State champion Hitchcock-Tulare placed six players on this year’s Class 9B all-state team, which was selected by the South Dakota Football Coaches Association.  

Erik Salmen, Landon Puffer, Jacob Michlitsch, T.J. Salmen, Carter Bringer and Brendan Nowell were all selected for the Patriots, who defeated Herreid/Selby Area in the title game. 

Herreid/Selby Area’s Tray Hettick, Brenden Begeman, Trevor Gill, Collin Tisdall and Hunter Friend were all-state honorees. Begeman an All-American selection. 

Semifinalists De Smet and Irene-Wakonda landed three and two players, respectively, on the all-state team. De Smet’s Damon Wilkinson, Dylan Zell and Kadyn Fast were all-staters. Irene-Wakonda’s Miles Pollman and Dashel Spurrell were selected to the honor squad. 

Here is the complete Class 9B all-state team:

QUARTERBACK: Tray Hettick, Sr., Herreid/Selby Area (6-2, 195)

Hettick piloted the Wolverines to an 11-1 season and a Class 9B runner-up finish. The 2021 Class 9A all-state quarterback, Hettick completed 98 of 160 passes for 1,919 yards and threw 27 passing touchdowns this season. The dual-threat QB added 544 rushing yards on 84 carries and scored five more touchdowns. A three-year starter, Hettick passed for more than 5,000 career passing yards and threw 80 passing touchdowns. 

“Great stats but most importantly a team-first guy who is a winner,” HSA coach Clayton Randall said. “He has a lot of skills, but his best skill is the ability to lead our team.”

FULLBACK/H-BACK: Reece Ohrtman, Sr., Kadoka Area (5-10, 230)

Ohrtman paced the Kougars ground game, finishing with 570 rushing yards on 82 carries and scored eight touchdowns. Ohrtman helped Kadoka Area reach the semifinals and quarterfinals three of his four years as a starter. Ohrtman was a Class 9A all-state defensive lineman last season 

“He’s been an instrumental part of our offensive success at fullback, leading the way for more than 9,300 rushing yards as a team the past four years,” Kadoka Area coach Chad Eisenbraun said. “Defensively, he’s one of the best defensive tackles I’ve coached in 20 years. He’s been a monster for other teams to block and has anchored us up front for a long time.”

Herreid/Selby Area's Brenden Begeman runs over a Hitchcock-Tulare defender in the Class 9B state championship game in Vermillion. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

RUNNING BACK: Brenden Begeman, Sr., Herreid/Selby Area (6-2, 210)

Herreid/Selby Area’s workhorse running back received his third straight all-state selection. He earned all-state defensive back honors as a sophomore and was an all-state running back as a junior. Begeman, a South Dakota State University commit, finished his career as the state’s all-time leading rusher (6,807 yards) and scored more than 100 career touchdowns. This season, he rushed for 2,997 rushing yards, the most in a single season in state history. Begeman averaged 253.4 rushing yards per game this season and scored a total of 49 touchdowns this season.

“Dynamic playmaker everywhere on the football field,” HSA coach Clayton Randall said. “Twenty-four career INTs and over 100 career TDs.”

RUNNING BACK: Erik Salmen, Jr., Hitchcock-Tulare (5-11, 205) 

Salmen packed a punch out of Hitchcock-Tulare’s backfield. A bruising running back, Salmen bowled over people for 1,110 rushing yards on 178 carries and scored 18 touchdowns. He added 11 catches for 170 yards and another score. The past two seasons, he’s rushed for 2,101 yards on 272 carries and scored 32 touchdowns. He’s added 12 receptions for 186 yards and two touchdown receptions. Salmen is a repeat Class 9B all-state selection. 

Erik is a great player, good quiet leader, strong and tough to bring down,” said Hitchcock-Tulare coach Tom Salmen, Erik’s father. “Over half of our games were done at half-time otherwise he would have had a lot more yards.”

RUNNING BACK: Nic Gaspar, Jr., Dell Rapids St. Mary (6-2, 185) 

Gaspar rumbled his way to 887 rushing yards on 86 carries and scored 15 touchdowns, while adding 16 catches for 256 yards and two more scores. The junior has rushed for 2,179 yards on 259 carries and has 33 touchdowns in his career. He’s also hauled in 33 catches for 677 yards and six touchdown receptions. He’s a repeat all-state honoree. 

