Sports Preview Fall 2023

FALL SPORTS PREVIEW

SEPTEMBER

Under new leadership, Mitchell football aims for postseason return

Kernels committed to being a surprising team in Class 11AA

By Landon Dierks Mitchell Republic

MITCHELL — There’s plenty of ‘new’ in the Mitchell High School football camp this fall.

A new head coach, many new starters and, perhaps most importantly, a newfound energy as the program looks to move forward from a rocky 2022 season.

First-year head coach Pat Larson, who’s been on the Kernels’ sideline for nearly two decades as an assistant prior to this season, can’t quite put his finger on what that feeling is that’s driving MHS, but he can feel it.

“I don’t know that we’re doing anything magically different than what we’ve done in the past, but it’s a different energy,” Larson said. “... I think these kids are ready to go and ready to show what they’re all about.”

Joining Larson on the 2023 coaching staff are veteran assistants in offensive coordinator Eric Witte (ninth season on staff), defensive coordinator Zack Clement (fifth), Trevor Krugman (third), Rickey Nelsen (11th), along with freshmen head coach Sterling

Dockweiler and first-year freshman assistant Travis Salmonson.

In 2022, MHS went 2-7 and missed out on the postseason for the first time in a decade. Larson firmly believes last year’s team was significantly better than its record indicated, and four losses by 14 points or fewer serve to support that belief.

Among the many messages Larson has worked to impart on the 2023 Kernels is that past results do not dictate future successes.

From last season’s roster, Mitchell graduated 16 seniors, including a two-time all-state defensive back, an all-conference defensive lineman, a multi-year starting quarterback, the top receiver, several top ballcarriers and four of five starters along the offensive line. The Kernels did not receive a vote in the preseason South Dakota Prep Media poll.

“I think there are a lot of people that think, ‘Oh, they were 2-7 last year, didn’t make the playoffs, graduated all this talent. How are they going to do it this year?’” Larson said. “I think we’re going to surprise some of those people. These kids’ pride is going to show out, and they want to prove that

they’re not that team from last year.

Returning from the 2022 varsity roster, running backs Mick Dailey and Parker Denne combined for nearly 600 total yards and four touchdowns last season, while Larson is high on many seniors poised to take on larger roles, including Connor Degen (the lone returning offensive line starter), Dustin Kurtenbach, Nate McCormick, Tyson Sabers, Connor Singrey and Brady Wilson.

Larson has also been impressed by two quarterbacks — senior Lukas Chenoweth and junior Tristen (TJ) Jellis — and expects for them to both take snaps when the Kernels start the season.

“There’s something inside of me that says we can win four or five games and host a playoff game,” Larson said. “No one in the state is going to believe it except for us. … But sometimes being a little under the radar isn’t a bad thing.”

Among the strengths of the 2023 roster, Larson points to strong leadership and camaraderie within the team. On the field, he expects those qualities to manifest themselves by creating emotional stability. Good or

bad, Larson feels his squad is equipped to remain levelheaded and not fall into a roller coaster of emotions.

But Larson also isn’t shy about expectations. He feels Mitchell needs to be challenging for a top-four seed and first-round hosting privileges within Class 11AA year-in and year-out. It’s ambitious, but that’s by design, and Larson isn’t holding back on those goals for the 2023 Kernels.

“That has to be our goal at a minimum every single year, and I think this team is wholly capable of that,” Larson said. “I want to shock some people. Recently, we haven’t been where we were (in the mid-2010s) where we need to be. We want to get back there, and I think this is a group to start us in the right direction.”

Mitchell has its first home date on Sept. 8 against six-time defending state champion Pierre. The Kernels host Aberdeen Central on Sept. 16 for the Kernel Bowl and welcome Spearfish for homecoming on Sept. 29. Other key dates include another ESD rivalry game at Huron on Oct. 13 and the regular season finale at home against Brookings on Thursday, Oct. 19.

Landon Dierks / Mitchell Republic

Returning letterwinners for Mitchell High School football include: Front row, from left: Kasey Lopez Morales, Dustin Kurtenbach, Lukas Chenoweth, Brok Ellwein, Connor Degen, Mick Dailey, Parker Denne and Tyson Sabers; Middle row: Antonio Rivera, Noah Gruenstein, TJ Jellis, Esten Schlimgen, Brody Huls, Mason Herman, Keith Buchholz and Preston Schelske; Back row: Thadan Miliken-Auch, Brady Wilson, Kellan Odell, Noah Pudwill, Brenden Wantoch, Hudson Borgan, Connor Singrey and Nathan McCormick.

Mitchell girls tennis brings talented roster back to the court

Kernels look to build upon a ninth-place finish in Class AA in 2022

By Jacob Nielson Mitchell Republic

MITCHELL — Pat Moller believes the nature of high school tennis can cultivate a battle-tested mentality for the Mitchell High girls tennis squad before the season begins.

With the varsity team comprised of six singles flights and three pairs of doubles flights, with the top six girls often filling the three doubles teams.

To earn a spot requires beating your teammates in one-on-one “challenge matchups” in the first week of practice that will determine the season’s lineup.

“There’s just a lot of pressure,” Moller said. “These challenge matches are sometimes some of the most competitive, high pressure matches that they face until we get to tournament play. And so to be able to see how they react to that is really unique for us.”

Winning three straight Class A state tournaments from 2019 to 2021 before getting promoted to Class AA and finishing ninth in the state tournament last season, the Kernels hope the preseason prepared them to contend at the state-level this season.

“I think we have a very talented team this year,” first flight player Delaney Degen said. “I definitely think we’ll be a lot better than we were last season.”

The Kernels graduated two varsity players last season, No. 1 flight player Amber Moller and Ireland Blindauer, but return five girls who competed in singles or doubles matches at last season’s state tournament in Degen — Megan Mestel, Elly Clement, Carsyn Weich and Mia Larson. Additional girls who lettered last season that are expected to compete in the varsity ranks include Sophia Huber, Katie Morgan and Matteah Graves.

Moller estimated there were eight girls with a realistic shot at a top six spots. In the current singles order, Degen, a senior, is the No.1 player, sophomore Mastel is No. 2, junior

Weich is No. 3, freshman Morgan is No. 4, junior Clement is No. 5 and freshman Graves is No. 6.

“We had a pretty successful year last year, but this team has been building for a long time,” Moller said. “And these younger girls have just been waiting their turn.”

Moller, who admitted he’s coached teams in the past that lack a natural leader, likes the culture of the current squad, and called Degen the “the

glue” of the team.

“She’s friends with everybody,” Moller said. “You want a leader of a team that brings out the best in everyone and amplifies the positives in her teammates. And she does such a good job of that, she makes it fun. And I think everybody enjoys being around her.”

“I do feel like a leader,” Degen said. “I just try my best to be a good example for the younger girls and be a good

team captain.”

With regular season matches against Class AA and Class A teams state-wide beginning for the Kernels, the team is determined to compete in every contest, and become ready for the state tournament on Oct. 5-6.

“I think we have a chance of winning every match that we play,” Moller said. “And obviously, our goal is to win and this team is used to winning a lot of matches.”

Jacob Nielson / Mitchell Republic

Returning letterwinners for Mitchell girls tennis include, front row from left, Delaney Degen, Mia Larson, Katie Morgan and Matteah Graves. Back row: Megan Mastel, Sophia Huber, Carsyn Weich and Elly Clement.

By Jacob Nielson Mitchell Republic

MITCHELL —

Perfecting a routine is a season-long quest.

For the Mitchell High cheer and dance teams — two separate programs each undergoing their own rigorous training routines — not only does it require hours of practice, but the right formula of athletes and circumstances, also.

And the margin of error is thin.

“One of the things that makes cheer so uniquely different from literally any other sport is we get two-and-a-half minutes at a competition,” cheer head coach Alisha Lockhart said. “If a kid gets struck in the nose and it starts bleeding, I don’t have a sub to send in and there’s no bench to pull from. Each of my athletes is assigned a job on the floor, and they have to do that job, literally in sickness and in health.”

The Kernels’ cheer team is planning one comprehensive routine for the season, which it will work on throughout four days of practice per

week and several meets in the lead up to the Class AA state championships on Oct. 20-21 at the Premier Center in Sioux Falls. The dance team will work on two routines, a hip hop dance and a pom dance, and will perform in multiple competitions in lead up to state on the same date. For cheer, the scoring is straightforward: highest-scored routine wins. For dance, teams compete in two of three optional categories, with awards for each specific routine, and those scores are averaged together for

an overall winner.

“There is either jazz, pom or hip hop,” dance head coach Cassey Ver Hey said. “We will compete against all the hip hop dancers, and will compete against all of the pom teams. And then overall, all of those are put together.”

Cheer finished 10th in the Class AA state meet and fifth at the Eastern South Dakota Conference championships in 2022. The dance squad was ninth in last season’s Class AA state championships and took seventh at the ESD meet.

With a strong group of returners, Mitchell’s cheer team will look to build upon its success. The competitive cheer team has 12 members this season, including senior Gwen McAbee, and juniors Aubrey Gelderman, Jannessa Stevenson and Joslin Sommerville. Each upperclassman, along with sophomore Peightyn Sullivan and eighth-grader Ella Johnston are returning letterwinners. And many of them have been in the program since middle school — or are still in middle school — and have been performing for several years.

The main focus in the summer has been conditioning, and as the team gets deeper into the season, the girls will increase their focus on technique.

“Cheer’s definitely a different beast,” Lockhart said. “And it is something that’s not the popular sport. Not all your friends are doing it. And so for these kids to have stuck this out for four, five or six years, they’re very dedicated.”

The dance team, which graduated six seniors last

year, has nine girls on the team this year, which is down from last season. The roster consists of four seniors and one junior, sophomore, freshman, eighth-grader and seventh-grader apiece.

One leader, according to Ver Hey, is senior Keenah Escobin.

“Keenah is probably my strongest dancer,” Ver Hey said. “She is phenomenal with technique. She’s worked really hard on perfecting her technique. She has been dancing since either seventh or eighth grade with me. I’ve had her for a while now so she’s a dancer I can count on.”

