Vol. 19, No. 20; Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018

Jan 19, 2018 | Parker's Midweek Update | 0 comments

PIERRE GOVERNORS SPORTS ROUNDUP

This week’s schedules:
Wrestling: Friday, home vs. Yankton; Saturday, home for Pierre East-West invitational, 11:00.
Gymnastics: Saturday, @ Rapid City Gym-o-rama, noon.
Boys basketball: Thursday, @ Sturgis, 6:30; Friday, @ Watertown, 7:00; Tuesday, @ Aberdeen Central, 7:00.
Girls basketball: Thursday, home vs. Watertown, 7:00; Tuesday, home vs. Aberdeen Central, 7:00.

Gymnastics: At Pierre’s invitational, Mitchell and Stevens were 1-2 in team standings with Pierre third. Mikah Moser was second in the all-around standings at 35.825, Sophie Bullard sixth at 34,575 and Meg Erwin seventh at 34.000. Moser won the vault event with a 9.3250 score.

Girls basketball: The Lady Govs lost to Brandon Valley, 58-41. Emily Mikkelsen scored 13, Abi Foster 11 and Kylie Kessler 10. In a 62-48 win over Brookings, Mikkelsen had 19 points and Foster 10. Pierre was outscored 22-8 in the fourth quarter. The Lady Govs are now 2-8 for the year.

Boys basketball: Pierre lost to Brandon Valley, 68-51. Peyton Zabel scored 23 and Carson Tschetter 12. The Govs led t0-49 with over three minutes left, but a 12-0 Brandon Valley run in the last 2:25 spelled defeat. The next night Pierre defeated Brookings, 58-45. Zabel scored 25.

Wrestling: At the Opbroek tournament in Mitchell, the Governors finished second with 173 team points. Stevens was first at 181.5 and Sturgis third at 142.5. Pierre’s champions were Lincoln Turman at 120 pounds, Will Turman at 132, MIchael Lusk at 145, Austin Senger at 160 and Maguire Raske at 170. Other placers: Jace Bench-Bresher, fourth at 113; Jack Van Camp, fourth at 126; Cade Hinkle, third at 138; Barry Browning, fourth at 152; Garrett Leesman, fourth at 182; Pryce Dyk, third at 285. On Tuesday the Governors dominated Brandon Valley, 46-21. Pierre scored six pins, one major decision and four decisions en route to the ESD dual win.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can’t buy. — Unknown

STANLEY COUNTY BUFFALOES SPORTS ROUNDUP

This week’s schedules:
Gymnastics: Next Jan. 26 @ Hot Springs invitational.
Wrestling: Next Jan 25 @ Sully Buttes triangular.
Boys basketball: Tuesday, home vs. Sully Buttes.
Girls basketball: Thursday-Saturday, Southern Plains tournament (@ Fort Pierre Thursday-Friday, @ White River Saturday); first game, home vs. Kadoka, 8 p.m. Thursday.

Girls basketball: The Lady Buffs lost to Bennett County, 53-37, in their only game in the past week.

Boys basketball: At the Jones County Invitational the Buffaloes won their opener over Colome, 51-46. They lost to Jones County in the semifinals, 54-44, and lost the third-place game to Lyman, 74-68. On Tuesday the Buffs played Lyman again and evened the score with a 71-65 win. Cale Meiners scored 27 points, Brady Hoftiezer 19 and Joey Fischer 14. SCHS is now 8-4.

Wrestling: At the Potter County invitational the Buffaloes placed seventh with 83 points. Luke Heninger won another championship, taking first place at 126 pounds. J.D. Carter was second at 132, Chase Carda third at 95, Dylan Endres fifth at 220, Reed Wieczorek sixth at 145 and Colton Hedman sixth at 152. In a triangular Tuesday SCHS defeated Lemmon-McIntosh, 37-18, and lost to Mobridge-Pollock, 50-15.

SULLY BUTTES CHARGERS SPORTS ROUNDUP

This week’s schedules:
Wrestling: Saturday, @ Winner invitational; Tuesday, home triangular.
Boys basketball: Saturday, Strasburg/Zeeland (@ Mobridge), 3:30; Tuesday, @ Stanley County.
Girls basketball: Saturday, Strasburg/Zeeland (@ Mobridge), 1:45; Monday, home vs. Philip.

Boys basketball: The Chargers defeated Miller, 60-50, after being down 21-15 after the first quarter but leading at the half by 28-24. Lincoln Jordre led SBHS with 23 points. The Chargers defeated Timber Lake, 59-29, jumping out to a 10-2 first-quarter margin despite committing 15 first-half turnovers. The Charger boys stand at 7-1.

Girls basketball: There were three more wins for the Charger girls this week. They defeated Miller, 60-46, on the strength of 23 points by Lauren Wittler, 16 by Rachel Guthmiller, 11 by Marinda Archer and 10 by Kendra Kleven. They won over Hanson, 42-20, at the Corn Palace, led by Wittler’s 16 and Guthmiller’s 12. On Tuesday the girls won at Timber Lake, 59-49, surviving a night of 19 turnovers. Guthmiller scored 23 and Wittler 12. The Chargers sank 34 of their 42 free-throw attempts.

COUNTDOWN

8 days: Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo, Rapid City (Jan. 26-Feb. 4).
9 days: Riggs High one-act plays (Jan. 27, 29).
10 days: Grammy awards, CBS (Jan. 28).
12 days: State of the Union address (Jan. 30).
14 days: State one-act play festival, Sioux Falls (Feb. 1-3).
17 days: Super Bowl LII, Minneapolis (Feb. 4).
22 days: Winter Olympics, Pyeongchang (Feb. 9-25).
22 days: State gymnastics meet, Watertown (Feb. 9-10).
27 days: Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday (Feb. 14).
27 days: Summit League swimming championships, Sioux Falls (Feb. 14-17).
29 days: Pheasants Forever national pheasant feast and quail classic, Sioux Falls (Feb. 16-18).
33 days: Georgia Morse Middle School musical (Feb. 20-21).
35 days: Minnesota Twins spring training opener (Feb. 22).
36 days: Pierre Players’ “The Three Musketeers” (Feb. 23-25, March 1-3).
36 days: State wrestling tournaments, Sioux Falls (Feb. 23-24).
37 days: NSIC basketball tournaments, Sioux Falls (Feb. 24-27).
44 days: Missouri Shores Domestic Violence Center’s “Hollywood Tonight” (March 3).
44 days: Minnesota United MLS season opener (March 3).
44 days: Summit League basketball tournaments, Sioux Falls (March 3-6.
45 days: Oscars, ABC (March 4).

BASKETBALL UPDATE

Toyama Grouses (Sam Willard): This has been the third and final week of the Grouses’ holiday break. They return to action with two games this weekend vs. Shimans.

