Minnesota Scene: NSIC's top football awards spread around

Quarterback Luke Papilion of Sioux Falls and defensive end Josh Gordon of Minnesota State Mankato were named the Players of the Year on offense and defense in the NSIC on Tuesday.

Papilion led the Cougars to a 10-1 record, passing for 2,555 yards and 23 touchdowns. Gordon had 16.5 sacks and 18 tackles for a loss for the Mavericks (11-0).

Quarterback Nick Pieruccini of the Mavericks and defensive lineman Dion Roche of Concordia (St. Paul) were named the Newcomers of the Year.

Northern State's Tom Dosch was named Coach of the Year. He led the Wolves to an 8-3 record, 6-1 in the NSIC West Division.

The Gophers wrestling team (2-0) continues to be ranked No. 1 in InterMat's dual and tournament rankings after beating Air Force and Wyoming on Saturday in dual meets.

Three of its senior wrestlers also are No. 1 in their weight class: Dylan Ness at 157 pounds, Logan Storley at 174 and Scott Schiller at 197.

Senior Chris Dardanes is No. 2 at 133 and his twin brother Nick is No. 3 at 141.

• The Gophers volleyball team accepted an invitation to train with and play against the All-Japan University Team in Tokyo in mid-March. Minnesota will be at Japan's national training center from March 14-22.

• The St. Paul Saints hired Nick Baker, 27, a St. Paul native, as their head groundskeeper for CHS Field. He was on the Twins' ground crew from 2012-14 and, for the past six months was an assistant groundskeeper for the University of Minnesota, working on its football practice fields and its baseball and softball fields.

• The MIAC swimmers of the week were Billy Brebrick of St. Olaf and Kate Reilly of Gustavus. Brebrick, a junior from Wausau, Wis., won two individual events and swam on two winning relays in a dual meet win over Gustavus. His time of 50.08 in the 100-yard butterfly set an Oles pool record. Reilly, a freshman from Hastings, won three individual events against St. Olaf and swam on a 200 freestyle relay that set a Oles' pool record (1:38.77).