BURNSVILLE, MN – The University of Mary's Reece Barnhardt was voted by the league coaches as the NSIC Outstanding Senior of the Year in wrestling. A native of Bismarck, North Dakota, Barnhardt is a senior majoring in respiratory therapy.

The "NSIC Outstanding Senior of the Year Award" is presented to a NSIC Wrestling student-athlete who participates at their institution for four years and is academically superior while making a positive contribution to their team and the University. The NSIC Outstanding Senior of the Year award was initiated in 2020-21 to honor an outstanding senior that exemplifies the attributes of the model NSIC student-athlete.

Barnhardt is coming off a NCAA National Championship at 133 pounds, the first NCAA wrestling champion at the University of Mary.  He is a four-time NCAA Division II All-American, the first in UMary history. He placed fourth at Nationals in both 2022 and 2024 and won the 2024 NCAA Super Regional V tournament. Barnhardt earned First Team All-NSIC honors in 2023, 2024 and 2025 seasons. In 2022, he was named NWCA Division II Rookie of the Year and NSIC Wrestling Rookie of the Year. He holds an overall career record of 110-27, including a 101-22 record against NCAA Division II opponents, and boasts an impressive 54-3 career dual record. Barnhardt helped lead the UMary wrestling team to a sixth-place finish at nationals, the highest finish in program history.

Academically, Barnhardt became the first Marauder to earn NCAA Division II Academic All-America® honors from College Sports Communicators (CSC). He was named to the NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence for the 2023-24 season and the NSIC All-Academic Team for 2022-23. A three-time NWCA Division II Men's Individual Scholar All-American, he has maintained a 4.0 GPA for four consecutive semesters and earned Dean's List recognition in six semesters.

In the community, Barnhardt's dedication to volunteerism is immeasurable. He has represented the wrestling program on the SAAC committee and frequently assists with game management duties at other sporting events. His community involvement includes volunteering at Special Olympics Bowling events and supporting various marathon organizations in Bismarck. Additionally, he gives back to the sport by coaching at Pursuit Wrestling Club, his former high school program, and mentoring youth wrestlers. Reece exemplifies the true spirit of servant leadership.

"Reece is the gold standard of what it means to be a student-athlete at the NCAA Division II level. His unwavering dedication, discipline, and leadership set him apart as one of the most outstanding individuals I have ever had the privilege of coaching. Whether in the wrestling room, the classroom, or the community, Reece consistently leads by example, proving that excellence in all areas of life is not just an aspiration but a reality. His relentless pursuit of success, coupled with his humility and integrity, makes him the ideal recipient of the NSIC Outstanding Senior of the Year Award," said Head Coach Adam Aho.

About the NSIC
The NSIC is a 15-team, 18-sport, NCAA Division II conference with institutions located in Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The NSIC is a model Division II conference that uses high-level athletics competition to develop champions in the classroom and community while empowering student-athletes to be impactful and positive leaders. Formed in 1992 by the merger of the Northern Intercollegiate Conference (men's league) and the Northern Sun Conference (women's league), the NSIC has flourished over the past quarter century, maturing into a union of Upper Midwest colleges and universities. The NSIC has won 27 team national championships and crowned 121 individual national champions. For additional information, visit NorthernSun.org.

About NCAA Division II
The NCAA, the national governing body for college athletics, is a volunteer association of more than 1,000 colleges and universities that classify their athletics programs in one of three membership divisions. The 300+ institutions in NCAA Division II support a balanced approach in which student-athletes have the opportunity to earn scholarships based on their athletic ability, pursue their desired academic degree, and participate in all the campus and surrounding community have to offer. Division II student-athletes annually graduate at rates higher than their student body peers, and they have access to the best championships-participant ratio among the NCAA's three divisions. Division II gives student-athletes the unique opportunity to compete in the classroom, on the field, in their career, for their causes, and on their terms. For additional information, visit NCAA.org.