2024 Spring Sports Preview

Growing Mitchell track and field team aims for greater success

Kernel roster full of state hopefuls in multiple events

BY JACOB NIELSON Mitchell Republic

MITCHELL — If you notice a large group of yellow figures running around Joe Quintal Field this spring, rest assured, you’re not seeing actual Minions.

That’s just the Mitchell High School track and field team, wearing their team shirts that depict the two-eyed cartoon character from “Despicable Me,” reminding the team to work together.

And with upwards of 120 kids on the Kernels’ roster this spring — its largest contingent in several years — the mindset of relying on each other like a group of Minions is something coach Deb Thill hopes the team can embrace this season.

“We are continually getting athletes to come out for track,” Thill said.

“When I first started, we were getting 60-70 kids.

“It’s a big group, but we do try to have some fun while we’re getting better … We do our warm ups together everyday, we try to do things together as a whole group and there’s 10 of us coaches, so it’s a little bit manageable.”

Returning 25 letterwinners on its girls team, and 20 letterwinners on its boys team, the Kernels have top athletes in each of the sprints, distance, jumping and throwing events that will compete for a spot in the state meet this season.

Boys team brings the speed

Senior Nathan McCormick fronts a contingent of Kernel speedsters. On an individual level, he will look to break personal bests in the 100 meter (10.95), 200 meters (22.55) and 400 meters (51.25). He’ll also be a part of Mitchell’s strong relay teams, including a 4x400 team that finished fifth in state last season.

McCormick’s 4x400 teammate, Connor Singrey, placed fifth in the 60-meter dash (9.37) at the DWU Open indoor invite on March 28, and will compete in each of the sprinting events. Other

strong sprinters include Alexier Padilla, who ran a 51.96 in the 400 meters last season, and Adam Kampshoff, who competed in the team’s 4x200 relay at the Dan Lennon Invitational on March 18.

Additionally, Carter Lee, who is new to MHS, and Will Prunty, who didn’t run track last year, have both ran on the 4x400 team during the indoor meets. “We have a lot of younger guys stepping up to the plate,” McCormick said. “And we have a lot of people that came out for track this year that really haven’t done much track or haven’t joined track at all until this year.”

In the distance races, Hunter Patton, who claimed all-state honors for the Kernels’ cross country team in the fall, will attempt to qualify for state in the 3,200-meter run, while Grayson Hetland, who ran a 2:09 in the 800 run last season, will look to improve his time and also anchor the team’s 4x800 team.

In the triple jump, high jump and long jump, watch for Kellan Odell, Vitus Carpenter and Trell Kaupp. The trio each placed in the top 12 in the triple jump at the Dan Lennon Invitational on March 18. And at the DWU Open, Carter Harris jumped 13 feet, 3.25 inches en route to a first-place finish.

“We got some really good jumpers,” Thill said. “Our kids are already setting PRs and our first indoor meets for triple jump, long jump, high jump, we’re gonna be we’re gonna be right up there.”

Odell’s success carries over to the throwing events, where he holds the school record in the javelin, and has an opportunity to return to state in the event, which he placed 11th in last year.

Throwers, jumpers to lead girls team

The Kernel girls throwers were well represented at the state meet last season, with Lilly Young finishing 11th in the shot put and 18th in the discus, and Taylor DeJong placing 19th in both the shot put and discus.

This year, Young and DeJong return, and hope to lift up the entire throw-

ing room with them.

“I hope we get more people in state for javelin,” Young said. “I hope to have a boy and a girl in each event in state, at least for throwers.”

That optimism extends to the other events on the team as well. Similar to the boys, the girls team has a strong group of jumpers. Emerson Smith, Audrey Miller and Keyana Kelley each notched top-five finishes in the high jump at the DWU Open, where in the triple jump, Denaesia Aldridge placed second.

On the track, Ava Brannan returns from a 4x100 team that placed second in state last season. Other top sprinters include a trio of sophomores, Addie Siemsen, Danny Borja and Avrie London,

each

include

of whom finished top 15 in the 60-meter relay at the DWU Open. “Our sophomore class is very, very talented,” Thill said. Other state hopefuls

Kelley, who placed third in the girls 60-meter hurdles (9.66) at the DWU Open. Carsyn Weich is a 400-meter runner, entering the season with a personal best of 1:01, and in the distance events, Londyn Schroeder has impressed as a freshman this year, placing fifth in the DWU Open mile race.

Returning throwing lettewrinners for Mitchell High School track and field include, from left, Taylor DeJong, Breanna Kirsch, Thadan Milliken-Auch, Tristan, TJ Jellis and Lilly Young.

Photos by Jacob Nielson / Mitchell Republic Returning letterwinners for Mitchell High School boys track and field include, front row from left: Carter Harris, Grayson Hetland, Caden Olegario, Alexier Padilla, Vitus Carpenter, Rylan Rients. Middle row: Kellan Odell, Nathan McCormick, Oliver Olegario, Elijah Schroeder, Floyd Korzan, Hunter Patton. Back row: Connor Singrey, Abe Gunnare, Sam Mullenmeister, Luke LeBrun. Not pictured: DJ Sheets, Cooper Bates.

Returning letterwinners for Mitchell High School girls track and field, include front row from left, Aubrey Gelderman, Joslin Sommerville, Ava Brannan, Keyana Kelley, Lainee Forst, Ava Prunty. Middle row: McKenna Auch Madeline Vogel, Avrie London, Sidney Malde, Makenzie Peterson, Danny Borja, Bailey Henkel. Back row: Halle Haring, Audrey Miller, Kambyl Wede, Carsyn Weich, Addie Siemsen, Emerson Smith, Aspen Evers, Kyanna Gropper.

BY JACOB NIELSON Mitchell Republic

MITCHELL — The Mitchell High School girls golf team’s quest to repeat as Class AA state champions is underway, even if the weather is making for a slow start at Lakeview Golf Course.

With no school on March 29, a day trip to Dakota Wesleyan’s indoor golf facility gave the team a chance to practice while the winter weather persisted well past the spring equinox.

There’s once again promise for the Kernel program that outlasted Aberdeen Central by three strokes last June to claim its first state championship in school history. The team returns its top two golfers from last year’s title squad; secondplace finisher Allison Meyerink, and fourthplace finisher Quinn Dannenbring, along with the team’s third and fifth place finishers at state last season in Maddie Childs and Ava Eliason. Mitchell did graduate Lara Widstrom and Jayli Rients from last season’s team. However, a deep crop returning letterwinners including Anna Eliason, Mia Larson, Londyn Hajek are seeking to lift the team in the coming season. And at the team’s first practice, smiles were abound while golf balls scattered across the putting green. “They’re tight, they’re ready to go. And it’s not about one person,” coach Jeff Meyerink said. “Everybody’s a good player on this golf team. And we lost two seniors last year, but we got some young kids that are ready to fill in this year. And they’re going to do just fine.” Jeff Meyerink, who is doubling as the DWU men’s and women’s golf

coach, will lead the Kernels for one final season before focusing on the Tigers full-time. Though he thinks highly of his roster, he recognizes they’re high school kids just trying to enjoy the

sport, and does not want to set any expectations too high.

“They’re going to set their own goals,” he said. “I have an idea of what some of those will be, but it’s a good team. They’re

going to be right up there with any other team in the state for sure.”

Allison Meyerink is thrilled for the season, where, aside from her individual aspirations, she’s looking forward to

the team’s camaraderie. Meyerink finished second in 2023 at the Class AA individual competition and was tied for third in 2022. “I’m excited. I’ve been kind of waiting all winter

for this day to come,” she said. “When you have a great team, all the teammates contribute. Everyone has a good day, everyone has bad days. So it’s good, because everyone can pick each other up.”

In preparation for the competition, which begins Thursday, April 11, at the Harrisburg Invitational at Spring Creek Country Club, the Kernels will focus on the fundamentals, such as putting, chipping and staying in the fairway on drives.

