RISING STARS
New teams shake up prep hoops
SELLAND HONORED BY BLACKHAWKS AT HOME
RABOIN REFLECTS ON WORLD JUNIORS GOLD
Press
the team
EDITOR
MARCUS TRAXLER
mtraxler@mitchellrepublic.com
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
SARA LEITHEISER
CONTRIBUTING ARTIST
CHRIS JOHNSON
CONTRIBUTERS
MATT ZIMMER
ADAM THURY
TRENT SINGER
BLAKE DURHAM
LANDON DIERKS
NATHAN SWAFFAR
JUSTIN WICKERSHAM
meet the 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.
Mitchell’s Matteah Graves drives to the basket during the Hoop City Classic on Monday, Dec. 30, 2024, at the Corn Palace. Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
noise making SURPRISE TEAMS making noise
EARLY THIS SEASON making noise
One team from each class exceeding preseason expectations
BY LANDON DIERKS
Mitchell Republic
Every year, several programs emerge as contenders in South Dakota high school basketball who were largely overlooked in the preseason.
As the midpoint of the regular season quickly approaches, the latest crop of hopefuls is starting to set themselves apart by keeping pace atop their respective classes.
Here’s one team from each class that has exceeded expectations early on this season.
(Note: All records were taken following action on Monday, Jan. 13.)
CLASS B PARKSTON BOYS
In a move to Class B, the Parkston girls garnered a preseason No. 4 ranking, while expectations for the boys were more tempered.
A baker’s dozen different Class B boys programs have received votes toward the poll this season, but Parkston is not one of them. That comes as a 7-1 start has vaulted the Trojans to the No. 4 spot in the Class B seed-point standings.
Parkston’s resume includes wins over Class A Winner and Hanson and a lone loss to Class A Pine Ridge, and the Trojans have a path to a potential 10-1 record before a Hanson Classic contest on Jan. 25.
TOP Mitchell’s Matteah Graves drives to the basket during the Hoop City Classic on Monday, Dec. 30, 2024, at the Corn Palace. ADAM THURY / MITCHELL REPUBLIC
LEFT Dakota Valley’s Ella Otten drives to the basket during a girls basketball game at the Parkston Classic on Friday, Dec. 29, 2023 at the Parkston Armory. MARCUS TRAXLER / MITCHELL REPUBLIC
CORSICA-STICKNEY GIRLS
At 7-1, the Corsica-Stickney girls have already matched their win total from the 2023-24 campaign in an ascent up the Class B girls ranks.
The Jaguars currently stand at 15th overall in the class standings, and their resume is bolstered by an early win over Sanborn Central/Woonsocket, which is ranked No. 5 in the South Dakota Prep Media poll. Corsica-Stickney’s lone loss to date came against Class A Mount Vernon/Plankinton.
As the Jaguars, who haven’t yet received votes toward the media poll, look to validate their hot start, they face a more challenging secondhalf slate, which culminates with the DWU Classic and Great Plains Conference Classic in mid-February.
CLASS A
DAKOTA VALLEY GIRLS
Though they have received votes in every edition of the South Dakota Prep Media poll this
season, Dakota Valley’s early resume isn’t just borderline top five. The Panthers might be the top team in the division so far, and the seedpoint standings have them at No. 1 behind their 8-0 start.
Jan. 13 marked the Panthers’ debut in the Class A media poll top five, as they moved in at No. 4. At the Border Battle Challenge last weekend, Dakota Valley handed Spirit Lake (Iowa) its first loss of the season, and DV’s resume also includes wins over Lennox and Viborg-Hurley.
A Hanson Classic matchup against Groton Area awaits the Panthers this weekend at the Corn Palace, setting up a second-half slate that also includes meetings with Sioux Falls Christian, Sioux Valley, Elk Point-Jefferson and Vermillion.
CLARK/WILLOW LAKE BOYS
Traditionally a highly competitive squad from the Northeast Conference, this year appears to be no different for the Clark/Willow Lake boys program.
Stacking up just outside the top 10 at 11th in the overall Class A standings, the Cyclones are out to a 6-1 start. Already, CWL has defeated perennial powers Sioux Valley from Class A and De Smet from Class B, along with the defending Class B champion Howard. The Cyclones’ lone loss to date came by one point to Groton Area.
The coming weeks will be telling as to where the Cyclones stack up in a loaded Class A field, as they face a stretch that includes Class B No. 1 Castlewood, a one-loss Deuel squad, a Hanson Classic contest and a matchup at the Dak-12/NEC clash.
CLASS AA MITCHELL GIRLS
Despite coming off of a 20-win season, the Mitchell girls were not a popular pick to be among the top teams in Class AA, due in part to the graduation of five seniors.
But early on, the Kernels have looked to be well within the picture, going 5-2 and holding the No. 9 spot in the seed-point standings. Mitchell is the lone team to defeat No. 4-ranked Rapid City Stevens to date. The Kernels had Harrisburg on the ropes in an eventual two-point loss, with their other defeat coming against Class A No. 2 Vermillion in the season opener.
As has become the norm in recent years, the Kernels face a five-game gauntlet against winning opponents to close the season, but between then and now, only one team on Mitchell’s schedule currently owns a winning record, opening the door for the Kernels to improve their seed positioning down the stretch.
