The Amazing Slam Dunk Sports Feature!

         Good Afternoon and Happy Friday March 27th, 2026 Hawk Fans! I hope this message finds you in high spirits on this delightful Friday afternoon. May the remainder of your day be filled with joy, productivity, and pleasant moments that bring a smile to your face. I wish you continued happiness and success as you navigate through the rest of this wonderful day. I want to share something pretty awesome with you. Today officially marks the first anniversary of "From the Stands to the Spotlight!" I say a huge thank you to all who have become blog family members and regular readers over its first year. I'm proud and happy to have you here! I can't wait for many more years of providing content for you. Without you, my readers, this blog wouldn't be what it is today. Today's blog is this week's Sports Feature.

        By request of a reader I am starting off this week's  Sports Feature with Josh McSwain. Josh McSwain is a former UND Director of Communications, which the position is now called Sports Communication Specialist.  McSwain, is a native of Texas. He is a 2014 graduate from University of Missouri  (MU). with a bachelor's degree. Throughout his professional career, he has established himself in the field of Athletic Communications, working at two distinct educational institutions prior to taking the Athletic Communications job at UND. During his tenure at Truman State University (TSU), McSwain played a pivotal role as the Coordinator of Media Relations, where he meticulously managed comprehensive communications strategies and compiled detailed statistical analyses across multiple sports programs. His professional journey prior to TSU included a significant position as an Assistant Sports Information Director at East Texas Baptist University (ETBU), which allowed him to cultivate and refine his expertise in sports media and communications. At  North Dakota, McSwain demonstrated his professional capabilities by overseeing Athletic Communications for critical sports programs, specifically Volleyball, Men's Basketball, and Softball, showcasing his versatility and comprehensive understanding of sports media management.

        This week's Player is Ryan Erikson. Ryan Erikson is a basketball player for the North Dakota Men's Basketball team, wearing jersey number 15. As a Redshirt Sophomore from Bismarck, North Dakota, Erikson demonstrates versatility on the court by playing both forward and center positions. Pursuing a degree in finance, he has already made significant contributions to the team during his collegiate career. Throughout his time with UND, Erikson has participated in 16 games, accumulating 79 minutes of playing time with an average of 4.9 minutes per game. His statistical achievements include 5 career free throws, 6 career offensive rebounds, 17 career defensive rebounds, and an impressive 29 career points. A notable performance highlight was his game against Crown College from Minnesota this past season (2025-26 season), where he showcased his skills, particularly in three-point shooting by making one successful three-point field goal during the game.

        Shoot your shot in the comments! I'd love to hear from you! If you've got a "game-winning" idea for next week's Sports Feature, pass it my way! Let's keep the court clean - only kind and respectful vibes here. Negative, hurtful, or flagrant fouls (inappropriate comments) will be benched immediately! If you're a new reader, feel free to look around, and if you're interested in following, click the follow button at the bottom of the menu bar, which is positioned at the top left corner of the blog, to become a blog family member. Welcome to the From The Stands To The Spotlight court! Big cheers to my new rookies (new readers) and a huge, warm welcome back to my All-Star blog family and regular MVPs (readers)! I'm so hyped to have you on the team - thank you so much for bringing the energy and support!

              Go North Dakota!!!!

                Shayla Miller