The team’s home debut is scheduled for April 18 in a quadrangular at Lakeview Golf Course, followed by the Mitchell Invitational on May 10 at Lakeview, which will include most of the Class AA teams in the state. The Eastern South Dakota Conference meet is May 21 at Fox Run Golf Course in Yankton, while the Class AA championship will be held June 3-4 at Hillcrest Golf Club in Yankton. Coach Meyerink is confident the team will manage the ebbs and flows of the season, and have another successful year.

“Most of these girls have had enough experience that they know what they’re capable of, and I don’t have to be around to guide them through every single shot,” coach Meyerink said. “That’s reassuring to me knowing that they can handle that. And, we’re going to have a few laughs, we’re going to be mad a few times throughout the season at certain things, but that’s part of any sport I think. And golf, it just requires a lot more time to put in to be really good at it.

And I think the girls are willing to do that, like they have the past couple of years.”

Jacob Nielson / Mitchell Republic

Returning letterwinners for Mitchell High School girls golf include, from left, Anna Eliason, Quinn Dannenbring, Allison Meyerink, Mia Larson, Londyn Hajek, Ava Eliason. Not pictured: Maddie Childs.

Adam Thury / Mitchell

With most of team’s core returning, MHS looks to show improvement

BY BLAKE DURHAM Mitchell Republic

MITCHELL — After a strong season for the Mitchell High School boys tennis team last year of building varsity players, the Kernels are ready to take the leap forward. With the team having graduated only one senior last season, Mitchell looks to improve on last season’s 12-7 dual record and mid-pack finishes in both the Eastern South Dakota Conference tournament and the Class AA state tournament. The Kernels hope that last year’s experience translates into a better start this season. “We had a lot of kids that it was their first time playing varsity tennis,” head coach Pat Moller said. “They didn’t really understand what the rigors of that were going to be. This year, they understand all of that … hopefully, we can use that experience to catapult us into a more successful

season.”

Moller also cites the player’s preparation for the season being improved due to the understanding of the requirements of varsity tennis, which will hopefully help the Kernels to come out of the g ate strong. The experience has also led to better recognition of the areas Mitchell looks to improve on, especially in doubles competition. “A lot of (our success) is going to come down to doubles, because our doubles last year seemed to be our weak point,” junior Luke Jerke said. “If we can focus more on doubles and do a lot of really good things, I think we’ll be able to elevate our game.”

“We need to be really aggressive in doubles,” Moller added. “We got to get two guys up to the net and force the issue for us to be successful. Taking control of the net will be key to get teams that like to sit back and rally back and forth out of their comfort zone.”

While it might take a few matches for the Kernels to find their identity out on the court, Mitchell’s lineup for the season is set with five letter winners returning and familiarity at the top

Jerke and senior Jager Juracek will lead Mitchell at the top of the singles flights and in Flight 1 doubles.

After a 10th-place finish a year ago in the top flight at state, Jerke will move down to the second flight, while Juracek moves up after posting a 16-10 match record in singles last season.

Sophomore Matthew Mauszycki moves up to both the No. 3 singles and No. 2 doubles after fourth-place efforts at state last year in No. 5 singles and No. 3 doubles, winning 18 matches. Senior Levi Loken will par tner with Mauszycki at No. 2 doubles while also moving to F light 5 in singles

Freshman Asher Dannenbring joins the varsity lineup, competing in F light 6 singles Fall tennis standout Cooper Star also joins the varsity roster, playing at No. 4 singles while pairing with junior Sutton Thompson in No. 3 doubles. Star, an eighth grader, showed considerable improvement over the offseason, was encouraged by Moller at state to put in the work, knowing he had a shot of being on the team this season.

“I knew (Star) had a lot of potential to be good,” Moller said. “He

took that advice and ran with it. He was definitely that hardest-working kid we had in the of fseason over the winter, and he can be a really strong force and can do something special for us this year.”

As the weather warms up and dual days become more frequent, the Kernels are ready for the fast pace that’ll come with the season. Among the notable dates on the Kernel schedule includes the two-day Eastern South Dakota Conference championships on May

obviously to win, but the goal as

Mitchell Republic file photo Mitchell’s Luke Jerke sends the ball over the net during the ESD boys tennis meet on last year, at Hitchcock Park.

Blake Durham / Mitchell Republic

Returning letterwinners for Mitchell High School boys tennis include, from left: Sutton Thompson, Levi Loken, Luke Jerke, and Jager Juracek. Not pictured: Matthew Mauszycki.

Mitchell Christian track and field ready to build on success

Golden Eagles return seven letter winners from the previous season

BY BLAKE DURHAM Mitchell Republic

MITCHELL — It was a year of change of growth for Mitchell Christian track and field last season, with only one previous letterwinner on the Golden Eagles’ roster. This year, they have seven returning letterwinners, along with loftier expectations.

In addition, the overall size of the roster has grown to 46 kids, which has created a good problem for the Golden Eagles regarding which events to prioritize to get kids to the state track meet. It also has head coach Ryan Chase thinking about what his team can accomplish.

“We’re looking at a lot of different relays and individual events,” he said. “That’s a good problem to have rather than looking at it as we’re just running times. That’s not the case and we should have a lot of kids making it back to state (this season).”

Chase points to the relay events for both boys and girls teams as areas of focus at the beginning of the season to make sure Golden Eagles qualify for state before the Howard Wood Dakota Relays in May. On the boys side, the quartet of Silas Holdeman, Luke Mentele, Joseph Tegethoff, and Sawyer Holdeman will take on the relay events, in addition to other long distance races. All four were part of the Class B runner-up Mitchell Christian cross country team in the fall, with Silas Holdeman winning the individual championship. The Golden Eagles were second in Class B as a team at the state cross country meet.

“It’s going to have a great impact on our (track and field) season,” Tegethoff, a senior, said of the cross country success in the fall. “I think (my teammates) have really great chances to make it to state, and that should correlate from second place from cross country and really come over to this season.”

“It just builds confidence for those guys to realize we can be one of the top teams in the state,” Chase added. “But the biggest thing that it helped prove for everybody is that it’s possible. … It was

validation that we’re on the right path.”

Members of last year’s boys 4x100 relay team that placed at state also return in both Josh Brandt and Jason Baas, who’ll run sprints and relay races for the Golden Eagles. Senior basketball standout Aiden Lieber also joined the track and field ranks, helping out in the relay events.

For the girls team, senior Lindy Hofer returns as one of the leaders of a growing group alongside her sister Judy and Hannah DeLine, potentially in the mix for relay events later in the season, as the focus will be on individual events to start. DeLine’s sister,

Eleanor, will run junior varsity events before a potential move to varsity towards the end of the season.

Other girls on the roster are trying track and field for the first time this season, showcasing the growth and the camaraderie the Golden Eagles have undergone in recent years.

“We’ve really grown together at school, in the classroom, along with running track,” Hofer said. “There’s really good potential for us as long as we keep doing our best and just trying to get as many people to stay as possible.”

While there are opportunities for those to qualify for state this year, the

ultimate goal is to build one of the top programs for years to come. The long-team goals include building a strong team in field events and continuing to develop the younger athletes on the Golden Eagles, with this season being a major step forward.

“We’re trying to focus on enjoying the moment right now, developing them the right way, and not trying to speed things up and burn them out,” Chase said. “We’ve seen it’s possible (to contend). Now we just have to put in the work to be able to make those things that are possible realities.”

Mitchell Republic file photo Mitchell Christian’s Silas Holdeman competes in the Class B boys 3,200-meter last year, at the South Dakota state track and field championships at Howard Wood Field in Sioux Falls.

Spring season looms for Mitchell baseball

Kernels

take the diamond with goal of building confidence

BY LANDON DIERKS Mitchell Republic

MITCHELL — A youthful team sprinkled with veterans will take the field for the Mitchell High School baseball team this spring.

A year ago, Mitchell was the No. 6 seed in the Class A spring postseason, finishing with an 11-11 record and coming three outs from advancing to the state tournament.