Sioux Falls Skyforce: Sioux Falls lost to Windy City, 109-91, but edged the Raptors, 108-107. The Skyforce, after a home game vs. Salt Lake City last night, goes to Fort Wayne Friday and to Canton Saturday.

Live games on Midco Sports Network this week:

  • Upper Iowa @ Augustana, women 6 p.m. Friday, men 8 p.m. Friday.
  • Omaha @ USD, women 1 p.m. Saturday.
  • SDSU @ USD, men 7 p.m. next Wednesday

Minnesota Timberwolves: After wins over New York, 118-108, and Portland, 120-103, the Wolves suffered hopefully just a minor hiccup as they continued to climb in the Western Division when they lost Tuesday to Orlando, 108-102. Earlier this week Minnesota caught San Antonio for No. 3 seed in the West. The Wolves are at Houston tonight (8:30, TNT); home vs. Toronto Saturday (8:00, FSN+); at the Clippers Monday (9:30, FSN+), and at Portland next Wednesday (9:00, FSN).

HOCKEY UPDATE

Hockey Day in Minnesota: This annual celebration of the sport in the State of Hockey includes four live games on Fox Sports North: 11 a.m., high school, St. Cloud vs. St. Cloud Cathedral; 2 p.m., college women, Minnesota-Duluth vs. St. Cloud State; 5:30 p.m., high school, Moorhead vs. Centennial; 9 p.m., NHL, Minnesota Wild vs. Tampa Bay.

Sioux Falls Stampede: The Herd beat Fargo, 3-2, and lost to Fargo, 4-0. Sioux Falls plays at Central Illinois Friday and against Team USA in Michigan Saturday.

Gillette Wild (Coleman Varty): Gillette split with Bozeman, losing 4-3 but winning 7-3. In the latter game Coleman scored a goal in the third period to make the score 6-3 at the time. Now 14-16-2-1 with 31 points in fourth place, the Wild is home against Great Falls for two games this weekend.

Minnesota Wild: The Wild beat Winnipeg 4-1 and lost to Vancouver in overtime, 3-2. Minnesota is home vs. Tampa Bay at 8 p.m. Saturday on Fox Sports North and home vs. Ottawa at 7 p.m. Monday also on FSN.

Rapid City Rush: The Rush lost three to Colorado, 2-1, 4-2 and 8-1, then won at Utah, 3-1. The Rush play Utah at home Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday afternoon, then go to Allen next Wednesday.

Oahe Capitals: The boys varsity swept two weekend bgames at Fremont, 4-2 and 6-2. In the Saturday game Riggs Sanchez scored twice and Spencer Wedin and Carsten Mueller once each. Tristan Fuerst in goal made 18 saves. In the Sunday win Caden Davis accomplished a hat trick, Sanchez scored twice and Andrew Gordon had a goal. Tate Mueller in the net had 19 saves. The Caps are home against Sioux Center at 8:15 p.m. Saturday and 4:15 p.m. Sunday.

Oahe Lady Capitals: The girls varsity lost to Sioux Falls, 6-2 and 10-0. In the Saturday game Amy Gilkerson had a goal as did Kaitlyn Swenson. Mariah Nelson made 34 saves. Nelson was even busier in the Sunday game, making 42 saves at the same time the Sioux Falls goalie had to make only three saves. The girls are home vs. Rushmore at noon Saturday and noon Sunday.

FOOTBALL UPDATE

Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings led 17-0, trailed 21-20, led 23-21, trailed 24-23 and then beat New Orleans on a last-second 61-yard touchdown play from Case Keenum to Stefon Diggs, 29-24. The Vikings go to Philadelphia for the NFC championship game at 5:40 p.m. CST Sunday on Fox.

Sunday’s schedule on TV:
AFC championship—Jacksonville @ New England, 2 p.m., CBS.
NFC championship—Minnesota @ Philadelphia, 5:30 p.m., Fox.

WORDS OF WISDOM

When people show you who they are, believe them. — Maya Angelou

GOLF UPDATE

PGA Champions Tour: The tour season began this week, and its first stop concludes Sunday when the Mitsubishi Electric Championships finishes at Hualalai in Hawaii. The tournament will be on Golf Channel. Tom Byrum has qualified for all events on the Champions Tour this season.

BIRTHDAYS/ANNIVERSARIES

Thursday, Jan. 18:
Cody Cruse, Robbin Paxton, Cody Henrichsen, Kaden Parsons, Kaden Kampfe, Twila Dockter, Rick LaFurge, Tyson Lindekugel, Jonathan Moe, Leann Weischedel.

Friday, Jan. 19:
Becky Barringer, Martha Nystrom, Jake Vogel, Clint Fouts, Allen Hiller, Lane Hawkins, Noah Wright, Destiny Garber, Karla Baus, Darin Hausmann, Chandra Schoenhard, Caren (Howard) Huxford, Barbara Crandell-Miller.
— 16th anniversary, Adam/Amy (Wire) Mollman.

Saturday, Jan. 20:
Elaine Wright, Andrea (Miller) Baker, Amber Kelley, Ryan Anderson, DeNeil (Hosman) Taylor, Katie Bartel, Greg Chapin, Steve West, Jason Richards, Dorinda Timmons, Kirsten Wilcox, Sue (Brink) Joachim, Austyn Norman, Kaitlin Thomas, Lucas Stoeser, Kathy (Walker) Blackburn.

Sunday, Jan. 21:
Monte Pullman, Pam Steece, Justin Artz, Doug Paxton, Nathanial Sprenkle, Becky Thompson, Parker Parsons, Mary (Jordre) Jensen, Daniall Deis, Isaac Heymans.
— 15th anniversary, Jesse/Whitney (Palmer) Flottmeyer.

Monday, Jan. 22:
Bob Joachim, Jon Boer, Matt Boyer, Mike Schuh, Burkelee Kenefick-Aschoff, Maddox Dokken, Jason Sulzle, James Neil Watson, Tracy Roberts, Brian Thompson, Charis (Fouts) Blanchette, Mark Sweetman, Dustin Boes, Mark Venner, Paula (Adam) Burchill.
— 8th anniversary, Rob/Angela Miller.

Tuesday, Jan. 23:
Melissa (Moore) Flottmeyer, Heidi Jennings, Eric James, Adam Johnson, Erica Flyger, Peyton Zabel, Derk Campbell, Jan Hartland.

Wednesday, Jan. 24:
Jackie Yackley, Andrew Powers, Pam Brandner, Jeff Holcomb, Nancy Grunewaldt, Lynnsey Briese, Mary Thorson.

Thursday, Jan. 25:
Seth Hipple, Irene LaFurge, Luke LeBeau, Shawna Erickson, Stephanie Bowers, Nate Neufeld, Stephen Nielson, Jonathan Kreycik, Aidan Dozark, Mary Joyce Rounds, Reed Ludwig, Audrey Perli, Tawna (Williams) Millington.

