BIG GAME
Eagles’ Goedert returns for Super Bowl chance
EDITOR
MARCUS TRAXLER mtraxler@mitchellrepublic.com
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
SARA LEITHEISER
CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS
CHRIS JOHNSON
MOLLIE BURLINGAME
the team meet the
CONTRIBUTERS
MATT ZIMMER
ADAM THURY
TRENT SINGER
BLAKE DURHAM
LANDON DIERKS
NATHAN SWAFFAR
JUSTIN WICKERSHAM
contributors
MARCUS TRAXLER
Marcus Traxler is the assistant editor and sports editor for the Mitchell Republic. A past winner of the state’s Outstanding Young Journalist award and the 2023 South Dakota Sportswriter of the Year, he’s worked for the newspaper since 2014 and covers a wide variety of topics.
MATT ZIMMER
Matt Zimmer is a Sioux Falls native and longtime sports writer.
He graduated from Washington High School where he played football, legion baseball and developed his lifelong love of the Minnesota Twins and Vikings. After graduating from St. Cloud State University, he returned to Sioux Falls, and began a long career in amateur baseball and sports reporting.
LANDON DIERKS
Dierks covers prep and collegiate athletics across the Mitchell Republic’s coverage region area. He is a Mitchell native who graduated from South Dakota State University with his bachelor’s degree in journalism in May 2020. Dierks joined the Mitchell Republic sports staff in August 2021.
BLAKE DURHAM
Blake Durham is a Sports Reporter for the Mitchell Republic, having joined the newspaper in October of 2023. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in December of 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in Communications. Durham can be found covering a variety of prep and collegiate sports in the area.
TRENT SINGER
An Iowa native who grew up in the south, Singer is a 2012 graduate of Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee, where he received his bachelor of arts degree in photography with a minor in journalism. Singer was most previously the editor of high school sports at Just Women's Sports and, before that, was a sports reporter and editor at the Southeast Missourian and the Kentucky New Era, respectively.
Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert warms up prior to the game against the Los Angeles Rams in a 2025 NFC divisional round game on Jan. 19, 2025 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. USA Today Sports photo
South Dakota’s toughest playoff paths
A look at the regions packed with contenders fighting for SoDak 16 berths
BY LANDON DIERKS
Mitchell Republic
MITCHELL — February is here, which means the South Dakota high school basketball season is quickly ramping up toward the postseason.
Less than three weeks remain before the start of Class A and Class B region tournaments, which decide the coveted bids to the SoDak 16. Each region gets only two representatives, creating fierce battles for the scarce spots.
Here’s a look at some of the regions with the deepest lists of established contenders and how those postseason pictures are shaping up late in the season. (Note: All win-loss records and places in the seed-point standings were current as of Sunday, Feb. 2.)
REGION 4A - GIRLS
There isn’t a more stacked region in South Dakota high school basketball this season than the girls’ side of Region 4A.
All seven schools that comprise Region 4A, which is centered along Interstate 29 between Sioux Falls and North Sioux City, are above .500 this deep into the season.
At the top of the seed-point standings, Region 4A claims No. 1 Sioux Falls Christian (14-0) and No. 2 Dakota Valley (13-1). Not too far behind, Elk Point-Jefferson (12-2) at No. 8 and defending Class A state champion Vermillion (12-3) at No. 10 gives the region four top-10 contenders.
Lennox (9-5) and Canton (10-4) are also inside the Class A top 20 by seed points. Even the unlucky member of the bunch with the distinction of being last, Beresford (8-7) is 28th, in the top half of Class A as a whole.
Though the region looked a little bit different last season prior to realignment, the circumstances were remarkably similar, with seven of eight Region 4A teams reaching 10 wins or more in 2023-24. Of the six region playoff games to decide the region’s SoDak 16 representatives, four were decided by five points or fewer.
Ultimately, Region 4A produced both Class A state tournament finalists in Vermillion and Tea Area, the latter of which is now in Class AA. Sioux Falls Christian, the newest addition to Region 4A, was a Class A semifinalist out of Region 3A last season.
REGION 8A - BOYS
Out in the Black Hills, Region 8A boys basketball is brewing something big.
Though not as complete top to bottom, a high-flying quartet from Region 8A is all located within the top eight of the Class A seed-point standings.
Leading the way, Rapid City Christian (11-2) is No. 2 in the class overall, but the Comets have far from an easy path. St. Thomas More (11-3) stands at No. 6, while Custer (10-3) is No. 7 and Hill City (10-4) is in a tie for eighth.
Between the four Region 8A frontrunners, every loss has come against either an out-of-state opponent, a Class AA squad or a Class A top-10 team, including a few head-to-head meetings.
Rapid City Christian made a run to a fourthplace finish at the Class A state tournament last season.
REGION 3B - GIRLS
Yet another region with four top-10 teams, the Region 3B girls race is most closely contested at the top of Class B.
Headlining the Region 3B crew, postseason stalwart Ethan (11-2) stands at No. 5 in Class B, with Dell Rapids St. Mary (12-3) right behind at No. 6. Not far down the list, ColmanEgan (14-2) is No. 9, followed by newcomer Sanborn Central/Woonsocket (11-2) at No. 10.
Though currently in 22nd overall, Chester (11-6) gives the region a fifth 11-win team and will certainly look to be a factor in the region playoffs. Just last year, the Flyers earned a first-round win as the 5-seed.
Last season, Ethan was the region’s lone representative at the Class B state tournament, and the Rustlers claimed a third-place finish.
TOP: Rapid City Christian’s Benson Kieffer (12) drives around Pine Ridge’s Michael Callie in a game against Pine Ridge in the Lakota Nation Invitational Championship on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 at Summit Arena in Rapid City. TYLER MATHIESON/NEWSCENTER1
ABOVE: Vermillion’s Kasey Hanson (1) shoots a 3-point jump shot against Mitchell during a high school girls basketball game on Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, at the Corn Palace. LANDON DIERKS / MITCHELL REPUBLIC
(11-1) is No. 6 in Class B seed points, giving the region a top pair that contends with anyone. Wolsey-Wessington (10-3) is No. 13, and Estelline/ Hendricks (11-2), another newcomer to the region, is No. 18.