TEA AREA BOYS
Even as newcomers to the Eastern South Dakota Conference and Class AA, the Tea Area boys have made an early mark.
At first glance, a 4-3 record might be unassuming, but only one of those losses — a 73-71 final against O’Gorman — came against South Dakota competition. Meanwhile, the Titans are 3-0 in ESD action, including a win at Huron that spoiled the Tigers’ preseason No. 4 ranking. Tea Area, which is currently No. 9 in seed points, was even ranked No. 3 in the media poll briefly after a 2-0 start.
Many of the true Class AA heavyweights remain on the Titans’ schedule, including back-to-backto-back contests against Mitchell, Sioux Falls Christian and Sioux Falls Lincoln at one stretch. Even so, a quality start has set Tea Area up for a push at a potential home game in the SoDak 16.
Parkston’s Mason Jervik (1) glides toward the rim for a fastbreak layup during a Hoop City Classic high school boys basketball game against Pine Ridge on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, at the Corn Palace. LANDON DIERKS / MITCHELL REPUBLIC
EVEN FOR SDSU, COACHING EXITS ARE PART OF THE GAME
COMMENTARY EVEN FOR SDSU, COACHING EXITS ARE PART OF THE GAME
BY MATT ZIMMER Sioux Falls Live
BROOKINGS — Jimmy Rogers is a piece of (expletive).
So said a message I got on Twitter from a Jackrabbit football fan angry that the 37-year-old former SDSU linebacker, assistant coach and head coach had left to be the head coach of Washington State.
This fan is not alone in their thinking.
Though if you ask these disgruntled observers, it isn’t so much that Rogers left, you see. No, coaches leaving for a more lucrative job is one thing. An expected thing. The cost of doing business at the low end of Division I athletics.
No, it’s how Rogers left that apparently makes him walking, talking excrement.
Sigh.
South Dakota State coach Jimmy Rogers walks the sideline prior to the start of an FCS quarterfinal game against Incarnate Word on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings. TRENT SINGER / SIOUX FALLS LIVE
Jimmy Rogers is introduced as the new head coach of Washington State by athletic director Anne McCoy on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025 in Pullman, Wash. WSU ATHLETICS
Over the holidays
Dickert tweeted a picture of his three kids with Santa Claus. In the comments he was called a loser, a snake and a liar, among other (worse) things.
We have heard this before. Like, just a few weeks ago, from Washington State fans.
The coach there before Rogers was Jake Dickert, himself a former SDSU (and USD, NDSU and Augustana) assistant. He coached with Rogers under John Stiegelmeier.
Dickert went 23-20 with three Bowl appearances in four seasons leading the Cougars, and recently left for Wake Forest. Wazzu fans have declared Dickert a traitor.
Over the holidays Dickert tweeted a picture of his three kids with Santa Claus. In the comments he was called a loser, a snake and a liar, among other (worse) things.
A few compared him to Kalen DeBoer, who just a year ago left Washington after taking the Huskies to the national championship game. DeBoer departed for Alabama, and the vitriol Husky fans directed at the former USF standout was overwhelming. They basically hate him there now, which is sad given that he led the program to its highest highs in years and is literally one of the nicest people on the planet. And then, of course, the Huskies turned around and hired Arizona coach Jedd Fisch, who bailed on the Wildcats after just three seasons to replace DeBoer. Kalen’s a snake for leaving the Huskies after a spectacular season, but Fisch doing the literal exact same thing in almost identical circumstances is fine, I guess. Huh.
Jake Dickert spent four seasons as head coach of Washington State before leaving in December to be the new coach at Wake Forest.
WASHINGTON STATE
ATHLETICS
I don’t expect anyone to feel sorry for these millionaires, but these are people with families. People who have done a lot of good for the places they’ve left. I just don’t get the nasty vilification for someone you rooted for only weeks prior.
It’s happened here before, too.
TJ Otzelberger had three successful seasons as the men’s basketball coach at South Dakota State, and is now in the Big 12, coaching 2nd-ranked Iowa State, a national championship contender. To this day I still hear from fans who spit at the mention of Otzelberger’s name.
“It’s not that he left,” they say. “It’s how he left.”
“It’s not that he left,” they say. “It’s how he left.”
I can only assume that means taking sharpshooter David Jenkins and prized recruit Caleb Grill with him when he left SDSU. Because otherwise all Otzelberger did was build on what Scott Nagy left behind and take the next step on a career that’s now at the top of the profession.
When Nagy left he took most of his staff and SDSU commit Loudon Love with him to Wright State, and Love became a two-time Horizon League MVP and is now playing in the NBA G-League. And don’t think for a minute Nagy wouldn’t have taken Mike Daum, too, if the Dauminator had wanted to go to Ohio.
Which leads me back to Rogers.
There are several reasons why this SDSU lifer is suddenly a villain, starting with the fact he only served two years as the head coach.
It’s pretty well known that Stiegelmeier retired after the 2022 season so SDSU could keep Rogers by making him the head coach. Rogers had an offer to be an FBS coordinator he was going to otherwise take, prompting Stiegelmeier to graciously step aside for what most believed was best for the program.
