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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highlight South Dakota state volleyball tournament storylines TITLE DEFENSES
BY LANDON DIERKS
Mitchell Republic
As the curtain rises on the 2024 South Dakota high school volleyball state tournaments, all three class champions from 2023 return to defend their titles.
Harrisburg puts a lengthy win streak on the line while looking for three championships in a row in Class AA; Sioux Falls Christian attempts to extend
CHARGERS AIM FOR EIGHT STRAIGHT AS NO. 8
For a decade and a half, Sioux Falls Christian has been the team to beat in Class A volleyball, winning 12 of the past 14 state titles and seven in a row entering this weekend.
But while most of those championships came from a favorable seed position, if the Chargers are to collect an unprecedented eighth consecutive title, they’ll have to do it as the No. 8 seed in the bracket. First up for Sioux Falls Christian is No. 1 seed Miller,
which has just one loss on the season (to Class B No. 2 Warner), in the opening match of the tournament. Should the Chargers knock off the Rustlers, a meeting with rival and No. 4 seed Dakota Valley or No. 5 Mount Vernon/Plankinton would await in the semifinals.
This season, SFC is 25-12, with those 12 losses the most in any single season during their 15-year run of dominance. The Chargers lost just 14 total over the previous four seasons. But the record can be quite misleading. Seven of those 12 losses this season came to out-ofstate foes, and an eighth came to Class AA No. 1 Harrisburg.
Class A 3-seed Dell Rapids split a pair of matches with the Chargers this season, and 4-seed Dakota Valley knocked them off twice, but no one else in the tournament field has seen SFC this season.
HARRISBURG GOES FOR BACK-TOBACK UNBEATEN SEASONS
To find the last time Harrisburg was on the losing end of a volleyball match, one must go back to Oct. 4, 2022.
Since then, the Tigers have stacked up 75 consecutive match wins and now stand three wins away from back-to-back perfect seasons. En route to a 28-0 record so far this season, Harrisburg has only dropped five total sets, sweeping 23 opponents, and has yet to be taken the distance in a best-of-five sets match. Of those five set losses, only one came against a Class AA foe, as Sioux Falls Washington, the No. 3 tournament seed, nabbed on Sept. 24.
The Sioux Falls Christian volleyball team celebrates winning the 2023 Class A state volleyball title at Summit Arena in Rapid City. Tim Tushla / South Dakota Public Broadcasting
state storylines DEFENSES
Of the other contenders, look to the winner No. 4 O’Gorman and No. 5 Watertown, which should be a hard-fought match and will likely have the winner carrying a “nothing to lose” feeling against the Tigers in the semifinals. O’Gorman has only lost once in the last six weeks, that being a 3-0 loss to Harrisburg on Oct. 29.
In the bottom of the bracket, Jefferson and Washington are the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds and seem likely to face each other. A sleeper to watch is No. 6 Sioux Falls Roosevelt, which is 19-9, and went five sets with the Warriors twice already this season, both won by Washington. Both lower seeds in that bracket have been trending strong, with eight-straight wins for No. 7 Brandon Valley and seven in a row for Roosevelt.
CHESTER LOOKS TO DEFEND TITLE AGAINST DEEP FIELD OF CONTENDERS
Since 2003, no two consecutive seasons have passed without either Warner (eight titles in that span) or Northwestern (nine titles) winning a Class B championship, but Chester is looking to change that.
The Flyers took down Warner in a five-set thriller during last season’s championship match and enter this year’s tournament as the No. 1 seed. At 29-2, Chester’s lone losses this season came at the Pentagon Invitational tournament to a pair of Iowa programs. For the third year in a row, Chester enters the state tournament without a loss to another Class B team and the last such outcome was a 2022 state championship loss to Warner.
But even as the favorite, a championship repeat doesn’t figure to be a cakewalk. Six of the eight Class B teams in the field are back from 2023. No. 2 Warner surely wants to avenge its loss in last year’s title matchup, and No. 3 Hitchcock-Tulare also hails from the powerhouse Region 1B. Lower seeds Burke, Gayville-Volin, Colman-Egan and Castlewood are all among the experienced state tournament programs looking to make a run.
But the Flyers are loaded, have a lot of bigmatch experience at the state tournament and a veteran coach in Jean O’Hara. For all of the skill and ability, Chester still has only two seniors on the roster and the Flyers appear to be in position to go back-to-back.
TOP: Chester's Lily Van Hal sets the ball to a teammate in a Class B SoDak 16 volleyball match on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Canistota. Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic. RIGHT: Harrisburg's Josalyn Samuels sets the ball in a high school volleyball match between the Harrisburg Tigers and the Mitchell Kernels on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Mitchell. Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
GRID IRON REPORT
Revenge memorable in rematches makes title games
Regular-season losers went 3-1 second time around at Dome
On a broad level, the 2024 South Dakota high school football championships can be remembered for the rematches and the reversals of
Four of the seven state championships were rematches from earlier in the season, the most since 2015, and in three of those games, the losing team the first time was the one hoisting the championship trophy at the Dako-
The first game on Thursday provided the biggest swing in the scoring margin, with Sully Buttes beating Faulkton Area for the Class 9B championship 34-14. The Chargers lost by 20 points in the first game at home in Onida but in the state championship, Sully Buttes won by 20 points, adding up to a 40-point swing.
It was the biggest swing in a nine-man state title game rematch since 2013, when Potter
County flew to a 60-22 win over Leola/Frederick in the Class 9A championship game. The Titans won the first matchup in that season 12-7. Since 2013, Mitchell still holds the record for biggest title game turnaround in a rematch. The Kernels famously fell to Harrisburg 27-10 in the first game of the season and then dominated the Tigers in the Dome for a 41-6 win for the Class 11AA championship, a swing of 52 points.
Saturday’s two games provided big upsets of No. 1 seeds. In Class 11A, Lennox pulled off a stunning upset of No. 1-seeded Sioux Falls Christian by a score of 14-6. The Orioles lost the first meeting 19-8 but forced six turnovers in the rematch to knock off the previously undefeated Chargers.
In the Class 11AAA championship game, No. 2-seeded Sioux Falls Lincoln topped No. 1 Brandon Valley 31-21, avenging a 39-13 loss in the regular season. The result dealt the Lynx their first loss of the season and made Lincoln backto-back champions in Class 11AAA.
It was almost a clean sweep in teams avenging their earlier loss. Pierre lost 28-14 to Watertown but nearly knocked off the Arrows in Vermillion in the Class 11AA championship game. A stopped
defenders close in on Sioux Valley running back Donovan Rose during the Class 11B state football championship game between the Winner Warriors and the Sioux Valley Cossacks on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Vermillion. Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
Sioux Falls Lincoln players celebrate after making a defensive play against Brandon Valley in the Class 11AAA state championship game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at the DakotaDome in Vermillion. Trent Singer / Sioux Falls Live
MARCUS TRAXLER Mitchell Republic
two-point conversion was the difference in the 14-13 Watertown win on Friday night.
