March 6, 2024

STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION BRIEF

Potential university policy targets personal motor vehicles with lithium-ion batteries

JACK MCCARTY Entertainment Editor

Electric scooters will most likely not be coming to South Dakota State’s University’s campus according to Student’s Association Vice President, Hayden Bentz.

Government Affairs Chair Michael Garofalo initially answered a question regarding the progress of getting electric scooters on campus during a Q&A with Brookings City Council members by saying, “We worked on it, but we haven’t heard any interest from any vendors, so we’ll keep it at the top of our minds.”

Bentz immediately followed up this comment and definitively said “As of right now, we are no longer exploring scooter options on campus or the city limits,” with Garofalo then saying “I know that in my conversations with the city we always talk about transportation, something that’s important to us, so it’s something to come down the road.”

This all came before Student Affairs Vice President, Micheala Willis, talked about a new university policy being vetted that would ban any personal vehicle with a lithium-ion battery from being inside any building. This ban includes electric scooters as well as electric skateboards.

The reason behind this ban is fire safety. Lithium-ion battery fires are extremely hard to extinguish, and because personal motor vehicles are primarily used outside, they can take more damage which increases the risk of a fire. Willis said that is the reason that personal motor vehicles are being singled out and no other personal electronic devices that also contain these kinds of relatively common batteries.

The meeting began with an address from members of the city council. Mayor Ope Niemeyer, council members Brianna Doran and Wayne Avery, City Manager Paul Briseno and Public Information Officer Sherry Fuller Bordewyk. They

had a few messages that they wanted to make clear before opening the floor up to questions.

Their primary focus is to encourage community engagement. “The core reason why we are here today is because we want to reiterate to the students and the student body that your voice is important,” Doran said. “There are a lot of current ways you can engage with the city council.”

She talked about the different ways people can interact with them like coming to their meetings, commenting and downloading an app called “Engage Brookings,” following them on social media, emailing them directly and even talking to them on the street or in a store if you see them.

The council also has a program called “Coffee with Council” where you can sit down, have a cup of coffee and speak with council members. They are looking to host at least one here on campus.

The mayor talked about the housing

project that they are working on. “We are engaged right now to build more workforce housing,” Niemeyer said. “We got some houses that are a little more affordable for those who are coming into entry level positions that choose to stay

here in Brookings.”

After the meeting with the city council, members from the Women in Concrete and Construction Club came up to pitch their club constitution and give more information about what they do and who they are for.

“I wanted to create this club for women at SDSU, whether you’re in construction, the concrete industry, STEM or engineering. It’s really not limited, but it’s a place where women can come together who work in male dominated fields and be encouraged, motivated and learn about different aspects of the industry,” c lub President Emma Roth said.

“This is something that is really near and dear to my heart because I wish I grew up in the industry, but I wish I had something like that.”

The club’s constitution was ratified with all present members voting yes.

The SA meeting ended with seven bills being passed. Bills 23-7-A through 23-9-A all focused on revising and clarifying specific language used in the association’s constitution, and bills 23-10A through 23-13-A focused on organizing and clarifying information about student advisors. All seven bills passed.

UPD Daily Crime Log

The following were included in the University Police Department daily crime log from FEB. 28 to MAR. 2 WEDNESDAY,

•

•

Collegian photo by JACK MCCARTY

Brookings Mayor Opeke ‘Ope’ Niemeyer and Brookings city council members address the senate regarding their focus on encouraging community engagement on Monday at the Lewis and Clark room located at the University Student Union.

Peterson, Bentz look forward to running for second term

SA President Trinity Peterson and Vice President Hayden Bentz run for second term uncontested

TAYLOR TENNANT Reporter

The Students’ Association election is coming up and we already know who the winners are for the president and vice president race.

Trinity Peterson and Hayden Bentz are running uncontested for the president and vice president positions, giving them a one-way ticket to victory.

Peterson is from Willow Lake, S.D. majoring in political science and agricultural leadership. Bentz is from Rapid City, S.D. majoring in human biology and business economics.

Last year’s election shaped where Peterson and Bentz are today. Peterson started in the vice president position, but quickly had to step into the president’s position after Nick Grote stepped down in April, just weeks after the election.

“It wasn’t my plan; I like to be prepared,” Peterson said. She gives credit to Bentz for making the transition easier.

Bentz stepped into the vice president position after Peterson became president.

“I humbly accepted the request from Trinity,” Bentz said. “She called and asked me to be vice president and work alongside her. I told her I would be honored to serve in that role.”

When it came down to running for the president and vice president positions again, Bentz knew he would run with Peterson again if she asked. Over the last year, he has found it rewarding to work with Peterson.

Peterson said she wanted to run again because of the people she connects with throughout the year.

“I enjoy meeting people and making a difference and, ultimately, it is my job to make students’ lives easier.”

Now that Peterson and Bentz have known each other for almost a year, they said they feel confident to serve as the president and vice president of the SA for another year, something that is rare. Records show that past presidents and vice presidents have served for more than a year, but never together.

“It is unusual to see a president and vice president run for a second term as a partnership, so we want to see that happen,” Bentz said.

Some common issues that were seen throughout this past year was the disconnect between the faculty and administration as well as not enough student voices being brought to the table.

“Those are both important within the Students’ Association, so it is something that we will work on during our next term,” Peterson said.

Peterson also noted that dietary restrictions were a big challenge for them this year. “I’m gluten-free and I haven’t seen a lot of gluten-free options.” She noted that it’s ok for her because she’s not severely allergic, but it’s not ok for somebody who is.

Besides dietary restrictions, Bentz found some different challenges that he faced throughout this last year. His main one being learning how to manage a team.

“Everyone has their own thoughts on things.”

He also joked that it is daunting to go into a meeting with President Barry Dunn. He has learned that Dunn is always gracious and welcoming in every meeting he attends.

Besides some of the challenges Peterson and Bentz faced throughout this last year, they also think they have compiled

many accomplishments. They point to the general activity fee, or GAF, plan. Over the next seven years, the GAF will be $50.85 per credit hour. Along with that, there has been more funding for student organizations, Rabbit Ride, and Miller Wellness Center renovation.

“All of these things will take a while to see, but we are starting to see them now,” Peterson said.

Bentz said the year has been a good opportunity to grow his confidence and offer his insight to students on campus. He also has found it to be a humbling experience to represent all the students on campus and see the different views they have on things.

The relationship that Peterson and Bentz built this last year by working together on various projects has helped them become more effective for the campus as a whole and guiding them to run for a second term, they said.

The planning process for running in this year’s election started in October and November. Since then, Peterson and Bentz said they have been expanding on what they are already working on, implementing their plans and creating more interaction and communication with student organizations.

The plans they have for next year reflect on some of the challenges they have faced. They will continue to work on those, but they also have other plans.

They have not found a lot when it comes to mental health resources, so a plan of theirs is to create an online mental health portal for students seeking mental health resources. Creating a Dakota corps scholarship on high need areas of the workplace that is geared toward healthcare specifically, is another major plan they have for this upcoming year.

Their slogan is, “Forward Together,” emphasizing everything they plan to do this year will be together as a team. One of the biggest things they plan to work on together is the GAF.

“The GAF plan set aside funds for transportation five years ago and it never came to be because of the pandemic,” Peterson said. They plan to bring that up again and use those funds for transportation.

