MENU

North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS) is pleased to announce the appointment of Bryant Friskop as the new Head Women’s Basketball Coach. Friskop, a Wahpeton native, brings a wealth of experience and success from his previous roles at the University of Minnesota Crookston (as Assistant Basketball Coach/Head Women’s Golf Coach) and the University of North Dakota (as a Student Manager). 

Friskop enters this position after an impressive tenure as the assistant women’s basketball coach at University of Minnesota Crookston, where he was instrumental in leading the Golden Eagles to three NSIC/Sanford Health Quarterfinal appearances and a school-record 18 wins during the 2015-16 season. Under his guidance, the team also saw eight players earn All-NSIC honors, including four First Team selections. 

In addition to his basketball coaching expertise, Friskop has a distinguished background in coaching women’s golf, having led the Golden Eagles to multiple low rounds and improving team averages consistently over his seven seasons as head coach. Friskop also coached the first-ever all-conference selection in Crookston’s history (Anaka Lysne from Wahpeton). 

Friskop’s appointment comes as the NDSCS Women’s Basketball program continues to build on the strong legacy left by former Head Coach Park Masterson. Masterson led the Wildcats to multiple championships and a national tournament appearance, setting a high standard for the program. The Wildcat community is excited to welcome Friskop as he aims to continue and expand upon this success. 

NDSCS President Rod Flanigan expressed his enthusiasm about the new appointment, saying, “We are so excited to have Coach Friskop on our team. His enthusiasm for student success both in the classroom and on the court is contagious. As a Wahpeton native, and having spent many, many days during his youth playing basketball at the BAC, he has fond memories of NDSCS. He is a great fit for NDSCS and for our athletics program. I have no doubt that Bryant will take our women’s basketball program to new heights.” 

Bryant Friskop shared his excitement about joining the Wildcats, stating, "It’s an honor to be named the next Women’s Head Basketball Coach here at NDSCS. I would like to thank Dr. Flanigan and the entire search committee for believing in me and offering this opportunity. To come home and have the chance to be a leader in my hometown has always been a goal of mine. I’m thrilled, and proud, to help lead NDSCS Athletics.” 

Friskop’s local high school career included being named 1st Team All-State and the 2009 EDC Senior Athlete of the Year. Friskop was part of the team that won the EDC Conference Tournament that same year. 

Friskop earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology from the University of North Dakota and later received his Master of Science degree in Kinesiology from the same institution. His deep roots in Wahpeton, combined with his extensive coaching experience, position him as an ideal leader for the NDSCS Women’s Basketball program. 

Gach Named Interim Men’s Basketball Coach for 2024-2025 Season 

Interim Coach Gach Gach will lead the men’s basketball team this season. Gach was named Interim Head Coach on June 24, 2024, following the departure of Stu Engen, who took a position joining the coaching staff at Idaho State University. As NDSCS continues its search to replace Engen as Athletic Director, Gach will remain a stable presence leading the Men’s Basketball Program. 

A 2017 graduate of NDSCS, Gach Gach (pronounced GOTCH GOTCH) brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success. During his time as a player for the Wildcats, Gach was instrumental in leading the team to a remarkable 59-9 overall record, securing two Mon-Dak Conference Championships, two Region XIII Championships, a District Championship, and a National Tournament appearance. Gach’s individual contributions were recognized with numerous Conference and Regional honors. 

Following his tenure at NDSCS, Gach transferred to West Texas A&M where he continued to excel, helping his team to a 66-8 record and leading them to back-to-back Elite Eight and Final Four appearances. His stellar performance earned him Lone Star Conference honors. Over his four-year college career, Gach amassed an outstanding overall record of 125-17. 

An Austin, Minnesota native, Gach earned his bachelor’s degree from West Texas A&M University and returned to NDSCS in 2022 as an Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach. 

For more information about NDSCS athletics, please visit NDSCSwildcats.com.

North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS) is announcing the launch of new guiding statements that will continue to steer the college toward a future filled with innovation, inclusivity, and unparalleled educational excellence. NDSCS embraces its pivotal role in shaping the next generation of skilled professionals, and these statements serve as a guide for the institution's ongoing commitment to providing a well-rounded educational experience. 