COLLEGE WRESTLING ROUNDUP

Northern: The Wolves lost all three duals at the UNK duals in Kearney, losing to Lindenwood 31-15, to Chadron State 31-18 and to Western State (Colo.) 40-9. Now 1-7 in duals and 0-1 in the NSIC, Northern goes to Southwest Minnesota State Friday.

South Dakota State: The Jackrabbits won two more duals, opening Big 12 competition with these two wins, 31-10 at Utah Valley and 32-6 at Air Force. Against Utah Valley the Jacks led 15-0 after the first three matches and were never threatened. Seth Gross, ranked #1 in the nation, won by pin, and #9 David Kocer, #10 Luke Zilverberg and #11 Nate Rotert won by decisions. At Air Force Rotert stayed undefeated with a 2-1 decision. SDSU is now 16-3 in Big 12 duals since joining the wrestling conference. Standing 7-2 overall this season and 2-0 in the Big 12, SDSU is home vs. Wyoming at 7 p.m. tonight and Northern Iowa at 2 p.m. Sunday.

Augustana (Lane Lettau, Jebben Keyes): Idle last week, the Vikings wrestle tonight at home vs. Southwest Minnesota State.

Dakota Wesleyan: The Tigers lost a conference dual to Briar Cliff, t52-0; then lost all four duals at the Kearney duals—24-20 to Cloud County Community College, 33-6 to Bethany, 28-21 to Neosho Community College and 42-13 to Northwest Kansas Tech. DWU next wrestles Jan. 27 at the GPAC duals in Fremont.

COLLEGE HOCKEY ROUNDUP

Midland women (Traci Corcoran): The Warrior women lost to the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, 7-3. Now 14-8-1, Midland plays twice this weekend at Minot State.

Nebraska men (Derek Burke): The Husker club team split with Iowa State, losing on the road 6-2 and winning at home 3-2. This weekend in Chicago the Huskers will play Indiana, Northwestern and Purdue.

Division I men update:

  • Minnesota-Duluth (11-9-3, 5-7-0): beat Colorado College 6-5 and 5-1; Friday-Saturday, home vs. North Dakota (Friday 8 p.m. CBSSN); Tuesday, @ Minnesota State.
  • Colorado College (9-10-3, 3-7-2): lost to Minnesota-Duluth 6-5 and 5-1; Friday-Saturday, @ Western Michigan.
  • Western Michigan (12-8-1 7-4-0): beat St. Cloud State 7-5, lost to St. Cloud State 4-3; Friday-Saturday, home vs. Colorado College.
  • Bemidji State (11-7-6, 8-4-4): lost to North Dakota 5-1, tied North Dakota 2-2 in overtime; Friday-Saturday, @ Ferris State.
  • Minnesota (13-12-1, 4-9-1): lost to Michigan 5-3 and 3-1; Thursday, @ Michigan State; Saturday, Michigan State (In New York).
  • St. Cloud State (14-4-3, 8-3-1): lost to Western Michigan 7-5, beat Western Michigan 4-3; Saturday, home vs. Minnesota State, 5 p.m. Fox Sports North.
  • North Dakota (12-6-6, 6-4-2-2): beat Bemidji State 5-1; tied Bemidji State 2-2 in overtime; Friday-Saturday, @ Minnesota-Duluth (Friday game 8 p.m. CBSSN).
  • Omaha (12-9-1, 5-7-0): beat Miami 11-7 and 4-3; Friday-Saturday, @ Denver.
  • Denver (12-6-4, 6-4-2): idle last week; Friday-Saturday, home vs. Omaha.
  • Miami (Ohio) (9-11-2, 4-7-1): lost to Omaha 11-7 and 4-3; next Jan. 26-27, @ Colorado College.
  • Minnesota State (16-7, 14-5): lost to Alaska-Fairbanks 5-0; Saturday, @ St. Cloud State (5 p.m. FSN); Tuesday, home vs. Minnesota-Duluth.
  • Wisconsin (11-11-3-0, 5-7-2-0): lsot to Michigan State 2-0; beat Michigan State 5-2; Friday, @ Notre Dame; Saturday, Notre Dame (in Chicago) (2 p.m. NBCSN).

WEDDING DAYS

March 3: Kyle Cichos/Ali Meister.
March 3: Corbin Mannis/Emily Barnhill.
April 7: Scott Pavlisich/Denise Wilson.
April 14: Kai Hanson/Kayla Sase.
April 28: Chris Pope/Morgan Peterson.
May 19: Prince Harry/Meghan Markle.
June 2: Ethan Fife/Heather Mangan.
June 2: Cole Crue/Kadence Feininger.
June 16: Matt Blaseg/Taryn Wolf.
June 16: Brandon Vockrodt/Kayla Nuese.
June 29: Jack Markel/Eileen Leong.
July 7: Matt Tetzlaff/Korie Lebeda.
July 14: Shawn Hlavacek/Rebekah Hartmann.
Aug. 18: Jason Noyes/Micki DeCurtins.
Sept. 29: Taylor Arbach/Rachel Hartmann.
Oct. 6: Rodd Bauck/Megan Vockrodt.
Oct. 6: Cale Pell/Sarah Lihs.
Aug. 31, 2019: Devin Maki/Karlie Warne.

LIFE LESSON

“One of the great tragedies of life is that men seldom bridge the gulf between practice and profession, between doing and saying.” — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

COLLEGE SWIMMING ROUNDUP

South Dakota State (Chris Rumrill, Wyatt Rumrill, Daniel Jacobson, Ashley Theobald): The Jackrabbit men defeated St. Cloud State in a dual, 177-123, and the women beat the Huskies, 170-130. Daniel won the 50 freestyle in :21.26 and the 100 free in :21.26. He swam on the 200 free relay team, placing second in 1:27.44. Daniel and Wyatt both were on the winning SDSU team in the 400 medley relay, taking the race in 3:30.76. Wyatt won the 200 breast in 2:11.51 and won the 100 breast in :59.25. Chris placed second in the 200 individual medley in 2:00.04, second in the 200 free in 1:44.76 and third in the 100 free in :48.38. Ashley placed second in the 50 freestyle in :25.07, sixth in the 100 free in :57.41 and fourth in the 200 IM in 2:17.43. She also swam on the second-lace team in the 200 free relay whose time was 1:40.96. SDSU hosts Omaha at 5 p.m. Friday and USD at 5 p.m. Saturday.

COLLEGE TRACK ROUNDUP

Black Hills State (Kelsey Van Den Hemel, Allan McDonnell, Sam Fjelstad): At their own Myrle Hanson meet, the Yellowjacket men placed first among five teams and the women second. Kelsey placed 17th in the 3,000-meter run in 12:29.03. She ran on BHSU’s “B” team in the 4×400 relay, placing fifth in 4:44.21. Allan was second in the high jump at 6.3 feet and third in the triple jump at 41.5 feet. The next meet is the Dave Little meet at home Jan. 27.