They also plan to establish a task force to allocate money, hear student input, and make sure they keep in contact with their already existing partnerships for their next term.

The SA election is March 19-20, just after students come back on campus from spring break.

Why should anyone care:

The Students’ Association Senate serves as a representative body to bring the voice of SDSU students to university administration, faculty, staff, state legislators and the South Dakota Board of Regents. Throughout this last year, SA leaders have testified in favor of mental health funding as well as funding for the rodeo arena. In the Senate, they determine where student money gets spent.

The SA also allocates student fee funds to support various campus entities, facilities and many student organizations. They oversee the student organization budget which falls between $400,000 - $500,000. Last year, they had to pull from their reserve funds to fund a total of $477,000 to student organizations. They also oversee student money that goes to athletics, the Student Union and the Wellness Center.

Submitted Photo

Students’ Association president Trinity Peterson and vice president Hayden Bentz plan to run again for second term as a partnership.

The Brookings Regional Humane Society struggles after three animal hoarding cases

KENNEDI LIEN-MARTENS Reporter

The Brookings Regional Humane Society is struggling to recover after dealing with three animal hoarding cases in 2023.

Months later, a strain on the Humane Society caused them to take in 31 more animals in addition to normal intakes when the Humane Society only has only nine kennels.

Maia Moore, executive director of the Humane Society, is the only full-time employee who handles shelter operations.

“It’s difficult to get our feet back underneath us,” Moore said. “The last few months have been challenging especially. It has dramatically impacted our ability to take in animals from the rest of the community.”

The Humane Society still has half of the animals from the hoarding cases, Moore said.

Animal hoarders are known as someone who has a large number of animals in which they fail to provide nutrition, sanitary condition, and veterinary care, and they fail to act on the deteriorating condition of the animals and their environment.

The most recent hoarding case occurred in late December when the Brookings County Sheriff’s Department and Brookings County Animal Control responded to reports of animal neglect. Authorities found 11 dogs living in harmful conditions and all were sent to the Humane Society.

The back-to-back-to-back neglect intakes forces the Humane Society to turn away additional animals. Since the Humane Society works through any behavioral or medical needs, it causes a strain on staffing, time, space and funds.

“We aren’t set up to take in 20 dogs, so we are all hands-on deck until the crisis passes,” Moore says. “Which it has not since these started.

This has had a huge financial effect on the Humane Society as well.

“Every animal needed a great amount

of medical care such as vaccines, deworming and spay and neuter,” Moore said.

Dick Peterson is treasurer on the Brookings Humane Society Board of Di-

rectors. He said the 2023 financial report shows $19,391.57 was spent on medical expenses. It was one of the organization’s biggest expenses.

Brianna Johnson, president of the

board of directors, said, “We have to rely heavily on our amazing foster network to help us house the dogs from the hoarding cases until they are ready for adoption.”

Some dogs aren’t a good fit for a foster home or have extra medical needs.

Johnson said many animals have to stay in the Humane Society’s facility and may occupy a kennel for some time.

“We will have some animals from these cases in our care and it drastically limits us,” she said. “While we are proud to provide the care for the animals in the hoarding cases, the fact that it prevents the Humane Society from assisting the broader Brookings community weights heavy on all our hearts.”

The issue of too little space can’t be solved quickly for the Humane Society, but Johnson said a good way for others to make an immediate impact on the organization is to donate money.

Large intakes like the hoarding cases put a strain on the budget. Donations help pay for supplies, food, medication, building rent and equipment.

“We have a great community and many groups of people who have stepped up to support us,” Johnson said. “I want to make sure they know how much that means to the people and animals of the Humane Society.”

Peterson said, “Community keeps us going.”

How to Help:

- Donate to the Brookings Humane Society shelter directly

- Check out brookingshumane.

org to find online Wishlist

- Donate Items

- Donate your Hy-Vee Receipts

-Become a Foster

- Volunteer

Collegian photo by MEGAN IVES River; a 1-year-old female American Bulldog available for adoption at The Brookings Regional Humane Society.

City Council accepts bid for pickleball courts

SERENA DAVIS Reporter

At the Brookings City council meeting, Tuesday, Feb. 27 the committee voted to reject Base Bid B and accept low Base Bid A on the Pickleball courts project.

Base Bid B was about the lighting surrounding the new upcoming courts. Kristen Zimmerman, Parks, Recreation and Forestry director, presented to the council o and explained the reasoning for Base Bid A vs Base Bid B. Zimmerman said that they were able to get greater functionality from Sourcewell contract, including an auto off function for the lights and increased warranty and more lumens.

“More lumens allow for a more competitive play for pickleball,” she said.

Zimmerman also said that they will be coming back with an adjustment to expand the courts to again allow for more competitive play. She said they plan to put an alleyway in down the middle, so they can have an entry into each court instead of one for all the courts.

The construction on the $397,000 project is set to begin as soon as the weather conditions are favorable. Zimmerman said they hope to have it completed by end of August at the latest with a ribbon cutting in the fall.

The current plan is eight post tension concrete courts. Post tension concrete is said to last much longer than traditional concrete.

The council voted to reject Base Bid B in a 7-0 vote.

Why should I check my credit report?

LORNA SABOE-WOUNDED HEAD Family Resource Management Field Specialist SDSU Extension

Many people don’t pay attention to the value of the credit report. Monitoring your credit report is as important as paying bills on time. A positive credit history can help when you are applying for a loan, getting approval for housing, and even applying for a job. The information in your credit report can impact your financial wellbeing.

A credit history is measured through credit reports and scores. A credit report is a statement that contains your personal information (addresses, phone numbers, legal names) and your credit activity and current credit situation. Information from the credit report is used to determine your credit score. Errors on your credit report are common and can range from simple mistakes like an incorrect address to more serious issues like identity theft. By regularly reviewing your report, you can quickly identify any errors and take steps to correct them before they cause significant harm to your credit score.

Identify theft is a common concern in today’s digital age, and your credit report can serve as an early warning sign against fraud. Monitoring your report allows you to spot any suspicious or unauthorized transactions, accounts, or inquiries that may indicate potential identity theft. If you know that you do not have information on a report, such as loans you have taken out, you should still check your report to make sure no one is fraudulently using your information.

Your credit report can also provide valuable information into your overall financial health and behavior. With your report, you can track changes in your credit score, monitor your credit utilization, and identify areas for improvement. This information can empower you to make informed decisions about your finances, such as paying down debt, disputing inaccuracies or adjusting your spending to boost your creditworthiness.

Your credit report is a tool that can significantly influence financial opportunities and well-being. Make a habit of regularly checking your credit report at www.annualcreditreport.com to check for errors, safeguard against identity

theft, understand your financial standing, and monitor your progress.

To learn more about managing your finance, go to the SDSU Extension website (https://extension.sdstate.edu/ family/family-finances).

Identity theft is a common concern in today’s digital age, and your credit report can serve as an early warning sign against fraud.

REAGAN MONSON Reporter

A quick check on the internet site Gitnux.org shows some interesting facts about spring break.

For example, research shows that 1.5 million students nationwide will travel during the break and each one spends $1,080 on average.

With all that in mind, here are some helpful tips to ensure that you save some cash, and keep your health in check during your free time in the coming week.