Seniors Allison Rasmussen, Harley Goldammer and Grace Roden are also key danc-

ers and leaders, tasked with being mentors and examples to the younger team members.

“It’s a big gap between my seniors and then my middle schoolers,” Ver Hey said. “So they really take them under their wing and say, ‘This is how coach likes it’ and ‘This is what we need to get done,’ and they make sure they’re doing OK, and that they love the sport.”

The cheer and dance teams open their season at 5 p.m. on Aug. 31 in Watertown. Mitchell’s annual home meet is the final regular-season competition of the year on Thursday, Oct. 5 at the Corn Palace, while the ESD meet will be Oct. 12 in Aberdeen.

Jacob Nielson / Mitchell Republic

Returning letterwinners for Mitchell girls soccer include, front row from left: Arian Bird, Rylee Jennings, Adelyn Prunty, Emilie Ellis, Katie Stahl, Tenley Peterson, Mia Mullenmeister and Kamryn Thelen. Back row: Maddie Kempf, Ashlynn Pollreisz, Kenzi Kayl, Kassedy Knippling, Alexa Chapman, Jessica Gerlach, Lily Peterson, Makenzie Peterson and Taryn Thomas.

Senior-led Mitchell girls soccer

By Jacob Nielson Mitchell Republic

MITCHELL

— The way Mitchell’s girls soccer team wants to approach the 2023 fall season can be summarized in one word: Intensity.

“We want to hit the field running fast, make plays and catch our opponent off guard,” senior captain Mia Mullenmeister said.

Looking to build upon a 7-7 record last year, the Kernels believe if they can play this way consistently, it will help them reach a goal of earning a top eight seed in the Class AA state tournament, granting the opportunity to host a playoff game, and, more importantly, increase the chance of winning in the postseason.

“The one thing I haven’t done yet is win a playoff game,” Mia Mullenmeister said. “That is a huge goal, and I think this team can definitely accomplish that this year.”

Scott Mullenmeister, Mia’s father, who assumed the head coach position this season after working alongside former coach Bob Lemon for several years, has spent the practices leading up to the season readying the team to chase after this ambition.

“The girls worked hard over the summer, and I think we did what we needed to do over the past couple of weeks to get prepared,” Scott Mullenmeister said. “We’ve been focusing on our tactical side of things and how quickly we move the ball.”

The Kernels’ greatest strength appears to be their goal-scoring ability. This begins with Mia Mullenmeister, a 2022 all-state player and Utah State commit. She scored 21 of Mitchell’s 39 total goals last season.

“Mia is our top scorer; she’s our finisher,” Scott Mullenmeister said.

“She also has great soccer intelligence and can really hit our players very well on through balls. She’s very talented at how she distributes.”

The attacking front also includes sophomore Kenzi Kayl, who scored 11 goals as a freshman last season, and senior captain Lily Peterson, a capable goal-scorer who returns after missing all of last season with a torn ACL.

Defensively, Scott Mullenmeister expects a group that can “build our attack out-of-theback,” meaning the defensive line can not

only limit the opposition’s goal-scoring opportunities but create avenues from the back line for the Kernels to pounce on offense. Anchoring the defense is senior outside back and captain Maddie Kempf, and sophomore center back Kassedy Knippling.

“(Kempf) is just a really strong presence, and she’s also a big leader when it comes to the team as a whole,” Scott Mullenmeister said.

Molding it together is the midfield, led by all-state player Adelyn Prunty, a senior captain who started all 14 games last season and played a key role in helping the Kernels maintain pos-

session.

“She just goes all day long,” Scott Mullenmeister said. “She’s the energy for us in the middle and was an allstate selection last year and was quite deserving of that. She’s the core of that middle group.”

Freshman starting midfielder Taryn Thomas will also be a big contributor. Rounding out the pitch is junior Tenley Peterson, who returns as starting goalie.

“We have some pretty fast players,” Mia Mullenmeister added.

“Our defensive line will be solid this year, and I think our midfield has been doing a good job of finding through pass-

es and creating ways to bring more action.”

According to Scott Mullenmeister, the roster consists of four seniors, nine juniors and a strong sophomore class that will be looked upon to step up in certain roles. It’s a balanced roster capable of holding well for the 13-game regular season slate and, the team hopes, has the necessary aggression to put the Kernels in a good position come postseason play.

“This is probably the strongest team that I’ve seen,” Scott Mullenmeister said. “Just from a whole team perspective, as far as what we can put on the field.”

By Landon Dierks Mitchell Republic

MITCHELL — A new era for the Mitchell High School boys soccer program begins in 2023.

With the departure of six seniors and a coaching change following the 2022 campaign, the slate is nearly blank as the Kernels intend to start fresh behind a small but dedicated crew of upperclassmen, a youthful core and firsttime head coach Seth Paulson.

Hired on June 2, Paulson, a 2017 MHS graduate and Kernels soccer alumnus who went on to play college football and soccer at Dakota Wesleyan, takes over a program that has a 2-22-2 record over the past two seasons.

But as a new season approaches, the Kernels and their new leader are focused on bringing the energy and hard-working attitude necessary to succeed as they build a new foundation for the program.

Joining Paulson on the boys soccer coaching staff this season are Ryan Zilla, who returns as an assistant from the previous staff; Joel Sanchez, a former teammate of Paulson’s at DWU; and Erwin Garcia, a former MHS defender from the class of 2022.

Highest among Paulson’s priorities has been establishing a strong core of leaders with a mix of veteran upperclassmen and up-and-coming underclassmen.

“Upperclassmen usually get chosen as leaders, but I’ve got a lot of young

leaders, too,” Paulson said. “Those are kids I expect to uphold the same standards and expectations from year to year so we don’t have to keep restarting that process from scratch.”

Paulson said that leadership has already made its presence known, noting that during a recent practice in which he’d pushed the team pretty hard, the veteran leaders compelled the whole team to run extra sprints.

“They really hold themselves accountable. They want to win, and want to make a change this year,” Paulson explained. “It’s really good to see that I have leaders to step up and hold the team to that high standard.”

Those leaders will also be looked at to deliver consistent performance for the Kernels this season, with Paulson identifying team captains Caden Olegario, a senior forward, and Sam Mullenmeister, a sophomore attacking midfielder, as players who’ve impressed so far and are expected to make a major impact this season. Also included among the Kernels’ upperclassmen are juniors Cooper Bates, Oliver Olegario and Grayson Peterson and seniors Zach Fuhrer and Trenton Regan.

As a squad, Paulson has been impressed with the Kernels’ formation discipline as they transition from attack to defense and vice versa.

“We have been conditioning a lot, so we’ll be ready to run,” Paulson said. “But we’ve been working on making the ball do the work instead of us doing so much.”

When it came to setting goals for

the season, Paulson again looked to the players, explaining that several are entering their fourth, fifth or even sixth season with the program and deserved to have a say in determining the program’s direction this season.

“They’ve been here. They know what the team wants and what we’re capable of,” Paulson said. “So I put it in their hands to set the objectives and hold everybody accountable to that standard.”

Dierks / Mitchell Republic

Returning letterwinners for Mitchell High School boys soccer include: Front row, from left: Alexier Padilla, Cooper Bates, Evan Mitchell, Gavin Zilla, Zachary Fuhrer and Jackson Deakins; Back row: Trenton Regan, Adam Kampshoff, Oliver Olegario, Caden Olegario, Sam Mullenmeister and Greyson Peterson.

By Marcus Traxler Mitchell Republic

MITCHELL

—

The gym is loud with players talking, the shoes are squeaking and volleyballs are flying over the net.

Those are some good indicators for coach Deb Thill about the Mitchell High School volleyball team having a team that can communicate and play well with each other, while exhibiting their talents as well.

“This group of girls is very athletic,” Thill said. “They bring a lot of really strong skills to the floor and we can have them on the court at the same time, and we have more on the bench. I like how they talk to each other on the court and they communicate and they’re good friends with each other on and off the

court.”

Mitchell volleyball has nine returning letterwinners on their squad for 2023. Sawyer Stoebner is the team’s leading returning hitter, after she posted 125 kills last season. Also back is Lauren Van Overschelde as a junior, seniors Halle Haring and Tianna Meadows and sophomore Addie Siemsen moves into a hitting role this year as a right-side hitter. Stoebner, Haring and Meadows will likely lead the team in blocks, while senior Paige Guthmiller is the team’s leading dig player from last year with 267 to her name, while Ava Brannan is back as a junior with 245 in 202 and Stoebner had 143.

“We think we’re very athletic in the back row,” the coach said. “We’ve got some good blockers but we’re not the tallest

team. With the kind of defense we play, we think we can combat that and make some plays.”

Guthmiller, Haring, Meadows and Stoebner are joined by Hope Flippin and Elyssa Delehant as the team’s six seniors.

“They’ve all improved, they’re all one year older, one year better,” Thill said.

Mitchell’s roster will include five sophomores and all of them are expected to get some playing time, Thill said. In addition to Siemsen, setter Kenna Soulek, outside hitter Audrey Miller, middle hitter Kambyl Wede and defensive specialist Emma Hegg are all expected to make contributions.

Mitchell once again has a front-loaded schedule, with nine matches in the first 15 days of the season, including four

best-of-three matches at the Huron Invitational on Saturday, Aug. 26. The Kernels have tried to emphasize conditioning to prepare for the strenuous early weeks of the season. MHS is used to hot conditions in August, practicing in its infamously non-air conditioned home gym, which has meant they’ve had to move practices to the Corn Palace during August’s most sweltering stretches.

“We have a few weeks with Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday (matches) the first few weeks of the season,” Thill said. “We slow down in October when we probably could afford to play more. We are going to have a big test with how often we are playing early in the year.”

The Kernels were 7-17 in 2022 and lost in the

SoDak 16 as a No. 14 seed to eventual state champion Harrisburg. Thill expects the Tigers to be the favorite again in the Eastern South Dakota Conference, while noting Watertown and Pierre as other potential teams to watch.

Like last year’s squad, Thill said the Kernels will have to learn to do the little things necessary

to win tough games but she believes her team is capable of doing so.