This season, a new face will be leading the Kernels from the dugout: interim coach Caleb Crist. A native of Yuba City, California, Crist is a former Dakota Wesleyan baseball player who previously coached Mitchell’s under-13 teeners team.

“There’s a built-up tradition that’s exciting to be a part of as a new guy,” Crist said. “We have some veteran leaders who can show those younger guys how winning baseball is supposed to be played. I’ve already seen a great deal of leading by example, especially by those upperclassmen, and that’s been impressive.”

The Mitchell Baseball Association authorized the MHS spring team to play in 2024. That is in the shadow of a rape investigation that forced the program’s Legion team to halt play last summer. Nine players were charged, and six will appear in criminal

court later this year. Longtime head coach Luke Norden is sidelined until his legal proceedings are resolved. Norden was charged with misdemeanor misprision of a felony in connection with the rape allegations.

Mitchell Post 18 won’t have a Legion team in 2024, so the MHS spring squad will be the only varsity baseball team representing the city to take the field this season.

While he’s leading the program, Crist said he’s emphasizing many of the defensive fundamentals and “little things” that contribute to winning baseball, noting hard work, discipline and listening skills.

“I feel like some of that goes under the radar sometimes,” Crist said. “I want to help build character with these guys that helps lead them toward being men.”

On the field, Crist thinks this Mitchell roster should be strong on offense, with an emphasis on aggressively running the bases.

“I think we’re going to be really good offensively,” Crist said. “We have some guys that can swing the bat, and it’s going to be tough to make a lineup sometimes because I feel like we’re kind of deep.”

“We’re going to be aggressive, and we’re going to run,” he added. “Baserunning is going to be a huge key for us.”

The Kernels are

scheduled to open the season with four West River contests, starting at Rapid City Central and Douglas on Saturday, April 6, with a doubleheader against Rapid City Stevens on April 7. Mitchell’s first home game is scheduled for Tuesday, April 9, against Sioux Falls Jefferson, the first of seven-straight home dates spanning until April 23. The regular season finale is May 11 at Brookings.

State tournament qualification games are slated for May 17-18, with the Class A state tournament is May 24-25 at Sioux Falls Stadium. The postseason format for Class A baseball has changed for 2024, with the teams seeded 1-through-16 and playing a best-of-three series to reach the state tournament, which will now include eight teams, rather than four as in past years.

With cool weather and snow on the ground into late March and early April forcing more practices than normal indoors, the Kernels are anxiously awaiting the start of the 2024 spring season.

“These guys are anxious to play, and I’m anxious to see them play,” Crist said. “If we do the little things right, there’s no reason we shouldn’t win a lot of baseball games. I think we’re a little under-rated and we could be pretty good.”

Landon Dierks / Mitchell Republic

Returning letterwinners for Mitchell High School baseball include, from left: Front row: Landen Soulek, Hudson Borgan and Peyton Mandel; Back row: Mason Herman, Parker Mandel and Blake Brosz.

Marcus Traxler / Mitchell Republic

Mitchell’s Landen Soulek makes a throw from second base as Sioux Falls Jefferson’s Dirk Fernwald slides during a high school

Mitchell softball seeks to make state tournament

Kernels ready for year two of sanctioned softball in SD

BY BLAKE DURHAM Mitchell Republic

MITCHELL — The Mitchell High School softball season has begun, as the Kernels look to build off of their first year of high school-sanctioned competition.

The goal for the team is simple: make it to the Class AA state tournament.

Last season, Mitchell went 5-14 in its first season following an 18-month layoff while the team made the transition out of club competition. As the No. 12 seed in the Class AA SoDak 16, the Kernels’ season ended as Sioux Falls Washington narrowly edged MHS by 2-0 en route to a fifth-place finish at the state tournament.

Impressed by the strides made over the course of last season, the Kernels know it’s going to take a stronger defensive effort to compete against the top of the class. “We know it’s a process,” head coach Kent Van Overschelde said. “We can’t afford to give extra outs and we need to make plays behind our pitchers. We’ll do what is necessary to improve because our target is to qualify for state.”

The Kernels graduated Alyssa Magee last season, who Van Overschelde credited with helping to unite the Kernels at points throughout the year. However, he also stressed there are other players who will fill those leadership roles, both in the dugout and on the diamond.

Senior Delaney Degen and sophomore Mallory Miedema return to the Kernels after finishing 2023 as the top run

producers, hitting a combined four home runs and collecting 26 runs batted in between them. Junior Macey Linke was the other player to hit a home run last year while posting a .342 batting average, and Lauren Van Overschelde led Mitchell with 12 stolen bases On the mound, freshman Rylee Jennings is expected to pitch the bulk of the innings for the Kernels again, having posted 53 strikeouts from the previous season, while Miedema and Linke also made appearances pitching. While Mitchell looks to improve the team defense at the star, it’s the pitching that has the most to gain.

“It’s a lot to ask one pitcher to pitch an entire game,” Van Overschelde said. “We need to find consistency in our relief roles, and the pitchers have to know that they can throw the ball across the plate and the defense will make plays.”

Newcomers Matteah Graves, Reese Amick,

and Brooklyn Schlimgen will help bolster the of fense and maintain the Kernels’ philosophy to be aggressive out on the basepaths. Malia Reitzel and Neveah Bier also join the pitching staff to help ease the workload and provide crucial relief innings.

It was those crucial innings where Mitchell ran into its struggles from last season, issuing free passes and committing errors at the most inoppor tune time It’s also what will separate each team now with a year of sanctioned play in the books.

“The major variable is consistent defense and dominating pitching,” Van Overschelde said. “The teams that can also minimize mistakes and stay away from the big innings will compete (at state) in June.”

Overall, the Kernels have promoted a fair competition for the players to earn their roles on the roster. At the same time, the team has shown their commitment towards improving and doing what they

can to maximiz e their potential, learning as each day passes by.

“We’re proud of the progress we’ve made,” Van Overschelde said. “No one on this team is satisfied with where we were or where we are. Each experience is fuel for additional improvement and the opportunity to compete out on the field.”

Blake Durham / Mitchell Republic

Returning letterwinners for Mitchell High School softball include, front row from left: Mallory Miedema, Kenna Soulek, Delaney Degen, Lauren Van Overschelde, Kinsley Herges, Kenna Magee, and Malia Reitzel. Back row: Paige Vander Heiden, Mady Thompson, Rylee Jennings, Ruby Ferreira, Emma Hegg, and Jasmine Dirkes. Not pictured: Macey Linke.

Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic Mitchell’s Delaney Degen scores a run in a high school softball game between the Mitchell Kernels and the Yankton Gazelles last May,

BY LANDON DIERKS Mitchell Republic MITCHELL

As the weather warms, the 2024 outdoor track and field season will soon be in full swing.

From returning multitime state champions to upperclassmen poised to climb the standings, yet another talented crop of athletes is set to make its mark between now and the state championships in late May.

Here’s a look at 15 of the top returning athletes in the region, listed in alphabetical order by last name:

Girls Trinity Bietz, Scotland: Last season, Bietz recorded a breakout sophomore campaign capped with a Class B state title in shot put and a runner-up finish in discus. The latter title race came down to a battle with another area sophomore standout, Burke’s Paige Bull, as both are set to contend again in 2024.

Berkeley Engelland, Mount Vernon/ Plankinton: With 10 state titles and two Class A track MVP awards to her name already, Engelland returns for a highlyanticipated senior season. At last year’s state championships, the University of South Dakota signee completed a rare sprinting quadruple, sweeping the Class A 100, 200, 400 and 800 meters. For the season, she had the

fastest time in the state across all classes at 200, 400 and 800 meters and was second at 100 meters. At the 2023 Nike Outdoor Nationals, Engelland blazed to a personalrecord time of 2:10.42, placing eighth nationally.

