South Dakota Sports Awards: Meet the 2021-22 honorees
O'Gorman distance runner Alea Hardie and De Smet multi-sport star Kalen Garry took home the Athlete of the Year Awards at the South Dakota Sports Awards Monday at Washington Pavilion.
The South Dakota High School Sports Awards were produced in partnership with Avera Orthopedics.
The South Dakota Sports Awards are an annual event that honors high school athletes, coaches, teams and community members for their achievements during the school year, culminating with the unveiling of boys and girls athletes of the year. Both Hardie and Garry were honored in the final awards presentation of the night after a total of 27 awards were handed out to some of the best in South Dakota high school sports.
Here are this year's winners (in bold) and finalists. You can watch (or rewatch!) Monday's show at ArgusLeader.com/sports.
FALL SPORTS
Girls Cross Country
Ali Bainbridge, Sioux Falls Lincoln High School - Jr.
Autumn Baker, Kimball High School - 8TH
Isabelle Bloker, Sioux Valley High School - Fr.
Ella Boekelheide, Northwestern High School - 8TH
Libby Castelli, O'Gorman High School - Fr.
Kinsey Evans, Chamberlain High School - So.
Alea Hardie, O'Gorman High School - Sr.
Ramsey Karim, Custer High School - Jr.
Ellie Maddox, Sioux Falls Christian School - Fr.
Ruth Pardy, O'Gorman High School - So.
Kaelyn Ulschmid, Arlington High School - 8th
Mia Wentzy, Brandon Valley High School - So.
Hardie overcame a concussion she sustained in the Metro conference meet to win the Class AA state title race with a time 10 seconds faster than the runner-up. It was the senior Hardie’s third-straight state title for the Knights. In November, Hardie signed her National Letter of Intent and will run cross country at University of Nebraska-Lincoln, joining at least two more South Dakota runners in the Huskers’ 2022 recruiting class.
Boys Cross country
Nick Batchelor, Milbank High School - Sr.
Pierce Baumberger, Miller High School - Fr.
Simeon Birnbaum, Rapid City Stevens High School - Jr.
Sawyer Clarkson, Belle Fourche, cross country
Daniel Colby, Sioux Falls Christian School - Sr.
Isaac Davelaar, Sioux Falls Christian School - Jr.
Lane Krautschun, Bison High School - So.
Josh Martin, Aberdeen Central High School - Sr.
Josiah Schroeder, Canistota High School - Jr.
Hayden Shaffer, Pierre T.F. Riggs High School - Sr.
Keenan Urdiales, Spearfish High School - Sr.
Soren Weeg, Harrisburg High School - Sr.
Clarkson didn’t lose a race in his junior season, finishing with a time of 15:27.13 to win a Class A state title in the final race of the year. In pursuit of a sub-15 minute time in the 5,000-meter race, Clarkson’s time shattered the course record at Yankton Trail Park in Sioux Falls. Belle Fource finished No. 4 at the Class A state championship meet thanks in part to Clarkson’s top finish.
Dance
Brandon Valley High School
Dakota Valley High School
Sioux Falls Washington High School
Dakota Valley's dance team has been simply dominant since 2010. The Panthers have won every Class A dance state title since that year. And 2021 marked their 12th straight as the Panthers edged Beresford by just 0.5 points for the South Dakota Class A dance title.
Cheerleading
Sioux Valley High School
O'Gorman High School
Harrisburg High School
Sioux Valley continued its dominance in Class A cheer with its 15 straight state title this year. The Cossacks finished the competition with 283.5 points, topping Dakota Valley by almost 70 points. They have won every state title since the competition began in 2007.
Football - offense
Taylen Ashley, Sioux Falls Jefferson High School - Jr.
Brenden Begeman, Herreid/Selby Area - Sr.
Aiden Brink, Sioux Falls Washington High School - Sr.
Kalen Garry, De Smet High School - Sr.
Grayson Hanson, Platte-Geddes High School - Sr.
