Area athletes already recording strong performances early in the spring season

Roger Merriam, Watertown Public Opinion

There were a lot of high school sports happenings in the area April 8-14 and here's some top performers:

Girls Track and Field

(Note: Results for area track and field results can be found by visiting www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/SouthDakota/).

Chloe Raw, Arlington — Raw won the girls' 100 (12.59) and 200 (25.72) dashes and also ran on the winning medley relay in the Menno Relays.

Kylee Johnson and Nora Olsen, Deubrook Area — The Dolphins won the girls division in the Jesse James Track Meet at Garretson with Johnson winning the 400 dash (1:03.11), running on the winning 1,600 and 3,200 relays and the third-place 800 relay. Olsen won the 1,600 run (5:33.72) and ran on the winning 1,600 and 3,200 relays and the second-place medley relay.

Kamryn Nesheim, Clark-Willow Lake — Nesheim won the 1,600 (5:44.75) and 3,200 (12:17.65) runs and also ran on the winning 3,200 relay in the De Smet Invite.

Rayel Persoon, Potter County — Persoon ran on the winning 800, 1,600 and 3,200 relays in the Sully Buttes Early Bird meet.

Alayna Carlson, Deuel — She won the 100 (13.77) and 200 (29.05) dashes and ran on the winning 400 and 800 relays in Deuel's Pork Chop Relays.

Aberdeen Central's Ciara Frank hits the landing pit in the Class AA girls' long jump during the 2022 South Dakota State Track and Field Championships at Sioux Falls.
Aberdeen Central's Ciara Frank hits the landing pit in the Class AA girls' long jump during the 2022 South Dakota State Track and Field Championships at Sioux Falls.

Sadie Johnson, Estelline-Hendricks — Another rare four individual-event winner, Johnson took the 300 hurdles (49.81), long jump (15-6), triple jump (32-5.5) and pole vault (9-9) in the Pork Chop Relays.

Sophie Kannas, Great Plains Lutheran — Kannas won the 100 (13.41) and 200 (28.25) dashes and ran on the winning 400 and 800 relays in the Brace-Hopfinger Relays at Volga.

Malia Kranz and Shauna Evenson, Watertown — Kranz won the shot put (39-9) and Evenson the triple jump (32-5.5) to lead the Arrows to a second-place team finish in the Titan Relays at Tea.

Taryn Hermansen and Ciara Frank, Aberdeen Central — Hermansen won the shot put (39-2) and Frank tied for first in the high jump (5-2) in the Corn Palace Relays.

Boys Track and Field

Donovan Rose, Sioux Valley — Rose won four individual events in the Menno Relays, sweeping the 100 (11.6 seconds) and 200-meter (24.10) dashes and the 110 (16.1) and 300 hurdles (16.1).

Tanner Drietz and Blake DeVries, Elkton-Lake Benton — Drietz recorded four firsts in the Vince Relays at Elkton, taking the long (20-1.25) and triple (40-11) jumps as well as running on the Elks' winning 800 and medley relays. DeVries won the 110 (17.24) and 300 (43.13) hurdles and ran on the winning 1,600 relay.

Kyle Hettich and Trevor Heinz, Ipswich — In the Mobridge Rotary Relays, Hettich won the 100 (11.36) and 200 (23.39) dashes and ran on the winning 400 and 800 relays. Heinz won the long jump (20-8.5) and also ran on the winning 400 and 800 relays.

Landen Johnson, Jaxon Quail and Gavin Landmark, Deubrook Area — The trio of runners each ran on the winning 1,600, 3,200 and medley relays to help Deubrook Area's boys win the team title in Garretson's Jesse James Track Meet. Landmark also won the 400 dash (52.37) and ran on the winning 1,600 and 3,200 relays in the Centerville Relays. Johnson also ran on the winning 1,600 and 3,200 relays and Quail the 3,200 relay.

Deubrook Area's Landen Johnson competes in a Class B boys' relay during the 2023 South Dakota State Track and Field Championships in Sioux Falls.
Deubrook Area's Landen Johnson competes in a Class B boys' relay during the 2023 South Dakota State Track and Field Championships in Sioux Falls.

Payton Brown, Milbank — In the South Dakota National Guard Invite at Milbank, Brown won the 3,200 (9:49.99) and also ran on the Bulldogs' winning 1,600 and 3,200 relays.

Zac VanMeeteren, Luke Fraser and Rylan Thue, Hamlin — VanMeeteren won the 200 dash (23.07) and ran on the winning 400, 800 and 1,600 relays in the De Smet Invite along with Fraser and Thue. VanMeeteren also won the 200 (23.22) and ran on the winning 400 and 1,600 relays (along with Fraser and Thue) in the Brace-Hopfinger Relays at Volga

Spencer Melius, Faulkton Area — Melius won the 110 hurdles (17.33), 300 hurdles (44.97) and javelin throw (152-5) in the Sully Buttes Early Bird. He also won the Class A javelin (156-8) on Saturday in the Corn Palace Relays at Mitchell.

