Kaleigh Will a sophomore first baseman from Portage La Prairie, Manitoba has been selected to the Dakota Athletic Conference All Conference Team. Will was at or near the top in several statistical categories for the Vikings in 2008. Will hit for a .351 batting average with a team leading 50 runs scored and 59 hits and three triples. Will also collected nine doubles, four home runs and 25 rbi's, collected 17 walks and was 22 for 25 in stolen base attempts. She also played outstanding defense at first base garnering a .974 fielding percentage.

Krystal Hathaway a sophomore pitcher/designated player from Winnipeg, MB, Canada has been selected as the Dakota Athletic Conference Player of the Week for April 28-May 4. Hathaway batted .609 with a 1.043 slugging percentage in helping the Vikings to a 5-3 record. For the week, she was 14 of 23 with one double and three home runs, along with nine RBI, seven runs scored and one base-on-balls.

Dustin Brandt and Jason Hollett have been selected as captains by their teammates for this upcoming fall. Dustin Brandt is a senior offensive lineman from Newburg, ND. He is three year starter and a 2007 2nd Team All-DAC player. Dustin has also been named to the DAC Scholar-Athlete team each year. He is a Business Administration major.[image2]Jason Hollett is a junior tight end from North Pole, AK. He is a returning starter and a 2007 2nd Team All DAC player. Jason is the brother of former Viking and 2007 team captain, Michael Hollett. Jason is a Social Science major.The Vikings take on the Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragons at home on August 30 in the 2008 season opener.

Viking Football player and coaches put on their annual youth football camp on Tuesday and Wednesday of last week. Over 30 young football players entering grades 5-8 from Valley City and surrounding areas were on the practice field with the Vikings working on football skills and techniques.Coach McCulloch commented 'We had a great couple of days working with these guys. You could tell how much they love the game of football and wanted to learn from our players. It was another excellent opportunity for our players to spend time with young people in the community and they did a great job. We look forward to watching Thunder football this fall and seeing them in the stands on Saturdays.' [image2]

Valley City State University women's basketball head coach Jill DeVries announced today that Abby Rittenhouse, Burnsville, MN (St. Cloud State) and Caitlyn Wojahn, Milbank, SD (U. of Sioux Falls) have signed Dakota Athletic Conference letters of intent to continue their academic and basketball careers at VCSU.Rittenhouse, a 6'1' post player, transfers after completing her freshman year of eligibility at St. Cloud State University. She averaged 14 minutes of playing time in 28 games for the Huskies, averaging 3.8 points and 2.9 rebounds per game.'Abby is a great addition to our women's basketball program. She has great hands, solid footwork, and the ability to bring an offense presence in the paint for us next season.' commented Coach DeVries.Rittenhouse played her high school basketball at Burnsville high school (MN). She was a two-time team captain and two-time All-conference performer, named MVP, and All-State honorable mention as a junior. Wojahn, a 5'2' point guard, will join the Vikings after spending her freshman season at the University of Sioux Falls. She averaged 17 minutes of playing time in 30 games for USF, in a starting role for seven contests for the Cougars. Wojahn averaged 5.1 points 2.4 boards, 1.7 assists and 1.6 steals. Her 47 steals led USF in take-a-ways in 2008.'Caitlyn has the ability to change the complexity of a game with her tireless defense and outside shooting prowess. She isn't very big, but she plays big. She has the quicks to get to the rim and is a very good passer.' says DeVries.Wojahn is a Milbank, SD graduate selected to the All-conference team in her sophomore, junior and senior seasons. She was also selected All-Tournament at the South Dakota State Basketball tournament her junior and senior seasons, third team All-State in 2007 (senior year), and academic All-State her senior year.

On a cold and windy day, the Sioux from University of North Dakota dialed long distance and used the long ball to beat the Vikings 18-8 in seven innings. UND hit seven home runs on the day and used two big innings to outslug the Vikings.Viking Starter Krystal Hathaway seemed to be in control with the Vikings leading 5-3 heading into the top of the fourth but the Sioux bats woke up with three home runs in the inning plating six. The Vikings would get one back in the fifth and two in the bottom of the seventh but the Sioux sent thirteen hitters to the plate in the top of the seventh and scored nine. Hathaway was relieved by Karisa Etter in the top of the seventh.Offensively, the Vikings pounded out nine hits of their own with Jane Pettit and Hathaway leading the way with three for four performances. Hathaway hit her first round tripper of the year, a two run home run in the bottom of the first. Cyndi Figol went two for four with two doubles and tied the single season doubles record at 16, previously held by Ruby Garza set in 2006.The second game of the doubleheader was due to cold and wind. With the loss the Vikings drop to 18-23 on the season. The Vikings will go on the road for their last six games of the regular season, four DAC games on Saturday and Sunday at Dakota State in Madison, SD before finishing the regular season at Concordia College, Moorhead, MN on Tuesday.