To prioritize your health while traveling April Schneider, a nurse practitioner at South Dakota State University campus, provided tips on how to stay well.

“Depending on where you’re traveling, stay hydrated,” Schneider said. “Electrolyte drinks are more beneficial than water.”

If you plan on drinking, be aware that alcohol affects people differently based on your weight and metabolism, the human body filters roughly one ounce of alcohol per hour.

“We recommend about one drink an hour and no more than three to four drinks an evening,” Schneider said. “Heat will also increase the effects of alcohol.”

“When there is recreational drug or alcohol use, our situational awareness is lowered,” Schneider said. “Not being able to tell an Uber where to take you or not noticing the person staring at you in a bar, are some of the ways we lose awareness.”

In terms of things you can do to increase your situational awareness, make sure to “Cover your drinks and don’t accept a drink from anyone you don’t know,” Schneider said.

Most people commonly associate water with fun, but in certain cases it can be dangerous. In countries outside of the U.S, the water can contain bacteria that will make you sick.

“Don’t put ice in your drinks because the water might not be safe for consumption,” Schneider said. “Hotel hot tubs are hit or miss. Hot tubs can contain fungus that can be transmitted from person to person.”

SPRING BREAK

The do’s, don’ts, and the probably

Riptides are another hazard that might be unknown for land-locked Midwesterners. They occur when the ocean current swiftly pulls you out from shore faster than you can swim back in. It’s recommended that you swim parallel to the shore, not back toward it, to escape the pull of the water.

Most students assume that your health insurance will cover you wherever you are. For some though, that’s not the case.

“We have some patients that are only covered in the state of Minnesota,” Schneider said.

Schneider suggests that if you aren’t sure, ask your health provider if you’re covered where you plan on traveling.

Travel costs can also be a concern during the break. Make sure to take time and check that you’re getting the best deal on your trip when planning. Be aware that some websites will promote the “best deal for travel” but in reality, they’re being paid to promote those locations.

Karen Gores, a travel agent in Brookings, said that the South Padre Islands and Florida are good locations for students to travel to.

“Cancun is usually a good value because you can do an allinclusive resort,” Gores said.

Excursions are also something that students should consider before leaving.

“It depends on where you go, snorkeling obviously is one and parasailing,” Gores said.

Activities like these can add unexpected costs to the trip so it’s a good idea to plan ahead.

Whether you plan on staying home or traveling somewhere far away, you can apply these tips to make the most of your

spring break.

Photo by Pedro Monteiro on Unsplash

Bangladesh Night showcases diversity in Brookings

MICKALE DOHRER Reporter

The Bangladesh Club hosted their annual Bangladesh Night in the Volstorff Ballroom Sunday, March 3. The event showcased Bangladeshi culture and reinforced the good connection between Bangladesh and International students with South Dakota State University and the Brookings community. The event highlighted important aspects of Bangladeshi culture. Traditional Bangladeshi dances, songs, food and clothing were all put on full display.

The event began with opening statements from important members of the South Dakota State and Brookings community. One of the speakers was mayor of Brookings, Ope Niemeyer and another included the President of the Bangladesh Club, Karabi Saha.

Saha said that the event “introduced our culture and they are proud to share that with Brookings and SDSU.”

Following the speakers, dinner was served. The dishes served include Chot Poti, Polao, Goat Curry, Bangladeshi mixed vegetables, Egg Korma and Rice Pudding called Firni.

After dinner, a musical choir

performed and other dances, songs, and even a fashion show was performed and showcased the Bangladeshi culture.

Mohanmad Maruf Billah, a Bangladeshi student here at SDSU was also in attendance. Billah said his favorite part of Bangladesh Night was the traditional song and dance performed.

Saha said that the most difficult part in running an event like this is “coordinating with everyone and doing it correctly.”

Saha also said that another difficult part in running an event like this is “putting on a good show, but enjoying yourself while you do it.”

The event brought SDSU and Brookings together with Bangladeshi students and international students in general. Events like this are to create an environment that helps give international students a better atmosphere, according to Saha.

Saha said that events like this help give a community to international students.

To create a better environment for international students more events like this are needed.

“More opportunities to showcase our sports would be a good step in

showcasing different culture,” Billah said. Kirsten Linke, head of International Student Offices, was also in attendance. Linke’s favorite part about the event was the food and the student efforts in running the event. While Linke enjoyed the event, she also believes in the value of events like these. Linke said that events like these are important for SDSU and the Brookings community because it gives an opportunity for students to share their culture and showcase what makes their culture special.

Billah said one thing that shocked him about America is the difference in the food, and the lack of traditional clothing. Many international students face similar shocks that Billah faces. Saha also faced similar culture shocks when coming to America. Saha said one shocking thing about South Dakota was how cold the weather was.

Many international students feel that SDSU and the Brookings community are very welcoming towards them. Saha said that everyone is very nice and welcoming.

Collegian photo by MICKALE DOHRER Memebers of the musical choir perform at Bangladash night Sunday, March 3 in the Volstroff ballroom for their annual Bangladash night.

KENNETH REBELLO News Editor

The Child and Family Resource Network hosted its first ‘Common-Sense Parenting’ class at Pugsley Hall Tuesday, Feb. 20.

“It is a series of six classes that will help parents work with their child if they have any discord in their home life,” said Janet Stange, program coordinator and training specialist. “It is your typical behavior that you will view with kids as they grow up and develop.”

The classes are designed to help parents determine why their kids are behaving in a certain manner and aims to teach them about working with their children to bring a positive change.

“A lot of times, kids don’t understand that there are consequences to what they do,” Stange said. “The class helps parents explain the consequences and give consequences that are appropriate to what the behaviors have been.”

The program began in November 2022 and complements another series of classes offered for parents that have kids ages newborn to 3-years-old.

“There was a long period of time where the younger age parenting series was the only parenting that we provided,” said April Flemming, assistant outreach coordinator. “This partnership was available and Janet was able to step in as coordinator and to learn all about it and it aligns with serving families.”

Each week, the classes are laid out to concentrate on a certain aspect. The six-week class builds up on topics such as effective discipline, effective praise, navigating problem behaviors, setting children for success and many more. Upon course completion, certificates are awarded and approved by Court Services and The Department of Social Services.

“With all of our classes and the other parenting series, it is important to our grant funder that we collect pre-knowledge and post-knowledge from [attendees]

because we want to make a difference,” Flemming said. Stange explained that the reason behind scheduling classes one or two weeks apart was to allow parents to apply these theories and knowledge in daily life experiences. She shares how important it is for parents to try working these things with their children.

“It starts right off from the beginning with saying if you don’t have respect for your child, your child won’t have respect for you,” Stange said. “So you need to use

your head in a way that you treat your child but you need to use your heart in developing that relationship so you’re going on that journey together.”

Stange further discussed demographics of parents attending these classes; however, the classes are not restricted to just parents, but open to anyone that regularly works with kids of school age.

“A lot of the people that attend the class are parents that are working with kids of ages of five to 16,” Stange said. “The classes would be appropriate for anyone that works with school age kids and at times we have had grandparents that would come in.”

According to Stange, the class currently has five attendees taking the course with an age range of late 20s to late 40s.

