Vol. 23, No. 23; Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023

Feb 23, 2023 | Parker's Midweek Update | 0 comments

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

“America did not invent human rights. In a very real sense human rights invented America.”
— President Jimmy Carter

TOURNAMENT TIME UPDATE

STATE ‘A’ INDIVIDUAL BOYS WRESTLING

Pierre qualified all 14 of its wrestlers out of the Region 3A tournament in Mission to advance to the state “A” in Rapid City Thursday and Friday. The Governors were the team champions with 274.5 points, followed by Aberdeen Central 244, Chamberlain 125, Mitchell 123, Sisseton 116.5, Milbank 115, Huron 104, Todd County 25 and Cheyenne-Eagle Butte 20. Pierre claimed six individual regional champions, including Alex Oedekoven at 113 pounds, Tristan Spencer at 138, Deegan Houska at 160, Chance Carda at 182, Gavin Stotts at 195 and Josh Rydberg at 285. Reaching their championship matches and finishing second were Jacob Mason at 106, Lucas Chamberlin at 152 and Trey Lewis at 170. Third-placers were Hudson Shaffer at 132, Lincoln Schoenhard at 120, Chase Carda at 145 and Elijah Boutchee at 220. LIncoln Houska placed fourth at 126.

STATE ‘A” TEAM DUAL BOYS WRESTLING

The team dual state tournament will be held Saturday in Rapid City. Pierre finished the regular season as the #2 seed and will take on #7 Rapid City Stevens in the quarterfinal. The other matchup in that bracket is #3 Sturgis vs. #6 Harrisburg. In the opposite bracket #1 seed Brandon Valley faces #8 Aberdeen Central first while #4 West Central tackles #5 Watertown.

STATE ‘B” INDIVIDUAL BOYS WRESTLING

Lucas Yellowhawk of Sully Buttes qualified for the “B” tournament with a second-place finish at 152 pounds in the Region 1B tournament.

Five Stanley County wrestlers qualified for the state “B” tournament Thursday and Friday in Rapid City by placing fourth or better at the Region 4B tournament. Chase Hanson, a state champion last year, won the regional title at 126 pounds. Colton Brady was second at 152, Hayden Roggow third at 145, Case Kolda fourth at 160 and Spencer Sargent fourth at 132.

STATE ‘B’ TEAM DUAL BOYS WRESTLING

These are the quarterfinal matchups for the “B” team dual state tournament to be wrestled in Rapid City Saturday: #1 Bon Homme/Avon vs. #8 Kimball-White Lake/Platte-Geddes; #4 Elk Point-Jefferson vs. #5 McCook Central-Montrose; #2 Canton vs. #7 Winner; #3 Custer vs. #6 Parker.

STATE INDIVIDUAL GIRLS WRESTLING

Pierre, who won the first-ever girls state individuals tournament last year as the team champion, will try to make it two in a row Thursday and Friday in Rapid City. The Governors have 10 girls participating: Sydney Uhrig at 106 pounds, Lexie Hillmer at 113, Kezrey Benning at 120, Dani Ringstmeyer at 126, Gianna Stangeland at 132, Abby Lewis at 142, Hattie Baldwin at 154, Ireland Templeton at 170, Marlee Shorter at 190 and Ciara McFarling at heavyweight.

Sully Buttes has two girls in the Class “B” state tournament—Saige Heath and Cateri Yellowhawk.

WRESTLING TELEVISION NOTE

South Dakota Public Broadcasting will televise the individual championship matches Friday at 5 p.m. CST. The championship matches of the “A” and “B” dual team tournament will be televised live on SDPB at 5 p.m. CST Saturday. Meanwhile, all matches all three days are to be streamed at sdpb.org/Wrestling.

CLASS ‘AA’ GIRLS BASKETBALL

The regular season still has a pair of games to go this weekend if the weather permits, so the current “AA” standings may not hold until next Thursday, March 3, when the SoDak 16 games will be played. But we know the Governors will be home that night, whoever their opponent happens to be. Pierre is 15-3 and so is #1 Sioux Falls Washington but Washington has a slightly higher seed-point score, so the Govs are #2, but just a shade ahead of #3 O’Gorman (15-4), #4 Jefferson (15-3), #5 Brandon Valley (13-5) and #6 Harrisburg (14-5). The state title is up for grabs among these outstanding “AA” girls teams.

If Pierre remains at #2 after its two games this weekend and Monday, the Govs would host #15 Brookings in the SoDak 16 round. If they can pull an upset or two this weekend, Pierre could move up to #1 if Washington falters, and in that case the Governors might host #16 Yankton.

CLASS ‘AA’ BOYS BASKETBALL

As of today the Governors stand on the brink of being able to have a home game in the SoDak 16 round next Friday, March 4, but they need to win a game or two in their two final contests against rugged opponents. Pierre is #9 at 11-7 and, if nothing changes, would play at #8 Harrisburg (12-7) in the SoDak 16 contest. However, bunched together just above the Govs and Harrisburg are #5 Washngton (12-6), #6 Roosevelt (11-7) and #7 Brandon Valley (12-6), so the games still to be played this weekend are meaningful for all those clubs.