Clara Fink, Mount Vernon/Plankinton: Fink placed third in the shot put and fifth in the discus at the Class A state championships last season. However, every athlete who slotted in ahead of Fink a year ago graduated, opening the door for what could be a special season for the Titans’ senior.

Ashlyn Koupal, Wagner: Though just a sophomore this year, Koupal already is a three-time defending Class A high jump champion. Koupal, also a two-time first-team all-state basketball player for the Red Raiders, has a career-best of 5-foot-7 from her freshman season and cleared 5-6 twice

last season, one of only two girls to do so across all classes.

Ashton Massey, Menno: Massey, now a senior, completed a state title triple last May, winning the Class B 100meter hurdles, 300-meter hurdles and triple jump. The Augustana commit leads a trio of top area hurdlers, joined by Freeman freshman Rylee Peters and Burke senior Piper Hanson, who ranked first, second and third, respectively, in Class B at both 100 and 300 meters last season.

Reagan Rus, Mount Vernon/Plankinton: A lean at the finish line gave Rus her first individual state title in the 100meter hurdles last season, and she followed up with a third-place finish in the 300-meter hurdles. Rus, now a junior, also qualified for the state

competition in the triple jump and as a member of the 1,600-meter sprint medley relay.

Courtney Sees, Avon: A senior, Sees is a twotime defending Class B high jump champion with four straight podium finishes in the event at the state meet. Last year, Sees’ championship-winning leap of 17 feet, 0.5 inches was 8 inches further than anyone else in the competition and the No. 2 overall mark in Class B for the 2023 season.

Lauren Ziebart, Ethan/Parkston: At last season’s Class A state championships, Ziebart posted a runner-up finish in the long jump and was third in the 100-meter dash. Now a junior, Ziebart owns the third-best long jump mark overall among returners from last season as is tops among 2023 state placewinners.

Boys Jeffery Boschee, Sanborn Central/Woonsocket: Entering his senior season, Boschee is a two-time defending Class A high jump champion. At the end of the 2023 season, Boschee owned the first, second and third-best overall high jump marks in the state regardless of class, including a personal best of 6 feet, 7.25 inches.

Canyon Burkard, Chamberlain: With a heave of 155 feet, 6 inches, recorded at last year’s Class A state championships, Burkhard owns the top discus throw among returners in the class. Burkhard, a senior, whose lone state meet qualifications (2022 and 2023) have come in discus, was the state runner-up last season.

James Deckert, Ethan/Parkston: Twice a fourth-place finisher in Class A long jump, Deckert, a junior, owns the top returning mark in the class in both the long jump (22 feet, 3 inches) and triple jump (44-5). Deckert also placed as a member of the 1,600meter sprint medley and 4x200-meter relay teams at last year’s state meet.

Isaac Fergen, Menno: With the graduation of former teammate Owen Eitemiller, Fergen is at the top of the list to take over the top spot in Class B pole vault. Fergen, now a senior, finished as runner-up to Eitemiller at last year’s Class B state championships and has the top mark among returners in the class.

Paul Kaffar, McCook Central/Montrose: With a third-place finish in the triple jump at last year’s Class A state

Sixty teams in title chase for Aberdeen in June across three classes

BY MARCUS TRAXLER Mitchell Republic

A second season of spring softball, sanctioned by the South Dakota High School Activities Association, takes the field in 2024, with more teams and schools participating.

The overall number of softball teams playing under the SDHSAA banner this season is also rising, with 60 teams now overall: 17 teams in Class AA, 23 teams in Class A and 20 teams in Class B.

Among the area’s notable newcomer programs includes Chamberlain and Parkston in Class A to join Wagner and Winner Area, while McCook Central/Montrose and Mount Vernon/Plankinton will play their first seasons in Class B, joining Avon, Bon Homme, Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy, Hanson and Scotland/Menno. Spearfish is the new addition in Class AA softball this season. The additional teams in Class B, in particular, are significant for the postseason. Last season, only 13 teams were available for the SoDak 16 in Class B, meaning the top-three regular season teams received byes into the state tournament. The SoDak 16 games will be played for all classes on Tuesday, May 21, this season, while all three classes will again gather in Aberdeen for the state tournament to be played May 30 to June 1.

In the inaugural season of high school softball in the state, the state championships were awarded to Sioux Falls Lincoln (Class AA), West Central (Class A) and Castlewood (Class B). The Patriots were the champions in Class AA, capping a 19-2 season in which they were the state tournament’s No. 1 seed with a 3-0 win over Brookings in the championship game. Madison Evans, who was an allstate pitcher for the Patriots and has a career earned-run average under 2.00, leads Lincoln into her final season. She is a University of South Dakota softball signee. Lincoln’s lineup also includes Augustana University signee Norah

Christensen, who was an all-state infielder in 2023 and Minnesota State Mankato signee Avery Dorman, who plays catcher. Sioux Falls Washington outfielder/catcher Isabel Carda is also committed to USD ahead of her senior season.

West Central, which won the Class A state championship last season, is expected to be loaded once more, bringing all four all-state players from last season back for 2024. That includes catcher Hanna Raethz, infielder Emillee Stofferahn, outfielder Izzi Parsons and pitcher Caitlyn Hoff. The Trojans were 22-0 last season and rolled to a 36-3 margin of victory in the three tournament games, including

a 4-0 state title win over fifth-seeded Tea Area. Other notable names to know in Class A include Madison senior pitcher Amanda Vacanti and Dell Rapids senior infielder Claire Wynja, who are both members of South Dakota State University’s 2024 softball recruiting class.

Winner Area, which was 8-6 last season and seeded sixth in the SoDak 16, had the best record of the 2023 area teams in Class A. Winner Area graduated five seniors but returned three rising seniors to this year’s squad for first-year coach Stacy Norrid. The same can be said for Wagner, which was 8-6 as well, and brings three seniors to the 2024 roster for the

Red Raiders under coach Samantha Boehmer. Castlewood won the Class B state title by a 3-2 score over Alcester-Hudson. Those squads are expected to be among the state’s leading contenders again this season, with the Warriors coming off a 13-5 season and Alcester-Hudson finishing at 14-2. Bon Homme made the state tournament and finished fourth as the No. 4 seed. The Cavaliers bring back both Class B allstate selections from last season, with senior outfielder Jurni Vavruska and junior Kenadee Kozak. Kozak, a junior this season, threw nearly every inning for the Cavaliers, spun 115 strikeouts from the circle and hit

.375 at the plate. Vavruska had a team-best .451 batting average and .548 onbase percentage in 2023. Hanson (7-11) was seeded eighth and finished fifth in 2023 in the Class B state tournament. Reese Marek, a senior infielder, is a returning member of last season’s all-state squad after hitting .527 in 2023. She’s committed to play softball collegiately at Northwestern College. Other notable Class B softball all-state players returning this season include Scotland/Menno junior outfielder Nora Robb, while freshman outfielder Claire Loofbourrow and senior Cami Fransen return for Freeman/Marion/Freeman

What to watch for

Bon Homme/Avon, PGDCWL attempting to return to state

BY BLAKE DURHAM Mitchell Republic

The South Dakota baseball season is ready to commence, with a number of key storylines upcoming for the 2024 spring season. The Class B state tournament will be played on the Augustana University campus in Sioux Falls, with quarterfinal games on Friday, May 31, and the semifinal and championship games taking place on Saturday, June 1.

The Class B tournament is later than normal, as the Class A state tournament moves to an eightteam format and takes Class B’s previous dates of Monday, May 27 and Tuesday, May 28. Here’s what to watch for as the season begins:

Wide-open field

After a successful maiden run in the tournament a year ago, Tea Area will not defend its title in Class B after moving to Class A for 2024.

