National Champion Denisha Cartwright Sets NCAA D2 Record in 60-Meter Hurdles

National Champion Denisha Cartwright Sets NCAA D2 Record in 60-Meter Hurdles

Denisha Cartwright, the Mavericks national record holder in the women’s 60-meter hurdles, was named NCAA Division II Central Region Women’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Year on Friday, March 15. The recognition by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross-Country Coaches Association follows Cartwright’s National NCAA D2 Title in the indoor women’s 60-meter hurdles. Cartwright’s record-setting time of 7.93 is the third highest in all levels of NCAA competition.

Malik Willingham Named D2CCA All-Central Region Player of the Year

Malik Willingham Named D2CCA All-Central Region Player of the Year

Minnesota State senior Malik Willingham has earned D2CCA All-Central Region Player of the Year honors for his efforts this season with the Maverick men’s basketball team. A guard from Waseca, Minn., Willingham averaged 19.1 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game this season. He has scored 20 points or more in 14 games this season, including a season-high 33 points vs. Sioux Falls in the second round of the NSIC Tournament.

Mavericks’ Joey Batt Named To Women’s Basketball All-Central Region First Team

Mavericks’ Joey Batt Named To Women’s Basketball All-Central Region First Team

Mavericks’ star guard Joey Batt was named to the D2CCA Women’s Basketball All-Central Region First Team for her performance in 2023-24. The New Ulm, Minn., native was named both the NSIC Outstanding Senior of the Year as well as the NSIC Defensive Player of the Year for the third time in her career. She was also named to the NSIC All-Conference First Team.

BEST Board S’24: Don’t Let Expectations Become Your Limits Says Student Gov’t President

BEST Board S’24: Don’t Let Expectations Become Your Limits Says Student Gov’t President

Recognized for her commitment to bettering the lives of Minnesota State Mankato students and the campus community, Sierra Roigers, the 2023-24 Student Government President, has taken the necessary steps to grow as a leader. “I have been impressed by her ability to make connections with others – especially individuals in higher levels of leadership,” her BEST Board nominator said. “She has elevated student voices with care while taking the time to understand the nuances of how many of our processes work.”

Author JP Mackey Blends Artistic Passions to Create Illustrated Books for All Ages

Author JP Mackey Blends Artistic Passions to Create Illustrated Books for All Ages

During his workday, James Mackey is often working behind the scenes as a graphic designer with Creative Productions, Minnesota State Mankato’s in-house print shop. His true passion since his childhood is sharing illustrated stories. As illustrated author JP Mackey, he has published seven such stories to date. Find out what drives JP the author in a short Q&A feature.

Shari Dickerman Named Minnesota State Women’s Hockey Head Coach

Shari Dickerman Named Minnesota State Women’s Hockey Head Coach

MARCH 11 – Shari Dickerman has been named the fifth Head Coach in Minnesota State women’s hockey history. Dickerman has been a member of the coaching staff since 2009 and served as Acting Head Coach earlier this season during Head Coach John Harrington’s medical leave of absence. Dickerman is a former Maverick All-American goaltender (2000-04). She has played or coached 174 Minnesota State women’s hockey current and former student-athletes.

THREE-PEAT! Maverick Handball Retains Its National Collegiate Title

THREE-PEAT! Maverick Handball Retains Its National Collegiate Title

An Irish connection led the Maverick Handball team to its third consecutive national collegiate championship. Mark Doyle of Wexford, Ireland, and Clodagh Monroe from Carrickmore, Northern Ireland, claimed their first open singles titles in their respective men’s and women’s divisions at the U.S. Handball Associations Collegiate National Champions concluding Feb. 16 in Minneapolis. The Mavericks swept the men’s, women’s and combined competitions with 4584 total points far outdistancing its nearest competitor, Missouri State University, with 4213 points. 

Nation’s #2-Ranked Mavericks Claim NSIC Title; Malik Willingham Named Tourney MVP

Nation’s #2-Ranked Mavericks Claim NSIC Title; Malik Willingham Named Tourney MVP

MARCH 5 – Nationally ranked at #2, the 29-2 Minnesota State Mavericks men’s basketball claimed its first North Central Conference title in a decade after toppling #9 Minnesota Duluth 97-77 in championship play. NSIC Player of the Year, Malik Willingham, 6-3 senior from New Ulm, Minn., was selected NSIC Tournament MVP. Both Maverick men and women won NSIC titles; the first time a program has swept the tourney since 2011.

BEST Board S’24: Involvement Helps Quinten Wilson Discover Full Potential; Servant Leadership

BEST Board S’24: Involvement Helps Quinten Wilson Discover Full Potential; Servant Leadership

“Get comfortable with being uncomfortable” are words offered by Quinten Wilson when sharing the importance of getting involved. For Quinten, experiences gained as a presidential scholar, finding opportunities for servant leadership or assisting the MSU Mavericks Baseball Team as a student coach have helped shape is life and future. The Spring 2024 BEST Board honoree uses his own experiences to encourage others to take a “leap of faith” and try something new.

Maverick Receiving Record-Holder Shane Zylstra Re-signs with Detroit Lions

Maverick Receiving Record-Holder Shane Zylstra Re-signs with Detroit Lions

MARCH 4 – Shane Zylstra, Maverick football’s single-season and all-time receiving record holder, has re-signed with the Detroit Lions. The signing comes after Zylstra suffered a season-ending knee injury during 2023 training camp. According the Detroit Free Press, Zylstra was signed March 4 to a one-year contract. He returns for the 2024 season as one of three tight ends currently on the Lions roster.

Joey Batt Steals NSIC Conference Title 

Joey Batt Steals NSIC Conference Title 

As a kid Joey Batt hated basketball. She wanted to quit at a very young age. Now in her senior year, the stellar guard from New Ulm, Minn., has cemented herself into Maverick history as one of the best to touch the court. Luke Jackson, editor for the MSU Reporter shares a feature story that traces Joey’s evolution from youthful dabbling with the “boring” sport of basketball to what Maverick’s coach Emilee Thiesse considers the “heartbeat of the team.”