THREE-PEAT COMPLETE
HARRISBURG CRUISES TO ANOTHER STATE VOLLEYBALL CROWN
FCS playoff bracket brings intrigue
on soccer pitch for Raiders
Barros back for Coyote defense
the team
EDITOR
MARCUS TRAXLER
mtraxler@mitchellrepublic.com
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
SARA LEITHEISER
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.
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Harrisburg players celebrate after defeating Sioux Falls Washington 3-1 in the Class AA state championship match Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls.
Dynasty TIGER
Three titles. Zero defeats. Pure dominance.
IBY TRENT SINGER SIOUX FALLS LIVE
t was a run to the state championship as fitting as it was dominant.
For yet another season, the Harrisburg Tigers were the team to beat, getting their opponents’ best shot each time they took the court, and in the end, it didn’t matter.
Junior Gabi Zachariasen finished with a match-high 28 kills to go along with 11 digs, and the top-seeded Tigers took down No. 3 seed Sioux Falls Washington 3-1 (25-14, 25-17, 24-26, 25-13) to become the first Class AA program in the state to complete a three-peat Saturday at the Denny Sanford Premier Center.
For Zachariasen and her Harrisburg teammates, it’s a feeling that never seems to get old.
Harrisburg
Dynasty
“It’s awesome that everyone wants to beat us,” said Zachariasen, a University of South Dakota commit. “Having that pressure on us is a privilege. Having that target on our backs is a privilege, so we make sure we take full advantage of that and work hard every day to prove that we are the best.”
It’s the sixth overall state title for the Tigers’ program, and all of them have come under the direction of longtime coach Ronette Costain.
Five of those state championships have come at the AA level, but the measure of Harrisburg’s unprecedented run goes even further.
A total of 781 days have passed since the Tigers last lost a match. Since then, they’ve won 78 in a row and show zero signs of slowing down.
“Unheard of,” Costain said. “Sometimes I feel like I’m living in a dream, and other times, I’m like, ‘OK, keep the focus.’ Even for me as a coach, we talk a lot about taking one set at a time, one game at a time and not making it bigger than it is because if you do, it feels like a heavy weight.
“We’re just going to continue next year and start where we left off. Kids are just going to continue to play ball, and we’ve got to make it fun because when things stay fun, the pressure stays off.”
In the opening set, Harrisburg (32-0) went on a 9-2 run, opening up an 18-11 advantage on a kill by Bergen Stiff. The Tigers used a 4-0 burst to close the game, ending it with back-to-back aces by Kennedy Kokenge to take a 1-0 lead in the match.
A kill by Zachariasen gave Harrisburg a 7-6 lead in the second set, and the Tigers never trailed for the remainder of the game. Kokenge got a kill to cap a 12-4 swing that pushed the lead to 22-13. Then, Washington (23-5) staved off two match points before a service error ended the set, moving the Tigers ahead 2-0 in the contest.
“Washington’s a good team,” Costain said. “We knew what they were capable of. We’ve seen them do it to other teams, and we just said, ‘We really have to close down their outsides to keep it from their libero.’ She’s really good. That little group is phenomenal, so that’s what we did.
“We executed our plan. We took balls and were hitting anywhere they weren’t.”
Harrisburg took the lead to start the third set and appeared like it might run away with it, but the Warriors refused to go away.
The Tigers, who never led by more than four points in the set, took a 22-19 lead on three straight kills from Zachariasen, but Washington took the next four points to take the lead for the first time in the set at 23-22.
The two teams exchanged the next three points before the Warriors got the final two points to pull off a surprising upset in the set, cutting the Tigers’ lead to 2-1.
“We talked after the first two and just said, ‘Hey, we’ve got to go one point at a time and just continue to bring energy,’” Washington coach Kelly Schroeder said. “Really, in set one and two, we were with
them for the first 10, 12 points, and then all of a sudden, we just kind of let them go on a six-point lead. … We can hang with them. We just had to continue to believe in that, even when there’s a few plays that go their way.”
In the final set, the Warriors struggled mightily to find an answer to Harrisburg’s fluid offense. Zachariasen took over, notching four kills in a row to spark a 14-3 run to close the set. A kill by Stiff ended the match and sent the Tiger faithful into celebration.
TOP: Sioux Falls Washington’s Kaelyn Snoozy hits the ball while Harrisburg’s Josalyn Samuels and Bergen Stiff attempt to block in the Class AA state championship match Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls.
BOTTOM: Sioux Falls Washington’s Taryn Kirsch serves the ball against Harrisburg in the Class AA state championship match Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls. Trent Singer / Sioux Falls Live
“When we lose a set, it’s not a big deal to us, but it seems to be to everybody else in the state right now,” said Costain, whose team lost just seven sets the entire season. “You’ve just got to reset. You’ve just got to go back after it, whether it’s the first set you lose or the second.
