The South Dakota High School Activities Association has released the schedule for the South Dakota high school football playoffs classes 11B through 9B.

To see each class follow the link:
11B
9AA
9A
9B

 Minnesota State was selected by the league coaches as the preseason favorite in the NSIC for the 2019-20 season. The Mavericks received 214 points, garnering seven first places votes to sit six points ahead of second place Augustana. The Vikings had 208 points and six first place votes. Minnesota Duluth was third with 196 points and the other three first place votes.
In the divisional rankings, Minnesota Duluth was the unanimous choice in the north, picking up all seven first place votes for 49 points. Northern State was second with 40 points and the other first place vote (coaches cannot vote for their own team). In the south, Minnesota State held the top spot with 47 points and five first place votes. Augustana was second with 44 points and the other three first place votes.

NSIC coaches rank each team from 1 to 15 with a first place vote receiving 15 points, second place 14, third place 13, etc. Coaches do not rank their own team or vote for their own players in the preseason poll.

The NSIC regular season championship will be based on the 22-game schedule. Each team will play teams in their division twice (14) and teams in the other division once (8). An NSIC North and South Division Champion will also be awarded. Divisional standings will also be based on all 22 NSIC contests played. In the case of a tie, co-champions will be awarded. The 16-team NSIC / Sanford Health Men’s Basketball Tournament Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Championships are set to take place Sat.-Tues., February 29 to March 3 at the Sanford Health Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. First round games will be played on the campus of the top eight seeds on Wednesday, Feb. 26.

The 2019-20 men’s basketball season gets underway on Friday, November 1 with Wayne State at the D2CCA Division II Tip Off Classic with the rest of the league starting up on Friday, November 8. Conference action beginning for the majority of teams on Saturday, November 30.

NSIC Players to Watch - 2019-20
Preseason Players of the Year in Italics (More info at link above)  
 

The North Border vs. Northwestern football game scheduled for Friday at 7:00 p.m. in Leola has been postponed.  The game will be played Saturday at 5:00 p.m. 

Class 11AAA
1. SF Roosevelt (22) 5-1 114 2
2. SF Lincoln (1) 5-1 90 3
3. Harrisburg 5-1 59 4
4. Brandon Valley 4-2 57 1
5. SF O’Gorman 4-2 25 5
Class 11AA
1. Pierre (23) 6-0 115 1
2. Brookings 6-0 92 2
3. Mitchell 3-3 63 3
4. Huron 3-3 47 4
5. Sturgis 2-4 23 NR
Receiving votes: Yankton 5.
Class 11A
1. Tea Area (17) 5-1 109 1
2. Dell Rapids (6) 6-0 98 2
3. Dakota Valley 4-2 55 3
4. Madison 3-3 37 5
5. Canton 4-2 24 RV
Receiving votes: Tri-Valley 20, West Central 2.
Class 11B
1. Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan (19) 6-0 111 1
2. Winner (4) 7-0 96 2
3. Webster Area 6-0 65 3
4. St. Thomas More 5-1 45 4
5. Mount Vernon/Plankinton 4-2 22 5
Receiving votes: McCook Central/Montrose 6.
Class 9AA
1. Bon Homme (22) 7-0 114 1
2. Viborg-Hurley (1) 6-0 93 2
3. Deuel 5-1 68 4
4. Parker 5-1 46 5
5. Hamlin 5-2 9 RV
Receiving votes: Arlington/Lake Preston 6, Baltic 5, Lemmon-McIntosh 4.
Class 9A
1. Sully Buttes (16) 6-0 105 1
2. Canistota/Freeman (6) 6-0 98 2
3. Britton-Hecla (1) 6-0 71 3
4. Howard 5-1 41 5
5. Gregory 5-1 26 4
Receiving votes: Warner 4.
Class 9B
1. Colman-Egan (21) 6-0 113 1
2. Dell Rapids St. Mary (2) 6-0 94 2
3. Wolsey-Wessington 4-2 62 3
4. Harding County 5-1 49 4
5. Herreid/Selby Area 5-1 24 5
Receiving votes: Alcester-Hudson 3.

Tackle football remains one of the most popular sports in America, but participation in high school football in South Dakota and across the United States is falling steadily as the risk of brain injuries from the sport becomes clearer.

Participation in 11-player boys football in South Dakota fell by 5.2% over the past three years, and dropped by 16.6% over the past decade, according to national survey data. Enrollment in high school grades stayed the same during that period.

Recent studies have shown that from 5% to 10% of youth football players will suffer a concussion — defined as a “mild traumatic brain injury” — at some point during a full season. With about 1 million athletes playing high school football in the U.S. annually, that means between 50,000 and 100,000 teens will suffer a concussion each year, not including those at the youth and junior high levels.

Supporters of football — including players, parents, coaches and association officials — see the sport as one that builds character, focuses on teamwork and is outright fun to play and watch. They also note that fear of injury is only one element of a complex decision that high school athletes make in terms of whether to play football or any sport.

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Class AA
Rank-School FPV Rcd TP Pvs
1. Watertown (19) 14-1 99 1
2. S.F. O'Gorman (1) 13-1 81 2
3. Huron - 10-4 44 RV
4. S.F. Roosevelt - 11-4 42 RV
5. Brandon Valley - 8-5 20 5
Others receiving votes: : S.F. Washington (10-5) 8, Aberdeen Central (8-4) 6.