All told, since the Class 11AAA division was introduced in 2013, there have been 38 rematches at the DakotaDome and 10 of them have been won by teams that lost the first time. Given how few teams are in each class, the 11AAA and 11AA divisions are the sources of the largest number of rematches.
Saturday’s Patriots win was only the second time since 2013 that the 11AAA champions got payback for a regular-season loss with a state championship, joining O’Gorman from 2019, which also knocked off Brandon Valley in the state title game.
CHAMPIONS ON THE COURT AND ON THE GRIDIRON
The nine-man state champions might have felt familiar for South Dakota high school sports fans, particularly those who watch basketball. Both Hamlin and Howard were the Class A and Class B state boys basketball champions in March and then won state football titles in November.
One has to go back to 2000 to find the last time that’s happened in both Class A and Class B in the same year. In 2000, West Central won the Class A state basketball title in the spring and the Trojans won the Class 11A title in fall, while Tripp-Delmont won the Class B boys basketball title and then the Class 9A championship.
What Howard and Hamlin did, winning a basketball title first and then the football championship, is more rare, in part because it is done across two school years, meaning there’s graduation between the basketball and football titles. The Chargers’ basketball squad lost only two seniors, while the Howard basketball team had five seniors on its hoops title team.
Hamlin coach Jeff Sheehan said that winning the state basketball title for the Chargers proved they had a football championship in them as well.
“This group of guys were like, ‘This is our year. We’re going to do this,’” Sheehan said. “I’m not going to lie, winning the state basketball tournament last year just kind of gave them that extra, ‘Yeah, we got this. We can do it.’ There’s not many teams that can win a state basketball title, turn
LEFT: Sully Buttes's Teghan Westphal sprints with the football on the way to a touchdown in the Class 9B state high school football championship game on Thursday, Nov.
Saturday,
around and win a state football title. It doesn’t happen very often in the state of South Dakota, but these guys did it.”
The only other team to accomplish the feat in the last 25 years from Class B was Arlington, which won both titles in the same academic year in 2005-06. That has been much more common over the years. It happened two years in a row in Class 11A and Class A, when Madison pulled off the double in 2017-18 and Tea Area won both in 2018-19. Brandon Valley is the only school to win a Class AA basketball title and a Class 11AAA football title, doing that in 2018-19.
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS
Continuing a recent trend, Winner’s 20-14 victory over Sioux Valley was the third-straight Class 11B title game decided by seven points or less. It was the 11th time in 16 title games since 2009 a game has been decided by seven points or less.
The Warriors have played in five of the last six Class 11B title games and scored an average of 21.2 points in those title games, winning three times.
There were also three matchups of No. 1 and No. 2 seeds playing in the state championship game in Vermillion and all three were won by the No. 2 seeds. That included Hamlin’s 32-8 win over Parkston in Class 9AA, Winner over Sioux Valley 20-14 in Class 11B and Sioux Falls Lincoln over Brandon Valley in Class 11AAA.
As proof that trends ebb and flow, the 2023 championships also had three games between No. 1 and No. 2 seeds and all three were won by the No. 1 seed. For Winner, Friday’s championship was a measure of revenge, as they were the No. 1 seed in 2022 when No. 2 Elk-Point Jefferson defeated them 21-14.
Overall, it was a tough year to be a No. 1 seed — only four of the seven made it to the Dome and none of them won a state title.
Howard's Tate Miller runs out for team introductions prior to the Class 9A State football championship game between the Wolsey-Wessington Warbirds and the Howard Tigers on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Vermillion. Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
14, 2024, in Vermillion. Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
RIGHT: Lennox's Boston Katzer holds up the ball after getting a fumble recovery against Sioux Falls Christian in the Class 11A state championship game
Nov. 16, 2024, at the DakotaDome in Sioux Falls. Trent Singer / Sioux Falls Live
10 Count to
SDSU’s defense high standard shows again in win over SIU
BY MARCUS TRAXLER Mitchell Republic
There were no dreams of an upset on Saturday against the South Dakota State defense.
The Jackrabbit defense made sure of that.
Third-ranked SDSU won 41-10 on Saturday in the home regular-season finale for the Jackrabbits against Southern Illinois. And it was the defense that knocked out the Salukis early in the game and set the table for the Jacks to make it a blowout.
It did not take long in the postgame press conference for defensive lineman Kobe Clayborne to point out the Jacks’ have a team goal of holding teams to 10 points or less.
“It’s just the standard we kind of talk about on defense, like we hold ourselves to a higher standard than anything, so just executing those goals that we have every week,” Clayborne said. “On the D-line, we’ve talked a lot about rushing together in the pass rush and then in the run game, just constantly doing our job. Other people may make the plays, but us doing our job is us on the D-line making the plays.”
For the season, SDSU has allowed FCS teams past that 10 point mark in four of 10 games this season. The standard was met for the third week in a row after holding Murray State to six points and North Dakota to seven points. In the first 10 games of the season, SDSU’s scoring defense was allowing 13 points per game.
SDSU allowed only 84 yards of offense and 12 rushing yards on 11 carries in the first half. The Jacks’ defense forced two turnovers, both interceptions that landed in the hands of defensive back Matthew Durrance, who has taken on a bigger role with injuries in the secondary.
“It’s just a testament to the (defensive back) room we have,” Durrance said. “We preach next man up, always. We all go to work every single day during the week, and whoever steps up, they seem to fit right in because they’re prepared for the moment.”
In conjunction with the Jacks’ offense running up 503 yards, 24 first downs and more than 38 minutes of time of possession, they didn’t give a lowly, three-win Saluki squad much room
South Dakota State's Jarod DePriest rushes Southern Illinois quarterback Jake Curry during a college football game on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024 at Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings. Marcus Traxler / Mitchell Republic.
to dream about an upset. SDSU’s offense also cashed in both turnovers with touchdowns.
It was a coach’s dream, complementary football to the ultimate degree.
“They have the ability to score a lot of points, they do,” SDSU coach Jimmy Rogers said. “I know they’ve been dinged up with quarterbacks, but at the same time, it has nothing to do with the offense executing the way we’re executing right now.”
To that point, SIU has used four quarterbacks this season, with three Salukis suffering season-ending injuries, requiring the Salukis to re-activitate a grad transfer coach, Michael Blindauer, to help fill out the depth. Blindauer was SIU’s biggest source of offense on Saturday with 12-for-17 passing and 145 yards and a touchdown, a 48-yard strike to Allen Middleton in the third quarter on a play where the SDSU defensive back fell down.