“You’ve just got to bounce back and get ready for the next one.”
Stiff finished with 10 kills for Harrisburg, while Karalynn Leach contributed nine. Defensively, libero Maggie Meister accounted for 21 of the Tigers’ 71 digs, while Lindsay Langner and Kokenge added 18 and 11 digs, respectively.
Then there was freshman setter Josalyn Samuels, who finished the match with a whopping 51 assists for Harrisburg.
“They’ve got too many horses,” Schroeder said about the Tigers. “Their middles did really well. They got up and were physical and hit good balls, and then their pins played good as well. They played good defense.
“We tried hitting different shots, but they were there to pick them up. And then Josalyn just does a good job with her hands. She puts the ball the majority of the time where she wants it and puts her hitters in a position to score.”
For Washington, Kaelyn Snoozy and Cate Legel paced the offense with 19 and 14 kills, respectively. Taryn Kirsch tallied 18 digs to lead the Warriors’ defense, while setter Emily Akkerman chipped in 33 assists and 10 digs.
Washington will now say farewell to its five seniors, including Kirsch, Legel and Snoozy. That trio will move on to the college ranks. Kirsch and Legel will play Division I volleyball at Illinois and South Dakota, respectively, while Snoozy is headed to Division II Concordia-St. Paul.
Meanwhile, the other two seniors, Savannah Brown and Katrina McCloskey, round out a senior class that Schroeder believes has established a lasting legacy at Washington.
“I gave a hug to all of them and gave them all a little talk,” Schroeder said. “I just love them to death. Those five put in a lot of time and are a big part of this program. … We’re a Warrior family through and through, so I just cherish that.”
For the Tigers, the future remains bright.
Leach and Meister are the lone seniors who will depart from the program, and Costain is excited for what’s coming down the pipeline.
The possibility of winning four in a row is certainly on the table.
“I’ve got some young ones coming up, too, even through middle school,” Costain said. “We’re playing solid ball right now, and the kids just buy in. They do so much work in the offseason. They’re playing club. They’re getting in the wright room. They do all the extras that I don’t even need to ask them to. It’s all in their own motivation.
“Right now, though, we’re going to take a break. We’re going to go enjoy this with our families.”
ABOVE: Sioux Falls Washington’s Cate Legel hits the ball while Harrisburg’s Kya Keegan and Bergen Stiff attempt to block in the Class AA state championship match Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls.
RIGHT: Sioux Falls Washington’s Dana Harpe hits the ball while Harrisburg’s Kennedy Kokenge attempts to block in the Class AA state championship match Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls.
Sioux Falls Washington’s Chloe Peterson hits the ball while Harrisburg’s Gabi Zachariasen attempts to block in the Class AA state championship match
Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls.
Sioux Falls Washington’s Taryn Kirsch bumps the ball against Harrisburg in the Class AA state championship match Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls. Trent Singer / Sioux Falls Live
REIGNS CONTINUE RECORDS FALL
Harrisburg and Chester roll on, Dell Rapids claims the crown
While two championship streaks survived, one fell at the 2024 South Dakota high school volleyball tournaments at the Premier Center.
Harrisburg completed a threepeat atop Class AA, and Chester went back-to-back in Class B.
Here’s a closer look at each class:
TIGERS’ REIGN RENEWED
BY LANDON DIERKS MITCHELL REPUBLIC
Meanwhile, a historic run of dominance came to an end in Class A, where Sioux Falls Christian fell in the semifinals to end a streak of seven straight titles. The Chargers were upended in five sets by Dakota Valley, which fell to Dell Rapids in the championship match.
Not only did Harrisburg become the first program in the history of Class AA, which dates back to 1992, to win three consecutive championships, but the Tigers extended their win streak to 78-straight matches in the process.
En route to a 31-0 record this season, the Tigers lost just seven total sets, with two coming in the state tournament — one in the semifinals against O’Gorman and the other in the title match against Sioux Falls Washington.
Harrisburg’s Gabi Zachariasen (5) prepares to receive a serve against Aberdeen Central during a Class AA state volleyball tournament quarterfinal match on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, at the Premier Center in Sioux Falls.
Harrisburg’s dominant run spans two full perfect seasons in 2023 and 2024, plus the final 16 matches of 2022. Since the Tigers’ last loss on Oct. 4, 2022, to Western Christian (Iowa), they’ve dropped 27 total sets. MaxPreps, a national high school sports website, had Harrisburg ranked No. 16 in the country in its Nov. 20 poll.
