SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – North Dakota State swept the final Summit League Athletes of the Month for the 2020-21 academic year, league officials announced Wednesday. NDSU thrower Akealy Moton collected her second monthly honor of the season and third of her career, while Bison shortstop Bennett Hostetler took home the male honor for the first time in his career.

Moton picked up a pair of All-America honors at the 2021 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, placing third in the shot put (first team) and 13^th in the javelin (second team). The two all-america honors give her a combined four such accolades in her career.

The West Fargo native’s toss of 59-05” in the shot put broke The Summit League record and she won the Summit League title in the shot put in May with a toss 57-06.25” and was runner-up in the javelin.

Hostetler led the Bison to a school record 42 wins with 15 of those coming in May and June when he hit .457 over 22 games to secure Summit League Player of the Year honors. He had 12 multi-hit games over that stretch and added four home runs, three doubles and 22 RBI.

The Bozeman, Mont., native was named to both the NCAA Stanford Regional and Summit League Championship All-Tournament Teams, leading the Bison to a team title in Omaha and the program’s first regional win over Nevada in Palo Alto.  

FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE MONTH
Akealy Moton, North Dakota State
Jr. | Throws | West Fargo, N.D.

• Broke The Summit League record in the shot put with a toss of 59-05” to place third at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, while also placing 13^th in the javelin to claim All-America honors in both events
• Third-place finish was second highest by a Bison student-athlete at the DI National Championship
• Summit League Champion in the shot put and runner-up in the javelin
• This is the third monthly honor of Moton’s career (May/June, 2019; February, 2021)

Also nominated: Jocely Carrillo, South Dakota State.

MALE ATHLETE OF THE MONTH
Bennett Hostetler, North Dakota State
Sr. | Shortstop | Bozeman, Mont.

• Batted .457 over 22 games during May and June, posting 37 hits, scoring 22 runs with three doubles, four home runs and 22 RBI to help secure Summit League Player of the Year honors
• Named to the NCAA Stanford Regional All-Tournament Team and Summit League Championship All-Tournament Team
• Team won 15 of its school record 42 triumphs during May and June, including Summit League Championship
•  This is the first monthly honor of Hostetler’s career

Also nominated:  Ethan Bray, South Dakota.
 
2020-21 Summit League Athletes of the Month
December
Male: Stanley Umude/South Dakota/Men’s Basketball
Female: Myah Selland/South Dakota State/Women’s Basketball

January
Male: Max Abmas, Oral Roberts/Men’s Basketball
Female: Myah Selland/South Dakota State/Women’s Basketball

February
Male: Max Abmas, Oral Roberts/Men’s Basketball
Female: Akealy Moton, North Dakota State/Women’s Track and Field

March
Male: Max Abmas, Oral Roberts/Men’s Basketball
Female: Teresa Toscano, South Dakota State/Women’s Golf

April
Male: Zack Anderson, South Dakota/Men’s Track and Field
Female: Maddy Niles, North Dakota State/Women’s Track and Field

May
Male: Bennett Hostetler, North Dakota State
Female: Akealy Moton, North Dakota State

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