North Dakota
High school students fill UND Memorial Union to compete in North Dakota Esports Tournament
GRAND FORKS – Evan Guilmino, a sophomore from Minot North High School, sat studying the skills and strategies of possible competitors in the Super Smash Bros video game as he prepared for a championship game Saturday afternoon, March 29, in the North Dakota Esports State Tournament at UND.
“This is my first year (in esports),” said Guilmino, who specializes in the character King K. Rool in the Super Smash Bros game. But “I’m also getting good at Mortal Combat.”
These are a couple of the seven games that students in grades 9-12 were competing in, either individually or in teams, during the state tournament.
Guilmino was one of 268 high school students at 36 schools throughout the state who gathered for the tournament Friday and Saturday, March 28 and 29, hosted by Fenworks at the UND Memorial Union.
“I get to meet new players from around the state,” he said, “and get to show off a little bit.”
Pamela Knudson / Grand Forks Herald
“Esports,” which is short for “electronic sports,” involves organized, competitive video game competition. It engages students in an environment steeped in “camaraderie and community,” said Hayden Sherva, marketing coordinator at Fenworks. “Of course, there are rivalries, like other sports, but (esports) is bringing them together.”
“It aligns very closely with other traditional sports,” Sherva said. “Everyone likes to have something they’re good at, that they can invite their families and friends to, invite new friends to, and show off the skills they’re learned.
“It brings a lot of students out of their shells,” he said, recalling the story of a very shy student who transferred into a Dunseith, North Dakota, school. He was so proficient in video gaming he was asked to be captain of the school’s team.
The student underwent “radical change,” Sherva said. And “he played a big role in helping the GM (general manager) organize esports” at that school.
Esports is “very communication-based,” he said, and offers students an avenue to “befriend others in their school that they may not have met before.”
Sherva’s employer Fenworks, a Grand Forks-based company, promotes esports career pathways to students. This is the fourth time Fenworks has hosted the North Dakota state competition in Grand Forks. Earlier this year, it hosted state tourneys in Wyoming, Minnesota and South Dakota, Sherva said.
Surveying the Memorial Union filled with esports tourney participants, UND President Andy Armacost said, “It’s incredible to have all these students here. There’s such a sense of teamwork and camaraderie.”
Having walked by a winning Minot team, he said, “you can see the pride (on their faces).” UND launched a bachelor’s degree in esports about five years ago, but esports draws interest from majors and non-majors alike, he said. Several esports labs are available for student use in the Union’s lower level.
“It draws (students) from all over campus,” Armacost said.
In the past, video gaming was viewed differently than it is now, Sherva said. The stereotypical notion of a young person spending time isolated in the basement playing video games is no longer true thanks to esports.
The skills students learn from participating in esports – such as strategic thinking, leadership and effective communication – are applicable to many careers fields.
Students benefit from enhanced “self-confidence, which is so important for every single aspect of life,” Sherva said. “And the team-building aspect is there.”
Pamela Knudson / Grand Forks Herald
In addition to “soft skills,” students learn to become more comfortable with technology and more digitally literate, preparing them for work in “really anything STEM related,” he said. “In most workplaces, it’s hard to get a job if you don’t know how to use a computer.”
And esports presents a wide variety of job opportunities including photography, live-streaming and “casting,” a role similar to the announcer at a sporting event.
The field offers an abundance of “real-world opportunities to get a real job” in today’s market and in the new careers that are unfolding, Sherva said.
North Dakota
Community rescues grieving North Dakota widow — by harvesting their late pal’s 1,400 acres of crops
In North Dakota, farmers aren’t neighbors — they’re family.
When a sudden car crash tragically took the life of a beloved community member, the goodhearted folks of Antler came together to carry out one final act of kindness: they harvested his crops.
Randy Fyllesvold was killed in September, and his grieving widow, Kharra, and their two sons were left reeling, in no condition to deal with the 1,400 acres of corn and soybeans still in the fields surrounding their home.
That’s when the close-knit community stepped in.
Two of Randy’s pals — Wyatt Thompson and Andy Gates — decided to organize a large-scale harvest of their late pal’s crops.