CLASS ‘A’ GIRLS BASKETBALL

The weather interfered with the start of the Region 6A girls tournament on Tuesday. The quarterfinal games were postponed to tonight (Thursday). Stanley County’s girls, the #6 seed, face #3 Dupree in Mobridge where #2 Mobridge-Pollock will face #7 McLaughlin. Tonight’s winners will play each other for a SoDak 16 berth.

The other Region 6A bracket has #1 Miller vs. #8 Cheyenne-Eagle Butte and #4 Crow Creek vs. #5 North Central. Those two winners will also face each other for a SoDak 16 berth in the SoDak 16 games to be played next Thursday.

CLASS ‘A” BOYS BASKETBALL

Region 6A begins play with the quarterfinal round next Tuesday. Stanley County is now the #7 seed with a 3-17 record and would play at #2 Miller on Tuesday. That winner advances to the semifinal next Thursday against, most likely, either #3 Mobridge-Pollock or #6 Cheyenne-Eagle Butte with a spot in the SoDak 16 round March 7 at stake. McLaughlin is currently the top seed in the region and would be in the opposite bracket from the Buffaloes.

CLASS ‘B” GIRLS BASKETBALL

Top-seed Sully Buttes was to have begun Region 6B play in the quarterfinal round Tuesday, but that game vs. #8 Ipswich was postponed due to the weather and rescheduled for 6 p.m. tonight (Thursday) in Onida. If the Chargers win that one, they will face either #4 Herreid-Selby Area or #5 Lower Brule in Onida in the semifinal round on a date to be determined, and that winner gets a spot in the SoDak 16 round next Thursday, March 2.

The other side of the Region 6B bracket has #2 Potter County facing #3 Lyman in the semifinal round, scheduled for tonight. Those teams managed to play their quarterfinal games a day earlier than planned on Monday with Potter County eliminating Highmore-Harrold and Lyman ousting Faulkton. The PC-Lyman winner advances to the SoDak 16 round next Thursday.

CLASS ‘B” BOYS BASKETBALL

Sully Buttes with one regular-season game remaining stands at #7 in Region 6B, and at this point the Chargers would play at #2 Highmore-Harrold in the regional quarterfinal round next Tuesday. The other teams in their bracket would be #3 Ipswich and #6 Faulkton. If the Chargers win on Tuesday, they will be on the road next Thursday in the semifinal round against Ipswich or Faulkton with a spot in the SoDak 16 round March 7 at stake.

With only one game left the Chargers can’t move up to #5 where they would then be on the same side of the bracket as the regional favorite, #1 Lower Brule.

GIRLS HOCKEY

The Oahe Capitals girls finished sixth in the SDAHA league standings and will face #3 Brookings in the quarterfinals of the state tournament in Sioux Falls next Friday, March 3. In the same bracket will be #2 Sioux Falls vs. #7 Sioux Center. The opposite bracket has #1 Aberdeen against #8 Watertown as well as #4 Rushmore vs. #5 Mitchell.

BOYS HOCKEY

The boys varsity regular season is still going on this weekend if the weather allows it, and the Oahe Capitals have three games left—against Huron and Watertown, two teams below them in the standings, and a finale against first-place Rushmore. The Capitals are comfortably in fourth place and can’t fall any lower than that, no matter what happens this weekend. They are four points behind third-place Brookings and five points behind Rushmore and Sioux Falls #1, the two clubs at the top.

If Oahe stays where it is in the SDAHA standings, the Caps will open state tourney play in Brookings on Friday, March 10, against #5 Mitchell in the quarterfinal round.

WORDS OF WISDOM

“I think that, regardless of our culture, age or even personal handicaps, we can still strive for something exceptional. Why not expand our sights instead of restricting our lives and accepting the lowest common denominator of a dormant existence? Faith will permit us to take a chance on a new path, perhaps different from the one we now follow. It may be surprising where it leads.”
— President Jimmy Carter

