Wildcats Compete in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games
Payton Jacobson (Greco-Roman Wrestling) and Leo Nolles (Swim & Dive) represented Northern Michigan at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Jacobson earned his spot on the Team USA Olympic roster by securing a thrilling best-of-three victory as the No. 7 seed at the U.S. Olympic Trials. The Elkhorn, Wisconsin, native competed in the 87 kg weight class again in Paris, falling in the Round of 16.
Nolles was the third NMU swimmer to compete at the Olympics, joining Arnoldo Herrera (Costa Rica, 2021) and Xia Fujie (China, 1988). Representing his home country of Uruguay, he swam in the 100m Freestyle in Paris, completing his race with a time of 50.58, placing him 47th of 79 swimmers.
Men's Basketball Wins A Title for the Third Consecutive Season
After a GLIAC Tournament Championship in 2022-23 and a Regular Season Championship in 2023-24, the Men’s Basketball team continued to add to its trophy case this past season under head coach Matt Majkrzak by winning the GLIAC Tournament Championship.
“Starting with the Superior Showdown and ending with winning the GLIAC Tournament Championship, this season was the most special one I’ve been a part of at NMU.” Coach Matt Majkrzak
The team defeated Grand Valley State at home in the Quarterfinals and followed it up with a victory over top-seeded Michigan Tech in the Semifinals in Houghton. In the Championship against Lake Superior State, the Wildcats never trailed en route to their third GLIAC Tournament title in program history. Jackson Dudek was named the GLIAC Tournament MVP after averaging 15.7 points over the three games, including a season-high 19 points against Lake Superior State in the title game. Brian Parzych was also named to the All-Tournament Team.
Women's Basketball Advances in the NCAA Championship for the Second Straight Season
The Wildcats made the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season and advanced to the Round of 32 by defeating Hillsdale. The Wildcats are one of only 11 Division II schools to advance in each of the last two tournaments.
The team finished the season with a 23-9 overall record and earned the No. 2 seed in the GLIAC Tournament, only behind eventual national champion Grand Valley State. The team’s 23 wins tied for the most since 2000. NMU also started the season 8-0, their best start since that 2000 campaign. In just three seasons, head coach Casey Thousand has accumulated 60 wins, the second most in program history in a coach's first three seasons (Mike Geary, 63 wins from 1988-91).
Women’s Soccer Stands Atop the GLIAC in Back-to-Back Seasons
The NMU Women's Soccer team completed a feat never done before in program history, making the NCAA Tournament for the third The NMU Women's Soccer team completed a feat never done before in program history, making the NCAA Tournament for the third straight season while becoming back-to-back GLIAC regular season and postseason champions in 2024.
Hosting the GLIAC Tournament, Northern dismantled Michigan Tech 5-0 in the Quarterfinals, thanks to an early offensive eruption that saw four goals in the first 15 minutes of play. NMU then handled Davenport 4-1 in the Semifinals to punch their ticket to the Championship. The ‘Cats didn’t concede a goal in the final, claiming their second consecutive postseason title in a 3-0 win over Saginaw Valley State.
With the win, NMU punched its ticket to the NCAA Tournament, making the big dance for the third consecutive season and fourth time in program history. NMU ended the season with a 14-4-4 overall record, With the win, NMU punched its ticket to the NCAA Tournament, making the big dance for the third consecutive season and fourth time in program history. NMU ended the season with a 14-4-4 overall record, and set records for most goals (60), assists (57), and points (177) in a season to highlight a season in which 13 different team and individual records were broken.
Brooke Pietila earned GLIAC Offensive Player of the Year, Hannah Kastamo was named GLIAC Defensive Player of the Year, Sally Patton Brooke Pietila earned GLIAC Offensive Player of the Year, Hannah Kastamo was named GLIAC Defensive Player of the Year, Sally Patton was crowned GLIAC Freshman of the Year, and Jon Sandoval was named the GLIAC Coach of the Year for the second straight season. was crowned GLIAC Freshman of the Year, and Jon Sandoval was named the GLIAC Coach of the Year for the second straight season.
Track & Field has Historic Season
For the first time since the program’s reinstatement in 2003, the Wildcats finished in second place at the Outdoor GLIAC Championships for their best-ever finish. At the meet, the team crowned two GLIAC champions, had nine podium finishes, and set four new school records from seniors in their final team meet. In addition, the coaching staff, led by head coach Jenny Ryan, was named the GLIAC Coaching Staff of the Year.