“Nic has been our most electric playmaker the last two seasons,” Dell Rapids St. Mary coach Ross Flemmer said. “He is a hard worker and a great football player.”

WIDE RECEIVER: Landon Puffer, Sr., Hitchcock-Tulare (5-11, 160)

Puffer produced big plays for the state champions. The explosive wide receiver hauled in 38 catches for 832 yards and 17 touchdown receptions. He added four rushing touchdowns, while posting 20 tackles and 14 interceptions on defense. Over the past two seasons, Puffer has racked up 1,008 receiving yards and 19 touchdown catches, while scoring six rushing touchdowns. He returned two kickoffs and seven punts for touchdowns. Puffer was the Class 9B most outstanding back of the championship game. 

“Landon is a heck of an athlete,” Hitchcock-Tulare coach Tom Salmen said. “He is fast, tough to bring down and has great hands.”

WIDE RECEIVER: Roman DiMaria, Sr., Faulkton Area (5-11, 145) 

DiMaria was dangerous with the ball in his hands. The dynamic playmaker posted 907 receiving yards on 52 catches and scored 11 touchdown receptions. He added two rushing touchdowns. He amassed 1,167 receiving yards on 79 catches and scored 16 touchdown receptions for his career. 

“Roman is a very explosive receiver,” Faulkton Area coach Shayne Geditz said. “We did what we could to try to get the ball in his hands through the air. He runs good routes and can make the tough catch. He had the ability to score any time he touched the ball.” 

TIGHT END: Trevor Gill, Jr., Herreid/Selby Area (6-2, 180)

Gill proved to be a reliable receiver to complement Herreid/Selby Area’s ground game. The junior tight end hauled in 39 catches for 989 yards and 14 touchdown receptions. A two-year starter, Gill has caught 52 catches for 1,382 yards and has 22 touchdown catches.  

“Trevor has developed into a nice tight end,” Herreid/Selby Area coach Clayton Randall said. “Main blocker in our run game and great production to stretch the defense for teams trying to lead the box. He is a nice target at 6'2 with good speed.”

OFFENSIVE LINE: Damon Wilkinson, Sr., De Smet (6-10, 265)

Wilkinson towered over his opponents and powered the line of scrimmage for the Bulldogs. Wilkinson, who is also an all-state basketball player, helped De Smet rush for 1,620 yards and pass for 961 yards this season. He was also an all-state offensive lineman last season and is a college prospect for football and basketball.

“Damon was the main offensive lineman for us this season,” De Smet coach Brendon Pitts said. “If we needed a first down, we ran behind him. He was a great leader for us on and off the field.”

OFFENSIVE LINE: Kley Heumiller, Sr., Avon (6-3, 210)

Heumiller paved the way for Avon’s ground game this season. The guard was instrumental in Avon rushing for 2,951 yards, while on defense he racked up 47.5 tackles, 8.5 sacks and nine tackles for loss. A four-year starter, Heumiller was an all-state offensive lineman last season. 

“Kley was our team leader this season,” Avon coach Tom Culver said. “He is a physical guard that we ran behind if we needed tough yards.”

OFFENSIVE LINE: Jacob Michlitsch, Sr., Hitchcock-Tulare (6-2, 280)

Michlitsch anchored the line of scrimmage for the state champions. Michlitsch helped the Patriots piled up 1,911 passing yards and 2,152 rushing yards, while scoring 72 total touchdowns on offense. Defensively, he logged 32 tackles, 1.5 sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss. Michlitsch was named the most outstanding lineman of the Class 9B state championship game. 

“Jacob is very strong and moves well for his body size,” Hitchcock-Tulare coach Tom Salmen said. “He is knowledgeable in the game of football and what we want to accomplish on the field.”

OFFENSIVE LINE: Collin Tisdall, Sr., Herreid/Selby Area (5-11, 215)

Tisdall cleared running lanes and passing alleys for Wolverines’ dynamic playmakers. The lineman helped Herreid/Selby Area rush for more than 335 yards per game. 