COUNTDOWN

1 day: Pierre Players’ “The Outsider” (Feb. 24-26, March 2-4).
1 day: Baseball spring training games begin (Feb. 24).
2 days: Minnesota Loons MLS season opener (Feb. 25).
2 days: NSIC men’s/women’s basketball tournaments, Sioux Falls (Feb. 25-28).
5 days: Georgia Morse Middle School musical (Feb. 28, March 2).
6 days: Zesto opens (March 1).
7 days: Girls basketball “A” and “B” SoDak 16 games (March 2).
8 days: Summit League men’s/women’s basketball tournaments, Sioux Falls (March 3-7).
8 days: Girls basketball “AA” SoDak 16 games (March 3).
8 days: Girls state hockey tournament, Sioux Falls (March 3-5).
9 days: Boys basketball “AA” SoDak 16 games (March 4).
11 days: Riggs High talent show (March 6).
12 days: Riggs High National Honor Society induction (March 7).
12 days: Boys basketball “A” and “B” SoDak 16 games (March 7).
13 days: World Baseball Classic begins (March 8-21).
14 days: Georgia Morse Middle School fine arts festival (March 9).
14 days: Last day of legislative session (March 9).
14 days: Girls basketball state tournaments, “AA” Sioux Falls, “A” Watertown, “B” Huron (March 9-11).
15 days: State boys hockey tournament, Brookings (March 10-12).
17 days: The Oscars, ABC-TV (March 12).
17 days: Daylight Saving Time begins (March 12).
19 days: Riggs High fine arts festival (March 14).
21 days: Boys basketball state tournaments, “AA” Rapid City, “A” Sioux Falls, “B” Aberdeen (March 16-18).
21 days: NCAA Div. I men’s wrestling national championships, Tulsa (March 16-18).
25 days: Buchanan Elementary spring concert (March 20).
26 days: Kennedy Elementary spring concert (March 21).
26 days: NCAA Div. II men’s basketball Elite 8, Evansville, Ind. (March 21-25).
28 days: Jefferson Elementary spring concert (March 23).
30 days: All-State Band concerts, Sioux Falls O’Gorman (March 25).
32 days: Legislature veto day (March 27).
35 days: Minnesota Twins season opener (March 30).
36 days: Riggs High softball season opener (March 31).
36 days: NCAA Div. I women’s basketball Final Four, Dallas (March 31, April 2).
37 days: NCAA Div. I men’s basketball Final Four, Houston (April 1, 3).
37 days: NCAA Div. II women’s basketball national championship game, Dallas (April 1).

PIERRE GOVERNORS SPORTS ROUNDUP

This week’s schedules:
— THURSDAY
Girls wrestling: at state tournament, Rapid City.
Boys wrestling: at state tournament, Rapid City.
— FRIDAY
Girls wrestling: at state tournament, Rapid City.
Boys wrestling: at state tournament, Rapid City.
Girls basketball: at Sioux Falls Roosevelt, 7 p.m.
Boys basketball: home vs. Sioux Falls Roosevelt, 7 p.m.
— SATURDAY
Boys wrestling: at state team dual tournament, Rapid City.
— MONDAY
Girls basketball: home vs. Sioux Falls Jefferson, 6 p.m.
Boys basketball: at Sioux Falls Jefferson, 6 p.m.

Football: Two members of the state 11AA champion Governors—Jason Maciejczak and Lincoln Kienholz—are among the nominees in the football category of the Sioux Falls Argus Leader’s 2022-23 South Dakota High School Sports Awards.

Girls basketball (15-3): The Governors defeated Mitchell, 64-48, led by 25 points from Remii Price, 13 from Reese Terwilliger and eight from Ayvrie Kaiser. Pierre has two regular-season games remaining, at Roosevelt and at home vs. Jefferson.

Boys basketball (11-7): Pierre gave top-5 Mitchell a great game but lost 62-55. Ben Heisler had 11 points and Jackson Edman 10. The Govs finish the regular season against Roosevelt at home and Jefferson on the road ahead of the SoDak 16 games at the end of next week.

STANLEY COUNTY BUFFALOES SPORTS ROUNDUP

This week’s schedules:
— THURSDAY
Wrestling: at state tournament, Rapid City.
Girls basketball: vs. Dupree at Mobridge in Region 6A quarterfinal game (semifinal game to be scheduled if necessary).
— FRIDAY
Wrestling: at state tournament, Rapid City.
— TUESDAY
Boys basketball: at site to be determined for Region 6A quarterfinal game.

Girls basketball: The Buffaloes concluded their regular season with a 6-14 record after a 54-24 loss to Little Wound.

Boys basketball: The Buffs lost to Little Wound, 54-25, then on Monday lost to Lyman, 63-51, to finish their regular season with a 3-17 record.

SULLY BUTTES CHARGERS SPORTS ROUNDUP

This week’s schedules:
— THURSDAY
Wrestling: at state tournament, Rapid City.
Girls basketball: home for Region 6B quarterfinal game vs. Ipswich, 6 p.m..
— FRIDAY
Wrestling: at state tournament, Rapid City.
Boys basketball: home vs. North Central.
Girls basketball: home for Region 6B semifinal game (if necessary), 7:30 p.m.
— TUESDAY
Boys basketball: at site to be determined for Region 6B quarterfinal game.

Girls basketball: The Chargers concluded their regular season with a 39-31 win over Faulkton. High scorer was Ally Wittler with 15 points.

Boys basketball (5-14): The Charger boys lost twice last week. In a 62-56 overtime loss to Faulkton, Landon Hepker scored 19 points and Wesley Wittler 17. At the Warner Classic the Chargers lost to Waverly-South Shore, 74-68, as the other team shot 40 free throws, making 26 of them. Wittler scored 26 and Hepker 17.

