FREEMAN — The Freeman Flyers soared into rare air on March 21. 

The Flyers captured their first Class B state boys basketball championship since 1975, rallying past Castlewood 61-53 at an electric Wachs Arena. The basketball title comes on the heels of the Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy football team winning the Class 9AA state championship in November. 

It’s the first time since the 2005-06 season that a Class B school has captured both football and basketball state titles in the same season — a feat last accomplished by Arlington.

“Freeman has never experienced something with the football and basketball championships,” Freeman sophomore David Walter said. “These past couple of years prior we have not been good at football, and basketball as well. Being able to win football and basketball just means everything to me and everything to my teammates. It’s unbelievable.”

Walter, a promising 6-foot-5 forward, was a wide receiver for the Phoenix, which finished 12-0 in the fall. The Flyers continued the gridiron momentum on the hardwood, polishing off a 24-2 season and closing the year on a 22-game winning streak. 

“This means a lot to Freeman,” Freeman senior Tate Sorensen said. “Especially because it’s in the same year. We’ve got a lot of younger boys, too. I wouldn’t be surprised if they were back next year.”

Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy's Tate Sorensen (88) celebrates the Phoenix win over Elkton-Lake Benton during the Class 9AA state championship game on Nov. 13 at the DakotaDome in Vermillion. (Matt Gade / 605 Sports)

Sorensen, an all-state tight end and all-conference basketball player, was a key contributor in Freeman’s turnaround on the basketball court. Freeman went winless in the 2020-21 season, 1-20 in the 2021-22 campaign and 5-16 during the 2022-23 season. 

“We went 0-21 my seventh-grade year, 1-20 my eighth grade, only won five games like my freshman year,” Freeman senior Luke Peters said. “So to bring that program from where it was to this is a dream come true, and I really mean that. It’s a dream come true.”

The Flyers turned the tide in the 2023-24 season, upping their record to 14-8. Last season, the Flyers finished 20-6 and placed sixth in their first state tournament since 1999. 

On March 21, Freeman completed its hardwood ascension with a 13-point comeback against Castlewood, which won last season’s state championship.  

“It’s very rewarding,” said Freeman coach Lance Friesen. “We’ve worked so hard since we got there and the kids played so hard and have earned this. This was earned years ago, youth coaches, all the time put in and I just couldn’t be happier. It’s my home town. So I am really proud of the Flyers.”

The cupboard won’t be bare next season. The Flyers will graduate Peters, Sorensen, David Ilunga, Thor Aanenson and Taylor Goodwin from this season’s team. But led by Walter, an all-stater and all-tourney selection, classmate Tayden Kerrigan, juniors Oliver Waltner and Tannen Auch, the Flyers will be basketball contenders again next season. 

“Obviously there’s really talented kids and I didn’t mess it up,” Friesen said. “I have amazing coaches and the community came out and supported us in everything we needed along the way. It takes a village.”