SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – North Dakota Athletics captured its first Summit League Food Fight title and claimed a runner-up finish in the inaugural SAAC Cup.
 
In total, the Fighting Hawks raised 26,308.2 pounds of food, almost 5,000 more pounds than second place South Dakota State who had 21,620. Across the Summit League, there was nearly 85,000 pounds of food donated to the Food Fight Challenge for an approximate retail value of $145,000 and nearly 70,800 meals. Since starting the efforts 16 years ago, the Summit League "Food Fight" has brought in nearly 1.2 million pounds of food for local Summit League communities. Schools were awarded one point towards the SAAC Cup for every 25 pounds of food raised.
 
"Our Food Fight Championship could not have happened without the incredible collaboration between the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and Fighting Hawk Sports Partnerships," said Assistant AD for Student-Athlete Development Tyler Burmeister. "This partnership helped introduce our SAAC leaders to community partners that shared a commitment to end food insecurities in the greater Grand Forks area."
 
The University of North Dakota Athletic Department in partnership with Simplot helped raise nearly $10,000 for Northlands Rescue Mission and United Way of Grand Forks and East Grand Forks. For more information on that partnership click HERE.
 
The Food Fight totals were also enhanced by the tremendous efforts of UND volleyball student-athlete McCallister Gayle who helped organize various food collection tables at North Dakota athletics competitions. From these collection tables alone, 355 pounds of food was collected.
 
The Fighting Hawks placed second in the first ever Summit League SAAC Cup with a total of 7,905.5 points, finishing just 124 points away from inaugural champions South Dakota State. SAAC teams could earn points in various categories including meeting engagement, campus engagement, Summit League SAAC initiatives, other community service projects and academic success.
 
"Our student-athlete leadership organizations played an integral part in planning various programming and providing feedback to our athletic department," said Burmeister. "They continue to be leaders on campus and are starting to play a pivotal role in Summit League operations."
 
UND cross country / track and field's Brooklyn Brouse and Justin Jelaca attended the 2024 SAAC Summit in Sioux Falls where they met with other representatives from conference institutions this past weekend. During the summit, the representatives brainstormed new programming initiatives for the upcoming 2024-25 academic year.
 
"This past weekend was super engaging and productive," said Brouse. "Justin and I found it interesting to see how other schools operate and implement SAAC initiatives. Through our subcommittee work, we will be able to help grow opportunities at UND and continue to enhance the conference as a whole. We were very proud of what we accomplished in the 2023-24 school year and can't wait to see how we build on that next year!"
 
"Food Fight" Champions
2024 – North Dakota
2023 - South Dakota State
2022 - South Dakota State
2021 - South Dakota State
2020 - No title awarded due to pandemic
2019 – South Dakota State
2018 – Omaha
2017 – South Dakota State
2016 – South Dakota State
2015 – South Dakota State
2014 – South Dakota State
2013 – South Dakota State
2012 – Southern Utah
2011 – Oakland
2010 – South Dakota State
2009 – Oakland
 
SAAC Cup Champions
2024 – South Dakota State
 
For more information on North Dakota athletics, follow on social media @UNDsports or visit FightingHawks.com.