HELENA -- Light the V yet again! 

For the fourth-straight year, Montana Tech athletics laid claim to the Frontier Conference's George R. Bandy Memorial All-Sports Award, the conference office announced Thursday. 

The award honors Frontier Conference member institutions for their performances across all sports in an academic year. 

"We are incredibly honored to receive the George R. Bandy Memorial All-Sports Award for the fourth consecutive year, especially during a transformational period for the Frontier Conference," Orediggers director of athletics Matt Stepan said. "With the expansion of the conference and the addition of outstanding institutions across multiple states, this recognition carries even greater meaning. The level of competition throughout the league continues to rise, and that makes this achievement a true reflection of the commitment and consistency of our student-athletes, coaches, staff, and campus community. 

Montana Tech, which finished 2025-26 with three more Frontier Conference championships in women's basketball, football, and men's outdoor track & field, won the trophy with a composite index score of 3.083, besting runner-up and archrival Carroll College by nearly half a point. No Montana Tech team finished lower than fifth in the 12-team conference standings. 

This past season's award looked different as the conference expanded from six to 12 full-time members with the addition of five former North Star Athletic Association members and Bismarck State College's addition to the league.  

"I am pleased to see the conference return to a more formal remembrance of George R. Bandy honoring his Frontier legacy through this award," Frontier Conference commissioner Scott Crawford said. "Congratulations to the Orediggers of Montana Technological University for their collective accomplishments in athletics across 12  teams in 2025-26. I extend kudos to chancellor Johnny MacLean, director of athletics Matt Stepan, and the entire department of athletics for continued excellence." 

The all-sports award is named in honor of the first commissioner of the Frontier Conference, George Bandy, his wife, Cheryl Ann, and their 8-year-old son, Michael. The family died tragically in a boating accident in the summer of 1982 when their 14-foot sailboat capsized in high winds on Canyon Ferry Reservoir near Helena. 

"Our family is deeply honored and incredibly proud to have the George R. Bandy Memorial All-Sports Award named in recognition of our father," said Tom Bandy, George's son and a 1976 Montana Tech alumnus. "His passion for athletics, dedication to young people, and commitment to sportsmanship meant so much to everyone whose lives he touched. 

"Seeing his legacy continue through this award is both humbling and meaningful to our family," Tom Bandy added. "I also want to congratulate Montana Tech's athletic department, coaching staff, and student-athletes for winning this award for the fourth-consecutive year." 

To be eligible for the George R. Bandy Memorial All-Sports Award, institutions must compete in a minimum of two Frontier Conference sports. The standings are determined by a comprehensive scoring system across all conference-sponsored sports, with specific criteria applied to ensure fairness and consistency, dubbed the composite index score. 

Teams that tied in the countable standings received the exact same score. For example, in the event of a three-way tie for fourth place, all three teams were awarded a 4.0 mark, rather than an average (5.0) of the fourth, fifth, and sixth-place positions. 

All participating teams received a ranking team score in men's and women's cross country and golf, including instances where a team did not start and/or finish with the minimum number of participants required for a traditional team score. Only teams who successfully scored points at the indoor and outdoor track & field championship meets received a placing score for the award. 

"It is especially meaningful to win an award that honors George R. Bandy and the legacy he left on the Frontier Conference," Stepan said. "We are proud to represent Montana Tech and grateful to everyone who contributes to the culture and success of Oredigger athletics." 

2025-26 George R. Bandy Memorial All-Sports Award Standings 
1. Montana Tech, 3.083 
2. Carroll, 3.462 
3. Dakota State, 3.583 
4. Rocky Mountain, 4.083 
5. Dickinson State, 4.714 
6. Bellevue, 4.923 
7. Bismarck State, 6.182 
8. Valley City State, 6.929 
t-9. Providence, 7.000 
t-9. Mayville State, 7.000 
11. MSU-Northern, 7.889 
12. Montana Western, 7.900 

The George R. Bandy Memorial All-Sports Award was first presented after the 1982-83 season. See the full 2025-26 Bandy Award standings here.

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