“We’ve got to learn to win and compete to win and sometimes that’s hard to do,” she said. “We have a lot of kids on this team that play to win. … We will have challenging matches but there’s a lot to be said for heart and desire and attitude and effort.”

Traxler / Mitchell Republic

Returning letterwinners from Mitchell volleyball include, front row from left, Lauren Van Overschelde, Elyssa Delehant, Hope Flippin, Ava Brannan and Paige Guthmiller.

Back row: Sawyer Stoebner, Halle Haring, Tianna Meadows and Addie Siemsen.

Kernel boys golf to lean on wealth of experience, depth this fall Varsity squad hopes to be in mix at top of talented Class AA

By Landon Dierks Mitchell Republic

MITCHELL — The Mitchell High School boys golf program is back in a familiar position to start the 2023 season.

Just as it did a year ago, the varsity squad returns several of its top golfers from last season and hopes to use that experience to work their way toward a place among the state’s best by season’s end.

“We’re excited to see where we’re at,” said head coach Ryker Kreutzfeldt. “We bring back a lot of kids who have a lot of varsity experience as part of a really competitive group. We’re a little young in some spots, too, but I have kids who have played golf all summer and are excited to get rolling and are ready for a shot.”

Of the six golfers to compete at the 2022 state championships for MHS, four return this season, led by Asher Dannenbring, a freshman who tied for 13th individually at state last year as an eighth grader. Also returning are seniors Noah Larson and Jager Juracek, along with junior Marshall Widstrom. With 37 boys

Adding to the quality of the roster top to bottom, he added the boys program will continue to benefit from MHS girls golf coach Jeff Meyerink serving as an assistant coach, as he returns for a second season.

Among those that Kreutzfeldt expects to challenge for the six-man varsity lineup to start the season are Everett Morrison, Carter McCormick, Samuel Titze, Brady Reiners, Jordan Meyerink and Matthew Mauszycki, though he notes there are almost too many to name.

“There are just a lot of kids that have the ability to play varsity golf and that’s going to make it really competitive from tournament to tournament,” Kreutzfeldt said. “Hopefully, we’re able to challenge each other a little bit. Kids are going to be held accountable for playing well, and if they don’t, they’re gonna have to work for their spot back.

“We haven’t always had that. We’ve normally had six guys who were head and shoulders above,” he continued.

BOYS

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Building quality runners is emphasis for Kernel cross country

By Marcus Traxler Mitchell Republic

MITCHELL — “The quality is there.”

That phrase speaks to the continued growth of Mitchell High School cross country under Katie Buschbach, now in her sixth season as the Kernels’ head coach.

“We don’t have the kids here who

are just doing things after school so they can just get to 5 p.m.,” she said.

“The kids we have here work really hard, they put the time in and they want to be a part of this team. …

Most of them are just genuinely good kids and they try hard every day and they motivate each other. They want to succeed and get better. That’s the team that I’ve wanted for a long time

and it’s growing.”

Equipped with some upperclassmen on the boys side of the roster and experience for the girls team, Mitchell is looking to make some continued headway in Class AA cross country and get on the scoreboard, after not scoring as a team for boys or girls at the 2022 state meet.

Buschbach said much of the team

was a part of the high school track season last spring, which helps translate over to the cross country season

“We really encouraged them to do that,” she said. “It helps to carry over to cross country, know their 400 and 800 and mile splits and that transfers over to the workouts.”

KERNELS: Page 9

from grades 6-12 in the program, Kreutzfeldt lauds the depth he has outside of the top returners.

Landon Dierks / Mitchell Republic

Returning letterwinners for Mitchell High School boys golf include: Front row, from left: Asher Dannenbring and Carter McCormick; Back row: Sam Titze, Noah Larson and Marshall Widstrom; Not pictured: Jager Juracek.

GOLF:

MHS continues to build up program’s depth

Golden Eagles cross country poised for big season

Boys and girls both have full squads

By Jacob Nielson Mitchell Republic

MITCHELL — The Mitchell Christian cross country team expects big things for the 2023 season.

The lone sanctioned fall sport competing for the school, the Golden Eagles return a strong cast of boys varsity members, and have grown its girls team. After several months of gaining a base for the upcoming meets, the team has a chance to be near the top

BOYS GOLF

From Page 8

“But this year, it feels like it could be any one of 10 or 11 guys, so that’s a good thing to have.” Notable events on Mitchell’s schedule include host-

KERNELS

From Page 8

For the MHS boys, Hunter Patton was the Kernel to watch in 2022. Patton excelled as a freshman, running 17:07.9 for a season-best in an 11th place at the Eastern South Dakota Conference meet and he was 45th at the Class AA state competition. Racing unattached, he also had a top-60 finish at the Nike Heartland Regional Championships.

On the boys side, Elijah Schroeder was MHS’ second-best runner in 2022 and he returns for his senior season, as does Austin Reimnitz, who had a personal-best in the ESD meet. Sophomore Floyd Korzan will be a runner to watch for the Kernels, Buschbach said, and ninth-grader Colin Pickett is also expected to factor into the varsity lineup as well, after getting some experience last season. Seniors Abe Gunnare and D.J. Sheets will also be key members of the team for MHS.

For the Kernel girls, all of Mitchell’s

of Class B once again.

“I think we’re fitness-wise a lot farther ahead with our goals than we were last year,” head coach Ryan Chase said. “We had a really good track season, especially on our boys side. And that has set them up for a high-potential year for what we can do. We’re trying to be one of the top teams in the state on the boys side, and trying to get the girls to state.”

The boys team, which finished seventh in the Class B state meet last

ing the annual Marchand Cup dual with Yankton on Aug. 29, hosting the Mitchell Invitational on Sept. 15 and heading to the Eastern South Dakota Conference Meet on Sept. 25, in Yankton. Kreutzfeldt feels another top-five placement at the state tournament is

season, returns its three top runners including freshman Silas Holdeman.

As an eighth-grader last season, Holdeman finished sixth at the state meet, posting a 17:38. In the track season, he finished 10th in the 3,200-meter state championship race.

“If Silas keeps working the way he’s been working, he could come back and be one of the top runners in the state,” Chase said.

The other returning letter winners are senior Joseph Tegethoff and fresh-

attainable for the 2023 roster, though he noted the competitiveness of Class AA boys golf and the necessity for the Kernels to focus on their own improvements and not what the rest of the state is doing.

“Boys golf in South Dakota is really good. We saw it last year; we had a

man Luke Mentele. Both Tegethoff, who ran 19:16 at the state meet last season, and Mentele, who ran 19:27, are “already a lot stronger” this season, according to Chase.

These improvements are credited to the student-lead workouts this summer, where the runners went out and built up mileage and bonded with each other.

“Some years I haven’t run in the summer,” Tegethoff said.

good team, but there were some events where we just couldn’t touch some of these other teams,” Kreutzfeldt said. “A really good year for us would be finishing top-five again in the state tournament, but we just want to keep building and try to get better every week.”

finishing 59th overall. Aspen Evers and Alexis Daley also ran in the state meet, and fellow sophomores Avrie London and Mya Vogel return this season. Tayla Cournoyer, a seventh-grader, is a runner to watch, Buschbach said, to potentially contribute to the varsity later in the season.

“We’re going with having the time standard again to qualify for the state meet,” Buschbach said. “Our kids know they have to beat the clock and I think that will help create that team mentality in reaching that goal together.”

youth from 2022 is now a year older. Londyn Schroeder leads the team as a ninth-grader after a personal-best in the Class AA state meet last season,

The Kernels will open the new season on Monday, Aug. 28 for the Mitchell Invitational meet at Wild Oak Golf Course, which is MHS’ only home meet of the year. The Kernels will get quite familiar with the Yankton Trail Park in Sioux Falls course this season, as it hosts the annual Augustana Twilight meet on Sept. 1, the Nike Heartland Preview on Sept. 9, the Harrisburg-hosted Eastern South Dakota Conference meet on Oct. 7 and the state cross country championships on Oct. 21.

Marcus Traxler / Mitchell Republic

Returning letterwinners for Mitchell High School cross country include, from left, Austin Reimnitz, Hunter Patton, Elijah Schroeder, Aspen Evers, Alexis Daley and Londyn Schroeder.

MCS CROSS COUNTRY: Page 10

MCS won’t field volleyball, girls basketball varsity squads in 23-24

Low enrollment challenges Golden Eagles

By Landon Dierks Mitchell Republic

MITCHELL — Mitchell Christian School will not have a varsity team in volleyball or girls basketball this academic year, according to superintendent and activities director Sarah Lieber.

According to Lieber, low female enrollment in the high school age group is the cause.

“Unfortunately, our numbers are lower for girls on the high school side this year, so that will prevent us from having a varsity team in either

MCS CROSS COUNTRY

From Page 9

“But running all summer, getting ready for this season, I really feel like I’ve put myself in a great spot to succeed.”

With only the top-three runners scoring at meets for Class B, returning the entire trio is no small deal. Chase expects other guys to contribute, however, including sophomore Josh Brandt, and middle school participants

Luke Atnip and Brady Asbenson.

“Those are guys that we don’t really know exactly what times they’ll run this year, but they’re doing really well right now,” Chase said. “We’ll just see how they develop and improve.”

On the girls side, this is Mitchell Christian’s first time with a full team since it qualified for state in 2012.

According to coach Jill Nydam, the group will be anchored by sophomore Hannah Deline, who missed the majority of last year with an injury.

“Hannah’s had a really strong summer working out and being careful with her exercises,” Nydam said. “She’s definitely a team leader, not

sport,” Lieber said in an email to the Mitchell Republic.

It is the second-straight year that MCS will not have a varsity volleyball team, while it’s the first season without a varsity girls basketball roster. Lieber said that MCS plans to have a junior-varsity option for both programs.

According to data from the South Dakota Department of Education, MCS had a female enrollment of 34 students in grades 9-12 during the fall of 2013. That figure dwindled to 20 students by 2018 and was recorded at 14 students for fall 2022. Mitchell Chris-

just for the girls but for the whole cross country team. Even though she was injured most of last season, she was at every practice and every meet encouraging the team.”