ONE YEAR AGO IN THE MIDWEEK UPDATE

Feb. 23, 2022: Dr. Bri (Barnett) Roby, pediatric surgeon in the Twin Cities, left with other medical professionals for Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, to work with children and families there.

HOCKEY UPDATE

SDAHA Hall of Fame: Three former Oahe Capitals players—Austin Wagner, Landon Badger and Matt Farris—are among members of the very first class of inductees into the South Dakota Amateur Hockey Association’s Hall of Fame. Their induction will take place at an April 14 banquet at the Sioux Falls Convention Center. Austin Wagner, who played with the Caps in the 2010-13 time frame, was part of the state championship team of March 2011. He is the Capitals’ all-time leader in points with 263 and goals with 158. Landon Badger, who was a Capital in 2013-2016, was part of the regular-season first-place team in the 2015-16 season. He is third all-time in Capitals history in goals (144) and points (213). Matt Farris played with the Caps in 2004-2007 and later played for the Sioux Falls Stampede and for Princeton University. He is second all-time in Oahe history in goals (157) and third in points (242). He was a member of the team that won Oahe’s first league title, and that team reached the state championship game at the end of the 2006-07 season. (News courtesy of KCCR Radio Sports)

Rapid City Rush: The Rush were shut out twice at home against Toledo, losing 6-0 and 3-0. Rapid City plays Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Tulsa.

Aberdeen Wings: The Wings split with North Iowa, losing 2-0 and winning 6-3. Aberdeen is home against that same team Friday and Saturday.

Badlands Sabres (Mason Martin): The Sabres lost twice at Helena, 4-1 and 3-0. Badlands stays on the road at Butte Friday and Saturday.

Sioux Falls Stampede: The Herd lost to Des Moines, 3-2, and lost to Tri-City, 4-2. Sioux Falls plays Lincoln twice, at home Friday and away Saturday.

Oahe Capitals boys varsity: The Caps lost to Sioux Falls #1 by a 1-0 score, the only goal coming early at 5:53 of the first period. Colin Lee made 36 saves in the net. Then Oahe dominated Mitchell, 8-3, led by Aidan Dozark’s hat trick, Jarron Beck’s two goals, and single scores from Barret Schweitzer Dylan Dodson and Ashton Griese. Lee made 41 saves. The Caps conclude the regular season with three games in less than 48 hours, weather permitting—at Huron 7 p.m. Friday, at Watertown 6 p.m. Saturday and home vs. Rushmore 3 p.m. Sunday.

State tournaments: Two Oahe Hockey Association teams brought home state championships Sunday. The girls U14 team won their state tourney in Watertown by defeating Mitchell 8-0, Sioux Falls 4-1 and Brookings 4-1. The team led by head coach Jim Wedin is the first all-girls Oahe Hockey team to win a state championship. Meanwhile, in Mitchell the OHA PeeWee B team, whose head coach is Kent Brown, won their state crown by beating Yankton 14-0, Mitchell 5-1 and Sioux Falls 8-6. At Sioux Center the PeeWee C team placed sixth in their state tournament, beating the host team 3-2, losing in the semis to Brookings 7-0 and losing the fifth-place game to Huron 5-0. This weekend Oahe Hockey will have its Bantam B team in their state tourney in Rapid City. The JV boys team is awaiting their state tournament as the host when that meet is played at the Expo Center in Fort Pierre next week on March 3-5.

Minnesota Wild: It has been an all-winning week for the Wild with a 2-1 shootout win over Dallas, a 4-3 win over Nashville and a 2-1 win over Los Angeles. Minnesota plays at Columbus Thursday, at Toronto Friday, at home vs. Columbus Sunday and at home vs. the New York Islanders Tuesday.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“War may sometimes be a necessary evil. But no matter how necessary, it is always an evil, never a good. We will not learn to live together in peace by killing each other’s children.”
— President Jimmy Carter

FOOTBALL UPDATE

Rapid City Marshals: In their only preseason game the Marshals defeated Fargo, 67-21. The regular season begins next Saturday, March 4, at Sioux City.

BASKETBALL UPDATE

Summit League update:
— MEN’S BASKETBALL
* USD (11-17): Lost to Omaha 80-72, lost to Denver 86-68.
Upcoming games: Thursday home vs. Oral Roberts, Saturday home vs. Kansas City.
* SDSU (17-11): Beat Denver 80-75, beat Omaha 91-70.
Upcoming games: Thursday home vs. Kansas City, Saturday home vs. Oral Roberts.
— WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
* USD (12-15): Beat Omaha 61-41, lost to Denver 79-74.
Upcoming games: Thursday at Oral Roberts, Saturday at Kansas City.
* SDSU (23-5): Beat Denver 82-34, beat Omaha 87-54.
Upcoming games: Thursday at Kansas City, Saturday at Oral Roberts.