Gabe Sather, Deuel — Sather swept the hurdle races (110s in 16.2 and 300s in 43.38) and also took the pole vault (10-9) in the Pork Chop Relays at Clear Lake.

Jeron McCreary, Carson Mount and Brent Bearman, Webster Area — McCreary won the high (5-10) and long (19-2) jumps and also ran on the winning 1,600 relay in the Pork Chop Relays. Mount and Bearman ran on the winning 400, 800 and 1,600 relays for the Bearcats.

Dane Stark, Juven Hudson, Owen Spartz and Simon Hendricks, Watertown — The Arrows won the team title in the Titan Relays at Tea with wins from Stark (1,600 run, 4:45.32), Hendricks (javelin, 150-5), Spartz (pole vault, 14-0) and Hudson (triple jump, 43-3.5).

David VanVeen and Colby Dauwen, Aberdeen Central — VanVeen won the 800 run (2:02.4) and Dauwen the 300 hurdles (42.61) in the Corn Palace Relays.

Baseball

Elijah Morrissette and Micah Zastrow, Redfield Area — Morrissette tossed a four-inning perfect game with 12 strikeouts and Zastrow went 3-for-4 with a double, triple, three runs scored and four RBIs in a 15-0 win over Hamlin. Zastrow also had the team's lone hit in a 10-1 loss to Parkston on Sunday.

Devon Fischbach, Warner-Ipswich-Northwestern — Fischbach went 3-for-4 with a double and four runs scored in a 9-5 win over Sioux Valley and also fired a five-hitter with six strikeouts in a 5-1 seven-inning win over Elkton.

Braden Danzeisen and Christoper Moberg, Sioux Valley — Denzeisen drove in two runs in a double and a single in a 9-5 loss to Warner-Ipswich-Northwestern. Moberg added two hits in the win and also went five innings on the mound in a 5-4 win over Hamlin.

Gavin Englund and Colby Dunker, Groton Area — Englund tossed a three-hitter with seven strikeouts in a 5-2 win over Elkton on Sunday. Dunker had three hits in a 9-8 win over Warner-Ipswich-Northwestern on Sunday.

Jyler Tharaldsen, Hamlin Area — Hamlin Area lost to Redfield Area 15-0 on Saturday and to Howard 10-0 and Sioux Valley 5-4 on Sunday. Tharldsen had two hits apiece in Sunday's games.

Castlewood softball players, from left, Lilly Jacobsen, Maddie Horn and Mackenzie Everson take in the moment after the Warriors defeated Alcester-Hudson 3-2 to win the state Class B championship in the first South Dakota High School Activities Association sanctioned state softball tourney that concluded on Saturday, June 3, 2023 at Aberdeen.
Castlewood softball players, from left, Lilly Jacobsen, Maddie Horn and Mackenzie Everson take in the moment after the Warriors defeated Alcester-Hudson 3-2 to win the state Class B championship in the first South Dakota High School Activities Association sanctioned state softball tourney that concluded on Saturday, June 3, 2023 at Aberdeen.

Softball

Jade Lund, Alexa Brown and Aleia Johnston, Watertown — The Arrows lost to Brookings 11-7 and beat Mitchell 10-6 last week with Lund producing four hits including two doubles and a homer with three RBIs. Brown homered in both games, also had a double and a single and fanned 12 batters in the win over Mitchell. Johnston drove in four runs with three hits against Mitchell.

Kylee Hoffman, Aberdeen Central — Hoffman went 3-for-3 and hit the first home in school history in a 13-3 loss to Brookings.

Watertown Softball: Arrows host Brookings in their home opener at the Premier Softball Complex

Lilly Jacobsen, Gracie Haug, Sophia and Cydni Kudrna and Claire Horn, Castlewood — The defending State B champions went 4-1 last week with wins over Sioux Valley (16-6), Wagner (16-1), Viborg-Hurley (11-3) and Hanson (8-2) and a loss to Hanson (9-6).

Jacobsen went 9-for-14 with three doubles, a homer and seven RBIs; Haug 7-for-16 with two doubles, a triple and 11 RBIs; S. Kudrna 9-for-13 with six runs scored; and C. Kudrna 5-for-11 with two doubles, a triple and a home, Horn went 4-1 in the circle with 28 strikeouts in 25 innings pitched.

Chloe Zens and Kylie Hermann, Redfield — Zens recorded wins in the circle in 21-6 and 15-0 wins over Sisseton and also collected three hits with four runs scored and five RBIs in the twinbill. Hermann had two triples in an 11-4 loss to Mount Vernon-Plankinton.

Joce Kettwig, Milbank — The Bulldogs opened their season with 7-0 and 19-7 losses to Flandreau. Kettwig had the team's lone hit in the opener and went 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs in the second game.

