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PRESS & DAKOTAN SPRING SPORTS 2012 HALEY BRUNKE, SCOTLAND: 8th in 3200 CHLOE CORNEMANN, YANKTON: 8th in 300 hurdles SENIOR BOYS AUSTIN HAMM, BLOOMFIELD: 1st in 3200, 3rd in 1600 TY SOULEK, YANKTON: 4th in discus, 6th in shot put PAGE 5 JUSTIN LILLIE, YANKTON: 3rd in 110 hurdles BRADY VIET, MARION: 5th in 200, 8th in 400 KIPP KINSLEY, YANKTON: 4th in 3200 KEEGAN RINGLING, PLATTE-GEDDES: 4th in 800 CONNOR FITZSIMMONS, YANKTON: 4th in triple jump AUSTIN CARLSON, BERESFORD: 6th in triple jump CONNOR FLOREY, ANDES CENTRAL: 6th in long jump SAM KIGER, IRENE-WAKONDA: 6th in discus WILLIAM MART, VERMILLION: 6th in discus BEN FISCHER, MENNO: 7th in pole vault SCOTT DAVIS, IRENE-WAKONDA: 8th in shot put JUNIOR GIRLS KIERAN O MALLEY, CENTERVILLE: 4th in triple jump, tied for 4th in high jump, 6th in long jump KELSEY FITZGERALD, YANKTON: 3rd in high jump Tanagers Look To Build On 2011 Success BY JILANNE DOOM R E G A N TA ASSISTANTS: Dana Konopasek, Jaime Guenther VITALS: District C-7, Niobrara Valley Conference LAST YEAR: Tessa Ives was seventh in the discus at state as a sophomore. The Cougars lost eight letterwinners to graduation. RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Ashley Chinana (Sr., dis- tance/relays), Cynthia Sokol (Sr., sprints/relays), Jade Salmen (Jr., mid-distance/relays), Tessa Ives (Jr., throws/relays), Mariah Leisure (Jr., sprints/mid-distance, throws), Rylee Klawitter (So., sprints/middistance/relays), Andrea Burkhardt (So., hurdles/mid-distance, relays), J&J Lumber 605-369-2261 708 8th Street Springfield, SD 57062 Megan and Paige Olson, Billberg said. We also look forward to being big in the throws. We have two throwers this year that should really figure in a lot points for us before the end of the year in Beth Szymonski and Stacy Hirsch. So we re really looking forward to seeing them compete. Luckily for the team, and for almost all other South Dakota teams, the unusually warm temperatures allowed them to begin practice right away. The Tanagers training cycle benefitted Alcester-Hudson COACH: LeeAnn Haisch (22nd year) ASSISTANTS: Brian Haak, Jeff Sebern, Eric Bauder, Josh Hohn VITALS: Region 4B, Tri-Valley Conference LAST YEAR: The Cubs saw their 4x800 and 4x400 relay teams win state titles. Their medley relay placed second at state while the 4x200 relay team placed third at state. The Cubs finished sixth overall at the Class B state meet, but lost three letterwinners to graduation. RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: MaKayla McConnell (Sr.), Brittani Liston (Sr., high jump), Jessica Wegh (Jr.), Ivy Pearson (Sr.), Jamie Jansen (So.), Courtney McKee (So.), Katie Homandberg (So.), Chantell Westberg (Jr.) TOP PROSPECTS: Brandi Vanden Hoek (Jr.), Ariyanna Miller (8th), Cassie Schiefen (8th), Brianna Walth (8th) greatly from the lack of snow and rain that usually interferes with the early track season. The kids really have been working hard. We started the first day we were able to which was the first week of March and the last couple days of February, Billberg said. So we ve been going at it for four weeks already and we ve got a good training cycle underneath us. We really look forward to what we can do throughout April when we have meet, meet, meet, and then May to build up for some state qualifiers. If past experience is any factor, building up the team for state qualifiers will come easily for the Tanagers, whose girls team won the state title two years ago and boys team who finished in the top eight in four different relays last spring. Just a couple years ago, we were state champs and we would like to be back to where we re competing for that top spot. But there are some tough teams out YHS Track on football player finished fourth in the discus and sixth in the shot put a year ago. The field events will be a strong point, Youmans said. We look at the throws and jumps and see potential state placewinners there. The Bucks also return fourth place finishers Connor Fitzsimmons in the triple jump and Jordan J.J. Hejna in the high jump. On the track, the Bucks return third place hurdler Justin Lillie and Kipp Kinsley, who finished fourth in the 3200. The 400 and up are all events where we will have