South Dakota Mines track (Theron Singleton): At the Myrle Hanson meet at BHSU, Theron placed 23rd in the 3,000-meter run in 10:00.11. The Hardrockers’ next meet is Jan. 27 at BHSU.

Liberty (Cortney Dowling): Cortney makes her debut with the Liberty team at a meet in Lexington, Va., this weekend.

South Dakota track: At the Hawkeye Invitational in Iowa City, the Coyote teams had five first-place athletes. Chris Nilsen won the men’s pole vault at 18’4 1/2″, and Helen Falda won the women’s pole vault at 12’9 1/2″. Madeline Huglen won the women’s mile in 4:55.51, the sixth-fastest time in school history. Joe Reagan won the long jump at 23’11”, and Zack Anderson won the high jump at 7’1/2″. Next for the Coyotes is the Jim Emmerich invitational at Brookings Saturday.

South Dakota State (Max Reinke, Riley Sears, Rachel Propst): At NDSU’s Bison Classic Rachel placed third in the 3,000-meter run in 10:52.80. Riley was eighth in the high jump at 6’2 1/4″. Max was eighth in the shot put at 51’1″. A highlight for SDSU was a winning pole vault of 16’1 3/4″ by freshman Trent Francom, the third-best vault in school history. SDSU hosts its Jim Emmerich Invitational Saturday.

TOM SWIFTS

“I dropped the toothpaste,” Tom said, crest-fallen.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL ROUNDUP

Dakota State women: The Lady Ts won two on the road, 81-62 at Viterbo and 77-56 at Waldorf. Lindsey Vogl led DSU with 21 vs. Viterbo. Now 8-13 overall and 5-3 in the NSAA, the DSU women go to Presentation Friday and to Jamestown Saturday.

Dakota State men: The Trojans lost to Viterbo, 68-59, led by Kevin Daniels with 21. DSU then lost to Waldorf, 83-63. Now 9-12 overall and 3-5 in the NSAA, DSU goes to Presentation and Jamestown this weekend.

Tennessee women (Caleb Currier): The Lady Vols suffered their first loss of the season at the hands of Texas A&M, 79-76. They rebounded with an 86-70 win over South Carolina. Two more rugged opponents lie ahead this week—Notre Dame on the road tonight and Mississippi State at home Sunday.

Augustana men (Steven Schaefer): The Vikings won at MSU-Moorhead, 95-85, led by Jordan Spencer’s 24 points. Steven had 17 of his own, sinking 7-of-11 from the field, including 3-of-4 from long range. He also had four rebounds, two assists and a block. The next night at Aberdeen before a crowd of 2,500, the Vikings lost to Northern, 89-78. Marcus Asmus led Augie with 28. Stevenm was 7-of-10, including 3-of-5 in threes, and 2-of-2 for 19 points with three boards, two assists and a steal. Now 11-7 overall and only 6-6 in the NSIC, Augie is home this weekend vs. Upper Iowa and Winona State.

Augustana women (Katie Bourk): Perhaps looking ahead to a showdown against Northern the following night, the Augie women lost their first game of the season Friday at MSU-Moorhead, 75-64. Shelby Selland led Augie with 16. At Northern the Vikings won by 77-64 as Logan O’Farrell scored 22. Now 15-1 overall and 11-1 in the NSIC Augustana is home this weekend vs. Upper Iowa and Winona State.

Dakota Wesleyan men: The Tigers whipped Midland, 95-78, led by Ty Hoglund with 24 and Trae Vandeberg with 23. Now 16-6 overall and 6-4 in the GPAC, DWU went to Dordt last night and goes to Doane Saturday.

Dakota Wesleyan women: The Tigers lost to Northwestern, 69-56, led by Ashley Bray with 18. DWU beat Midland, 75-55, as Jessica Mieras scored 20. In non-conference play DWU lost at SDSU, 76-63, as Amber Bray scored 18. DWU played at Dordt last night, goes to Doane Saturday and hosts Jamestown next Wednesday.

Mount Marty men: The Lancers won their first GPAC game under first-year coach Cody Schilling, 65-63 over Concordia. Jailen Billings had 15 for MMC. Now 4-16 overall and 1-9 in the league, Mount Marty hosted Morningside last night and stays home next Wednesday vs. Dordt.

Mount Marty women: The Lancer women lost to Concordia, 73-51. Sarah Castaneda had 13 for MMC. MMC, now 10-10 overall and 1-10 in the GPAC, hosted Morningside last night and goes to St. Mary Saturday.

South Dakota men: The Coyotes defeated Fort Wayne, 68-58, led by 12 points from Tyler Peterson, 12 points and 11 rebounds from Tyler Hagedorn, 12 points from Trey Burch-Manning and 10 points from Matt Mooney. Last night the Coyotes won over Oral Roberts, 82-70, led by 19 from Mooney and 14 from Hagedorn. USD is now 16-5 overall and 4-1 in the Summit. The Coyotes play at Omaha at 7 p.m. Saturday, then host SDSU at 7 p.m. next Wednesday on Midco Sports Network.

Summit League men’s standings: SDSU 4-0, USD 4-1, NDSU 2-2, Oral Roberts 3-3, Fort Wayne 2-3, Western Illinois 1-3, Denver 1-3, Omaha 1-3.

South Dakota women (Chloe Lamb, Ciara Duffy): The USD women forced 22 Fort Wayne turnovers, led 49-23 at halftime and beat the Mastodons, 85-43. Chloe Lamb had a career-high 16 points on 7-of-9 field-goal shooting, including 2-of-3 in threes. She added five rebounds, two assists and a steal. She is the ninth different player to lead USD in scoring this season. Ciara went 3-of-6 and 2-of-2 for eight points with three rebounds, five assists and two steals. Last night USD stretched its Summit record to 5-0 (three of those are road wins) and won over Oral Roberts in Tulsa, 73-68. Allison Arens led USD with 18. Ciara was 4-of-8, including 1-of-4 in threes, and 2-of-2 for 11 points with three boards, two assists and two steals. Chloe was 2-of-2 (one of those was a three-pointer) for five points with three assists and two rebounds. Now 14-5 overall, USD hosts Omaha at 1 p.m. Saturday on Midco Sports Network.

Summit League women’s standings: USD 5-0, SDSU 4-0, Western Illinois 3-1, Denver 2-2, Oral Roberts 3-3, Fort Wayne 1-4, Omaha 0-4, NDSU 0-4.

Northern women: The NSU women had 27 points from Miranda Ristayu in an 81-71 win over Wayne State. In the long-awaited clash with Augustana, the Wolves lost 77-64, led by Haley Froelich’s 14. NSU overwhelmed Presentation in a non-league game, 94-954, led by Gabby Laimer’s 15. Now 15-3 overall and 10-2 in the NSIC, Northern goes to St. Cloud State Friday and Minnesota-Duluth Saturday.