“We don’t have really young parents in this class at all,” Stange said. “You also have to remember that this is school age, so most of the parents [in the class] are of a wide age range.”

Stange believes that students at SDSU could attend these classes but if they believe it will benefit them. Participation within group discussion is essential and becomes fruitful if students were to work around with school age children.

“To be able to participate, they need to have a reason to be there,” Stange said. “If they work with kids of that age could be a reason, if they’re raising younger siblings would be a reason and they could learn about it too but we don’t want someone to come and just sit in the background and need people to participate instead.”

Stange speaks of challenges faced by parents to attend the parenting classes held Tuesday evenings and how parenting responsibilities affect attending classes.

“These are children and some of them can’t stay home alone and the class does not have child care,” Stange said. “At times, parents can’t come because they don’t have someone to take care of their children and so we’re trying to figure out a time that would work for a variety of different parents.”

APRIL FLEMMING

The Child and Family Resource Network plans to find a solution to incorporate childcare to help parents navigate this issue. Currently, the parenting classes offer an option to attend remotely; however, it has its own drawbacks.

“For the first year, all parents had to come to us [face-to-face],” Stange said. “Starting in January, we have the zoom option for parents that don’t live nearby and we’re not sure if that’s working as parents drop out and some of them do not know the technology.”

The parenting classes are funded through a grant provided by Child Protection Services, which is a part of the Department of Social Services. Parents can attend these classes for no cost.

“Some parents have had difficulties with children like kids getting out of control and it could be anything like kids getting home late or getting into trouble,” Stange said. “If those things occur and parents really need help, then the police department or court services or places that end up getting involved recommend that they attend the parenting class.”

Given the circumstances, some parents need to attend these classes through court orders, but, Stange recalls the surprising fact that most parents attending this class join on their own accord and ask for support with the passion of learning to better serve their children.

Flemming informed how SDSU plays an important role in these classes indirectly such as promoting and marketing, accessibility of technology and space provided at no cost.

“We have had faculty as our big supporters of spreading the word,” Flemming said. “It takes a lot of channels to spread the word in order to get people to feel comfortable to walk up the steps to attend these classes.”

The trainer for parenting classes, Kelly Trenhaile, is a community trainer and has worked with school age and pre-school children for over 20 years. Flemming elaborated on requirements for trainers and certification needed to have proper integrity.

“She [Trenhaile] has been involved in a lot of trainings through the work she did,” Stange said. “She also has personal experiences through her family that she could relate to a lot of individual things with

parents and you need to have someone that is extremely accepting of parents where they are at.”

Stange provided insights on how similar and different parenting procedures are when compared to different generations. She believes that post-pandemic, people are more open to asking for help and parenting is just one of the aspects.

“There aren’t any requirements for people to be parents,” Stange said. “Some people are taken by a surprise when they become parents and they realize how much work and commitment it is, and I think that is something that happens in every generation.”

Stange feels that around 50 years ago, families were much closer to each other and proximity of distance between members were less.

“Some people are taken by surprise when they become parents and they realize how much work and committment it is, and I think that is something that happens in generation.”every

According to Stange, parents constantly look for support and if they do not have that extended family, they find support through these classes.

Stange hopes to host a session in the future in collaboration with the Boys and Girls Club to further combat issues of childcare.

“What we’re planning to do is to collaborate with public schools because the principals get information and share it with families,” Stange said. “Public schools have been very supportive of this and maybe we can work out a situation where we have a class at one of the elementary schools to lower the barriers.”

The next series of classes begin Thursday, April 11. Attendees can register for these classes by contacting the Child and Family Resource Network office or registering through their website.

‘CRAZY BUSY ALL DAY’

Shoppers flock to downtown boutique crawl

KENNEDI LIEN-MARTENS Reporter

Seven businesses participated in the Downtown Brookings Boutique Crawl last Saturday.

A boutique crawl is a special event where a group of boutique shops come together to create a day full of shopping and fun. It’s a chance to shop local and support the community. The boutiques offer complimentary sips, treats and discounts.

Once arriving at any of the stores, customers were offered a “passport” that guided their shopping. For each store they visited, they could get a stamp that earned them a chance to get a prize valued over $100, but only if they visited all seven stores.

The event was full of all sorts of people walking downtown with shopping bags from the boutiques.

The boutiques had a range of discounts, treats, fun things to sip on and a spin-to-win wheel.

Jeryn Christensen, the owner of Be Still Boutique, came up with the idea for the event.

“I created this event to add more of a focus on the boutiques we have downtown,” she said. “There are seven of us which made for a fun day of shopping!”

Plus, she knew if she created a store-focused event it would get more attention and bring a variety of people in.

“It has been crazy busy all day,” she ordered 500 of the “passport” cards, and by 2 p.m. some stores had run out. She had only 30, Christensen said.

But it was the perfect time for this event since spring and spring break are right around the corner

Her message to her customers is that you can stay in town and still find affordable, cute and trendy clothes.

One customer, Kennedy Bender, a student at South Dakota State, visited four out of seven stores. She said she would love to see this event again since it was a fun day to get out, walk around and spend money.

“Everyone is friendly, and there are a lot of cute clothes and sales, especially with spring break coming up,” Bender said.

Emerald Grace Clothing Co. owner Erica Bousema

Collegian photo by KENNEDI LIEN-MARTENS

A group of happy shoppers proudly holding their haul they bought during the Brookings Boutique Crawl. The event was held March 2 and was a success for all the businesses involved.

“We are always recommending our customers to shop at our neighbor boutiques,” Bender said. “So, it was an easy decision for us to participate in this event.”

Going into the event Bousema said she was anticipating a fun and lively weekend, and her experience with the boutique crawl went great and was even busier than expected.

The spin-to-win wheel allowed their customers to win an exclusive discount or free item as a way to add fun and be interactive with the customers. Many of the boutiques had started to transition their stores into spring clothing and marked down all of their winter items.

“It is truly the best of both words in our store right now,” Bousema said. “There are so many fun, new items but we also have such great pieces on sale as well.”

Chelsea Lang, Socialight owner, said their customers got to experience fresh new arrivals, store deals, special treats and positive vibes.” Socialight joined the Crawl because they wanted to lift fellow boutique owners and help each other be successful.

Lang hopes this event brought people downtown who may have otherwise stayed home, and that it allowed shoppers to experience all of the boutiques downtown and maybe find a new regular stop.

“We love our Socialight girls and appreciate every time you stop in to visit us and shop for pretty things,” Lang said.

Customer, Sophia Williams, a student at South Dakota State, also attended the event where Williams went to five out of seven boutiques. Her experience at the Crawl included a lot of good clearance sales and fun spring clothing.

Williams shopped for hours, especially at Socialight.

“I just kept coming back to try more things on, and this event was a good excuse to get dressed up, get off campus and hang out with friends,” Williams said.

Williams said it was the perfect day to walk around Downtown Brookings. The expectations were set high, and the turnout was even better.

“I still want to keep doing it, per season, or once a year,” Christenson said.

·

·

·

·

Collegian photo by KENNEDI LIEN-MARTENS

The spin-to-win wheel that customers could spin to win prizes or discounts on items in the store. This is also where your ‘passport’ would be marked for this store, to get one step closer to being eligible to win an item worth over $100.

