Sports

Sioux Falls Jefferson star tight end Eddie Whiting reflects on busy offseason

SIOUX FALLS — Eddie Whiting’s future plans of playing at the next level have already been decided, but that hasn’t stopped Sioux Falls Jefferson’s star tight end from continuing to develop his game. Since the start of the new year, Whiting has stayed plenty busy. ADVERTISEMENT On Feb. 8, the 6-foot-6 rising senior committed to […]

Published

4 weeks ago

April 10, 2025

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Sioux Falls Jefferson star tight end Eddie Whiting reflects on busy offseason

Since the start of the new year, Whiting has stayed plenty busy.

On Feb. 8, the 6-foot-6 rising senior committed to Michigan State, picking the Spartans over a slew of more than 15 other Division I offers. After taking some time to properly heal up from an ankle injury, Whiting returned to the hardwood in early February to help guide Jefferson to the state tournament, and throughout the spring, he has also competed on Sanford Sports Academy’s 18U

7-on-7 football

team.

The grind simply doesn’t stop for Whiting. He is also taking part in

Sanford’s Elite Training Prep program,

a six-week initiative for high school football players that allows participants to work with the Sanford Sports Performance team on agility training, speed training, 1-on-1 drills, skelly drills and film analysis.

The ETP program has one session remaining before the annual football combine on Friday, April 25. With his college future already decided, Whiting won’t take part in the combine, but he still sees a lot of value in the ETP program.

“It’s just good football,” said Whiting, who has participated in the ETP program the last two years. “You get in some good workouts with some of the best talent in South Dakota, and it’s just a chance to get on the field.”

Sioux Falls Jefferson's Eddie Whiting runs through drills during a session of the Sanford Sports Elite Training Prep program Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at the Sanford Fieldhouse in Sioux Falls. — Sioux Falls Jefferson’s Eddie Whiting runs through drills during a session of the Sanford Sports Elite Training Prep program Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at the Sanford Fieldhouse in Sioux Falls.

A four-star recruit on Rivals,

Whiting took his first official visit to MSU over the Thanksgiving break and developed an immediate connection with tight ends coach Brian Wozniak, who also serves as the Spartans’ recruiting coordinator.

Wozniak, who played four years at the University of Wisconsin (2009-13), worked under head coach Jonathan Smith for five years at Oregon State. Then, in December 2023, Wozniak joined the MSU staff after Smith was appointed the program’s head coach.

In January, Whiting received a multitude of offers. Among his final options were Washington, Minnesota, Iowa and a late push by Alabama, but Whiting’s connection with Wozniak and Smith at Michigan State was simply too strong to ignore.

“He’s a tight ends coach who actually played tight end, so there’s actual experience there,” Whiting said about Wozniak. “And then coach Smith, I just got good vibes from him every time I talked to him.

“They’re very family-oriented, and they want to get to know you as a person. They make it more family than business.”

Wisconsin was the first big school to begin pursuing Whiting’s talents last spring, and after that, he spent the summer competing in a number of college camps. Then, in the fall, Whiting took gameday visits to Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa and Iowa State, among others.

Kurtiss Riggs is the director of football at the Sanford Sports Academy and has known the Whiting family for a while now. Over the years, Whiting’s father, Ed, has established himself as an assistant coach in Sioux Falls, where he currently serves as defensive coordinator at Jefferson.

Riggs believes Whiting’s physical traits are the primary source of so much of his Division I interest.

“You can’t coach those things,” Riggs said, “and then you start to add in the fact that he’s got extremely soft hands, a great work ethic, very coachable. And he really glides when he runs, and those are things you just don’t find very often.

“Coaches jump on it right away.”

As a junior in 2024, Whiting played in eight games for a Cavaliers squad that

nearly pulled off an upset

over top-seeded Brandon Valley in the semifinals of the Class 11AAA playoffs. Whiting finished with 29 receptions for 383 yards, earning a spot on the inaugural Sioux Falls Live 25 team, while Jefferson wrapped up its season with a 7-4 record.

Since getting back into game shape this offseason, Whiting has been working on rounding out his entire game on the gridiron, but his biggest area of focus has been on finishing out blocks.

“I just try to really get on the field as much as I can,” Whiting said. “Sanford has been one of my main resources if I need football training.”