But what’s perhaps the most alarming part for the rest of Class AA is that the Tigers, who have won five state titles since 2016 under longtime coach Ronette Costain, might not be done.
From this year’s championship team, Harrisburg graduates just two players, though Maggie Meister (South Dakota State) and Karalynn Leach (Augustana) will continue their volleyball careers at the collegiate level.
Sensational outside hitter Gabi Zachariasen, a top100 recruit from the class of 2026 and University of South Dakota commit, will be back, as will Josalyn Samuels, a 6-foot setter who was just a freshman but starred for the Tigers this season. That’s not even to mention emerging talents such as Kennedy Kokenge and Kya Keegan, who had solid showings in supporting roles at the state tournament.
FLYING HIGH
Repeating in Class B volleyball is an exclusive club, one of which Chester is now a member.
Since Northwestern won its first of what is now 12 state titles in 1999, only the Wildcats (multiple times), Harding County (winter and fall 2002), Warner (multiple times) and Chester have claimed consecu-
tive championships. Overall, it was the third title for the Flyers since 2015.
To claim the 2024 championship, Chester dispatched of Castlewood and Burke before outlasting Warner in five sets for the title (a rerun of the 2023 final). As the Flyers have amassed a 65-4 record over the past two seasons (one loss to Class A Dakota Valley, the other three against out-of-state opposition), the 2022 title match against Warner is the last time Chester lost to a South Dakota Class B opponent.
In a similar fashion to Harrisburg, the Flyers are wellset for the future, too, with just two seniors on the 2024 roster.
The dynamite duo of Jacy Wolf and Lily Van Hal, who take turns attacking as well as setting, are a sophomore and junior, respectively. Other regular presences at the net, such as Emmerson Eppard, Emilie Bleeker and Katelyn Schut, along with libero Gracie Huntimer, are all juniors as well. Elise Van Hal is just a seventh-grader but was contributing in big moments for the state champions.
But this season belonged to Dell Rapids, a first-time champion. After Dakota Valley knocked out SFC in a five-set semifinal, the Quarriers jumped ahead early and took down the Panthers (the only program other than SFC to win a title since 2010) in a four-set final.
Though the No. 3 seed in the bracket, Dell Rapids had a case to be the top team in the class all season long. Ranked No. 1 in the South Dakota Prep Media poll for five weeks this season, the Quarriers were clearly in the upper echelon of Class A and proved it by winning nine of 10 sets at the state tournament. Dell Rapids did not lose a best-of-five match this season, finishing with a 32-3 record.
Not to be outdone by the other two state champions from a talent perspective, the Quarriers boasted a loaded roster in 2024.
SALUTE TO THE STREAK AND A NEW CHAMPION
No program, regardless of class, can match what Sioux Falls Christian put on the volleyball court with seven-straight championships from 2017 to 2023. The next-longest spree is four in a row.
Going back even further, the Chargers won a remarkable 12 titles in 14 years. And perhaps a year from now, the Chargers put together another run and re-establish themselves as the team to beat in Class A.
Setter Sophi Randall is a Univeristy of Illinois commit, while fellow seniors Lauryn Kloth (Dakota State) and Clara Justice (Carroll University (Wis.)) will also continue their volleyball careers at the next level. Elsewhere on the court, standout hitter Madelynn Henry, who had 24 kills in the championship match, is just a sophomore, as is libero Alaina Wolff, so the cupboard is far from bare as the Quarriers look to retool for 2025.
Dell Rapids volleyball players dog-pile on the court in celebration following a victory over Dakota Valley in the Class A state volleyball championship match on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at the Premier Center in Sioux Falls. Tim Tushla / South Dakota Public Broadcasting
Chester players celebrate after defeating Warner 3-2 in the Class B state volleyball match Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls. Trent Singer / Sioux Falls Live
Dell Rapids’ Madelynn Henry (7) hits an attack at the net against Dakota Valley during the Class A state championship match on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at the Premier Center in Sioux Falls. Tim Tushla / Mitchell Republic
quietly reload Jackrabbits
SouthState’sDakota Mark throwsGronowski a pass during a footballcollege game onNov.Saturday, 2, 2024 atStadiumDykhouse Brookings.in
for playoffs
Defense
dominates and offense clicks at just the right time
BY MATT ZIMMER
The FCS playoffs have arrived.
Montana State is the No. 1 seed. North Dakota State earned the No. 2 seed and handed the two-time defending national champion Jackrabbits their first loss to an FCS team since 2021.
And the USD Coyotes might be as good or better than any of them, entering the playoffs riding the high of a legendary 29-28 come-from-behind win over the Bison.
Weirdly enough, the reigning champs almost feel like an afterthought.