Northern men: The Wolves narrowly stayed unbeaten in the NSIC with a 71-69 home win over Wayne State. Ian Smith scored 20 and D.J. Pollard 18. Pollard had 18 more in an 89-78 win over Augustana. NSU then beat Presentation, 111-73, led by Cole Dahl’s 27 points. Now 19-1 overall and 12-0 in the NSIC, Northern goes to St. Cloud State and Minnesota-Duluth this weekend.

University of Sioux Falls women (Moira Duffy): The Cougar women defeated Bemidji State, 63-43, led by Mariah Szymanski with 19. Moira was 2-of-6 for four points but had six rebounds and an amazing eight blocked shots. In a 74-57 win over Minnesota-Crookston, Kaely Hummel scored 29. Moira was 1-of-3 for two points with seven more rebounds, two more blocks, two assists and a steal. Now 11-5 overall and 8-4 in the NSIC, USF goes to Minnesota State Friday and to Concordia-St. Paul Saturday.

University of Sioux Falls men: The Cougars lost to Bemidji State, 74-68. Trevon Evans led USF with 21. USF then defeated Minnesota-Crookston, 68-56, led by Drew Maschoff’s 15. USF out of the league beat Midland, 90-61, led by 15 points from Drew Guebert. Now 12-6 overall and 7-5 in the NSIC, the Cougars go to Minnesota State and Concordia-St. Paul this weekend.

South Dakota State women (Sydney Palmer): The SDSU women beat Denver, 69-58, as Macy Miller and Madison Guebert each scored 18. Sydney had five rebounds and one assist. SDSU beat Oral Roberts, 77-70, led by Miller’s 26. Sydney had two rebounds and an assist. On Tuesday SDSU won out of the league over Dakota Wesleyan, 76-63, led by Miller’s 23 points. Sydney was 2-of-5, including 1-of-1 in threes, and 1-of-2 for six points with three rebounds. SDSU is now 15-4 overall and still 4-0 in the Summit. The Jacks host Western Illinois at 2 p.m. Saturday.

South Dakota State men (Lane Severyn): SDSU edged Oral Roberts, 78-75, in a game between the two last remaining teams unbeaten in league play. Mike Daum scored 27 and Reed Tellinghuisen 24. Lane had one rebound and one assist in six minutes. In a 94-72 win over Denver, Daum scored 34 and David Jenkins 27. Lane was 1-of-2 for two points with one board. Now 16-5 overall and 4-0 in the Summit, the Jackrabbits go to Western Illinois Saturday and to USD next Wednesday (7:00, Midco Sports Network).

South Dakota Mines men: The Hardrockers lost to Adams State, 80-70, as Logan Elers scored 20. He had 24 more points in a 73-68 loss to Fort Lewis. On Tuesday Mines lost to Black Hills State, 92-69. as Jack Fiddler scored 14. Now 6-11 overall and 3-9 in the RMAC, Mines is home vs. Westminster Saturday.

South Dakota Mines women: The Mines women topped Adams State, 72-58, as Taylor Molstad scored 16. She also led Mines with 17 points in a 73-63 win over #13 Fort Lewis. On Tuesday Mines lost to BHSU, 82-50. Ryan Weiss topped Mines with 10. Now 12-6 overall and 7-5 in the RMAC, Mines is home vs. Westminster Saturday.

Black Hills State men: The Yellowjackets have had a three-win week. They topped first-place Fort Lewis, 67-64, led by Makaleb McInnis with 20 points. BHSU then edged Adams State, 67-65, led by Fraser Malcolm’s 25. BHSU then beat Mines, 92-69, as McInnis scored 21. The Jackets are now 11-5 overall and 8-4 in the RMAC and host Westminster (Utah) tonight.

Black Hills State women (Remi Wientjes, Racquel Wientjes): The BHSU women also won all three games this week. In an 83-48 win over Fort Lewis, Rachel Erckson was high with 20. Remi went 3-of-8 and 2-of-4 for eight points with four rebounds, two assists and a steal. Erickson had 14 in a 71-53 win over Adams State. Remi was 3-of-8 for six points and added three boards, three assists and a steal. In Tuesday’s 82-50 win over Mines, Erickson led BHSU with 16. Remi was 4-of-5, including 1-of-2 in threes, for nine points with four rebounds. Racquel didn’t score in two shots but had a rebound and a steal. Now 14-4 overall and 8-4 in the RMAC, BHSU hosts Westminster tonight.

WORD PLAY

A bicycle can’t stand alone. It’s two tired.

COUNTDOWN

8 days: Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo, Rapid City (Jan. 26-Feb. 4).
9 days: Riggs High School one-act plays (Jan. 27 and 29).
10 days: Grammy awards, CBS (Jan. 28).
12 days: State of the Union address (Jan. 30).
14 days: State one-act plays festival, Sioux Falls (Feb. 1-3).
17 days: Super Bowl LII, Minneapolis (Feb. 4).
22 days: Winter Olympics, Pyeongchang (Feb. 9-25).
22 days: State gymnastics meet, Watertown (Feb. 9-10).
27 days: Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday (Feb. 14).
27 days: Summit League swimming championships, Sioux Falls (Feb. 14-17).
29 days: Pheasants Forever national pheasant feast and quail classic, Sioux Falls (Feb. 16-18).
33 days: Georgia Morse Middle School musical (Feb. 20-21).
35 days: Minnesota Twins spring training opener (Feb. 22).
36 days: Pierre Players’ “The Three Musketeers” (Feb. 23-25, March 1-3).
36 days: State wrestling tournaments, Sioux Falls (Feb. 23-24).
37 days: NSIC basketball tournaments, Sioux Falls (Feb. 24-27).
44 days: Missouri Shores Domestic Violence Center’s “Hollywood Tonight” (March 3).
44 days: Minnesota United MLS season opener (March 3).
44 days: Summit League basketball tournaments, Sioux Falls (March 3-6).
45 days: Oscars, ABC (March 4).

BASEBALL UPDATE

Pierre Trappers: The latest player signed to the Trappers’ roster for the upcoming initial season of the Expedition League is Michael Herrera, a sophomore shortstop at Scottsdale Community College in Arizona. After this spring season at Scottsdale, Herrera, who is from Phoenix, plans to transfer to Abilene Christian.

Pierre Trappers: The team’s store is now open at the team office, located at 124 W. Dakota Ave. Merchandise (sweatshirts, T-shirts, hats, etc.) can also be ordered online at https://squareup.com,/store/pierretrappers.

