NDSCS WBB Signs Nine for 2026-27

The NDSCS Wildcats WBB team is coming off a 23-6 season and will look to continue to build on recent success.

Head Coach Bryant Friskop is pleased to announce the following signees for the 2026-27 team:

Johnica Bernotas - Breckenridge High School - Breckenridge, MN

Johnica was a four time All-Conference player for the Cowgirls and has the 3-point record with 184 and is 4th all time in scoring for Breckenridge.  Johnica averaged 14.6 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 3.2 APG, and 2.6 SPG.  Both Johnica's parents went to NDSCS and her Grandmother worked for NDSCS as well. 

Friskop on Bernotas, "I'm super excited that we have a player from right across the river join us for next year in Johnica.  She brings so much toughness to the guard spot and her will to win is going to help us immediately next year.  Johnica has played in a really good program with great coaches and great teammates which will help her transition to the college game very smoothly.  We will look to Johnica to make an immediate impact for us on both sides of the ball next year."

Libby Suckert - Park Christian High School - Fargo, ND

Libby was a four time All-Conference player in basketball as well as an All-Conference player in volleyball at Park Christian.  Libby is Park Christian's 2nd all time leading scorer with 1555 points and was a three time Pine to Prairie Conference Champion.  Libby was also named Minnesota Academic All-State.  She averaged 16.5 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 3.2 APG, and 3.1 SPG for the Falcons.  Her Grandpa (Lynn Schmidt) taught in the Business Department at NDSCS for 36 years and was an assistant coach for track and field and football.  Libby's mom is a 1991 graduate of NDSCS.  Her uncle (Pat Anderson) currently teaches in the Diesel Mechanic Program.  

Friskop on Suckert, "Libby brings so much to our team right away from her skill set and size that she's going to be a mismatch for a lot of teams right away.  She has the ability to score anywhere on the court, and I love how great of a teammate that she is.  It's really cool to bring in someone that has so many connections to NDSCS and already has a love for the college even before she attends here.  I have no doubts that Libby is going to be a phenomenal player here at NDSCS and I'm so excited to have her join us next year."

Kate Thayer - Kelliher/Northome High School - Kelliher, MN

Kate was a five time All-Conference player for the Mustangs.  Kate was also conference MVP, All-State (2026), All-State Honorable Mention (2024, 2025), All-State Tournament Team (2026), and led her team to it's first ever State Tournament Apperance.  Kate holds the Minnesota State record for career steals (between both boys and girls).  She holds the Kelliher-Northome school record for points, rebounds, steals, assists, field goals made, free throws made, and overall field goal percentage.  Kate has also been a four time All-Conference selection in softball and volleyball.  She has also been named to the Distinguished Honor Roll from 9th to 12th grade.  Kate averaged 27.8 PPG, 9 RPG, 4.6 APG, 8.7 SPG for the Mustangs.

Friskop on Thayer, "There's no doubt that Kate is one of the most talented overall players I've ever recruited and her list of accomplishments speaks for itself.  To be the all time career record holder in anything in the state of Minnesota, or any state honestly, is truly remarkable and I couldn't be more excited that she's bringing that here to NDSCS.  Kate brings incredible athleticism, toughness, IQ, you name it she's just an all around amazing athlete."

Tameka Limvere - Fargo South High School - Fargo, ND

Tameka was an All-EDC player this past year at Fargo South.  Tameka was the two time defensive player of the year, offensive player of the year, and MVP for the Bruins.  Tameka has also received Academic High Honors 9th through 12th grade as well as Character, Leadership, Attitude, Service, and Scholarship (CLAS) Award.  She is also a member of the Honor Society.  Tameka averaged 14 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 1.5 APG, 2.1 SPG, 4.3 Deflections per game, and shot 73% from the line.  Tameka was named to the 2026 North Dakota Lion's All Star Game.  Tameka's aunt (Kristen Baxter) and her uncle (James Poppen) attended NDSCS.

Friskop on Limvere, "Tameka is one of these players that has so much untapped potential that I can't wait to bring out of her when she gets here.  Her athleticism is so high that the game just comes to her and she can make it look so easy when she plays.  I feel that Tameka is going to be a standout player for us and she's such a fantastic teammate that she will help bring out that potential in her teammates as well."