Not that anyone is dismissing South Dakota State as a threat to win the national championship, of course. They’re the No.
3 seed, could probably have been the two, and are 38-1 against FCS opponents over the last three seasons. That one loss came by four points to the Bison in the Fargodome. SDSU will host the winner of Montana and Tennessee State on Dec. 7 following their first-round bye.
Ever since the Jacks were held to 24 points by Division II Augustana (a team that went on to win the NSIC title) there’s been sort of a sense that this year’s team is a step down from last year’s. That the offense isn’t as explosive, the defense not as dominant. That this team is good, sure, but not to be feared like the one that went 15-0 last year and outscored their four playoff foes 146-15.
“I feel like we’re a little disrespected,” said quarterback Mark Gronowski, who has had his own credentials questioned after a couple pedestrian performances earlier in the season. “We have a lot of new guys and not a lot of the national big-name guys like the Jankes, Mason McCormick and so on. But we’ve got guys who are getting on that national stage now, and I think these playoffs will put some more names to those faces.”
Indeed, the loss of players like McCormick, the Jankes, Garret Greenfield, Isaiah Davis, Zach Heins, Isaiah Stalbird and DyShawn Gales — all of whom were in NFL camps this summer — took out a big chunk of SDSU’s star power. Then came a loss to Oklahoma State that wasn’t
as close as the Jacks would’ve liked and that unimpressive win over Augustana.
And though the Jacks righted the ship quickly, routing Southeastern Louisiana, Northern Iowa and Youngstown State in succession, they lost to NDSU and needed overtime to beat the Coyotes. It’s understandable, given that SDSU beat both of those teams handily last year, that those close games engendered further doubt towards the Jackrabbits, but NDSU and USD are both better than they were last year. Perhaps significantly. SDSU didn’t play especially poorly in either. But they definitely seem to be better now than they were back in October.
Since the 20-17 win over the Coyotes in Brookings, SDSU has gone 4-0, outscoring their opponents 176-32. Far lesser competition, to be sure (Murray State, North Dakota, Southern Illinois, Missouri State), but the Jacks have quietly built a tremendous amount of momentum heading into the postseason.
The offense seems to have figured out what it wants to be. Gronowski is playing like his old
self, Griffin Wilde has fully established himself as a top-flight receiver and the running back room has found its footing behind an offensive line that has allowed just six sacks all year while paving the way for 6.5 yards per rush.
Meanwhile the defense may be as good as it was last year, when the Jacks were thought to be playing at an almost unreachable level.
SDSU allowed 9.3 points per game last year in a season where they did not play an FBS team. This year, if you throw out the FBS loss, they’re allowing 9.5 points per game.
“We’re gelling at the right time,” said linebacker Graham Spalding. “Both sides of the ball, all three phases are coming on and now we’ve got a bye week to get better and get our bodies right. It’s win or go home now, and for the seniors this is it for us, and that’s the ultimate motivator.”
The Jacks have been to Frisco three times — in the 2020/21 spring season, in 2022 and 2023. All three times they were the No. 1 seed in the playoffs and did not have to go on the road for any playoff games. They’re 0-3 in road semifinal games, having lost at NDSU, James Madison and Montana State over the last decade. This year, unless someone upsets NDSU before the semis, the Jacks will have to win in Fargo to get back to the national championship game. As much as SDSU has dominated the recent series against the Bison, they’ve never won a playoff game in Fargo and already lost there once this year.
But they don’t seem daunted by the prospect.
“Montana or Tennessee State won’t be a cakewalk,” said Jacks coach Jimmy Rogers. “But the opportunity to go back (to Fargo and win), that’s something I’ve looked forward to ever since the loss.”
TOP: South Dakota State players run out on to the field prior to their Senior Day game against Southern Illinois on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024 at Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings. Marcus Traxler / Mitchell Republic
ABOVE LEFT: South Dakota State’s Adam Bock makes a tackle on Murray State’s Justice Hill during a college football game on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 at Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings. Marcus Traxler / Mitchell Republic
ABOVE RIGHT: SDSU
coach Jimmy Rogers walks off the field at halftime of his team’s win over Youngstown State on Saturday, oct. 12, 2024 at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings. Matt Zimmer/Sioux Falls Live
RIVALS AWAIT SDSU, NEW FOES FOR USD
Jackrabbits see potential rematches, Coyotes face Big Sky powers
BY MATT ZIMMER SIOUX FALLS LIVE
The USD Coyotes. Those agents of chaos.
With their thrilling 29-28 win over No. 1 North Dakota State on Saturday, the Coyotes turned Sunday morning’s FCS playoff selection show into must-see TV.
