Athletics Department | 7/3/2024 3:00:00 PM

MOORHEAD, Minn. -- MSU Moorhead athletics has announced its annual year-end awards for the 2023-24 athletic year. Three Dragon student-athletes claimed Athlete of the Year honors while two were named MSUM's Newcomers of the Year. 

The yearly awards are nominated by head coaches and determined by the department's administrative team. 

Athletes Of The Year

Jack Strand, Football
 
Strand was named the NSIC Offensive Player of the Year, becoming the first Dragon player since 2007 to win the award in 2023. He was also an All-NSIC First Team performer and Don Hansen Gazette All-America Honorable Mention. Strand set MSUM single-season records in passing yards (3,914), pass completions (370), pass attempts (550) and passing touchdowns (36). Strand accrued 5,000 career passing yards against Southwest Minnesota State, becoming the fastest in school history to accomplish the feat. His 340 completions in NSIC competition are a new conference record while his 370 total completions led the nation (regular season). Strand finished second in the nation in overall passing yardage (regular season) with his 36 touchdowns the third-highest total (regular season) in Division II. He also tied the MSUM single-game record for passing touchdowns after slinging six against Sioux Falls. In the classroom, Strand was an NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence and CSC Academic All-District selection. He was honored with the NCAA Division II 50^th Anniversary Scholarship as well. 
 
Ashley Hokanson, Track & Field
 
During the indoor season, Hokanson was a Second Team All-America performer after finishing in a tie for 12th in the pole vault at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships. She was a USTFCCCA All-Region selection for her efforts in vaults as well. Hokanson won her third consecutive NSIC indoor pole vault championship at the NSIC Indoor Track & Field Championships with a top clearance of 13-02.5 (4.03m) which was also her season-best. She won every single pole vault competition she entered during the regular season with wins at the Dakota Alumni Classic, Bison Team Cup, UND Open and the UND Tune-Up. Hokanson was also named NSIC Field Athlete of the Week on December 12.

To conclude her career, Hokanson was a USTFCCCA All-Region selection in the pole vault behind a 13^th-place finish at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships with a top clearing of 12-7.5 (3.85m). She was an All-NSIC performer in the event following a runner-up finish with a height of 12-06 (3.81m). Hokason won the pole vault at the Al Cassell Classic with a vault of 13-7.25 (4.15m). She also reset her own outdoor school record in the pole vault at the USD Early Bird with a clearance of 13-11.25 (4.25m). It is Hokanson's third MSUM Athlete of the Year honor. 
 
Braxton Bruer, Cross Country/Track & Field
 
During the cross country slate, Bruer finished third in the 6k race at the Dragon Twilight with a new personal-record time of 18:09.9, his top finish of the season. He also set a personal-best in the 8k at the NSIC Cross Country Championships with a time of 25:18.2 to finish 22nd overall. He would register a 10k mark of 33:38 at the NCAA Central Region Championships and had a pair of top ten finishes during the year. Bruer was named to the NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence. 

Bruer's indoor season culminated in First Team All-America honors in the 800m following an eighth place finish at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships. He was a USTFCCCA All-Region Selection for his efforts in the 800m as well. Bruer was named the NSIC's Indoor Track Athlete of the Year following his third straight conference title in the 800m with a winning time of 1:55.44. He would also set a personal-best in the mile at the conference meet with a mark of 4:16.62. Bruer was a member of MSUM's All-NSIC DMR team at the NSIC meet as well. He would reset the MSUM school record in the indoor 800m at the Bison Open with a time of 1:50.85 and collected event wins at the Bison Team Cup (mile run), the Cobber Indoor Open (1000m) and the Bison Open (800m). He reset the MSUM indoor 600m school record at the SDSU Indoor Classic with a time of 1:18.52, his second time ever running the race. Bruer also competed on MSUM's 4x400m relay team that narrowly missed All-NSIC distinction, finishing third overall. During the season, he was named the NSIC's Track Athlete of the Week on February 6. Bruer earned another trip to the NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence for his work in the classroom.

To wrap his storied career, Bruer was a Second Team All-America performer in the 800m following a ninth-place finish at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. He would narrowly miss qualifying for the finals in the event with a time of 1:51. Bruer was a USTFCCCA All-Region selection in the 800m as well. He was the NSIC's champion in 800m at the NSIC Outdoor Track & Field Championships, clocking a 1:52.77 to claim his first outdoor conference title. Bruer finished third in the 800m at the Drake Relays with a time of 1:49.53, which is the second-fastest time of his career behind his school record mark. He would also run a sub-1:50 at the Bryan Clay Invitational with a finishing time of 1:49.70. Bruer won the 400m at the NDSU Tune-Up with a time of 49.52. He was also a member of MSUM's 4x400m relay team that earned an event win at the NDSU Tune-Up and a fifth-place finish at the conference championships. Bruer earned selections to the NSIC All-Academic Team and CSC Academic All-District Team for the spring term. 
 

Newcomers Of The Year

Luzmary Diaz Castillo, Tennis
 
Diaz Castillo was an All-NSIC Second Team doubles performer alongside partner Shaelyn Johnson. She joined the Dragons during the semester break and immediately jumped into the number one singles spot, earning a 6-7 overall record. In doubles with Johnson, the pair worked towards a 10-6 overall record. The duo was especially potent in NSIC competition, earning a 7-2 mark in league play. Diaz Castillo and Johnson won three of their final four doubles matches to close out the season. 
 
JaMir Price, Men's Basketball
 
Price was named the NSIC Newcomer of the Year and All-NSIC First Team after playing in 27 games for MSUM with 26 starts. He averaged 14.5 points per game for the Dragons to go along four rebounds a game. Price led the Dragons in total steals (38) during the year and shot 41.8 percent from the floor. He would score in double figures in 21 games during the season, including six games with 20 or more points, all of which were Dragon victories. Price had a season-best 22 points against Concordia, St. Paul on January 20. For his work in the classroom, Price was named a CSC Academic All-District selection.