November 4, 2025 • 7 mins
UND Cross Country Head Coach Tom Scott was named Coach of the Year following an outstanding performance at the Summit League Championships, where the women’s team captured first place and the men’s team finished second. Scott reflected on the team’s success and discussed preparations for the upcoming NCAA Midwest Regional meet.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
It is Honk time tonight, continuing live from the five
oh six Pump in Signed Hugo's Pure Barket downtown Grand Forts.
A couple of great guests with us soon already tonight,
Eric Schmid with football mats maybe at northa Gota Hockey
and please now to be joined by the freshly Minton
and yes we're going to make a big deal out
of this. Tom, some of League Women's cross country Coach
(00:23):
of the Year, Tom Scott joining us. Congratulations, Oh theeez there,
hold on now we've been all that build up. We
cut you off, but again congratulations, Yeah, thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
I appreciated it. What a weekend we had.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
It was awesome. What a weekend. It really is kind
of capped off and I told myself all day, don't
make the don't don't make the joke. But quite the
run that you guys have been on this year.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
It was and we finished it off with the best one.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
So it was good.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Got this beautiful trophy in front of us, just tell
us take us through the weekend for you guys, and
culminated in the championship.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Yeah, it was awesome.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
I mean we kind of knew going in that we
had an opportunity, we had a chance.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
We raced SDSU and NDSU a.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
Few times throughout the year and we were able to
beat them every every time throughout the season. But you
never know when you get to the championship, right you
you got nerves involved, you've got expectations, a little bit
of anxiety, and so you never quite know for sure.
But our kids were cool, calm, collected the entire way,
and they ran their hearts out and you could tell,
(01:24):
like in the race, they were running for something bigger
than themselves, right, they were running for each other. They're
running for the university, knowing that you know, we've talked
about how you know, no no team has won a
championship since we've been in the Summit League, and so.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
You know that was what they were running for.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
They were running to prove that, you know, this could
be the team that that kind of gets everything started.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
So it's a lot of fun.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Really makes it more special, too, doesn't it. And this
isn't something that like, this isn't just you put together
good weekend and happen to win a tournament. This is
something that's been building throughout the year.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
Right, Oh yeah, it's been building not only throughout the year,
but I would say over the last four years. Right,
this is our as a coaching staff, our fourth season here,
and you know a lot of these kids. Jaden Keeler,
for example, who won the individual championship, you know, she's
been working towards this, you know, her entire career and
try you know, helping us, you know, develop the culture
(02:13):
and in the team atmosphere where we can go out
and win a championship. Same with like Ellie Sundag, who's
a senior on the team. You know, she helped guide
our our like four or five, six, seven girls and
just help us win a championship.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
What does what does this championship mean not only for
just everybody involved, but as a program moving forward.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Oh, it means everything.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
You know, our coach Arn Camp, who are our director
of track and field and cross country. You know, when
we came in, like that was one of the reasons
why he brought me with, right he he he was like, Hey,
we're going to go in on cross country and we're
going to try to win, and you're the guy to
do it. And so just the support from him, the
support from the administration, you know, with Bill and Eric
(02:55):
and everybody just kind of helping us out and giving
us what we need to be successful. And it's awesome.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
To see and so.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
Just very exciting to get a win for the entire
program in U and D, in the community and support everybody.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
We talked about some of the some of the monumental
results and achievements you've had throughout here. Was there a
time throughout the season where you thought, hey, maybe we
do have a chance come championship time to really do
something special here?