Rogers then led SDSU to its best season ever in 2023, a perfect 15-0 campaign in which they coasted to a second straight national championship. They came back this year and went 12-3, reaching the semifinals and losing twice to eventual champion North Dakota State.
Rogers had offers to be an FBS coordinator again after the 2023 season. He turned down some big ones to try to lead SDSU to a three-peat. Another FBS program was interested in Rogers as head coach this winter before Wazzu came calling.
It’s interesting that some are now suggesting Rogers merely road the coattails of Stiegelmeier, winning a title with a team his mentor built and handed off to him.
With no disrespect to Stiegelmeier, this is laughable.
It’s well-known that since the Jacks became a serious FCS contender about a decade ago Stiegelmeier’s staff was one of the most important facets to their success. From recruiting to gameplanning to player development, the assistant
coaches were instrumental in finally pushing the Jacks over the hump. Stiegelmeier absolutely gets the credit for assembling the staff and presiding over their work, but to suggest he did all the heavy lifting and Rogers has no bona fides of his own is, again, laughable.
It wasn’t until Rogers became defensive coordinator that the Jacks became as strong on that side of the ball as they were on offense. Put simply, without Jimmy Rogers it’s quite likely that SDSU’s trophy case is still empty.
Rogers played at SDSU and then coached there for 14 years. From linebacker to assistant coach to head coach, he pushed the program forward every step of the way. That’s as much loyalty as any program is owed.
The timing is maybe a tad surprising, but frankly it’s nobody’s business why Rogers decided Washington State, now, was the right job at the right time. He’s moving up to the FBS level, increasing his salary five-fold and providing himself an opportunity to go even farther. DeBoer went from Fresno State to Washington to Alabama. Wazzu is Jimmy’s Fresno State. If he wins in Pullman, Rogers, still only 37, could make a similar climb. He deserves this opportunity and is doing the right thing for him and his career by taking it.
But it’s not that he’s leaving, right? It’s how he’s leaving. Taking his whole staff with him. Taking SDSU players with him. Taking recruits with him.
From left, South Dakota State head coach Eric Henderson and Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger share an hug prior to their teams meeting during an NCAA men’s basketball tournament first round game on Thursday, March 21, 2024 at CHI Health Center Omaha in Omaha, Neb. MARCUS TRAXLER / MITCHELL REPUBLIC
Please. This program is hardly gutted.
Taking his staff with him is the right thing to do. Fans who have never been through this before perhaps don’t understand that, but by taking his coaches with him Rogers ensures those men have jobs. That their families are taken care of (they’re all getting sizable raises). If he leaves them behind, they risk getting let go by the new coach, and this way new coach Dan Jackson can assemble his own staff as he sees fit without having to fire anyone or keep someone he may not want.
If I were a Jackrabbit fan, I think the only words I’d have for Rogers would be
‘Thank you’. But that’s just me.
“Usually what happens when an FCS coach leaves for an FBS program — he leaves his coaches,” Stiegelmeier said. “He’s supposed to hire a big shot from USC or the Big Ten or something and make a splash, and the truth is you don’t really know anything about them. It’s a credit to Jimmy to take care of all those families of his coaches and take them with him to the next level. That’s a huge positive reflection on Jimmy.”
As for the players.
The most significant transfers to leave SDSU have been quarterback Mark Gronowski and wide receiver Griffin Wilde. Neither of them are following Rogers to Washington State and both were going even if Rogers stayed.
There are some good SDSU players who will suit up as Cougars next year, chief among them safety Tucker Large and linebacker Caleb Francl, but a handful of these transfers only have one year left, anyway.
Jackson has already convinced several players who thought about leaving to stay, as well as garnered commitments from several transfers. Meanwhile quarterback Chase Mason and offensive tackle Quinten Christensen should never have to pay for a beer in Brookings the rest of their lives for the work they did in rallying the troops behind Jackson and getting players on the fence to stay. With former coordinators Eric Eidsness and Brian Bergstrom returning to those roles under Jackson, the Stiegelmeier culture is firmly in place.
But there’s no reason to be mad at Rogers for asking players to come with him, or to be mad at the players who accept the offer.
If Rogers leaves without taking any players he could be accused of abandoning them. Of getting them to commit and then bailing on them. By offering them the chance to follow him he’s
staying loyal to them. That’s a risk at a higher level. Remember, for many of these players, SDSU was their only Division I offer. Rogers is sticking his neck out by trusting a bunch of guys with mostly D2 offers coming out of high school to be winning FBS players.
This is why the transfer portal was founded. We used to say it was unfair to make players stay when their coach left. Now that they can leave, they shouldn’t?
Here’s the thing. Fans of any team like to believe their place is special. That their team is the one everyone wants to play for and nobody in their right mind would ever want to go anywhere else.
That’s not reality. Lots of places are special. Lots of people are special. Lots of coaches are special. But the relationships players develop with their coaches are unique to them
Some players choose a school/team based on facilities, or winning tradition, or location. But a great deal of players, maybe even a majority, choose a coach.