Bon Homme is poised to run back to the championship game after falling to the Titans 13-2 last year. They’ll do so with all-region selections Easton Mudder, Landon Bares, and Jackson Caba from last season, who’ll have holes left by all-state standouts Riley Rothschadl and Landon Smith to fill. Dell Rapids will also be a strong contender once again, as all-state first team selection Jack Henry returns for his senior season alongside pitcher/catcher Treyse Eastman. Junior pitcher Tad Tjaden and

Golf season underway for Class B teams, Class A girls

BY JACOB NIELSON Mitchell Republic

MITCHELL — Last season’s Class B boys golf championship had plenty of action from Mitchellarea schools, with Gregory, Hanson and Ethan all placing in the top-four at the state tournament.

And each of the three schools return golfers this season that lifted their teams to those top finishes.

The Gorillas, who ran away with the championship last season by 29 strokes, return fifth-place finisher Trey Murray and 87th-place finisher Luke Stukel. However, Gregory’s quest for a three-peat requires replacing the production of two of their top players from a season ago; individual state champion Eli Fogel and ninth-place

sophomore third baseman Drake Eastman also factor into the equation for the Quarriers’ potential success. With Tea Area leaving Class B, Region 3B will have a spot up for grabs alongside the Quarriers. West Central, last year’s No. 3-seed in the region tournament, will look to capitalize on the Titans’ departure, while area squads McCook and Mount Vernon/Plankinton/Corsica-Stickney are potential foils in the competitive region. As in the past, the top-two finishers from the four Class B regions will advance to the state tournament.

Honkers return state experience

Once again, Dell Rapids and Redfield sent both their spring high school and summer American Legion baseball teams to the state tournament in 2023. However, the only other area to boast such a claim is Platte-Geddes, reaching the quarterfinals in the spring and the final eight in the summer. A strong core of seniors return to the Platte-Geddes/Dakota Christian/White Lake squad this season, led by all-state second team pitcher Caden Oberbroekling, who stuck out nine batters in six innings to power the Honkers into state last spring against Gregory County. Oberbroekling is an Augustana University pitching signee in the class of 2024. All-region selection

Joey Foxley will also return as the team’s everyday shortstop, while

finisher Kade Stukel. Hanson returns three of its four varsity scorers from last year’s secondplace team. That includes the Beavers’ top-two scorers in the state tournament; Ben Wilber, who tied for fifth at state, and AJ Wilber, who was 15th. Will Jarding (70th place) also returns.

Of Ethan’s three-man team that carried the Rustlers to a fourth-place finish, Rylan Gerlach (T13) and Aiden Riggs (T33) have remaining eligibility.

Other Class B area boys with strong 2023 seasons who will return are Wessington Springs’ Blake Larson, who placed fourth in state, Howard’s Jackson Remmers, who was 18th in state while at McCook Central/Montrose, and Mount Ver non/Plankinton’s Trysten Eide, who was 24th in state

The Class B state golf tournaments will take place June 3-4 in Brookings, with the Class B girls at Edgebrook Golf Course and the Class B boys at

fellow selection Tanner Dyk and honorable mention Parker Bailey will assume their roles as a utility player and outfielder from a year ago, respectively.

Area talent returns Spring baseball always yields a few surprises from area teams, and this season will be no different.

A team to watch is Howard, led by all-state pitcher/first baseman Luke Koepsell along with Kolt Koepsell, Colby Claussen, and Korbin

Brookings Country Club. The Region 4B meet will take place for boys and girls golfers on May 21 at Lakeview Golf Course in Mitchell.

Chamberlain, Burke girls return strong groups

In a Class A girls golf division that was dominated by the likes of Sioux Falls Christian, Vermillion and St. Thomas More last season, a handful of area schools with strong 2023 finishes have the returning golfers necessary to improve their ranks.

Chamberlain returns all five members of its varsity team that placed 11th last year, including freshman Trey Speer, who finished an area-best 12th in the state meet last season, along with Alexis Cronk, Natalie Kelsey, Natalie Nelson and Jocelyn Haak. Winner Area will bring back three of its five golfers from a team that placed sixth in the Class A state tournament, in sophomore Gracie Root (T27), Leila Balsinger (T38) and Emily

Shumaker, while the Tigers add pitcher/shortstop Jackson Remmers. Remmers batted .500 while posting a 3.57 earned run average on the mound to earn allstate honors for McCook last year. The Tigers were the No. 1 seed in their region tournament but bowed out with a home loss to Madison in the region semifinals. Scotland/Menno quietly brings back a solid group led by the pitcher/ infielder duo of Bryce Sattler and Kory Keppen, who combined for 15 RBIs

and 53 innings on the mound. The Trappers also have Trent Guthmiller and Parker Hochstein back, with the latter second on the team last season with 11 RBIs.

After a loss in the Region 4B tournament to Rapid City Christian, Aiden Barfuss will lead a Winner/Colome team mixed with youth and experience for his senior season. The Royals will also have junior pitcher Landon Calhoon back along with sophomore

Sachtjen (81st). Four of Parkston’s five varsity golfers from last year’s state-qualifying team have remaining eligibility, including Gracie Oakely, Finley Bogenreif, Karlie Konfrst and Avery Bogenreif.

The Class A state girls golf championship will take place June 3-4 at Bakker Crossing Golf Course in Sioux Falls

In Class B, 2022 state champion Burke will vie for a return to the top spot, as three varsity golfers from the Cougars’

as the Trojans look to make noise and play spoiler in a region that includes Bon Homme and Dakota Valley. All-state first team selection Dakota Munger will be at the helm of Chamberlain/Kimball/ Lyman, with Sandler Wiekamp and Blake Lieferman alongside. Tyson Wentland returns to MVPCS off an

Zac Olson patrolling the outfield. Parkston seniors Luke Bormann and Brayden Jervik are back

Mitchell Republic file photo Bon Homme/Avon’s Landon Bares catches a foul pop up during a high school baseball quarterfinal game against Rapid City Christian at the Class B state tournament May 29, 2023, at Sioux Falls Stadium.

BY MARCUS TRAXLER

Mitchell Republic

MITCHELL — The Dakota Wesleyan University spring sports teams are already in action for the spring. Here’s a rundown of where things stand at the midway points of their seasons.

Softball

DWU softball has surpassed its win total from 2023, already with 11 wins on the ledger compared to a 9-32 record last season.

As of April 2, DWU had an 11-16 record and had only played four games in GPAC.

Sophomore outfielder Brianna Dawson, of La Porte, Texas, is leading the Tigers in hitting at .393 and a .469 on-base percentage. Peyton Bagley, a junior utility player from Rapid City, has a team-best four home runs, 14 extra-base hits and 15 RBIs, with 13 RBIs each from Jaden Warner and Dawson. Warner is a junior infielder from Sioux Falls. Veteran hitters

Alyssa Burke and McKinnely Mull return to the lineup as well for DWU, with the Rapid City senior Burke posting the team-lead for stolen bases at 15.

In terms of pitching, DWU sophomore Keirstyn Krcil, a Mitchell product, has led the Tigers in the pitching circle. She has appeared 19 times with 15 starts, posting a 6-7 record and taking on 87 2/3 innings with a 5.27 ERA with 40 strikeouts.

Ivy Woolwine, a freshman from Payson, Arizona, has started 11 games with a 4-8 record and thrown 66 innings with a 4.35 ERA and 25 punchouts.

The Tigers have been on the road for the first 27 games of the season and expect to be home in April for 14 of their 20 scheduled games in the month. DWU was only able to play eight home games in 2023 due to weather cancellations.

As of April 1, No. 11-ranked Northwestern (26-2 overall) and No. 13 Midland (25-4) lead the GPAC standings. Midland was picked as the preseason favorite in the conference, with Northwestern as the second favorite. DWU was picked 11th among the conference’s 12 teams.

The top-eight teams in the regular-season standings advance to the double-elimination GPAC tournament, which is played in two, four-team pods starting May 1. The pod winners play in a best-of-three championship series on May 4.

Baseball

A season after only

having 11 wins in 2023, the Dakota Wesleyan University baseball team has shown heavy improvement already this season.

