NSAA, which held post season tournaments in Watertown, announces it will be disbanding

BISMARCK, N.D.–The North Star Athletic Assocation (NSAA), which has held its post-season men’s and women’s basketball tournaments and women’s volleyball tournament at the Watertown Civic Arena, is disbanding.

Commissioner Roger Ternes says the NSAA Board of Presidents met last week, and made the decision to disolve the conference at the conclusion of the 2024-25 academic year.

It stems from several developments this year. Presentation College in Aberdeen closed its doors. More recently NSAA members Waldorf University (Iowa) and Viterbo University (Wisconsin) announced they would be leaving to join leagues centered around Chicago and Sioux City, and Dickinson State University (North Dakota) announced they will be joining the Frontier Conference in Montana.

Those departures left the NSAA with just four schools–Belmont University (Nebraska), Valley City State University (North Dakota), Mayville State University (North Dakota), and Dakota State University (South Dakota).

Ternes says, “in preparation for disbanding the conference and the assets within, the NSAA will not be returning to Watertown for the 2024-25 year and beyond. The North Star Athletic Association would like to thank the City of Watertown and all the great people who assisted in hosting NSAA championships. The staff at the CVB, the people at the Civic Arena and Watertown High School and everyone at the historic Goss Opera House made our stay in Watertown truly special. Our tournament headquarters at the Ramkota Hotel became more comfortable every year.”