He’s the one who believed in them. Who put in the hours recruiting them. Who traveled to their high school games, met their parents, called them on signing day.
The players who are going to Washington State aren’t turning their back on SDSU, they’re staying loyal to the man who gave them the opportunity to be Division I football players. And Rogers is showing loyalty to them by trusting them to produce at a higher level.
It’s not 1992 anymore. The Jacks are in Division I. The college sports landscape has changed. College football is an entirely different universe. Welcome to the new world.
Rogers still cares about SDSU. He’ll be rooting for them next fall, no matter how many hateful messages he gets from fans. It’s his alma mater, the place that made him what he is today.
But winning games at Washington State is now Rogers’ job. Protecting the Jackrabbit program, or worrying about the feelings of those back in Brookings, is not. He’s got to do whatever it takes to win because he’ll get fired if he doesn’t. This is what he has decided is the best way to be successful. Good luck, Jimmy.
I’m not here to tell anyone how to feel. If you want to be mad at Jimmy Rogers, or Jesse Bobbit, or Zach Lujan or TJ Otzelberger or Tucker Large or Jake Dickert or Kalen DeBoer, go for it.
I think anger is kind of pointless, but if you insist on it there are probably more important things to be mad at than a football coach, especially one who won you a pair of national championships.
If I were a Jackrabbit fan, I think the only words I’d have for Rogers would be ‘Thank you’. But that’s just me.
MATT ZIMMER
Incarnate Word’s Roy Alexander runs with the ball while being pursued by South Dakota State’s Tucker Large in an FCS quarterfinal game Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings. TRENT SINGER / SIOUX FALLS LIVE
OMAHA LEADS CONFERENCE TITLE CHASE OMAHA LEADS CONFERENCE
TITLE CHASE
Mavericks have started 4-0 in Summit play
BY MATT ZIMMER
OMAHA — A crowd of 2,849 was on hand Saturday at Baxter Arena to watch the Omaha men’s basketball team defeat reigning Summit League champion South Dakota State.
A nice crowd by the Mavericks’ standards, but, coach Chris Crutchfield admitted, it served as something of an opening act for that night’s hockey game.
Just a couple hours after the floor was converted from wood to ice, a whopping 6,955 fans filled Baxter Arena to watch the Maverick hockey team defeat Colorado College 3-1.
But if Crutchfield’s team continues on the hot streak it’s currently on, the disparity in crowd sizes between hoops and hockey could soon begin to shrink.
Omaha’s win over the Jackrabbits was the Mavericks’ sixth in a row, and it upped their record in Summit League play to 4-0. Picked to finish eighth in the nine team league in the preseason poll, the Mavericks are looking like a contender, as three of those four conference wins have come against Kansas City, SDSU and North Dakota State, teams that were picked first, second and third, respectively, in the poll.
The Mavs endured a rough stretch in non-conference play, at one point losing nine of 11, but they’ve got it rolling now, averaging 86 points in their four league games behind an experienced roster that’s pushing a program starved for success.
Following the win over the Jacks on Saturday, dozens of fans waited by the gate where the players exit the floor to congratulate them as players excitedly exchanged high fives and fist bumps. It looked like an emotional win for the Mavs, and it felt like the fans on hand can sense this is a team that could be a factor in March.
“We always thought we were moving in the right direction,” said Crutchfield, a Maverick alum whose team went 15-18 last year, up from 9-23 in his first season at the helm. “But you never know until you start winning games. We’re building our fan base and trying to get people excited in the community. If we keep winning it will pay dividends and hopefully people keep coming out to support us.”
Other than a competitive 68-64 loss to Minnesota, there wasn’t a lot to get excited about from the Mavs’ non-conference games. But Crutchfield said his team was doing the things he wanted them to do, they just weren’t putting the ball in the basket. Once that changed, they took off.
“We just started making shots, that’s really it,” he said of the team’s sudden win streak. “Early in the year we weren’t making shots consistently. We defended, we rebounded, we just didn’t make shots, and sometimes when that happens your defense goes into lapses, too. Now we’re
confident on offense and have four or five guys stepping up and making shots.”
Another key factor has been experience. In an era where mid-major teams struggle to build continuity due to the constant threat of the transfer portal, Omaha has four seniors and five juniors, most of whom have been with the Mavs for at least three seasons. The experience was clearly a factor in Omaha’s win over SDSU on Saturday.
Marquel Sutton, a 6-9 senior forward, and JJ White, a 6-2 senior guard, scored 24 points each for the Mavs and have been a big part of their success. Sutton averages 16.7 points and 7.5 rebounds while White averages 10.2 points and leads the team in assists. Juniors Tony Osburn and Lance Waddles are both scoring in double figures, as Waddles came to the Mavs from North Dakota State along with 6-9 senior post Josh Streit. Streit works alongside another senior, 6-8, 275-pound Congolese Isaac Ondekane, while juniors Kamryn Thomas and Ja’Sean Glover round out the rotation.
“Having that experience makes a major difference for us,” Crutchfield said. “When we lost those games early it didn’t affect those guys, because they recognized we have the talent that once we put it together we’d be fine, and that’s what’s happening now.
