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Five northeastern South Dakota athletes win events on opening day of state track meet

SIOUX FALLS — Northeastern South Dakota athletes won five events on the opening day of the 2025 South Dakota State High School Track and Field Championships. Competition in the three-class, three-day meet opened on Thursday, May 29 and continues through Saturday, May 31. Area event winners included: Taryn Hermansen, Aberdeen Central — Class AA girls’ […]

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Five northeastern South Dakota athletes win events on opening day of state track meet


SIOUX FALLS — Northeastern South Dakota athletes won five events on the opening day of the 2025 South Dakota State High School Track and Field Championships.

Competition in the three-class, three-day meet opened on Thursday, May 29 and continues through Saturday, May 31.

Area event winners included:

  • Taryn Hermansen, Aberdeen Central — Class AA girls’ shot put (45 feet, 6.5 inches).
  • Jalyssa Hutson, Ipswich — Class B girls’ pole vault (11 feet).
  • Dustin Wurtz, Leola — Class B boys’ discus (163-11).
  • Deubrook Area — Class B girls’ 3,200-meter relay (9:47.61). Runners included Makenna Ekern, Neely Gustad, Nora Olsen and Kylee Johnson.
  • Sioux Valley — Class A boys’ 3,200 relay (8:02:49). Runners included Brock Christopherson, Carson Wosje, Mitchell Guthmiller and Brady Hiltunen.
Dane Stark of Watertown and Wyatt Balliew of Douglas run in the Class AA boys' 3,200-meter relay during the opening day of the South Dakota High School Track and Field Championships on Thursday, May 29, 2025, at Howard Wood Field in Sioux Falls.

Other area place winners, by division, included:

Class AA Girls

Malia Kranz of Watertown placed third in the shot put (40-4) and Jaidyn Forsyth of Aberdeen Central added a fifth-place finish in the pole vault (11-0).

Class AA Boys

There were area place winners in Class AA boys’ events on Thursday.

Aberdeen Central's Kylee Ewing and Watertown's Jeryn Fieber compete in the Class AA girls' medley relay during the opening day of the South Dakota High School Track and Field Championships on Thursday, May 29, 2025, at Howard Wood Field in Sioux Falls.

Class A Girls

Emma Gorvin of Sioux Valley placed fifth (5-1) and Sarah Zubke of Webster Area tied for seventh (4-11) in the high jump.

Groton Area placed fourth in the 3,200-meter relay (9:48.65) with runnres Ryelle Gilbert, Faith and Taryn Traphagen and Kella Tracy.

Clark-Willow Lake took fifth (4:15.01) and Groton Area eighth (4:17.12) in the medley relay. Clark-Willow Lake runners included Madison Brenden, Johanna Vandersnick, Cadence Bochek and Kamryn Nesheim. MaKenna Krause, Taryn Traphagen, Laila Roberts and Kella Tracy ran for Groton Area.

Class A Boys

Lucas Johnson of Great Plains Lutheran placed fourth (6-4) in the high jump. Taiton Boersma of Elkton-Lake Benton (51-11.75) took third and Michael Severson of Clark-Willow Lake (48-10.75) seventh in shot put. Samuel Rick of Milbank (second, 14-0), Gabe Sather of Deuel (third, 13-3), Eliot Erickson of Elkton-Lake Benton (fifth, 12-3) and Jeron McCreay of Webster Area (eighth, 12-3) each placed in the pole vault.

Groton Area took fourth (3:38.49) in the medley relay with Brevin Fliehs, Lincoln Krause, Keegen Tracy and Blake Pauli. Milbank was fifth (3:38.9) with runners Garrett Weber, Harley Zemlicka, Emmett Hanson and Bryan Meyer and Sioux Valley eighth (3:40.84) with runners Jakob Guthmiller, Donovan Rose, Christopherson and Hiltunen.

Great Plains Lutheran's Hayden Karli (2751) leads Karson Keiser of Winnter, Cole Dewald of Hanson and Brant Wassenaar of Sioux Falls Christian in the final leg of the Class A boys' medley relay during the opening day of the South Dakota High School Track and Field Championships on Thursday, May 29, 2025, at Howard Wood Field in Sioux Falls. GPL finished ninth.

