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Division I bound! That will be the case for Sibley East’s standout basketballer Marshall Bjorklund. The 6’-8” senior signed a National Letter of Intent last week to play basketball at North Dakota State University (NDSU).

Bjorklund and his father Dale signed the letter last week at Sibley East’s senior high campus in Arlington. It was announced by NDSU head coach Saul Phillips Wednesday, the first day of the one-week early signing period.

“Marshall is a rugged interior player that will give us a different dimension,” Phillips said. “He is a bit of a throwback player that uses his length around the basket really well and can use a variety of moves inside. He provides a physical presence and is very skilled.”

Early in his freshman season, Bjorklund was bumped up to the Sibley East varsity squad and he has made an impact ever since.

In approximately 2-1/2 seasons, Bjorklund has tallied 1,199 points, 868 rebounds, and a school record 268 blocks. Last season, as a junior, Bjorklund scored 528 points and grabbed nearly 400 rebounds. He also averaged nearly five blocked shots during the 2008-2009 campaign.

Bjorklund has been a starter for Sibley East for the past three seasons and has earned conference honors each year. Last season, Bjorklund was a Minnesota Class 2A all-state pick and second team All-Metro pick in the Twin Cities.

Sibley East head coach Todd Warzecha said Bjorklund did not play a lot of competitive basketball during this past offseason as he was recovering from shoulder surgery. Bjorklund was just cleared to lift weights a couple months ago, Warzecha explained.

Bjorklund will be ready to go when Sibley East’s kicks off its season. The Wolverines begin practicing Monday. Their first game will be at Howard Lake on Friday, December 4th.

Bjorklund was one of two from the midwest to sign with NDSU last week. TrayVonn Wright of Waterloo, Iowa also signed a National Letter of Intent to play with the Bison.

NDSU, with the help of a player with local ties, put its basketball team on the map last season by qualifying for the NCAA Tournament.

Ben Woodside hit the game winning shot that put the Bison in the big dance. He is the son of Roberta (VanderWaal) Woodside who went to school in Gaylord and the grandson of John VanderWaal who served as principal at Gaylord High School in the 1970’s.

NDSU was defeated by Kansas in the first round of the NCAA tournament. The Bison play in the Summit Conference.