That’s not even to mention De Smet, a proud program that has played in the past five Class B state title games with three championships. The Bulldogs are an unassuming 6-6, but that still puts them in the top-24 of Class B overall, in company with teams that own win-loss records well above .500.
De Smet, Castlewood and Wessington Springs were all Class B state tournament teams a season ago, finishing in second, third and fifth place, respectively. During realignment, Springs moved from Region 5B to 2B.
Now, here’s one region from each class with similar depth among girls and boys contenders.
REGION 2A
Largely situated around the I-29 corridor between Brookings and Water-
town, Region 2A is home to a plethora of top girls and boys basketball programs.
This year, the boys’ side appears to be a little deeper, sporting six programs with winning records, all of which are in the Class A top-25.
Defending Class A state champion Hamlin (12-2) paces the region at No. 3 in Class A seed points, with Clark/Willow Lake (12-2) not far back at No. 5. In all, five teams in the region already have 10 wins, with Deuel (10-4) at No. 12, Elkton-Lake Benton (11-3) at No. 17 and Florence/Henry (10-4) at No. 21. A regular state tournament contender in recent seasons, Sioux Valley (7-7) is No. 25.
Meanwhile, the Region 2A girls also boast four top-20 teams in Class A.
Matching the boys’ place, the Hamlin girls (11-2) are also No. 3, while Sioux Valley (11-3) is No. 6. Battling for the third spot in the region, Clark/Willow Lake (9-4) is No. 16 overall in Class A, with Great Plains Lutheran (11-2) right behind at No. 17.
Though well off the pace, Florence/Henry, one of the region’s SoDak 16 representatives last season, owns an 8-7 record and No. 26 overall in Class A.
Of note, Region 2A produced the No. 1 seed in last season’s Class A girls postseason, Flandreau, which is now at the top of Region 3A after realignment.
REGION 4B
Deep in southeast South Dakota, centered around the intersection of U.S. Highways 18 and 81, Region 4B boasts several schools battling for position with both their girls and boys basketball programs.
At the top, the region is home to the defending Class B girls state champion in Centerville (16-0), which is unbeaten and No. 1 in seed points in defense of its title. But Parkston (12-2), a region newcomer after moving from Class A, is a formidable challenger at No. 3.
Freeman (11-3) ranks at No. 12 and Gayville-Volin (10-3) is No. 19, giving Region 4B four of the top-20 girls teams in Class B. For good measure, Viborg-Hurley, which won back-to-back state titles in 2022 and 2023, has an 8-6 record that’s good for a top-25 position.
Opposite, Region 4B also has the No. 1 team in the Class B seed-point standings in Viborg-Hurley (13-1), which represented the region in the Class B state tournament last season with a seventh-place finish. Once again, the fresh faces from Parkston (11-2) are the closest challenger at No. 4.
Freeman (10-3) at No. 17 and Centerville (9-4) at No. 22 give the region two more teams in the top-25 of Class B, while GayvilleVolin (8-4) and Alcester-Hudson (9-4) aren’t far behind and are both in the top 30.
TOP: Viborg-Hurley’s Brody Schroedermeier gets his layup attempt blocked by Castlewood’s Kamden Keszler (0) during the 43rd Hanson Boys Classic on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2024, at the Corn Palace. BLAKE DURHAM / MITCHELL REPUBLIC
ABOVE:Sanborn Central/Woonsocket’s Elizabeth Boschee drives inside against the Highmore-Harrold defense during the 281 Conference girls basketball tournament championship game on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025 at the Huron Arena. MARCUS TRAXLER / MITCHELL REPUBLIC
GOEDERT: DALLAS MORE THAN JUST THE OTHER TIGHT END
Eagles TE, former SDSU star ready for second chance at title victory
Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert warms up prior to the game against the Los Angeles Rams in a 2025 NFC divisional round game on Jan. 19, 2025 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
BY LES EAST Field Level Media
NEW ORLEANS — Dallas Goedert doesn’t have a girlfriend with a bunch of Grammy Awards, and the Philadelphia Eagles tight end hasn’t attracted any national endorsements. At least not yet.
The Kansas City Chiefs are the ones with the glamorous tight end in Super Bowl LIX, Travis Kelce, who is not only Taylor Swift’s boyfriend but is one of the most productive players at his position in league history.
However, when it comes to the potential impact on the title game on Sunday, Goedert is more competitive with Kelce than he is in those other categories.
Philadelphia coach Nick Sirianni noted Goedert’s value after the tight end, who missed seven games this season because of multiple injuries, caught seven passes for 85 yards in a 55-23 thrashing of the Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship Game on Jan. 26.
“It’s special, the closeness of our group, and it’s a credit to him,” Goedert said of Sirianni’s coaching.
When the former South Dakota State star Goedert approached his station on the Superdome turf for the start of Media Day on Monday night, the roar from a throng of Eagles fans standing behind barricades just a few feet away suggested maybe Kelce, or perhaps even Swift, were in the building.
However, it was just Goedert, who ate up the attention the same way Kelce and Swift seem to eat up their attention from the paparazzi. The Eagles tight end pumped his fist and yelled “Go Birds, E-A-G-L-E-S, Eagles!” to the appreciative crowd.
One coy reporter asked Goedert to name his favorite Taylor Swift song, and “the other tight end” tried really hard to come up with a title. He finally named a song, then asked if it was in fact a Swift song.
He was told it wasn’t, but continued unfazed, saying, “She’s an incredible artist. She’s just not on my playlist.” Well played.
Goedert, 30, went on to say that his most recent play list featured “a lot of Kendrick Lamar,” who will be performing at halftime in the Super Bowl one week after winning five Grammys. He noted that, of course, he will be preoccupied and unable to listen to Lamar.
As far as performances in the Superdome go, even Lamar will be challenged to top the one Goedert had there in Week 3 on Sept. 22. He caught 10 passes for 170 yards, including a 61-yarder on third-and-16 in the final two minutes. The big play set up a 4-yard Saquon Barkley touchdown run that gave the Eagles a 15-12 victory over the New Orleans Saints.
“It’s special, the closeness of our group, and it’s a credit to [Coach Sirianni]”
DALLAS GOEDERT
“The last time in New Orleans was a productive day,” Goedert said. “I’m going to try and enjoy the experience again.