Rounding out the girls team is eighth-grader Addison Nydam, senior Lindy Hofer, junior Sydney McNutt and freshman Amy Henderson.

Already with a strong tradition, Mitchell Christian’s cross country team is expected to be a beacon for the school’s sports programs. Fielding both teams — and expecting to be competitive on each side — is something the program is excited about.

“It’s a great sport,” Nydam said. “And so it’s a lot of fun just to see the interest, especially because we have such a strong core of middle school runners that are passionate about cross country. I think it comes down to us having great leadership at the high school level.”

Mitchell Christian opens the year on Friday, Sept. 1 at the Augustana Twilight meet. The Region 3B meet will be on Wednesday, Oct. 11 in Burke, and the state meet is on Saturday, Oct. 21 in Sioux Falls.

tian’s school year for 2023-24 started on Wednesday, Aug. 16, with official enrollment figures to be announced later in 2023. For the 2022 junior-varsity season, Mitchell Christian had 10 players on the volleyball roster, all of them in grades 8-10.

During the 2022-23 girls basketball season, MCS had 11 players on its varsity roster with one senior and eight underclassmen, including two eighth-graders.

As of September 2021, Mitchell Christian was the fifth-smallest participating school in the South Dako-

ta High School Activities Association’s 180-school membership. MCS is the second-smallest among SDHSAA schools that regularly field varsity athletic programs on their own (without a cooperative), with only Sunshine Bible Academy in rural Miller holding a smaller ADM (nine total students). Without volleyball, cross country will be Mitchell Christian’s only fall high school sport that it sponsors on its own. MCS students that want to play football co-op with Mitchell High School and compete with the Kernels.

Area football preview capsules

By Mitchell Republic

The following information was provided by the coaches of the respective teams or compiled by the Mitchell Republic’s staff.

Avon Coach: Justin Lukkes

Conference: Great Plains

Class: 9B

Record last year: 5-5

Letterwinners returning: 18

Top returnees: Paxton Bierema, sr., QB/LB, 6-0, 175; Landon Thury, sr., TE/DE, 6-4, 190; Terran Talsma, sr., TE/DE, 6-5, 220; Noah Watchorn, sr., RB/DB, 5-10, 180; Landon Mudder, jr., FB/LB, 5-7, 180

Top newcomers: Aziah Meyer, jr., RB/LB, 6-4, 190; Tyler Tjeerdsma, sr., RB/DB, 5-11, 160; Trace Pelton, sr., TE/DE, 6-4, 175; Randall Powers, so., C/DT, 6-2, 290; Caleb Wallinga, sr., OG/DT, 6-2, 200; Devin Rucktaeschel, jr., OG/DT, 6-1, 230; Al’Shamon Gunter, so., OL/DL, 6-6, 220

Coach’s comments: Some players will have to step up to fill in positions we lost. Our returning starters will have to lead the younger guys and they will all

have to work hard together. We will have a solid team if we work hard and play to our potential. We have some upperclassmen but we also have some young guys that are eager to play and compete for positions.

Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan

Coach: Jeff VanLeur

Conference: Big East

Class: 11B

Record last year: 5-5

Letterwinners returning: 14

Top returnees: Jason Zeeb, jr., OL/DL, 6-0, 205; Riley Weber, jr., OL/DL, 6-1, 215; Macklen Weber, jr., RB/LB, 6-1, 190; Korbyn Kayser, sr., OL/DL, 6-1, 205; Kean Stevenson, jr., RB/LB, 5-11, 180

Top newcomers: Taite Klumb, sr., QB/DB, 6-3, 185; Drake Gustafson, sr., QB/DB, 6-4, 200; Holden Wollmann, so., QB/DB, 6-0, 150; Carter Hofer, sr., OL/DL, 6-2, 260; Wyatt Anderson, so., RB/LB, 5-8, 165; Peyton Roskens, so., OL/DB, 5-11, 135 Coach’s comments: It will be important for us this season to start well right up front and see how well our line can play early in the season. We will also need a few games to allow our young players to take that next step into varsity action and fill vacant spots due to graduation. Our team’s work ethic has been great and we’ve had a great summer.

Bon Homme

Coach: Byron Pudwill

Conference: Missouri Valley

Class: 9AA Record last year: 6-4

FOOTBALL CAPSULES: Page 11

Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic Winner’s Karson Keiser carries the ball as Bridgewater-Emery/ Ethan’s Kean Stevenson makes a tackle in a high school football game on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, at Bridgewater.

Jacob Nielson / Mitchell Republic

Returning lettewrinners for Mitchell Christian cross country include, from left, Silas Holdeman, Joseph Tegethoff and Luke Mentele.

Letterwinners returning: Nine

Top returnees: Jacob Cuka, sr., C/DL, 6-1, 215; Kolton Vlcek, jr., OL/DL, 6-0, 170; Jackson Caba, sr., RB/LB, 5-11, 170; Evan Ulmer, sr., WR/DB, 5-11, 175; Landon Schmidt, jr., QB/DB, 6-1, 180; Easton Mudder, sr., WR/DB, 5-10, 165; Chapin Cooper, sr., FB/LB, 5-10, 200; Landon Bares, sr., TE/LB, 6-2, 185

Top newcomers: Rhett Connors, sr.,

OL/DL, 5-8, 230; Cameron Cooper, jr.,

TE/DL, 5-11, 160; Luke Guthmiller, so., FB/LB, 5-9, 160; Grayson Johnston, so., TE/DL, 5-6, 135; Jackson Kaul, jr.,

RB/LB, 5-8, 150; Payten Nielsen, so.,

OL/LB, 6-0, 200; Tristan Simek, sr.,

OL/DL, 6-0, 280; Jace Toupal, sr., TE/

DL, 6-2, 180; Caden Zomer, so., RB/

DB, 5-11, 150; Zach Humpal, so., TE/

LB, 5-9, 150; Kashius Tucker, so., RB/ DB, 5-8, 135

Coach’s comments: The incoming players have seen the amount of work that is required to become successful. The new guys need that same work ethic and determination during the off-season from the 2023 Cavaliers. We have seven different guys on both sides of the ball that have started at some point in the past season. They are coming in with quality varsity experience and can help others around them. There were some great leaders in the past group, and I think these incoming guys will fill that role well.

Burke

Coach: Mike Sebern

Conference: Great Plains

Class: 9A

Record last year: 1-8

Letterwinners returning: Six

Top returnees: Kaleb Schonebaum, jr., TE/DL, 6-0, 185; Jayder Schonebaum, so., FB/LB, 6-0, 175; Dawson York, sr., OL/DL, 6-1, 200; Carson Peck, sr., OL/DL, 6-1, 170; Gentry Bartling, jr., RB/LB, 6-3, 190; Quinten Bull, jr., OL/DL, 6-5, 230

Top newcomers: John DeLong, so., RB/DB, 5-9, 165; Eli Bartling, fr., QB/ DB, 6-0, 140; Hudson Fuhrer, fr., TE/ LB, 5-7, 175

Coach’s comments: We definitely need to stay healthy. We have some experience returning and will need our young players to develop quickly.

Canistota

Coach: Brad Struck

Conference: Cornbelt

Class: 9A

Record last year: 5-5

Letterwinners returning: 16

Top returnees: Brady Scott, jr., WR/

DB, 6-1, 190; Tage Ortman, sr., QB/

DB, 6-0, 180; Cayden Scott, sr., RB/LB, 6-0, 200; Brandon Kjetland, sr., TE/OL, 6-5, 280; Jaden Kleinsasser, jr., OL/DL, 6-1, 200; Levi Schroeder, jr., WR/LB,

6-0, 175

Top newcomers: Jesse Marquardt, sr., OL/DL, 5-10, 220; Ty Doblar, sr., WR/LB, 6-0, 190; Jake Merrill, jr., OL/

DL, 6-1, 200; Easton Miller, so., WR/

DB, 5-8, 145

Coach’s comments: We will need to stay healthy this year and continue to build trust with one another. We have some strengths in our athleticism and our returning experience from last year.

Chamberlain

Coach: Jeff Rademacher

Class: 11A

Record last year: 2-7

Letterwinners returning: 16

Top returnees: Cruz Soulek, sr.,

QB/S, 6-4, 219; Rayden Haak, sr., OL/

DL, 6-1, 280; Peyton Hora, sr., OL/DL, 6-0, 250; Canyon Burkard, sr., OL/DL, 6-5, 300; Sawyer Donovan, sr., WR/ DB, 6-0, 169; Bryce Reuer, sr., RB/LB, 5-10, 170; Devyn Anderson, sr., WR/

DB, 5-11, 165; Albert Borah, sr., DT/OL,

6-0, 260; Levi Miller, sr., WR/DB, 5-10, 174; Dusty Rose, jr., WR/DL, 6-0, 185;

Blaze Knippling, so., OL/DL, 6-4, 240

Top newcomers: River Niewenhuis, jr., RB/LB, 6-0, 170; Bryce Reuer, sr., RB/LB, 5-10, 170; Eli Donovan, jr., WR/ DB, 6-0, 144; Xavier Donovan, so., WR/ DB, 5-10, 135; Conner Hickey, sr., OL/ DL, 6-3, 229

Coach’s comments: There are several keys to a successful season, and it starts with the attitudes of everyone involved in the program. For us, we need to look forward and create consistency and build on that consistency. In Class 11A, we have a little more difficult schedule but we want to look back at the season and know we competed every game. I am really excited to see our offense this season as we have 10 returning starters with several senior leaders in key positions.

Colome

Coach: Chase Hrabanek

Conference: Great Plains

Class: 9B

Record last year: 4-5

Letterwinners returning: 10

Top returnees: Eli Vobr, jr., QB/S, 6-0, 165; Klayton Heath, sr., OL/DL, 6-0, 170; Seth Heath, so., RB/LB, 5-10, 150; Jonah Musser, jr., RB/LB, 6-1, 180; Jordan Musser, sr., OL/DL, 6-2, 220; Lane Leighton, jr., RB/LB, 5-10, 165; Jordyn Harter, sr., RB/S, 5-5, 135; Jack Anderson, sr., OL/DL, 6-2, 230

Top newcomers: Tyson Wetzel, so., OL/DL, 6-2, 280; Tayshaun Hoffer, so., OL/DL, 6-2, 275; Alex Larson, so., OL/ DL, 6-0, 160

Coach’s comments: Offensively, we return a good chunk of production from last year’s team. We lost a lot from our line but we’ll get players plugged in there and get rolling.