BUMPER STICKER OF THE WEEK

ADULTS ON BOARD —
WE WANT TO LIVE, TOO

FOOTBALL CONTEST #22

With 11 seconds left in the Vikings’ game Sunday, Shawn Hostler was our only 3-1 contestant. But after the Minneapolis Miracle, we suddenly had a bunch of people with 3-1 records for eight points each—Debra Bollinger, Levi Neuharth, Jason Knox, Jeff Adel, Lois Fuller, Jessi Herrscher, Carla Madden, Mikal Kern, Eric James, Jared Martin and Lane Kozel. Nobody earned 10 points for a 4-0 record as the Steelers and Falcons doomed just about everybody from getting perfection.

This week’s contest (send your two winners to parkerhome16@hotmail.com by Sunday morning):
(1) AFC championship: Jacksonville @ New England
(2) NFC championship: Minnesota @ Philadelphia
Note: 10 points for both games right; 8 points for one game right.

STRANGE FACTS ABOUT THE U.S.

It would take you more than 400 years to spend one night in each of the hotel rooms in Las Vegas.

PARKER’S PERSONAL NOTES

  • A major crisis is at hand in Rapid City for DirecTV customers who are also sports fans. A fee dispute between DirecTV and the NBC station, KNBN-TV, resulted two weeks ago in DirecTV removing the KNBN signal from its service. What this means, most immediately, is that those DirecTV customers won’t have the station that will be carrying the Super Bowl and the Winter Olympics. I imagine that some of the sports bars also use DirecTV for all of their TV sets and are in a panic right now.
  • I didn’t see the Minneapolis Miracle play live as it happened, but I heard it. I stayed with the TV until 0:25 remained and the Saints had just kicked their go-ahead field goal. But I had to be downtown to play piano for auditions at Firehouse Brewing Theatre, so I left the house and drove away. The car and I were at the west end of Twilight Drive, turning the curve to the left toward Highway 44 when it was Kevin Harlan’s radio call that I heard. What I did was honk the car horn for at least two blocks. That was my contribution, but there’s no video to prove it. Reality returned quickly, however, because as I began to slow toward the stoplight at the highway, the car hit ice, and it spun completely around. Fortunately nobody was coming north in the other lane. The same football gods that helped the Vikings helped me. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.
  • I tell this story whenever there is reason to tell it, and with all of the Vikings hoopla in the air right now, it’s a good time again. There can’t be too many of us still around who were there at Howard Wood Field in Sioux Falls on Aug. 5, 1961, when the Vikings played their first-ever game—a preseason encounter with the one-year-old Dallas Cowboys franchise. The Minnesota quarterback was Oregon’s George Shaw, but he soon thereafter gave way to Fran Tarkenton. Dallas won that night, 38-13, and the Vikes lost all five preseason games. But in their first-ever regular-season game, they bombed the Chicago Bears, 37-13, and would win two more games during that regular season. So I’ve been around for all of the four Super Bowls in which they played and for all the close calls that ended in gut-wrenching fashion. We Vikings fans were owed this latest ending, and a couple more in the next two weeks wouldn’t be asking too much.

PHILOSOPHICAL TWISTS

Money talks, but all mine ever says is “Goodbye.”

NEWS OF PEOPLE AND EVENTS

Pierre’s newest restaurant is Tokyo Japanese Cuisine, which opened last Wednesday in the Northridge Plaza mall.

Services for Jeannette Protexter of Pierre, formerly of Aberdeen, were held Jan. 13 at Faith Lutheran Church. She passed away Jan. 8 at the age of 86. She grew up in Clark, then attended South Dakota State College and taught school at Redfield and Highmore. She married Dick Protexter in 1953. After her children were raised, Mrs. Protexter completed her degree at Northern State University. She then taught at May Overby Elementary School in Aberdeen for many years, retiring in 1989. She is survived by her daughter, Lori Nast of Folsom, Calif.; her sons, Bill Protexter of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Jim Protexter of Pierre, and six grandchildren. Among those who preceded her in death were her husband, a sister and an infant son.

The Pierre Athletic Coaches Association’s Avera Athletes of the Week last week were Austin Senger of the wrestling team and Sophie Bullard of the gymnastics team.

Margaret Nickels, 96, died Jan. 14 at Avera Maryhouse. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at Madison Avenue Church of Christ. She moved to Pierre at the age of 1 and graduated from Pierre High School in 1939. She worked at the Windsor Cafeteria, at KGFX for Ida McNeill, and at Pierre Fruit. She became a farm wife after marrying Walter J. Nickels in 1942. They made their home at Canning. Margaret came into town when their youngest child started high school. She worked at Woolworth’s, then spent 23 years at the Public Utilities Commission, retiring in 1986. Among her survivors are her daughter, Mary LInander of Columbus, Ga.; her son, George Nickels of Pierre; 10 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. Among those who preceded her in death were her husband, son Sonny Nickels, daughter Lois Caldwell, seven siblings and a great-grandson.

Three seats on the Pierre City Commission are up for election on June 5. Jamie Huizenga has already announced he will seek re-election to his seat. Jim Mehlhaff is completing his own full term on the commission. Vona Johnson is finishing the term Steve Harding vacated to become mayor.

The fall semester Dean’s List at the School of Mines and Technology includes these area students: Chance Haka, computer science; Kole Pickner, mechanical engineering; Douglas Bachand, industrial engineering and engineering management; Andrew Brown, civil and environmental engineering; Tanner Farnsworth, mechanical engineering; Shelby Guthrie, chemical engineering; Cole Hoelscher, mechanical engineering; Aaron Hoelscher, mechanical engineering; Dillon Muntefering, electrical engineering; Samuel Ryckman, mechanical engineering and computer science; Avery Schroer, computer engineering.

Sharon Paulsen, 77, died at home Jan. 6. Services were held at Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church Jan. 12. She grew up at Hayti and came to Pierre for nursing training. She married Larry Paulsen in 1960. Mrs. Paulsen worked as a nurse at St. Mary’s Hospital for 42 years. She is survived by eight children, Kevin Paulsen of Pierre, Kim Paulsen of Nashville, Tenn., Pat Paulsen of Philip, Dan Paulsen of Henderson, Nev., Brian Paulsen of Spearfish, Tammie Melby of Carol Stream, Ill., Kristie Knutson of Rapid City and Brad Paulsen of Pierre; 17 grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, three sisters and two brothers. Her husband of 54 years passed away in 2014.

Cammy (Clark) Theeler, graduate of Riggs High and USD, has been appointed by Governor Daugaard as a judge in the Second Circuit Court of South Dakota, which includes Minnehaha and Lincoln counties. Since 2012, she has been assistant U.S. attorney in the civil division of the U.S. attorney’s office in Sioux Falls. Prior to that, she was in private practice for nine years with the Lynn Jackson Shultz Lebrun law firm. Cammy and her husband, Tyson Theeler, have a daughter, Maya.

Ryan Parker Knox, who with his fellow cast members opened in “The Grapes of Wrath” at the Rogue Theater in Tucson, Ariz., last week, mentioned that in this show he has nine costume changes and is involved in four scene shifts. He plays four different characters, and the cast of 20 actors embodies 50 different characters.