“I had a beignet on that trip. I guess I’ll have to try and have
If Goedert can just keep doing what he’s been doing, that should make Sirianni and the Eagles happy. Goedert returned for the regular-season finale against the Giants following a four-game absence caused by a knee injury and caught four passes for 55 yards. In the three playoff games last month, he had 15 catches for 188 yards and a touchdown.
All that football stuff is nice, but when the television cameras inevitably scan the suites in the Superdome on Sunday looking for Swift, keep in mind that the Eagles tight end is a talented unicyclist who has participated in parades in his hometown of Britton, S.D.
Additionally Goedert’s girlfriend, Aria Meyer, has established an enthusiastic following on Instagram.
It’s not the Grammys, but it’s something.
This story was written by one of our partner news agencies.
Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert (88) runs through Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton (14) tackles attempt for a touchdown during the first half on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024 against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. TOMMY GILLIGAN / USA TODAY SPORTS
Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert (88) speaks to the media during Super Bowl LIX Opening Night on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025 at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. KIRBY LEE / USA TODAY SPORTS
UNSUSPECTING RISE
Depth, versatility lead Lincoln boys hoops turnaround
BY TRENT SINGER
Sioux Falls Live
SIOUX FALLS — The rise of the Sioux Falls Lincoln boys basketball team has been rather unsuspecting.
There weren’t many who saw this one coming.
Ahead of the start of the 2024-25 campaign, there were questions about which team in the metro was going to emerge as the top challenger to reigning state champion Mitchell for supremacy in Class AA.
Very few had the Patriots on their radar. A season ago, Lincoln finished with a disappointing 10-11 mark after falling to Watertown at home in the SoDak 16 round. It signaled the end of a 15-year stint for coach Jeff Halseth, who resigned in March after administration expressed a desire to head in a different direction.
Halseth’s time with the Pats included 11 appearances in the state tournament and two state championships, but the need for a changing of the guard was becoming more and more pressing.
The program needed a jolt, so in April, Luke Hannemann was named Halseth’s successor. A longtime
assistant coach at Sioux Falls Roosevelt, Hannemann referred to the opportunity to lead his alma mater as “a dream job,” tracing all the way back to his earliest playing days.
Nearly two months into his first season at the helm, Hannemann has experienced nothing short of a dream realized.
“Everyone was kind of ready for a new beginning,” Lincoln senior Luke Krempges said. “We did not end the year last year how we wanted to at all, but he’s brought in so much energy. And it’s so noticeable.
“Everyone’s enjoying it more. Everyone’s into it. Everyone’s wanting to do it for each other.”
Through their depth and versatility, the Patriots find themselves with an 11-1 record as they enter the final month of the regular season. They are 7-0 against Metro Athletic Conference opponents, and with an average scoring margin of 21 points, they’re getting it done in dominant fashion.
Lincoln’s lone setback of the season came Friday in a 69-58 defeat against the visiting Kernels, but the following night, the Pats recollected themselves and blew off some steam en route to a 52-18 shellacking at Tea Area.
Perhaps everyone should’ve taken notice in the fall when the Patriots’ football team went on to win its second straight Class 11AAA state championship. Three all-state players from that team — quarterback Brody Schafer, defensive lineman Luke Krempges and defensive back Edison Noll — are starters on the hardwood this season, bringing with them a championship pedigree.
“Now it’s kind of bleeding over into basketball,” Hannemann said. “I believed that we could be here, but I wasn’t sure if I knew 100% if we were going to be here because there’s a lot of really good teams in AA still. The metro is just full of really good teams. Every single night is a very difficult game, and then you look at going up to Huron, playing Mitchell. There’s a lot of really good teams.
“Where we’re at, we’re really happy, but we know there’s still a long way to go.”
FORMULA FOR SUCCESS
The driving force behind the Pats’ success this season has been depth and versatility.
It starts with a pair of lengthy wings in juniors Sam Ericsson and Sam DeGroot, both of whom are well adept at handling the ball and can cause matchup nightmares for opposing teams.
Sioux Falls Lincoln’s Sam Ericsson is introduced prior to the start of a game against Sioux Falls Washington on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, at Washington High School in Sioux Falls. TRENT SINGER / SIOUX FALLS LIVE
“They do things the right way, and they’re just fun to be around.”
At 6-foot-3, Ericsson leads the team with 13.5 points per game, while the 6-6 DeGroot is producing 12.8 points and a team-high 6.2 rebounds per contest.
“The Sams seem like they’re the main focus every night for the other team,” Hannemann said. “Having those two guys has really helped our basketball team.”
More than anything, though, Ericsson and DeGroot embody a versatility that trickles down the lineup. Each game, players are being asked to take on different roles, and they’re doing it at a high level.
“It’s really fun when you have a group where it doesn’t matter who’s leading at the end of the night,” Hannemann said. “Different guys can step up for you, so if they try and take away one person, someone else has stepped up every night so far for us. That’s been a blessing.”
Schafer’s debut on the gridiron was perhaps the biggest surprise of the football season, so it’s not all that stupefying to see his dominance on the hardwood as well.
The 6-foot sophomore has been a fixture as the team’s starting point guard since the start of the season. He’s generating 9.9 points and a team-high 4.8 assists per game, and with a 40.5% clip from beyond the arc, Schafer is one of four Patriot players who are averaging 40% or better from 3-point range.
“He’s stepped up for us big time as a ball-handler. Off a pick-and-roll, he’s great,” Krempges said about Schafer. “With his football IQ, he’s always looking to dish, but he can always finish, too. He’s able to break presses. He’s able to step up in a lot of ways for us.”
Rounding out the starting lineup are a pair of seniors in Noll and Krempges. At 5-11, Noll has started every game at guard for the Pats, averaging 5.9 points and 3.5 rebounds per game, while Krempges has been up
for the challenge in the post despite being occasionally undersized.
A South Dakota State football commit, Krempges plays much bigger than his 6-4 frame might indicate. He’s averaging 7.2 points and 6.0 rebounds per contest while shooting 54.4% from the floor.
“He works his tail off,” Ericsson said about Krempges. “He could be 6-8, but he might not have the motor. So his motor is all we need right now. It drives us all.”
Hannemann says he wasn’t sure what he had in Krempges before the season began, but he’s been impressed with his physicality and willingness to do the dirty work under the basket.
“He rebounds the ball at a very high level, and he’s a great finisher and has great touch around the rim,” Hannemann said. “It’s been a great joy to have him as a part of this team.”
