Dakota Wesleyan inks 21 South Dakotans

Dakota Wesleyan University signed 21 South Dakota athletes on national signing day. The 21 South Dakotans include: Brodey Ballinger (Jefferson), Devyn Born (Box Elder), Mason Cordell (Watertown), Payton DeWitt (Box Elder), Nolan Dvorak (Lake Andes), Carson Gohl (Ipswich), Logan Halls (Hot Springs), Grayson Hanson (Platte), Cole Holden (Watertown), Koby Kayser (Emery), Conner Kessler (Viborg), Travis Krietlow (Tea), Easton Millar (Redfield), Evan Nordstrom (Fort Pierre), Clay Olinger (Woonsocket), John Pica (Dell Rapids), Maxwell Raab (Yankton), Landon Ruesink (Dell Rapids), Mason Schelske (Wessington Springs), Joseph VanOverschelde (Mitchell) and Calvin Wright Jr., (Wagner). 

• Ballinger, a 6-foot, 195-pound linebacker, was a two-year letter winner and one-year starter for the Panthers. The linebacker commit is a four-time scholar-athlete and recipient of Academic All-State honors.

• Born is a six-foot, 195-pound linebacker. He was an all-conference player, was a two-year starter in football and three-year starter for the track team.

• Cordell was a two-year starter that totaled 83 tackles, one interception, one forced fumble, and six tackles for a loss with the Arrows. He earned three varsity letters during his four seasons on the Watertown High School football team.

• DeWitt is a 5-foot-11, 160-pound running back from Box Elder.

• Dvorak is a 6-foot-1, 190-pound tight end. The three-sport athlete earned varsity letters in football, baseball, and wrestling. On the football field, he received an all-state tight end nod.

• Gohl is a 6-foot, 200-pound running back. The three-year starter ran for a career total of 2,456 yards notching 33 career touchdowns. In a single season, Gohl tallied 17 rushing touchdowns, helping his team to an 8-3 overall record his junior year, and a 9-2 overall record his senior season.

• Halls was a three-year starter for the Bison. Halls, a 6-foot, 265-pound center, was a staple for the offensive line, helping the Hot Springs Bison to a 7-2 overall record.

• Hanson compiled 152 total tackles, 83 of them being solo tackles; he also tallied 14 tackles for a loss, two fumble recoveries on 10 forced fumbles, and one interception for Platte-Geddes. Offensively, he was credited with 220 carries for a total of 1,328 yards with 19 touchdowns. He notched 15 receptions for 232 yards recording two touchdowns. Defensively overall, Hanson has 421 tackles, six fumble recoveries, 18 forced fumbles, seven interceptions, and 54 tackles for a loss. During his offensive career, he notched 384 total carries for 2,448 yards and 36 touchdowns.

• Holden was named Watertown’s offensive MVP and tallied 49 receptions and 14 touchdowns totaling 1,121 receiving yards this past season. He garnered all-state and all-conference honors. 

• Kayser was a two-year starter for the Seahawks football and basketball teams. During his junior season, he tallied 29 touchdowns on 1,412 rushing yards. In his senior campaign, Kayser rushed for another 1,412 yards and 17 touchdowns. He was an all-conference and all-state honoree. 

• Kessler tallied 201 tackles, 12 sacks, three interceptions, 35 tackles for a loss, and forced eight fumbles for Viborg-Hurley High School. He was a two-time all-stater. 

• Krietlow was a three-year starter and was part of the 2020 perfect season that ended with a state championship.

• Millar, a 6-foot-1 quarterback, was a two-year starter for the Pheasants. During his junior year campaign, he tallied 1,200 passing yards helping his team to a 3-5 overall record: earning an All-NEC honorable mention accolade. He only improved his senior season, with 1,600 passing yards and a 4-1 touchdown to interception ratio with 16 passing touchdowns to four interceptions. Millar was tabbed as an All-NEC First Team honoree.

• Nordstrom, a 5-foot-11, 165-pounder, joins DWU as a wide receiver and running back. After tallying over 2,000 all-purpose yards his junior and senior seasons.