Whiting is among a group of uber-talented tight ends who are participating in this year’s ETP program. That includes Cooper Terwilliger, a 6-5 rising junior at Pierre T.F. Riggs who’s already garnered offers from 13 Division I programs, and Jackson County Central (Minn.) rising senior Roman Voss, a 6-4 tight end who has 14 offers from power conference schools.

Additionally, rising seniors Tobin Squires (Sioux Valley) and Bergan Tetzlaff (Brookings) are two other tight end prospects in this year’s ETP program who have received FCS and Division II interest.

“It’s kind of a flourishing position right now,” Riggs said.

For now, Whiting is looking ahead to his senior season with excitement. He likes the core group of players who are returning this fall and believes the Cavs have what it takes to make a run at the 11AAA title.

Jefferson will be led by first-year head coach Eric Struck, who replaces Vince Benedetto at the helm of the program

after Benedetto stepped down in January

to become the tight ends coach at South Dakota State.

“He’s a good dude,” Whiting said about Struck, a longtime assistant coach in the city who most recently served as offensive coordinator for two-time defending state champion Sioux Falls Lincoln. “It’s going to be different without coach Benedetto, but coach Struck is going to give us a lot of new opportunities, especially on the offensive side because he’s a great offensive mind in South Dakota. It’s going to be fun.”

Through the ETP program, Whiting has been working closely with Jake Nordin, a former NFL tight end who now resides in Sioux Falls and remains active in coaching the game of football.

Last weekend, Whiting helped lead Sanford’s 18U 7-on-7 team to a tournament triumph in Omaha, and Riggs was in awe by the performance.

“Teams had no answer,” Riggs said. “Even when they cover him, you can’t get around him. He has such great size. He does a tremendous job of reaching out and getting the ball with those long arms. As I walked off the field, I thought, ‘He’s for sure a Division I tight end.’ I think some of the questions were, ‘Will he move to a tackle at some point?’ He’s a tight end.

“He’ll play at a very high level, and maybe someday, we’ll see him playing on Sundays, too.”

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Florida State University Athletics

TALLAHASSEE – Florida State Athletics has earned a school-record single-year Academic Progress Rate of 992, it was announced Tuesday. “Attaining a record-high APR score is a tremendous achievement and very meaningful,” Vice President and Director of Athletics Michael Alford said. “It’s a result of sustained excellence and collaborative efforts by our student-athletes, coaches, academic support […]

Published

16 minutes ago

May 7, 2025

Your Sports Nation

TALLAHASSEE – Florida State Athletics has earned a school-record single-year Academic Progress Rate of 992, it was announced Tuesday.

“Attaining a record-high APR score is a tremendous achievement and very meaningful,” Vice President and Director of Athletics Michael Alford said. “It’s a result of sustained excellence and collaborative efforts by our student-athletes, coaches, academic support staff and faculty. It’s a true testament to the commitment of our University to fulfilling our mission of preparing students for success in life.”

Florida State had 11 of its 20 sports post a perfect single-year APR score for the 2023-24 academic year. Beach volleyball, men’s cross country, women’s cross country, men’s golf, women’s golf, softball, women’s swimming and diving, men’s tennis, women’s tennis, women’s track and field and volleyball all earned a 1,000 score. Football and baseball also earned elite single-year scores of 997 and 990, respectively.

The NCAA also released multi-year APR scores, and six of FSU’s programs earned a perfect 1,000 score over the four-year span concluding with the 2023-24 academic year, breaking the previous FSU record of five perfect programs set in 2022-23. Women’s golf earned a perfect score for the 15th straight year, while women’s tennis earned its eighth straight perfect APR mark. Volleyball posted a perfect score for the fourth year in a row and sixth time in program history, and beach volleyball posted a perfect score for the second consecutive year and fifth time in program history. Softball had a perfect 1,000 for the second time in program history and first time since the initial release in 2004-05. The women’s swimming and diving team earned its first perfect score one year after a then-program-best 998.

Four additional programs earned a score of 990 or higher. Men’s basketball and men’s tennis both posted scores of 994, placing men’s basketball third among ACC programs. Football and women’s soccer both earned scores of 990. For football, it stands as a program-best score for the third straight report and was the fourth-highest score in the ACC, the top conference in this year’s report. Baseball posted a program-high 979, and its last two years have resulted in two of the three highest scores in the APR era.