“Their confidence is high,” the coach added. “They’re feeling good about us being relevant again in this league, because we haven’t been very good the last few years. We’re building something, and this is a year where it feels like the league is wide open. They’re very motivated, and I think if we as a staff can keep
them motivated and not let complacency set in we can have a special season.”
The Mavs visit Denver on Wednesday. Then on Jan. 23 they’ll host St. Thomas in an early-season showdown between the two teams that are both 4-0 in league play this year.
LARKINS CONTINUES TO IMPRESS
USD's Grace Larkins continues to rack up massive numbers, as she was named the national player of the week after averaging — get this — 39.5 points and 12.5 rebounds in USD's wins over St. Thomas and Omaha.
She tied a then-career high with 34 against the Tommies, then bested that by scoring a program record 45 points against the Mavericks. She did it on 19 shots and added 13 rebounds.
Larkins leads the Summit League in scoring (24.7), rebounding (9.4) and assists (5.7), and her scoring total is fourth in the nation. She’s shooting .503 from the floor, and if she can pick up her free throw shooting she’ll be even more dangerous, as Larkins is second in the conference in charity stripe attempts while converting at a .685 clip.
The Coyotes are off to a 3-1 start in league play under first-year coach Carrie Eighmey, and will visit North Dakota on Wednesday.
South Dakota’s Grace Larkins drives to the basket against South Dakota State during a semifinal of the Summit League tournament Monday, March 11, 2024, in Sioux Falls. TRENT SINGER / SIOUX FALLS LIVE
Forever a Blackhawk
“It’s fun coming home,” Selland said, “Seeing familiar faces and just kind of remembering where it all started and the dreams that I had here as a young player. Looking back on it, I got to live a lot of those dreams so it’s really fun to be back.”
The pride of nearby Letcher, Selland first came to the Blackhawks program during the first year both Sanborn Central and Woonsocket competed as a cooperative in girls basketball. Making the varsity team as an eighth-grader, Selland put together one of the state’s all-time prep careers.
Helping the Blackhawks to five state tournaments and a pair of runner-up finishes, Selland finished her career as the program’s all-time leader in points (2,219), rebounds (964) and assists (532). She also set seven single-season Blackhawks records and holds the single-game scoring (40 points) and assist (11) records.
The 2017 South Dakota girls basketball Gatorade player of the year and Miss Basketball 2017, Selland helped usher in the current era at SCW through her work on the court along with countless hours spent with the younger kids who looked up to her, becoming an exemplary member of the program and bringing the community together.
“Her work ethic is unmatched,” Baruth said, who coached Selland during her five-year varsity career. “It was 6 to 7 days a week in the morning, putting up shots, working on her game constantly because she was competitive. She wanted to win and the younger girls saw her and they wanted to be successful.”
Selland continued her playing career at South Dakota State, being twice named the Summit League player of the year and finishing as the No. 2 all-time scorer in program history, joining Mitchell product Macy Miller as the only Jackrabbits to record at least 2,000 career points with the team. She signed as an undrafted free agent with the Minne-
sota Lynx in 2023, appearing in two WNBA preseason games.
Following the Lynx, Selland, 26, played professionally overseas in Spain for Ferrol basketball, competing in the Spanish women’s basketball league and getting to visit several European countries such as France and Italy. Most recently, she also played for the Gold Coast Rollers over the summer in Australia’s NBL1 league.
While getting the chance to live in different parts of the world was an opportunity itself, Selland focused on building strong relationships with those around her, a testament to how women’s basketball has taken off and grown, along with women’s athletics in general.
“It was pretty satisfying to get that opportunity with the Lynx and to play overseas,” Selland said. “The relationships, the experiences and the opportunities it’s brought me has been pretty incredible. … It speaks to kind of where women’s basketball is right now and the talent we have, and I was really lucky to be a part of it.”
“We’re seeing an explosion of female sports and where these girls can really go,” Baruth added. “It takes special people like Myah for these kids to get the opportunities as we’re seeing that, they’re like, ‘We can do that too.’”
Now pursuing other ventures being back in South Dakota, Selland’s message to those who want to follow their dreams falls in line with what made her stand out as a member of the Sanborn Central/Woonsocket girls basketball team.
“Find that thing you love and you’re passionate about,” Selland said. “Don’t be afraid to put the time and the energy and the effort into it, and it can take you to some really cool places.”
" We’re seeing an explosion of female sports, and it’s leaders like Myah paving the way.”
ROB BARUTH
Myah Selland poses for photos with her framed Sanborn Central/Woonsocket Blackhawks jersey after retiring the No. 44 she wore while playing in high school on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Forestburg. ADAM THURY / MITCHELL REPUBLIC
A collection of awards and photos from Myah Selland’s high school career sits on display after Sanborn Central/Woonsocket retired the No. 44 which she wore while playing in high school on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Forestburg. ADAM THURY / MITCHELL REPUBLIC
COACH
Corsica-Stickney’s
LEFT: Corsica-Stickney’s Tyson Wentland (25) shoots a 3-point jump shot over a Potter County defender during a Hoop City Classic high school boys basketball game on Monday, Dec. 30, 2024, at the Corn Palace. ADAM THURY / MITCHELL REPUBLIC
‘NEVER QUIT’
Wentland plays to honor his late father’s legacy
BY NATHAN SWAFFAR Mitchell Republic
CORSICA, S.D. — Tyson Wentland is the first to admit that his left-handed layup form wasn’t very good in third grade.