Teiolla Harvey earned a GLIAC title in the javelin and set a school record with a throw of 40.86m. Ellyse Wolfrath finished as a GLIAC 100m hurdles champion with a time of 13.76 and Crystal Walker set the school record in the preliminary round with a time of 13.68. Wolfrath claimed a GLIAC title in the 60m hurdles, where she also qualified for the Indoor NCAA Championships. She also set a school record with a time of 8.46. Walker also set a school record in the long jump with a mark of 5.93m. Ahna Larson set a new program benchmark in the 400m hurdles with a time of 1:01.04.
Swim & Dive Reaps in the Rewards
The Wildcat Swim and Dive teams had a memorable season in the pool, highlighted by numerous awards and recognitions.
At this year’s NCAA Championships, the men finished 13th and the women finished 16th. The teams combined to win three medals, one silver and two bronze, and produced a remarkable 39 All-America honors. At the GLIAC Championships, the men and women finished second and combined for 30 podium finishes, including six GLIAC champions. Three swimmers were recipients of the GLIAC Commissioner’s Award, becoming the third, fourth, and fifth student-athletes to earn that honor in program history.
Junior Leo Nolles had a season to remember. At the NCAA Championships, he produced two individual bronze medals and anchored the 200m Freestyle relay team that finished in second place by just 0.03 seconds. Overall, he received six All-America honors. Nolles was named the GLIAC Male Swimmer of the Year after collecting seven medals and recording the fastest time in the country en route to gold in the 100m Freestyle. The 2024 Olympian for Uruguay became just the second male swimmer to earn a GLIAC Commissioner’s Award.
Jacobson & Bisek Earn Prestigious Honors from USA Wrestling
Northern Michigan’s Payton Jacobson and Andy Bisek were recognized with USA Wrestling’s most prestigious honors, being Northern Michigan’s Payton Jacobson and Andy Bisek were recognized with USA Wrestling’s most prestigious honors, being named the 2024 Athlete and Coach of the Year in Greco-Roman Wrestling. named the 2024 Athlete and Coach of the Year in Greco-Roman Wrestling.
For the first time in his career, Jacobson was named the 2024 USA Wrestling GrecoFor the first time in his career, Jacobson was named the 2024 USA Wrestling Greco Roman Wrestler of the Year after exploding onto the scene this past season. Roman Wrestler of the Year after exploding onto the scene this past season.
His historic season started with an inspiring performance as the No. 7 seed at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials last April. His path to the championship bout included victories over the No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4 seeds. In a battle for the ages with an Olympic berth on the line, Jacobson won the best-of-three final to claim his spot on the U.S. Olympic Team. The native of Elkhorn, Wisconsin then represented Team USA in the Paris Olympics at 87 kg, His historic season started with an inspiring performance as the No. 7 seed at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials last April. His path to the championship bout included victories over the No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4 seeds. In a battle for the ages with an Olympic berth on the line, Jacobson won the best-of-three final to claim his spot on the U.S. Olympic Team. The native of Elkhorn, Wisconsin then represented Team USA in the Paris Olympics at 87 kg, where he was defeated in the Round of 16. He followed that up with a 5th-place finish at the 2024 U23 World Championships in Tirana, Albania, a bronze medal at the Valmaar Cup in Croatia, and 2025 CLAW U.S. Open champion.
He is the first Northern Michigan athlete to earn the award since, coincidentally enough, Andy Bisek in 2016. Just eight years later, Bisek is now being recognized as the 2024 USA Wrestling Greco-Roman Coach of the Year. where he was defeated in the Round of 16. He followed that up with a 5th-place finish at the 2024 U23 World Championships in Tirana, Albania, a bronze medal at the Valmaar Cup in Croatia, and 2025 CLAW U.S. Open champion.
He is the first Northern Michigan athlete to earn the award since, coincidentally enough, Andy Bisek in 2016. Just eight years later, Bisek is now being recognized as the 2024 USA Wrestling Greco-Roman Coach of the Year.
The head of the nation’s premier college program in Greco-Roman Wrestling since 2019, Bisek was the personal coach for Jacobson.