Class A
Rank-School FPV Rcd TP Pvs
1. Dakota Valley (15) 17-1 95 1
2. Miller (2) 15-1 73 2
3. S.F. Christian - 15-8 72 3
4. McCook Central-Montrose - 15-3 37 4
5. Hill City - 21-0 18 5
Others receiving votes: Parker (16-6) 4, Groton Area (16-4) 1.

Class B
Rank-School FPV Rcd TP Pvs
1. Northwestern (20) 26-0 100 1
2. Faulkton Area - 15-3 76 2
3. Chester Area - 15-6 59 3
4. Faith - 15-2 33 5
5. Ethan - 15-3 15 RV
Others receiving votes: Burke (18-4) 11, Kadoka Area (19-2) 4, Gayville-Volin (17-4) 2.

The 2019-20 Summit League men's basketball season is expected to be a highly-contested journey all the way to the first week of March and a strong indicator of that is nearly half of the programs received first-place votes in the preseason poll.

And, after all the votes were tabulated, it was 2019 Tournament Champion North Dakota State that found itself on top of that poll after receiving 23 of 34 first-place votes from a panel of the league's nine head coaches, sports information directors and select media members. NDSU's ascension to the top of the preseason poll is the program's first since the 2013-14 season.

The Bison, who topped the poll with 526 points, captured the postseason event as the No. 4 seed with Tournament MVP Vinnie Shahid leading the way. Shahid was one of six players selected to the preseason all-league first team. Classmate Tyson Ward (12.4 ppg) was a second-team honoree.

South Dakota followed NDSU in second place with six first-place votes and 457 total points. The Coyotes are led by second-year head coach Todd Lee, who has Preseason Player of the Year Stanley Umude back to anchor a squad that went 7-9 in league play a year ago. Umude is the first Coyote to earn that distinction since USD joined the league prior to the 2011-12 season.

Lee also has two more preseason all-league team selections in Triston Simpson (first team) and Tyler Hagedorn (second team) back to aid in a potential championship run. Hagedorn was a preseason all-league selection a year ago as well, but missed the entire campaign due to injury.

With a pair of front-line starters back that landed on the preseason all-league first team, Oral Roberts was pegged to finish third in the poll with a trio of first-place votes and a 404-point total. Forwards Emmanuel Nzekwesi, a second team all-league performer last year, and 2019 Newcomer and Freshman of the Year Kevin Obanor both return to provide a potent inside threat.

Following its runner-up finish from a year ago, Omaha was picked to finish fourth with 369 points. Reigning Coach of the Year Derrin Hansen has a veteran squad back with three double-figure scorers returning to his lineup. Two members of the that trio, JT Gibson (12.9 ppg) and Matt Pile (11.2 ppg), were preseason all-second team selections.

South Dakota State's Eric Henderson inherits a Jackrabbits' squad that has won the last four regular-season titles. The former Jackrabbit assistant is one of two first-year coaches in the league and his team was picked to finish fifth with 300 points, while receiving the final two first-place votes.

Purdue Fort Wayne, who enters its final season as a league member, was picked to finish sixth with 224 points. Senior Matt Holba is the Mastodons top-returning scorer after averaging 11.7 ppg a year ago. He was picked as a preseason all-second team honoree.

Western Illinois, who became the first No. 8 seed in tournament history to knock off the top seed a year ago, was picked to finish seventh after totaling 188 points. The Leathernecks return the league's top returning scorer in Kobe Webster. The junior was a preseason first-team selection after averaging 17.0 ppg.

Like Henderson, North Dakota's Paul Sather is a first-year coach as he took over for the Fighting Hawks after a successful run in Division II at Northern State. His first UND squad was picked to finish eighth with 164 points after winning six league contests in its debut season as a league member last season.

Denver rounded out the poll in ninth place with 113 total points. Head coach Rodney Billups has a young core back that will look to bounce back from a three-win season in league play.

Points for the preseason poll were compiled on a 9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis, while all-league teams were compiled on an 11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis. The top six vote-getters earned first-team honors and the next five were selected to the second team. Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own student-athletes or team.

The 2020 Summit League Tournament will be March 7-10 at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center in Sioux Falls, S.D.

2019-20 Preseason Summit League Player of the Year
Stanley Umude – South Dakota

Preseason All-Summit League First Team
Emmanuel Nzekwesi, Oral Roberts, Sr., F (14.8 ppg/8.5 rpg/1.2 apg)
Kevin Obanor, Oral Roberts, So., F (14.4 ppg/7.2 rpg/0.5 apg)
Vinnie Shahid, North Dakota State, Sr., G (13.1 ppg/3.0 rpg/2.6 apg)
Triston Simpson, South Dakota, Sr., G (14.0 ppg/3.7 rpg/3.6 apg)
Stanley Umude, South Dakota, Jr., F (14.4 ppg/5.5 rpg/1.4 apg)*
Kobe Webster, Western Illinois, Jr., G (17.0 ppg/4.4 rpg/3.1 apg)

Preseason All-Summit League Second Team
Tyler Hagedorn, South Dakota, Sr., F (13.0 ppg/5.9 rpg/1.1 apg)#
JT Gibson, Omaha, Sr., G (12.9 ppg/2.8 rpg/2.1 apg)
Matt Holba, Purdue Fort Wayne, Sr., F (11.7 ppg/4.2 rpg/1.2 apg)
Matt Pile, Omaha, Jr., F (11.2 ppg/7.9 rpg/1.2 apg)
Tyson Ward, North Dakota State, Sr., F (12.4 ppg/6.2 rpg/2.3 apg)
*Preseason Player of the Year automatically earns a spot on first team
#Hagedorn's stats are from 2017-18 season

Preseason Poll

South Dakota and Coyote senior guard Ciara Duffy were named The Summit League preseason favorite and Preseason Player of the Year, respectively, for the upcoming 2019-20 women's basketball season.