Off the bench, sophomore Deondre Painter has also been a key contributor. The 6-2 guard is averaging 8.0 points per game and has been a lethal sharpshooter from long range, where he’s hitting a team-best 44.7% of his attempts.
“Deondre is not afraid, and he believes he’s the best player out there whenever he goes out on the floor. He does a great job,” Hannemann said. “He works his tail off every single day in practice and never takes a rep off.”
At 6-3 and 6-4, respectively, senior Isaiah Teer and junior Justin Bilal provide even more length and depth for the Patriots, who are shooting 37.3% from 3-point range and 47.1% from the field.
Collectively, Lincoln has a 2.1 assist/ turnover ratio on the season and is outrebounding its opposition by an average of 4.1 boards per game.
“If we were to have a short start or a slump right away out the gates, I know these guys would come off the bench and spark it for us,” Krempges said. “They’re all perfect spark plugs, and they bring energy.
“They get the student section going and get everyone going.”
DEFENSE AND THE ROAD AHEAD
Consistently defending at a high level has been a point of emphasis for Hannemann and his staff, and it’s impossible to deny that Lincoln isn’t improving defensively.
The Patriots opened the season with a 65-55 home win over Sioux Falls Washington, and a month and a half later, the two teams met again. This time, Lincoln blew the doors off in an 80-35 triumph at Washington, forcing a running clock throughout the entire second half of play.
The Pats are yielding just 44.7 ppg while scoring an average of 65.7 ppg.
“We’re really deep, and we all just have the same goal,” Ericsson said. “We just all want to win. That’s the first thing on our minds. It’s our mentality.
“Every day in practice and in games, it’s defense first and intensity. We’re all there for each other, and I think that’s really important.”
Despite their success, the Patriots know there’s still a lot of basketball ahead, and their dreams of winning the program’s first state championship since 2016 will certainly be put to the test in the coming weeks.
Following their loss to the Kernels on Friday, the Pats are the No. 2 ranked team in AA in the South Dakota prep
media poll, and a big road matchup still lies ahead on Feb. 14 versus 11-1 Brandon Valley, which took over the No. 1 spot in AA.
But the energy that has engulfed the Pats’ locker room is undeniable, and none of their opponents are taken lightly.
“It’s 110% focus in everything. There’s no let-up at all,” Ericsson said. “Every game, it’s, ‘Let’s go 1-0.’ There’s none of this cocky mentality at all.
“It’s about going 1-0 and winning the next game because every game is a challenge in AA.”
The players have performed admirably in order to do their part, but Hannemann has also played a key role in the program’s sudden turnaround.
During the week, his practices are meticulously planned, and the firstyear coach understands the common goal that’s shared between the players and coaches.
It wasn’t all that long ago that the roles were reversed for Hannemann, who was a key contributor for a Lincoln team in 2009 that went on to win a state championship.
The goal remains the same, but now, he’s on the other side of it.
And he’s having a blast.
“The biggest thing that’s the most fun about it is that all these kids are great kids,” Hannemann said. “They’re high achievers in the classroom across the board. We don’t have to worry about any grade issues. They behave themselves.
“They do things the right way, and they’re just fun to be around.”
Sioux Falls Lincoln players react to a 3-pointer against Sioux Falls Washington on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, at Washington High School in Sioux Falls. TRENT SINGER / SIOUX FALLS LIVE
MCM’s Bryant embraces challenge of repeating as STATE CHAMPION
Junior wrestler has been dominant for Fighting Cougars
BY NATHAN SWAFFAR Mitchell Republic
MONTROSE, S.D. — McCook Central/Montrose wrestler
Alexis Bryant’s list of accomplishments is nothing short of impressive.
Bryant has been a trailblazer at MCM, becoming the first girls wrestler in the program to win a state
championship after claiming the 114-pound title in 2024. She was also the first wrestler from Montrose, boy or girl, to claim an individual wrestling title. She’s hot in pursuit of back-toback titles as a junior in 2025 as she works toward another state run.
And it all began with a dare.
In fact, Bryant didn’t really think about wrestling before seventh grade. While she wrestled a bit when she was younger, it didn’t last long. She was more focused on football, where she played running back and was so physical on the gridiron that McCook Central/Montrose wrestling coach Scott Andal
thought she was a boy at first.
“He saw a girl out on the field and he didn’t know who I was,” Bryant said.
“I was told he was like, ‘We need to find her and get her out on the mat.’
I didn’t care much for wrestling. I liked football, but just because it was more contact. But wres-
tling, it builds everything for you.”
Andal invited her to come out for wrestling, and once a friend found out, she dared Bryant to take a shot at it. And she did.
The first time current girls wrestling coach Josh Blindert saw her hit the mat when she joined the
McCook Central/ Montrose’s Alexis Bryant points to the crowd in celebration as she has her hand raised by the official following a win in the girls 114-pound state championship match on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024, at the Premier Center in Sioux Falls.
LANDON DIERKS / MITCHELL REPUBLIC
team in her seventh grade year, he could tell that even though she looked like a lot of beginners, something extra was there.
“The first time she was learning how to wrestle, it was just like everybody that starts wrestling,” Blindert said. “[She was] kind of unnatural and had a lot of learning to go, but she did show a lot of good signs of promise. Our coaches would look at each other and be like, ‘I think there’s something there.’”
Blindert said Bryant responded well to coaching and also wasn’t afraid to be aggressive as many newer wrestlers tend to be more defensive. The potential was there and Bryant’s time was coming.
Her seventh-grade season in 2021 also marked the first time South Dakota hosted a girls state tournament, the first chance for girls to go up against each other at the highest level. Bryant said she was excited to see girls get their own opportunity to capture state glory, and it meant she wasn’t always going up against the boys.
“I told my dad, ‘Well, that means more girls are going to be out and I don’t have to keep wrestling these boys that Andal is throwing me at,’” Bryant said. “So, I was kind of more happy that there were more girls out there.”
But going up against those boys is something that she admitted has helped her become the wrestler she is today. Bryant still wrestles the boys almost all the time in practice.
“It’s definitely more of an advantage,” Bryant said. “I can be the same weight as them, but it’s a muscle and technique difference because when I go out and wrestle matches, girls wrestle totally different from how the boys do. I feel like I have better ways in different positions than most girls do.”