Corsica-Stickney

Coach: Gregg Olawsky

Conference: Great Plains

Class: 9B

Record last year: 6-3

Letterwinners returning: 17

Top returnees: Caleb Baumiller, sr., OL/DL, 5-9, 195; Austin Krogstad, sr., OL/DL, 6-8, 254; Jesse Torticill, sr., OL/ DL, 6-0, 210; Tate Tolsma, jr., RB/LB, 6-1, 165; Waylon Bolle, so., RB/LB, 6-0, 175; Carter Wright, sr., RB/LB, 6-0, 170; Brock Hinker, jr., TE/DE, 6-2, 170

Top newcomers: Tyson Wentland, jr., QB/DE, 6-5, 250; Driftin Mulder, jr., RB/DB, 6-0, 151; Caden Baumiller, jr., RB/DB, 5-11, 140; Jarrett Olawsky, jr., OL/DL, 6-1, 220; Cody Keizer, jr., RB/ LB, 5-7, 150

Coach’s comments: We had a successful season last year and we’re hoping to build off that momentum. We return six starters to our offense and defense and we think we have the guys to replace those we lost to graduation. We need to develop some depth in case of injury but our kids have worked hard in the offseason and are looking forward to competing this fall.

Freeman/Marion/Freeman

Academy

Coach: Dustin Tschetter

Conference: Great Plains

Class: 9AA

Record last year: 7-3

Letterwinners returning: 16

Top returnees: Evan Scharberg, sr., TE/DL, 6-0, 200; Rocky Ammann, sr., WR/DB, 6-2, 165; Riley Tschetter, so.,

QB/DB, 5-10, 170; Dominic Sperling, jr., RB/LB, 5-9, 160; Sawyer Wipf, jr.,

OL/LB, 5-11, 185; Chris Aasen, jr., WR/

DB, 6-0, 170

Top newcomers: Tate Sorensen, so.,

OL/DL, 6-2, 185; Karter Weber, so.,

WR/DB, 5-10, 165; Jackson Donlan, so.,

WR/DL, 6-1, 170; Alaric Knittel, fr., OL/

LB, 5-8, 135; Luke Peters, so., RB/LB, 5-10, 165; Taylor Goodwin, so., OL/

LB, 5-9, 170; Titus Sperling, so., WR/

DB, 5-7, 135; Hunter Nankivel, fr., OL/

DL, 6-0, 185; Harley Crooks, sr., DL/

OL, 6-3, 175; Tannen Auch, fr., OL/DL, 6-0, 180

Coach’s comments: Offensively, we know we can throw the football but we’ll have to find ways to run the ball more consistently. We’ll be undersized again in the trenches but we feel we’ll be more athletic and more experienced than last year and hopefully that will lead to more consistency in the running game. Defensively, we must be more physical, better tacklers and find ways to create more turnovers and get the ball back to our offense. Lastly, we must stay healthy. If we want to build off last season’s success, we need our best team on the field for as many snaps as we can get.

Gregory Coach: Mike Murray

Conference: Missouri Valley

Class: 9A

Record last year: 11-1, state champions

Letterwinners returning: 12

Top returnees: Rylan Peck, sr., QB/ LB, 6-0, 175; Gannon Thomas, sr., RB/ LB, 6-0, 195; Trey Murray, sr., FB/LB, 5-9, 180; Kade Braun, sr., TE/DL, 6-0, 200; Nathan Fortuna, sr., OL/DL, 5-8, 215; Cruz Klundt, jr., RB/S, 6-0, 165

Top newcomers: Jamison VanderPol, sr., OL/DL, 5-11, 215; Rane Kenzy, jr., OL/DL, 6-4, 245; Luke Stukel, jr., RB/ LB, 5-9, 165; Paul Sinclair, jr., FB/LB, 5-10, 170; Zackery James, jr., OL/DL, 6-0, 245; Jhett Eklund, jr., FB/LB, 6-0, 185

Coach’s comments: During the season we will need to improve every week, watch a lot of film, and stay healthy. If we do those things, we should see success during the season and enter the playoffs with a shot at the championship. We have a crew of returning starters that can lead the team to another successful season. These players have a lot of experience and are true competitors and know what it takes to be champions. I am expecting great things from them. We also have a good crew of young players that are talented and hungry to get on the field on Friday nights and show off what they can do. If we can find the right combination of veteran talent and young blood, I think the 2023 team could be one to watch.

Hanson Coach: Jim Haskamp

Conference: Cornbelt

Class: 9AA

Record last year: 8-2

Letterwinners returning: 18

Key players: Jayce Slaba, sr., QB/DB, 6-1, 155; Brock Tuttle, sr., FB/LB, 5-11, 215; Isayah Price, sr., OL/DL, 6-3, 260;

Camden Warnke, jr., OL/DL, 6-3, 200; Hayden Schroeder, sr., OL/DL, 5-11, 205; Sutton Dewald, jr., RB/DB, 5-10, 165; Gage Mentele, sr., OL/DL, 5-10, 220; Gavin Whitledge, sr., OL/DL, 6-6, 250; Weston Kayser, jr., RB/DB, 5-9, 160; Tye Hernandez, jr., E/DB, 5-9, 175; Jeren Zens, jr., QB/DB, 6-0, 145

Coach’s comments: We have key losses to graduation on both offense and defense, so the key for our team will be to develop players stepping into those starting roles. We will have quick, athletic kids at most positions. We also have some key returners, and last year, we had good depth and that should carry into this year as well.

Howard

Coach: Pat Ruml

Conference: Cornbelt

Class: 9AA

Record last year: 9-1

Letterwinners returning: 15

Top returnees: Taiden Hoyer, sr., QB/S, 6-1, 195; Karsyn Feldhaus, sr., FB/CB, 5-10, 160; Luke Koepsell, jr., TE/DE, 6-4, 200

Top newcomers: Calvin Halverson, jr., OL/LB, 5-11, 180; Austin Severson, jr., OL/DE, 6-0, 190; Tate Miller, jr., FB/DB, 5-9, 165; Will Maier, sr., RB/ DB, 5-9, 150; Carson Hinker, jr., QB/ CB, 6-2, 190; Kade Grocott, sr., OL/DL, 6-0, 230; Weston Remmers, jr., TE/LB, 5-11, 185; Jackson Remmers, sr., RB/ LB, 5-10, 170

Coach’s comments: We have to replace seven seniors, including three that were all-state players and big hitters. We have to continue to be physical every game. We will have a lot of new faces on both sides of the ball and we have some good athletes returning. We just need to get them some experience.

Our team chemistry is really good and they have maintained a great weight room work ethic this summer.

Kimball/White Lake

Coach: Ryan Skluzak

Conference: Missouri Valley

Class: 9AA

Record last year: 2-7

Letterwinners returning: 12

Key players: Nathan Mohnen, jr., WR/DB, 6-1, 165; Park Sinclair, jr., QB/DB, 6-1, 145; Blake Leiferman, sr., TE/DE, 6-6, 220; Iden Myers, jr., RB/ LB, 5-8, 160; Lantz Bass, sr., WR/DB, 5-9, 145; Gavin Braun, jr., RB/DB, 5-9, 155; Lucas Lenz, jr., TE/LB, 5-11, 175; Braxton Pulse, sr., WR/LB, 6-5, 185; Hudson Heath, sr., OL/DL, 6-2, 230; Tatum Tyrrell, sr., OL/DL, 5-11, 230; Emmanuel Deffenbaugh, sr., OL/DL, 6-0, 295

Coach’s comments: A big chunk of our roster put in a lot of offseason work this summer and we’re really hoping it shows up on the field. We were pretty young last season but return a nice group of experienced kids. Our schedule really doesn’t give us much of a chance to catch our breath but steel sharpens steel and we’re hoping to be very competitive if we can stay healthy.

Lyman

Coach: Mike Kieffer

Conference: Western Great Plains

Class: 9A

Record last year: 9-2

Key players: Conway Collins, so.,

RB/DB, 6-0, 145; Brayden Oldenkamp, jr., QB/DB, 5-11, 160; Easton Robbins, sr., WR/DE, 6-0, 175; Aaron Erikson, sr., TE/DE, 6-1, 150; Jake Millard, sr.,

K, 6-3, 170; Rory McManus, sr., RB/

LB, 5-11, 185; Kellen Griffith, sr., FB/

LB, 5-10, 165; Carter Eriksen, jr., RB/

LB, 5-9, 170; Wiley Elwood, jr., C/

LB, 5-8, 140; Ayden Brakke, so., OG/

DT, 6-1, 205; Louie Thiry, sr., OG/DT, 6-2, 250

McCook Central/Montrose

Coach: Austin Schroeder

Conference: Big East

Class: 11B

Record last year: 9-2

Letterwinners returning: Nine

Top returnees: Carter Randall, sr.,

RB/LB, 5-9, 180; Connor McGuire, sr.,

WR/DB, 5-11, 170; Ty Morrison, sr.,

WR/DB, 5-10, 160; Carter Jandl, sr.,

OL/DL, 6-0, 200; Will Rotert, sr., OL/

DL, 5-7, 215; Owen Alley, sr., WR/DB, 6-2, 180; Mason Sabers, jr., WR/DB,

5-10, 160; Lane Deutsch, jr., QB/LB,

6-1, 185; Jackson Schmidt, jr., TE/LB,

6-0, 215

Top newcomers: Caleb Waldner, jr., TE/LB, 6-0, 175; Joe Grady, jr., OL/ DL, 5-10, 260; Logan Raap, jr., OL/DL,

5-9, 205

Coach’s comments: This season will look quite a bit different for McCook Central/Montrose football program. We have a completely new coaching staff and this is my first year as a head coach. We have a solid amount of players that return from last year as well as a few newcomers to the field. Our returning players will have a greater role within the team with many playing different positions than last year. We will have a great group of juniors and seniors that will lead this team and help bring the rest of the team along.