The Coyotes, who topped the preseason poll with 527 points, were selected as preseason favorites for the first time since joining the league in 2011. South Dakota received 20 of the 34 first-place votes in the preseason poll, while the remaining 14 went to reigning Summit League Tournament Champion South Dakota State (2^nd; 496 points; 13 first-place votes) and Denver (3^rd; 394 points; 1 first-place vote).

Duffy was voted The Summit League Women's Basketball Player of the Year after receiving 28 of the 34 first-place votes.  Joining Duffy on the Preseason All-Summit League First Team is teammate Hannah Sjerven, South Dakota State forwards Myah Selland and Tagyn Larson along with Denver forward Madison Nelson and guard Lauren Loven.

The Preseason All-Summit League Second Team is made up of the South Dakota duo of guards Chloe Lamb and Madison McKeever and accompanied by South Dakota State guard Tylee Irwin, Western Illinois guard Olivia Kaufmann and Oral Roberts guard Keni Jo Lippe.

Points for the preseason poll were compiled on a 9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis, while all-league teams were compiled on an 11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis. The top six vote-getters earned first-team honors and the next five were selected to the second team. Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own student-athletes or team.

The 2019-20 campaign begins in just under a month as South Dakota (at Northeastern), Oral Roberts (vs. Central Christian), Denver (at Kansas City), Purdue Fort Wayne (vs. Purdue Northwest) and Omaha (vs. Creighton) all play on opening night (Nov. 5). The Summit League regular season begins on Dec. 29 with three conference matchups.

The 2020 Summit League Tournament will be March 7-10 at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center in Sioux Falls, S.D.

2019-20 Preseason Summit League Player of the Year
Ciara Duffy – South Dakota

Preseason All-Summit League First Team
Ciara Duffy, South Dakota, Sr., G (14.6 ppg/4.7 rpg/2.9 apg)
Tagyn Larson, South Dakota State, Sr., F (10.5 ppg/6.4 rpg/1.7 apg)
Lauren Loven, Denver, Sr., G (14.3 ppg/1.9 rpg/1.6 apg)
Madison Nelson, Denver, Sr., F (16.5 ppg/8.9 rpg/1.0 bpg)
Myah Selland, South Dakota State, Jr., F (12.5 ppg/5.4 rpg/3.3 apg)
Hannah Sjerven, South Dakota, Jr., C (11.8 ppg/5.9 rpg/1.9 bpg) 

Preseason All-Summit League Second Team
Tylee Irwin, South Dakota State, Jr., G (7.5 ppg/3.7 rpg/1.7 apg)
Olivia Kaufmann, Western Illinois, Sr., G (16.0 ppg/5.4 rpg/3.8 apg)
Chloe Lamb, South Dakota, Jr., G (9.6 ppg/2.7 rpg/1.6 apg)
Keni Jo Lippe, Oral Roberts, Jr., G (13.3 ppg/5.2 rpg/1.9 apg)
Madison McKeever, South Dakota, Sr., G (7.8 ppg/2.9 rpg/1.9 apg) 

*Preseason player of the year automatically earns a spot on the first team

Preseason Poll

Class 11AAA
1. Brandon Valley (20) 4-1 112 1

2. SF Roosevelt (3) 4-1 95 2

3. SF Lincoln 4-1 58 4

4. Harrisburg 4-1 54 3

5. SF O'Gorman 3-2 26 5

Class 11AA

1. Pierre (23) 5-0 115 1

2. Brookings 5-0 92 2

3. Mitchell 3-2 68 3

4. Huron 3-2 43 5

5. Yankton 2-3 27 4

Class 11A

1. Tea Area (19) 4-1 111 1

2. Dell Rapids (4) 5-0 92 2

3. Dakota Valley 4-1 73 3

4. SF Christian 3-2 32 5

5. Madison 2-3 22 4

Receiving votes: Canton 14, Tri-Valley 1.

Class 11B
1. Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan (20) 6-0 112 1

2. Winner (3) 6-0 95 2

3. Webster Area 5-0 58 3

4. St. Thomas More 4-1 37 5

5. Mount Vernon/Plankinton 3-2 27 4

Receiving votes: Mobridge-Pollock 15, McCook Central/Montrose 1.

Class 9AA
1. Bon Homme (20) 6-0 112 1

2. Viborg-Hurley (3) 5-0 95 2

3. Baltic 4-1 52 5

4. Deuel 4-1 44 4

5. Parker 4-1 31 3

Receiving votes: Lemmon-McIntosh 9, Hamlin 2.

Class 9A
1. Sully Buttes (13) 5-0 102 1

2. Canistota/Freeman (9) 5-0 100 2

3. Britton-Hecla (1) 5-0 71 3

4. Gregory 5-0 47 5

T-5. Howard 4-1 12 RV

T-5. Kimball/White Lake 4-1 12 4

Receiving votes: Warner 1.

Class 9B
1. Colman-Egan (21) 5-0 113 1

2. Dell Rapids St. Mary (2) 5-0 94 2

3. Wolsey-Wessington 3-2 67 3

4. Harding County 4-1 40 5

5. Herreid/Selby Area 4-1 20 RV

Receiving votes: Alcester-Hudson 9, Langford Area 2.