SDSU also has the nation’s second-best redzone defense, but that didn’t matter much on Saturday because the Salukis only made it inside the Jacks’ 20-yard line one time, which led to a field goal with the reserves in the game with a few minutes left.
“I thought we did a really good job of kind of shutting down all areas of run or pass down,” Rogers said. “We came out of it with a huge win and we were able to play a lot of guys, which was huge, especially at this time of year.”
With a new opponent comes a new goal sheet, Clayborne said, the drive to hold teams to 10 points or less begins again. He said hitting that goal doesn’t bring on a feeling of excitement. Instead, it’s a relief because of the high expectations.
“It’s so fun to play in this defense because we have those high expectations, and when we do accomplish those goals, it’s just like a relief,” he said. “But then you know the next week you have to accomplish the same thing, so we’re constantly working in practice, and every game, it’s a new goal sheet, so constantly chasing that standard every single week.”
ABOVE: Members of the South Dakota State's defense celebrates an interception by Matthew Durrance (23) during a college football game on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024 at Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings. Marcus Traxler / Mitchell Republic. BELOW: South Dakota State defenders Dalys Beanum (7), Graham Spalding (29) and Matthew Durrance (23) close in to tackle Southern Illinois' Aidan Quinn during a college football game on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024 at Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings. Marcus Traxler / Mitchell Republic
Up next, SDSU faces Missouri State in the regular-season finale on Saturday, Nov. 23 in Springfield, Missouri. A win should assure SDSU of a top-four seed in the FCS playoffs.
PIERRE RUNS INTO USD HISTORY
Sophomore hits 1,000 yards in win over UND
BY NATHAN SWAFFAR Mitchell Republic
Aweek after rushing for 83 yards for a touchdown in a single play against Indiana State, Charles Pierre Jr. took another long run the distance in South Dakota’s 42-36 victory over UND last Saturday.
But this one had far greater historical significance.
The Coyotes were on their own 24-yard line with 9:44 left to go in their matchup against the Fighting Hawks. He received the handoff on an ordinary-looking draw play. But once he broke through into the secondary, he juked one defender before running a one-man race to the end zone for the touchdown.
It was his second total touchdown of the day and gave him more than 100 rushing yards for the second straight week. More importantly, he ran into the USD history books as the first running back to rush for 1,000 yards in a season since the program rose to the Division I ranks in 2008.
Pierre needed 128 rushing yards to reach the century mark coming into the game. He ended the day with a career-high 173 rushing yards and the rushing touchdown.
But, he also had a big day in the receiving game with a careerhigh 75 yards and a receiving touchdown. Both his rushing and receiving marks were team-highs in the victory. His big day also earned him Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors.
USD coach Bob Nielson said the last two weeks for Pierre have been about finding space. He gave equal credit to Pierre’s high level of play and the play of the offensive line for the recent success.
“He’s been able to break some big runs,” Nielson said. “That means two things: we’re blocking and getting him through the first level of defense and when he gets into the secondary, he’s been able to make guys miss and outrun them. He brings that dimension to our run game in combination with what Travis brings and those two were really good on Saturday, both well over 100 yards. Charles certainly with the fact that he’s played every game, goes over 1,000 (yards), which is a great accomplishment for him and demonstrates the effectiveness of our run game offensively.”
With the plethora of talented running backs that have come through Vermillion since USD’s move to Division I, Nielson said it’s a testament to the work Pierre has put into bettering himself and to the offensive coaches that have made the Coyote offense a running back’s paradise.
“It shows that it’s not easy to rush the football in our league,” Nielson said. “I think we developed some really good run schemes that complement what those guys do from a running back standpoint and what Charles does really well. He just continues to get better, he’s playing with more confidence, he’s seeing the run game really well right now and as I said, he’s got some different ability from a big play capability because of his speed.”
The performance is the second-straight week Pierre has been the best USD player on the offensive side of the ball. Last week against the Sycamores, he finished the day with 165 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Combine that with his performance in Grand Forks and he’s rushed for 338 rushing yards, gained 413 yards from scrimmage and scored four total touchdowns.
But it’s just a microcosm of what has been one of the best seasons by a USD running back in recent history and is standing as one of the best in the nation this season. His 1,045-yard season to this point is the best in the conference and is 16th-best in the country. His 15 rushing touchdowns are second-best in the conference and are tied for fifthbest in the country.
Those 1,045 yards are currently the 10th-most in a single season in Coyote history. His performance last week saw him pass Dusty Stamer’s 2000 season (1,034). Those 15 rushing touchdowns are tied for the fifth-most in a single season with Amos Allen’s 2007 campaign.
With a victory on Saturday, the Coyotes would clinch a share of what would be the program’s first MVFC title. Not to mention Pierre’s play gives the Coyotes a chance to make a deep postseason run.
“We’ve got a lot of guys that are playing at a high level and Charles is one of those,” Nielson said. “To win in the playoffs, you’ve got to be able to run the football. At the same time, we’re going to have to be balanced this week against a really good North Dakota State defense and hopefully create some big plays.”
Hammerbeck’s resilience triumph title fuels Winner’s
BY LANDON DIERKS Mitchell Republic
Asenior season filled with setbacks was paid off with a satisfying conclusion for Shawn Hammerbeck.
Two surgeries, an illness, a broken thumb and the side effects of that series of unfortunate events over the past three months did little to dampen the spirits of Winner’s senior tight end/ defensive end on Friday afternoon, as he capped a decorated prep career by helping the Warriors to a Class 11B state championship.
“It’s a dream come true,” said Hammerbeck, who was also named the title game’s most outstanding lineman. “You can’t ask for any better (ending).”
But back in August, such a celebration would have been difficult to imagine, even for the University of Nebraska-bound talent.
On the Friday before Winner was set to open the season against 2023 champion Hot Springs, the Warriors had an intra-squad scrimmage. The following Saturday morning, Hammerbeck woke up in pain and went to the hospital, where he had his appendix removed.
Within a week, Hammerbeck, listed prior to the season at 6-foot-7 and 260 pounds, dropped 25 pounds and fell ill. Upon returning to the doctor, they found abscess fluid that had to be surgically removed, setting Hammerbeck back even further.
Finally cleared to play for a Week 5 game on Sept. 20, the contest was only a few minutes old when Hammerbeck’s right hand got smashed by a helmet, breaking his right thumb.
“It was borderline, surgery or not,” Hammerbeck said. “If I would’ve chosen surgery, that would’ve meant pins in my thumb and out for the season.”
Instead, Hammerbeck opted for a cast and sat out a couple more weeks, eventually returning for the stretch run with his still-casted hand wrapped into a club.