Mount Vernon/Plankinton

Coach: Brent Olson

Conference: Southeast South Dakota

Class: 11B

Record last year: 8-2

Letterwinners returning: Six

Top returnees: Zach Baker, sr., RB/

LB, 5-10, 175; Brady Fox, jr., RB/DB,

5-10, 205; Isaiah Olson, jr., QB/DB,

5-10, 165; Evan Bultsma, sr., OL/DL,

6-4, 250; Trevor Sweet, sr., OL/DL,

5-9, 170

Top newcomers: Jonathon Jones, jr.,

OL/DL, 5-11, 165; Cain Tobin, sr., RB/

LB, 5-11, 170; Kyle Sandland, so., RB/

DB, 5-8, 140; Riley Mayer, so., RB/DB,

5-10, 155; Camden Stahl, so., OL/DL,

5-10, 175; Jack Larsch, jr., OL/DL, 6-2, 170; Trayton Moore, jr., OL/DL, 6-4, 265; Hagan Tlam, jr., OL/DL, 5-11, 180; Spencer Frost, sr., OL/CB, 5-10, 150

Coach’s comments: We need to have some young guys step up to fill start-

ing roles. As always, limiting both turnovers and penalties will be key to our success. We feel the players will be a very hard working group. They have shown the ability to take coaching well. We will be very inexperienced and those returning will be at new positions

Parkston

Coach: Matt Grave

Conference: Missouri Valley

Class: 9AA

Record last year: 10-2, state runner-up

Letterwinners returning: 13

Top returnees: Brayden Jervik, sr., RB/LB, 5-9, 205; Kolter Kramer, jr., RB/DB, 5-10, 185; Luke Bormann, sr., RB/DB, 5-10, 155; Will Jodozi, sr., OL/ DL, 6-3, 220; Maddux Brissette, sr., OL/DL, 6-3, 195; Jaron Nesheim, sr., OL/LB, 6-1, 205

Top newcomers: Brody Boettcher, sr., OL/DL, 6-1, 185; Connor Prunty, sr., RB/DB, 5-9, 135; Riley Koch, sr., OL/DL, 5-11, 195; Carter Sommer, jr., QB/DB, 5-11, 160; Elliot Leischner, jr., OL/DL, 6-8, 235; Kaden Holzbauer, jr., RB/DB, 5-10, 150; Breckin Culbert, jr., OL, 6-1, 195

Coach’s comments: This team’s key to success is being able to stay healthy throughout the season. We graduated a lot of leadership and game experience. As a team, putting players in a position to be successful, perfecting the fundamentals, improving communication, building trusting relationships and playing as a team will be critical throughout the season. Every opponent we will face is well-coached and disciplined, so we’ll have to be mentally and physically prepared to be focused in the moment.

Platte-Geddes

Coach: Bruce Hanson

Conference: Missouri Valley

Class: 9AA

Record last year: 4-5

Top returnees: Joey Foxley, sr., WR/ LB, 6-0, 185; Kasen Konstanz, sr., RB/ LB, 5-10, 145; Caden Oberbroekling, sr., DE/TE, 6-1, 210; Jack Ringling, sr., OL/LB, 5-11, 220; Emmitt Bultjes, sr., OL/DL, 5-11, 250; Skylar Hanten, sr., TE/DE, 6-3, 190; Parker Bailey, sr., WR/CB, 5-9, 150; Tanner Dyk, sr., WR, 6-3, 175; Top newcomers: Tristan Petrik, sr., OG/DT, 5-8, 170; Thomas Summers, so., WR/LB, 5-9, 150; Quincy Stephens, jr., WR/CB, 5-10, 145; Jye Bailey, so., QB/CB, 5-8, 145; Emmitt Holzbauer, jr., QB/CB, 6-1, 165 Coach’s comments: Staying healthy

will be the biggest thing for us because we lost three starters for the year in the first two games last year. We want to develop some depth that we can plug in and hopefully rotate some players. A lot of our seniors saw significant time in our championship season in 2021.

Scotland/Menno

Coach: Ryan Robb

Conference: Southeast South Dakota

Class: 11B

Record last year: 4-4

Top returnees: Logan Sayler, sr.,

RB/LB, 6-0, 175; Tate Plooster, jr., OL/

DL, 6-4, 270; Kalob Maruska, sr., OL/ DL, 5-10, 225; Trent Guthmiller, jr.,

RB/LB, 6-0, 180; Kade Odens, sr., OL/

LB, 6-1, 175; Jayce Walloch, sr., FB/LB, 5-11, 160

Top newcomers: Izayah Ulmer, so., QB/DB, 5-11, 150; Keyen Fischer, so., RB/DB, 6-1, 170; Dawson Hlavac, sr., RB/DB, 5-10, 155; Hunter Yosten, so.,

OL/DL, 6-2, 260; Brock Kocourek, so.,

OL/DL, 6-2, 190; William Stokes, jr.,

OL/DL, 6-4, 225; Carter Fischer, so.,

OL/DL, 6-4, 225; Brayden Kludt, so.,

OL/LB, 5-9, 175; Mike Nusz, jr., OL/ DL, 6-5, 350; Bryce Sattler, jr., WR/ DB, 5-11, 140; Ashton Dennis, jr., QB/ DB, 6-2, 160

Coach’s comments: We will have 43-45 players out and I really love those numbers because it means we can have competitive practices. We have some good leadership on this squad and I look for a few of these guys to lead this team in the right direction. Early season experience is going to be very important. We will have some depth, but we will also need to stay healthy and get better each week.

TDAACDC

Coach: Kendall Strand

Conference: Southeast South Dakota Class: 11B

Record last year: 2-6

Letterwinners returning: 19

Key players: Mason Reiner, sr., QB/ CB, 6-0, 175; Hunter Loeffler, jr., RB/ LB, 5-9, 170; Garth Maas, jr., FB/LB, 6-0, 200; Sabas DeHaan, jr., SL/CB, 5-9, 160; Isaac Wunder, jr., QB/S, 6-2, 175; Gunner Stranger, jr., WR/CB, 5-8, 165; Carlin Hopkins, sr., WR/CB, 5-9, 170; Traeson Weatherford, so., OT/DL, 5-9, 215; Dalton Westendorf, jr., OG/ LB, 6-0, 230; Payton Westendorf, jr., OG/DE, 6-0, 230; Ethan Goehring, sr., C/LB, 6-1, 215; Ty Archambeau, jr., OT/DL, 6-3, 270; Riley Spaans, jr., TE/ DE, 6-2, 190

Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic Parkston’s Luke Bormann carries the football in a Class 9AA state quarterfinal game against Howard on Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022 at Howard.

FOOTBALL CAPSULES

From Page 12

Coach’s comments: After having very limited upperclassmen, experience will now be on our side. Losing only one senior to graduation and having 19 returning letterwinners is a big plus for our program. Size and experience on both sides of the line will be a plus. We will need all our returning players to step up and play to the level they are capable of. We have a great group of guys that have played together since grade school.

Wagner

Coach: Hunter Hewitt

Conference: Southeast South Dakota

Class: 11B

Record last year: 3-5

Key players: Hunter Lhotak, jr., RB/

LB, 5-9, 160; Riley Roberts, sr., WR/

LB, 6-0, 170; Karstyn Lhotak, sr., WR/

DB, 5-6, 145; Jhett Breen, sr., RB/DB, 5-10, 180; Daniel Soukup, sr., WR/QB,

5-9, 165; Winston Little Moon, fr.,

WR/DB, 5-9, 165; Bain Kuhlman, sr.,

TE/LB, 5-11, 195; Kahle Hill, jr., OL/

LB, 5-10, 175; Jace Kuhlman, sr., OL/

LB, 5-9, 170; Parker Petry, jr., OL/

DL, 6-2, 250; Braxton Knudsen, sr.,

OL/DL, 6-0, 240; Christian Doom, sr., OL/DL, 6-1, 230; Timothy Bouza, sr., OL/DL, 6-1, 235; Jameson Flying Hawk, jr., OL/DL, 6-2, 230

Winner Coach: Trent Olson

Conference: Southeast South Dakota

Class: 11B

Record last year: 11-1, state run-

ner-up

Letterwinners returning: 33

Key players: Aiden Barfuss, sr., FB/

LB, 6-0, 200; Noah Best, sr., OL/DL,

6-3, 255; Spencer Calhoon, sr., OL/DL, 6-9, 315; Shawn Hammerbeck, jr., TE/ DL, 6-7, 245; Karson Keiser, jr., RB/ DB, 5-9, 150; Jude Sargent, sr., DB/RB, 6-0, 180

Coach’s comments: We have a group that loves football and cares about it a lot. It’s going to be important for us to take care of the ball, play good defense, minimize our penalties and have solid special teams. We will need to have some new players step up to replace last year’s seniors.

WWSSC

Coach: Kenny Huether

Class: 11B

Record last year: 6-3

Letterwinners returning: 17

Top returnees: Holden Havlik, jr.,

QB/DE, 6-3, 215; Ryder Michalek, jr., WR/CB, 6-3, 180; Blake Larson, sr., WR/S, 5-10, 155; Carter Gaikowski, sr., C/DT, 5-8, 180; Cooper Goldammer,

sr., OG/DT, 6-0, 235; Evan VonEye, sr., RB/LB, 5-11, 160; Tyson Eddy, jr., RB/LB, 5-10, 175; Caleb Kneen, jr., OT/ DE, 5-10, 180; Brock Krueger, sr., WR/ CB, 6-3, 185; Rylan Grassel, jr., OT/DT, 6-2, 235; Robbie Hine, jr., OG/DT, 6-0, 215; Bryce Larson, jr., WR/LB, 6-0, 185

Top newcomers: Karter Mebius, jr., WR/S, 6-0, 165; Sam Poncelow, jr., WR/CB, 5-10, 145; Colby Flowers, so., TE/LB, 6-4, 180; Hayes Havlik, so., RB/CB, 5-9, 160; Payton Uecker, jr., RB/LB, 5-11, 175; Kade Olinger, jr., OT/ DE, 6-5, 215; Parker Graff, so., WR/S, 5-11, 155; Brett Miller, fr., OT/DT, 6-0, 210

Coach’s comments: As a team, we are hoping to build off of a good season last year. Our skill level is strong and if our play up front develops into a solid group, we could become a dangerous Class 11B team.