Class B Girls

Other area place winners in the pole vault included Marley Guthmiller of Ipswich (second, 10-0), Courtney Leidholt of Warner (third, 10-0), Peyton Schnabel of North Central (tied for fourth, 9-3), Avery bruns of Warner (sixth, 9-3) and Carleigh Dosch of North Central (seventh, 8-9). Chloe Raw of Arlington took second (18-0) and Kaydee Mackner of Warner seventh (16-5) in the long jump. Hadlee Holt of Iroquois-Lake Preston (second, 140-1), Audi Currier of De Smet (fourth, 118-10) and Tristan Geditz of Ipswich (eighth, 112-6) each placed in the discus.

Warner was fourth (10:09.35), Potter County fifth (10:13.21), Ipswich (10:15.82) and Faulkton Area eighth (10:16.35) in the 3,200 relay. Haivyn Schuchardt, Katelyn Wirth, Reese Holm and Addison Heinrich ran for Warner; Dannika Kaup, Paige and Jadyn Ahlemeier and Emma Schlachter for Potter County; Madisyn Gellhaus, Gracyn Kadlec, Jennay Gisi and Isabella Henderson for Ipswich; and Reese Hadrick, Rhyann Roseland, Claire Cotton and Austina Sorensen for Faulkton Area.

Northwestern finished sixth (4:24.9), Deubrook Area seventh (4:27.44) and Herreid-Selby Area eighth (4:27.87) in the medley. Rachel Melius, Brenna Halverson, Elexis Kramp and Ella Boekelheide ran for Northwestern; Kyra Bowne, Matti Ramlo, Johnson and Olsen for Deubrook Area; and Stephanie Allbee, Brooklyn Helm, Breanna Jochim and Katie Allbee for HSA.

Florence-Henry runners Addison (2267) and Ana Byer and Aberdeen Roncalli runners Hazel Kannegieter (2051) and Mataya Henrich are pictured in the Class A girls' medley relay during the opening day of the South Dakota High School Track and Field Championships on Thursday, May 29, 2025, at Howard Wood Field in Sioux Falls.

Class B Boys

Landon Larson of Potter County placed third in the long jump (21-3.75) and Sam Leen of Deubrook Area seventh in the discus (136-3).

Frederick Area placed third in thre 3,200 relay (8:35.14) with runners Noah Kippley, Howard Sumption, Titus Kippley and Gavin Nickelson. Sunshine Bible Academy took fifth (8:37.17) with runners Owan Watson, Jensen Wipf, Toby Mickelson and Jimmy Burma. Deubrook Area followed in sixth (8:37.31) with runners Charlie Olsen, Josh Mitchell, Brody Gladis and Josh Moberg.

Wilmot’s boys recorded a second-place finish in the medley relay (3:38.75) with runners Keitrick Genia, Jaxen Dockter, Kolby Haubris and Ethan Schwenn.

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

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High School Sports

James Johnson highlights from the newest Georgia Bulldogs 4

Georgia landed its 24th commitment for the 2026 class and on Friday when Miami Northwestern defensive lineman James Johnson announced his decision to commit to the Bulldogs, giving the program a commitment for the seventh day in a row. The 6-foot-3, 285-pound prospect chose Georgia over Florida, Florida State, Miami, Texas, and 38 other offers, giving Georgia assistant and defensive line […]

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James Johnson highlights from the newest Georgia Bulldogs 4

Georgia landed its 24th commitment for the 2026 class and on Friday when Miami Northwestern defensive lineman James Johnson announced his decision to commit to the Bulldogs, giving the program a commitment for the seventh day in a row. The 6-foot-3, 285-pound prospect chose Georgia over Florida, Florida State, Miami, Texas, and 38 other offers, giving Georgia assistant and defensive line coach Tray Scott his fourth defensive lineman commitment for the 2026 cycle, joining Carter Luckie, Seven Cloud, and Corey Howard. The addition of Calicut moves Georgia up one spot in the 247Sports Team Class Rankings, passing Notre Dame to give the Bulldogs the No. 2 class in the country.