“He’s a leader, and he brought the team up even when he wasn’t in pads,” said fellow senior Kar son Keiser. “Even after getting hurt again with his thumb, he still didn’t look down. He kept the whole team up.”
In making his return to the field a successful one, Hammerbeck faced several more chal lenges. Having lost weight and been away from the field, Hammerbeck needed to work on his strength and conditioning, but his broken thumb made lifting difficult.
the playoffs for us. … You’re probably not here interviewing me if he’s not around to help us out.”
On the field, a wrapped hand compromised Hammerbeck’s ability to catch the ball on offense and wrap up while trying to make tackles on defense. Even still, he found positive ways to contribute. In the state championship game, Hammerbeck regularly lined up at fullback and served as a lead blocker in the Warriors’ run game. On the other side of the ball, he still collected six tackles, including one for loss.
“It was a tough-luck season for him. A couple of surgeries, a major illness and then a broken thumb — that’s a lot to pile on one kid in one year, especially with the expectations that were mounted on him before the season started,” said Winner head coach Trent Olson after the game. “He handled it well and came back and
As the winter sports season approaches, Hammerbeck said he plans to play basketball for the Warriors this season. He was a Class A all-state selection last season on the hardwood. (He also joked that he signed up for wrestling to confuse some of his classmates at Winner High School.)
Though further out, Hammerbeck is also the defending Class A discus champion in track and field.
Winner's Shawn Hammerbeck (88) chases down Sioux Valley's Donovan Rose (2) during the Class 11B state football championship game on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, at the DakotaDome in Vermillion. Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
SDSU, USD basketball
Jacks men, Coyote women add in-state talent
BY MARCUS TRAXLER
Mitchell Republic
The basketball programs at the University of South Dakota and South Dakota State University announced their early signees for the 2025 recruiting class on Wednesday, Nov. 13, the opening of the signing period for Division I teams. Here’s a look at who the programs are adding:
Alexandria's Hadley Thul (right) drives to the basket as Providence Academy's Emma Millerbernd (4) during a game on Feb. 10, 2024. Sam Stuve / Alexandria Echo Press
bolster 2025 rosters
Griffen Goodbary, 6-10, forward, Sioux Falls (Sioux Falls Christian HS) Goodbary is coming off a junior campaign that saw the Chargers’ standout claim South Dakota Gatorade Player of the Year, Sioux Falls Live’s Player of the Year and Midco Sports’ Class A Player of the Year. … His junior season saw him average 20 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. … The Chargers took second place at the Class A state tournament and he earned first-team all-state honors in Class A. … Goodbary is ranked as the state of South Dakota’s top-rated recruit according to Prep Hoops. … He plans to major in business at South Dakota State.
SDSU WOMEN
South Dakota State head women’s basketball coach Aaron Johnston announced the signing of three roster additions to the 2025-26 roster on Wednesday as part of National Signing Day.
Davis Kern, 6-9, forward, Marion, Iowa (Linn-Mar HS) Kern is coming off a junior campaign that saw him claim first-team allstate accolades. … Kern averaged 22.7 points and 8.9 as a junior for the Lions. He scored his 1,000th career point in January and was Mississippi Valley Conference player of the year. … Set to be a four-year starter, he scored 19.5 points per game as a junior and has been a 40-plus-percent 3-point shooter in high school. … Kern enters his senior season as one of
Felchle is a two-time all-conference and all-state selection, picking up both accolades as a sophomore in 2023 and as a junior in 2024. She averaged 15.3 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks for her junior season. … Felchle and the Sabers have appeared in the state basketball tournament three straight seasons. … She also participates in volleyball and throws during the track season. … She plans to major in mechanical engineering.
Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Nov 12, 2024 in Iowa City, Iowa. Jeffrey Becker / USA Today Sports
Vermillion's Brooke Jensen (33) looks to score in the post around Mahpiya Luta's Taleah Lunderman (12) during a Class A girls basketball state quarterfinal on Thursday, March 7, 2024, at the Dacotah Bank Center in Brookings. Landon Dierks / Mitchell Republic
Abby Hoselton, 5-11, wing, St. Michael, Minn. (St. Michael-Albertville HS)
Hoselton is a two-time all-conference selection and was named honorable mention allstate by the Minnesota Girls Basketball Coaches Association as a junior in 2024. … She averaged 11.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.4 steals for her junior season with the Knights. With Hoselton on the team, STMA has participated in the Class AAAA Minnesota state tournament three times, finishing runner-up in 2022 and winning the title in 2023. … She plans to study advertising.
Hadley Thul, 6-2, guard, Alexandria, Minn. (Alexandria Area HS)
Thul has been a Class AAA all-state honoree the last two seasons and was honorable mention in 2022 as a freshman for the Cardinals. … Her teams have participated in the Minnesota state tournament in each of the last two seasons. Thul averaged 20.3 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game as a junior. … She was a member of the Minnesota AAA state championship volleyball team earlier this fall. … She plans to study pharmacy.
USD MEN
As of Friday, the Coyotes had announced three players signed with guards Vince Buzelis, Uzziah Buntyn and Jesse McIntosh.
Vince Buzelis, 6-4, guard, Willowbrook, Ill. (Hinsdale Central HS)
Buzelis played at Hinsdale Central in Illinois last season after playing in 2022-23 at Sunrise Christian prep school in Kansas. … USD offered him in July after a strong summer circuit playing for a club in Illinois and Buzelis committed in September. … According to 247 Sports, he also drew interest from South Carolina and Stanford. … He’s the younger brother of Matas Buzelis, who was the No. 11 overall pick by the Chicago Bulls in the June 2024 NBA Draft and starred in NBA Summer League play.
Uzziah Buntyn, 6-0, guard, Round Rock, Texas (Stony Point HS)
A point guard, Buntyn helped the lead Stony Point to a Texas state runner-up finish and he’s been a multiple-time all-district and all-region selection. ... The Coyotes offered him in June and he committed in September. ... He’s also a track and field athlete. ... Buntyn plans to major in criminal justice.
Jesse McIntosh, 6-6, guard/wing, Melbourne, Australia (Ivanhoe Grammar School)
McIntosh saw his stock rise after a strong summer of basketball in his native Australia, where he was a member of the Australia team for the FIBA under-18 Asia Cup in Jordan this year. … He also played for AUSA Hoops over the summer, which markets itself as one of the top pathways to play college basketball in the U.S. from Australia. … McIntosh gave USD his commitment in September after also receiving an offer from Vermont.
USD WOMEN
Head coach Carrie Eighmey added three players in her 2025 recruiting class, announced Wednesday. Tori Schlagel (Eden Prairie, Minn.), Alyssa Bartlett (Pleasant Hill, Iowa), and Brooke Jensen (Vermillion, S.D.) will join the Coyotes as incoming freshmen in 2025.