As of March 27, the Tigers have a record of 8-15 on the season and 2-4 in GPAC play. The Tigers were also able to get in five true home games, going 3-2 at Drake Field in March before another bout of snow arrived in Mitchell. Twenty-eight of the 51 players on the DWU roster are South Dakota products, including Mitchell’s Ryan McGinnis and Drew Kitchens. Offensively, the Tigers have been led by Caleb Meyers and Lane Darrow, who are hitting .316 and .310, respectively, to open the season. Meyers, a sophomore from Farmington, Minnesota, leads the team in on-base percentage at .398, while Christiansen leads the way with four home runs, 11 extra-base hits and 21 RBIs. Meyers has three home runs and has driven in 10 runs, plus a DWU-best seven stolen bases. However, the Tigers rank 188th out of 193 teams in the country in team batting average at .224 and 189th in onbase percentage at .325. Christiansen, a senior product of Victor, Idaho, leads the team in innings pitched with 38 2/3, with a team-best 34 strikeouts and opponents hitting .259 against. Mitchell Sand, a junior from Rapid City, has thrown 38 innings with a 4.03 ERA for the Tigers, who have a team ERA of 6.25 and opponents are hitting .302 collectively against DWU pitching.

As of April 2, No. 9 nationally ranked Doane leads the GPAC standings with an 9-1 mark and 23-5 overall, with Morningside second at 21-9 and 8-2 in conference play. Concordia is 23-8 overall and 7-3 in league play and is ranked No. 17 nationally. The Bulldogs were the preseason favorites in the GPAC, while DWU was picked to finish last out of 11 teams.

The GPAC championship will be held May 2-4 with eight teams playing a double-elimination tournament in two, fourteam pods at the high seeds. The pod winners will advance to a nineinning, winner-take-all GPAC championship game on May 7.

Track and field

The DWU track and field team heads to the outdoor season under third-year head coach Matthew Rosado.

A sophomore from Lennox, Caleb Sayler has the conference’s second-best time in the 1,500-meter run (3:59.20), which moved him to the secondbest outdoor time in school history. He also broke the meet record at Wayne State on March 29. Sayler was a national qualifier in the indoor season in the mile run, where he finished 21st. Teammate Hunter Shanks, a senior from Bennington, Neb., was 10th in the 800-meter run at the NAIA indoor national championships.

In women’s competition, Abby Magnuson, a senior from Buxton, N.D., leads the way early in the outdoor season. She hit the NAIA A-standard in her opening meet in the

shotput and discus, assuring national qualification. She threw 45 feet, 3.5 inches in the shot put, while tossing 146 feet, 5 inches in the discus at the Wayne State (Neb.) Wildcat Classic on March 29. Those throws rank No. 2 (discus) and No. 3 (shot put) all-time in DWU history. Magnuson was third nationally for the indoor season in the shot put with a top throw of 49 feet, 1.5 inches and won the GPAC indoor championship but finished 10th at the national meet, narrowly missing out on AllAmerica status. Another athlete to watch is a familiar name to Tiger basketball fans.

Taliyah Hayes ranks No.

2 in the GPAC early in the season after clearing 5-foot-3 at the Wildcat Classic in the high jump. It is the fourth-best jump in Tiger women’s track and field history. The GPAC championship meet will be held May 3-4 at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa. The NAIA championship meet will be held May 22-24 in Marion, Indiana.

Golf

The spring golf seasons are ramping up for the DWU men’s and women’s teams with coach Jeff Meyerink stepping into lead the program after previously coaching in

the fall as interim coach. On the women’s side, DWU has posted back-toback conference runnerup finishes but four-time all-GPAC selection Megan Hinker has graduated. Otherwise, the Tigers bring back three of their participants from last season’s GPAC meet team with graduate student Erin Moncur, sophomore Ashton Austreim and junior Kaylee Johnson. Moncur, a graduate student from Miller, finished 11th last season at the GPAC meet. Sara Sudenga, a freshman from Sioux Falls Roosevelt, led the team in scoring in the opening meet on March 20 in Windsor, Colorado.

For the DWU men, the roster has only five golfers, led by senior Carson Van Beek, who is the lone upperclassmen on the roster. Peyton Bettcher, a sophomore from Hartford, is joined by three freshmen in Juan Florez, Connor Calahan and Jackson Childs. Childs is a former Mitchell Kernel, while Florez hails from Bogata, Colombia and shot 74-79 in his first spring tournament for what was a third-place team finish.

The Tigers are scheduled to hold a home meet on Monday, April 8 and Tuesday, April 9 at Lakeview Golf Course. It will be the first home meet for DWU men’s golf since 2015, and the first for the Tiger women since 2017.

The GPAC championships — under a two-day, 54-hole format this year for the second time — will be played April 22-23 at Spencer, Iowa, for the women and April 29-30 at Beatrice, Nebraska for the men.

Landon Dierks / Mitchell Republic

Dakota Wesleyan’s Alyssa Burke throws the ball in from the outfield during a softball doubleheader between Dakota Wesleyan and Jamestown in 2023, at McWhirter Field.

A listing of area track and field meets in 2024

BY MITCHELL REPUBLIC

The following information was compiled by the Mitchell Republic’s sports staff, provided by area coaches, or collected from South Dakota’s track meet database at athletic.net:

APRIL 9

Wagner Relays Noon (field) / 2 p.m. (running) at Wagner Participating teams: Andes Central/Dakota Christian, Avon, Bon Homme, Chamberlain, Colome, Corsica-Stickney, Ethan/Parkston, Gregory, Kimball/White Lake, Marty, Mount Vernon/Plankinton, Platte-Geddes, Tripp-Delmont/ Armour, Wagner, Wessington Springs, Winner.

Jack Rasmussen Relays 3 p.m. (field) / 4 p.m. (running) at Salem Participating teams: Bridgewater-Emery, Canistota, Freeman, Howard, McCook Central/Montrose.

Centerville Invite Noon (field) / 1:30 p.m. (running) at Centerville Participating teams: AlcesterHudson, Beresford, Centerville, Deubrook Area, Freeman Academy/Marion, GayvilleVolin, Menno, Scotland, Sioux Falls Lutheran and ViborgHurley.

APRIL 11

Menno Relays

9 a.m. (field) / 11 a.m. (running) at Menno

Participating teams: AlcesterHudson, Andes Central/ Dakota Christian, BridgewaterEmery, Burke, Centerville, Colman-Egan, Dell Rapids St. Mary, Freeman, Freeman Academy/Marion, Hanson, Irene-Wakonda, James Valley Christian, McCrossan, Menno, Mitchell Christian, OldhamRamona-Rutland, Scotland, Sioux Valley.

APRIL 12

Avon Invitational

3 p.m. (field) / 4 p.m. (running) at Avon Participating teams: Avon, Bon Homme, Corsica-Stickney, Viborg-Hurley.

APRIL 13

Corn Palace Relays 9 a.m. at Mitchell

Participating teams: Aberdeen Central, Burke, Chamberlain, Ethan/Parkston, Huron, Kimball/White Lake, Milbank, Mitchell, Mitchell Christian, Mount Vernon/Plankinton, Platte-Geddes, Sioux Falls Christian, Sioux Falls Lincoln, Tea Area, Wagner, Winner, Yankton.

APRIL 16

Big Dakota Conference Meet

11 a.m. at Mission

Participating teams: Chamberlain, Cheyenne-Eagle Butte, Crow Creek, McLaughlin, Miller, Mobridge-Pollock, Stanley County, Todd County, Winner.

Jaguar Invitational

1 p.m. (field) / 2 p.m. (running) at Corsica

Participating teams: Andes Central/Dakota Christian, Burke, Colome, CorsicaStickney, Gregory, James Valley Christian, Kimball/White Lake, Marty, Mitchell Christian, Tripp-Delmont/Armour, Wessington Springs.