Class AA
1. Watertown (15) 12-1 83 1
2. O'Gorman (2) 11-1 70 2
3. S.F. Washington 10-3 48 3
4. Aberdeen Central 7-2 29 5
5. Brandon Valley 7-4 12 4
Receiving Votes: S.F. Roosevelt (10-4) 7, Huron (8-4) 4, S.F. Lincoln (9-5) 2
Class A
1. Dakota Valley (8) 15-1 75 3
2. Miller (6) 14-1 66 2
3. S.F. Christian (3) 12-9 61 1
4. McCook Central-Montrose 13-3 31 4
5. Hill City 19-0 19 5
Receiving Votes: Parker (14-5) 3
Class B
1. Northwestern (17) 20-0 85 1
2. Faulkton Area 13-3 62 2
3. Chester Area 13-6 35 4
4. Burke 14-2 28 3
5. Faith 14-2 21 RV
Receiving Votes: Ethan (13-2) 12, Warner (8-7) 9, Kadoka Area (13-

The Northern State University volleyball team remains at No. 8 this week in the AVCA Top-25 Poll. The Wolves tallied two wins over the weekend, improving to 9-1 overall, and earned 849 points in the poll. Despite remaining in the eight pot, NSU earned 59 more points this week.
 
Northern is joined by NSIC opponents No. 4 Minnesota Duluth, No. 7 Concordia-St. Paul, No. 9 Southwest Minnesota State, No. 15 St. Cloud State, No. 17 Wayne State, No. 19 Sioux Falls, No. 25 Upper Iowa, (RV) Winona State, (RV) Augustana, (RV) Minnesota State. The Wolves will face Southwest and Sioux Falls this weekend on the road.
 
AVCA DII Top-25 Coaches Poll  - Week #3: September 23
 

 
Others receiving votes and listed on two or more ballots: Angelo State 69; Michigan Tech 60; Winona State 54; Central Washington 53; Missouri-St Louis 51; Palm Beach Atlantic 38; Cal State L. A. 36; Chaminade 36; Metro State 36; Azusa Pacific 31; Saint Leo 31; Lynn 30; Ashland 29; Central Oklahoma 28; West Florida 25; South Carolina-Aiken 15; Augustana (SD) 11; Minnesota State 6

Class 11AAA
1. Brandon Valley (21) 3-1 112 1

2. SF Roosevelt (1) 3-1 83 3

3. Harrisburg (1) 4-0 74 4

4. SF Lincoln 3-1 47 5

5. SF O'Gorman 2-2 27 2

Receiving votes: Sioux Falls Washington 2.

Class 11AA
1. Pierre (23) 4-0 115 1

2. Brookings 4-0 92 2

3. Mitchell 2-2 56 3

4. Yankton 2-2 48 5

5. Huron 2-2 29 4

Receiving votes: Sturgis 5.

Class 11A
1. Tea Area (17) 3-1 107 1

2. Dell Rapids (6) 4-0 94 2

3. Dakota Valley 3-1 72 3

4. Madison 2-2 40 4

5. SF Christian 2-2 15 5

Receiving votes: Canton 11, Tri-Valley 4, West Central 2.

Class 11B
1. Bridgewater-Emery-Ethan (21) 5-0 113 1

2. Winner (2) 5-0 93 2

3. Webster Area 4-0 53 3

4. Mount Vernon-Plankinton 3-1 51 4

5. St. Thomas More 4-1 32 5

Receiving votes: Mobridge-Pollock 3.

Class 9AA
1. Bon Homme (21) 5-0 112 1

2. Viborg-Hurley (2) 4-0 94 2

3. Parker 4-0 62 3

4. Deuel 4-0 49 4

5. Baltic 3-1 28 5

Class 9A
1. Sully Buttes (14) 4-0 103 1

2. Canistota/Freeman (8) 5-0 98 2

3. Britton-Hecla (1) 4-0 75 3

4. Kimball/White Lake 4-0 38 4

5. Gregory 4-0 27 5

Receiving votes: Howard 4.

Class 9B
1. Colman-Egan (21) 4-0 113 1

2. Dell Rapids St. Mary (2) 5-0 94 2

3. Wolsey-Wessington 2-2 58 4

4. Alcester-Hudson 4-1 49 5

5. Harding County 3-1 24 RV

Receiving votes: Herreid-Selby Area 5, Faulkton Area 2.

Class AA

1. Watertown (11) 9-1 74 1

2. O'Gorman (3) 10-1 66 2

3. S.F. Washington (2) 9-2 52 3

4. Brandon Valley 7-3 13 5

5. Aberdeen Central 5-2 11 4

Receiving Votes: S.F. Roosevelt (9-4)8, Huron (6-4) 7, S.F. Lincoln (9-4) 5, Harrisburg (4-3) 4

Class A

1. S.F. Christian (14) 9-6 77 1

2. Miller (2) 9-1 66 2

3. Dakota Valley 9-1 49 3

4. McCook Central-Montrose 10-3 18 4

5. Hill City 11-0 16 5

Receiving Votes: Elk Point-Jefferson (9-3) 5, Groton (7-0) 5, Parker (11-3) 4

Class B

1. Northwestern (16) 18-0 80 1

2. Faulkton Area 10-2 52 2

3. Burke 9-1 44 4

4. Chester Area 9-3 37 3

5. Warner 5-5 15 5

Receiving Votes: Faith (9-2) 10, Ethan (8-2) 2

Class 11AAA
1. Brandon Valley (15) 2-1 117 2
2. SF O’Gorman (7) 2-1 106 3
3. SF Roosevelt 2-1 77 1
4. Harrisburg (5) 3-0 68 4
5. SF Lincoln 2-1 31 RV
Receiving votes: Sioux Falls Washington 4, Rapid City Stevens 2

Class 11AA
1. Pierre (27) 3-0 135 1
2. Brookings 3-0 108 2
3. Mitchell 2-1 68 4
4. Huron 2-1 54 5
5. Yankton 1-2 33 3
Receiving votes: Sturgis 7.