His dad, Chad, knew it as well. That’s when he took Tyson to the gym, where all they did was practice left-handed layups.
“He showed me how to do it a few times, and I couldn’t get it forever,” Wentland said. “And then after awhile, I did it for an hour straight, and he kept pushing me to get it right. I don’t think I’ve missed many left-handed layups since.”
That memory is one that Tyson has always remembered about his father, and now, it means just that much more. From an on-court standpoint, Wentland has been one of the best players in the state during his final high school season, rarely missing opportunities that come his way.
ABOVE:
Tyson Wentland hugs his dad Chad following a boys basketball game.
PHOTO COURTESY OF WENTLAND FAMILY
However, his dad isn’t there to watch him. Chad Wentland, 48, died in December after an extended battle with cancer. Despite fighting for eight years, dealing with surgery and vigorous rounds of treatment, he carried the same attitude every day. “Never quit.”
He endured, continuing to be a figure in the community, especially with youth sports. He continued to coach as much as he could, including baseball. But most importantly, he continued to be a role model for Tyson and his two brothers, Brendan and Tryton, until the end.
Despite such a heavy loss, Wentland has remained undeterred. He maintains an upbeat attitude through every task, something those around him have noticed.
Corsica-Stickney boys basketball coach Luke Bamberg said the sport has been an escape for Wentland, and the way he’s tackled such a tragic personal event has been nothing short of true maturity.
“He’s just very even keel. He has a smile on his face,” Bamberg said. “Even though something tragic like that happened, it’s great to see him smile. You hope that basketball is making him happy and is that getaway getting his mind off things a little bit. He’s able to still enjoy it and do what he loves, just coming every day to practice with that positive attitude and mindset rubs off on so many people. He doesn’t drag anybody down. He just shows up and he gets after it, works hard and focuses on getting himself and the team better.”
The attitude his father maintained throughout his battle with cancer rubbed off on all the Wentland boys. That same demeanor and never-quit mindset have pushed Wentland to be the best player he can be.
“Ever since he told us that he has had cancer and how he’s been fighting with it, we just know what he’s been going through and how he’s never showed it to us and how he’s never given up,” Wentland said. “He told us that he’s never going to give up on us, and I just feel like I can never give up on him.”
Now, he is forging forward, dedicating the remainder of his senior season to his dad and his memory. And to say that Wentland is playing at a high level for the Jaguars is an understatement.
Wentland has been one of the top players in the state. He’s averaged 23.8 points per game, 9.8 rebounds, nearly two assists and steals per game. He’s made school history in the process, too. In a Dec. 30 victory against Potter County at the Hoop City Classic in Mitchell, he broke the co-op’s single-game record for points with 36.
He said there is extra motivation to play to the best of his abilities day in and day out to honor his father, who always pushed him to provide his maximum effort.
“After every game, we would talk about what I could do better,” Wentland said. “And now I’m just kind of all thinking back on it and just putting it all into work and doing my best I can for him. I know he’s helping me out through the entire way and just guiding me to do everything.”
Bamberg said Wentland’s work ethic, especially following a personal loss, makes him that much more enjoyable to coach. He said Wentland’s dedication to improvement, influenced by his father, makes everyone around him strive for greatness.
“Anytime that you have that passion for a sport and you have a player that has that same type of passion and work ethic you gravitate toward those type of players,” Bamberg said. “It just makes them very enjoyable to coach. They bring it every day, and they push their teammates to get better. They honestly push myself as a coach to get better.”
The Jaguars sit at 4-3 as of Jan. 10 with plenty of season to go. If Wentland continues to play at the level he has thus far, he will be in the conversion for multiple individual honors. But that’s not what he’s after.
In his mind, there is one true way for this season to conclude, a goal his father set for him. He wants to lead Corsica-Stickney to the state tournament.
“He’s always wanted me to make it to the state tournament,” Wentland said. “I did for baseball this last year, which I’m forever grateful that he got to be there and experience that with me, but I know he would want me to push for basketball, too. He’s always known I love basketball very much. He’s the guy who’s always pushed me to get to that city tournament.”
Even if that goal weren’t to come to fruition, he’ll continue to carry the same attitude his father did throughout his life.
Never quit.
“He was the guy who never quit. The guy who never stopped. The guy who impacted every life he was in,” Wentland said. “Just to impact everybody’s life in the way he did, and just to see how many people’s lives he changed and the impact he had on everybody in the community.”
" He pushed me to be my best. Now, I’m striving to honor his legacy every day "
The Wentland family from left to right: Tryton, Tyson, Chad and Brendan.
PHOTO COURTESY OF WENTLAND FAMILY
‘YOU NEED EVERYONE’ ‘YOU NEED EVERYONE’
BY TRENT SINGER
Sioux Falls Live
SIOUX FALLS — Being a world champion is nothing new to Garrett Raboin. Being a world champion two years in a row, though, has a rare air to it.