The APR was established to recognize institutions for the academic progress of their student-athletes through a team-based metric that accounts for the eligibility and retention of each student-athlete for each academic term.

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Townsend Earns MIAA Outdoor Field MVP; Overmyer Lands All-MIAA Honors

Story Links FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. – The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) announced its 2025 All-MIAA Outdoor Track and Field selections on Tuesday afternoon. The Adrian College track and field team earned two honors, with Cameron Overmyer representing the men’s team and Alysia Townsend recognized on the women’s side. Townsend received All-MIAA […]

Published

44 minutes ago

May 7, 2025

Your Sports Nation

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. – The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) announced its 2025 All-MIAA Outdoor Track and Field selections on Tuesday afternoon. The Adrian College track and field team earned two honors, with Cameron Overmyer representing the men’s team and Alysia Townsend recognized on the women’s side.

Townsend received All-MIAA honors in three events. She was named First Team in both the high jump and long jump, and Second Team in the 100-meter dash. Her standout performance earned her the 2025 MIAA Women’s Outdoor Most Valuable Field Athlete award. At the MIAA Outdoor Championships, Townsend claimed first place in the high jump with a mark of 1.59 meters and won the long jump with a leap of 5.25 meters. Her time of 12.41 seconds in the 100-meter dash secured a second-place finish and Second Team recognition.

On the men’s side, Overmyer earned Second Team honors in the pole vault with a mark of 4.26 meters. He achieved a season-best of 4.60 meters earlier in the year at the Calvin Invite in April.

Looking ahead, the Bulldogs will send a select group of athletes to compete at the Midwest Twilight Final Qualifier, hosted by Augustana University in Rock Island, Illinois, on May 14–15. The meet provides one final opportunity for competitors to improve their marks and qualify for the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field National Championships.

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Campillo Completes Second Round at NCAA Gold Canyon Regional

Story Links GOLD CANYON, Ariz. — Daniela Campillo completed her second round at the NCAA Gold Canyon Regional on Tuesday (May 6) at Superstition Mountain Golf Course in Gold Canyon, Arizona. After two rounds of play, Campillo shares 36th place overall with a score of +9. The sophomore from Viladecans, Barcelona […]

Published

50 minutes ago

May 7, 2025

Your Sports Nation

GOLD CANYON, Ariz. — Daniela Campillo completed her second round at the NCAA Gold Canyon Regional on Tuesday (May 6) at Superstition Mountain Golf Course in Gold Canyon, Arizona. After two rounds of play, Campillo shares 36th place overall with a score of +9.

The sophomore from Viladecans, Barcelona tallied a 78 (+6) in Tuesday’s second round Through two rounds, she is tied for third in the regional field with 27 pars recorded in the tournament.

Following Tuesday’s second round, the top five teams in the field are Oregon (-5), Oklahoma State (-1), Arizona State (E), Mississippi State (+9) and Auburn (+18) with Cal State Fullerton in sixth at +20. Currently, the lowest individual not on a non-advancing team is Cal State Fullerton’s Davina Xanh, who is tied for third overall with a score of -3. The top five teams and the lowest individual on a non-advancing team will qualify for the NCAA National Championships.

Campillo will tee off at 11:50 a.m. CT on Wednesday morning in the third and final round of the NCAA Gold Canyon Regional from Arizona.

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Sports

Girls Water Polo Playoff Schedule 2025

Here’s a look at the girls water polo playoff schedule for the Journal-area: Glenbrook South Sectional: Wednesday, May 14 Game 1 at 5 p.m.: (1) Evanston vs. (8) Glenbrook North Game 2 at 6 p.m.: (4) Maine West vs. (5) Glenbrook South Game 3 at 7 p.m.: (2) New Trier vs. (7) Niles West […]

Published

59 minutes ago

May 7, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Here’s a look at the girls water polo playoff schedule for the Journal-area:

Glenbrook South Sectional:

Wednesday, May 14

Game 1 at 5 p.m.: (1) Evanston vs. (8) Glenbrook North

Game 2 at 6 p.m.: (4) Maine West vs. (5) Glenbrook South

Game 3 at 7 p.m.: (2) New Trier vs. (7) Niles West

Game 4 at 8 p.m.: (3) Maine South vs. (6) Maine East

Friday, May 16

Game 5 at 5 p.m.: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2

Game 6 at 6 p.m.: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4

Saturday, May 17

Game 7 at 11 a.m.: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6

Barrington Sectional:

