Dimock's Dan Sudbeck honored by SDHSAA for distinguished service

Marcus Traxler, The Daily Republic, Mitchell, S.D.
·3 min read

Mar. 20—SIOUX FALLS — A longtime champion of youth and high school sports, Dan Sudbeck, of Dimock, was recognized on Friday at the Class A state boys basketball tournament with the South Dakota High School Activities Association Distinguished Service Award.

The award is presented by the SDHSAA Board of Directors for individuals' efforts of outstanding service to youth of the state through their involvement with various high school activities programs, and Sudbeck is recognized for his efforts as a basketball and football official.

Sudbeck started officiating in 1976 while he was serving a four-year tour in the U.S. Air Force in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He moved back to South Dakota in 1978 and started officiating basketball and later football.

He has spent 45 years officiating high school basketball, 35 years officiating high school football and 20 years with American Legion baseball. The latter role brought Sudbeck special pride, serving as the state's American Legion Athletic Commission Chairman, overseeing American Legion baseball in the state, which now includes more than 1,300 athletes and more than 90 teams.

He returned to officiating after a 2011 heart attack during a basketball game, when his physicians noted that continued involvement in sports would be good for his health and Sudbeck officiated for another decade until retiring in 2022.

Lower Brule Superintendent Lance Witte was recognized at the Class B tournament for SDHSAA Distinguished Service.

Witte, who lives in Chamberlain, in his ninth year as superintendent at Lower Brule and previously was superintendent at Wessington Springs. A native of Faulkton, Witte has taught at schools internationally and has been involved in the growth of the Lower Brule school with growing enrollment, improved academic rigor and athletic successes in team sports. In 2018, Witte and Lower Brule were involved with the creation of the All-Nations Football Conference, which has 18 Native American schools that sponsor varsity football, and Witte serves as the All-Nations Conference's chairman.

Class AA

Spirit of Six: Harrisburg

Spirit of Su: Lincoln Kienholz, Pierre

All-tournament team: Jack Radel, of Sioux Falls Roosevelt; Ethan Determan, of Harrisburg; Lincoln Kienholz, Jackson Edman, of Pierre; JT Rock, of Sioux Falls Lincoln; Kaden Year, Griffin Wilde, of Sioux Falls Jefferson; Dylan Soulek, Steele Morgan, of Mitchell; Rugby Ryken, Drew Ryken, Mac Ryken, of Yankton.

Class A

Spirit of Six: St. Thomas More

Spirit of Su: Reed Rus, Mount Vernon/Plankinton

All-tournament team: Reed Rus, of Mount Vernon/Plankinton; Josh Kleinsasser, of Hot Springs; Caleb Hollenbeck, of St. Thomas More; Alec Squires, of Sioux Valley; Easton Kempf, of Elk Point-Jefferson; Easton Neuendorf, Tyson Stevenson, of Hamlin; Ethan Bruns, Cole Snyder, of Sioux Falls Christian; Isaac Bruns, Randy Rosenquist, Jaxson Wingert, of Dakota Valley.

Class B

Spirit of Six: Ethan

Spirit of Su: Joe Sayler, White River

All-tournament team: Jackson Schauers, of Faith; Nick Hanson, Viborg-Hurley; Bryon Laue, Castlewood; Malek Wieker, Ethan Russell, Aberdeen Christian; Joe Sayler, Nicolas Marshall, White River; Damon Wilkinson, Kadyn Fast, George Jensen, De Smet; Brian LaRoche Jr., Gavin Thigh, Lower Brule.