Class 11A
1. Tea Area (27) 3-0 135 1
2. Dell Rapids 3-0 94 5
3. Dakota Valley 2-1 77 4
4. Madison 2-1 65 2
5. SF Christian 2-1 17 3
Receiving votes: Tri-Valley 16, Canton 1.

Class 11B
1. Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan (24) 4-0 132 1
2. Winner (3) 4-0 110 2
3. Webster Area 3-0 56 4
4. Mount Vernon/Plankinton 2-1 53 3
5. St. Thomas More 3-1 43 5
Receiving votes: McCook Central/Montrose 11.

Class 9AA
1. Bon Homme (24) 3-0 131 1
2. Viborg-Hurley (3) 3-0 111 2
3. Parker 3-0 72 4
4. Deuel 3-0 55 5
5. Baltic 2-1 31 3
Receiving votes: Lemmon/McIntosh 5.

Class 9A
1. Sully Buttes (15) 4-0 120 1
2. Canistota/Freeman (10) 4-0 116 2
3. Britton-Hecla (2) 3-0 85 3
4. Kimball/White Lake 3-0 40 5
5. Gregory 4-0 34 RV
Receiving votes: Howard 8, Timber Lake 2.

Class 9B
1. Colman-Egan (25) 4-0 133 1
2. Dell Rapids St. Mary (2) 4-0 110 2
3. Faulkton Area 2-1 61 5
4. Wolsey-Wessington 2-2 44 3
5. Alcester-Hudson 3-1 33 4
Receiving votes: Harding County 12, Herreid/Selby Area 12.

Class AA
1. Watertown (10) 8-1 80 t1
2. O'Gorman (6) 8-1 75 t1
3. S.F. Washington (2) 6-2 53 3
4. Aberdeen Central 5-0 39 4
5. Brandon Valley 7-2 21 5
Receiving Votes: R.C. Stevens (6-3) 2
Class A
1. S.F. Christian (14) 7-6 81 1
2. Miller (4) 4-0 74 2
3. Dakota Valley 7-1 56 4
4. McCook Central-Montrose 9-2 36 5
5. Hill City 8-0 9 RV
Receiving Votes: Parker (5-2) 7, Elk Point-Jefferson (4-1) 5, Groton (5-0) 1, Wagner (5-2) 1
Class B
1. Northwestern (18) 10-0 90 1
2. Faulkton Area 9-1 59 3
3. Chester Area 5-2 49 4
4. Burke 9-1 36 RV
5. Warner 4-5 12 2
Receiving Votes: Kadoka Area (8-0) 11, Faith (7-2) 10, Ipswich (8-1) 3

It's a big day for one of the Wild's smallest players.

What Jared Spurgeon lacks in physical stature he more than makes up for in what he means to the Wild both on the ice and off. On Saturday, he was rewarded with a brand new contract extension, one that comes in at seven years and $53.025 million.

The average annual value of the deal ($7.575 million per season) makes him the highest paid player on the team and assigns him the kind of financial value that he's consistently brought to the franchise since joining the team as an unlikely free agent in 2010. The deal begins next season and could keep Spurgeon in a Wild sweater through the end of the 2026-27 season.

"I think the group of guys that we have ... and also with [Wild GM] Bill [Guerin], when he came in he talked to me about the vision he has and, like I said before, he's won as a player and in management, and to be in one spot as a player your entire career is a pretty cool thing," Spurgeon said. "Ever since I've been here all I wanted to do is win here, so I'm not sure why you'd want to leave."

A sixth-round pick of the New York Islanders in 2008, Spurgeon was cast aside by the team that drafted him and able to sign with any team in the NHL.

A standout performance as an invitee at Minnesota's development camp in 2010 put him on the club's radar, and the Wild signed him to an entry-level contract on Sept. 23 of that year, shortly after returning from the Traverse City Prospects Tournament, where he led the Wild to a championship.

Had he not earned that contract with the Wild, he would have been off to Austria to continue his pro hockey career. He had no other opportunities to continue his career in the NHL other than in Minnesota.

"It's pretty surreal, especially being with family and talking to [agent] Eustice King. I talked to [Wild owner] Craig [Leipold] a bit and thanked him for the opportunity from the beginning and to be in this position, it's pretty crazy from the first Traverse City camp," Spurgeon said. "I couldn't be more grateful, especially for Bill, it happened pretty quick, I think it was two days and it was done. Family's pretty excited. There's a lot of work left to do, but we got a great group of guys down there, and a leader that's taking us in the right direction." 

In the nine years since his debut, Spurgeon has not only become a foundational piece for the Wild, he's made himself one of the finest -- if not most underrated -- players at his position in the NHL.

Spurgeon ranks second in team history among defensemen in games played (591), second in assists (178), points (248) and shots on goal (944). His 70 goals are most and his 26 power-play goals are tied with Brent Burns for first.

Amongst all Wild players, Spurgeon ranks in the top eight in games, assists, points, power-play goals, shots and plus/minus.