Watch Johnson’s junior highlights above. As a junior, Johnson made 60 tackles, 29 tackles for loss, five sacks, and five quarterback hurries in nine games. As a sophomore, Johnson had 51 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 13 quarterback hurries, and seven sacks.

Johnson is ranked as the No. 90 overall prospect, the No. 13 defensive lineman in the country, and the No. 11 overall recruit in Florida according to 247Sports. He ranks as the No. 69 overall recruit in the country in the industry-generated 247Sports Composite, as well as the nation’s No. 8 defensive lineman and No. 10 overall prospect in Texas. Below is the 247Sports Scouting Report for Johnson from February 20.

“Explosive defensive tackle with all the fixings to make a living up front. More of a one-gap player than he is a two-gap player at this stage, but has the mass to dock in the middle. Added almost 25 pounds to a frame that stretches just over 6-foot-2 between sophomore and junior seasons and should eventually carry 300 pounds or more. Owns some of the best throwing metrics in the Sunshine State for his class and that lower-body twitch constantly shows up on tape as he shoots out of his stance and is quick to put opponents on their heels. Raw upper-body strength allows him to club his way around obstacles while a near 82-inch wingspan makes it difficult for blockers to establish initial hand positioning. Can get caught playing with a higher pad level and will fade for stretches during games, but hard to overlook push-back power and motor when it has been primed. Likely to face an initial adjustment period as he will see a significant jump in competition when he arrives at the college of his choice, but projects as a potential difference-maker at the point of attack for a College Football Playoff contender that can be stationed at different spots across the line.”

Not a VIP subscriber to Dawgs247? Sign up now to get 50 percent off access to everything Jordan D. Hill. Kipp Adams, Benjamin Wolk, and Olivia K Sayer have to offer on all things Georgia and access to the No. 1 site covering the Dawgs.

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Blair Oaks Baseball Coach Mike DeMilia Hired as Missouri Valley College Head Coach

Blair Oaks High School‘s longtime head baseball coach Mike DeMilia, who has served with the Falcons for seven seasons (2018–2025), is taking the reins of Missouri Valley College’s baseball program, according to a press release from the school’s athletics department and reported by ABC 17 News. During his tenure at Blair Oaks, DeMilia guided the […]

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Blair Oaks Baseball Coach Mike DeMilia Hired as Missouri Valley College Head Coach

Blair Oaks High School‘s longtime head baseball coach Mike DeMilia, who has served with the Falcons for seven seasons (2018–2025), is taking the reins of Missouri Valley College’s baseball program, according to a press release from the school’s athletics department and reported by ABC 17 News.

During his tenure at Blair Oaks, DeMilia guided the program to:

“Mike has a great track record, and he’s a very hard worker,” Missouri Valley Vice President of Athletics Marsha Lashley said in the school’s announcement. “His energy and his respect for the game and doing things the right way will serve our students well.”

Before his time at Blair Oaks, the Nebraska native coached at the collegiate level:

“I’m thrilled to have this opportunity,” DeMilia said in the release. “There is so much happening at Missouri Valley; they’re really on the move. It’s an honor to join the team.”

Blair Oaks will begin the search for its next head baseball coach ahead of the 2025–26 school year.

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Bike with Mayor in Euclid highlights new routes and community connections

With the intense heat backing off a few degrees after the recent rain, a cooler day presented participants the perfect weather to go on a bike trip with Euclid Mayor Kirsten Holzheimer Gail. Starting in the morning of June 28 about 40 participants gathered at the front entrance of the Shore Cultural Centre, 291 E. […]

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Bike with Mayor in Euclid highlights new routes and community connections

With the intense heat backing off a few degrees after the recent rain, a cooler day presented participants the perfect weather to go on a bike trip with Euclid Mayor Kirsten Holzheimer Gail.