Alyssa Bartlett, 5-7, guard, Pleasant Hill, Iowa (Southeast Polk HS).
Bartlett is a point guard for Southeast Polk, where she has been a team captain, leading the team in assists her freshman and sophomore seasons and leading the team in scoring as a junior last year. … A three-sport athlete for the Rams, Bartlett also competes in cross country and track and field. … She plans to major in elementary education.
Jensen is a two-time Class A all-state honoree and a three-time all-conference honoree for the Tanagers, who won the 2024 Class A state championship. … Jensen was committed to play at Augustana until earlier this year when the Vikings made a coaching change. … Jensen has surpassed 1,000 career points for Vermillion and has single-game bests of 34 points and 13 rebounds. … Her mother, Becky (Flynn) Jensen was one of the best girls basketball players in South Dakota history for Wakonda, scoring 3,268 points, which was the most in the state’s girls basketball history for more than 25 years, while the former Miss Basketball won three straight state titles and 101 games in a row with Wakonda. … Jensen plans to major in elementary education at USD.
Tori Schlagel, 5-9, guard, Eden Prairie, Minn. (Eden Prairie HS)
Schlagel has been a two-year captain for the Eagles and was named to the Minnesota Class AAAA all-state team as a junior and the Star Tribune all-Metro Second Team. … She has complied over 1,000 points in her varsity career and holds the single season scoring record of 529 points and single game record of 36 points for the Eagles. … She plans to major in business at USD.
Sioux Falls Christian's Griffen Goodbary tries to block a layup by Vermillion's Trey Hansen (33) during the Class A state quarterfinals on Thursday, March 14, 2024, in Rapid City. Aiden DeBoer / SDPB
Australian transfer brings size, skill, and dominance Big
BY MATT ZIMMER
Aussie Cluff powers
At 6-foot-11, 260-pounds and with 23 starts in the PAC-12, Australian big man Oscar Cluff is unlike just about any player that’s ever suited up for South Dakota State.
The Jackrabbits don’t usually get that kind of size. They usually don’t get that kind of major conference experience. Putting those two traits together in one player had SDSU coaches optimistic that Cluff could become one of the most dominant players in the Summit League in the one season he’ll have in Brookings after transferring from Washington State.
Four games in, he’s well on his way.
Cluff had 14 points and 14 rebounds in his debut to lead the Jackrabbits to an upset win over McNeese State, earning Summit League player of the week. Through four games he averages 18.3 points (third in the Summit League), while leading the league in rebounding (12.0) and field goal percentage (.622) and ranking fourth in free throws made (17) and even 18th in assists (2.3).
“He brings a lot of physicality to both ends of the floor,” said Cluff’s roommate, guard Joe Sayler. “He understands we’re a team that likes to throw it into the post, and he has really
good footwork and is really good around the basket and a sneaky-good passer. Coming from Australia there’s obviously some cultural differences, but you could tell right away he has the same values all of us do. He’s here to win. And we’re excited to have him.”
A native of Sunshine Coast, Austraila, Cluff’s college career began in Arizona at Cochise Community College where he dominated for two seasons before moving up to Washington State last year. Cluff played in all 35 games for the Cougars, starting 23 and averaging 7.0 points and 4.4 rebounds in helping WSU reach the NCAA tournament. They played in the same regional as SDSU in Omaha, but there had already been a relationship between the big man and the Jackrabbits. They’d recruited Cluff out of Cochise, and when he decided to enter the portal, Jacks coach Eric Henderson pounced.
That relationship, Cluff says, is the main reason he came to South Dakota State, but it was what Henderson was selling that sealed the deal.
“The winning, right?” Cluff said. “The way they throw the ball inside, the community around it, the spirit of the team. I mean all of that together creates a great opportunity.”
It’s clear Cluff will be a fan favorite in his short tenure with the Jacks. He plays with visible emotion and joy, and looks like the kind of player who thrives off the crowd.
He also clearly does not take himself too seriously. Cluff met with a handful of reporters after SDSU’s win over McNeese at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls and drew big laughs when he casually said his teammates can “shoot the (expletive) out of it”. He quickly corrected himself, but it looked like a clear glimpse of a player who just wants
RIGHT: South Dakota State's Oscar Cluff splits a McNeese State double team during the Field of 68 Opening Day Showcase men's college basketball event on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024 at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls. Marcus Traxler / Mitchell Republic
BELOW: SDSU's Oscar Cluff looks to make an outlet pass during the Jackrabbits' 80-73 win over McNeese State in the Field of 68 Showcase at the Sanford Pentagon on Nov. 4, 2024. Matt Zimmer/Sioux Falls Live
SIOUX FALLS LIVE
Aussie Impact: SDSU hoops
dominance to Jackrabbits
to be one of the guys on a winning team and is going to be himself along the way.
On the court, Cluff’s brute strength and back-to-the-basket game will be a handful not just for Summit League frontcourt players but even those outside the conference (like if, say, the Jacks are playing in the NCAA tournament in March).
But Cluff isn’t just a bruiser who pushes people around. He’s hitting 77 percent from the line (up from 66 percent last year) has shooting touch that extends beyond the paint, has grabbed 17 of his 48 boards on the offensive end and can defend intelligently inside. He’s committed just six fouls in four games so far.
“There’s not many that come around like him in this league,” Henderson said. “It’s always important for us to play through the post, and when we lost Will (Kyle, the center who transferred to UCLA) I felt it was important to get an experienced guy we can play through and I think we can with Oscar. He’s a big guy that really knows how to pass and he can score. He’s a very physical, multi-dimensional player with great hands. He’s gonna be a load.”
That’s already proven to be the case, and a team with five new starters and an entirely different rotation suddenly looks like a tournament contender again. Sayler averages more than 16 points so far, while a handful of freshmen look ready to contribute.
Losing Kyle and sharpshooter Zeke Mayo to the portal was a blow to this proud program, but Cluff’s addition is important. Not just because he’s a potentially dominant player, but as evidence that the portal doesn’t have to be a deathblow to SDSU’s goals as a Division I basketball school.
“I was so excited to have him here as soon as I saw him work out and saw some of his highlights,” said 7-foot center Nate Barnhart, who can backup Cluff or pair with him to give the Jacks a twin-towers look. “He’s a big dude and I think our difference in styles will make us both better. It’s been fun going against him in practice. He’s gonna be great for this team.”
Augie An guy
Wisconsin native has established himself as Augustana’s most decorated distance runner
BY TRENT SINGER Sioux Falls Live
Throughout the chaos of the postseason, Ryan Hartman hasn’t had much time to sit down and reflect on the finality of it all.
