MINOT, N.D. – With senior
Holter Bridwell leading the way as the Beavers' Athlete to Watch this fall, the Minot State men's cross-country team was picked to finish 12
th in the conference as the NSIC announced the 2026 NSIC Men's Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll and Preseason Athlete of the Year on Wednesday.
Minot State received 53 points in the preseason poll.
"For me personally, I am excited to see the kind of growth and maturity that we have as a group," coach
Erik Stevens said as he begins his first season as head coach for Minot State's cross-country program. "I believe that we have two solid leaders upfront who will be great examples for our young guys. I have only been here a very short time, and this is my first full season running the cross-country program, so I am excited to get to work and see what we can accomplish."
Six-time defending NSIC champion Augustana was a heavy favorite to win the NSIC title once again with 14 first-place votes and 196 points, while Minnesota State Moorhead was picked 2nd with 182 points and the other first-place vote.
Minnesota State was picked 3rd with 164 points, Mary was picked 4
th with 161 points, Sioux Falls was picked 5
th with 121 points, Winona State was picked 6
th with 119 points, Minnesota Crookston was picked 7
th with 118 points, Minnesota Duluth was picked 8
th with 108 points, Concordia-St. Paul was picked 9
th with 101 points, Jamestown was picked 10
th with 88 points, Wayne State was picked 11
th with 70 points, Minot State was picked 12
th with 53 points, Northern State was picked 13
th with 41 points, Southwest Minnesota State was picked 14
th with 36 points, and St. Cloud State was picked 15
th with 17 points.
Individually, Augustana's redshirt-sophomore Bryant Keller, who finished 3
rd at last fall's NSIC Championship meet, was named the NSIC Preseason Athlete of the Year.
Bridwell, a senior from Bismarck, North Dakota, was named Minot State's Athlete to Watch for the 2026 season after finishing 59
th at last year's NSIC Championship in 27 minutes, 20.9 seconds on the 8-kilometer championship course. Bridwell was the Beavers' No. 2 finisher at the meet.
"Holter had a strong 2026 outdoor season, and we are looking to build off of that," Coach Stevens said. "Holter is someone who is always excited to get to work and do whatever it takes in order to see that work pay off. He is a great young man and takes care of the things that he needs to take care of on the track and in the classroom. He is someone who you look forward to coaching every day because you know the type of drive that he has."
The Minot State men's cross-country team opens the 2026 season on Friday, September 4, competing at the Dragon Twilight hosted by Minnesota State Moorhead.
2026 NSIC Men's Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll
| Rank |
Team (1st Place Votes) |
Points |
| 1 |
Augustana (14) |
196 |
| 2 |
Minnesota State Moorhead (1) |
182 |
| 3 |
Minnesota State |
164 |
| 4 |
Mary |
161 |
| 5 |
Sioux Falls |
121 |
| 6 |
Winona State |
119 |
| 7 |
Minnesota Crookston |
118 |
| 8 |
Minnesota Duluth |
108 |
| 9 |
Concordia-St. Paul |
101 |
| 10 |
Jamestown |
88 |
| 11 |
Wayne State |
70 |
| 12 |
Minot State |
53 |
| 13 |
Northern State |
41 |
| 14 |
Southwest Minnesota State |
36 |
| 15 |
St. Cloud State |
17 |