Mission: 
NDSCS: The Science of Learning by Doing

With a mission centered around hands-on learning, NDSCS is dedicated to providing students with practical experiences that prepare them for the demands of today's workforce. The College’s approach emphasizes "learning by doing," ensuring students graduate with the skills and confidence needed to excel in their chosen fields. 

Vision: 
NDSCS will be the leader in delivering comprehensive technical education in partnership with industry and community while fostering a dynamic learning environment to empower students' success in today's ever-changing world. 

This vision captures NDSCS's objective to lead in technical education, working closely with industry and community partners to create a vibrant learning environment. By nurturing strong collaborations, NDSCS aims to empower students to thrive in an ever-evolving world. 

Values: 
Belonging 
NDSCS believes in creating an inclusive and supportive college community where everyone feels safe, supported, and valued. The college recognizes that strong relationships form the foundation of a thriving community and is committed to fostering an environment of continuous learning, respect, and trust. 

Integrity 
Upholding ethical principles and moral values is at the heart of NDSCS’s operations. The College prides itself on honesty, accountability, transparency, and fairness, striving to create a culture where compassion and kindness are actively practiced. 

Grit 
NDSCS embodies resilience, passion, and positivity when facing challenges. The college is dedicated to pushing boundaries and achieving bold goals, driven by a spirit of innovation and resourcefulness to serve students better and adapt to the evolving needs of education. 

As NDSCS embarks on this new academic year, guided by its renewed mission, vision, and values, the college invites students, faculty, staff, industry partners, and the community to join in the collective endeavor of preparing students for the workforce.

For more information about NDSCS’s new guiding statements, and to learn how you can be part of this mission, visit NDSCS.edu/About-NDSCS/Guiding-Statements.

Welcome week events at North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton will kick off on Saturday, August 24 when residence halls open for student move-in at 10 a.m. NDSCS has some exciting updates and events to share with students and the community: 

Welcome Week, an annual series of events designed to help students connect to the College community and establish positive and healthy habits, will take place from August 24th–30th and will include outdoor activities for new and returning students. 

Some of these events will include:

Saturday, August 24

• 12 – 8 p.m. Move-in Music on the Oval 
• 9 - 11 p.m. Outdoor Movie on the Oval 

Sunday, August 25 

• 1 p.m. Wildcats Football game vs Jamestown JV (home opener) at Frank Vertin Field
  • Please join us to welcome these student athletes and kick off the 2024 football season.
• 4:30 – 7 p.m. Community Block Party
  • The Wahpeton-Breckenridge and surrounding community is invited! Register your business/organization to be involved and learn more at NDSCS.edu/Block-Party. 
  • Guests will be able to find parking for the Block Party in Lot 2, North of the Old Main building. All parking for the event will be free. 
• 9 p.m. – 12 a.m. Street Dance with a live band in Lot 2 north of Old Main

Monday, August 26 

• 7:30 - 10 p.m. Party on the Oval with music provided by a D.J.

Wednesday, August 28 

• 7 p.m. Wildcats Volleyball game vs Mayville State at the Blikre Activities Center 
  • Please join us to welcome these student athletes and cheer them on! 
• 8 – 10 p.m. Yoga Night on the Oval 

Thursday, August 29 

• 9 p.m. – 12 a.m. Street Dance in Lot 2 north of Old Main with music provided by a D.J. 

Friday, August 30 

• 7 – 9 p.m. Tie Dye event on the Oval 

Please forgive any loud noises that come from the NDSCS Wahpeton campus that week — we are welcoming students and helping them make memories! 

North Dakota State College of Science fall semester classes will begin Monday, August 26th at 4 p.m. for all students in Wahpeton, Fargo and Online. Students who are not yet enrolled for fall semester can still do so by contacting the Office of Admission at 701-671-2521 or online at NDSCS.edu/Apply.

North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS) is proud to announce that 30 of our student-athletes have been named to the NJCAA All-Academic teams. Additionally, four NDSCS athletic teams have received the prestigious "Academic Team of the Year" awards. 

This remarkable achievement highlights the dedication and hard work of our student-athletes, both on and off the field. Their commitment to academic excellence is truly commendable and exemplifies the values of NDSCS. 