At the first girls state tournament, Bryant finished in seventh place in the 140-pound division and there was plenty of reason for optimism in the coming years.
However, she was gone from MCM for a year when she went to West
Central in eighth grade. That season, she made state again for the Trojans, finishing in third place in the 132-pound division. But heading into her freshman year, she was back at MCM and once again, she made it to state and finished in fourth at 120 pounds.
All of that culminated in her showing at the 2024 state tournament as a sophomore, where she finally made it to the mountaintop. After losing twice during the regular season to top-seed Dani Ringstmeyer from Pierre, Bryant toppled her via a 3-0 decision in the title match, cementing her place in the MCM history books as the first girls state title winner.
Bryant said the key was knowing that everyone was on a level playing field and what happened during the regular season was inconsequential.
“The only mindset you have to have is everyone’s 0-0 against each other because you never know what could happen,” Bryant said. “In the semifinal match, I could have lost that if she didn’t mess up one move, I probably would have lost that match. It was a roller coaster last season for me.”
EYEING BACK-TOBACK TITLES
While Bryant already made history once, she’s aiming to do it again in 2025 as a repeat state champion. However, defending a title brings new challenges, including getting everyone’s best shot.
“She’s got a target on her back whether she likes it or not,” Blindert said. “Certain girls, they're either scared to wrestle her because she's been a state title winner, or they go a lot harder against her. Or, in their head, they just don't want to get pinned and don't open up much. I told her sometimes, it’s going to be frustrating when girls shut down like that, clam up and not wrestle their way to try not to get pinned.”
However, Bryant has welcomed that target on her back. In fact, she craves competition and wants every opponent she faces to give it their best shot to take down a defending champion.
“I want them to think that they better try and win this match. I want them to try and beat me,” Bryant said. “Some girls don't want to and I’m like, 'I want you to try during this match.' I want it to be sweaty, I want blood everywhere. Those are the matches that I look for because I want a really good matchup. I don't want girls to be scared to wrestle.”
So far this season, Bryant has been incredibly successful once again. As of Jan. 31, she’s claimed four individual tournament titles and finished in second place in an additional three tournaments. While she started this season wrestling at 126 pounds, she’s now back down at 114, where she’ll aim to defend her title.
As for the rest of the season, Blindert said he wants Bryant to leave no doubt about her talent. He wants to see her make it right back to the summit and prove that she is the best 114-pound wrestler in the state.
“I want her to go out and dominate, not just win,” Blindert said. “I really want to see her kind of set herself above everybody and just make a statement that last year wasn't a fluke. Let everybody know that you're the one that they're going to have to go after.”
Bryant feels the same way, aiming to not only prove it to everybody else, but to herself as well.
“Every day I look at it and I tell myself I'm going to be at the top again because I don't want to let people down, but I don't want to let myself down,” Bryant said. “I train all summer, I'm putting in my hours. But I need to wrestle better than I did last year. I just want to keep improving.”
Even if Bryant were to never make another state tournament, she’s accomplished feats that no one before her has. And that’s enough to make her feel vindicated.
“Little me wrestling would probably be happy because she never wanted to wrestle. She never wanted to go out on the mat,” Bryant said. “It's definitely something that's going to live on forever.”
MCM’s Alexis Bryant attempts to turn Chamberlain’s Aine Graesser onto her back in a 120-pound semifinal match at the MCM Girls Invitational in Salem on Friday, Jan. 3, 2024. Nathan Swaffar / Mitchell Republic
Alexis Bryant goes through a drill with a teammate at a McCook Central/Montrose wrestling practice on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, in Salem. NATHAN SWAFFAR / MITCHELL REPUBLIC
McCook Central/Montrose’s Alexis Bryant has her hand raised while being lifted into the air by coach Josh Blindert following Bryant’s victory in the girls 114-pound state championship match on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024, at the Premier Center in Sioux Falls. Landon Dierks / Mitchell Republic
Alexis Bryant’s name appears on a board outside of the McCook Central’s wrestling room, showing her name in gold signifying her state title victory in 2024. Nathan Swaffar / Mitchell Republic
Narrow focus yields big results for top-ranked Centerville
Unbeaten Tornadoes own lengthy win streak, No. 1 ranking in Class B
Centerville’s
Emma Marshall (25) flips up a layup attempt in traffic as Ethan’s
Taziah Hawkins (10) and Sadie Mueller (14) look on during a Hanson Classic
high school girls basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, at the Corn Palace.
LANDON DIERKS / MITCHELL REPUBLIC
BY LANDON DIERKS
Mitchell Republic
CENTERVILLE, S.D. — In pursuit of a repeat Class B state girls basketball championship, Centerville is doing its best to keep its attention on the short-term results that will lead to the long-term goal.
So as the rest of Class B takes aim at the defending state champions, the Tornadoes are trusting in what got them to the top and not treating this season differently than the last.
“Honestly, I don’t think this season has felt different. I really don’t. Our players have picked up on where we left off last year,” said Centerville coach Tucker Tornberg. “Our seniors over the last three or four years have left a legacy of being able to play in these moments, focus on the present and stay humble. That has kind of been our motto this year is to live in the moment.”
It’s a program standard that has been used to overwhelming effect.
Eight seasons ago, in 201617, Centerville went without a high school varsity girls basketball team. Now, the Tornadoes are the picture of an ideal program and have been a model of consistency over the past three-plus years.
Since the start of 2021-22, the Centerville girls basketball program owns a 75-11 record. En route to last year’s state championship, the Tornadoes were 24-2, with both losses to Class A programs. The last time Centerville lost to another Class B foe was March 2, 2023, in the SoDak 16.
With a win over Tripp-Delmont/Armour on Jan. 28, the Tornadoes ran Class B’s longest-active win streak to 26 straight games and counting, a spree that
dates back to Feb. 5, 2024. They’ve been ranked in the South Dakota Prep Media poll every week since Dec. 18, 2023, including as No. 1 in all seven editions of the poll during the 2024-25 season.
Just over half of that streak has come this season, as Centerville is out to a 14-0 start to its title defense despite facing the fifth-most difficult schedule in Class B by opponent win percentage. In all, nine of Centerville’s first 14 opponents own a winning record through action on Jan. 28. Among those caught in the Torandoes’ path include 10-plus-win defending Class A champion Vermillion, Gayville-Volin, Andes Central/Dakota Christian, Freeman and Hills-Beaver Creek (Minn.). That’s not to mention a Hanson Classic win over Class B No. 3 Ethan.