Minnesota Timberwolves: In their last game prior to the NBA all-star break, the Wolves lost to Washington, 114-106. The regular season resumes at home vs. Charlotte tonight, then the Wolves go to Golden State Sunday and to the Los Angeles Clippers Tuesday.

Sioux Falls Skyforce: Idle all of last week, the Skyforce resumes play with a home game Thursday vs. Mexico City.

Midco Sports Network live games this week:
— THURSDAY
Men’s basketball: SDSU vs. Kansas City, 7 p.m. (MS2).
— FRIDAY
Men’s hockey: UND vs. Colorado College, 8:30 p.m.
— SATURDAY
Women’s basketball: NSIC quarterfinals, 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Men’s basketball: UND vs. St. Thomas, 1 p.m. (MS2).
Men’s basketball: NSIC quarterfinals, 4:30 and 7 p.m.
— SUNDAY
Women’s basketball: NSIC quarterfinals, 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Men’s basketball: NSIC quarterfinals, 4:30 and 7 p.m.
— MONDAY
Women’s basketball: NSIC semifinals, 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Men’s basketball: NSIC semifinals, 4:30 and 7 p.m.
— TUESDAY
Women’s basketball: NSIC final, 4 p.m.
Men’s basketball: NSIC final, 7 p.m.

BASEBALL UPDATE

Minnesota Twins spring training:
— Saturday, Tampa Bay, 12:05 p.m., and Baltimore, 12:05 p.m. (split squads).
— Sunday, Philadelphia, 12:05 p.m.
— Monday, Boston, 12:05 p.m.
— Tuesday, Atlanta, 12:05 p.m.
— Wednesday, Philadelphia, 12:05 p.m. (Bally Sports North).
— Thursday, Tampa Bay, 12:05 p.m. (Bally Sports North).

GOLF UPDATE

PGA Champions Tour (Tom Byrum): Tom did not play in the Chubb Classic at Naples, Fla. The Champions Tour continues next week March 3-5 at the Cologuard Classic in Tucson, Ariz.

SOCCER UPDATE

Minnesota United FC: The Loons open the MLS season at home Saturday night against Dallas.

COLLEGE SPORTS ROUNDUP

Mary wrestling (Lincoln Turman): Idle last week, the Marauders send wrestlers to Aberdeen Saturday for NCAA Super Regional V.

Dakota State track-field (Houston Lunde): At the NSAA conference meet Houston placed sixth in the weight throw at 48’10” and 10th in the shot put at 39’9 1/4″. The Trojan men placed first among seven teams.

Mary women’s basketball (Chloe Lamb): The Marauders ended the regular season with a 63-62 loss to Northern and a 76-72 loss to MSU-Moorhead. The record was 13-12 overall and 12-10 in the NSIC. Mary is scheduled to host Wayne State in the first round of the postseason tournament, but that game set for last night was postponed. It has to be played Thursday or Friday because the winner is due to face Minnesota State in the quarterfinals in Sioux Falls Saturday.

Dakota Wesleyan men’s basketball (Nick Wittler): In the last regular-season game the Tigers defeated Concordia, 75-72. But in the quarterfinals of the GPAC postseason tournament Tuesday, DWU, the #6 seed, lost at #3 Dordt, 93-66. In six minutes Nick was 1-of-2 in three-pointers for three points with two assists. DWU’s final record for the season was 13-16.

Northern State track-field (Addison Cumbow): At the SDSU last-chance meet Addy placed seventh in the long jump at 15’5 1/2″. In the 60-meter hurdles she was 13th with a prelims time of :09.63. The Wolves go to the NSIC conference meet in Mankato this weekend.

Dakota Wesleyan track-field (Cobey Carr, Abby Ferris): Cobey placed eighth in the triple jump at 43’3″ at the GPAC conference meet.

Augustana women’s basketball (Aislinn Duffy, Katie Bourk): The Viking women completed a beautiful regular season with a record of 24-4 overall and 17-4 in the NSIC, winning their division and earning a bye past the first round of the conference tournament. Augie will begin play in the quarterfinals at 11 a.m. Sunday at the Pentagon against Northern or Upper Iowa. In an 88-56 win over Southwest Minnesota State, Aislinn was 4-of-9 and 2-of-2 for 10 points with 10 rebounds and five assists. Then Augie beat USF, 76-47, as Aislinn went 6-of-12 (3-of-5 in three-pointers) and 4-of-4 for 19 points along with 10 rebounds, 7 assists, a block and two steals.

South Dakota men’s basketball (Max Burchill): The Coyotes lost two more Summit League games on the road. In an 80-72 loss to Omaha Max in 22 minutes was 4-of-4 (2-of-2 in threes) and 2-of-2 for 12 points with two boards, four assists and a steal. In an 86-68 loss at Denver he was 3-of-7 (1-of-4) and 0-of-0 for seven points with two rebounds, two assists and two steals. The regular season ends with scheduled home games against Oral Roberts Thursday and Kansas City Saturday.