Riggs High alumnus Stuart Stofferahn was married to Heather Castle in Lincoln, Neb., last Friday night. The ceremony was performed by Heather’s daughter, Madison Schossow.

Bob O’Day, 90, of Fort Pierre and Little Falls, Minn., died Jan. 2. Services were held Jan. 13 at Feigum Funeral Home. A native of Stanley County, Mr. O’Day was a cattle rancher, a potato farmer, the owner of Silver Spur Bar, and co-owner of Barnes Trucking Company. Among his survivors are his son, Ken O’Day of Sioux Falls; his daughters, Barb McQuistion of Fort Pierre and Sandy Rudek of Little Falls, Minn.; his sister, Donna Nickles of Clark; 14 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren, and six great-great-grandchildren. Among those who preceded him in death were his wife, Donna, in 2001 and a son, Jim, who died in 2010.

Pierre native Rodger Hartley continues to be busy in the theater scene in Rapid City. His “day job,” which is really a night-time job as well, is that of technical director for Black Hills Community Theater and at the Performing Arts Center of Rapid City. But in recent weeks he has also been serving as scenic/lighting director and choreographer for Firehouse Brewing Theater’s “Dead Man’s Cell Phone,” which continues its run on Friday and Saturday nights now through Feb. 3. Now this week Rodger has just been cast in the role of Sweeney Todd in the musical, “Sweeney Todd,” which will run at the Firehouse March 30-May 5.

Pierre senior Garrett Pochop of Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, earlier was named an Academic All-American as well as a full-fledged All-American for his soccer season there. Now this week he has just been named the3 2017 Academic All-American of the Year for all of NCAA Division III men’s soccer.

Plan for supper on Monday at the American Legion cabin. A “souper supper” will be served from 5 to 7 p.m. for the benefit of PAWS Animal Rescue. There will be a variety of eight soups along with bread, crackers, Fritos and desserts.

Services for Thelma Beastrom, 90, will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at Community Bible Church. She passed away Jan. 14 at Avera Maryhouse. Thelma grew up at Highmore and married Bernard “Bud” Beastrom in 1946. They farmed south of Harrold until moving to their current location northeast of Pierre in 1960. She is survived by her daughters, Sharon Markl of Fountain Hills, Ariz., and Betty Stromberg of Peoria, Ariz.; her sons, James Beastrom, Terry Beastrom and Jon Beastrom, all of Pierre; 11 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; a brother, Orv Charlson, and a sister, Nancy McQuire.

The false alert that a missile was coming toward Hawaii that panicked a million people in that state Saturday morning affected several people we know. Former Pierre resident Beth (Miner) O’Toole, her daughter and a group of other University of Sioux Falls students who were in Hawaii for their J-term class, sheltered in place for 38 minutes until the all-clear was announced. “Lots of tears, lots of hugs and immense gratitude that Hawaii is O.K. and we all are O.K.,” Beth posted. Pierre native Jen de Hueck was out for a morning run in Kaanapali when the alert first came. KELO-TV reported that Cindy Bahe and Terry Campbell from Pierre were in Hawaii and were out ziplining when the alert sounded. They took cover with other zipliners in a storage shed until word of the false alarm came.

Elyse Miller, daughter of Pierre natives Trent and Krista (Lovald) Miller, was part of a children’s group who sang the national anthem at a San Antonio Spurs home basketball game last week.

Onida friends of Jayne (Knox) Kraemer of Rapid City will be concerned to know that Jayne, after spending a stressful week in Sioux Falls with her daughter, son-in-law and newborn granddaughter, returned home Saturday only to be then hospitalized at Rapid City Regional with pneumonia. At this writing she is still in the hospital but improving.

Augustana University announced Tuesday that Slade Larscheid is leaving his position as director of athletics effective Jan. 26 “to spend more time with his family and pursue other opportunities.” Slade is the son of Pierre native Mary Larscheid-Christensen and her late first husband, Mark Larscheid, who also graduated from Riggs High School.

The memorial service for Alvin “Timer” Allison, who passed away Dec. 12, will be held next Thursday, Jan. 25, at 1 p.m. at Big Bend Presbyterian Church, located on Highway 44 west of Rapid City. Refreshments will follow at 3 p.m. at the Rimrock Room at Westhills Village in Rapid City.

Wally and Nancy Thomsen spent a few days over New Year’s in California, enjoying the warm weather and working for three days on the Dole Packaged Foods float for the Tournament of Roses parade.

Nancy McCahren of Sioux Falls, formerly of Vermillion, who has many friends in Pierre and across the state, had what she calls a “once-in-a-lifetime experience” last month. She flew to the USD men’s basketball game at Duke University in Durham, N.C., Dec. 2. There she met and had a memorable visit with legendary Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski. He was cadet captain of the West Point basketball team in the 1960s when Nancy’s brother, Dick Hoy, also a West Point graduate, was associate athletic director at the academy. In that role he was responsible for the men’s basketball team and its coach, Bobby Knight. Hoy and Krzyzewski have kept in contact with each other since that time and during the 38 years Krzyzewski has been head coach at Duke.

Tevan (Wenbourne) Newman, daughter of Kerry and Pam (Welch) Wenbourne of Aberdeen, is assistant to Dawn Seiler as coach of the girls basketball team at Aberdeen Central. But at the end of this season Tevan will have a unique experience as will Seiler and another of her assistants, Mikayla Arechigo. Seiler has been selected as coach of the East team in the McDonald’s All-American game in Atlanta, and Tevan and Mikayla will be her assistant coaches there. The head coach of the West team will be Jeannie Hebert-Truax of Wasilla, Alaska. They will coach the nation’s top high school girls basketball players in the McDonald’s game.

Tyler and Megan Bryant of Sioux Falls are the parents of a son, Tristan Edward Bryant, who was born Jan. 16. He weighed 8 pounds, 6 ounces. He joins sister Macy, 9, and brother Boston, 8, in their family.

The Christmas letter from Jay and Bev Mickelson listed some of their 2017 highlights—Jay’s 44th Latin banquet, Bev’s 70th birthday, Jay performing the wedding of a former student in Billings, a flight to Portland to see Allison in the lead role in “Fun Home,” and a visit from son Drew, his wife Nicole and their son Taylor. A planned Christmas trip to New York to see Allison was called off due to cancelled plane flights, but the Mickelsons plan to fly to Portland again to see Allison in “2.5 Minute Ride.”

Kevin and Connie Tveidt’s photo Christmas card showed glimpses of a family vacation in the Florida Keys in March; 11,000 miles exploring the U.S. in their adventure van early in the year; hiking and camping with Steph’s family in Montana; Jerry and Darcie’s wedding in August; sledding in the Hills and fishing with Jerry in northeastern South Dakota.