Area volleyball preview capsules

By Mitchell Republic

The following information was provided by the coaches of the respective teams or compiled by the Mitchell Republic’s staff.

Andes Central/

Dakota Christian

Coach: Christopher Derry

Conference: Great Plains

Region: 5B

Record last year: 8-22

Key players: Ona’ka Doren, sr., Setter, 5-5; Claire Johnson, sr., MH/OH, 5-6; Mahpiyah Irving, jr., Setter, 5-7; Josie Brouwer, jr., OH, 5-6; Cambria Ronfeldt, so., OH, 5-7; Rory Kiyukan, so., OH/S, 5-8; Hannah Tronvold, sr., OH/Libero, 5-6; Aubrey Gray, sr., OH, 5-6; Abigail Svatos, sr., MH, 5-10; Gabriella Olson, jr., OH/S, 5-6

Avon

Coach: Lindsey Fathke

Conference: Great Plains

Region: 5B

Record last year: 9-18

Letterwinners returning: Seven

Top returnees: Courtney Sees, sr., OH, 5-6; McKenna Kocmich, sr., Setter, 5-5; Alexis Vanderlei, so., MH, 5-8; Lila Vanderlei, jr., MH, 5-7; Macy Voigt, jr., RS, 5-5; Kinley Doom, jr., MH, 5-8; Grace Vanderlei, sr., OH, 5-5

Top newcomers: Jordyn Voigt, fr., DS, 5-5; Rilyn Thury, fr., OH, 5-7; Kaeli Wallinga, jr., MH, 5-8; Karlie DeVries, jr., RS, 5-6

Coach’s comments: We have been working hard in the offseason and finding their role. Our goal is to keep improving from last season and see what we can accomplish. We are looking forward to a great year!

Bridgewater-Emery

Coach: Mary Ernster

Conference: Cornbelt

Region: 3B

Record last year: 10-16

Letterwinners returning: 11

Top returnees: Kennedie Roskens, sr., libero; Lexi Golder, sr., MH/OH; Hayden Hofer, jr., S/OH; Oakley Weber, fr., S/OH

Top newcomers: Sierra Weber, sr., MH/OH; Maizey Strombeck, so., DS; Macy Weber, fr., RS/MH

Coach’s comments: We have many returning players from last year’s team and look to improve our record and compete with every team we play. We will at times have a lot of youth on the court and look to be generally more confident and aggressive in how we play.

Bon Homme

Coach: Paula Bures

Conference: Southeast South Dakota / Little Missouri Valley

Region: 5A

Record last year: 15-14

Letterwinners returning: Five

Top returnees: Olivia Bures, sr., OH, 5-9; Taycee Ranek, so., MH/OH, 5-9; Erin Heusinkveld, sr., MH, 5-8; Jurni Vavruska, sr., Setter, 5-6; Kenadee Kozak, jr., MH/OH, 5-7

Top newcomers: Stacy Gilbert, sr., OH/MH, 5-9; Kendra Bechtold, jr., S/ DS, 5-4; Raelee Lanphear, jr., OH, 5-6; Emma Balvin, so., OH/S, 5-7

Coach’s comments: I’m excited to see the return of Olivia Bures on the outside after she missed 2022 with a knee injury. With two strong outside hitters and very quick and athletic middle blockers, we look to use our experience this season and be competing in the postseason.

Burke Coach: Billie Jo Indahl

Conference: South Central / Southeast South Dakota / Great Plains

Region: 5B

Record last year: 32-6, fourth in Class B

Letterwinners returning: Eight

Top returnees: Elle Johnson, sr., Libero, 5-4; Piper Hanson, sr., MH, 5-8; Kailee Frank, jr., OH, 5-9; Ava Hausmann, sr., RS, 6-0; Ava Sargent, jr., Setter, 5-5; Paige Bull, jr., MH, 6-1; Johanna Vaughn, sr., RS, 5-8; Emmie Hausmann, so., OH, 5-10

Top newcomers: Kyrie Matucha, so., DS, 5-0; Olivia Bull, jr., RS, 5-10; Bridget Eliason, jr., Setter, 5-7; Addi Hood,

jr., RS, 5-7

Coach’s comments: We look to make another run this season in hopes to get back to the state tournament as we have a great group of returners with valuable court experience. We did lose some very key players, so we do have some key positions to fill. We will have a strong core of senior leadership with veteran experience. These athletes put in a lot of time in the offseason to build on their skills and we really look forward to the upcoming season.

Canistota

Coach: Morgan Lentz

Conference: Cornbelt

Region: 3B

Record last year: 8-19

Letterwinners returning: Five

Top returnees: Natalee Hofer, sr., S/ RS, 5-8; Bailey Spicer, jr., Setter, 5-3; Sierra McGregor, sr., MH, 5-6; Kayla Papendick, sr., OH, 5-7; Natalie Becker, sr., Libero, 5-7

Top newcomers: Emma Sandman, so., OH, 5-8; Ember Schenkel, so., DS, 5-5; Ellie Becker, so., MH, 5-8

Coach’s comments: We are returning all but one player from our starting roster from 2022 and we are looking forward to surprising teams this season.

Chamberlain Coach: Britini DeHaai

Conference: Big Dakota / Southeast South Dakota

Region: 5A Record last year: 4-21 No information provided.

Colome Coach: Taylor Hrabanek

Conference: Great Plains

Region: 5B

Record last year: 8-22

Key players: Kalene Preslicka, sr., DS/RS, 5-1; Westlie Cahoy, jr., DS/ OH, 5-3; Aspyn McKenzie, jr., MH/ OH, 5-5; Shaleena Kingsley, sr., MH/ RS, 5-11; Raylynn Dehning, jr., DS/S, 5-3; Camryn Seegers, jr., OH/S, 5-4; Emma Vandenbark, sr.,OH, 5-7; Gracie Rohde, so., S/DS, 5-1; Aleah Musser,

so., OH/RS, 5-4; Emme Nelsen, so., OH/RS, 5-5; Keasha Kartak, so., MH/ OH, 5-7

Corsica-Stickney

Coach: Kylee Hongslo Conference: Great Plains

Region: 5B

Record last year: 8-19

Letterwinners returning: 11

Key players: Jacey Kemp, sr., OH, 5-9; Ashlyn Lefers, sr., OH, 5-8; Sophie DeLange, so., S/RS, 5-9; Brooklyn Bosma, so., MH/RS, 5-9; Cali Vanden Hoek, so., DS, 5-3

Top newcomers: Braylee Bordewyk, fr., S/RS, 5-8

Coach’s comments: We are coming off a season in which we had a lot of first-time varsity starters and young players. A lot of these girls will now be in their second year in starting or playing varsity and we are excited to see how their confidence has grown with their experience from last season.

Ethan Coach: Mary Beyer

Region: 3B

Record last year: 13-17

Letterwinners returning: Seven

Top returnees: Maddy Bartscher, sr., Setter, 5-8; Claire Mellegaard, sr., MH/DS, 5-7; Ava Lingemann, sr., OH/ DS, 5-6; Marissa Storm, so., OH/DS, 5-8; Rachel Weisz, so., DS/Libero, 5-2; Rachel Klock, so., MH, 5-10

Top newcomers: Mariah Royston, jr., RS, 5-6; Ali Moke, so., Setter, 5-5; MaKenna Termeer, so., S/DS, 5-3; Anna Mellegaard, fr., RS/DS, 5-6

Coach’s comments: This year, we have a different strategy going into the season than previous seasons. Our team is going to really focusing on our strengths and on where we can keep on improving and evolve as a team. We might not have the height but we will make up for it with the drive each individual player has for the sport.

Ethan has a great group of girls out for volleyball and we will have to see if it all comes together!

VOLLEYBALL CAPSULES: Page 14

Freeman

Coach: Jessie Ahlers

Conference: Cornbelt

Region: 4B

Record last year: 21-12, eighth in Class B

Key players: Ashlin Jacobsen, sr., MH/DS, 5-9; Vaida Ammann, so., S/ RS, 5-5; Rylee Law, jr., RS/MH, 5-10; Cami Fransen, sr., S/RS, 5-4; Savanna Timmerman, jr., OH, 5-7; Ella Waltner, jr., MH/OH, 5-9; Rylee Peters, fr., RS/MH, 5-7; Emily Mendel, jr., OH/DS, 5-6; Erica Swensen, jr., RS/DS, 5-7; Ava Andersen, sr., S/DS, 5-4; Zenovia Butler, sr., OH/DS, 5-5; Torrie Zacharisen, sr., OH, 5-10

Freeman Academy/Marion

Coach: Jennifer McConniel

Conference: Great Plains

Region: 4B

Record last year: 2-24

Top returnees: Emma McConniel, jr., L/DS; Alexa Gortmaker, sr., OH/ MH; Harli Ross, fr., S/DS; Kallie Johnson, so., MH/OH; Elizabeth Piehl, fr., OH/MH; Joelle Hawkey, so., MH/RS; Morgan Tieszen, fr., MH; Macy Gortmaker, so., RS/S; Karly Luke, fr., Setter; Isabelle McConniel, sr., Setter; Sarah Cremer, sr.,RS/S; Hailey Stahl, jr., OH/RS

Gregory

Coach: x Conference: Southeast South Dakota

Region: 5B

Record last year: 13-16

No information provided.