Mount Marty men’s basketball (Lincoln Jordre): The Lancers did not finish in the top eight in the GPAC and thus did not qualify for the postseason tournament. The final record was 9-19 overall and 5-15 in the conference. Lincoln started 25 games and played in two more. In field-goal shooting he was 95 of 159 for 59.7% this season, and at the free-throw stripe he was 30 of 45 for 66.7%. He scored 220 points this year, an 8.1 points-per-game average for his senior season.

University of Sioux Falls track-field (Jessica Lutmer): At SDSU’s last-chance meet Jessica won the mile in 5:09.13. The USF women placed second among five schools. The Cougars go to the NSIC conference meet in Mankato this weekend.

Rollins College baseball (Spencer Sarringar): While Spence was hospitalized after thyroid surgery, his team went 2-1 against Quincy University, losing 11-7 and winning by 9-3 twice. Now 4-3, Rollins is home for three Friday through Sunday against Nova Southeastern.

Dakota Wesleyan wrestling (Aric Williams, Tyson Johnson): At the GPAC conference tournament, a qualifier for the NAIA nationals, Aric placed third and thus qualified to wrestle at the NAIAs in Wichita next week on March 3-4. After two byes in his 149-pound class, Aric won by a 4:24 fall over a Briar Cliff wrestler, lost his semifinal to Morningside 3-1, won in a 1:26 pin in the consolation semis over a Hastings man, and then captured third place with a 6:24 pin over a Concordia wrestler. Tyson at 157 had a first-round bye, lost a 3-1 decision to a Morningside wrestler, had two more byes, but then lost a 2-1 decision to a Concordia man in the consolation semifinals.

Texas State baseball (Peyton Zabel): The Bobcats opened the season with an explosion of offense, outscoring Northwestern of the Big 10 by 56-18 in three games at home in San Marcos. Texas State won by scores of 12-4 Friday, 20-5 Saturday and 24-9 Sunday. Peyton was the fourth of five Bobcat hurlers in the Saturday contest. He pitched an inning, facing six batters, allowing one walk, one hit, one earned run and one hit batter All three outs came on fly balls. Texas State stays at home this weekend for three games against Oral Roberts of the Summit League.

Black Hills State track-field (Frank Becker): At the BHSU Stinger Open, Frank placed fourth in the 400-meter dash in :53.08 and eighth in the 200 in :24.40. The Yellowjackets go to the RMAC conference meet Friday in Alamosa, Colo.

South Dakota Mines track-field (Erick Colman): At the BHSU Stinger Open in Spearfish, Erick placed fourth in the shot put at 47’1/2″ and fifth in the weight throw at 52’9 1/2″. The Hardrockers’ RMAC conference meet comes up this Friday at Alamosa, Colo.

BIRTHDAYS/ANNIVERSARIES

Thursday, Feb. 23:
Anniston Lowery, Cash Anderson, Arlo Beck, Chloe Tibbs, Dave Bonde, Megan (Vockrodt) Bauck, Darren Larson, Renee Knapp, Nathan Bradley, Mary Carter, Mick Hofer, Sarah (Linn) Hyde, Kayla (Pochop) Riswold.
— 13th anniversary, Garrett/Adrienne James.

Friday, Feb. 24:
Heidi Nelson, Loryn (Schuetzle) Lichty, Joe Wilson, Hope Davis, Michael Knudson, Jayne (Knox) Kraemer, Everett Miller, Chris Peterson, Dave Potter, Michael Authier, Zach Frisby, Phoenix Malone, Rob Stoeser, Karin (Porter) Bartell, Piper Dooley, Brian Pope, Jane Cass, Andrea Spaid.

Saturday, Feb. 25:
Max Hunsley, Tom Gerken, Willie Gloe, Chandra (Lesmeister) Miller, Marvin Massey, Caitlyn McKay, Steve Thompson, Patsy Handcock, Christy (Sobolik) Luskey, Len Cooper, Julie Smith, Clara (Stoeser) Kinzie, Glynnes Sargent, Troy Buschbom, Greg Campbell.

Sunday, Feb. 26:
Amelia Rounds Tyson O’Daniel, Austin Gross, Peyton Shibley, Jade Bartel, Justin Stephens, Adelyn Steele, Diane Deis, Stacey Mancuso, Zsch Parsons, Tye Johnson, Evelynn Dekker, Torey Garrett, Jill (Taylor) Bischoff, Kit Bramblee, Valerie (Coyle) Hawley.

Monday, Feb. 27:
Patrick Olson, Nick Marso, Tyson Pierce, Terry (Lamster) Horning, Seth Deal, Vada Smith, Isaiah Shoup, Sheryl Johnson, Leah Parsons, Macy Bryant, Sara (Stulken) Kehrwald, Steven Jonas, Amanda Barber, Jim Bright, Andrea (Viken) Urbach.

Tuesday, Feb. 28:
Harry Decker, Terry Miller, Dawn (Henderson) Holmes, Mitch Irion, Anna (Van Duzer) Yost, Karen (Van Camp_ DeJabet, Kayla Klemann, Andrew Chick, Kyler Tieszen, Derek Van Roekel, Bre Ripperger.

