. Their record in that tournament is included here.
- ^ University of Great Falls was renamed University of Providence in 2017-18.
- ^ Dickinson State won the 2014 NSAA/Frontier Tournament as a member of the Frontier Conference. Dakota State finished the best out of all NSAA teams in the 2014 tournament as they finished third.
- ^ The 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
References
- ^ "North Star Athletic Association Announces Formation". Valley City State University. April 22, 2013. Retrieved April 27, 2013.
- ^ a b "NSAA, which held post season tournaments in Watertown, announces it will be disbanding". KWAT. December 28, 2023. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
- ^ Sand, Elisa (January 17, 2023). "Presentation College closing Aberdeen campus". Aberdeen News. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
- ^ a b "Iowa Wesleyan University Announces Closure". Iowa Wesleyan University. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
- ^ "Waldorf University to join Great Plains Athletic Conference". Great Plains Athletic Conference. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
- ^ "Viterbo University To Become Full CCAC Member Beginning In 2024-25". Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
- ^ "University of Jamestown (N.D.) returns to North Star Athletic Association". North Star Athletic Association. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
- ^ a b "NSIC Extends Invitation to the University of Jamestown". Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (Press release). November 21, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
- ^ a b "Frontier Adding Dickinson State as Newest Conference Member". Frontier Conference (Press release). December 12, 2023. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
- ^ a b "Frontier Conference Expands to 11 Full-time Members". Frontier Conference (Press release). May 21, 2024. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
- ^ "University of Winnipeg announces cuts, eliminates wrestling and men's baseball". MetroNews. The Canadian Press. May 3, 2017. Archived from the original on May 4, 2017. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
- ^ Sommerfeldt, Tod (September 12, 2019). "College volleyball: Viterbo forced to forfeit games from 2018". Retrieved October 19, 2020.