He will become just the third player in franchise history to skate in 600 games with Minnesota, doing so as soon as Oct. 22 if he plays in the first nine games this season.

His 96 penalty minutes are the fewest by any NHL defenseman that has played at least 500 NHL games since he entered the League.

"He's earned every bit of it," said Wild coach Bruce Boudreau. "His efforts for three years plus that I've seen him has been extraordinary. So you always like to see the little guy succeed. He might be small in stature, but his heart is so big that I think the Wild are really extremely lucky for seven more years."

That productivity put Spurgeon's new contract atop Guerin's to-do list once he became general manager of the team last month. Within a day or two of taking the job, he was on the phone with King trying to work on a deal. 

Then, two days ago, King came to St. Paul to meet with Guerin in person and the two were quickly able to hammer out a deal.

"As for player transactions and things like that, this was the priority," Guerin said. "We're just really happy that we got it done. He's excited about it, we're excited about it, it's a perfect fit. We didn't want him going anywhere."

Spurgeon began the 2010-11 season in the American Hockey League, playing in 23 games with the Houston Aeros.

He was recalled to Minnesota in November and made his NHL debut in his home province of Alberta against the Calgary Flames on his 21st birthday, Nov. 29, 2010.

He hasn't been back to the AHL since.

Mistaken that day by some as the team's new stick boy, Spurgeon has forged a career that has put him among the best defensemen in franchise history. Despite his longevity in the league -- he's entering his 10th season in the NHL -- he won't turn 30 until after Thanksgiving. 

The father of four has become a fan favorite because of his stature and his remarkably boyish looks. At 29, he seemingly hasn't aged since first joining the club nearly a decade ago.

He's also a favorite of teammates because of his quality play on the ice and his quiet, confident demeanor off of it.

"I think naturally that's who he is. I think players do know how good he is. I think that maybe goes for the media and the fans that he doesn't get the recognition that he should," said Wild captain Mikko Koivu. "But I think he's OK with it. He should know that his teammates have the respect for him and how he plays the game ... and I know the staff and everyone does. I don't think you're going to find a person that's going to say a bad word about him. That's the way I would describe him."

"For the organization it's important to keep the good people around. He's first class on and off the ice. I think we all know his capability to play the game and what he brings each and every night. The way he battles. The way he overcomes everything like injuries and things like that. Having a quality person like he is, that's the No. 1 thing I think about as a teammate."

Spurgeon is coming off a career-best season in which he scored 14 goals and 29 assists for 43 points -- all three figures representing high-water marks. 

He also played in all 82 games for the first time, matched a career high with 20 penalty minutes and even won his first faceoff. 

Spurgeon's new deal won't take effect until next season. He'll wrap up a four-year, $20.75 million contract in 2019-20, a contract that has provided the Wild with one of the finest values in the NHL during that span.

His new number makes him the highest paid player (by annual average value) in team history.

"When we talked about it this morning I looked at my wife and just asked her if you'd ever think we'd be here in 10 years," Spurgeon said. "It was pretty cool."

Class 11AAA
1. SF Roosevelt (24) 2-0 120 1
2. Brandon Valley 1-1 92 4
3. SF O’Gorman 1-1 60 2
4. Harrisburg 2-0 58 RV
5. SF Washington 1-1 17 3
Receiving votes: Sioux Falls Lincoln 11, Rapid City Stevens 2. 
Class 11AA
1. Pierre (24) 2-0 120 1
2. Brookings 2-0 95 3
3. Yankton 1-1 65 2
4. Mitchell 1-1 39 4
5. Huron 1-1 38 5
Receiving votes: Sturgis 3.
Class 11A
1. Tea Area (21) 2-0 114 1
2. Madison (3) 2-0 97 2
3. SF Christian 2-0 63 3
4. Dakota Valley 1-1 50 4
5. Dell Rapids 2-0 26 RV
Receiving votes: West Central 9, Tri-Valley 1. 
Class 11B
1. Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan (19) 3-0 115 1
2. Winner (5) 3-0 99 2
3. Mount Vernon/Plankinton 2-0 66 3
4. Webster Area 3-0 36 T-4
5. St. Thomas More 2-1 33 T-4
Receiving votes: McCook Central/Montrose 10, Groton Area 1.
Class 9AA
1. Bon Homme (22) 3-0 117 1
2. Viborg-Hurley (2) 2-0 90 2
3. Baltic 2-0 70 3
4. Parker 3-0 44 4
5. Deuel 2-0 38 5
Receiving votes: Lemmon-McIntosh 1. 
Class 9A
1. Sully Buttes (14) 3-0 106 T-1
2. Canistota/Freeman (8) 3-0 103 T-1
3. Britton-Hecla (2) 2-0 71 3
4. Howard 2-0 42 4
5. Kimball/White Lake 3-0 23 5
Receiving votes: Gregory 11, Timber Lake 3, Ipswich/Edmunds Central 1. 
Class 9B
1. Colman-Egan (22) 3-0 118 1
2. Dell Rapids St. Mary (2) 3-0 88 4
3. Wolsey-Wessington 2-1 62 3
4. Alcester-Hudson 3-0 35 RV
5. Faulkton Area 1-1 30 2
Receiving votes: Herreid/Selby Area 18, Corsica-Stickney 7, Harding County 2.