Tom and Esther Harmon’s Christmas letter told a painful truth—the people who attended his retirement party in October were more excited to see the Harmon’s’ 1-year-old granddaughter, Hannah (daughter of Erin and Susanne), from Sioux Falls. Elliot and Kat couldn’t be there, but they did surprise Tom later in October in the Black Hills. The older Harmon’s spent Thanksgiving in Branson, Mo., enjoying a beautiful drive, perfect weather and several shows. Earlier in 2017 Tom and Esther attended Grace University’s alumni gathering, a poignant event since this is the school’s final year of existence. They also camped for a week at the State Fair (Tom remains a member of the State Fair Commission).

Scott and Melissa (Stevens) Gibson and their girls in Sioux Falls had a wonderful year in 2017. Daughter Mae began preschool, gymnastics and tennis and continues in ballet. Daughter Evelyn started kindergarten and danced in her first “Nutcracker” in December. Scott observed his 15th year with Parkway Orthodontics. Melissa’s dental office relocated to just a few minutes from their home, making for an easier daily commute to school and work. The Gibson’s relish having the four retired grandparents nearby with their cars always running (well, not quite!) and eager to babysit and attend the girls’ activities.

Six performances with five different music groups occupied much of Larry and Mary Jo Johnson’s December, including Capitol performances and Larry singing with the choir at “Christmas on the Prairie” in Hoven. During the year the Johnson’s’ highlight was a five-day visit to San Francisco with five friends, including Larry’s sister, Linda Bartholomew. Larry and Mary Jo spent Thanksgiving in Davenport, Iowa, with son Chris.

Jim and Jeanne Goodman’s Christmas letter revealed that Jeanne still hasn’t retired though she is asked “When?” quite often. Jim is in his sixth year of retirement that happened to coincide with his sixth year of coaching in the Legion baseball program. Jim and Jeanne took their annual spring baseball trip to Arizona last March and visited Jeanne’s sister Linda in Phoenix. Each of them has a parent age 90 or older—Jeanne’s dad Virgil in Sioux Falls and Jim’s mother Doris in Chamberlain. As for the Goodman sons, Greg continues to work for Wells Fargo and was promoted to senior Ag loan manager of the Pierre branch. His wife, Wanda, is deputy secretary of the Department of Tourism and completed a master’s degree in executive management. Their kids are Jackson, 8, a second grader, and Allison, 5, a junior kindergarten student. Allen Goodman is an engineer for the Bureau of Information and Telecommunications. His wife, Sadie (Fitzke), teaches English to high school freshmen and coaches eighth grade girls basketball. Their daughter, Piper, turned a year old in October.

It was good to hear from Russell Nash in Pierre through his Christmas letter. Unfortunately he lost his brother to cancer in October. Russell’s niece Kelcy is nearby in Fort Pierre where she directs activities at the high school, and his nephew Adam is in Elkton with his family. Russell continues to attend as many concerts and plays as he can. A cat named Felix adopted Russell in 2017, and Russell regularly watches his apartment neighbor’s cat Pumpkin as well.

Ashley (Iverson) and Jason Feyereisen’s Christmas letter was very interesting, but their letter a year from now should be even more so—not only are they building a new home at Kranzburg near Watertown, but they are also expecting their first child in May. They hope the baby has a good sense of timing and arrives after the house is finished! Jason works for Tessier’s sheet metal company where he is superintendent of many large projects. Ashley has what she calls her dream job as a registered nurse in the operating room at Prairie Lakes Hospital in Watertown. The Feyereisens, who were married in September 2016, postponed their honeymoon to last February to avoid the South Dakota winter. They went to Oahu and Maui and still delight in viewing the more than a thousand photos they took!

And then there are the rest of the Iversons. With Rosa spending the past two years in Honduras caring for her ailing mother, Jim has manned the homefront with numerous repair projects. He also joined Ashley in Brookings for several concerts during 2017 and took a memorable baseball trip to the East Coast with sons J.J. and Chris and a golf trip with his brothers to Arizona. J.J. celebrated his 10th year in Alaska on Christmas Day. He remains busy coaching football at West Anchorage High, being the head coach with National Football Academies in Alaska and working as a medical sales rep for Zimmer-Biomet. Angie still teaches Spanish at SDSU but also opened her own business, The Prairie Mermaid boutique in downtown Brookings. Chris continues working as an education program officer for World Learning in Washington, D.C. His job took him to Africa and Central America where he presented various training programs, and he worked in a surprise trip to Honduras to surprise his mom and grandmother. Chris and his girlfriend also visited Cuba, Colombia and her homeland of Georgia.

Dick and Joy Christoffer have left home in Rapid City to spend three months in Mesa, Ariz., again this winter. In April they’re going on to Hawaii to visit Joy’s cousin and cruise the islands for seven days before returning to Mesa and starting the trip home. The Christoffers’ two boys and families are both experiencing the empty-nest syndrome; each of them has an oldest child in a first year fo college.

Those of you who remember Rick Knudson as Post 8 head baseball coach way back in the day will be interested to know your Update editor again received a Christmas photo card from him and his family. They are still in the northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C., in Lake Ridge. Rick and Lisa have a beautiful family of two handsome boys, Erik and Ian, and a younger daughter, Ellie.

One of the 2017 highlights for former Pierre residents Jerry and Myra Duba of Rapid City was a 45th anniversary land and sea trip to Alaska. They and their daughters and sons-in-law also went to Casper, Wyo., to view the total solar eclipse in August.

Members of the Methodist congregation should know that former pastor Leonard Haggin and his wife Jackie are still in Sioux Falls. One of their 2017 highlights was a trip to Michigan to a Haggin family reunion. Their daughters Linda and Carrie, the latter of whom also lives in Sioux Falls, went with them. Leonard and Jackie were blessed with two new great-grandchildren, bringing their total to nine. Health-wise, Jackie says in their Christmas letter that Leonard’s heart doctor says he is doing well, and Jackie’s neurologist says her Parkinson’s hasn’t become any worse.

A photo of husband Dennis and her on the Great Wall of China accompanied a Christmas card from Joyce Williams. They also visited Hong Kong—green, clean, and lots of bicycles and scooters over there! Joyce and Dennis spend their weekends doing grandchildren things, and their car with more than 200,000 miles on it proves it. They go to watch football, hockey, tennis, baseball, gymnastics and special programs and wouldn’t miss any of it for the world. Their grand kids are growing up, however. The oldest grandson is at the air traffic control academy in Oklahoma City after graduating from Nebraska-Omaha last year. Son Chris, his wife Lindsey, their son Weston and their triplets were home in October, so they didn’t come for Christmas this year. The 13-hour drive from Utah to Pierre in the Wyoming winter is stressful at best. A highlight for the Williams men—Paul, John, Chris and their dad—was going to Lincoln for a tennis event where they got to hit with John McEnroe, Michael Chang, Andy Roddick and James Blake

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