Starting in the morning of June 28 about 40 participants gathered at the front entrance of the Shore Cultural Centre, 291 E. 222nd St., before heading out on the four-and-a-half mile route which would highlight the lakefront trail, Yuko Park, Russell Avenue Park and concluding at Bananas For Bikes, a local bike shop on Lakeshore Boulevard.

People listen to a safety briefing before heading out on a Bike with the Mayor event. (Frank Mecham- The News-Herald)
People listen to a safety briefing before heading out on a Bike with the Mayor event. (Frank Mecham- The News-Herald)

Holzheimer Gail said that besides the chance to get some exercise, the idea to behind having a “Bike with a Mayor” event was to not only have a chance to engage with some community members but also to gauge the quality of bike routes in the city.

“It’s just an opportunity to get residents out and ride their bikes and see some of the improvements we’ve made,” Holzheimer Gail said before departing. “We always want to help improve the bicycle and pedestrian safety for the community.

“I think that’s a big part in building a vibrant community. So, this is just a way to get out and model that.

“We would love to work towards more sheltered trails, but we don’t have enough room to do that,” Holzheimer Gail added. “So, just being mindful in how do we incorporate bike safety into our transportation planning is kind of part of everything that we do. As we are planning park improvements, as we are attracting businesses, keeping in mind of how do you make it safe for residents to ride their bike there.

“Sometimes it’s simple things like bike racks, sometimes it’s having special trails for the bikes, it can be a number of different things.”

Different bikes are lined up outside of the Shore Cultural Centre, 291 E 222nd St in Euclid before a Bike with the Mayor event. (Frank Mecham- The News-Herald)
Different bikes are lined up outside of the Shore Cultural Centre, 291 E 222nd St in Euclid before a Bike with the Mayor event. (Frank Mecham- The News-Herald)

She said that they have done around four similar bike rides in the past, each time the route changes in order to highlight a new area of the city. She said that while the bike ride was a big part of the event, it was also to build comradery and to show even lifetime residents that there are new things going on in the city.

“Last year we did kind of the south side Euclid Avenue, started at Collision Bend and kind of stayed up there,” Holzheimer Gail said. “So, this year, we are going to kind of focus more on the north. Still, with the improvements that we’ve made, it’s still hard to get over the field by the freeway and the big streets, so we are going to stay north this time.

“It’s also just a great way to meet residents,” Holzheimer Gail added. “I know one of the times that we did this, residents who have lived here most of their life were surprised by things that they didn’t know about… It’s a good way to learn about some things that are happening in the city, get to meet new people, and have some fun.”

Diana Hildebrand, the education and outreach manager for Bike Cleveland talks before leading the group out. (Frank Mecham- The News-Herald)
Diana Hildebrand, the education and outreach manager for Bike Cleveland talks before leading the group out. (Frank Mecham- The News-Herald)

Diana Hildebrand, education and outreach manager for Bike Cleveland, who was leading the group along the route as part of the safety team, said she is excited to get on the road and that the Bike with the Mayor event was, to her, a fun way for people to get involved.

“Bike with the Mayor rides are so important,” Hildebrand said. “It gets the community out and connects the person who they consider a higher up to the people to say, ‘hey I’m a person as well’…

“We have to let people know that bicycles are allowed to share the road with other vehicles. We also talk to our city and county people as well, so that they can start to implement changes — that they are aware that the sidewalks could be a little wilder, or maybe when we are repaving their streets we could add a speed table, buffer bike lanes or install a bike lane…”

While there were many places along the route that she was excited about, the first thing that came to mind, she said, was the new lakefront connections and Lake Erie itself.

“My favorite part is the connection to the lake and the beautification around the lake,” Hildebrand said. “They have been trying to install the park and while I was out here I was looking at it, I love being outside, and connecting communities to our beautiful lakefront is so important.”

Riding bikes can be fun, but it can also be dangerous. According to the National Safety Council, there were 1,377 preventable bicycle-related deaths in 2023 in the U.S., with 937 of those deaths due to being hit with a motor-vehicle.