Now if Montana had upset Montana State in the Brawl of the Wild things really would’ve been crazy, but even with the Bobcats locked into the No. 1 seed, it was fascinating to speculate on how the committee would ultimately place the three Dakota schools.
All three went 7-1 in the Valley, all three had a respectable FBS loss and they beat each other — NDSU beat SDSU who beat USD who beat NDSU.
Up here in the Dakotas we all assumed that those three would earn the 2-3-4 seeds in some order, but UC-Davis had a damn worthy resume to be in consideration, too.
The Aggies, like NDSU and SDSU, are 10-2. Their losses came to Cal (FBS) and to No. 1 Montana State by two points. They also have wins over Idaho and Montana.
As it turned out, it went:
1. Montana State 2. NDSU 3. SDSU 4. USD
UC-Davis
Incarnate Word
Idaho
For the first time, 16 teams were seeded instead of 8, but just the top 8 get a firstround bye.
Should the Jacks (or Coyotes) have been given the 2-seed instead of NDSU? Eh, you can make a case. SDSU is arguably the hottest of the three, having dominated every game since the OT win over USD. They’re the two-time defending champs, and they have the best win outside of the Dakota-round-robin, having beaten 6th-seeded Incarnate Word by 21 points. Southeastern Louisiana and Missouri State are quality wins, too.
But NDSU’s resume is the best of the candidates.
They almost beat Colorado, who has eight wins, and all three of their non-conference wins were against FCS teams that finished with a winning record — East Tennessee
Mercer
State, Towson and Tennessee State (who made the playoffs). They also whipped Illinois State (12th seed in the playoffs) and Missouri State, hammered UND when the F’ing Hawks were ranked 6th in the country, and beat the Jacks.
Did USD get punished for the Portland State game cancellation? I hope not, but it certainly didn’t help. They had 9 wins while SDSU and NDSU had 10. Until Saturday they didn’t have any real quality wins. To be honest, the Yotes are fairly lucky they didn’t get bumped to the 5-seed in favor of UC-Davis.
However they ultimately stacked up, it’s a fun top four, for SDSU fans in particular. NDSU and USD are the Jacks’ top rivals, obviously, and you could make a strong argument that Montana State is their biggest rival outside of the Valley. They played each other three times in an 18-game span between 2021-2023, and players from both sides said it was starting to feel like a rivalry given the intensity of those games and the respect on both sides.
The Jacks won’t be able to face all three, but they’ll have to beat NDSU in Fargo to get to Frisco (and get there first, obviously), and if they do it’ll almost certainly be against either the Bobcats or the Coyotes.
There are plenty of other potentially really fun matchups.
We could get a national championship game rematch in the second round if Montana beats Tennessee State. That would send the Grizzlies to Brookings for the first time since 1970 and provide a rare early round marquee matchup.
Other interesting second round potentials include 8th-seeded Idaho
hosting 9th-seeded Richmond (if the Spiders beat Lehigh), Villanova at Incarnate Word and Illinois State going to UC-Davis. The Redbirds earned the 12-seed but have to go on the road because their stadium is being used for the Illinois high school playoffs. If they can beat SEMO on the road, they’d head to Davis with a chance to strike a major blow for the Valley.
In the quarterfinals we could get a rematch between SDSU and Incarnate Word, and if UC-Davis does survive, they’d come to Vermillion for what would be a terrific 4/5 matchup.
And if Idaho survives, the fighting Jason Ecks would head to Bozeman to try to knock off the No. 1 Bobcats. If they did, that would give USD, assuming they advanced, the opportunity to host the semifinals and never have to travel for the playoffs.
If SDSU three-peats as national champions, there’s a good chance they would do it without facing any unfamiliar faces — Montana, Incarnate Word (or Villanova), NDSU and Montana State. Their best bet for facing someone new is probably Tennessee State (coached by Eddie George) beating Montana this Saturday. But that would surprise me, especially in Missoula.
For as much hand-wringing as there’s been about the decline of the FCS, most of it deserved, this is a strong bracket. There are, at the very least, four teams that are legit threats to win the national championship. Maybe five, maybe more. And some intriguing upstarts playing in the first round.
It sure beats a month of waiting around for a middling bowl game, right?
THE 2024 FCS PLAYOFF BRACKET
South Dakota’s Aidan Bouman makes a pass against North Dakota State on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at the DakotaDome in Vermillion, South Dakota. Alyssa Goelzer/The Forum
Amar Johnson of the South Dakota State Jackrabbits scampers past the defense of the Montana State Bobcats for a 38 yard touchdown at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings. Dave Eggen/Inertia/South Dakota State athletics
" It was tough, but God and my family gave me the strength to push through. "
SHAHID BARROS
Barros fuels From injury to impact
BY NATHAN SWAFFAR MITCHELL REPUBLIC
Shahid Barros’ 2023 playoff run was over before it barely even began and his status for the 2024 season was all of a sudden up in the air.