APRIL 18

Flyer Invite 1 p.m. (field) / 3 p.m. (running) at Freeman

Participating teams: AlcesterHudson, Bridgewater-Emery, Canistota, Centerville, Colman-Egan, Deubrook Area, Freeman, Freeman Academy/ Marion, Hanson, Kimball/ White Lake, McCook Central/ Montrose, McCrossan, Menno, Mitchell Christian, Parker, Sioux Falls Lutheran.

APRIL 19

Greenway Relays 10:30 a.m. (field) / noon (running) at Mount Vernon

Participating teams:Avon, Burke, Chamberlain, CorsicaStickney, Ethan/Parkston, Kimball/White Lake, Mitchell, Mount Vernon/Plankinton, TriValley, Wagner.

APRIL 20

Platte-Geddes Relays

10 a.m. (field) / noon (track) at Platte. Participating teams: Bon Homme, Colome, Gregory, Irene-Wakonda, Platte-Geddes, Tripp-Delmont/Armour, Winner Area

APRIL 23

Great Plains Conference

Championships

11 a.m. (field) / 1 p.m. (track) at Armour

Participating teams: AlcesterHudson, Andes Central/ Dakota Christian, Avon, Burke, Centerville, Colome, CorsicaStickney, Freeman Academy/ Marion, Gayville-Volin, Marty, Scotland, Tripp-Delmont/ Armour.

Gene Danielsen Relays

2:30 p.m. (field) / 4 p.m. (running) at Salem

Participating teams: Baltic, Bridgewater-Emery, Canistota, Dell Rapids St. Mary, Ethan/ Parkston, Garretson, Hanson, Howard, McCook Central/ Montrose, Menno, Mitchell Christian, Mount Vernon/ Plankinton, Parker, Sanborn Central/Woonsocket

APRIL 25

Cecil Johnson Invitational

Noon at Presho

Participating teams: Crow Creek, Faulkton Area, Gregory, Highmore-Harrold, Jones County, Kadoka Area, Kimball/

White Lake, Lower Brule, Lyman, Philip, St. Francis Indian, Timber Lake, Todd County, Winner Area

Erv Ptak Relays

1 p.m. (field) / 3 p.m. (running) at Menno

Participating teams: Bridgewater-Emery, Canistota, Centerville, Freeman Academy/ Marion, Hanson, IreneWakonda, McCrossan, Menno, Mitchell Christian, OldhamRamona-Rutland, Sioux Falls Lutheran. APRIL 30

Don Diede Relays

1 p.m. (field) / 3 p.m. (running) at Freeman

Participating teams: AlcesterHudson, Bridgewater-Emery, Canistota, Centerville, Freeman, Freeman Academy/ Marion, Gayville-Volin, Hanson, Irene-Wakonda, McCrossan, Menno, Mitchell Christian, Viborg-Hurley. Meet of Legends

10:30 a.m. (field) / 12:30 p.m. (track) at Burke

Participating teams: Burke, Colome, Corsica-Stickney, Gregory, Kimball/White Lake, Lower Brule, Platte-Geddes, St. Francis Indian, Todd County.

MAY 3

Howard Wood Dakota Relays

1 p.m. at Howard Wood Field in Sioux Falls. (Continues at 9 a.m. May 4)

MAY 7

Fort Randall Conference Meet

11 a.m. (field) / 1 p.m. (running) at Lake Andes

Participating teams: Andes Central/Dakota Christian, Avon, Bridgewater-Emery, Burke, Colome, Corsica-Stickney, Kimball/White Lake, Marty, Scotland, Tripp-Delmont/ Armour.

Southeastern South Dakota Conference Meet

1 p.m. (field) / 3 p.m. (running) at Platte

Participating teams:

24 reasons the Twins will be better in ‘24

AL Central champions are the favorites in the division once again

MINNEAPOLIS

Say this for Twins ownership. They’re not very P.R. savvy. Last year’s team got back to the playoffs and snapped the franchise’s 18-game playoff losing streak, winning the team’s first playoff series since 2002.

Ownership’s response?

To slash payroll by $30 million. That led to the departure of pitchers Sonny Gray and Kenta Maeda and infielder Jorge Polanco, with no major additions via free agency. The going narrative is that the Twins are a lesser team than they were a year ago.

I don’t buy it. I’m no apologist for the Pohlad family, but handing out misguided free agent contracts just to appease a fan base that thinks everything comes down to payroll isn’t the way to go. It’s unfortunate that ownership keeps asking the front office to put a team together with one hand tied behind their back, but for the second year in a row they’ve done a pretty admirable job. So we’re going out on a sturdy limb as Opening Day dawns: Here are 24 reasons the Twins will be better in 2024 than they were in 2023, lower payroll or not.

1. Carlos Correa

The veteran shortstop proved his worth in the playoffs, turning into ‘Playoff Carlos’ and helping the Twins win their first series since 2002 with his bat and his glove. There’s no denying Correa was a disappointment during the regular season last year, but with a cleaner bill of health he’s likely to be an impact player at the plate, in the field and in the clubhouse. The heart and soul of the team.

2. They aren’t going to miss Sonny Gray that much Yes, Gray was the runner-up for the AL Cy Young award last year. Did you know the Twins were 14-18 in his 32

starts? Gray was excellent, there’s no doubt, but he struggled to pitch effectively past the sixth inning, and it would’ve been a mistake to match the 3-year, $75 million contract the Cardinals gave him. Gray is already opening the season on the injured list.

3. Pablo Lopez is an ace Anyone else still whining about that Luis Arraez trade? Lopez is a legit, frontline, No. 1 starter, and he proved it with his postseason performance last year.

4. Joe Ryan and Bailey Ober are good, too Ryan was this team’s Opening Day starter two years ago. He has ace potential if he can learn to keep the ball in the park. Ober had a 3.43 ERA and 5-1 K/BB ratio last year. It’s not like the rotation falls off a cliff after Pablo.

5. They can always trade for another starter

Fans wanted the Twins to sign a free-agent starter this winter to replace Gray. But the prices were insane. I don’t care what the payroll situation might be, paying $30-40 million a year for fewer than 200 innings seems like bad business. Wait until July and if it’s obvious another starter is needed for the playoffs, make a deadline trade for one.

6. Royce Lewis is the new Kirby Puckett

It’s now been almost 30 years since Kirby played his last game, so I realize there’s a whole generation of Twins fans who’ve barely heard of the guy. But he remains the most important player in franchise history, a two-time world champion. Lewis is the closest thing the Twins have had to Puck. A five-tool talent who plays the game with the same enthusiasm that’s likely to make him a fan favorite. The grand slams are pretty awesome, too.

7. Byron Buxton playing centerfield

Where are we setting the over/under on games

Buxton plays in the outfield? 50? I’d take it. We know he’s never going to get 500 at-bats in a season, but last year’s DHonly role was a bad idea from the jump. Getting 300 or so at-bats from Buxton this year would be welcome, especially if he’s available to play center in the playoffs.

8. Louie Varland’s promise

The plan was for the Concordia-St. Paul alum to start the year in TripleA but injuries mean he’ll open the year as the fifth starter. He’s also capable of filling in out of the bullpen. Either way, his 98-mph fastball is likely to make him a key contributor this year.

9. The rest of the division stinks Cleveland just doesn’t seem interested in competing right now. It’s weird and unfortunate. Even as a Twins fan, it’s like, could you guys try? The White Sox are rebuilding and will be very bad this year. The Royals did some good things this offseason but they’re coming off a

106-loss season. There’s too much ground for them to make up.

The Tigers are on the right track — I like what they’re doing and they could compete this year. But they’re probably still a year away.

10. They kept some key veterans Max Kepler seemed like a good trade candidate in the offseason. The Twins held onto him. Kepler deserves an awful lot of credit. His career looked dead in the water last May and a few know-it-all sportswriters out there were calling for the Twins to cut him. They stuck by him and he ended up leading the team in homers and rediscovering his clutch stroke.