“Collin gets after it on the offensive line,” Herreid/Selby Area coach Clayton Randall said. “Good footwork and hips. He can make all the blocks needed to run the football: base, trap, pull. He does it with a motor.”

ATHLETE: Miles Pollman, Sr., Irene-Wakonda (6-3, 210)

Pollman did a little bit of everything for the Eagles. He was moved around on offense for the Eagles, lining up at both fullback and tight end during the season. Pollman helped the Eagles rush for more than 2,100 yards and pass for more than 1,300 yards. He racked up 660 receiving yards on 32 catches and scored eight touchdown receptions. On defense, he recorded 61 tackles, one sacks and 16 tackles for loss. 

“Miles put a lot of pressure on quarterbacks,” Irene-Wakonda coach Chris Torgerson said. “He was always in the backfield making tackles. Difficult to block and difficult to cover.”

ATHLETE: Dylan Zell, Sr., De Smet (5-10, 165)

Zell was in the middle of everything for the Bulldogs. The fullback/wing back rushed for 265 yards on 37 carries and scored four touchdowns. On defense, he posted a team-high 81 tackles, three sacks and four fumble recoveries.

“He was not only a great leader for us on the field, but also off the field,” De Smet coach Brendon Pitts said. “He was the heart and soul of our defense.”

DEFENSIVE LINE: Gabriel Lindeman, Sr., Dell Rapids St. Mary (6-3, 240)

Lindeman was a disruptive force for the Cardinals along the defensive line. This season, Lindeman registered 70 tackles, seven sacks and two forced fumbles. For his career, Lindeman posted 171 tackles, 22 sacks, six forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, one interception and one defensive touchdown. A four-year defensive starter, Lindeman is a repeat all-state selection. 

“Gabriel has been a hard worker and a great player for us for four seasons,” Dell Rapids St. Mary coach Ross Flemmer said. “He is a great football player and a great young man.”

DEFENSIVE LINE: T.J. Salmen, Sr., Hitchcock-Tulare (6-7, 215)

Salmen was a force coming off the edge for the Patriots. The towering defensive end racked up 64 total tackles, 11.5 sacks, 18.5 tackles for loss and five fumble recoveries. He finished with 110.5 tackles, 17 sacks, 33.5 tackles for loss and six fumble recoveries over the past two seasons. 

“He is athletic and moves well for his size,” said Hitchcock-Tulare coach Tom Salmen, who is T.J.’s father. “He is being double teamed quite a bit or I am certain he would have more sacks. Teams definitely have to account for him.”

DEFENSIVE LINE: Lucas Krogstad, Sr., Corsica-Stickney (6-0, 210)

Krogstad collected sacks and tackles for loss for the Jaguars. The defensive end posted 48 tackles, three sacks and 10 tackles for loss. He finished his career with 82 tackles, three sacks and 12 tackles for loss. He was a two-year starter. 

“Very good leader for our team and was our most physical player while playing defensive end,” Corsica-Stickney coach Gregg Olawsky said. “Also led the offensive line that rushed for 279 yards per game.”

DEFENSIVE LINE: Hunter Friend, Sr., Herreid/Selby Area (6-4, 250)

Friend paced Herreid/Selby Area’s stout defensive unit. Friend finished with 37 tackles, seven sacks, four tackles for loss, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. He was a three-year starter for the Wolverines. 

“Hunter is a solid DE/DT player on the edge of our three front,” Herreid/Selby Area coach Clayton Randall said. “Great size and moves well. Has made a lot of big plays this season.”

LINEBACKER: Carter Binger, Sr., Hitchcock-Tulare (5-10, 180)

Binger manned the middle of Hitchcock-Tulare’s stingy defense. Binger racked up 52 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, four interceptions, two sacks and one fumble recovery. He returned two of his interceptions for touchdowns. He also threw for 1,843 yards and 28 touchdowns from his quarterback position. He was selected as the Joe Robbie MVP of the Class 9B title game. 

“Carter does a tremendous job for us as an outside backer,” Hitchcock-Tulare coach Tom Salmen said. “He is the second leading tackler and makes plays all over the field.”

LINEBACKER: Landon Hepker, Sr., Sully Buttes (6-1, 190)

As quarterback and middle linebacker, Hepker was Sully Buttes' play caller on offense and defense. Defensively, he racked up 78 tackles and six sacks.