Just a mere three plays into the University of South Dakota’s 2023 second-round matchup against Sacramento State in the FCS playoffs, Barros went to make a play on a pass. As he ran full speed toward the play, the receiver fell down with Barros’ knee caught under him. In an instant, his ACL, MCL and meniscus in his right knee all tore.
But despite this devastating injury that in some cases would end an athlete’s playing career, Barros not only returned in 2024 but he’s maintained his status as one of the Coyotes’ most impactful defensive players.
The New Bedford, Massachusetts native returned to the field in the Coyotes’ third game of the season against Drake. Since his return, he’s played in every game for USD and has amassed 31 tackles, a tackle for loss, a sack and three pass breakups.
Barros said the road to recovery was one of the toughest challenges he’s faced during his athletic career. However, his desire and drive to return kept him motivated throughout his recovery process.
“It took a lot of work missing those nine, 10 months of no
impact
fuels Coyotes’ playoff hopes
activity or nothing and just constant coming in here and working out,” Barros said. “Every day, waking up early, staying late, just watching practice and all that just drove me to really get back in football. I’m away from home, I came here to get an education and play football. One of those was taken away from me. So that’s what really drove me to get back here. I think that’s why it was so good for me and easy for me to get back on the field because I just constantly worked on my knee and worked on the mental aspect of the game too.”
“He’s a guy that worked really, really hard to get back and when he got back, he was able to get right back to playing at a high level,” said head coach Bob Nielson. “I’m really proud of him and the work that he did and the impact that he’s had on the football team.”
Like with most athletes returning from a big injury, there is a mental block that they have to overcome. The fear of re-injury can be just as challenging as the rehab process itself. Even though Barros was able to return to his high level of play almost instantaneously, that mental side of playing again was still an obstacle.
One he was cleared, the ramp-up period came fast and furious. The first few times he went
full speed on it, the lingering concern of re-injury was certainly there but Barros pushed through.
“I didn’t play on it and went into practice, that was the first week I really got into running and doing stuff,” Barros said. “It was a tough battle, but I don’t really have an answer of how I overcame that. Just God really giving me the strength and motivation from my family is the reason why I’m here today.”
Last season, he and now-Cleveland Brown Myles Harden formed a dynamic duo on the outside. Despite Harden departing for the NFL, Barros found a new cornerback partner opposite of him in Monmouth transfer Mike Reid. With those two patrolling the perimeter and the likes of Dennis Shorter and Josiah Ganues at the safety spots, the Coyote secondary has been a force to be reckoned with.
The Coyote defense allowed the 18th-fewest passing yards per game (175.9) in the FCS during the regular season. That mark was also the best in the Missouri Valley. Not to mention the secondary has played a pivotal role in the defense being the second-leading scoring defense (14.91) in the FCS only behind South Dakota State.
Barros said the high level of play from the entire secondary was an expectation set long ago when he first entered the program in 2021. Since then, he and the rest of the back end of the defense have tried to maintain it every day.
“We had a lot of guys before, a lot of older guys who aren’t with us anymore who set that standard. We just try to live up to that every day in practice, in the meeting room and try to maintain that balance to take it to the field,” Barros said.
His personal remaining goal for this season is simple, but it would be the next step in his return from an injury that already cut time off his football career.
“I just want to finish the season,” Barros said. “That was my biggest goal for coming back this season was helping my team and being able to finish the season. Last year, making it to the playoffs and then getting hurt within the first three plays, that hurt watching my team out there struggle. I just want to compete and finish the season out. My biggest goal is just to get to the next step, which is just finishing out the season.”
South Dakota’s Shahid Barros makes a tackle on a Southern Illinois running back during a college football game on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 at the DakotaDome in Vermillion. Marcus Traxler / Mitchell Republic
From left, Harrisburg’s Lily Hirsch and Rapid City Stevens’ Breanna Reagan battle for possession of the ball during the Class AA girls soccer state championship match on Oct. 19, 2024 at Crane-Youngworth Field in Yankton.
Tim Tushla / South Dakota Public Broadcasting
Reagan Shines
Stevens star earns SD’s top prize after record-breaking senior season
BY JUSTIN WICKERSHAM NEWSCENTER1
Following a record-setting season at Rapid City Stevens, Breanna Reagan has been named the South Dakota girls soccer player of the year by the South Dakota High School Soccer Coaches Association.
Reagan helped guide the Raiders to a 15-1 record this past season and a runner-up finish in the Class AA state tournament, which was Stevens’ best finish at state since 2021.