Lincoln Kienholz, Pierre T.F. Riggs High School - Jr.
Jacob Knuth, Harrisburg High School - Sr.
Jason Maciejczak, Douglas High School - Jr.
Sam Rohlfs, Aberdeen Central High School - Sr.
Gavin Ross, Harrisburg High School - Jr.
Navarro Schunke, Brandon Valley High School - So.
Griffin Wilde, Sioux Falls Jefferson High School - Jr.
Knuth led Harrisburg to the first Class 11AAA football state title in the Tigers’ history. He has split time as Harrisburg’s quarterback since his sophomore year, becoming the full-time starter in his junior season. Harrisburg went undefeated in Knuth’s last year as the Argus Leader Elite 45 Captain established himself as one of the best football players in South Dakota history. Knuth is committed to play quarterback at Minnesota next season.
Football - defense
David Alpers III, O'Gorman High School - Sr.
Ty Beyer, Howard High School - Sr.
Jackson Geerts, Sioux Falls Lincoln High School - Sr.
Matt Goehring, Sioux Falls Roosevelt High School - Sr.
Gabe Gutierrez, Sioux Falls Lincoln High School - Jr.
Cade Larson, Harrisburg High School - Sr.
Abraham Myers, Sioux Falls Washington High School - Jr.
John Pica, Dell Rapids St. Mary High School - Sr.
Trey Smith, Madison High School - Sr.
Noah Thompson, Brandon Valley High School - Sr.
Joseph Van Overschelde, Mitchell High School - Sr.
Ayden Viox, Harrisburg High School - Sr.
Alpers was a dangerous presence on both sides of the ball for O’Gorman en route to a Class 11AAA state semifinal appearance for the Knights. The 6-foot-6, 225-pound defensive end was second on the team with tackles with 59. He also forced nine fumbles. In his career with the Knights, he had 102 tackles — 39 for loss. A two-time all-metro selection who also played tight end for the Knights, Alpers has verbally committed to play football for South Dakota State University.
Girls soccer
Libby Castelli, O'Gorman High School - Fr.
Brooke Deckert, Tea Area High School - Sr.
Shea Ellender, Rapid City Stevens High School - Sr.
Soraya Espino, Sioux Falls Roosevelt High School - Sr.
Morgan Fiedler, Aberdeen Central High School - Sr.
Cambell Fischer, West Central High School - Jr.
Rylee Haldeman, West Central High School - Sr.
Mia Mullenmeister, Mitchell High School - So.
Avery Nelson, Sioux Falls Lincoln High School - Sr.
Rylee Rosenquist, Dakota Valley High School - Sr.
Ivey Winckler, Dakota Valley High School - Sr.
Tyreese Zacher, Brandon Valley High School - Jr.
Haldeman put in the game-winning freekick to secure a Class A girls soccer state title for West Central, her second of two goals in the final game of her career. Haldeman scored 18 goals in her senior season, attempting 100 shots during the season before the state championship game. West Central finished 13-1-1 and was the No. 1-ranked team in Class AA headed into the state soccer tournament. Haldeman is committed to play women’s soccer at the University of South Dakota.
Boys soccer
Evan Beier, O'Gorman High School - Sr.
Ryan Del Monaco, Tea Area High School - Sr.
Harrison Dubisar, Sioux Falls Washington High School - Sr.
Jaxson Fiechtner, Watertown High School - Jr.
Andrew Hirsch, Sioux Falls Jefferson High School - Jr.
Aaron Nelson, St. Thomas More High School - Sr.
Alex Pies, Tea Area High School - Sr.
Marcos Ramos Garcia, Aberdeen Central High School - Sr.
Tyson Reitsma, Sioux Falls Christian School - Sr.
Ayden Spicer, Brandon Valley High School - Sr.
Zack Williams, Rapid City Stevens High School - Jr.
Ethan Yasat, Yankton High School - Sr.