The Vikings’ second-year coach returned Monday with some new hardware to add to his mantle after serving as an assistant coach for Team USA at the IIHF World Junior Championships in Ottawa, Canada.
A year ago, Raboin served that same role, and for the second straight year, the Americans claimed gold Sunday at the WJC, becoming the first U.S. team to repeat as champion in the history of the tournament.
In the gold-medal game, Teddy Stiga provided the game-winning tally during three-on-three overtime on a stretch pass from Zeev Buium, as Team USA claimed a 4-3 victory to knock off Finland and avenge a prior overtime loss in group play.
Led by University of Denver coach David Carle, Team USA was led in scoring by Boston University defenseman Cole Hutson, who racked up 11 points on three goals and eight assists, while Boston College’s Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault each had 10 points to pace the Americans’ forward group.
Meanwhile, back home, Raboin’s Vikings team was left in good hands.
Assistant coach Taylor Nelson served as acting coach in Raboin’s place, and Augustana returned from a three-week break to have arguably its best weekend in program history, sweeping then-No. 8 Colorado College on Jan. 3 and Jan. 4 in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Hayden Hennen had a goal and an assist to lift the Vikings to a resounding 5-1 win in Friday’s opener. Then, on Saturday, Josh Kotai made 45 saves, and Nace Langus got a late goal on the power play to secure a 3-2 victory in the series finale.
With the sweep, AU is now ranked No. 18 in the PairWise rankings as the second half of the season gets going. The Vikings are also second in the CCHA standings with a .667 points percentage, trailing only league frontrunner Minnesota State (.778) and just ahead of a third-place tie between Michigan Tech and Bowling Green (.639). Augustana is eligible for the first time for NCAA tournament this season, making the postseason watch even more important.
The Vikings return to action Jan. 17-18 with a non-conference showdown against Lindenwood at Midco Arena. From there, Augustana will wrap up its CCHA slate, a four series stretch that features road trips to BGSU (Jan. 24-25) and MSU (Feb. 7-8) and home games versus Lake Superior State (Jan. 31-Feb. 1) and MTU (Feb. 14-15).
Recently, Sioux Falls Live spoke with Raboin about his WJC experience, what it’s like to be a part of back-to-back gold-medal teams, how the Augustana players and assistants took care of business in his stead and what he likes about his team as the second half of the season gets into full swing. U.S.
National Junior Team assistant coach Garrett Raboin takes part in a practice ahead of
Here’s a complete Q&A from that conversation.
Q: Two back-to-back gold medals, it’s never been done by Team USA at the WJC. I know it was a thrilling moment to be a part of. How thrilling was it to be a part of that?
A: It’s awesome. It’s so great to be around players like that in that ‘05, ‘06 birth year. They were two very different experiences. The first year, it’s all new. You have a group that’s wanting to meet up with Sweden in Sweden, and they wanted to rectify a loss that the ‘04s had against Sweden. So they had unfinished business. There was a young group that really contributed to help them win gold over in Gothenburg.
This year, you lose some top players who we’re now watching in the National Hockey League, and there’s a new younger group that comes in. But on any team, you have to have leadership. To watch those first-year players a year ago now come back as veterans and leaders and to watch them grow into those roles and come together, it happened so quickly. They have to be completely committed to playing a team game and buying in, and they did it.
There’s moments throughout any tournament where there’s adversity and ups-and-downs. Ours came against Finland with an overtime loss [in group play], but it was cool to see how it all came together. Losing in overtime to Finland was great for us. We were able to have some tough conversations. Guys were able to look inward. I think the team came together through it. Guys rise. You need everyone. It’s so true, and for Teddy Stiga to score a gold-medal goal — his first shot on goal the whole tournament — what an incredible memory he’ll have with him forever.
A: Just elation to watch it all come together. The pass from [Zeev] Buium to Stiga, that’s why guys and big-time players are in moments like that. That’s why they’re there. That’s why they were selected to the team, and we knew we had the talent to do something like we accomplished.
For him to finish in that moment was just awesome. It’s so awesome for the guys to see them afterwards and know that this team will ever be assembled again. But they were able to be together and achieve that goal that they’d set long ago when this team came together in the early summer. It’s incredible to watch it all come together.
Losing in overtime to Finland was great for us. We were able to have some tough conversations. Guys were able to look inward. I think the team came together through it. Guys rise. You need everyone.
GARRETT RABOIN,
U.S. NATIONAL JUNIOR TEAM ASSISTANT COACH
It’s such a tough tournament to win. We were excited about World Junior hockey in Canada. Canadians celebrate the World Junior tournament like no other. The event, the energy, the stage — it was big, and it was great. Whenever you win, it makes it all worth it. Back-to-back, no one here’s ever done it because it is so challenging, so to be able to be a part of it — you’re such a small piece of it because there’s so much that goes into it — it’s pretty special and rewarding.
Q: I thought the guys played a great semifinal game, too. It really set you up for the
Q: You’ve talked a lot, too, about the lab as a coach, where you’re alongside guys like Brett Larson and Steve Miller. David Carle has all the accomplishments and accolades at this point. We’re kind of running out of superlatives for him. To be a part of that group and a part of that lab as a second-year coach here, what does that mean to you?