Class AA
T1. Watertown (8) 7-1 76 1
T1. O'Gorman (8) 5-1 76 2
3. S.F. Washington (3) 5-2 63 3
4. Aberdeen Central 4-0 33 5
5. Brandon Valley 5-2 21 4
Receiving Votes: Huron (5-2)10, S.F. Roosevelt (5-3) 4, R.C. Stevens (1-1) 2
Class A
1. S.F. Christian (19) 5-1 95 1
2. Miller 2-0 74 2
3. Parker 4-0 53 5
4. Dakota Valley 3-0 30 RV
5. McCook Central-Montrose 5-2 23 3
Receiving Votes: Elk Point-Jefferson (2-1) 5, Hill City (6-0) 2, Beresford (3-0) 1, Madison (2-0) 1
Class B
1. Northwestern (18) 8-0 94 1
2. Warner (1) 2-0 73 2
3. Faulkton Area 3-0 47 4
4. Chester Area 2-1 37 3
5. Faith 3-0 26 5
Receiving Votes: Burke (3-0) 7, Kadoka Area (2-0) 1

By Dr. Karissa Niehoff, Executive Director of the National Federation of State High School Associations and Dr. Dan Swartos, Executive Director of the South Dakota High School Activities Association.

Inappropriate adult behavior at high school athletic events across the United States has reached epidemic proportions, and South Dakota is not immune.  When more than 2,000 high school athletic directors were asked in a recent national survey what they like least about their job, 62.3% said it was “dealing with aggressive parents and adult fans.”

The men and women who wear the black and white stripes agree. In fact, almost 80% of officials quit after the first two years on the job, and unruly parents are cited as the reason why. As a result, there is a growing shortage of high school officials here in South Dakota, and in some sports, the shortage is severe. No officials means no more games.

If you are a parent attending a high school athletic event this fall, you can help by following these six guidelines:

1. Act Your Age. You are, after all, an adult. Act in a way that makes your family and school proud.

2. Don’t Live Your Life Vicariously Through Your Children. High school sports are for them, not you. Your family’s reputation is not determined by how well your children perform on the field of play.

3. Let Your Children Talk to the Coach Instead of You Doing It for Them. High school athletes learn how to become more confident, independent and capable—but only when their parents don’t jump in and solve their problems for them. 

4. Stay in Your Own Lane. No coaching or officiating from the sidelines. Your role is to be a responsible, supportive parent—not a coach or official.

5. Remember, Participating in a High School Sport Is Not About Getting a College Scholarship. According to the NCAA, only about 2% of all high school athletes are awarded a sports scholarship, and the total value of the scholarship is only about $4,500 per year.

6. Make Sure Your Children Know You Love Watching Them Play. Do not critique your child’s performance on the car ride home. Participating in high school sports is about character development, learning and having fun—not winning and losing.

Purchasing a ticket to a high school athletic event does not give you the right to be rude, disrespectful or verbally abusive. Cheer loud and be proud, but be responsible and respectful. The future of high school sports in South Dakota is dependent on you.

SD media prep football poll released Sept. 3rd

Class 11AAA
1. SF Roosevelt (22) 1-0 114 3
2. SF O’Gorman (1) 1-0 88 2
3. SF Washington 1-0 56 4
4. Brandon Valley 0-1 55 1
5. SF Lincoln 1-0 29 5
Receiving votes: Harrisburg 3.
 

Class 11AA
1. Pierre (23) 1-0 115 1
2. Yankton 1-0 90 2
3. Brookings 1-0 71 3
4. Mitchell 1-0 44 5
5. Huron 0-1 18 4
Receiving votes: Sturgis 4, Douglas 3.
 

Class 11A
1. Tea Area (22) 1-0 114 1
2. Madison (1) 1-0 91 3
3. SF Christian 1-0 53 4
4. Dakota Valley 0-1 40 2
5. West Central 1-0 32 5
Receiving votes: Dell Rapids 11, Canton 4.
 

Class 11B
1. Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan (22) 2-0 114 1
2. Winner (1) 2-0 91 3
3. Mount Vernon/Plankinton 1-0 67 4
T-4. St. Thomas More 1-1 26 2
T-4. Webster Area 2-0 26 RV
Receiving votes: Groton Area 15, Sioux Valley 4, McCook Central/Montrose 2.
 

Class 9AA
1. Bon Homme (22) 2-0 113 1
2. Viborg-Hurley (1) 1-0 86 3
3. Baltic 1-0 60 4
4. Parker 2-0 46 5
5. Deuel 1-0 37 RV
Receiving votes: Hamlin 3.
 

Class 9A
T-1. Sully Buttes (14) 2-0 100 1
T-1. Canistota/Freeman (8) 2-0 100 2
3. Britton-Hecla (1) 1-0 69 3
4. Howard 2-0 49 4
5. Kimball/White Lake 2-0 17 5
Receiving votes: Gregory 8, De Smet 1, Tripp-Delmont/Armour/Andes Central/Dakota Christian 1.
 

Class 9B
1. Colman-Egan (15) 2-0 104 2
2. Faulkton Area (4) 1-0 81 3
3. Wolsey-Wessington (1) 2-0 67 4
4. Dell Rapids St. Mary (3) 2-0 62 5
5. Colome 1-1 24 1
Receiving votes: Corsica-Stickney 3, Harding County 2, Alcester-Hudson 1, Herreid/Selby Area 1.