Kyle Farmer was another valuable vet who seemed likely to be traded in the offseason. The Twins recognized Farmer’s value as a utility infielder, right-handed bat and clubhouse leader and kept him around. They’ll be glad they did. They also could’ve dumped catcher

Christian Vazquez after a disappointing debut season in Minnesota. He’s too expensive, but gives the Twins one of the league’s best backup catchers.

11. A pretty good bullpen

Opening the season with fireballing closer Jhoan Duran and lefty specialist Caleb Thielbar on the injured list is not ideal, but as long as they are their usual selves then they return, the Twins will have one of the game’s best relief corps. Griffin Jax joins those two to give them three elite late-game arms, and while I’m not sold on Brock Stewart, he was pretty good last year when healthy. Steven Okert and Justin Topa are strong additions, though Topa will start the year injured as well. More on that later.

12. Willie Castro is so much fun

If you like baseball, Willie Castro is the kind of guy you love to watch. He can play every position, he’s a switch-hitter, he plays his butt off and

Achieveyour educationalgoals thissummer.STCoffersnearly 150summercourses tohelp you catchup,getahead or fulfill yourgeneraleducation requirements.

he runs like a deer. He stole 33 bases last year, which is more than the entire Twins team had in their 101-win season of 2019.

13. Ryan Jeffers is a bad man

When Jeffers batted .199 with 14 homers in 2021, it conjured memories of ‘Buck Ninety’ Tim Laudner. But with no offense to the Twins TV analyst, Jeffers has blossomed into much more than that. He had an .858 OPS last year, took the No. 1 catching job from Vazquez and looks poised to take over as one of the game’s best backstops.

14. Edouard Julien’s batting eye

If you are old enough to remember the Metrodome days, you no doubt remember the ‘Walks will haunt’ graphic on the old light-bright board at the Dome. Julien is living proof. He’s got arguably the best eye in the game this side of Juan Soto, and he can hit, too. A 9thround draft pick out of Auburn, the Twins really

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championships, Kaffar is the top returning placewinner in the class. Overall, the senior has the fourth-best mark in the triple jump and fifth-best in the long jump among Class A returning athletes.

Joseph Laprath, Colome: Smashing his personal best by 11 seconds, Laprath claimed the Class B 1,600-meter state title with the No. 1 overall time in the class for 2023. Laprath, now a senior, also finished third at 3,200 meters and is the second-ranked returning runner in Class B at that distance. Pushing Laprath, Freeman Academy/Marion’s Tavin Schroeder is the top returner at 3,200 meters and No. 2 at 1,600 meters.

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hit one out of the park in finding the French-Canadian infielder. He’s got .300/.400/.500 potential, which makes him one of the scouting staff’s biggest hits.

15. Matt Wallner as the latest hometown success story From Kent Hrbek to Joe Mauer to Glen Perkins, the Twins have a history of finding impact players from their own backyard. Wallner is the latest, and he’s got a chance to be special. He’s got light tower power and one of the strongest arms in the game. He’ll strike out a little too much, but if he stays healthy and gets 450 or more at-bats a 30-homer season isn’t out of the question.

16. They got the playoff monkey off their back

The first time Rocco Baldelli took the Twins to the playoffs he blew off questions about the team’s playoff losing streak. They got swept by the Yankees.

Then in the pandemicshortened 2020 season they hosted an Astros team with a losing record and got swept again.

At that point it seemed to register with Baldelli and his players that just because they weren’t there for most of those losses didn’t mean they weren’t part of it.

When the Twins made it back to the playoffs last year, several players made

Daniel Mitchell, Gregory: Breaking through for a Class B high jump state title last season, Mitchell also claimed the No. 2 overall mark in the state regardless of class at 6 feet, 6 inches. Additionally, Mitchell, now a senior, was the high jump runner-up in 2022 and has top-four placements as a member of the Gregory 4x100 meter relay in 2022 and 4x200 meter relay in 2023.

strength of this team.

a point to acknowledge the streak and vow to end it. And then they did just that.

17. There are some good reinforcements in the minors Trevor Larnach has hit 20 homers in parts of three seasons with the Twins. The former 1st round pick has an underwhelming .699 career OPS, but still has a chance to be an impact bat.

Austin Martin, the key piece of the Jose Berrios trade, is a versatile speedster ready to make his big league debut, while infielder Jose Miranda was a rookie of the year candidate two years ago who’s ready to bounce back from a lost 2023 season. Starter David Festa, catcher Jair Camargo, shortstop Brooks Lee and outfielder Emmanuel Rodriguez are others that could help the Twins this year. Last year’s No. 1 pick, Walker Jenkins, is a few years away but he’s one of the best prospects the Twins have ever had.

18. Rocco Baldelli

The young Twins skipper has led the Twins to three division titles in five seasons, but he’s had his share of detractors in good times and bad, including yours truly, for some attimes truly head-scratching methods and moves.

That said, the overall results have been good. Rocco has his players’ back and they seem to enjoy playing for him. And Rocco’s transparency as a leader and decision-maker has made it easier to notice that he’s continued to learn on the job and improve as a manager. Consider him a

19. The playoffs are unpredictable

The Twins finally won a series last year, and they put up a fight against the Astros in the divisional round. Are there better teams than the Twins in the American League? No question. Are any of them unbeatable? Of course not. Just look at last year, when the three teams that won 100 games all lost their first playoff series and an 84-win Arizona team made the World Series. With a playoff-tested ace and a deep bullpen, the Twins are going to have a puncher’s chance in any playoff series.

20. The front office is pretty savvy

They’ve had their share of swings and misses (that Tyler Mahle trade really looks like a stinker in hindsight) but for the most part the Derek Falvey/Thad Levine team has done an admirable job of putting the Twins together. They brought the franchise into the analytics era without chaining themselves to it, and they’ve shown an ability to get creative in building the major league roster while making mostly strong draft picks to stock the farm system. If the Twins need to tweak the roster at the deadline, chances are they’ll make a good move or two to help the club.

21. Target Field is due They finally won their first playoff game at Target Field last year. But as the Twins outdoor home enters its 15th(!) season, its playoff resume still pales in

comparison to the Metrodome. Fans often wonder what outdoor baseball in Minnesota would look like in November. It’d be nice to find out.

22. Santana switched sides

A longtime Twins nemesis, Carlos Santana hit 216 homers and drew 881 walks in 10 seasons with rival Cleveland, and the 31 homers and 105 RBI he has against the Twins are his highest against any team. At 38, the switch-hitting first baseman isn’t the player he was a few years ago, but his veteran presence will likely be a boost to the lineup and the infield defense 23. They’re getting injuries out of the way early

OK, maybe this one is a reach but we’re getting to the end, here. After the Twins’ 2022 playoff push was torn asunder by injuries, the front office made a point to overstock the roster with extra depth last year, and that proved wise. When injuries inevitably hit, there were credible reinforcements. They won’t have quite as much depth this year thanks in part to the reduced payroll, but one area where the Twins did stock up was in the bullpen. Duran, Thielbar and Topa all open the year on the injured list. Those are three of the most important arms in the pen. The depth will be tested, but there’s little reason to think the Twins won’t be

able to weather these injuries early on. Better to have Duran ready in September than available in April.

24. Joe Mauer is going in the Hall of Fame

A bonus highlight of the summer will be Mauer’s induction to the Hall of Fame. He’s deserving, and hopefully the segment of the fan base that’s never quite embraced Mauer will come to appreciate his career more as time goes on.

And, go with me here — Mauer was kind of the Rod Carew of this generation of Twins fans, and the year Carew was inducted into the Hall of Fame, 1991, the Twins won the World Series.

I’m just saying.

Landon Dierks / Mitchell Republic Menno’s Ashton Massey (center), Freeman’s Rylee Peters (left) and Burke’s Piper Hanson (right) race in the girls 100-meter hurdles finals during the Class B state track and field meet May 27, 2023, at Howard Wood Field in Sioux Falls.

Jay Biggerstaff / USA TODAY Sports Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa (4) warms up prior to the the March 30 game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City.