South Dakota School of Mines Athletic Director Dick Kaiser received word Monday the Hardrocker Athletic Dept. has successfully completed the first year of NCAA Div. II candidacy and has been accepted into Year II candidacy.

“It’s a milestone step for Hardrocker athletics to get moved from candidacy Year I to candidacy Year II,” Kaiser said. “We view the phone call today as an important step forward in the NCAA process. We will continue to seek a conference affiliation which is important to our future, while we move forward toward full membership in NCAA D-II”.

In the second year of candidacy, SD Mines will now be recognized as a NCAA Div. II competitor to other NCAA opponents and the contests against the Hardrockers will count toward national and regional ratings.

Also at the candidacy Year II level, the Hardrockers will strive to schedule additional Div. II contests to fulfill the NCAA requirements.