First, they put out a call for help.
And the people answered. In a flash, more than 75 volunteers from surrounding communities were rolling onto the farm on 12 combines, in 40 trucks, all loaded with other equipment — along with willing hands.
They worked together like a well-oiled machine, and the massive effort was locked up in just a couple days.
Kharra said being among so many people harvesting her husband’s final crop was “nothing short of breathtaking” and she feels blessed to be the recipient of so much love and support in such a harrowing time.
But they wouldn’t have it any other way.
“To know Randy was to love Randy,” said buddy Wyatt Thompson told local station KFYR. “..The reach that he had was kind of endless.”
Kharra said she’ll never forget what they did for her.
“As I stood in the shop and looked around before the final Randy Fyllesvold corn harvest started, I was flooded with memories we created with all of you,” she wrote in a heartfelt Facebook post.
“The day was full of emotion, but I found so much peace in watching it unfold … but from the bottom of my heart, thank you. I will always remember this and Randy would be so proud.
“God Bless all of you and the boys and I love each and every one of you. 12 combines, 7 grain carts, over 40 trucks all for you Randy.
“I know you are smiling down.”
Donald R. Snyder Sr. 82 of Grand Forks, North Dakota died Tuesday, December 9, 2026, at Villa St. Vincent in Crookston, Minnesota.
Don was born on June 3, 1943, the son of Harrison and Gladys (Whittier) Snyder in Van Hook, North Dakota. He attended school in Van Hook and New Town, North Dakota. Don served in the United States Navy from 1960 – 1964 and was stationed in Hawaii during his time of service as a Military Police officer. He attended ND Police Academy and where he worked in Wattford City, ND and later was the Chief of Police in Parshall, ND. Don attended Minot State University and received a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1972.
Don was united in marriage to Greta Huseby on November 22, 1991, in Lake Tahoe, Neveda. He worked as a social worker in child welfare in North Dakota for thirty-five plus years in various roles in the state in Rugby, Minot and Bismarck as a Regional Supervisor to State Director in foster care. Don spent the many years taking care of family’s needs in North Dakota.
After retiring from Human Service in North Dakota, he worked for Multiband Inc. and Orangehook Inc. Don retired from OrangeHook Inc. as the Senior Vice President, responsible for HR Department.
Don enjoyed fishing (deep sea, rivers and lakes), hunting, woodworking (cabinetry and interior), coaching Tee Ball and soccer, and volunteering for the local honor guards. He was proud of his service in the military and always showed his gratitude for fellow veterans.
Don’s faith and family were his priority. He read the Bible six times and shared his faith with his family and friends. Don and Greta were active members of University Lutheran Church.
Don is survived by his wife, Greta Snyder; three sons, Donald Richard Snyder Jr., Scott (Nancy) Snyder and Tracy (Staci) Snyder; grandchildren, Megan (Rory) Selk, Katelyn Snyder, Gavin Snyder, Whitney (Chris) Crofts, Kaylee (Jon) Gappmaier and Jordan (Jen) Snyder, thirteen great-grandchildren, Kinley, Iyla, Jude, Gabby, Rowan, Sophia, Hunter, Kimber, Isaiah, Benjamin, Porshea, Addie and Mollie; numerous nieces and nephews.
Don was preceded in death by his parents, two daughters, Tunya and Mishell Snyder, granddaughter, Jessica Snyder and two infant sisters.
Visitation will be held from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at Amundson Funeral Home. Memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at Amundson Funeral Home.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (AP) — Damari Wheeler-Thomas’ 21 points helped North Dakota State defeat Cal State Bakersfield 80-69 on Thursday.
Wheeler-Thomas had three steals for the Bison (8-3). Markhi Strickland scored 15 points while shooting 6 of 11 from the field and 3 for 6 from the free-throw line and grabbed five rebounds. Andy Stefonowicz went 4 of 7 from the field (3 for 4 from 3-point range) to finish with 13 points.
Ron Jessamy led the way for the Roadrunners (4-7) with 18 points, six rebounds, two steals and four blocks. CJ Hardy added 13 points. Jaden Alexander also recorded eight points and two steals.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
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