OASIS hosts calm coffee house event

ELLA WATERWORTH Reporter

Students show up for a calm and productive nightly Coffee House event at Kool Beans hosted by OASIS.

Kool Beans and OASIS partnered Monday night to create a peaceful evening for young adults wanting time to connect with friends, study for midterms and relax with a cup of coffee.

Brennen Schmitt, the pastor for OASIS said the purpose of the event was about connecting people and supporting them.

The connection aspect comes from the time spent being across the table from peers. Brennen said, “Jesus did ministry across the table.” And in the same way, OASIS sought to duplicate that bond through Monday’s event.

The second goal of this event was to show care and support to the attendees.

“This week being midterms for a lot of people is tough. So, if we can provide a cup of coffee and give you a chance to take a deep breath, we’re going to try our best to do that,” Brennen said.

This is the first time out of the past six years that the OASIS Coffee House events have been at Kool Beans. It usually is hosted at Gracepoint Wesleyan Church which is the church OASIS runs under.

Brennen says “We have built a relationship [with Kool Beans]. Kurt supports us in what we do, and we get to support him in what he does.” Kurt Osborne is a co-owner of Kool Beans and a supporter of Gracepoint as well as other businesses within the Brookings community.

When asked why Kool Beans partners with Gracepoint, Kurt says “It is a pretty powerful ministry and our relationship with the church is important.”

OASIS volunteers and employees roamed around the cafe, encouraging the guests.

Laura Peterson, a member of the lead-

ership team with OASIS, says this event was a “Nice time for everyone to come together outside a Sunday night to spend time together.”

This is a stressful time of the year as midterms are happening, motivation is running low, and the year is slowly coming to a close. This event was the perfect opportunity for young adults to take the night to loosen up in the calming environment the coffee shop offers. As more people flooded in, relationships were building and rekindling as a new week began.

Laura said Coffee House is a great time to “be in community with people you don’t always get to see within your usual week.”

Kool Beans was filled with conversations, as students took advantage of the free drinks, printed coloring sheets and a handful of board games available.

Addison Sedlacek, a student in attendance says, “The event was inviting to all with an open atmosphere and chatter filling the room. Fueling everyone’s desires the event offered four coffee drinks, and tea for all to enjoy.”

The Coffee House event started six years ago as an open-mic event. Since then, they have changed the purpose to better suit their audience. Brennen said it’s important to adapt the needs of those attending OASIS, and at this time in the semester, what is needed from them is a time to recharge with friends over a special treat. OASIS is set on making their services necessary and practical.

From 7 p.m to 9 p.m. young adults soaked up their time in fellowship and good company at Kool Beans.

More events by OASIS are coming. On April 7, they will serve food at 7 p.m. prior to the 8 p.m. service which kick starts a new series, “In Everything”. And on April 18, a Community Serve night will take place at 6 p.m. This is an opportunity to serve the Brookings community in partnership with local nonprofits.

UPCOMING OASIS EVENTS

April 7: Serving food at 7 p.m. & start of new series, “In Everything” service at 8 p.m.

April 18: Community Serve Night at 6 p.m. -- Partner with nonprofits and work on service projects around the community

Submitted Photo

Students and OASIS members gathered at Kool Beans for a ‘peaceful evening’ in an effort to connect with others and to unwind during a midterms. During the event, there were free drinks, printed coloring sheets and many board games avaliable.

Softball collects ranked upset at Wooo Pig Classic

MARSHALL MINIHAN Sports Editor

In a six-game tournament, the SDSU softball team went 3-3 with a notable performance, upsetting No. 15 ranked Arkansas 7-3.

After the tournament, the Jackrabbits sit at 11-12 with two more tournaments to play before hitting the road for Summit League conference play on Mar. 23 against the University of South Dakota.

Their upset over No. 15 Arkansas was the second win against a ranked opponent in SDSU Division 1 history, with the first in 2023 against No. 20 Baylor.

“Everything that encompasses being a Jackrabbit is not falling down and taking the easy road, there isn’t a program here [at SDSU] that does that and we’re not going to be the first one,” said Kristina McSweeney, SDSU softball head coach.

“Putting them up against No. 5, No. 10 and No. 12, it doesn’t matter, at the end of the day, it’s about getting them to understand that we’re close and we can compete with them [ranked opponents] and we are able to beat them.”

Game 1: No. 16 Arkansas 3-4 (L)

In an eight-hit performance, the Jacks couldn’t rally back from behind as they fell to Arkansas in the first game of the tournament.

State hit the board first in the game with a Mia Jarecki home run into left field. Jarecki finished the night going 1-3 with an RBI.

However, their single-run lead didn’t last long as the Razorbacks brought home three scores after a two-shot homer and a sac fly RBI.

After falling 3-1 early, the Jacks battled hard as they yet again sent another ball over the fence, this time from Jocelyn Carrillo.

SDSU tied the game 3-all in the top of the fourth with Rozelyn Carrillo touching home off of a single from Akayla Barnard. The Freshman from Arkansas batted .500 on the night with two hits and an RBI.

The tie was short-lived as two doubles from the Razorbacks added one more to the scoreboard. Hannah Camenzind iced

the game for Arkansas, not allowing a single hit on the mound.

Game 2: Southeast Missouri 9-0 (W)

Seven strikeouts from Tori Kniesche and four RBIs from Jarecki sealed SDSU their first win of the tournament. Kniesche moves to 5-4 on the season after her five-inning performance.

South Dakota State touched home first with three scores in the first inning followed by two more runs in the four from a sacrifice fly by Jocelyn Carrillo and an RBI from Lindsey Culver.

SDSU ended the game early with four more runs scored in the fifth in Jarecki fashion as she sent a ball over the fence with juiced bases.

Game 3: Florida Atlantic 5-8 (L)

Five runs in the first and three more for good measure was what the Owls needed to fly over SDSU.

The Jacks scored their first run of the game in the bottom of the third when Barnard sent Jarecki home from third on a sacrifice fly. Jarecki sat on third since the start of their swings with a lead-off triple.

The deficit was cut to 5-6 in favor of the Owl’s at the bottom of the fourth from an RBI groundout and a three RBI triple from Culver.

FAU added two more in the fifth inning to seal the game 5-8.

With three pitchers seeing the mound, SDSU collected three total strikeouts while making contact with the ball on offense just six times to FAU’s 11.

Game 4: Southeast Missouri 9-1 (W)

Game two against SEMO saw a similar ending as its predecessor, scoring nine runs to the Redhawks’ one.

The bats were hot in the first, collecting five of their nine runs in the earliest inning.

Emma Osmundson’s double drove in Barnard and Jarecki, the first two scores of the game. Culver would return the favor to Osmundson as she sent one over the wall sending both Jackrabbits home. Abby Gentry secured the last run of the inning with an RBI groundout.

SDSU added one run in the second, two in the fourth and one in the fifth to secure the sweep over SEMO.

Jarecki went 4-4 from the plate with three runs and an RBI while Barnard and Hailey Herman combined for five strikeouts in five innings.

Game 5: No. 15 Arkansas 7-3 (L)

After allowing three scores in the first, senior Kniesche recovered and never let a

Razorback cross the plate again, securing nine total strikeouts throughout the course of the game.

SDSU got their bats moving in the top of the second, scoring three points of their own scored from a walk, RBI single and a sacrifice fly.