a fair amount of success, Youmans said. The place we ll really be searching is the 100, 200 and sprint relays. We re hoping one or two incoming freshmen can raise the bar and be that guy in those events. Both teams have the potential for big points at state, Youmans said. It is not unrealistic that we have five or six kids that could be state champions if the right things happen on the right day, he said. The Bucks and Gazelles will only compete on the Williams Field track three times this season, the first of which is not for another month. Yankton will host Sioux Falls Lincoln in a dual on April 23, host its annual First Dakota Relays on April 26, then host the Eastern South Dakota Conference Championships on May 12. This is an off year for all our rotations, Youmans said. So when we are home, we have to make sure we put our best effort out there, let our community and city see what kind of program we have. The two big meets, First Dakota Relays and ESD, will be especially important, Youmans noted. The First Dakota Relays is second only to Howard Wood, he said. ESD is always a fun competitive meet. From Page 4 big thing, but it is huge in terms of getting kids excited about going out for track. One of those kids that is back in the fold is junior Mikala Hora, a two-time state placewinner in the 100-meter hurdles (seventh in 2008-09). We re going to be strong from the 400 and up, and we have Hailey Luken and Mikala Hora coming back in the hurdles, Youmans said. Everyone knows about the success of Jenna Grossenburg and Whitlee Larson, but we have three or four of the top distance runners in the state. Larson placed sixth in both the 800 and 1600 a year ago, while Grossenburg was third in the 3200 and eighth in the 1600. Senior Chloe Cornemann, eighth in the 300-meter hurdles a year ago, also returns. While the Gazelles lack depth COACH: Cliff Johnson (4th in the field events, they still have year) the potential to score big points. ASSISTANT: Diane Deurmier We re not deep in the field VITALS: Region 6B, Little Mis- events, but we don t need three, souri Valley Conference four placers, just one good one, LAST YEAR: Sierra Svatos Youmans said. Clara Schild in placed fourth at the state meet in the throws was on the outside the high jump. Kellie Winckler looking in last year at state. In placed second at the state meet the jumps, we have one good one in the triple jump. in all of them. RETURNING LETTERWINKelsey Fitzgerald is a multiple NERS: Laren Bryant (Sr.), Jenna state placewinner in the high Kitchenmaster (Sr.), Joy Kirkjump for the Gazelles. patrick (Sr.), Sierra Svatos (Jr., The Gazelles have some gaps high jump), Kellie Winckler (Jr. in the sprints, but have young jumps), Makayla Pavel (So.), Pay- athletes that may make an imton Johanneson (Fr.), Brooke pact there. Deurmier (Fr.), Erica Kitchenmas If somebody could surprise ter (8th) us in the 100 and 200, help us fill TOP PROSPECTS: Jaeley the void in the sprints and relays, Braun (8th), Makayla Petsche we could be a balanced team, (8th), Dakota Goode (Jr.), Kiyanne Youmans said. Bruguier (Jr.), Sydney Meyers The Yankton boys have the (So.), DeMera Dvorka (So.), Denbulk of their returning points nisha Johanneson (So.), Cybil coming in field events, led by double-placewinner Ty Soulek. SD GIRLS | PAGE 6 The future Northern Iowa walk- Andes Central Laurel-ConcordColeridge Snowdon S Tate Cunningham, Steve Steffen, Chris Collier VITALS: District C-6, Mid-State Conference LAST YEAR: Katelyn Dickes placed fourth in the 300 hurdles at state as a sophomore. TOP PROSPECTS: McKae Pinkelman, Joslyn Wiebelhaus, Savannah McGhee, Charice Stevens, Liz Steffen, Siera Becker, Katelyn Dickes, Leva Bakanaite, Anzhelika Tolstikhina, Lexi Steffen, Emily Schrempp, Rachel Loecker, Alli Walter, Lexi Schommer, Anna Brodersen, Alexis Arens, Amber Leise Niobrara-Verdigre R COACH: Chad Cattau ASSISTANTS: Adam Kuntz, COACHES: Stacy Ludwig, Mary E -C Hart. Cedar Catholic Pritchard (Sr.), Mandy Nelson (Sr.), Erika Hochstein (Sr.), Kiley Thompson (Jr.), Sammie Camenzind (Jr.) G C LAST YEAR: The Wildcats graduated five letterwinners, including state meet pole vault medalist Becca Heikes. TOP PROSPECTS: Taylor Dybdal (high jump), Micheala Dendinger (sprints), Greer