The Stevens senior broke five school records this year including the most goals scored in a season with 19 and most career goals with 49.
She also broke the records for the most games with multiple goals, the most goals scored in a match and most assists in a match.
Breanna had the opportunity to play on the Stevens varsity soccer team this past season with her younger sister Vienna, who is a freshman.
But she comes from a family that’s filled to the brim with soccer talent.
“My dad, he played in Europe,” said Breanna Reagan. “My mom played college for Nebraska. My sister plays in Minnesota (at Division II Southwest Minnesota State). So we just all play. It’s just been in our family for a long time.”
Reagan started playing girls soccer at the varsity level when she was just an eighth grader.
“She kind of blew my mind,” said Stevens head coach Luis Usera. “As an eighth grader, you don’t necessarily see them at Class AA just being starters. But she came in. She was small and fast and technical and a little sassy with her soccer attitude, which
was a genius because it showed no fear. So you felt comfortable putting her up against the bigger seniors.”
Reagan, who was an Class AA girls all-state selection this season, will continue her soccer career at the Division I level next year and compete for the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley.
“What she’s brought to these girls and to our program is that if you love the ball and you can dribble and you can take space and you can take on defenders, they’re in trouble,” Usera said earlier this season. “She’s shown that over and over and other girls are emulating it.”
Reagan is now eligible to be nominated for the national girls soccer player of the year award, as well.
" She leaves a legacy that will inspire future players "
LUIS USERA, STEVENS HEAD COACH
Rapid City Stevens’ Breanna Reagan looks on during a match earlier this season against Rapid City Central.
athletes NOV 28 of theweek
BY NATHAN SWAFFAR | MITCHELL REPUBLIC
Numerous standout performers
post big efforts at state volleyball
With the fall sports season coming to a close, the 2024 state volleyball tournaments took center stage last week at the
Multiple players from across all three classes had huge individual and tournament performances over the course of the three-day competition.
KAILEE FRANK, BURKE
Frank, a senior outside hitter and middle hitter helped the Cougars to a third-place finish in the Class B volleyball state tournament. She hit for the 41 kills, which was ninth-best among all Class B players. However, her 4.10 kills per set were fourth-best among all players. Her six service aces were also ninth-best in the competition.
Her best performance came in a semifinal defeat against Chester in which she hit for 16 kills, 12 digs and a service ace. Burke rebounded after the loss and defeated Hitchcock-Tulare in the third-place match.
MADELYNN HENRY, DELL RAPIDS
Henry, a sophomore outside hitter, led Dell Rapids to the Class A volleyball state title with a huge tournament showing. She was fourth among all Class A players with 52 kills throughout the tournament. Henry also finished the tournament with nine service aces, tied for the most among Class A players with teammate Clara Justice.
She saved her best performance for when it mattered most too. She went off for a staggering 24 kills in the title game against Dakota Valley as Dell Rapids took home for the first time in program history. It was also the first time since 2010 that Sioux Falls Christian or Dakota Valley did not claim the title.
Premier Center in Sioux Falls.
Dell Rapids’ Madelynn Henry hits an attack during the Class A state volleyball tournament championship match on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 at the Premier Center in Sioux Falls.
Burke’s Kailee Frank (left) and Addi Hood (right) both go for a dig during a high school Class B state volleyball quarterfinal against the Kadoka Area Kougars on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, at the Premier Center. Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
JACY WOLF, CHESTER
As Chester stormed its way to the Class B state title, at the center of it was sophomore outside hitter and setter Jacy Wolf who was at the center of the Flyers’ successful tournament run. She finished the competition with 51 kills, which was second-best among all Class B players. Her 48 assists were also the 10th-best mark in the tournament.
Her semifinal and final performances were her best. She collected 20 kills in both and in the final against Warner, she also had 25 assists and 15 digs. It was Chester’s second-straight Class B volleyball title.
GABI ZACHARIASEN, HARRISBURG
A junior outside hitting and defensive setter for the Tigers, Zachariasen’s Class AA tournament performances helped Harrisburg to a 31-0 record and the state title. She finished the tournament with a Class AA-leading 66 kills. Her six service aces were also eighth-best in the competition and she also collected 42 digs. Her top performance came in the championship game against Sioux Falls Washington where she went on for an offensive clinic with 28 kills and 11 digs in the match. The title victory was the Tigers’ third straight and the sixth overall in program history.
Harrisburg’s Gabi Zachariasen (5) hits a serve during a Class AA volleyball state tournament quarterfinal match against Aberdeen Central on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, at the Premier Center in Sioux Falls.