The three runs in the second were matched in the fourth as Barnard sent Jarecki home on an RBI single and a home run from Culver, hitting a 1-0 pitch over center to score two.

Now leading 6-3, State scored their final run of the game in the seventh inning on an RBI from Rozelyn Carillo.

Culver went 2-3 at the plate with two runs and two RBIs while Jarecki and Barnard went 1-3.

Catcher Brooke Dumont helped Kniesche with nine outs on defense with Rozelyn Carrillo, Barnard and Osmundson getting three outs a piece.

Game 6: Florida Atlantic 2-7 (L)

SDSU’s two game win streak came to an end in the final game of the tournament with FAU taking the sweep over the Jacks.

The two points scored for SDSU came in the fifth inning from hits by Dumont (homerun) and a sacrifice fly from Cheyanne Masterson, sending Rozelyn Carrillo home.

The Jacks struggled on the mound, amounting to two strikeouts through the course of the game, both from Shannon Lasey, one of three Jackrabbits to pitch in game six.

With their seven points, the Owls scored in four innings and tallied nine hits in the game.

Barnard ended the game with eight outs while Rozelyn Carrillo collected five of her own and three assists.

Up Next:

Now under .500 for the season, the Jacks will head southeast for battles against ranked ACC opponents No. 3 Duke and No. 14 Florida State. SDSU will play five games against the Blue Devils in Durham, North Carolina and then four against the Seminoles in Tallahassee, Florida.

Photo from SDSU Athletics

South Dakota State outfielder Lindsey Culver, who is batting .394 this season, has a team-high four home runs and 23 RBIs.

Draft stocks rise as former Jackrabbits compete in NFL Combine

MARSHALL MINIHAN Sports Editor

Over the weekend, three former South Dakota State football players participated in the NFL Combine, an invite-only skill camp for incoming draft players to put their skills to the test in Indianapolis, Indiana.

SDSU’s Isaiah Davis, Mason McCormick and Garret Greenfield set their alma mater’s record for most participants in the Combine.

“South Dakota State is a super special place,” said McCormick in his NFL Combine interview when asked if SDSU players were getting talked to by Power Five schools. “It’s done so much for us, so who are we to leave and go to a different school when South Dakota State has put us in the position where we are today? We are winning a lot of ball games; we played at a super high level so it was a no-brainer for all of us to stay.”

Greenfield and McCormick both lead an event for linemen with Greenfield also setting an NFL Combine record of 38.50 inches in the vertical jump, beating Indianapolis Colts’ tackle Blake Freeland’s 37-inch vertical jump set in 2023.

“We [McCormick and Greenfield] came in together [at SDSU], we were roommates, we have been through a lot

GARRET GREENFIELD

Prospect Grade: 5.89

40-yard: 5.22

10-yard Split: 1.77 seconds

Vertical: 38.5 inches

Broad Jump: 9’5”

3-Cone Drill: 7.76 seconds

20-yard Shuttle: 4.85 seconds

of stuff together and it’s been nice to bounce questions off of somebody who is kind of going through the same thing,” said McCormick.

Along with University of Central Florida offensive tackle Tyler Grable, McCormick led all linemen in the broad jump, an event that measures how far an athlete can jump while in a standing position.

The South Dakota native finished the combine with all top-10 scores in the NFL Next Gen Stats score breakdown. McCormick finished with a 93 athleticism score (most of any guard), a 77 total score (fourth most of guards) and a 62 production score (ninth most of guards).

According to NFL Analyst Lance Zierlein, one of the three-year team captain’s strengths is that he started 57 consecutive games at SDSU.

Four-time Super Bowl Champion and Executive Director of the Reese’s Senior Bowl Jim Nagy went to X, formally known as Twitter, to voice his opinion on the guard from South Dakota State.

“My favorite interaction [at the Combine] was with someone we didn’t invite to @seniorbowl,” said Nagy on social media. “NFL scouts have told us McCormick is one guy they wish they could’ve seen in Mobile [location of the Senior Bowl]. Hearing McCormick crushed his Combine interviews and then he blew up his testing

ISAIAH DAVIS

Prospect Grade: 6.14

40-yard: 4.57 seconds

10-yard Split: 1.58 seconds

Vertical: 34.5 inches

Broad Jump: 9’11”

Bench: 23 reps

& on-field work workout.”

Tailback Davis had the highest Prospect Grade out of the SDSU participants in the NFL Combine at a 6.14. This grade puts incoming prospects in 13 categories which classifies them from 5.50-8.0 on what they can do with their career with the highest at “the perfect prospect” and the lowest being “priority undrafted free agent.”

The Missouri native finished with a total score of 73, the 12th highest of backs behind notable names like Jonathon Brooks of Texas, Audric Estimé of Notre Dame and Blake Corum of Michigan.

Former Jackrabbit Davis stood out in the bench press event, where he benched 225 pounds 23 times, tied for fifth with Estimé and Dylan Laube, another FCS running back, hailing from the University of New Hampshire.

Greenfield, an Iowa native finished with a total score of 73 (16th among tackles) with an athleticism score of 82, seventh of tackles.

The NFL Draft will take place in Detroit, Michigan this year with the first round Thursday, April 26, rounds two and three Friday, April 27 and rounds four through seven Saturday, April 28.

MASON MCCORMICK

Prospect Grade: 5.85

40-yard: 5.08 seconds

10-yard Split: 1.71 seconds

3-Cone Drill: 7.59 seconds

20-yard Shuttle: 4.45 seconds

Broad Jump: 9’9”

‘My goal ... being a national champion’ Redshirt freshman grappler aims for postseason success

ALLEX MURRAY Reporter

Two-time world medalist and five-time state champion, Bennett Berge, prepares for his debut at the Big 12 Wrestling Championship as a No. 3 seed in hopes to qualify for nationals.

The Jackrabbit wrestling team will compete at the Big 12 Wrestling Championship that takes place March 9-10 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The outcome of the Big 12 Championship determines if wrestlers advance to the NCAA Championship.

Redshirt freshman Berge says that the team has been training for the national tournament throughout the entire season.

“The end of the year is about peaking at the right time and feeling good,” Berge said. “If we do that, our team will do pretty well.”

After closing the regular season with a Border Bell victory, Berge is ranked in the top 10 of the 184-pound weight class with a 15-3 record.

Berge had one of the most admirable high school careers in Minnesota history, earning five consecutive state individual titles in five different weight classes for Kasson-Mantorville. His impressive career led to be named 2022 Mr. Minnesota Wrestler of the Year.

The redshirt freshman continued to add to his long list of accomplishments by representing Team USA twice at the U20 Worlds Championships, bringing home two world medals, silver in 2022 and bronze in 2023.

“Bennett has brought accomplishments to the team; but it doesn’t stop there. He wants to continue to develop, improve and do bigger and better things,” said Jackrabbit wrestling head coach Damion Hahn. “Bennett is a competitor and doesn’t compete like a freshman does. His drive and demeanor are key to his overall success.”

Berge hopes to continue the theme of success at his debut in the Big 12 Championship and take one step closer to the NCAA Championship.

pare to achieve his goal of being a national champion. “I think growing up in the same household as Bennett and going through similar paths in the sport of wrestling, has made a positive impact on the coach and athlete relationship,” Brady Berge said.

