Central ND News

Bismarck State College (BSC), North Dakota’s only polytechnic institution, recently announced its transition from the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) MonDak Athletic Conference to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the Frontier Conference.

According to a press release, BSC President Doug Jensen revealed the move at a gathering of Mystics alumni, friends, and supporters on October 24.

“Joining the NAIA gives our students and athletes the chance to thrive in a four-year setting," said Jensen, according to the press release. “We are excited about the future of BSC athletics and the new opportunities this will provide for our student-athletes, helping them achieve both their academic and athletic goals.”

The decision to join the NAIA aligns with BSC’s mission to broaden opportunities for student-athletes, enabling them to compete at a four-year collegiate level. The move was welcomed by the Frontier Conference Council of Presidents, which voted unanimously to accept BSC as a full-conference member starting in the 2025-26 academic year. Les Cook, Chancellor of Montana Technological University and Chair of the Frontier Conference Council of Presidents, emphasized the benefits, noting that with BSC, the conference now includes twelve full members and five football-only affiliates, making it one of the most competitive conferences in the NAIA.

BSC’s NAIA sports roster will feature teams in volleyball, softball, baseball, men’s wrestling, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s basketball, and men’s and women’s track and field, while non-NAIA sports at the college will include rodeo, esports, and trap shooting. The shift to the Frontier Conference opens possibilities for additional programs like women’s wrestling, competitive cheer and dance, and golf. Myron Schulz, BSC’s Director of Athletics, believes this transition offers student-athletes a more comprehensive and competitive environment that fosters leadership and academic growth, remarking that “the competition is stiffer, the scholarships are more comprehensive, and the overall experience prepares them better for future success.”

The Frontier Conference, based in Helena, Montana, is home to twelve institutions, including Carroll College, Montana State University-Northern, and Rocky Mountain College. The five football-only affiliate members, which include Arizona Christian University and the College of Idaho, bring additional competition to the conference. Frontier Conference Commissioner Scott Crawford noted that this expansion represents a major milestone, adding that BSC’s involvement “will add to this excellence” and enrich the competitive landscape.

Since its establishment in 1939 as Bismarck Junior College, BSC has emphasized athletics as a central part of its educational experience. In June 2024, BSC took a further step to advance athletics by breaking ground on the Bavendick Center, an 80,000-square-foot facility slated to become the new home of Mystics athletics, which is expected to open in January 2026. The center, named in honor of BSC alumnus Frank Bavendick and his family, will house basketball, volleyball, wrestling, esports, and more, along with intramural sports and wellness amenities.