Liv Siverson - Central Cass High School - Casselton, ND

Liv was a three time All Region player at Central Cass.  Her team won the 2023 North Dakota Class B State Tournament.  For her team, Liv was named the hardest worker in 2024-25 and most valuable offensive player in 2023-24.  This past year, Liv's volleyball team took third place in the North Dakota state tournament.  Liv, and her relay team, has placed second in the North Dakota State Track meet four years in a row in the 4X100, as well as two first place finishes (2021 and 2022), a second place finish in 2023, and a fourth place finish in 2024 in the 4X200.  Liv has also been a part of the National Honors Society from 2024-2026.  Liv averaged 15 PPG and 5 RPG for the Squirrels.  Liv's older sister Taylor graduated from NDSCS in 2025.

Friskop on Siverson, "Liv is easily one of the top athletes in the entire state of North Dakota and I couldn't be more excited to have her join us next year.  Watching Liv play this past summer and even throughout her Senior year, I can immediately tell that she'll be one of the top players in our league based on her competitive nature and will to win.  Liv will be a tough matchup for most teams as she's so versatile and can score anywhere on the court.  I love how passionate she is as a player and what stands out the most is how great of a teammate she is."

Shylin Medenwaldt - Hankinson High School - Hankinson, ND

Shylin and her team finished in 4th place in District 1 and qualified for the Region tournament this past year for basketball.  Shylin was a district 1 champion, All-district team, aces in a game school record holder, and the offensive MVP for Volleyball at Hankinson.  Academically, Shylin is the Hankinson High School class of 2026 Salutatorian as well as she was an NDASSP Academic All State Honorable Mention this year.  She was Academic All District and Academic All Region for both volleyball and basketball. 

Friskop on Medenwaldt, "What I like about Shylin's game is that she's super athletic and she sees the court really well.  I was most impressed with her passing ability and being able to help set her teammates up to be successful.  This past year was really impressive for Shylin and the Pirates overall based on having such a young team it was fun to see their success that they had as a whole.  I'm really excited to see what Shylin can do for us next year and I'm excited to have her on our squad."

Kiaya Hagen - West Fargo High School - West Fargo, ND

Kiaya was a three year starter for the West Fargo Packers.  Kiaya also qualified for the state cross country and track and field state meet throughout her high school career.  Kiaya has received the dedicated and hardest worker award in all three of the sports that she competed in for the Packers.  Kiaya averaged 7 PPG, 4 RPG, 2 APG, and 2 SPG this past season where she was limited to only seven games played due to injury.

Friskop on Hagen, "I'm really excited to have Kiaya join us next year.  Her love for the game is very evident when she plays and you can tell she has a lot in the tank left that was cut short due to an injury this past year.  Kiaya is an extremely hard working player that will do whatever is asked of her on the court and I feel she's going to be a player that can play multiple spots for us whenever we need her."

Aspen Peterson - Savage High School - Savage, MT

Aspen was a three time All Conference player at Savage.  Aspen averaged 16.2 PPG, 12 RPG, 2 APG, and 1 BPG.  

Friskop on Peterson, "Aspen will bring some size to our front court and really help us in the rebounding category.  I really like how Aspen can score both inside and outside which will make our offense more dynamic and be able to spread the court a little bit more, or we can have her inside to get some paint points.  I think Aspen is going to be a great fit for NDSCS and we're excited to bring someone from Montana over to south eastern North Dakota."

Lauren Beyer - Alexandria Area High School - Alexandria, MN

Lauren was a two time CLC Honorable Mention player for Alexandria.  She was a three time Minnesota State Tournament participant in her high school career.  Lauren had a highly decorated AAU career as she was a three time Minnesota State AAU Champion for the Minnesota Stars 3SSB.  On top of the State tournaments, she was a two time 3SSB National Champion for the Stars.  Lauren was a participant in the USA Open AAU Tournament.  For the Cardinals, Lauren was a captain for both basketball and volleyball.  She averaged 11 PPG, 5 RPG, 3 APG, and 1.5 SPG.  Lauren's Grandpa (Jay Vagts) played basketball at NDSCS.

Friskop on Beyer, "Lauren is one of the top shooters in the state of Minnesota and she is going to be a big piece for us next year.  Lauren has played on some amazing teams at Alex and in her AAU career so she's battle tested and ready to make the step to playing at the collegiate level.  Lauren is a dynamic guard that can really be effective on both ends of the ball and she's someone that other teams are going to always have to keep an eye on because she has such deep range from the three.  Lauren is such a great fit for us at NDSCS."