“When it comes to my future goals, I’m trying my best to stay in the present,” Berge said. “My goal right now is being a national champion, hopefully I will accomplish that this year.”

The success in the sport of wrestling runs in Berge’s blood. Alongside Hahn on the coaching staff, Bennett’s older brother, Brady Berge, helps Bennett train and pre-

Before accepting an assistant coaching position for the Jackrabbits in 2021, Brady Berge competed at Pennsylvania State University and qualified for nationals twice.

“Bennett would come train with me in the summers while I was in college at a local club in Pennsylvania. It was amazing to see how much he improved in the four to six weeks he would visit me,” Brady Berge said. “It makes me happy that he loves the sport enough to continue to try to be the best wrestler and person he can be.”

Bennett Berge says that it is easy to trust his brother as a coach because Brady Berge has gained reliable knowledge while competing on the biggest wrestling stages for some of the best coaches in the world.

During the final minutes of each warm-up, the Berge

brothers take a moment to focus and lock into the match. As a superstition, Brady squeezes Bennett’s neck, taps his chest and slaps his butt before he takes the mat.

The Minnesota native keeps an effort-dominated mindset while preparing for the Big 12 Championship. The Jackrabbits preach the importance of maximum effort, as they can only control themselves on the mat, Hahn said. This mindset has led to Bennett’s past victories and will hopefully assist in success in the upcoming tournaments.

On March 9-10, Bennett Berge will wrestle at the Big 12 Championship in the 184-pound weight class in Tulsa, Oklahoma, which is one step closer to meeting his goal of being a national champion.

“My mindset is all effort,” said Bennett Berge. “If I give it my all and control what I can control, good things usually happen.”

him a scholarship. Ever since then, Rogers has remained committed to the program as he looks to continue the legacy Stiegelmeier started.

Photo from SDSU Athletics

Bennett Berge, who is seeded third at the Big 12 Championships, wraps up an opponent in the 86 kg weight class at the U20 World Team Trials in Geneva, Ohio, over the summer.

BENNETT BERGE

Jackrabbits enter Summit League Championship undefeated

AUSTIN SENGER Sports Reporter

The South Dakota State women’s basketball team has been on a tear in Summit League play. The Jacks have ran the table in back-to-back years.

The Jacks have won the Summit League regular season championship for the fourth year in a row and are 10-time Summit League Champions under head coach Aaron Johnston since they joined the Summit League in 2007. SDSU hasn’t lost a Summit League regular season contest in their last 47 games. But the team had several setbacks before and during this season due to injuries the team faced. But with the additions to two walk-ons and players starting to get healthy, the Jacks are currently on an 18-game win streak.

The closest team to the Jacks are the second seeded Bison of North Dakota State. NDSU won eight consecutive contests until their loss to the Jacks last Saturday at Frost Arena. NDSU was the second seed last year but fell in the first round to Kansas City.

Round one of the Summit League Tournament is set for Friday at the Denny Sanford PREMIERE Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

No. 1 South Dakota State Jackrabbits (24-5, 16-0 Summit League)

• Head coach: Aaron Johnston

• Key players: Forward Brooklyn Meyer is averaging 17.2 ppg on 58% shooting and 8 rpg; guard Paige Meyer is averaging 14.7 ppg on 52% shooting and 41% from deep.

• Team stats: Averaging 74.7 ppg and allowing only 60.2 ppg.

• First-round matchup : Winner of Omaha and Kansas City.

• Fun Fact: Second straight year the Jacks are undefeated in Summit League

play and the only team in Summit League history to do so.

No. 2 North Dakota State Bison (19-10, 13-3 Summit League)

• Head coach: Jory Collins

• Key players: Elle Evans is averaging 15.6 ppg on 47% shooting and Heaven Hamling is averaging 14.8 ppg on 42% shooting.

• Team stats: Averaging 76.6 ppg and allowing 69.1 ppg.

• First-round matchup: Denver

• Fun Fact: Haven’t won a Summit League Tournament Championship.

No. 3 Oral Roberts Golden Eagles (20-9, 11-5 Summit League)

• Head coach: Kelsi Musick

• Key players: Sophomore guard Taleyah Jones is averaging 17.0 ppg on

43% shooting; Grad Student guard Hannah Cooper is averaging 14.7 ppg on 42% shooting.

• Team stats: Averaging 82.1 ppg and allowing 75.1 ppg.

• First-round matchup: North Dakota

• Fun Fact: First time winning 20 games in a season since 2011-2012.

No. 4 South Dakota Coyotes (20-11, 9-7 Summit League)

• Head coach: Kayla Karius

• Key players: Junior guard Grace Larkins is averaging 15.8 ppg on 50% shooting; junior guard Kendall Holmes is averaging 11.5 ppg on 38% shooting.

• Team stats: Averaging 71.7 ppg and allowing 64.4 ppg.

• First-round matchup: St. Thomas

• Fun Fact: Leads Summit League in assists (52 more than second place).

No. 5 St. Thomas Tommies (15-15, 7-9 Summit League)

• Head coach: Ruth Sinn

• Key players: Guard Amber Scalia is averaging 16.6 ppg on 40% shooting; junior guard Jade Hill is averaging 13.5 ppg on 37% shooting.

• Team stats: Averaging 68.2 ppg and allowing 71.2 ppg.

• First-round matchup: South Dakota

• Fun Fact: Third year in Division 1.

No. 6 North Dakota Fighting Hawks (9-20, 5-11 Summit League)

• Head coach: Mallory Bernhard

• Key players: Fifth year student Kacie Borowicz is averaging 20.8 ppg on 40% shooting;forward Kiyah Hurst is averaging 12.4 ppg on 42% shooting.

• Team stats: Averaging 66.8 ppg and allowing 76.1 ppg.

• First-round matchup: Oral Roberts

• Fun Fact: Has made one appearance in the NCAA Division 1 tournament in

2014.

No. 7 Denver Pioneers (8-21, 5-11 Summit League)

• Head coach: Doshia Woods

• Key players: Sophomore guard Jordan Jones is averaging 14.8 ppg on 39% shooting;Sophomore guard Emma Smith is averaging 12.8 ppg on 37% shooting.

• Team stats: Averaging 64.5 ppg and allowing 69.6 ppg.

• First-round matchup: North Dakota State

• Fun Fact: Tied for most three point shots made per game.

No. 8 Kansas City Roos (12-19, 3-13 Summit League)

• Head coach: Dionnah Jackson-Durrett

• Key player: Sophomore guard Alayna Contreras is averaging 10.4 ppg on 37% shooting; Junior guard Nariyah Simmons is averaging 9.6 ppg on 37% shooting.

• Team stats: Averaging 64.8 ppg and allowing 66.1 ppg.

• First-round matchup: Omaha

• Fun Fact: rejoined the Summit League in 2020

No. 9 Omaha Mavericks (7-22, 3-13 Summit League)

• Head coach: Carrie Banks

• Key players: Junior guard Grace Cave is averaging 12.4 ppg on 42% shooting; guard Aaliyah Stanley is averaging 11.8 ppg on 46% shooting.

• Team stats: Averaging 73.4 ppg and allowing 82.6 ppg.

• First-round matchup: Kansas City

• Fun Fact: Omaha was the sixth seed last year and made it to the championship game.