Monday, May 12

Game 1 at TBA: (9) Rolling Meadows at (8) Hoffman Estates

Wednesday, May 14

Game 2 at 5 p.m.: (1) Hersey vs. Winner Game 1

Game 3 at 6 p.m.: (4) Conant vs. (5) Schaumburg

Game 4 at 7 p.m.: (2) Fremd vs. (7) Palatine

Game 5 at 8 p.m.: (3) Prospect vs. (6) Barrington

Friday, May 16

Game 6 at 5 p.m.: Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3

Game 7 at 6 p.m.: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5

Saturday, May 17

Game 8 at 10 a.m.: Winner Game 6 vs. Winner Game 7

Libertyville Sectional:

Monday, May 12

Game 1 at TBA: (9) Wheeling at (8) Buffalo Grove

Thursday, May 15 (at Vernon Hills)

Game 2 at 5 p.m.: (1) Stevenson vs. Winner Game 1

Game 3 at 6 p.m.: (4) Mundelein vs. (5) Warren

Game 4 at 7 p.m.: (2) Libertyville vs. (7) Lake Forest

Game 5 at 8 p.m.: (3) Vernon Hills vs. (6) Deerfield Co-op

Friday, May 16 (at Libertyville)

Game 6 at 5 p.m.: Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3

Game 7 at 6 p.m.: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5

Saturday, May 17 (at Libertyville)

Game 8 at 10 a.m.: Winner Game 6 vs. Winner Game 7

York Sectional:

Monday, May 12

Game 1 at TBA: (9) Morton at (8) Leyden

Wednesday, May 14

Game 2 at 5 p.m.: (1) York vs. Winner Game 1

Game 3 at 6 p.m.: (4) Elk Grove vs. (5) Fenwick

Game 4 at 7 p.m.: (2) Oak Park-River Forest vs. (7) Northside

Game 5 at 8 p.m.: (3) St. Charles East Co-op vs. (6) Taft

Friday, May 16

Game 6 at 5 p.m.: Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3

Game 7 at 6 p.m.: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5

Saturday, May 17

Game 8 at 11:30 a.m.: Winner Game 6 vs. Winner Game 7

State Final Tournament:

Host Site: Stevenson High School

Thursday, May 22

Game 1 at 4:30 p.m.: Winner Glenbrook South Sectional vs. Winner Libertyville Sectional

Game 2 at 5:45 p.m.: Winner Naperville North Sectional vs. Winner Barrington Sectional

Game 3 at 7 p.m.: Winner Lane Sectional vs. Winner Lyons Sectional

Game 4 at 8:15 p.m.: Winner York Sectional vs. Winner Lincoln-Way West Sectional

Saturday, May 24

Game 5 at 9 a.m.: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2

Game 6 at 10:15 a.m.: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4

Game 7 at 3:30 p.m.: Loser Game 5 vs. Loser Game 6

Game 8 at 6:30 p.m.: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6
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San Marcos, Santa Barbara Pairs Advance to CIF-SS Beach Volleyball Tournament’s Round of 16 | Sports

San Marcos and Santa Barbara High’s top pairings advanced to the Round of 16 at the opening day of the CIF-SS Beach Volleyball Individual Pairs Tournament on Monday in Huntington Beach. Josie Gamberdella and Cora Loomer represented the Royals while Keenan Engebretson and Lola Heckman suited up for the Dons in the 64-team tournament. The […]

Published

1 hour ago

May 7, 2025

Your Sports Nation

San Marcos and Santa Barbara High’s top pairings advanced to the Round of 16 at the opening day of the CIF-SS Beach Volleyball Individual Pairs Tournament on Monday in Huntington Beach.

Josie Gamberdella and Cora Loomer represented the Royals while Keenan Engebretson and Lola Heckman suited up for the Dons in the 64-team tournament. The Round of 16 will be played on Wednesday.

“It’s great to have the Channel League and Santa Barbara represented with two pairs in the top 16 of CIF Southern Section,” Santa Barbara High head coach Kristin Hempy said.

Gamberdella and Loomer, the No. 7 seed, went 3-0 in pool play to finish atop their pool and punch their ticket to the single-elimination 32-team tournament bracket.