South Dakota Public Broadcasting photo
Jacy Wolf goes for a kill in the Class B state volleyball tournament final against Warner at the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. Courtesy South Dakota Public Broadcasting.
around the state TOP storylines
BY MARCUS TRAXLER | MITCHELL REPUBLIC
Here’s a look at some of the top high school sports storylines taking shape around South Dakota:
CENTRAL
KERNEL GYMNASTS RANK NO. 1 NATIONALLY AMONG COACHES: Recent national recognition for the Mitchell High School gymnastics team has put the state champions from 2024 in rare air in Kernel history.
The team was honored by the National High School Gymnastics Association as an All-Ameri-
can team and earned Elite status for clearing the 145.650 average. Of the top teams that submitted four scores for a season, Mitchell led the nation in scoring average at 149.72 points. Verona Area/ Madison Edgewood, of Wisconsin, was No. 2 at 146.62 points.
It was Mitchell’s ninth Class AA state championship, all since 2007 under coach Audra Rew, and the third state championship in the last four seasons for the Kernels. But a No. 1 national ranking is fitting recognition, Rew said, for a team she has called her best ever.
Mitchell smashed the school record at the Class AA state team competition with a record score, 151.444, which was enough for the state championship by nearly 1.5 points over Harrisburg on Feb. 9.
A new season begins for Mitchell on Dec. 3 in a triangular at Yankton.
SOUTHEAST
DELL RAPIDS CAPS
HISTORIC SEASON WITH CLASS A TITLE: At long last, a new champion has been crowned in Class A volleyball. En route to the program’s first-ever state volleyball title, Dell Rapids took out perennial power Dakota Valley in four sets on Saturday, Nov. 23 at the Premier Center.
With the Quarriers on top to cap a 32-3 season, it marks the first time since 2010 that a program other than Sioux Falls Christian or Dakota Valley has triumphed in Class A.
“It’s been a history-making season all year,” Dell Rapids coach Erica Fersdahl told Sioux Falls Live. “Starting off going 17-0, our program had never done that before. Our program’s never won the Dak-12 Conference. I don’t think we’d ever beaten Sioux Falls Christian, and we swept them. Every step has just been something that’s been history-making for us this year with this program.”
Dell Rapids finished the season without a best-of-five loss, only tripping up against Class B champion Chester, Sioux Falls Christian and Dakota Valley in bestof-three tournament matches during the year.
NORTHEAST
CONFERENCE MVPS STAR AT STATE VOLLEYBALL: A pair of top volleyball players from the northeast region of the state were named conference MVPs and were the top players for their teams at the Class B state volleyball tournament.
Warner senior Kyleigh Schopp was named the Lake Region Conference’s MVP for the season, while Colman-Egan’s Brynlee Landis was the conference MVP in the Dakota Valley Conference. Schopp led the state tournament in blocks with 20 total in three matches as the Monarchs took second, while Landis had 50 kills in three matches as the Hawks finished sixth.
The Lake Central Conference does not name an MVP but Hamlin’s Addison Neuendorf and Sioux Valley’s Kaedyn Sapp were both picked to the all-conference squad and were Class A all-tournament players at the state tournament. Sapp had 44 kills and Neuendorf had 35 kills in three matches at the state tournament.
The same can be said for the 281 Conference first-team pick Katelyn Schroeder, who led the Class B tournament in scoring and had 60 kills in three matches for Hitchcock-Tulare.
WEST
INAUGURAL ALL-AREA TEAM LED BY STEVENS’ GILLEN, STURGIS’ KETELSEN: The five Black Hills area football schools in the Class 11AA and Class 11AAA divisions have formed a new all-area squad to recognize the top players among Douglas, Rapid City Central, Rapid City Stevens, Sturgis and Spearfish.
A total of 22 players were selected to the all-area team, with 11 on offense and 11 on defense, plus 10 honorable mention picks.
Of the top-22, seven were recognized on the 6-4 Spearfish Spartans, while Sturgis had six selections and Rapid City Stevens had five selections.
Rapid City Stevens’ Elias Gillen, a senior offensive lineman, was selected as the all-area offensive MVP. Gillen, a 6-foot-6, 305-pound left tackle, has committed to play collegiately at Texas Tech and did not allow a sack all season.
The defensive MVP was Sturgis senior Kalvin Ketelsen. A 5-foot-9 senior linebacker, Ketelsen was among the state’s leaders in total tackles with 122, including 30 solo stops and eight tackles for loss. He also had two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Scoopers coach Chris Koletzky described him as the team’s “heart and soul” on defense.
The Dell Rapids volleyball team celebrates a point during the Class A state volleyball tournament championship match on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 at the Premier Center in Sioux Falls.