Williams finished his career as Rapid City Stevens’ all-time goals leader (51), surpassing the mark by scoring 14 goals in his junior year. He led the Raiders to the Class AA semifinal game while attempting more than a quarter of Stevens’ shots. In April, the then-sophomore was selected to join the academy team of the Phoenix Rising soccer club.
Softball
Emilee Boyer, Harrisburg, softball
Boyer helped lead the Tigers to consecutive state titles in 2020 and 2021. Boyer broke the school record for wins in 2021-22, picking up 19 in her senior season. She also set single-season records for batting average, on base percentage, home runs, runs batted in and walks. She owns career records for batting average and on base percentage, pitching wins and pitching strikeouts. She is committed to play at West Texas A&M University.
Girls tennis
Avery Summers, Jefferson, girls tennis
Charlotte Crawford, Sioux Falls Lincoln High School - Fr.
Elle Dobbs, Sioux Falls Lincoln High School - Sr.
Ella Hancock, Rapid City Christian High School - Sr.
Nora Krajewski, Yankton High School - 8th
Anna Mueller, Rapid City Stevens High School - Jr.
Peyton Ogle, Rapid City Stevens High School - So.
Emily Ringgenberg, Aberdeen Central High School - Jr.
Maggie Schaefer, Yankton High School - Sr.
Alastrina Scott, Rapid City Stevens High School - Jr.
Abby Sherrill, Rapid City Stevens High School - Sr.
Atlanta Stahle, Mitchell High School - Sr.
In just the first year in the history of Jefferson high school girls tennis, Summers won the singles Class AA title for the Cavaliers. It was the first state title for the school in any sport. Summers went 14-3 in her sophomore season for the Cavaliers. Tennis Recruiting Network ranks Summers as the No. 1 player in South Dakota.
Volleyball
Isabel Aesoph, Faulkton Area High School - Sr.
Hadley Carlson, Arlington High School - Sr.
Elizabeth Denevan, Sioux Falls Roosevelt High School - Sr.
Brynn Kirsch, Sioux Falls Lincoln High School - Sr.
Abby Meister, Harrisburg High School - Sr.
Logan Miller, Dakota Valley High School - Jr.
Ava Nilsson, Warner High School - So.
Bergen Reilly, O'Gorman High School - Jr.
Joslyn Richardson, Sioux Falls Washington High School - Jr.
Sydney Tims, Sioux Falls Christian School - Sr.
Katie Van Egdom, Sioux Falls Christian School - Sr.
Ellie Walker, Sioux Falls Washington High School - Sr.
After a sophomore year where Reilly captured nearly every award a South Dakota volleyball player could receive, Reilly repeated those accomplishments in her junior season. The MaxPreps, Gatorade and Argus Leader Super Six Player of the Year was named a member of the Team USA U18 National Team in summer 2021, competing at the National Championships in Mexico in the Falls. She is committed to play volleyball at Nebraska.
WINTER SPORTS
Boys hockey
Dre Berndt, Oahe (Pierre) — JR
Ryan Flanagan, Sioux Falls — SR
Breck Hirrschoff, Brookings — JR
Kaleb Merchen, Rapid City — JR
Dawson Wirth, Rapid City — JR
Ashton Witte, Brookings — SR
Dawson Wirth was a tireless competitor this season for the Rushmore Thunder. Dawson led the South Dakota Amateur Hockey League this season with 65 points, which included 35 goals and 30 assists. Wirth also participated in the high school nationals with the Thunder, the tier two nationals with Team South Dakota and was a First Team All State selection.
Girls hockey
Kelsey Amick, Mitchell — SR
Berit Hefti, Sioux Falls — SR
Brooke Jarman, Mitchell — JR
Jaclyn Lloyd, Watertown — SR
Kate Nash, Mitchell — SR
Riley VanderEsch, Sioux Falls — JR
Kelsey Amick was a captain of the Mitchell Marlins girls this season and a true leader with 58 points in the South Dakota Amateur Hockey League, which included 30 goals and 28 assists. Amick was part of the girls 19U tier two Team South Dakota team that placed third at the national tournament in Pennsylvania and also a First Team All State selection. She has committed to the Jamestown University girls hockey team for next fall.