Katrina Hagberg and Hope Bjerke, Deuel — Hagberg tossed two no-hitters in a 14-0 win over Elkton-Lake Benton and a 4-1 win over Oldham-Ramona-Rutland last week. She also hit two doubles against ELB and recorded 24 strikeouts in the two games. Bjerke clubbed a two-run homer and a two-run double against ELB.

Haley Hlavacek and Elizabeth Reiter, Florence-Henry — These games were actually played April 5 but not reeceived in time for last week's top performers. Florence-Henry swept Sisseton 15-0 and 18-2.

Hlavacek went 4-for-4 with three home runs in the second game. Reiter fanned 11 batters in four innings to get the win in the opener and also went 5-for-6 with two triples and a double in the doubleheader.

Aberdeen Central's Kyley Wirebaugh follows through on her tee shot on No. 9 Yellow during the Eastern South Dakota Conference girls golf tournament on Tuesday, May 23, 2023 at Cattail Crossing Golf Course in Watertown.
Aberdeen Central's Kyley Wirebaugh follows through on her tee shot on No. 9 Yellow during the Eastern South Dakota Conference girls golf tournament on Tuesday, May 23, 2023 at Cattail Crossing Golf Course in Watertown.

Girls Golf

Gabi Olson and Avery Palmquist, Watertown — The Arrows shot 328 and won a tiebreaker over Aberdeen Central to win the season-opening Harrisburg Invitational. Olson took third to lead the way with a 6-over par 77. Palmquist was fifth with a 78.

Kyley Wirebaugh, Olivia Braun and Emma Dohrer, Aberdeen Central — Wirebaught finished second with a 76, Braun fourth with a 77 and Dohrer seventh with an 81 at Harrisburg.

Area Golfers to Watch: Some of the top Class AA and A girls and Class B boys and girls to keep an eye on

Brynn Roehrich, Clark-Willow Lake — Roehrich shot a 46 to record a two-shot win in the Hamlin Early Bird, sparking the Cyclones to the team title.

Caitlyn Cradduck of Sioux Valley, Olivia Karst of Castlewood and Elliot Hortness of Sisseton — Cradduck finished third (50), Karst fourth (50) and Hortness fifth (52) in the Hamlin Early Bird.

Boys Golf

Lane Tvedt, Castlewood — Tvedt shot a 38 and used a birdie on the fourth playoff hole to top Blaize Amdahl of Webster Area for medalist honors in the Hamlin Early Bird.

Blaize Amdahl and Michael Dorsett, Webster Area — Amdahl finished second with a 38 and Dorsett fourth with a 50 to lead the Bearcats to the boys division title in the Hamlin Early Bird.

Jackson Wadsworth, Hamlin — Wadsworth took fifth in the Hamlin Early Bird with a 41.

Watertown's Justin Remmers focuses on hitting the ball during a high school boys tennis dual against Milbank on Tuesday, April 9, 2024 at the Highland Park courts in Watertown.
Watertown's Justin Remmers focuses on hitting the ball during a high school boys tennis dual against Milbank on Tuesday, April 9, 2024 at the Highland Park courts in Watertown.

Tennis

Curtis Sneden, Evan Meester, Justin Remmers and Skyler Stanton, Watertown — The Arrows went 4-0 last week, beating Milbank 9-0, Sioux Falls Jefferson 8-1, Rapid City Stevens 7-2 and Rapid City Central 9-0. Meester (No. 2), Remmers (No. 3) and Stanton (No. 5) each went 4-0 in singles. Sneden-Meester and Remmers-Stanton went 4-0 at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles, respectively.

Joey Meester-Sam Karst, Watertown — Meester and Karst combined for four wins at No. 3 doubles last week.

Landon Zikmund, Aberdeen Roncalli — The Cavaliers lost to Mitchell 8-1 and beat Brookings 7-2 last week. Zikmund won 5-7, 6-3 (10-6 tiebreaker) at No. 4 singles against Mitchell and added a 6-0, 6-1 singles win against Brookings. He also teamed with Ezra Feickert for a 6-1, 6-1 win at No. 2 doubles against Brookings.

AJ Prehn, Aberdeen Central — In a 5-4 loss to Pierre, Prehn won 2-6, 6-4 (10-4 tiebreaker) at No. 1 singles and teamed with Mika Dannen for a 6-1, 1-6 (10-7 tiebreaker) win at No. 1 doubles.

Mason Ligon and Josiah Grandpre, Aberdeen Central — The Golden Eagles lost to Huron 7-2 and Mitchell 9-0 on Saturday. Ligon won 6-3, 6-1 at No. 2 singles and Grandpree 0-6, 6-4 (10-8 tiebreaker) at No. 5 singles against Huron.

Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on X (formerly known as Twitter) @PO_Sports or email: rmerriam@thepublicopinion.com

This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Top high school performers for Watertown and Aberdeen areas

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