As we begin 2016’s spring semester and our slow transition into the warmer half of the year, the spring sports teams look to heat things up as well.

Here are my top five spring story lines.

5. To start out its spring season, the North Dakota State baseball team will host multiple camps to get into the swing of things. Beginning its games in February, the team has multiple match ups as they begin play. Similar to the baseball team, the NDSU softball team is also hosting a winter clinic before its season begins. The softball team will begin its games in early February in Austin, Texas competing in the University of Texas Tournament.

4. As the NDSU men’s basketball team eases into the spring section of its season, the competition gets more serious. With a record of 13-6, the team looks to make big moves heading into the Summit League Tournament (held in early March). In the past two years, the Bison have broken into the NCAA Tournament. Looking to do this again, the team is aiming to finish the regular season with plenty of success.

NDSU’s women’s basketball team also continues to push through to finish out its season with hopes for success in the Summit League Tournament. With a losing record of 5-14, the girls hope to improve its record to finish out the season on a high note and perhaps higher playoff seed.

3. Beginning its spring competition on Feb. 22, both the men’s and women’s golf teams become increasingly more committed to its practices. With solid performances before the winter break, both teams have its eyes on the prize — the Summit League Championship in April and May.

2. The NDSU track and field Twitter account tweeted recently that the top five shot putters in the history of indoor track and field are currently on the team, Alex Renner, Payton Otterdahl, Brandt Berghuls, Steffan Stroh and Conrad Schwarzkopf. The women’s team also boasts plenty of talent in the shot put category with sophomore Courtney Pasiowitz, recording a new personal record, as well as Katelyn Weimerskirch, who missed her personal record by a half of an inch at the Bison Classic on Saturday.

1. Finally, one spring athlete in particular has had a spectacular year already. Entering into the spring season of her senior year, Erin Teschuk already has a 26th place finish in the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships last fall. At the Bison Classic Saturday, Teschuk completed an NCAA-leading mile time of 4:34.77. While this isn’t her overall personal record, beginning the outdoor season at such a good spot is bound to put her in a good place for this season. Teschuk was recently named Summit League Athlete of the Week for the fifth time in her career and also holds seven school records (four of which are indoor).