Boys wrestler of the year
Marshall Baldwin, Canton High School — SR
Burk Blasius, Phillip Area — SO
Maxton Brozik, Winner High School — SO
Quinten Christensen, Wessington Springs/Woonsocket/Wolsey-Wessington — SR
Logan Graf, Rapid City Stevens High School — SR
Owen Hansen, Burke/Gregory — JR
Sloan Johannsen, Watertown High School — SO
Kaden Keiser, Winner High School — SR
Alex Mentzer, Brandon Valley High School — JR
Luke Rasmussen, Brookings High School — SR
Navarro Schunke, Brandon Valley High School — SO
Maddix Slykhuis, Tea Area High School — JR
Schunke was perhaps the most dominant wrestler on a dominant Brandon Valley team that went on to win the Class A team title in both the individual competition and the duals competition. Schunke was ranked the No. 18 wrestler in the country in the 285-pound weight class prior to the season and went a perfect 48-0 en route to an individual Class A state title in his weight class.
Girls wrestler of the year
Akane Metcalfe, Kimball/White Lake/Platte-Geddes — SO
Britney Rueb, Bon Homme/Scotland/Avon — 8TH
Regina Stoeser, Harrisburg High School — 8TH
Peyton Hellmann, Bon Homme/Scotland/Avon — FR
Taylor Graveman, Spearfish High School — JR
Kiana Shevling-Major, Kimball/White Lake/Platte-Geddes — SR
Trinity Zopp, Lead-Deadwood High School — SO
Carlee Laubach, Canton High School — JR
Ciara McFarling, Pierre T.F. Riggs High School — FR
Gianna Stangeland, Pierre T.F. Riggs High School — JR
Maraia Kruske, Spearfish High School — JR
Zoe Adam, Canton High School — JR
In the first season with a girls wrestling title up for grabs, Laubach was among the most dominant wres=tlers in all of South Dakota. She went 34-0, pinning all 34 of the grapplers she faced throughout her eventual Class B individual state championship season in the girls 170-pound weight class.
Boys basketball Player of the Year
David Alpers, senior, O'Gorman
Isaac Bruns, junior, Dakota Valley
Kalen Garry, senior, De Smet
Caden Hinker, senior, Mitchell
Mikele Kambalo, senior, Sioux Falls Washington
Lincoln Kienholz, junior, Pierre
Tash Lunday, senior, Flandreau
Cael Lundin, senior, Tea Area
Drew Norberg, senior, Watertown
Marcus Phillips, senior, Sioux Falls Roosevelt
Joe Sayler, junior, White River
Oliver Vincent, junior, Sioux Valley
Garry followed explosive plays with explosive performances all throughout the 2021-22 high school basketball season. The South Dakota State signee averaged 19 points and 6.6 rebounds, including a 35-point performance against nationally-ranked Dream City Christian. Garry’s De Smet team won a Class B boys state championship, falling just short of an undefeated season.
Girls basketball Player of the Year
Hilary Behrens, Brandon Valley High School — JR
Madelyn Bragg, Aberdeen Roncalli High School — SR
Avery Broughton, Corsica-Stickney High School — JR
Kennadi Buchholz, De Smet High School — SR
Maleighya Estes, White River High School — SR
Jayda McNabb, Rapid City Stevens High School — SR
Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda, Washington High School — SR
Hannah Ronsiek, O'Gorman High School — SR
Rylee Rosenquist, Dakota Valley High School — SR
Reese Ross, St. Thomas More High School — JR
Bella Swedlund, Winner High School — SR
Kami Wadsworth, Hamlin High School — JR
Mwenentanda’s size and skill made her perhaps the best girls basketball player in South Dakota on either end of the floor. The guard/forward averaged 18.7 points per game, 8.3 rebounds per game and 1.26 steals per game in her senior season after entering the season ranked the No. 34 player in the class of 2022. She will start her college basketball career this winter at Texas.
Gymnast of the Year
Kiera Allen, Hot Springs High School — SO
Bentley Bates, Mitchell High School — FR
Maeve Boetel, O'Gorman High School — JR
Izzabella Driscoll, Harrisburg High School — FR
Sadie Johnson, Estelline/Hendricks — SO
Alison Johnson, Yankton High School — SR
Amelia Jones, Chamberlain High School — SO
Audrey Meyer, O'Gorman High School — JR
Myah Morris, Watertown High School — SR
Alexys Rueb, Wagner/Bon Homme — SO
Paige Simon, Deuel High School — SR
Joslin Sommerville, Mitchell High School — FR
2021-22 was Boetel’s first year as a high school gymnast, and the junior started off her high school career strong. The eventual Class AA state champion scored a 39.183 in the all-around competition at the state meet just months after breaking the Knights’ all-around school record with a score of 38.975. Boetel and teammates went on to win the team gymnastics title at the Class AA state gymnastics meet.
SPRING SPORTS
Baseball Player of the Year
Jake Ammann, Brookings High School — SR
Aspen Dahl, Madison High School — SR
Jake Helleloid, Mitchell High School — SR
Ben Irsfeld, Sioux Falls Roosevelt High School — SR
Lincoln Kienholz, Pierre T.F. Riggs High School — JR
Jack Kratz, Vermillion High School — SR
Tyman Long, Harrisburg High School — SR
Parker Puetz, Sioux Valley High School — SR
Riley Rothschadl, Bon Homme High School — JR
Landon Ruesink, Dell Rapids High School — SR
Jack Sutton, Harrisburg High School — SR
Cael Swanson, Sioux Falls Washington High School — SR
Irsfeld was dominant both on the mound and in the field for the Rough Riders this year. In just 63 at-bats, Irsfelt collected 21 hits while driving in 18 runs. He rarely struck out, drawing 15 walks at the plate to his seven strikeouts. But his true dominance showed on the mound. He pitched 34 innings and was a perfect 7-0, earning a winning decision every game he appeared in. He walked 17 batters, and struck out 52 while maintaining an earned run average of 0.618 throughout the season.
Boys Tennis Player of the Year
Gage Becker, Yankton High School — SR
Andrew Dobbs, Rapid City Christian High School — JR
Gage Gohl, Sioux Falls Lincoln High School — SR
Noah Greni, Rapid City Christian High School — FR
Harrison Krajewski, Yankton High School — 8TH
Tyler Loecker, Mitchell High School — SR
Rocky McKenzie, Sioux Falls Lincoln High School — SO
River McKenzie, Sioux Falls Lincoln High School — 8TH
Noah Morgans, Sioux Falls Washington High School — SR
Clayton Poppenga, Sioux Falls Washington High School — SR
Daniel Puumala, Sioux Falls Christian High School — JR
Davis Shafer, Sioux Falls Washington High School — SR
Gohl missed part of the season with a injury, but returned to the court for Sioux Falls Lincoln before the state tournament and helped lead the Patriots to their eighth-straight Class AA state title. Gohl was 18-0 on the year, winning the Class AA state title in flight one singles. Gohl will play tennis at Gustavus Adolphus college in St. Peter, Minnesota.
Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year
Ryan Benson, Chester Area High School — SR
Simeon Birnbaum, Rapid City Stevens High School — JR
Blake Boyster, Custer High School — JR
Isaac Davelaar, Sioux Falls Christian High School — JR
Jaden Guthmiller, Spearfish High School — JR
Kael Miedema, Sioux Falls Washington High School — JR
Dawson Reckling, Kadoka Area High School — SR
Sam Rohlfs, Aberdeen Central High School — SR
Bennett Schwenn, Milbank High School — SR
Owen Spartz, Watertown High School — SO
Ben Stratman, Harrisburg High School — SR
Julian Watson, Brandon Valley High School — SR
Birnbaum, fresh off a Class AA cross country state championship in the fall, started his record-breaking spring by breaking the South Dakota state record in the mile while running at the Arcadia Invitational in California with a time of 4 minutes, 6.51 seconds. Since then, he toppled record after record. He set meet records at both the Howard Wood Dakota Relays and at the South Dakota state track meet, breaking a state record in the 3,200-meter race at the Dakota Relays with a time of 8 minutes, 55.22 seconds.
Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year
Ella Boekelheide, Northwestern High School — 8TH
Jade Ecoffey, Red Cloud High School — JR
Berkeley Engelland, Mount Vernon High School — SO
Lexi Even, Parker High School — SR
Kellyn Kortemeyer, Custer High School — SR
Daniela Lee, Colman-Egan High School — SO
Gracelyn Leiseth, Hamlin High School — JR
Ellie Maddox, Sioux Falls Christian High School — 8TH
Lauren Merkley, Sioux Falls Lincoln High School — SR
Ellen Merkley, Sioux Falls Lincoln High School — SO
Meghan Walker, Brandon Valley High School — SR
Matayah Yellow Mule, Rapid City Central High School — SR
Leiseth kept setting and resetting South Dakota shot put and discus records all season long. While always in a battle with Custer’s Kellyn Kortemeyer, each athlete pushed one another to new heights. Leiseth ended her season by breaking the South Dakota shot put record again with a throw of 52 feet, 6.75 inches. It was the first time a South Dakota girls competitor ever surpassed 50 feet in the shot put and, at a time when many track and field seasons were coming to an end, was the No. 1 girls shot put throw in the nation.
Girls Golfer of the Year
Greta Anderson, Bison/Hettinger/Scranton — JR
Keva Burshiem, Flandreau High School — SR
Rylan Horning, St. Thomas More High School — 8TH
Bryn Huber, Huron High School — JR
Reese Jansa, Harrisburg High School — SR
Allison Kahler, Bison/Hettinger/Scranton — JR
Kamri Kittleson, Jones County High School — SO
Maiya Muller, Beresford High School — JR
Tanna Phares, Rapid City Stevens High School — JR
Jayce Pugh, Miller High School — 8TH
Olivia Sorlie, Canton High School — JR
Lauren Sutcliffe, O'Gorman High School — SR
In early June, Jansa came back from five shots down to win the Class AA individual state championship by three strokes. She owns the South Dakota state tournament record of minus-8 last year, but even falling short of that, she finished the season at the top. Her efforts helped the Tigers win a Class AA girls golf team championship. Jansa is signed to play golf at University of Toledo.
Boys Golfer of the Year
Peyton Bettcher, West Central High School — SR
Mason Carrels, Aberdeen Roncalli High School — SR
Bennett Cassens, Faulkton Area High School — SR
Coy Determan, Gregory High School — SR
Bennett Geraets, Sioux Falls Lincoln High School — SR
Reid Hansen, Wall High School — SR
Luke Honner, Sioux Falls Lincoln High School — SR
Kaleb Jost, Sioux Falls Christian High School — JR
Cooper Long, Garretson High School — SR
Radley Mauney, O'Gorman High School — JR
Eric Munson, Tea Area High School — SR
Jake Olson, Watertown High School — SO
Olson is the only competitor in all of South Dakota golf this year to shoot under par in the state meet. By shooting 142 across two days, Olson finished off a Class AA individual state championship season with a minus-2, winning the championship by three strokes. With two years left to build upon his individual championship, his finish in 2021 helped Watertown establish itself as a top-three Class AA golf program in the state.
Premier Awards
I Am Sport Award
Isaiah Mulder had to endure numerous health challenges to be a part of the South Dakota athletic community. Diagnosed with Very Severe Aplastic Anemia when he was just four years old, Mulder spent the next two years back-and-forth between Sanford Oncology and Hematology Clinic and the Fairview Hospital in Minneapolis for Immune Suppression Therapy. He recieved a bone marrow transplant, which required him to stay 100 days in Minneapolis.
In February 2014 when Isaiah was 10-years-old, he was diagnosed with a rare, genetic heart condition called Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy which forced him to give up the intense sports he grew up on. But as he and doctors learned more about his condition, Mulder gradually increased his activity and has worked himself into a valuable contributor on the Sioux Falls Christian Track and Field team, a starter in baseball, a two-year letter winner in golf and a member of the Chargers’ 2021 Class A state championship team, getting to win a championship for his school in his favorite sport.. All this while giving back to his community through community service, most notably helping lead a week-long summer youth camp on the Navajo reservation the past two summers to provide academic assistance to students who had fallen behind during Covid-related distance learning.
Courage Award
Maggie Schaefer, senior, Yankton
Read about Schaefer's journey here.
Boys athlete of the year
Sam Rohlfs, senior, Aberdeen Central
David Alpers, senior, O’Gorman
Kalen Garry, senior, De Smet
As a competitor in football, basketball and track and field, Garry excelled in all areas of athletics and throughout all three seasons. Committed to South Dakota State to play basketball, Garry started his senior season establishing himself as perhaps the most dynamic athlete in all of South Dakota football, notching a touchdown catch that landed him on SportsCenter’s Top 10 plays in the very first game of the season. He dominated in basketball, winning every available accolade and then qualified for the 100-meter dash final at the state track and field meet in the spring.
Girls athlete of the year
Jayda McNabb, senior, Rapid City Stevens
Rylee Haldeman, senior, West Central
Alea Hardie, senior, O’Gorman
Hardie has been setting top South Dakota times in both the fall and spring for several years now, and in her final athletic season, established herself as perhaps the best girls distance runner in the history of the state. She started the year by winning the Class AA cross country championship, posting a time of 17:31.28 in the 5K race, which was 10 seconds faster than the next-fastest runner. The final month of her career included South Dakota state meet records in the 800-, 1600- and 3,200-meter runs, a Howard Wood Dakota Relays record in the 1600-meter run and a state-record run of 10:10.83 in the 3200-meter race, which is nine seconds faster than the previous record.
Coach of the year
Mitch Begeman, Sioux Falls Roosevelt, boys basketball
Molly Mason, Viborg-Hurley, girls basketball
Brandon White, Harrisburg, football
Begeman’s Roosevelt team had lofty expectations headed into the 2021-22 season coming off a state championship in 2021, but the Rough Riders exceeded them en route to a second-straight Class AA title. Roosevelt defeated O’Gorman 54-52 in the Class AA state title game to cap off a 24-0 season, pulling off a rare undefeated season in Class AA boys basketball.
Boys Team of the Year
Brandon Valley wrestling
Harrisburg football
Roosevelt boys basketball
Harrisburg looked like a state championship team from the very first snap of the season. The Tigers were loaded with talent on other sides of the ball, beating teams with offense at first and then becoming perhaps 11AAA’s best defense by season end. In a rematch of the 2020 Class 11AAA title game, the Tigers picked up a resounding 27-0 win to cap off a perfect season.
Girls Team of the Year
O’Gorman girls basketball
Sioux Falls Christian volleyball
West Central girls soccer
Sioux Falls Christian played teams from all three of South Dakota’s volleyball classes this season. And the Chargers beat every single one of them. Going 34-4 on the season, Sioux Falls Christian took its losses only to out-of-state teams. They lost just 12 sets throughout the entire regular season, losing just four to South Dakota teams. In the state tournament, the Chargers won every match in three sets en route to its 11th Class A volleyball title in the last 15 years.
Follow Sioux Falls Argus Leader reporter Michael McCleary on Twitter @mikjemccleary.
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: South Dakota Sports Awards: Alea Hardie, Kalen Garry top athletes