SD media prep volleyball poll released Sept. 3rd
 

Class AA
1. Watertown (15) 5-0 83 4
2. O'Gorman 4-1 51 3
3. S.F. Washington (2) 4-1 50 1
4. Brandon Valley 4-2 20 RV
5. Aberdeen Central 2-0 19 RV
Receiving Votes: Huron (4-1) 17, R.C. Stevens (1-1) 15
 

Class A
1. S.F. Christian (17) 3-1 85 1
2. Miller 1-0 64 2
3. McCook Central-Montrose 4-1 48 3
4. Elk Point-Jefferson 1-0 29 4
5. Parker 2-0 21 5
Receiving Votes: Dakota Valley (1-0) 6, Winner (1-1) 1, Aberdeen Roncalli (1-1) 1
 

Class B
1. Northwestern (16) 7-0 84 1
2. Warner (1) 0-0 63 2
3. Chester Area 2-0 55 3
4. Faulkton Area 1-0 32 4
5. Faith 1-0 19 5
Receiving Votes: Burke (1-0) 1, Philip (1-0) 1

Northern State University head basketball coach Saul Phillips announced today the completion of his staff with the addition of Taylor Tucker as an assistant coach. Tucker joins the Wolves after two seasons as the assistant at Monmouth College.

“Taylor comes to me highly recommended from an excellent head coach and trusted friend at Monmouth College,” explained Phillips. “His work ethic and dedication to doing things the right way made him a good fit at Northern.”

The Scots won the 2018 conference overall and tournament championships in Tucker’s first season with the program, while also qualifying for the NCAA Championships first round. Prior to his time at Monmouth, Tucker was the assistant coach at Olivet Nazarene in 2016-17.

“I’m excited to get started with everything,” noted Tucker. “Northern has a ton of tradition. I look forward being a part of that tradition and helping continue the many years of success.”

In his three years of collegiate experience, Tucker has coach the CCAC Freshman of the Year and NAIA All-American Nick Reed (ONU) and back-to-back Midwest Conference Players of the Year, Will Carius and Will Jones (MC).

He is a 2016 graduate of Olivet Nazarene University with a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and Physical Education. Tucker played three seasons at ONU, making two NAIA National Tournament appearances. The Tigers won the 2015 regular season and tournament conference championships in his junior campaign. Tucker was named an NAIA Academic All-American in both 2015 and 2016. He is currently pursuing a master’s in Kinesiology Pedagogy from the University of Central Missouri.

Tucker resides in Aberdeen with his wife, Maddie.

Presentation College is pleased to announce the hiring of Athletic Director, Steve Gast.

Gast has more than a decade of experience working with the NAIA (National Association of Collegiate Athletics) and GPAC (Great Plains Athletic Conference). His most recent Athletic Director position was at Briar Cliff University, from 2007-2016. After that, he consulted in a support role for the GPAC, assisting in several administrative areas.

Gast believes his time at Briar Cliff made him especially well-suited for the PC Athletic Director position, and is looking forward to another opportunity to integrate a faith-based Mission with athletic programs.

“During almost a decade at BCU, I learned the ‘ins and outs’ of collegiate athletics in a small, Catholic college setting” Gast said. “In particular, the NAIA Champions of Character program provides opportunities to help young people excel while upholding the values of integrity, respect and responsibility. I’m looking forward to seeing how well these values can integrate with the PC Saints.”

Presentation College’s coaching staff this year includes a number of new faces. Gast says he doesn’t see that as a negative; he believes it’s a great opportunity to build a strong coaching team that will shape the future of PC Athletics.

“From my first day on campus, the dedication of these coaches has been very obvious. They clearly care about their programs, and care about their athletes.”

Gast says he looks forward to supporting the staff – “coaching the coaches,” as he describes it.

Vice President for Student Affairs, Bob Schuchardt, says Gast is a great fit for the PC Saints. “Steve has extensive experience not only in the NAIA, but also working with teams across the Midwest. With those connections already in place, he’ll be able to jump right in as volleyball, men’s and women’s soccer, and football get underway this fall.”

So far, Gast says, he’s been impressed by the people of Aberdeen.

“I’m really looking forward to getting out there and meeting Saints fans and Boosters. It’s going to be a busy, but exciting, season.”

Gast will introduce himself at the annual PC Saints Booster Kickoff, planned for 5:30pm on Thursday, August 29^th at the AmericInn. The event is free and open to the public.

Gast has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology/Human Factors from the U.S. Air Force Academy, a Master of Science in Public Administration from the University of Southern California, and a Master of Science in Space Operations from the Air force Institute of Technology.

The Northern State University men’s basketball program will host a coaches’ clinic on Sunday, October 13 featuring guest clinician Tim Miles, as well as head men’s coach Saul Phillips. The clinic will run from 12-4 p.m. from the Barnett Center.

Pre-registrations received by October 7 will receive a discount price from the at-the-door rate.   Cost for pre-registrations is $50 per coach or $125 per staff with 3-plus attendees. Cost for at the door registration is $60 per coach or $150 per staff with 3-plus attendees.

To register visit nsuwolvesclinic.myonlinecamp.com. Those with questions or looking for more information can contact the Northern State men’s basketball office at 605-626-7805 or can email assistant coach Jared Swanson at jared.swanson@northern.edu.  

The Minnesota Wild have announced the hiring of Bill Guerin to serve as the team’s next general manager and fourth GM overall.  Guerin replaces the fired Paul Fenton who was relieved of his duties earlier this summer after just over a year on the job.  Guerin was a finalist for the job the last time it was available, but ultimately lost out to Fenton.  Guerin has spent the last nine years with the Pittsburgh Penguins organization serving three years in player development and the last five as the assistant general manager.  Guerin is a U.S. Hockey Hall of Famer who won two Stanley Cups as a player with the Penguins and played 18 NHL seasons.