“He did a great job of making good decisions to put our defense in,” Sully Buttes coach Tom Moore said. “He was the play caller on both sides of the ball, which demands a lot and he handled it well. He played with great physicality and demanded it from his teammates as he is a great leader this way.”

LINEBACKER: Dashel Spurrell, Sr., Irene-Wakonda (5-9, 150)

Spurrell was a menace in the Irene-Wakonda defensive unit. Spurrell posted 83 tackles, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles this season. He finished his career with 229 tackles, fifth-most in Irene-Wakonda school history. He added two sacks, four interceptions, five forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries during his career. He was voted three-year team captain. 

“Dashel is a special young man with special talents,” Irene-Wakonda coach Chris Torgerson said. “He is someone when everything is on the line he is going to find a way to get it done.”

LINEBACKER: Alex Tanner, Sr., Potter County (6-3, 215)

Tanner tallied a number of tackles in Potter County’s defensive unit. The rangy linebacker finished with 79 tackles, two sacks and one interception for a touchdown. Offensively, he posted 290 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while hauling in 271 receiving yards and two touchdown receptions. He logged 140 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions for touchdowns and three fumble recoveries over the past two seasons. 

Alex drew a lot of from opposing teams blockers this season, but was still able to lead the Battlers in tackles,” Potter County coach Vern Smith. “He was always around the play and would make tackles from sideline to sideline.”

DEFENSIVE BACK: Brendan Nowell, Jr., Hitchcock-Tulare (5-7, 130)

Nowell complemented the Patriots’ rock-solid defense from the secondary. Nowell logged nine of Hitchcock-Tulare’s 34 interceptions and returned two for touchdowns, including a 98-yarder in the state championship. He added 21.5 total tackles and one fumble recovery. 

“Brendan works very hard, finds himself around the ball and has good speed,” Hitchcock-Tulare coach Tom Salmen said. 

DEFENSIVE BACK: Gabriel Fauske, Sr., Kadoka Area (6-2, 160)

Fauske produced big plays from the safety position for the Kougars. He posted 86 tackles, two tackles for loss, four interceptions, two fumble recoveries, one pick-six and one sack. Offensively, he added five rushing touchdowns and two touchdown receptions. 

“Fauske shined brightest at safety for the Kougars,” Kadoka Area coach Chad Eisenbraun said. “We were able to play him over the top and use him as a LB/safety against the different offensive sets we faced. He’s a big hitter and a sure tackler.”

DEFENSIVE BACK: Kadyn Fast, Jr., De Smet (6-0, 165)

Fast was a lockdown defender for the Bulldogs. He posted 34 tackles and two fumble recoveries, while he added 582 yards on 86 carries and six touchdowns on offense. He also hauled in 285 receiving yards and four touchdown receptions. He added a punt return for a touchdown. Fast was an honorable mention all-state selection last season. 

“Kadyn was a big playmaker for us this season from multiple spots on the field,” De Smet coach Brendon Pitts said. “He was often tasked with shutting down the opposing team's biggest offensive threat and did a tremendous job with that.”

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER: Brady Bierema, Sr., Avon (5-9, 160)

Bierema averaged 33.8 yards per punt and 31.9 yards per kickoff for the Pirates. Offensively, he rushed for 413 yards and six touchdowns during a shortened-senior season. For his career, Bierema racked up 3,253 rushing yards on 433 carries and scored 44 touchdowns. Defensively, he logged 186.5 tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss and 29 pass breakups. He was an all-state running back in 2021. 

“Brady was only able to play part of the season in 2022 due to a knee injury,” Avon coach Tom Culver said. “He was definitely a difference maker on our team and made us a much better team when he played.”

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER: C.J. Smith, Sr., Dell Rapids St. Mary (6-0, 165)

Smith averaged 37.2 yards per punt on 10 attempts during the season. Smith was also the Cardinals’ kicker and return specialist. He threw for 688 yards and 10 passing touchdowns from his quarterback position. He was a three-year starter on offense and defense.

“C.J. is a great football player,” Dell Rapids St. Mary coach Ross Flemmer said. “He did a little bit of everything for us in his career.”