• Olinger was a four-year starter that rushed for 2,143 yards on 377 carries, averaging 5.7 yards per rushing attempt. He also tallied 20 receptions on 29 targets for 165 yards. He combined for 20 total touchdowns as 19 of them came on the ground. Defensively, Olinger tallied 103.5 tackles and two interceptions. He was a three-time all-conference selection and an all-state selection. 

• Pica, a 6-foot-4, 240-pounder, was a three-year starter for Cardinals, who won the Class 9B state championship in the fall. In the championship game, Pica tallied 12 tackles and one interception. He was an all-state selection.

• Raab, a tight end, assisted his team to a 9-2 overall record his junior season after 10 receptions for a total of 129 years. During his senior season, he tallied 25 receptions for three touchdowns, totaling 345 yards. He was an all-state selection. 

• Ruesink signs on as a wide receiver with DWU after notching north of 2,000 receiving yards and 34 touchdowns. The three-time all-conference and two-time all-state player also had a great career defensively, tallying 124 tackles, three sacks, and an interception. 

• Schelske, a tight end, was a three-year starter in high school. The 6-foot-6, 215-pounder was a multi-sport athlete in football, basketball, and baseball. On the gridiron, he tallied 11 catches for 240 total yards with five touchdowns. He was named to the all-state team.

• VanOverschelde was a two-year captain for the Kernels and a stat sheet full of accolades. As a three-year starter for the Mitchell High School football team, he racked up 305 total tackles. VanOverschelde was an all-state and all-conference selection. 

• Wright, a 6-foot-3, 275-pounder, was a two-year starter for Wagner.

Dakota State inks 12 South Dakotans

Dakota State University has signed a whopping 66 players, including 12 recruits from South Dakota. 

The group includes semester transfers Tyce Ortman (Northwestern College) and Rhet Bertram (National Guard). Ortman hails from Canistota, while Bertram is from Colome. 

The other South Dakotans include: Blake Hofer (Huron), Taron Serr (Burke), Caleb Dwyer (Sioux Falls Roosevelt), Jack Hemmen (White), Zachary Hotchkiss (Delmont), Ethan Remington (Huron), Gabriel Lamb (Baltic), Joey Cole (Winner High School), Joseph Turay (Sioux Falls Roosevelt) and Jabe Kieso (Sioux Falls Roosevelt). 

Northern State signs 10 players from South Dakota

Northern State University inked 10 players from South Dakota on national signing day. The 10 players include: Brady Bauer (Mobridge), Aidan Fredrickson (Britton), Gabe Johnson (Garretson), Hayden Gilbert (Viborg-Hurley), Chance Gregg (Herreid/Selby Area), Paden Johnson (Watertown), Brock Longville (Brookings), Kaden Kurtz (Groton Area), Cooper Logan (Gettysburg) and Maxamillion Thomson (Sioux Falls).

• Fredrickson is a 6-foot-1, 180-pound defensive back out of Britton-Hecla High School. Fredrickson tallied 104 career tackles and 13 interceptions, as well as 3,768 all-purpose yards and 47 touchdowns. He was a 2-time all-conference selection and an all-state honoree.

• Gilbert is a 6-foot-2, 195-pound defensive back out of Viborg-Hurley High School. Gilbert recorded 16 career interceptions and 34 pass break-ups. He is a 2-time all-conference selection and all-state honoree.

• Gregg is a 6-foot-2, 250-pound defensive lineman out of Selby Area High School. As a senior, Gregg recorded 77 tackles, 15 tackles for a loss, and four sacks. He was a 3-time all-conference and all-state selection.

• Gabe Johnson is a 6-foot, 290-pound offensive lineman out of Garretson High School. He was a three-year starter, senior team and a two-time Cornbelt All-Conference team selection as a prep.

• Paden Johnson is a 6-foot-8, 300-pound offensive lineman out of Watertown High School. He was a two-year starter and Johnson was selected to the Eastern South Dakota All-Conference team and all-state team.

• Kurtz is a 5-foot-10, 185-pound athlete out of Groton Area. As a senior, Kurtz recorded 1,350 yards passing with 13 touchdowns, 800 yards rushing with 12 touchdowns, and 74 tackles. He was a two-time all-conference selection and an all-stater. 