Olson, Kristina Huss RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Jade Cunningham (Sr.), Amy A L- From Page 4 naro, Shannon Benson, Kyle Kovarna VITALS: District C-6, Northeast Nebraska Activities Conference LAST YEAR: LCC finished as the girls Class C-2 runner-up. Amy Pritchard placed seventh in the long jump and triple jump at state as a junior. BLAIR GILKYSON (right) JR DISTANCE SD GIRLS TRACK NE Girls COACH: Nate Sims ASSISTANTS: Carol Manga- N WILL MART SR THROWS VERMILLION After returning several state place winners and qualifiers on both the boys and girls squads, the Vermillion High School track and field teams are expecting an even more successful 2012 season. Our team has a lot of returnees so we will be looking forward to a very deep girls team. We have 30 kids out, which is really exciting, and we ve got a lot of kids that can do many things. I also think we should be very successful in relays throughout the year, head coach Lenni Billberg said of the girls squad. On the boys side we also return a lot of state placers from last year. We have Colin Olson, who is part of the triplets we have on our team, and we return Austin Krier, who is an 800 runner for us and ran a great leg for us in the Medley at the state meet. We ve got Aaron Ruhaak, a multi-time place winner in relays at state. He s running some great 400s for us so we hope things are going to go well for him. Will Mart is another guy who is a discus thrower and we hope to get him to score a few points for us in the shot this year too. So we re really looking forward to see what they can bring. Individually on the girls side, Billberg has high hopes in many of her experienced upperclassmen to compete well throughout the season. We ve got some great talent in Blair Gilkyson and the twins TA S sports@yankton.net AMY PRITCHARD SR JUMPS Cathryn Hanzlik (So., jumps/sprints/mid-distance/relays), McKayla Eisenhauer (So., throws) TOP PROSPECTS: Amanda Boggs (So.), Amanda Ruzicka (Jr.), Madi Schreier (Fr.), Denielle DeSive (Fr.), Katie Hanvey (Fr.) Santee COACH: Natalie Stout (1st year) ASSISTANT: Sheri Plumbtree VITALS: District D-8, Niobrara Valley Conference LAST YEAR: The Warriors had two competitors in the state meet last year. They lost two letterwinners from last year s squad. RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Georgianna Denney (So.), Chrissean Swalley (So.) TOP PROSPECT: Adrianna Duarte (So.) Wausa COACH: Grey Conn (27th year) ASSISTANT: Tylor Fincher VITALS: District D-3, Lewis and Clark Conference LAST YEAR: The Lady Vikings finished 10th overall at the state meet in Class D. They return the core of that team this year. Breanna Gallup placed third in the 3200, fourth in the 800, and fourth SECURITY STATE BANK Tyndall, SD 589-3313 in the 1600 at state as a freshman. Wynot COACH: Lee Heimes (5th year) ASSISTANT: Amy Kathol VITALS: District D-3, Lewis and Clark Conference LAST YEAR: Ashley Heine was sixth in the 400 and eighth in the 800 at the state meet as a sophomore. RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Erica Burbach (Jr.), Shelby Hochstein (Jr.), Haley Gowery (Sr.), Ashley Heine (Jr.), Heidi Klug (Sr.), Angelique Stappert (Jr.) TOP PROSPECTS: Faith Krie (Fr.), Samantha Wieseler (Jr.), Kelsie Higgins (Jr.), Jenna Heine (Fr.), Kristi Bruening (Fr.), Lacey Heimes (Fr.), Nicole Pinkelman (Jr.) Tyndall Tribune 1614 Main St. Tyndall, SD (605) 589-3242 CROSBY-JAEGER FUNERAL HOME INC. Avon, SD 119 N. Poplar St. Springfield Times 810 8th St. Springfield, SD (605) 369-2441 Wagner, SD 124 E. Hwy 50 384-3781 Springfield, SD 604 8th St. 369-2488 Jim & Julie Jaeger and Chad Peters TANAGERS | PAGE 6 TABOR LUMBER COOP COUNTRY FORD Tabor, SD 30320 Ford Ave. Lumber Co-op 463-2565 Petro Dept. 463-2251 Lesterville Dept. 364-7522 Tyndall, SD 589-3362 GEMAR S MARKET Family Vision Care Over 300 New and Used E-Z-Go, Star & Yamaha Golf Cars Fresh Fruits & Vegetables Meats & Groceries In-Store Bakery Fresh Deli Pizza & Restaurant Dr. James Torsney, OD 605-369-2625 Tyndall, SD 589-3311 MR. Golf Car 822 8th St. Springfield, SD www.mrgolfcar.net Treat Most Eye Diseases 1708 Main St. Tyndall, SD (605) 589-3406
Tanagers Look To Build On 2011 Success
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