Speaker 2 (03:22):
I knew.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
I knew we had a chance early on, like when
especially given the recruits that we had brought in we
ha you know, Shawaiah Johnson transferred in from Texas A
and M. She was All Region last year at Texas
A and M. And then we had an awesome freshman
from Denmark coming in, Marie Jorgenson. And then we brought
had another freshman come in who's one of the best
runners from Canada, Katie Rogers from mus Jaw, Saskatchewan. So
(03:45):
like I knew given that and then the returners we had,
we had an opportunity. But like when we went to
Roy Griac in Minneapolis in September and our women's team
got third.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
That was kind of.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
Really when I was like, all right, things are going
really well, everybody's healthy.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
We've got a chance.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
And if we can just kind of continue with this
for the rest of the season, I think things can
can really go our way.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
Does that get contagious for them when they kind of
get that taste of success and want to just kind
of keep coming back, keep coming.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
Oh one, And you know, obviously we won the conference championship,
but like we're not done yet. We've got regionals coming
up next week, and so we've got an opportunity on
both the men's and women's side to have the best
finish we've ever had since we've been in Division one.
I think our women's team could get either like maybe six,
maybe seventh somewhere in there, which would be amazing. Guys,
(04:36):
I think we could be top ten team, and that's
something that we've never done before. So, like I had
to kind of tell our team today, it's like time
to get back down to earth, right right, we got
to get back to it. We've got regionals and then
you know, a few weeks after regionals we start track season.
So a first meet tracks December fifth, December sixth, So
like there's no downtime. We're finishing cross country right into track.
Speaker 1 (04:59):
So what's what's the next couple weeks look like for you?
Obviously you've got to Regionals. We'll start a week from Friday.
How are you managing the time and mixing that with
preparation ahead of it?
Speaker 2 (05:07):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (05:07):
Yeah, so we did kind of today. We did our
final tough workout of probably the season. We'll do some
easier ones later on, but yeah, we've we've got regionals.
Jaden Keeler's got an amazing opportunity to do something big
there and qualify to nc Double A's.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
I also think she's got a shot to win it.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
There's some tough girls from Iowa State Oklahoma State that
she'll have to race a pretty good race against.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
But she's got an opportunity to win.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
And if she's one of the top four individuals that
aren't on a team that qualify to NC Double A's,
she gets an opportunity to go as an individual.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
And so that's the goal.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
And if that happens, then we'll get to go down
to Missoo where the NCUAA Championships is on.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
I think it's November twenty second.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
Okay, So mark the calendars. Ye is it? Is it easy?
And I hate using word easy anytime you're talking athletics,
But is it a difference for them kind of knowing
now with with everything that's coming as accomplishments and achievements,
if there really isn't much pressure because at some point,
are you playing with house money?
Speaker 3 (06:09):
Yeah, one hundred percent, I think I think a lot,
Like right now, the pressure is off. Obviously we want
to do well regionals, but like the big the big.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
One was Conference.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
Yeah, that's the one we've been talking about for the
last four years. So yeah, we are playing a little
bit with with house money, and you know, whatever happens
at regionals, it is what it is. Obviously, we want
to go out with a really good race and kind
of finish up the season with a really good race,
and you know, set the standard for the teams in
the future, right, you know, if our winness team can
get sixth or or maybe seventh, right, that's kind of
(06:39):
the standard for the team's moving forward. And uh, you
know we want to be a top ten team at regionals. Yeah,
you know from here until you know forever basically, and
maybe maybe one of these days I'm not gonna say
it's never gonna happen, but like one of these days
maybe we can sneak in and get an opportunity to
compete at the n SAA Championships. A lot's going to
have to happen between the now and then, but like
(07:01):
you know, we're not going to say that that won't happen.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
No, it certainly keep driving for it. Well, a lot
of great things going Tom. We wish you best of
luck in the regionals next week. We'll be following along
and hopefully we'll get to do some more positive talks
here before the end of late fall. Best luck to
you and congrats again.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
Yeah, thank you.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
Bet. This's Tom Scott, absolutely cross country coach, joining us tonight.
He is the Sun of the League Coach of the Year.
We thank him for a dropping by and he's got
the This trophy is so nice that it's it's unfortunate
that we're a radio show, but it is beautiful and
it'll be here for a few more minutes at the
five oh six pumps more thanks to Tom Scott joining
us here. It's Hawk Talk inside the five oh six pump.