Instead, he laces up his shoes and keeps on running, but the reality is this is it for Augustana’s star runner.
After winning his fourth race in a row at the NCAA Central Region Championships earlier this month, Hartman now has eyes fixed on the coveted national championship.
On Saturday, hundreds of runners from around the country will gather at Arcade Creek Cross Country Course in Sacramento, California, to compete in the NCAA Division II Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Championships.
The men’s 10K race alone features almost 400 runners, including Hartman, a Wausau, Wisconsin, native who has already carved his name into AU history as the school’s most decorated distance runner.
Augustana's Ryan Hartman crosses the finish line at the NSIC Championships on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, at Souris Valley Golf Course in Minot, N.D. Sean Arbaut / Arbaut Photography
“To get top 10 in the individual field is so hard because there’s just so many great athletes out there in Division II. He has an opportunity this year,” said longtime Vikings coach Tracy Hellman, whose final race at the helm of the program will also be this weekend. “I think you could make the argument that he’s probably our best we’ve ever had already just based on some of the track times he’s hit, but I know he’s got bigger goals than that.
“He’s all about the team, too, so he doesn’t really think about that.”
The individual accomplishments are certainly secondary in Hartman’s mind, as are the fleeting moments of a college career filled to the brim with success.
As Saturday’s race draws closer, that reality is certain to take hold.
“That’s another level of motivation that I can maybe tap into going into the national meet to just really give my all and enjoy this last season, too,” Hartman said.
“I’m not going to have anything like it ever again, so it’s a special moment.”
LATE BLOOMER
At a young age, Hartman participated in a number of different sports, but his desire to compete was always at the center.
As a freshman at Wausau West High School, Hartman gave soccer a try. Even to this day, basketball might be the sport that brings out his competitive spirit the most, but for Hartman, nothing compares to the close-knit culture and camaraderie that comes with cross country.
It’s a sport he practically stumbled upon as a sophomore after experiencing some success on his high school track team.
Augustana's Ryan Hartman competes in the men's race at the NSIC Championships on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, at Souris Valley Golf Course in Minot, N.D.
Photo Sean Arbaut / Arbaut Photography.
Augustana's Ryan Hartman competes in the men's race at the Roy Griak Invitational on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, at Les Bolstad Golf Course in Falcon Heights, Minn. Christopher Mitchell / Gopher Athletics.
“I really enjoyed it and just enjoyed the team atmosphere,” Hartman said. “You kind of have success with one thing, and then it’s maybe a little bit easier to have fun with it as well.”
As a junior in 2018, Hartman placed 17th in the boys race at the Wisconsin State Cross Country Championships with a time of 16:07.8, and a year later, he improved upon that mark as a senior when he took eighth in 15:56.9.
They were certainly admirable accomplishments for the young runner, but there weren’t a ton of schools that had Hartman on their radar, partly due to a track season that was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Still, there was one school in particular that stood out above the rest.
For Hartman, the main thing he wanted was to find a college that would allow him to excel both academically and athletically, but in addition to that, he was looking for a program that had an identifiable feeling of cohesiveness.
In the end, Hellman’s program at Augustana checked both of those boxes.
“The close-knit culture is something that’s very unique to the sport, and I think that goes for many teams,” Hartman said. “In high school, it was that way, and in college, it’s been that way, too. I think that’s one thing that drew me to Augustana as well. … I know one thing I really enjoyed when I came on my visit here was really getting to be involved with the entire team.
“On other visits I went on, I’d play scrimmage basketball with just a freshman, which was fun and all, but I really enjoyed being able to meet the entire team here and feel what it would be like to be a part of the team.”
COLLEGE AWAKENING
When Hartman first arrived at AU in 2020, the pandemic had fully set in, forcing the cancellation of every fall sport, including cross country.
In a strange way, the circumstances were favorable for Hartman, allowing him to settle into his college training regimen with ease.
Hartman admits he wasn’t very good his first semester as a college runner — at least comparatively. He was closer to the bottom five on the men’s cross country team than he was to the top five, but in the spring, he began to catch Hellman’s attention on the track.
“He started running times on the track that spring that I don’t have freshmen run,” Hellman said. “I was like, ‘Dang, this guy’s going to be really good.’ We went to a meet in Grand Valley, Michigan, and he ran the 5,000 meters and was up with the top group of guys halfway through this race. I remember thinking, ‘Dude, he’s going to die. He’s way above his head in terms of pace,’ but he hung in there and ran a great time.
“That was just a springboard, but every year he’s gotten better.”
Hartman’s freshman track season was headlined by a third-place finish in the 1,000-meter race at the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Championships, setting a personal record with a time of 2:30.6.
Then, in 2021, Hartman ran a time of 31:04.3 (22nd) at the NCAA Cross Country Championships, helping guide the Viking men to a fourth-place finish nationally. He then returned the following year and placed 19th at the national meet, finishing 19th and improving his time by almost a full minute (30:14.6).
“Consistency in running is always the thing. When he came in, he was actually an OK runner his first year, but I’ve had freshmen who were better than him as freshmen,” Hellman said. “He really showed the
resilience to keep getting better and better, and he’s been pretty consistent.
“He’s had a few nicks or injuries — nothing serious — but he’s really tough mentally. And I think that’s something you just can’t coach. The guy hates to lose. He hates to lose at practice. He hates to lose races, so I think that rubs off on a lot of people.”
Last year, though, was when Hartman began to truly establish himself as an elite runner on the national stage.
After finishing runner-up at the NSIC Championships the two years prior, Hartman claimed his first individual conference title with a time of 23:51.5 in the 8K race. He then took second at the NCAA Central Region Cross Country Championships (29:51.5) before capturing All-America honors for the third year in a row, finishing ninth at the national meet with a time of 29:32.9.
“One thing for me is I just need to build consistency, so stacking healthy, consistent seasons on top of each other and building on those has really helped me grow,” Hartman said. “I knew I had a top-15, top-10 [finish at the national meet] in the wheelhouse. The year previously, I got 19th, and that was with some unorthodox training just due to an injury the entire season.
“I knew that I could for sure crack the top 10 with some healthy training. The NCAA Division II has been getting a lot better in cross country, so it makes it even more challenging. Even just comparing it from year to year, you’re going to have new guys from overseas now who are competing, but it really brings up the level of competition and makes it fun.”
DOMINANT FINAL CAMPAIGN
The year-over-year consistency has built to a dominant fifth and final cross country season for Hartman, who Hellman refers to as “one of the best team guys” he’s ever coached.
Augustana coach Tracy Hellman and runner Ryan Hartman pose for a photo at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023, at Boston University in Boston.