Leading the charge for Centerville is a pair of senior all-state performers in first-teamer Althea Gust and second-teamer Emma Marshall. Last season, Gust averaged 13.4 points and 3.5 assists per game, while Marshall contributed 12.7 points and 7.6 rebounds per game for the state champions. Around Gust and Marshall, the Tornadoes have a crew of talented playmakers who make life difficult for opponents.
But trailing at halftime of that ranked Hanson Classic matchup, Tornberg took the opportunity to refocus his team on the task at hand by reminding them that they’ve been in similar moments before.
“You have to play through adversity. We’re just trying to go 1-0 every night because we’ve just got to stay focused on the present,” Tornberg said.
“When you’re facing quality opponents, I don’t care how many games you’ve won in the past. That doesn’t
matter. The most important game is that one, and these girls realize that.”
If the Tornadoes are to repeat as state champions, they’ll likely have more tests ahead of them. Of their final six regular-season games, five more are likely to be against winning opponents. They face Viborg-Hurley on Jan. 30 and Mobridge-Pollock at the Pen-
tagon Heritage Classic on Feb. 1. The final few days of the regular season presents another challenge, going from the Great Plains Conference Classic on Feb. 15 to back-to-back games at Class A No. 5 Elk Point-Jefferson on Feb. 17 and against Class B vote-getter Dell Rapids St. Mary on Feb. 18.
Of course, after that is the win-or-go-home gauntlet — the
region playoffs, SoDak 16 and state tournament — to decide a champion.
“We’re not going to look to that until we get there because it’s a long year. Basketball is not much of a sprint. It’s a marathon,” Tornberg said. “Ultimately, we will lean on the players in this program that have been and lived in those big moments time and time again.”
“That has kind of been our motto this year is to live in the moment.”
Centerville’s Izzie Eide (21) attacks the lane as she drives past Ethan’s Marissa Storm during a Hanson Classic high school girls basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, at the Corn Palace. LANDON DIERKS / MITCHELL REPUBLIC
Centerville’s Althea Gust (3) shoots a floater in the lane over Ethan’s Rachel Klock during a Hanson Classic high school girls basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, at the Corn Palace. LANDON DIERKS / MITCHELL REPUBLIC
Centerville’s Tessa Eide (0) delivers a chest pass toward the corner from between Ethan’s Marissa Storm and Ella Pollreisz during a Hanson Classic high school girls basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, at the Corn Palace. LANDON DIERKS / MITCHELL REPUBLIC
Former Jackrabbit guard shined for Steelers in first year
BY MATT ZIMMER
Sioux Falls Live
SIOUX FALLS — Mason McCormick’s rookie year in the NFL couldn’t have gone much better.
A fourth-round draft pick of the Steelers, the former Sioux Falls Roosevelt and South Dakota State guard stepped into the starting lineup for Pittsburgh early in the season and stayed there, ultimately starting 14 games, appearing in all 17 and taking the field for 83 percent of the team’s offensive snaps on the season. The Steelers made the playoffs, though McCormick was unable to play in their wild card loss to the Ravens due to a broken hand.
Still, he made a strong first impression, playing before he was even really supposed to (injuries necessitated his move into the starting lineup) and setting the stage for continued improvement and a potentially long and successful career.
McCormick is back home in Sioux Falls for the first time in over a year — he went straight from Frisco to NFL Draft training after leading the Jacks to their second straight FCS national championship back in January of 2024 — relaxing, spending time with family and taking in some Jackrabbit basketball games before
returning to work to get ready for year No. 2 in the league.
McCormick took a few minutes on Wednesday afternoon to talk about his rookie year, meeting up with former SDSU teammates in NFL stadiums and his thoughts on Jimmy Rogers’ departure and Dan Jackson’s arrival.
MZ: Your first year in the NFL — you find yourself starting, the Steelers make the playoffs — what was it like?
MM: It was amazing. I definitely learned a lot, that’s for sure, in every facet of life. As a football player, as a young man, moving away — you know at South Dakota State my parents were 45 minutes away. But it was a really good experience. I love it out there. The people are great. I feel like I landed in the perfect place for me.
MZ: Going back to preseason — you were getting a lot of attention almost right away, but some injuries had to happen for you to get in there as a starter. Did you at all envision yourself having that big of a role right away?
MM: I mean, yeah, you have to envision yourself playing and you have to be confident in yourself. I didn’t know what would happen and I would say I had an awesome year and learned a
lot. It wasn’t perfect by any means but I definitely grew a lot.
MZ: A couple injuries happen and you’re starting. What was that like, being right out of college, and FCS guy and boom, you’re a starting O-lineman in the NFL?
MM: It’s crazy if you take a step back and look at it that way but I feel like they did a really good job of preparing me. I got so much better so quick being in that organization. I felt ready. I was excited for the opportunity and I think it went well for the most part.
MZ: Were there guys on the team that mentored you and helped you along?
MM: Yeah, for sure. Isaac Seumalo, he’s our left guard, and he’s been in the league for nine years and he just made the Pro Bowl and he’s awesome. He’s super knowledgeable and he helped me a ton.
MZ: You graded out well. Did you surprise yourself at all in how you played?
MM: I don’t know if it surprised me. You don’t have time to sit and think about it or feel good about yourself. You have to play a lot of great players every week and it’s on to the next week.
Mason McCormick made his first NFL start on Sunday, September 29, 2024 against the Colts. PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive guard Mason McCormick blocks while Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (3) throws pass under pressure by New York Jets defensive tackle Leonard Taylor III (96) during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium on Oct. 20, 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. USA TODAY SPORTS PHOTO
A former Roosevelt standout, Mason McCormick has become one of the best offensive linemen in the country. DAVE EGGEN/INERTIA, COURTESY SOUTH DAKOTA STATE ATHLETICS
MZ: How cool was it during the year to go up against former teammates like Zay Davis and Pierre Strong?
MM: It was awesome. It was cool seeing them, like, they were on kickoff team and they were super close to our sideline so they’d be standing there and I’d get up there and talk trash to them. That was super cool to go out there and see them doing their thing.