Student-athletes are eligible to earn academic honors by achieving an overall GPA of 3.60 or higher for the 2023-24 academic year. The criteria for the three All-Academic teams are:

• NJCAA All-Academic First Team: 4.00 GPA
• NJCAA All-Academic Second Team: 3.80-3.99 GPA
• NJCAA All-Academic Third Team: 3.60-3.79 GPA 

NJCAA All-Academic Individual Honors 
The following NDSCS student-athletes have earned NJCAA All-Academic honors (listed by their team’s sport): 

Baseball

• Zachery Taft (1st team)
• Masen Allmaras (2nd team)
• Roy Gilles (2nd team)
• Brendan Maasjo (2nd team)
• Colter Oie (2nd team)
• Jacob Topp (2nd team)
• Wrigley Gunderson (3rd team)
• Braden Herr (3rd team) 

Football

• Alex Henry (1st team)
• Lane Kautzman (1st team)
• Clark Nelson (1st team)
• Mason Pagel (1st team)
• Dylan Mandt (2nd team)
• Keegan Bishop (3rd team) 

Softball

• Lily Hamilton (1st team)
• Avery Martin (1st team)
• Grace Folkema (2nd team)
• Lily Reed (2nd team)
• Meridith Frey (3rd team)
• Takiah Landes (3rd team) 

Volleyball

• Mya Boomsma (1st team)
• Sam Kohl (1st team)
• Lily Mathern (1st team)
• Riane Mohagen (1st team)
• Kaylee Stegora (1st team)
• Riley Hauff (2nd team)
• Rose Wendel (2nd team) 

Women's Basketball

• Savannah Jones (3rd team)
• Quinn Neppl (3rd team)
• Keira Williams (3rd team) 

NJCAA Academic Team of the Year Awards 
The following NDSCS teams have been recognized as NJCAA Academic Teams of the Year:

• Baseball - 3.45 team GPA 
• Volleyball - 3.39 team GPA
• Softball - 3.09 team GPA
• Women's Basketball - 3.02 team GPA 

Congratulations to all NDSCS student-athletes and teams for their outstanding academic achievements! 

Join us in cheering on the Wildcat athletic teams starting again in August! Watch our team schedules at NDSCSwildcats.com.

North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS) students recently earned top awards at the National SkillsUSA Championships held during the National Leadership and Skills Conference (NLSC) in Atlanta, Georgia. Three NDSCS students earned the national spotlight for their achievements. 

Jacob Bredeson of Oakes, N.D. earned a gold medal in the CNC 2-Axis Turning category. Bredeson’s skills were evaluated on his ability to plan and program jobs for CNC turning centers and provide instructions for operators to execute. He had to program and generate code, troubleshoot errors, interpret prints, measure parts, and more. 

Jacob Roberts of Jamestown, N.D. earned a silver medal in the CNC Programmer category. Roberts was evaluated on his skills in planning and programming jobs for 2-Axis CNC and 3-Axis CNC machines, including programming and generating code, troubleshooting programming errors, interpret prints, measure parts, and demonstrate his knowledge of CNC machine configuration, setup, and operation. 

Gavin Stanislaw of Bayport, Minn. earned a silver medal in the Motorcycle Service Tech category. During his competition, Stanislaw performed tasks similar to those encountered in a dealership’s service department, including scheduled maintenance tasks, electrical diagnostics, precision measurement, powertrain systems, and more. 

Additional NDSCS students earned placement within the top 10 in the nation, including:

• Emily Schmidt of Gladstone, N.D. earned 5th place in Architectural Drafting.
• Dylan Hanstad of Fergus Falls, Minn. earned 6th place in the Automotive Services Tech category.
• Tori Hanson of Underwood, Minn. earned 7th place in Welding Sculpture.
• Dylan Johnson of Sibley, N.D. earned 10th place in Carpentry.
• Benjamin Klemen of Argusville, N.D. earned 10th place in Welding. 

The SkillsUSA Championship is one of the largest hands-on workforce events in the world and is known for competitions showcasing the best career and technical education students in the nation. More than 6,000 state champions compete in over 100 skilled and leadership events during the SkillsUSA Championships.

See ND state SkillsUSA winners at NDSCS.edu/SkillsUSA