(07:39):
HU goes Peer Market Downtown. Stay tuned, we'll come back,
we will get ready to wrap things up. We'll look
at what lies ahead in a busy week and a
fun week here in you indie athletics that coming up
after this. You're listening to Hawk Talk and the Finding
Hawks Radio Network.
It is Honk time tonight, continuing live from the five
oh six Pump in Signed Hugo's Pure Barket downtown Grand Forts.
A couple of great guests with us soon already tonight,
Eric Schmid with football mats maybe at northa Gota Hockey
and please now to be joined by the freshly Minton
and yes we're going to make a big deal out
of this. Tom, some of League Women's cross country Coach
(00:23):
of the Year, Tom Scott joining us. Congratulations, Oh theeez there,
hold on now we've been all that build up. We
cut you off, but again congratulations, Yeah, thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
I appreciated it. What a weekend we had.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
It was awesome. What a weekend. It really is kind
of capped off and I told myself all day, don't
make the don't don't make the joke. But quite the
run that you guys have been on this year.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
It was and we finished it off with the best one.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
So it was good.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Got this beautiful trophy in front of us, just tell
us take us through the weekend for you guys, and
culminated in the championship.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Yeah, it was awesome.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
I mean we kind of knew going in that we
had an opportunity, we had a chance.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
We raced SDSU and NDSU a.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
Few times throughout the year and we were able to
beat them every every time throughout the season. But you
never know when you get to the championship, right you
you got nerves involved, you've got expectations, a little bit
of anxiety, and so you never quite know for sure.
But our kids were cool, calm, collected the entire way,
and they ran their hearts out and you could tell,
(01:24):
like in the race, they were running for something bigger
than themselves, right, they were running for each other. They're
running for the university, knowing that you know, we've talked
about how you know, no no team has won a
championship since we've been in the Summit League, and so.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
You know that was what they were running for.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
They were running to prove that, you know, this could
be the team that that kind of gets everything started.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
So it's a lot of fun.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Really makes it more special, too, doesn't it. And this
isn't something that like, this isn't just you put together
good weekend and happen to win a tournament. This is
something that's been building throughout the year.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
Right, Oh yeah, it's been building not only throughout the year,
but I would say over the last four years. Right,
this is our as a coaching staff, our fourth season here,
and you know a lot of these kids. Jaden Keeler,
for example, who won the individual championship, you know, she's
been working towards this, you know, her entire career and
try you know, helping us, you know, develop the culture
(02:13):
and in the team atmosphere where we can go out
and win a championship. Same with like Ellie Sundag, who's
a senior on the team. You know, she helped guide
our our like four or five, six, seven girls and
just help us win a championship.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
What does what does this championship mean not only for
just everybody involved, but as a program moving forward.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Oh, it means everything.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
You know, our coach Arn Camp, who are our director
of track and field and cross country. You know, when
we came in, like that was one of the reasons
why he brought me with, right he he he was like, Hey,
we're going to go in on cross country and we're
going to try to win, and you're the guy to
do it. And so just the support from him, the
support from the administration, you know, with Bill and Eric
(02:55):
and everybody just kind of helping us out and giving
us what we need to be successful. And it's awesome.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
To see and so.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
Just very exciting to get a win for the entire
program in U and D, in the community and support everybody.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
We talked about some of the some of the monumental
results and achievements you've had throughout here. Was there a
time throughout the season where you thought, hey, maybe we
do have a chance come championship time to really do
something special here?
Speaker 2 (03:22):
I knew.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
I knew we had a chance early on, like when
especially given the recruits that we had brought in we
ha you know, Shawaiah Johnson transferred in from Texas A
and M. She was All Region last year at Texas
A and M. And then we had an awesome freshman
from Denmark coming in, Marie Jorgenson. And then we brought
had another freshman come in who's one of the best
runners from Canada, Katie Rogers from mus Jaw, Saskatchewan. So
(03:45):
like I knew given that and then the returners we had,
we had an opportunity. But like when we went to
Roy Griac in Minneapolis in September and our women's team
got third.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
That was kind of.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
Really when I was like, all right, things are going
really well, everybody's healthy.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
We've got a chance.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
And if we can just kind of continue with this
for the rest of the season, I think things can
can really go our way.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
Does that get contagious for them when they kind of
get that taste of success and want to just kind
of keep coming back, keep coming.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
Oh one, And you know, obviously we won the conference championship,
but like we're not done yet. We've got regionals coming
up next week, and so we've got an opportunity on
both the men's and women's side to have the best
finish we've ever had since we've been in Division one.