MZ: There’s SDSU guys all over the league. Is there a bit of a fraternity now of former Jacks in the NFL?
MM: Yeah, for sure. I saw Chris (Oladokun) on Christmas Day when we played the Chiefs and talked to him for 10 minutes. I saw Dallas (Goedert) when we played Philly. It’s cool to be able to, like every other week it seemed like I was running into someone from South Dakota.
MZ: How’s Pittsburgh?
MM: I love it. The city’s not too big, it’s probably double the size of Sioux Falls. The fans are diehards for everything, the Steelers, the Penguins, the Pirates. They’re super loyal and it’s great. The coaching staff is awesome here, my teammates are awesome. I’m seriously so blessed to be a Steeler and be a part of this organization.
MZ: What were your thoughts on Dan Jackson being the new guy?
Former SDSU guard Mason McCormick was one of the top rookies in the NFL this year for the Pittsburgh Steelers. USA
MM: I think it’s awesome. I think he’ll do a great job. Everyone knows what a great recruiter he is. The energy he brings also, he has a lot of fun with it. He’ll bring great energy to practice and do a good job developing those guys. He’s the right guy for the job.
MZ: I heard you got involved in helping recruit some of the guys to stay. What made you decide to do that?
MM: I mean, I’ve been a part of South Dakota State for six years and worked super hard. I put a lot of time into that and you don’t want to see it go down because of a coaching change. Obviously I’m still close to a lot of players up there so I tried to help talk to some guys to keep them around. I know it was hard for guys from both sides of it, but I’m glad the guys who stayed decided to stay.
MZ: Were you disappointed Jimmy left?
MM: No, I’m not. A lot of people are pissed off that he left or whatever but I get it. He’s an amazing coach and he helped me get to where I am. I don’t blame him one bit. I still love the guy and still talk to him. He’s got to move up and do what’s best for his family, and I don’t really know how people don’t understand that. When you’re in it and see how hard he’s worked, I mean, I get the disappointment in some things but he’s done so much for South Dakota State and I want that to be what he’s remembered for. Outside of Stig, he’s the guy who’s done the most for that program.
IT’S
TIME TO JUMP ON THE AUGUSTANA BANDWAGON
(IF YOU HAVEN’T ALREADY)
BY MATT ZIMMER
Sioux Falls Live
SIOUX FALLS — Augustana hockey is in first place in its second season.
They’re ranked 19th in the nation. Sitting atop the CCHA. Dreaming realistic dreams of making the Division I NCAA hockey tournament. Already. When this out-of-left-field idea was hatched, nobody would’ve expected this swift of success.
But here they are.
Following the weekend’s wildly entertaining home sweep against Lake Superior State at Midco Arena, the Vikings are 11-1-3 in their last 14 games, bringing their overall mark to 16-7-3 and 8-3-1 in conference action.
To be nationally ranked this early in their existence is impressive. To have a chance to win the MacNaughton Cup as regular season CCHA champions is meaningful. To harbor realistic dreams of playing in the NCAA tournament is unprecedented. But it’s all happening.
If you haven’t jumped on the bandwagon, there may not be a better time.
Part of the thinking behind starting a hockey program at Augustana was the fact that while Sioux Falls had become a Division I city as the host of
the Summit League basketball tournament, it still didn’t have a Division I team to call its own.
The Vikings have provided that, but with the sudden success they’re having on the ice, this doesn’t just give Sioux Falls a token D1 presence. This is a team the town can get behind.
“Nights like this help,” Vikings coach Garrett Raboin said after his team scored a program-record six goals in Friday’s win. “You think about where we’re at in the season and the gravity of these games — they’re so important. This is a huge deal for us and it’s a big part of our growth process, but to our fans, the importance of these games, I mean, I don’t know that there are many more important than what’s going on here in Sioux Falls.”
Raboin is referring to the uniqueness of Augie’s situation. While they were immediately eligible for NCAA postseason play, they were initially only transitional members of the CCHA. Prior to this season they were granted full membership, but the league schedule was already finished, so AU’s transitional schedule remained, in which they play 16 league games to everyone else’s 26.
They’re still eligible for the MacNaughton Cup, as their place in the standings is determined by point percentage. With fewer games than their foes, each loss is magnified, shrinking the margin for error. But right now they’re in first. Augustana will also participate in the Mason Cup playoffs (CCHA
tournament), and if they were to win that they’d earn one of the 16 bids to the Big Dance.
In year two.
“We didn’t really put expectations on it, but to be ranked in year two, I mean, we’d have been fooling ourselves if we thought that was realistic,” said Vikings athletic director Josh Morton. “But it’s a credit to Garrett and his staff for building a roster that was ready to compete last year, and that set the tone for the success we’re having now.”
Augustana coach Garrett Raboin looks on during a game against Lake Superior State on Saturday, Feb. 1,
Indeed, Augie’s 12-18-4 record as an expansion team last year was more than respectable. Attendance in year one was strong — the Vikings reported an average crowd of 2,968, which translated to a little over 96 percent capacity and ranked 31st out of 64 teams in Division I (North Dakota and Wisconsin were the only two teams to average more than 10,000). This year it’s dipped to 2,777 per game, but the crowds are creeping back up as the team gains steam, and starting next year they’ll have a less disjointed schedule that will no longer keep them on the road for weeks at a time.
The Vikings have been recruiting both their own fans — the ones who have supported Augie’s traditional sports for years — as well as hockey fans with no connection to the school, and the hope is that the team can sustain its on-ice success to make an even bigger impact in the local sports landscape.
“It’s fun to walk around the concourse and this year even more than last year you see so many Augustana people, the people who were with us before this project that have always gone to the football and basketball games,” Morton said. “I see them here having fun and learning the sport, and then I see new people coming in wearing Augustana gear and maybe it’s their first entry into Augustana at all. I mean, you look at how much this city has grown and so there’s people moving here who maybe come from a hockey background or don’t have any local connections and there’s a Division I college team right here. We joke all the time, you can be a Jackrabbit or a Coyote and be an Augustana hockey fan.”
And the fans’ hockey literacy is pretty good and getting better. At this weekend’s games they had all the oohs and aahs veteran hockey fans expect
We joke all the time, you can be a Jackrabbit or a Coyote and be an Augustana hockey fan.