Cyclists wave as they leave the Shore Cultural Centre for a Bike with the Mayor ride. (Frank Mecham- The News-Herald)
Cyclists wave as they leave the Shore Cultural Centre for a Bike with the Mayor ride. (Frank Mecham- The News-Herald)
Cyclists head out to the main roads during a Bike with the Mayor event on June 28. (Frank Mecham- The News-Herald)
Cyclists head out to the main roads during a Bike with the Mayor event on June 28. (Frank Mecham- The News-Herald)

Hildebrand said that she had something to say to drivers who might be getting a little too close.

“One thing I would like to say, so that people understand our bike safety laws, bicycles are (considered) vehicles in the state of Ohio and a lot of states across the nation,” Hildebrand said. “Just give us our three to four feet while passing us cautiously. And if I had to add an explanation point to something, don’t honk your horn at us. Hoking your horn absolutely scares a cyclist. We don’t know if a car is coming fast at us, or anything like that.

“Just be cautious with us on when we are on the roadways, and remember that, your mom, your dad, your aunt or uncle, your brother or sister- one of us are enjoying the outdoor space on two-wheels- or sometimes three-wheels if you want to ride a tricycle- just let us enjoy our time outside… we always want to come home to our families.”

Originally Published:

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High School Sports

Looking at the Top 10 moments of the 2024

It’s been a long ride. The 2024-25 high school sports season began what seems like forever ago, and yet it came to a close just a couple weeks past. It was a wildly successful season for the Berkshires, with multiple state championships returning to the county at the end of Massachusetts. 2

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Looking at the Top 10 moments of the 2024

It’s been a long ride. The 2024-25 high school sports season began what seems like forever ago, and yet it came to a close just a couple weeks past.

It was a wildly successful season for the Berkshires, with multiple state championships returning to the county at the end of Massachusetts.

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High School Sports

Former Jaguars cheerleader's death from colorectal cancer highlights rising cases

Since the mid-1990s, colorectal cancer cases among adults aged 20 to 39 have increased by about two percent each year. Author: firstcoastnews.com Published: 12:37 PM EDT June 28, 2025 Updated: 12:37 PM EDT June 28, 2025 2

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Former Jaguars cheerleader's death from colorectal cancer highlights rising cases

Since the mid-1990s, colorectal cancer cases among adults aged 20 to 39 have increased by about two percent each year.

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High School Sports

Anthony Raio named USA Lacrosse's 2025 Northeast Player of the Year

When Anthony Raio learned he was USA Lacrosse’s 2025 Northeast Player of the Year, the first person he told was his dad. “He was super happy and proud of all the hard work paying off,” Raio said. And justifiably so. Raio, Newsday’s boys lacrosse player of the year, set Long Island’s career goals record this […]

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Anthony Raio named USA Lacrosse's 2025 Northeast Player of the Year

When Anthony Raio learned he was USA Lacrosse’s 2025 Northeast Player of the Year, the first person he told was his dad.

“He was super happy and proud of all the hard work paying off,” Raio said.

And justifiably so.

Raio, Newsday’s boys lacrosse player of the year, set Long Island’s career goals record this spring (295) while leading Half Hollow Hills to a 23-win undefeated season and a program-first state title. He scored 99 goals and assisted 77 more for a terrific 176 points.

The accomplishment was announced on Thursday, just days after Raio had won the Lt. Ray Enners Award, which highlights the top lacrosse player in Suffolk.

“It’s the result of all the work I put in when people weren’t looking,” Raio said. “All the times I went to shoot by myself after practice, or when I’ll take a couple teammates on weekends to just shoot and mess around. I couldn’t be more grateful to my teammates and coaches for helping me become who I am, because I wouldn’t be half the person I am without them.”

As Northeast Player of the Year, Raio is a member of the 14-team All-Northeast lineup. He’s joined by Gary Merrill of St. Anthony’s, Quinn Ball of Chaminade, and Owen Wuchte and Blake Cascadden of Garden City. The list considered players from New York, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.

“[Long Island] is the best place to play lacrosse,” Raio said. “The grit, the intensity and love for the game that all the guys who come out of here have just shows on championship weekend.”

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