Hanson

Coach: Yolanda Price

Conference: Cornbelt

Region: 5A

Record last year: 10-16

Letterwinners returning: Six

Top returnees: Kiana Berg, jr., RS/ MH, 5-10; Jazzy Campbell, jr., OH/ MH, 5-8; Kylie Haiar, jr., MH/OH, 5-10; Jersey Kampshoff, jr., S/DS, 5-3; Cadence Jarding, jr., DS/S, 5-5; Taziah Hawkins, so., OH/MH, 5-6; Claire Bridge, so., L/DS, 5-5

Top newcomers: Avarie Prien, jr., RS/MH, 5-11; Taryn Holm, so., S/OH, 5-6; Ava Doyle, fr., S/OH, 5-6

Coach’s comments: We’ve done a lot of extra work this summer with camps and individual workouts, and we’re hoping that all will pay off, as we have been able to take some good looks at things and hopefully hit the ground running this fall. We are looking forward to a great season!

Howard

Coach: Sarah Feldhaus

Conference: Cornbelt

Region: 3B

Record last year: 17-10

Letterwinners returning: Five

Top returnees: Abby Aslesen, sr., MH, 6-0; Tana Hoyer, jr., setter, 5-6

Top newcomers: Elizabeth Albrecht, so., Setter, 5-8; Taryn Mentele, sr.,OH, 5-5

Coach’s comments: We may have

several fresh new faces this season, but our goals are high. Abby Aslesen has several years of experience and this season she has two talented setters to help her get the job done on offense. We have several versatile players this season which will allow us to be flexible and adapt to our opponents. We are looking to take one game at a time. We plan to utilize our strengths and capitalize on our opponents’ weaknesses while getting a little lucky from time to time.

Kimball/White Lake

Coach: Dayre Evans

Conference: South Central

Region: 5A

Record last year: 20-10

Letterwinners returning: Eight

Top returnees: Ryann Nielsen, sr., OH/S, 5-9; Harley Namanny, sr., OH/S, 5-6; Madison Meier, sr., DS, 5-4; Elena Brennan, jr., MH, 5-10; Lindy Kiehn, jr., MH, 5-10; Mariah Gosmire, so., RS/MH, 5-11

Top newcomers: Rylee McCord, so., OH/RS, 5-7; Sienna Gillen, so., DS/OH, 5-6; Harlie Fuegen, so., DS, 5-2; Kaitlyn Priebe, fr., S/DS, 5-6

Coach’s comments: We are looking to build on a solid foundation of returning players and we look to be a solid team of all-around athletes but have a lot of focus at the net with blocking and attacking. Senior leadership will be crucial this year as our seniors have played in a lot of various positions and look to lead the underclassmen to reach their highest potential.

Lyman

Coach: Kalli Houchin

Conference: Western Great Plains

Region: 6B

Record last year: 8-17 No information provided.

McCook Central/Montrose

Coach: Kim Vander Woude

Conference: Big East

Region: 3A

Record last year: 19-8

Key players: Lexie Lunders, sr., DS, 5-5; Brooklyn Flannery, sr., DS, 5-8; Maddy Lauck, jr., Setter, 5-6; Lauren Roling, jr., DS, 5-6; Kayla Vander Woude, sr., MH, 6-2; Bella Jimenez, sr., DS, 5-3; Abby Wagner, sr., MH, 6-1; Kaizha Blase, sr., RS, 6-0; Ashtyn Deknikker, so., DS, 5-6; Addison Gordon, so., OH, 5-8; Avery Alley, so., Setter, 5-5; Breanna Zapp, so., MH, 5-11

Menno

Coach: Rachel Stokes

Conference: Cornbelt

Region: 4B

Record last year: 6-20

Letterwinners returning: Six

Top returnees: Ashton Massey, sr., MH, 6-0; Maggie Miller, sr., Libero, 5-2; Kaelie Derby, sr., MH/OH, 5-7; Bianca Fischer, sr., DS, 5-2; Joslynn Fischer, jr., Setter, 5-5; Taylor Freier, jr., OH, 5-5; Alexis Hogeland, sr., DS,

5-2

Top newcomers: Haylee Hall, jr., S/ RS, 5-6; Lexie McNinch, so., OH/MH, 5-8; Amanda Rames, so., MH/OH, 5-9

Coach’s comments: While we have six returning letterwinners, we grad-

uated eight seniors, so we will have an overall inexperienced group of varsity players. However, they are a determined group that did well at summer camps. I am looking forward to seeing how they come together as a team this season and playing up to their potential.

Mount Vernon/Plankinton

Coach: Darcy Deinert Conference: Southeast South Dakota

Region: 5A

Record last year: 18-12

Letterwinners returning: 11

Top returnees: Reagan Rus, jr., OH/ MH, 5-10; Vanessa Hoffman, sr., Setter, 5-3; Lexy Faulhaber, sr., MH, 5-8; Katie Stange, sr., MH, 5-8; Maryssa VanGorp, sr., OH, 5-4; Whitney Payne, sr., DS, 5-5; Clara Fink, sr., Setter, 5-5; Ashlyn Pranger, sr., MH, 5-11; Berkeley Engelland, sr., Libero, 5-5; Alexis Hauge, jr., OH, 5-4; Alyssa Johnson, jr., 5-4

Top newcomers: Madalynn Lorang, fr., OH, 5-6; Taryn Hegg, so., MH/OH, 5-7; Maggie Overbay, jr., MH, 5-6; Madison Mueller, jr., OH, 5-5

Parkston

Coach: Abbie Hobbick

Conference: Southeast South Dakota

Region: 5A Record last year: 16-15

Key players: Gracie Oakley, sr., OH, 5-7; Finley Bogenreif, so., Setter, 5-7; Mya Nuebel, sr., OH, 5-5; Avery Bogenreif, sr., Setter, 5-9; Lauren Ziebart, jr., MH, 5-5; Chantal Wuertzer, jr., DS, 5-5; Mya Wickersham, jr., OH/ MH, 5-9; Allie Hobbick, jr., RS/S, 5-5; Addison Koehn, so., OH, 5-6; Mya Thuringer, jr., RS/MH, 5-7

Platte-Geddes

Coach: Katie Hunhoff

Conference: Southeast South Dakota

Region: 5A

A

Record last year: 28-9, sixth in Class

Key players: Baleigh Nachtigal, sr., S, 5-3; Cadence Van Zee, sr., OH, 5-10; Karly VanDerWerff, sr., MH/RS, 5-10; Halle Sprik, jr., DS/S, 5-3; Addison DeVries, jr., OH/RS, 5-7; Karsen Sondgeroth, sr., DS, 5-4; Emerson Ringling, sr., OH/RS, 5-10; Hadley Hanson, sr., DS, 5-7; Kori VanDerWerff, 8th, RS/MH, 6-1

Sanborn Central/Woonsocket

Coach: Rick Olsen

Conference: 281

Region: 5A

Record last year: 10-19

Key players: Kali Hofer, so., Libero, 5-8; Addy Baruth, so., Setter, 5-7; Makenzie Schley, jr., Setter, 5-9; Whitney Hagman, jr., Setter, 5-5; Kamryn Ochsner, sr., MH, 5-10; Liz Boschee, so., MH, 6-1; Kennadie Ochsner, sr., OH, 6-0; Cami Edwards, so., MH, 5-7; Aubrey Senska, sr., DS, 5-7; Kenzie Baruth, so., OH, 5-9; Jaycee Baruth, sr., RS, 5-0; Tatiana Roberts, jr., DS, 5-4

Scotland

Coach: Kayla Esche

Conference: Little Missouri Valley

Region: 4B

Record last year: 12-14 No information provided.

Tripp-Delmont/Armour

Coach: Kendal Lau

Conference: Great Plains

Region: 5B

Record last year: 25-5

No information provided.

Wagner Coach: Stacey Knebel

Conference: Southeast South Dakota / Little Missouri Valley

Region: 5A

Record last year: 32-5, seventh in Class A

Letterwinners returning: Five

Top returnees: Macy Koupal, sr., Setter, 5-9; Madi Knebel, sr., Libero, 5-5; Kya Kjeldgaard, sr., OH, 6-0; Shona Kocer, sr., MH, 6-0; Ashlyn Koupal, so., OH, 6-3

Top newcomers: Aubrey Medricky, sr., OH, 6-0; Ravyn Medricky, fr., MH, 6-0; Braxton Nedved, fr., S/DS, 5-6 Coach’s comments: We bring back some seasoned seniors that are going to be big leaders for our team. They are an eager group that just love to play together. They have big goals and have been working hard towards them this summer. We should be a top contender this year. This group is a great team of ladies that have been around each other for a long time and I am very confident in their work ethic and confidence in each other that we will have another successful season.

Winner

Coach: Jaime Keiser

Conference: Big Dakota / Southeast South Dakota

Region: 7A

Record last year: 12-20

Key players: Leila Balsiger, sr., OH/ MH, 5-8; Adysen Pravecek, jr., L/DS, 5-4; Karlee Brozik, sr., MH, 5-9; Saylor Schuyler, sr., DS, 5-1; Livvy Audiss, so., OH/RS, 5-7; Gracie Root, so., Setter, 5-4; Keelie Kuil, jr., OH, 5-8; Kendall Dice, sr., MH, 5-9; Cora Moss, jr., L/DS, 5-3; Arnolla Duffy, jr., RS, 5-7; Maura Luedke, sr., MH/RS, 5-8; Tessa Sieh, jr., MH, 5-11; Lilly Barfuss, so., MH/OH, 5-9; Ashlynn McPhee, sr., DS, 5-6; Lexi Klein, sr., Setter, 5-6; Cici Watson, sr., RS, 5-8

Wessington Springs

Coach: Lynn Neely

Conference: 281

Region: 5B

Record last year: 24-9

Key players: Raylee Fagerhaug, sr., OH, 5-4; Carissa Scheel, sr., OH, 5-11; Hannah Heezen, sr., RS, 5-6; Avery Orth, sr., MH, 6-2; Alyssa Grohs, sr., Setter, 5-3; Logan Mohling, so., Setter, 5-2; Caroline Witte, sr., MH, 5-10; Ashlyn Weber, jr., OH/DS, 5-5; Remie Roduner, so., Libero, 5-2; Mariah Messmer, jr., DS, 5-5; Bailey Yost, jr., OH, 5-8; Addyson Orth, so., MH, 6-0; Taylor Braun, jr., DS, 5-5