• Logan is a 6-foot-1, 200-pound linebacker out of Gettysburg High School. He was a three-year starter and senior team captain for the Battlers. As a senior, Logan recorded 140 tackles, 17 tackles for a loss, four sacks, four forced fumbles, three interceptions, and two fumble recoveries. He was an all-state selection.

• Longville is a 6-foot-4, 260-pound defensive lineman out of Brookings High School. He was a three-year starter for the Bobcats. As a senior, Longville recorded 52 tackles, 18 sacks, and one interception. He was a two-time all-conference selection and an all-state and academic all-state honoree.

• Thomson is a 6-foot-3, 220-pound quarterback out of Washington High School. He was a three-year starter and senior team captain for the Warriors. Thomson recorded 5,317 yards passing and 47 passing touchdowns in his prep career. In 2021, was an all-conference and all-state selection.

• Bauer is a 5-foot-10, 160-pound defensive back out of Mobridge-Pollock High School. He was a three-year starter and two-year team captain for the Tigers. Bauer recorded 26 pass break-ups in his final two seasons. He was named to the NEC All-Conference team.

Augie signs seven players from South Dakota

The Augustana University football signed seven players on national college football signing day. The seven South Dakotans include: Lincoln Carlson (Harrisburg), Christian Jepperson (Brandon Valley), Eli Oxner (Rapid City Stevens), Klayton Sattler (Tea Area), Sam Scholten (Brandon Valley), Manny Struck (Sioux Falls O’Gorman) and Corbin Wirkus (Baltic). 

• Carlson tallied 52 receptions for 881 yards and six touchdowns. His 52 receptions set a single-season record for the Tigers. He would also set a single-game receiving record with 193 yards. He earned all-state and all-conference selections while helping Harrisburg to the 11AAA State Championship. 

• Jepperson, a tight end, earned All-State 11AAA accolades as a senior while also earning All-Metro and All-ESD Conference accolades.

• Oxner, a defensive back, allowed five catches from his defensive back position and was ranked the number two defensive back in South Dakota. He was an Academic All-State selection and received an all-star game selection. 

• A wide receiver, Sattler had 47 catches for 904 yards and scored 15 touchdowns. He was an all-state and an all-conference honoree. His team went 11-1 and was state 11AA runners-up. As a junior, he helped Tea Area win the State Championship. 

• Scholten, a wide receiver, logged 33 receptions for 454 yards and a pair of touchdowns during his senior season. 

• Struck earned All-State and all-conference honors at defensive back. As a junior, he would have an all-conference honorable mention. 

• Wirkus, an offensive lineman, started all 35 career games for Baltic. As a senior, he had 32 tackles and four tackles for loss recorded. He had all-conference honors. As a junior, he would earn all-conference honors and record 34 tackles with two tackles for loss. He also earned all-conference accolades during his sophomore campaign.

Four South Dakotans sign with University of Sioux Falls

Four South Dakotans signed with the University of Sioux Falls on Wednesday. The quartet includes: Garret Hoffman (Sioux Falls Washington), Chase Kelly (Florence/Henry), Tyree Nave (Sioux Falls Roosevelt) and Noah Robertson (Sioux Falls Washington). 

• Hoffman is a three-sport standout (football, track and field and powerlifting) at Washington. For the Warriors Football Team, he served as team captain while excelling as a defensive back/safety who had 38 total tackles, 12 pass breakups and two interceptions as a senior. 

• Kelly was a standout on the defensive front for Florence/Henry HS. He led his team to the South Dakota 9AA playoffs. A four-sport standout (football, baseball, track and golf), he totaled 97 solo tackles and 98 assisted tackles with 15.5 sacks, seven fumble recoveries and six forced fumbles for Florence/Henry. A 9AA All-State player in 2021, he was ECC All-Conference, conference MVP and a two-year team captain.

• Nave played football and basketball with Sioux Falls Roosevelt. An explosive running back, Nave, who lettered all four years in high school and was a three-year starter, was named All-Metro Conference two straight years and honorable mention all-state as a junior.

• Robertson is a two-sport (basketball, football) standout with Sioux Falls Washington. As a senior tight end, he had 25 receptions for 325 yards (13.0 average) and two TDs with an 18-yard TD pass.