He has achieved great success while at Northern. In 2024, six Northern Michigan athletes have qualified for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, where Jacobson and Max Black (60 kg) qualified for the Senior National Team. Jonathan Gurule won a 2024 He has achieved great success while at Northern. In 2024, six Northern Michigan athletes have qualified for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, where Jacobson and Max Black (60 kg) qualified for the Senior National Team. Jonathan Gurule won a 2024 U23 Nationals title at 63 kg, and Kaden Ercanbrack was third at the U20 World Team Trials to also qualify for the National Team and U23 World Team. U23 Nationals title at 63 kg, and Kaden Ercanbrack was third at the U20 World Team Trials to also qualify for the National Team and U23 World Team.
A 2016 graduate of NMU, Bisek has won two Senior World bronze medals for the United States in 2014 and 2015, and competed at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He also won gold at the 2015 Pan American Games and the 2012 A 2016 graduate of NMU, Bisek has won two Senior World bronze medals for the United States in 2014 and 2015, and competed at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He also won gold at the 2015 Pan American Games and the 2012 and 2014 Pan American Championships. Bisek was a four-time World Team member and two-time U.S. Open champion. Bisek was named USA Wrestling Greco-Roman Wrestler of the Year three times (2014, 2015, 2016). and 2014 Pan American Championships. Bisek was a four-time World Team member and two-time U.S. Open champion. Bisek was named USA Wrestling Greco-Roman Wrestler of the Year three times (2014, 2015, 2016).
Bisek is the first Northern Michigan - National Training Site head coach to be recognized with Coach of the Year honors Bisek is the first Northern Michigan - National Training Site head coach to be recognized with Coach of the Year honors and just the second to win both player of coach honors in his career (Spenser Mango).
Success on Skis (Alpine & Nordic)
Both the Northern Michigan Alpine and Nordic Ski teams had terrific outings this season.
At the Alpine Skiing National Championship, the men finished third in both the Giant Slalom and Slalom to finish third overall, and the women finished 22nd in the Giant Slalom and second in the Slalom to finish 11th overall. Reagan Olli and Aaron Grzelak both earned bronze medals in the Slalom. At this year’s Regional Championships, the men and women claimed a combined 16 of the top 20 finishes en route to both teams emphatically winning the regional title.
The Nordic Ski team swept the conference awards, laying claim to both the female and male skiers of the year in Victoria Dybwad and Adrik Kraftson. At this year’s NCAA Regional Championships, Dybwad claimed gold in the 20k Freestyle and 7.5k Classic, Merle Richter earned gold in the 7.5k, and Fricker claimed a pair of gold medals in the 7.5k and 20k.
Yu Sakamoto Wins Gold at U23 World Championships
Representing her home country of Japan, Women's Wrestling sophomore Yu Sakamoto won the gold medal and became a world champion in the 53kg Representing her home country of Japan, Women's Wrestling sophomore Yu Sakamoto won the gold medal and became a world champion in the 53kg weight class at the 2024 U23 World Championship in Albania.
In the gold medal final, Sakamoto came out with an aggressive approach from the start. Using her speed and a lot of motion to fake in and out of attacks, she picked up her first four points just 23 seconds in on a hip-toss to gain the early edge. Sakamoto collected two more points by stepping over a takedown attempt to lead 6-0 after the first round. She came out with the same intensity in the second round. Sakamoto quickly collected two points on a takedown and then wrapped up the match moments later with the final points on a back exposure to take the win at technical fall, 11-0, and claim the title of world champion. same intensity in the second round. Sakamoto quickly collected two points on a takedown and then wrapped up the match moments later with the final title of world champion.
Sakamoto also became just the second wrestler in program history to earn a regional title (Diana Dzasezeva, 2023).
More From Athletics
- Volleyball’s Jacqueline Smith became the program’s all-time leader in kills with 1,927.
- One of the most thrilling feats in the game of golf, Maggie Pietila hit a hole-in-one at the ODU Champions of Women's Golf Tournament in September, her first career hole-in-one, and just the second in program history (Haley Hewer, 2018).
- 2024 Lacrosse GLIAC Freshman of the Year Josie Lakosky was named the 2025 GLIAC Attacker of the Year, a first in program history. The sophomore had a record-breaking season for the Wildcats, setting career-highs in almost every statistical category and breaking the NMU single-game point record twice in a three-game stretch.