“He works at Augustana in missions doing tours. He’s into the community. He’s an Augie guy,” Hellman said. “You think of an Augustana kid, he’s the Augustana kid. It’s exciting for him, too, because as a coach, you always want their last year to be their best year.
“You just want them to go out on top, and many times, it doesn’t happen that way. But he’s doing the best he ever has in his last year, so that’s what you want to see.”
On Sept. 20, Hartman finished first at the Roy Griak Invitational with a time of 25:16.1. Several weeks later, he set a PR in the 8K with a first-place time of 23:38.5 at the Lewis Crossover in Romeoville, Illinois.
Then came the postseason, where the dominance continued.
On Oct. 26, Hartman claimed his second straight individual title at the NSIC Championships with a time of 23:49.4 and followed that up with his first individual title at the Central Region Championships on Nov. 9, running the 10K race in a season-record time of 30:08.0.
Hartman recognizes there’s a balancing act in the training that leads up to the national race. He knows he needs to channel a level of intensity during his preparation that’ll be required of him, but he also doesn’t want to push his body past its tipping point.
Hartman is fully confident, though, that Hellman will have him peaking at the perfect time.
“That’s one thing that he’s always great at, and I can trust that he’ll do that just like every other year,” Hartman said. “One thing I need to have is that mental edge going into those championship races, and I think that’s one thing this year I’ve been able to hold back a little bit during the regular season races.
“I’ve not spent too much mental energy thinking, ‘Oh, man, I’ve got to do this at this time.’ I’ve been really focused on not putting too much stress on myself, but now I can really start to tap into that mental space, especially now as we go from an 8K to a 10K for these championship races.”
In the most recent FloTrack rankings (Nov. 5), Hartman is ranked eighth nationally among all Division II men’s runners.
As it stands, Hartman holds the program record at the national meet but now aims to become Augustana’s first national champion in cross country. The two AU runners in the past who have finished closest were Paul Yak in 2013 (30:20.2) and Harold Karbo in 2014 (30:40.5), both of whom placed sixth.
Last December, Hartman became the fastest collegian in the history of the state in the indoor 5K when he traveled to Boston University for the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener and ran a time of 13:54.58.
“I think every meet now that he runs, he does well and continues to grow,” Hellman said. “The confidence is there, so he’s got it rolling right now.
“I think that’s the hardest thing as a runner is making sure you mentally feel good about stuff. He’s as confident as he’s ever been.”
ONE MORE RACE
Saturday’s race will also be the final one for Hellman, who announced last week his plans to resign as AU’s coach after 25 years at the helm to take over as director of track and field/cross country at Division I Idaho. Assistant coach Scott Tanis was immediately named Hellman’s successor.
Hartman credits Hellman for establishing the team culture at Augustana, bringing in the right athletes and instilling expectations within the program.
“A lot of the culture and a lot of the fun that comes with running can be given to Tracy but also being able to get us fit and in shape and peaking at the right times,” Hartman said. “I don’t really know what all goes into it, but I know there’s a lot that goes into it. I’m able to kind of do my thing and do the little things outside of running and then just listen to him and what he suggests for runs each day. I put my trust in him in that sense.”
Besides his athletic endeavors, Hartman has also been an exceptional student in the classroom. He received an undergraduate degree in exercise science last year and is now pursuing his Master of Arts in Sports Administration & Leadership at Augustana. His end goal is to attend physical therapy school.
For as much success as he’s earned, Hartman still walks a humble path and is always there to help his teammates reach new heights. Even on his way out, he goes out of his way to talk to potential high school recruits on their visits, knowing full well that he won’t be there when they arrive.
As confident as ever, Hartman is fully prepared to finish his cross country career with a bang.
“This is the best I’ve ever seen him in all areas, in terms of physical, mental, composure,” Hellman said.
“Even when he was younger, he’d let things get to him, and he’d get rattled and stuff.
“Now, he’s pretty steady. Now, he’s pretty locked in, and he’s not afraid of anybody. And that’s what you like to see.”
The Augustana men's and women's cross country teams pose for a photo after sweeping both races at the NSIC Championships on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, at Wayne Country Club in Wayne, Neb. Josh Barrows / Augustana Athletics Wausau West's Ryan Hartman competes in the boys race at the Wisconsin Valley Cross Country Meet on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019, at Merrill Area Recreation Complex in Merrill, Wisc. Wausau West High on Twitter
"I think most and
claws
Tigers to 9A glory
Howard lineman’s MVP heroics dominate title game
BY LANDON DIERKS Mitchell Republic
It’s not often that someone outside the offensive backfield receives Joe Robbie MVP honors at the South Dakota high school football championships.
But on Friday at the DakotaDome, Howard tight end/defensive end Luke Koepsell joined the elite club by placing his fingerprints all over the Tigers’ 38-30 victory over Wolsey-Wessington in the Class 9A title tilt.
“This is definitely something I’ve dreamed about,” said Koepsell, who was also recognized as the most outstanding lineman of the championship contest. “It just feels good to have the team trust me in those situations to make a play. I’ve worked really hard for that, so I just got to thank my coaches and teammates.”
No. 24 in black and orange was all over the field on Friday, terrorizing the Warbirds as he made title-winning contributions in all three phases of play.
On offense, Koepsell hauled in four receptions for 100 yards, including touchdowns covering 17 and 42 yards, and made a nifty one-handed snag on a two-point conversion that put Howard up by 16 points late. That’s not to mention his contributions blocking for Howard backs, who gained 275 yards on the ground.
Defensively, the 6-foot-4, 220-pounder sacked the Warbirds’ elusive quarterback once and collected six more tackles. On special teams, Koepsell converted a fourth down with a 21-yard run as an up-man on a fake punt, extending a drive that resulted in a touchdown. Later, he recovered an onside kick to give the Tigers an extra possession and also pounced on an attempted onside kick by Wolsey-Wessington.
Howard's Luke Koepsell (24) sprints away from a pair of Wolsey-Wessington defenders after making a reception on the way to a touchdown during the Class 9A state football championships game on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, at the DakotaDome in Vermillion.Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
most people would say it was an incredible day, it was, but we know Luke. That’s just a Friday night because that’s how he plays."
“I think most people would say it was an incredible day, and it was, but we know Luke. That’s just a Friday night because that’s how he plays,” said Howard head coach Pat Ruml. “We just expect that out of him, but this year, you could feel there was just a little more urgency.
“With that guy, nothing surprises me. He’s soft-spoken, but has a whole lot of talent,” Ruml later added. “He was spending a lot of energy, but that guy never leaves the field. He’s an all-stater, and I’m going to put him up for (Class 9A) MVP later on because I think that’s how good he is.”
Among the many plays Koepsell made on Friday, he identified his second touchdown reception — a 42-yarder on third-and-18 — as one that stands out.