Photo by EVAN PATZWALD

Paige Meyer takes the ball up the court in final regular season game where the Jacks beat NDSU 89-74. Meyer finished with 24 points and four assists.

Men’s basketball earns No. 1 seed, look to extend win streak

JON AKRE Sports Reporter

The Summit League Tournament kicks off this weekend and is expected to be one of the most highly anticipated conference tournaments in recent history.

The South Dakota State Men’s basketball team was able to clinch the outright regular season title this past week with solid wins over North Dakota and North Dakota State.

“To be able to clinch a conference championship on the road when both of those teams were playing for the same thing was exciting,” coach Eric Henderson said. “Really proud of our guys and how they handled their business and went about it.”

Despite SDSU making a convincing case to be the favorite in this tournament, it’s truly one of the most wide-open tourneys the Summit League has seen in a while.

Teams like St. Thomas, North Dakota State and even Oral Roberts, the defending Summit League champions, could all make runs in Sioux Falls.

“The atmosphere down at the Denny is incredibly special,” coach Henderson said. “We know we have our hands full right out of the gate, but we’re also excited for that challenge.”

The men and women Summit League tournaments take place inside the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center starting on March 8. Tune in to all the action on the Summit League Network through Midco Sports.

No. 1 South Dakota State (19-12, 12-4 Summit)

The Jackrabbits were able to overtake and claim sole possession of their ninth Summit League regular season championship since joining the conference in 2007 and have played excellent basketball down the stretch.

SDSU enters the tournament season

on a five-game winning streak, most recently taking down teams like St. Thomas, UND and dominating NDSU in Fargo.

The Jacks are led by the potential conference player of the year in Zeke Mayo, averaging over 21 points, six rebounds and four assists per game.

South Dakota State will play on Saturday at 6 p.m. against the winner of Oral Roberts and South Dakota.

No. 2 Kansas City (16-15, 10-6 Summit)

Arguably the hottest team in the conference, Kansas City, will enter the Summit League tournament on a sixgame winning streak.

The Roos won the tiebreaker to overtake UND as the No. 2 seed after defeating Oral Roberts on the last day of the conference regular season.

After finishing as the No. 7 seed last season, the No. 2 seeded Roos match their best finish in conference standings since 2005.

UMKC’s leading scorer is Jamar Brown, the junior averages 16.5 points a game.

Kansas City will play the Denver Pioneers on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. in the quarterfinal round of the Summit League tournament.

No. 3 North Dakota (18-13, 10-6 Summit)

The Fighting Hawks have also had an excellent turnaround from last season where they finished as the No. 9 seed in the conference tournament.

After an improvement of four more conference victories, including a midseason stretch winning nine of 10 conference games, North Dakota has put themselves in prime position to make a run at the NCAA tournament.

Arguably the most important piece to the Fighting Hawks success has been Tyree Ihenacho, who averages over 14 points, five rebounds and four assists per game.

UND opens their tournament facing the No. 6 Omaha Mavericks on Sunday at 8:30 p.m.

No. 4 St. Thomas (19-12, 9-7)

For the second consecutive season, the Tommies enter the Summit League tournament as the No. 4 seed after another great season transitioning into division-one college basketball.

While St. Thomas isn’t eligible to play in the NCAA tournament until the 202627 season, they have shown great strides and will be a force in the Summit League for years to come.

In conference play, St. Thomas has

been the best defensive team this season, giving up just over 68 points a contest.

UST’s Raheem Anthony leads the team in scoring with 15 points, five rebounds and four assists a game.

The Tommies open their conference tournament against No. 5 NDSU on Sunday at 6 p.m.

No. 5 North Dakota State (15-16, 8-8 Summit)

NDSU had an opportunity to claim the No. 1 seed entering the final week of conference play.

But after back-to-back games dominated by USD and SDSU, respectively,

Photo by EVAN PATZWALD

Zeke Mayo drives against St. Thomas opponent in the team’s win against the Tommies Feb. 24, 2024. Mayo scored 23 points in the Senior Day victory, which was also the final Men’s game in Frost Arena.

NDSU sits outside of a top four seed for the first time since 2018.

On top of that, the 2018 Summit League tournament was also the last time NDSU was not in the championship game.

But this is still a dangerous Bison team, led by senior Boden Skunberg and Andrew Morgan. Both Skunberg and Morgan average 15 points and six rebounds a game.

With head coach David Richman at the helm, expect NDSU to bring their best basketball to Sioux Falls no matter what.

No. 6 Omaha (14-17, 7-9 Summit)

The Mavericks finished as the third best scoring team in the conference season, averaging over 76 points per game.

So how did UNO end up in the bottom half of the Summit League standings?

Four of their nine conference losses were by five points or less, and another loss in overtime.

Nonetheless, the Mavericks have lost five of their last seven games and will have an uphill battle in the tournament that begins against UND who beat them by 21 points a month ago.

Omaha is led by the second leading scorer in the Summit, Frankie Fidler, who averages over 23 points per game.

No. 7 Denver (15-16, 6-10)

Like UNO, the Pioneers finished the conference season as the highest scoring team in the Summit, averaging over 81 points per game.

However, the biggest reason DU struggled in conference play was their defense, which ranked last in the Summit League at 85.9 points per game.

The Pioneers will go as far as fifth-year senior Tommy Bruner can take them.

Bruner is the league’s highest leading scorer at over 24 points per game, but an injury to Bruner in their last game against UST raises concerns if he’ll be ready to go by gametime on Saturday.

No. 8 Oral Roberts (12-19, 5-11 Summit)

After last season’s undefeated conference season, the defending Summit League tournament champions will have to take the long way to repeat.

But multiple transfers and a change at head coach has essentially led to a rebuilding season for the Golden Eagles.

However, one variable that has stayed the same from last season to now is senior guard Issac McBride.

Spending last season as the second scoring option behind Max Abmas, McBride has excelled as the leader for ORU, averaging 20 points, four rebounds and three assists per contest.

ORU will open the men’s Summit League tournament against South Dakota on Friday at 7 p.m.

No. 9 South Dakota (11-18, 5-11 Summit)

Under second year head coach Eric Peterson, the Coyotes are still trying to find their groove in the Summit League.

Even finishing last in the Summit League, USD has quality wins over teams like St. Thomas and North Dakota State(twice).

While it’s a longshot for the USD to make a run at the Summit League Championship, expect the Coyotes to do everything in their power to get past ORU for the opportunity of getting a quarterfinal upset against rival SDSU.

The Coyotes are led by junior guard Kaleb Stewart, averaging 18 points, two rebounds and two assists per game.

SDSU Leads Summit League in

Team FG %: 48.3%

Opponent FG %: 42.2%

Opponent FT%: 75.3%

Steals: 200

SDSU Players Lead Summit League in

FG %: William Kyle III (62.6%)

3-PT %: Zeke Mayo (38.9%)

3-PT per game: Zeke Mayo (2.6)

Blocks: William Kyle III (36)

Steals: Charlie Easley (31)

Photo by EVAN PATZWALD

Matt Mims handles the ball in the 77-72 victory over St. Thomas on Senior Day Feb. 24, 2024. Mims had 11 points, three steals and six rebounds in the final game in Frost Arena.