A: It’s great. It’s a special group to be around. You watch how they work and how they interact with players and their demeanor throughout the games in high-pressure situations. You’re learning a ton. Some of it’s reaffirming to what you’re already doing. You always leave these tournaments feeling like you can be a whole lot better, but they’re just really good guys and really good hockey people.
I think that’s what you take away is just some of the relationships and interactions you have through the tournament. You’re spending New Year’s Eve and New Year’s away from
why these people are so good at their craft.
Q: I’m curious to know what your communication with the coaching staff was like as well. Was there a lot of that while you’re focusing on two teams at the same time, or do you just kind of let them go a little bit?
A: You let them go, but they’re still your guys. This is my family here obviously with our guys at Augie. You talk to the staff day-to-day and maybe add your two cents. You talk a heck of a lot more recruiting probably than you do about practice planning and lines. Taylor Nelson’s been through it before. He did a tremendous job last year. You have to trust that you have the right guys in place and empower them and just try to stay out of the way.
Q: Two things that are really working well for you guys right now are depth scoring and goaltending. Are you starting to see consistency in that area?
A: It’s one of our strengths, and it’s just this team. You see some teams around the country that have a top line that carries the weight of the scoring. On a given night, you look at our lineup, and I could probably ask you who the first line and the fourth line are. I know how they’re listed. Colton Friesen centered the fourth line as it was listed last week, and he’s a player we really hold in high regard and has contributed offensively as of late.
That’s just our group. Owen Baumgartner has come back from injury and contributed offensively. We really like having Uula back after him not being able to play for eight games. You see Nace Langus continue to get better. You’re starting to see not just one but two Hennens finding the stat sheet. We have to have depth with where we are, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
Josh Kotai’s been tremendous. There’s no hiding from it. He’s one of the top goalies in the country, and he’s taken advantage of an opportunity. He’s shown that he’s not just having good moments, good weeks, but he’s done it enough where he should feel very confident in his ability. And it might just be who he is.
athletes
JAN 16 of theweek
BY NATHAN SWAFFAR | MITCHELL REPUBLIC
BRADY COURNOYER: WAGNER BOYS BASKETBALL
In two of Wagner’s three games last week, Cournoyer was the catalyst in both of those matchups that resulted in victories. In a 60- 47 win over Ethan, he recorded 14 points, tied for a team-high. But he really shined in the Red Raiders’ 62-40 victory over Bon Homme. He finished the day with a 22-point, 12-re- bound double-double as Wagner picked up its fifth victory of the season. As of Jan. 13, Wagner had a 5-2 mark with games against Elk Point-Jefferson and Parkston this week.
KARSON
KEISER:
WINNER AREA BOYS WRESTLING
Last year’s Class B third-place finisher, Keiser is rolling this season and picked up an individual title last week. Keiser improved to 18-1 on the season en route to a first-place finish at 138 pounds at the Mid-Dakota Monster tournament last Saturday. He dominated his opponents, nabbing one pinfall and four technical
including in the
falls,
title match against Lakota Tech’s Zaniyan Iron Eyes. This marks Keiser’s third tournament victory this season and he aided Winner to a fourth-place team finish.
Winner Area’s Karson Keiser duels Miller/Highmore-Harrold’s Kellan Hurd in the Region 3B 138-pound boys wrestling final on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, at Parkston High School. MITCHELL REPUBLIC FILE PHOTO
AINE GRAESSER: CHAMBERLAIN GIRLS WRESTLING
Graesser has been one the Cubs’ top performers this season and cemented it last Saturday. She picked up her first individual tournament victory of the season at the Dan Pansch Invitational in the 120-pound division. At the top seed in the weight class, she picked up three straight byes before making quick work in her semifinal match with a first-round pinfall. Then in the title match, she defeated fellow Chamberlain teammate Alexandra Schmiedt, who she also defeated via pinfall. The tournament victory marked her third top-four finish as she improved to 12-6.
LAUREN ZIEBART: PARKSTON GIRLS BASKETBALL
Ziebart, along with her sister Berkley, have been two of the primary catalysts for the Trojans’ hot start to the season. Ziebart had two impactful performances last week, aiding Parkston to an 8-0 record as of Jan. 13. In a 58-27 victory over Miller last Saturday, finished with a gamehigh 14 points along with three rebounds and assists. Earlier in the week, she scored 12 points in the Trojans’ 5327 victory over Hanson. Parkston will have a busy week with games against Canistota, Wagner and No. 3 Lyman in the Hanson Classic.
Chamberlain’s Aine Graesser, left, attempts to take down Rapid City Stevens’ Trinity Duran during a firstround match in the girls 106-pound division of the South Dakota state high school wrestling tournament on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023 at The Monument in Rapid City MARCUS TRAXLER / MITCHELL REPUBLIC
Dakota Valley’s Aubree Worden, center, and Parkston’s Lauren Ziebart battle for a rebound during a girls basketball game at the Parkston Classic on Friday, Dec. 29, 2023 at the Parkston Armory. Also pictured is Parkston’s Lexi Schoenfelder, at right. MARCUS TRAXLER / MITCHELL REPUBLIC