The duo won its first-round match in two sets, 21-9, 21-15, to advance to the Round of 16.

“Gamberdella and Loomer played consistent side-out volleyball while scoring points with their serving, blocking, and defense,” San Marcos head coach Tim Loomer said.

“The level of competition will quickly rise as the tournament advances and continuing this consistency will be a key to moving forward.”

Engebretson and Heckman went undefeated in pool play as well with wins over San Juan Hills (28-12), Mayfair (28-13) and St. Anthony’s (28-20).

“In both early matches, the girls used tough, smart serving to disrupt the passing of San Juan and Mayfair,” Hempy said. “Keenan had a particularly strong morning on offense, with strong swings and smart shots.

“Lola was big at the net on defense, putting up a strong block and had some excellent hitting as well.”

In the Round of 32, the Dons’ pairing captured a two-set win over Capistrano Valley, 21-9, 21-10.

“Keenan and Lola continued the trend of the day with strong serves, consistent passing, good communication, a smart offensive combo of shots and swings, and a big block up on defense to win,” Hempy said.

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Depth carries Point Loma to Open Division beach volleyball win over Scripps Ranch – San Diego Union-Tribune

For the third time this year, No. 2 Scripps Ranch and No. 4 Point Loma faced off in beach volleyball — this time in a CIF San Diego Section Open Division playoff elimination game. Ultimately, the Pointers’ depth prevailed, getting wins from their Nos. 3, 4 and 5 pairs to edge out the Falcons in […]

Published

2 hours ago

May 7, 2025

Your Sports Nation

For the third time this year, No. 2 Scripps Ranch and No. 4 Point Loma faced off in beach volleyball — this time in a CIF San Diego Section Open Division playoff elimination game.

Ultimately, the Pointers’ depth prevailed, getting wins from their Nos. 3, 4 and 5 pairs to edge out the Falcons in Tuesday’s quarterfinals, 3-2. Point Loma will face the loser of No. 1 Cathedral Catholic and No. 3 Torrey Pines Thursday with a chance to advance to Saturday’s Open Division final through the losers bracket

“It kind of shows what the sport is, because we’re not just a one team,” Pointers coach Ricci Luyties said. “You have to have all the teams playing well, and you never know where those wins are going to come from.

“That’s where it’s such a team game. It seems like it’s two, but it’s really the full team. It’s so important.”

The Pointers (16-5) got its first point from their No. 3 pairing of Lily Hagopian and Sibby Parry, who won 21-13, 22-20 against Scripps Ranch’s Bailie Bishop and Mila Gehren.

“It started off rough, but then me and Sibby came in stronger after our time out, and it all ended up working out,” Hagopian said of the tight second set.

Hagopian and Parry trailed 20-18 before winning the next four points to take the match.

Simultaneously, Point Loma’s No. 2 team of Grace Passmen and Addie Hughes lost 14-21, 21-16, 7-15 to Scripps Ranch’s Riley McDonald and Ella Fournier.

That meant both teams split the first two matches heading into the final three pairings.

Scripps Ranch, which was down a couple of teams due to injury, went to a junior varsity team of Vivienne Nguyen and Avarie Barstow. Point Loma’s No. 4 pairing of Lili Smith and Lila Schroder bested them in straight sets, 21-14, 21-10.

Point Loma’s No. 5 pairing, Genesie Devers and Becca Aylsworth, won four of the final five points to the second set before winning the third set to earn the clinching point, 15-21, 21-17, 15-6.

“They’ve kind of done that the past three or four tournaments where they’re going three every time, losing the first and then coming back and winning,” Luyties said. “They kept the faith that they were going to do it.”

The final match of the day featured the schools’ top pairing between Point Loma’s Caroline Tadder and Aurora Fernandez versus Scripps Ranch’s Kristen White and Elyse Taschner.

White and Taschner lost the first set, 21-13, before rallying back to win the next two sets, 21-18 and 15-9.

“It’s interesting because I haven’t seen our 1s lose, except to Cathedral,” Luyties said. “It’s kind of surprising because I’ve gotten to expect them to win. It might be a good thing. They didn’t cruise through a game that they’re focused for the next one. So, I’m hoping that that’s how it translates.”

Originally Published: May 6, 2025 at 7:39 PM PDT

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