JOSH MORTON, VIKINGS ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
with near-miss goals or big hits along the boards. They booed when a Lakers player took a cheap shot at a Viking and both skaters were hauled off for roughing, while freshman Easton Young recounted an earlier game when the fans roared their approval every time the penalty kill unit cleared the puck during a tense 6-on-3.
“I think everyone’s starting to know the game when they come here,” said forward Tyler Hennen. “The students are learning the game a little bit, especially when we’re winning right now.”
Added Young: “Everyone seems to come out and support us. We’ll see people around and they’ll say what’s up and at the beginning of the year we weren’t getting that. So we’re getting a little more attention and that’s good.”
The on-ice product certainly helps. The wins are coming fast and the players are gaining confidence. Plus they’re clearly taking on many of the characteristics Raboin began pushing when he took the job and before he’d even assembled a roster — humble, blue-collar workers who fight for each other and don’t worry about who gets the credit.
They’re not carried by one or two stars — Luke Mobley leads the team with 11 goals and their top four scorers all have between 16 and 18 points. It’s a deep, balanced and unselfish group. They go hard into the corners for pucks and aren’t afraid to sacrifice their bodies to get in front of shots from the point.
And most importantly, they have a top-flight ace between the pipes in goalie Josh Kotai. Only a sophomore, the Canadian went 2-9-2 in a mostly backup role last year, but this season has been nothing short of one of the best in the nation,
LEFT: Augustana’s Luke Mobley skates with the puck against Lake Superior State on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, at Midco Arena in Sioux Falls. KENNETH LENGER / AUGUSTANA ATHLETICS BELOW: Augustana goalie Josh Kotai stands alongside teammates Hayden Hennen and Nace Langus during player introductions prior to the start of a game against Lake Superior State on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, at Midco Arena in Sioux Falls. TRENT SINGER / SIOUX FALLS LIVE
closing the weekend with a 1.69 goals-againstaverage and .945 save percentage.
He uncharacteristically gave up three goals on the first seven shots he faced on Friday, but his offense kept the Vikings in it, and Kotai responded by pitching a shutout over the game’s final 50 minutes. If Augie can reach the postseason, Kotai will give them a chance to make a run.
Whether that happens or not, the Vikings are laying the foundation for something special, and they’re doing it ahead of schedule. There’s still plenty of room for growth, and the true test of Sioux Falls’ appetite for Augustana hockey will come when the novelty wears off and it’s just another of the dozens of sports and entertainment options in the city.
In the meantime, the Vikings are as hot as any team in the country, and that’s fun. A tiny private school in South Dakota starting up a D1 hockey team from scratch felt fairly risky when the idea was hatched, and now it’s looking like it was a nobrainer all along.
“It was fun to see the reaction to Monday’s (national) ranking,” Morton said. “We all know it doesn’t guarantee anything, but it’s symbolic. For our young program and for our players and coaches to get that kind of validation is important, and you immediately felt the energy and momentum it created. People were reaching out and congratulating us and that means a lot. We want the college hockey world to know we’re serious. That we’re investing in this and trying to build it for the long haul.”
athletes FEB 6 of theweek
Every week, standout performances from South Dakota high school athletes capture the spotlight. Whether dominating the wrestling mat, lighting up the scoreboard on the hardwood, or deliver-
BY NATHAN SWAFFAR | MITCHELL REPUBLIC
ing clutch moments in tournament play, these athletes made a statement. From undefeated records to game-changing plays, here are this week’s top performers making waves in their respective sports.
GAGE JODOZI: PARKSTON BOYS WRESTLING
Jodozi has been one of the Trojans’ featured wrestlers this season and added to his trophy case on Saturday. He claimed the 215-pound individual title at the Tom Studelska Invitational boys wrestling tournament in Wagner after defeating Philip/Kadoka Area/ Wall’s Jensen Fitch via an 8-6 decision. He aided Parkston to a fourth-place finish at the tournament. It was Jodozi’s third individual title victory this season, his first since Dec. 14 as the tournament run saw him improve to 25-4.
LYDIA YOST: WAGNER GIRLS BASKETBALL
The Red Raiders picked up three victories last week and Yost had multiple big games. Against Scotland/Menno, she recorded 17 points in Wagner’s 62-15 victory, but her biggest performance came on Saturday. At the Northwestern Energy High School Classic in Huron in a 67-37 victory over Milbank, she recorded a game-high 24 points to go along with five rebounds and three assists. With the two victories, plus an early-week 49-36 win over Corsica-Stickney, Wagner improved to 10-4 on the season.
PEYTON HELLMANN: BON HOMME/SCOTLAND/ AVON GIRLS WRESTLING
Bon Homme/Scotland/Avon’s Hellman has been perhaps the best wrestler this season and proved it again last week. She claimed the 145-pound individual title at the Lee Wolf Invitational in Aberdeen on Saturday. She won her title match against Pierre’s Ireland Templeton with a second-period pin and her victory also aided BHSA to a team title at the competition. With a perfect 33-0 mark, Hellman has already won nine individual bracket championships this season and will aim to win her fifth state title later this month.
PAYTON PALMIER: LOWER BRULE BOYS BASKETBALL
Palmier was a huge reason that the Sioux came close to winning the Dakota Oyate Challenge at the Corn Palace last week. The 6-foot-9 forward scored 23 points in Lower Brule’s opening-round 76-31 victory over Flandreau Indian on Thursday. The Sioux claimed a spot in the tournament final after a 71-36 win over Crazy Horse in the semifinals but fell short 7266 in the title game against Omaha Nation. But in the title game, Palmier helped the Sioux come back from a 20-point deficit at the beginning of the fourth quarter with a team-high 16 points.
Lower Brule’s Payton Palmier looks for room to operate on offense during the Dakota Oyate Challenge boys basketball championship game on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025 at the Corn Palace. Marcus Traxler / Mitchell Republic
Wagner’s Lydia Yost shoots a 3 against Milbank at the Northwestern Energy High School Classic at Huron Arena on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. Nathan Swaffar / Mitchell Republic
Parkston’s Gage Jodozi prepares for a match during the Little B wrestling invitational on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025 in Parkston. Marcus Traxler / Mitchell Republic
Peyton Hellmann, who wrestles for Bon Homme/Scotland/Avon, is pictured in a 2023 file photo in Tyndall. Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic