Tribune Notebook: Former Willmar Card improves her college resume some more
Nov. 22—BROOKINGS, S.D. — Former Willmar Cardinal Leah Hansen continues to pile up the accolades as a member of the South Dakota State women's cross-country team.
Hansen earned her third straight conference individual championship in the Summit League, recording a personal record in the process.
The junior from Willmar timed in at 20 minutes, 1.9 seconds, to win the Summit League title Oct. 29 in Grand Forks, North Dakota. She also helped the Jackrabbits to a second-place team finish.
She became the fourth South Dakota State runner to win a conference title three years in a row, joining Kristin Asp, Kiri Johnson and Sheena Dauer. Hansen also became the first woman to win the individual championship in the Summit and own the fastest 6-kilometer time in league history.
Hansen then helped the Jackrabbits to a 10th-place finish in the NCAA Midwest Regional on Nov. 10 in Columbia, Missouri. Hansen placed 19th of 230 runners, finishing in 20:40.
Olivia Howell of Illinois won in 20:02.9 and Oklahoma State won the team title with 58 points. Oklahoma State was host to the NCAA national championships last Saturday in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and wound up finishing fourth 201 points behind national champion North Carolina State (114 points), New Mexico (140) and Alabama (166).
Hansen also competes in track and field.
Two members of the Yellow Medicine East volleyball team have made their commitments to college programs.
Ruby Bones, a senior middle hitter for YME, has committed to Minnesota State-Moorhead, an NCAA Division II program in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. Bones was a team MVP for the Sting and earned All-State Academic honors.
Hannah Stark is headed to Briar Cliff University in Sioux City, Iowa, to continue her volleyball career. Stark is a 5-foot-10 outside hitter for YME, who were 7-17 this season. Briar Cliff is an NAIA school.
Ex-Willmar Cardinal Cameron Murphy has accumulated several awards as he wraps up his senior season on the St. John's University football team.
Murphy, a starting offensive lineman, was one of 15 Johnnies to be named to the All-MIAC football team. The 6-5, 310-pounder is a Global Business Leadership major for the Johnnies, who are in the NCAA Division III national playoffs.
Murphy also has been named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District team. Murphy will be a four-time Academic All-MIAC honoree who starts at left tackle. He has a 3.76 grade-point average.
The Johnnies are 10-1 and play Wartburg in the second round of the national tournament at noon Saturday in Collegeville.
Gralcial Ridge Curling is opening up for the 2022-23 season.
Open curling is available to anyone interested at Blue Line, 2707 Arena Drive in Willmar from 6-9 p.m. on the following dates: Nov. 26, Dec. 3, Dec. 17, Jan. 7, Jan. 28, Feb. 11, Feb. 18 and Feb. 25. Cost is $3 per person.
The email address is GlacialRidgeCurling@gmail.com. The website is RaiseOurHouse.com.
Here is a list of known college commitments from the West Central Tribune area. If there is someone not listed, please send an email to Tom Elliott at
Sport: Volleyball
College: Minnesota State-Moorhead
Affiliation: NCAA Division II
Sport: Wrestling
College: South Dakota State
Affiliation: NCAA Division I
Sport: Baseball
College: St. Cloud State
Affiliation: NCAA Division II
Sport: Women's basketball
College: North Dakota State
Affiliation: NCAA Division I
Sport: Volleyball
College: Jamestown College
Affiliation: NAIA
Sport: Football
College: Sioux Falls
Affiliation: NCAA Division II
Sport: Volleyball
College: Minnesota
Affiliation: NCAA Division I
Sport: Volleyball
College: Briar Cliff
Affiliation: NAIA
Sport: Volleyball
College: Sioux Falls
Affiliation: NCAA Division II
Sport: Volleyball
College: Southwest Minnesota State
Affiliation: NCAA Division II