No birthdays this year, Feb. 29:
Malik Hachem, Karen (Rawstern) LaFurge, Marj (Schmidt) Thompson.

Wednesday, March 1:
Jeb Bruzelius, Nate Buscher, Dan Cahill, Laura Louder, Karen Schaefer, Robae (Cook) Robinson, Caleb McKinley.
— 9th anniversary, Alan/Ann Hess.
— 20th anniversary, Adam/Jami Chick.
— 23rd anniversary, Brady/Emily Smith.

Thursday, March 2:
Addison Salmonson, Kate Boyd, Brianna Neuhauser, Fletcher Ruby, Lindsey (Lower) Uecker, Curt Roddewig, Rev. Teri Johnson, Sawyer Weinheimer, Sandy Zimmerman, Julie Morris-Holter, Karen Gerdes, Pat Labahn-Kuchta.

NEWS OF PEOPLE AND EVENTS

Katherine (Van Gerpen) Cedeno Torres spent her last day as nurse supervisor at Avera OB/GYN in Sioux Falls last week. She will go to work in a new position as nurse manager of The Link triage center. The Link provides 24/7 access, response and treatment for individuals who are struggling with acute mental health crises, withdrawal symptoms or acute intoxication. Meanwhile, in between jobs, she went traveling to the other side of the world all by herself to Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. This week she was also named by Jodi Schwan’s “S.F. Business” site as one of Sioux Falls’ top “30 Under 30” professionals.

Riggs High student Jack King was crowned 2023 King of Hearts at the conclusion of the annual formal dance Sunday night.

Don Stevens, 80, died of heart disease Feb. 14. His funeral was held Tuesday at New Life Assembly of God in Pierre. He grew up in Oklahoma and served with the U.S. Navy Reserves from 1960 to 1964. After spending most of his adult life in California, he returned to his birthplace, Pierre, and became involved with his church. He also worked in delivery for Pierre Flower Shop & Greenhouse until that business was lost. He is survived by two brothers, a sister, former wife Karen Jackson, and many nephews and nieces.

Margaret Mikkelsen, 89, Agar, died Feb. 11 at Avera Oahe Manor in Gettysburg. Her funeral service was held at the Methodist church in Agar on Feb. 16. The former Margaret McFarling graduated from high school in Fort Pierre in 1953. She and Mike Mikkelsen were married in 1954. Margaret lived on the Mikkelsen family farm west of Agar for nearly 70 years. She was an avid photographer, traveler, square dancer and an attendee at countless events of her sons and grandchildren. She is survived by her five sons, Steve (Pat) Mikkelsen of Agar, Jerry (Jo) Mikkelsen of Fort Pierre, Jay (Connie) Mikkelsen of Agar, Mike (Jill) MIkkelsen of Yankton and Kelly (Michelle) Mikkelsen of Pierre; 12 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; her sisters, Betty Boyle and Donna Thaden; her brother, Charles (Linda) McFarling, and sisters-in-law Nancy Weischedel and LaVonne Weischedel.

Andrew Kightlinger competed in a triathlon at Las Catalina, Costa Rica, last week.

Pierre artist Jim Pollock had a piece of his work selected for the South Dakota Governor’s 10th Biennial Art Exhibition. The catalog of selected pieces is now available. The entire exhibition will make a tour of the state covering the next year with these stops: Now through May 14, South Dakota Art Museum at SDSU; June 19-Aug. 4, John Day Gallery at USD; Aug. 25-Nov. 12, Washington Pavilion; Dec. 15-March 30, Dahl Arts Center in Rapid City. Pollock’s selected piece is an ink and watercolor work entitled “The Gathering.”

Phil Adam is spending this semester about as far away from home as a guy could get—at the University of Western Australia in Perth. That school and USD have an exchange program of which Phil is a part. After his semester there he will return to finish his degree at USD. Meanwhile, the rest of his family gathered in Sioux Falls last weekend where Conrad Adam competed in a sled hockey team tournament. He plays on the Sioux Falls Stampede’s sled hockey team.

