Conzelman signs with Dickinson State

Another Lady Dogie hoops player has committed to play at the next level. On March 28th, MacKenzie Conzelman signed on the dotted line to play basketball for the Dickinson State Blue Hawks next season.
All roads seemed to lead to Dickinson for Conzelman. Both of her parents - Matt and Kim Conzelman - graduated from DSU, and head Lady Dogie basketball coach Chad Ostenson had formed a relationship with the Blue Hawks head coach Eric Nelson. Ostenson and Nelson began to talk about Conzelman at the end of last season.
“Knowing the Conzelman’s history with the school, it being both of their alma maters, I thought it would be a good fit for her,” Ostenson stated. “I mentioned her to him when I was up there last season, and he watched some film of her shooting. I really like him as a coach and I think Mack will really like it up there.” 
Once Ostenson set the plan in motion, Conzelman did the rest to get herself a place to play next year.
“Chad asked me if I wanted to go to Dickinson since my parents did and it was definitely on my radar,” MacKenzie smiled. “But, I kind of wanted to go someplace that was warm, and it’s freezing there.”
“But then Coach Nelson reached out to me. I went on a visit over the summer and watched the team play in the fall, and he asked me if I wanted to play for him,” she continued. “I did really like it when I visited and I’m really excited for everything but the cold.”
Coach Nelson made the trip to Newcastle to be on hand as MacKenzie made her commitment, and even brought down Blue Hawks jerseys for a photo op. The jerseys he brought bore the number 23 which was Conzelman’s number throughout her career at NHS.
“He asks and brings the jersey number that players want,” Conzelman smiled. “But then he told me that I’d have to battle it out once I get up there, but I’ll win.”
Both Matt and Kim are also excited for their daughter to be attending their alma mater where Kim was Homecoming Queen and Matt played football and rode bulls with the rodeo team.
“We knew it was an option, because she was looking at a few schools. I think we had more fun going on the tour than she did, but we’re happy and excited that she’s going there,” Matt smiled. “I wondered why I was going to North Dakota myself, but Dickinson is in the banana belt up there, and I really liked it. It’s a good school with good people.”
The offer to play was made more enticing when Coach Nelson offered MacKenzie some scholarship money to play for the Blue Hawks. Being offered scholarship money for being a legacy was also a contributing factor in Conzelman’s decision.
Conzelman will begin preseason workouts in the summer and the season will get underway in late October.
“I’m really excited to get to play next year,” MacKenzie grinned. “I know a couple of other people who are going to play, so that will be great, and I’m just happy that I will get to play basketball again.”