I think our women's team could get either like maybe six,
maybe seventh somewhere in there, which would be amazing. Guys,
(04:36):
I think we could be top ten team, and that's
something that we've never done before. So, like I had
to kind of tell our team today, it's like time
to get back down to earth, right right, we got
to get back to it. We've got regionals and then
you know, a few weeks after regionals we start track season.
So a first meet tracks December fifth, December sixth, So
like there's no downtime. We're finishing cross country right into track.
Speaker 1 (04:59):
So what's what's the next couple weeks look like for you?
Obviously you've got to Regionals. We'll start a week from Friday.
How are you managing the time and mixing that with
preparation ahead of it?
Speaker 2 (05:07):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (05:07):
Yeah, so we did kind of today. We did our
final tough workout of probably the season. We'll do some
easier ones later on, but yeah, we've we've got regionals.
Jaden Keeler's got an amazing opportunity to do something big
there and qualify to nc Double A's.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
I also think she's got a shot to win it.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
There's some tough girls from Iowa State Oklahoma State that
she'll have to race a pretty good race against.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
But she's got an opportunity to win.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
And if she's one of the top four individuals that
aren't on a team that qualify to NC Double A's,
she gets an opportunity to go as an individual.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
And so that's the goal.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
And if that happens, then we'll get to go down
to Missoo where the NCUAA Championships is on.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
I think it's November twenty second.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
Okay, So mark the calendars. Ye is it? Is it easy?
And I hate using word easy anytime you're talking athletics,
But is it a difference for them kind of knowing
now with with everything that's coming as accomplishments and achievements,
if there really isn't much pressure because at some point,
are you playing with house money?
Speaker 3 (06:09):
Yeah, one hundred percent, I think I think a lot,
Like right now, the pressure is off. Obviously we want
to do well regionals, but like the big the big.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
One was Conference.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
Yeah, that's the one we've been talking about for the
last four years. So yeah, we are playing a little
bit with with house money, and you know, whatever happens
at regionals, it is what it is. Obviously, we want
to go out with a really good race and kind
of finish up the season with a really good race,
and you know, set the standard for the teams in
the future, right, you know, if our winness team can
get sixth or or maybe seventh, right, that's kind of
(06:39):
the standard for the team's moving forward. And uh, you
know we want to be a top ten team at regionals. Yeah,
you know from here until you know forever basically, and
maybe maybe one of these days I'm not gonna say
it's never gonna happen, but like one of these days
maybe we can sneak in and get an opportunity to
compete at the n SAA Championships. A lot's going to
have to happen between the now and then, but like
(07:01):
you know, we're not going to say that that won't happen.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
No, it certainly keep driving for it. Well, a lot
of great things going Tom. We wish you best of
luck in the regionals next week. We'll be following along
and hopefully we'll get to do some more positive talks
here before the end of late fall. Best luck to
you and congrats again.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
Yeah, thank you.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
Bet. This's Tom Scott, absolutely cross country coach, joining us tonight.
He is the Sun of the League Coach of the Year.
We thank him for a dropping by and he's got
the This trophy is so nice that it's it's unfortunate
that we're a radio show, but it is beautiful and
it'll be here for a few more minutes at the
five oh six pumps more thanks to Tom Scott joining
us here. It's Hawk Talk inside the five oh six pump.
(07:39):
HU goes Peer Market Downtown. Stay tuned, we'll come back,
we will get ready to wrap things up. We'll look
at what lies ahead in a busy week and a
fun week here in you indie athletics that coming up
after this. You're listening to Hawk Talk and the Finding
Hawks Radio Network.
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