Erin (Doyle Vosberg) Bourk, 81, long-time Blunt resident, died Feb. 16 at Edgewood Healthcare. Her memorial service was held Tuesday at St. John’s Catholic Church in Fort Pierre. The daughter of Jim and Ferne Doyle was born in Louisiana while her dad was in the Army. The family moved to Blunt following Jim’s discharge. Erin graduated from Blunt High School in 1959 and married Dick Vosberg in 1961. They lived in Spencer, Mitchell and Mission while Dick taught and coached, then they moved to Blunt. Erin worked at the secretary of state’s office while Dick taught and coached at Blunt. The Vosbergs later lived at Kadoka where Erin was a bookkeeper for Hogen Hardware, at White River where she worked at the Mellette County courthouse and at Midland where she worked at Joy’s Cafe and at the school as an aide. Back in Blunt, Erin worked for her dad at Blunt Cash Store and at Fischer Rounds & Associates in Pierre. Erin and Don Bourk were married in 1985, and Erin worked at Blunt Cash and Medicine Creek convenience store and the Fort Pierre sale barn. In later years the Bourks built a new home in Pierre. She is survived by her husband, Don Bourk; her children, Holly (Randy) Nemec of Midland and Kelly (Dena) Vosberg of Fort Pierre; her brother,, Rich (Sandy) Doyle of Blunt; her sister, Colleen (Dan) Lamb of Onida; 11 grandchildren; and her stepchildren, Steve Bourk of Pierre, Robin (Larry) Carlson of Pierre and Vona (Steve) Johnson of Pierre, and their families.

Michael Lusk and Halle Gronlund have set June 29, 2024, as their wedding date.

The last of the public hearings in regard to the proposed social studies standards in South Dakota will be held at 9 a.m. Monday, April 17, at the Ramkota RiverCentre in Pierre.

Long-time Pierre resident Ken Melius, 72, Sioux Falls, passed away Jan. 6 at the USD Sanford Medical Center in Sioux Falls. Ken graduated from high school at Faulkton in 1969 and from college at Northern State in 1974. He and Sue Ellen Sommer were married in 1976. Ken had three major careers in his adult lifetime—as a court services officer in Aberdeen for 13 years, as executive director and lobbyist for the South Dakota State Employees Organization in Pierre for 13 years, and as executive vice president of the South Dakota Association of Plumbing, Heating and Cooling Contractors in Pierre for 13 more years. He also founded a book publishing company and helped his parents on their farm. Ken was one of the founding fathers of the hockey program in Pierre-Fort Pierre. Survivors include his wife Sue; his children, Dmitri (Brittni) Melius and their children, Henry and Hattie, of Littleton, Colo.; Andre (Julie) Melius and their son William of Eau Claire, Wis.; Miguel (Seul) and their son Lincoln of Edina, Minn., and Maria Christianson and her children, Austin, Blakely and Brecken, of Sioux Falls; his brothers, Robert Melius of Faulkton and Michael Melius of Hermosa, and his sister, Nancy Adkison of Ivins, Utah.

Auditions for the next Pierre Players show of 2023, Neil Simon’s “Jake’s Women,” will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, March 6, at Grand Opera House. The show has a cast of one male and seven females. For information on the individual characters and how to contact the director, go to www.pierreplayers.com, click on “Shows,” and click on “Jake’s Women.” The performance dates of “Jake’s Women” will be April 28-30 and May 4-6.

A newspaper ad which honors each month’s Student of the Month at Brandon Valley High School this week honored Tristan Bisbee, whose dad Jason graduated from Riggs High School in 1967 and who teaches and coaches in the Brandon Valley system. His mom is Erin. Tristan has a 4.0 grade-point average and, when he enters the University of North Dakota this fall he will already have between 17 and 20 college credits in hand, thanks to his heavy load of advanced placement courses. The ad says that Tristan plans to eventually go after a master’s degree in dietetics with the long-range goal of working as a nutritional therapist. Besides his academic excellence, Tristan was a captain of the football team this past fall, participates in powerlifting and track, is a National Honor Society member, and works on the school’s HOPE Squad and Peer Helpers. Coincidentally his selection as Student of the Month was announced by the BVHS principal, Pierre native Mark Schlekeway.

According to a Tuesday story in the Rapid City Journal by staff writer Tanya Manus (a Pierre native), former Pierre student and resident Michael Spears is one of the two stars of a new movie, “The Year of the Dog,” which premieres at Rapid City’s Elks Theater this Friday as well as at more than 100 locations around the country. Michael, who attended Jefferson Elementary while he was in Pierre, is a member of the Lakota Lower Brule Tribe and appeared as Otter in “Dances With Wolves.” This new movie produced by Rob Grabow features Grabow as a loner alcoholic, Matt, who is trying to stay sober to let his dying mother see him as sober. Michael Spears plays Fred, Matt’s sponsor. According to Tanya’s story the movie’s themes are “alcoholism and recovery, healing through connection, the remarkable love of a dog, and the struggle to repair damaged relationships when we’ve hit rock bottom.” The other star of the film is Caleb, a Siberian husky. The news story says that Spears, in addition to his acting, “works in the film industry as a technical adviser for Native American cultures, a soundtrack recording artist and a voice-over actor. He also travels as a keynote speaker on Indigenous health and wellness, mental health and Lakota spirituality.” More information on the movie can be accessed at www.theyearofthedogmovie.com.

PONDER THIS

“Earlier in my life I thought the things that mattered were the things that you could see like my car, my house, my wealth, my property, your office. But as I’ve grown older, I’ve become convinced that the things that matter most are the things that you can’t see—the love you share with others, your inner purpose, your comfort with who you are.”
— President Jimmy Carter

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