“We’ve had that play a long time. We don’t run it very often, but when we do, it usually works,” Koepsell said. “It was a big play, and to have (Howard quarterback) Carson Hinker roll out and drop a dime to me, that one felt pretty cool.”
— Pat Ruml, Howard head coach
An all-state defensive end selection last season as a junior (and almost certainly again this year when the all-state squads are announced), Koepsell’s place in a long lineage of standout Howard players at the end position was secured before he took the field on Friday morning, but he saved one final premier performance for his final high school football game.
Koepsell credits learning from Jace Sifore, the outstanding lineman from Howard’s 2021 Class 9A championship team and now an interior defensive lineman at South Dakota State, for shaping him into a player capable of putting on such a performance on the biggest stage.
“My freshman year, I was on the scout team and Jace Sifore was my practice buddy. He would just
beat me up every day, but he made me so much better and taught me so much,” Koepsell said. “There have been so many great players who have come through Howard, who set the culture for us and paved the way. To do this for them, too, it feels really good.”
Howard's Luke Koepsell (24) sprints away from a pair of Wolsey-Wessington defenders after making a reception on the way to a touchdown during the Class 9A state football championships game on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, at the DakotaDome in Vermillion.Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
BY NATHAN SWAFFAR | MITCHELL REPUBLIC
athletes
of theweek
NOV 21
QB stars shine in state title victories
With the 2024 South Dakota high school football season coming to a close last week, multiple athletes put forward game-winning performances for their respective teams.
Here are three of those standout athletes who helped their teams capture state titles last week.
BOSTON KATZER: LENNOX FOOTBALL
Katzer, a senior quarterback and defensive back for Lennox, was named the Joe Robbie MVP and most outstanding back in the Orioles’ 14-6 Class 11A state title victory over previously unbeaten Sioux Falls Christian with big performances on both sides of the ball last Saturday. Offensively, Katzer finished the day with 187 yards and two touchdowns through the air while rushing for another 83 yards. Defensively, he finished with two clutch interceptions and also added a fumble recovery. The state title was the program’s first in 42 years and the Orioles finished the year with a 10-2 mark.
CARSON HINKER: HOWARD FOOTBALL
A senior quarterback and defensive back for Howard, Hinker helped lead the Tigers to the 2024 Class 9A state title with a 38-30 win over Wolsey-Wessington last Friday in the DakotaDome. Under center, he threw for 112 yards and three touchdowns on a perfect 6-of-6 passing. He also added 37 rushing yards to his offensive total. Defensively, he had two tackles and was also efficient in the punting game with two punts and a 49-yard average. His first of the two punts went for 57 yards. Hinker was named the most outstanding back in the game as Howard finished the season a perfect 12-0 with the title victory.
BRODY SCHAFER: SIOUX FALLS LINCOLN FOOTBALL
Like Katzer, Schafer took home both the Joe Robbie MVP and most outstanding back honors in Sioux Falls Lincoln’s upset over top-seeded and previously undefeated Brandon Valley in the Class 11AAA title game last Saturday. The sophomore quarterback finished the day with 226 yards and three touchdowns on 9-for-18 passing. But his legs provided almost just as big of a boost as he ran for 122 yards in the victory as well. Lincoln, it’s the program’s second straight Class 11AAA title as the Patriots finish the 2024 season with an 11-1 mark, avenging their only loss of the season that came at the hands of Brandon Valley.
CARSON HINKER
BOSTON KATZER
around the state TOP storylines
Here’s a look at some of the top high school sports storylines taking shape around South Dakota:
NORTHEAST
HAMLIN’S NEUENDORF HITS RECORD FG AT DOME:
It was a banner day for the Hamlin Chargers in the Class 9AA state title game on Nov. 14 but Easton Neuendorf put himself in the state championship record books with his 45-yard field goal before halftime.
According to Neuendorf, he’s nailed similar distance field goals in practice before, but he’s never attempted anything that long in a game situation, let alone in a state title game. He was a bit surprised he was called upon to attempt the long kick. The kick put the Chargers up 25-8 on the way to an eventual 32-8 win.
“I was just like, 'Well, the worst thing that's going to happen is I miss and we go into half up 22-8,'” Neuendorf said. “To be honest, I thought it was either going to hit the post or it was going to be just left. But when I hit the post and went in, I was just like, 'Alright, there it is.'”
BY MARCUS TRAXLER | MITCHELL REPUBLIC
Neuendorf, an all-state basketball player who will play at Briar Cliff in college, has only played football for a few years after previously playing soccer in the fall.
WEST
RAPID CITY’s DIAL SIGNS ON TO PLAY BASEBALL AT WASHINGTON STATE: Jackson Dial signed a national letter of intent to play baseball at Washington State University on Nov. 18.
He pitched and played third base for the Raiders, hitting .375 last season and was named to the all-state team in 2023. Dial also was 4-1 as a pitcher with 48 strikeouts on the season.
According to NewsCenter 1, he was previously committed to Arizona State before changing course to join the Cougars, who were 21-32 last season.
CENTRAL
HITCHCOCK-TULARE’S SCHROEDER TAKES BIG WEEK INTO STATE TOURNEY: Hitchcock-Tulare senior outside hitter Katelyn Schroeder has had a big week as her Patriots (31-2) on the way into the Class B state tournament. She recently signed to play college volleyball at Northern State and Hitchcock-Tulare goes to the state tournament as the No. 3 seed after Schroeder had 21 kills in a three-set sweep of Herreid/Selby Area in the SoDak 16.
Schroeder, a 5-foot-11 outside hitter, has played five years as a starter and is a three-year team captain and picked to the all-state team three times. She has 1,474 kills, 1,577 digs, 156 blocks and 158 aces, holding H-T’s school records in many categories. This season, she’s among the state’s leaders in kills per set (4.8), total kills (425) and hitting percentage (.468).
SOUTHEAST
CHESTER PREPARES TO DEFEND CLASS B CROWN: With a 29-2 record, the Chester Flyers are hoping to pull off a repeat state championship in the Class B in 2024. The Flyers face Castlewood at 11 a.m. Thursday in the state quarterfinal round.
Chester has a big roster of talent, led by junior Lily Van Hal, who leads the team with 312 kills, 601 assists, 93 aces and a .434 hitting percentage. Teammate Jacy Wolf is hitting .326 for the season, has 334 digs, 248 assists and 294 kills. Katelyn Schut has 213 kills and Gracie Huntimer has a team-best 462 digs
Chester’s only losses during the season were Sept. 28 to Iowa powers Western Christian and Unity Christian at the Sanford Pentagon tournament, and the Flyers have won 82 of the 92 sets they’ve played this year.
