South Dakota

Omaha stuns South Dakota State, captures Summit League softball championship

Published

2 years ago

May 11, 2024

Omaha stuns South Dakota State, captures Summit League softball championship

BROOKINGS — Another successful season has ended in disappointment at the hands of the Omaha Mavericks for the South Dakota State softball team.

The Jackrabbits once again won the regular season conference title and hosted the Summit League tournament on their home field, and once again came up short, as the Mavericks beat SDSU twice on Saturday to punch their ticket to the NCAA tournament.

The top-seeded Jacks entered the day needing just one win, but they fell 5-2 and then 7-0 to the Mavs and ace pitcher Kamryn Meyer. It’s the second year in a row the Jacks won the regular season title but were ousted by Omaha in the conference tournament.

“I’m definitely gonna be feeling it tomorrow,” Meyer said after working 14 innings in four hours. “But I was willing to do whatever I had to do for my teammates. It’s super special to be able to play with these girls. These seniors were going to put everything on the line, no matter what it took, and I’m super grateful for this opportunity.”

“What a performance,” said Mavs coach Mike Heard of his ace pitcher. “I’ve said for a couple years now, when she goes out there you just know what you’re gonna get. She’s that good. At a certain point you run out of adjectives to describe her. She’s incredible.”

Alex Olson’s grand slam in the sixth inning was the decisive blow in the first game, and they scored four in the first inning of the second game to take control they’d never relinquish under Meyer, the Summit League pitcher of the year.

SDSU’s Brooke Dumont takes a pitch during the Summit League tournament championship on Saturday, May 11, 2024 in Brookings.

Matt Zimmer/Sioux Falls Live

The Jacks had chances to win the opener. They had seven hits off Meyer, creating constant traffic on the bases, but they couldn’t come through with the big hit with runners on.

Omaha had taken a 1-0 lead on a homer by Maggie O’Brien, but the Jacks answered with a solo homer from Mia Jarecki, the Summit League player of the year. The Jacks kept the pressure on Meyer from there, but as they failed to take advantage, the Mavs hurler eventually found a groove.

Jacks ace Tori Kniesche matched her until the sixth, when the wheels fell off.

SDSU’s Mia Jarecki (right) is met at home plate by teammate Emma Osmundson after hitting a home run in the first game of the Summit League softball tournament championship on Saturday, May 11, 2024 in Brookings.

Lynsey Tucker and O’Brien singled, and pinch-hitter Sammy Schmidt laid down a bunt the Jacks couldn’t turn into an out, loading the bases. Olson then followed with a long drive that just cleared the right-center field wall, blowing the game open.

Omaha chose to bring Meyer back into the circle in Game 2 while the Jacks went with No. 2 starter Shannon Lacey, who couldn’t get out of the first inning, allowing four runs to dig the Jacks a devastating hole.

Kniesche came on in the fourth inning with the Jacks down 5-0, and she allowed two runs in 3.2 innings before she was removed with one out to go in the seventh inning for a curtain call on a historic career that saw her win two Summit League pitcher of the year awards.

Omaha pitcher Kamryn Meyer celebrates a strikeout in the first game of the Summit League softball championship on Saturday, May 11, 2024 in Brookings.

Meyer, meanwhile, kept on dealing, allowing just three hits in the complete game shutout, and fielding a comebacker for the final out. She improved to 25-4 on the season. The Mavs record heading into the NCAA tournament is 41-13.

The Jacks finish the season 33-22. The Mavericks were the only Summit League team to defeat them.

Matt Zimmer is a Sioux Falls native and longtime sports writer. He graduated from Washington High School where he played football, legion baseball and developed his lifelong love of the Minnesota Twins and Vikings. After graduating from St. Cloud State University, he returned to Sioux Falls, and began a long career in amateur baseball and sports reporting. Email Matt at mzimmer@siouxfallslive.com.

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South Dakota

2025 South Dakota state volleyball championship results, all-tournament teams

Published

14 hours ago

November 23, 2025

Press Room

2025 South Dakota state volleyball championship results, all-tournament teams

RAPID CITY — The 2025 South Dakota state high school volleyball tournament came to a close on Saturday, Nov. 22, from the Summit Arena in Rapid City.

Below are the pairings for each match on Saturday in the three classes in action to put a bow on the high school volleyball season.

Seventh place

Sioux Falls Jefferson def. Mitchell, 25-22, 25-12, 25-10

Fifth place

Sioux Falls Lincoln def. Sioux Falls Washington, 20-25, 26-24, 25-22, 25-20

Third place

Brandon Valley def. Watertown, 25-15, 25-19, 25-21

Championship

Harrisburg def. Sioux Falls O’Gorman, 25-16, 25-16, 25-13

Seventh place

Rapid City Christian def. Wagner, 25-12, 25-16, 25-12

Fifth place

Clark/Willow Lake def. St. Thomas More, 27-25, 26-24, 12-25, 25-23

Third place

Sioux Falls Christian def. Hamlin, 25-19, 25-15, 25-18

Championship

Dakota Valley def. Dell Rapids, 26-24, 26-24, 24-26, 25-22

Seventh place

Herreid/Selby Area def. Harding County, 23-25, 23-25, 25-21, 25-13, 15-12

Fifth place

Gayville-Volin def. Parkston, 25-8, 26-24, 25-21

Third place

Northwestern def. Bennett County, 25-20, 25-19, 25-12

Championship

Chester def. Warner, 25-23, 25-16, 25-18

Class AA: Logan McGuire, Brandon Valley; Jersie Melcher, Brandon Valley; Josalyn Samuels, Harrisburg; Gabi Zachariasen, Harrisburg; Addie Siemsen, Mitchell; Sienna Sabers, Sioux Falls Jefferson; Julia Blom, Sioux Falls Lincoln; Mallory Schneider, Sioux Falls Lincoln; Londyn Smith, Sioux Falls O’Gorman; Lauren Venenga, Sioux Falls O’Gorman; Jade Jere, Sioux Falls Washington; Kynsee Russell, Watertown

Class A: Shelby Begeman, Clark/Willow Lake; Kelsey Hofer, Clark/Willow Lake; Samantha Kimball, Dakota Valley; Claire Munch, Dakota Valley; Madie Munch, Dakota Valley; Tenley Anderson, Dell Rapids; Madelynn Henry, Dell Rapids; Addison Neuendorf, Hamlin; Chloe Weber, Rapid City Christian; Leighton Scherr, St. Thomas More; Meredith Nelson, Sioux Falls Christian; Tavyn Sichmeller, Sioux Falls Christian

Class B: Peyson O’Neill, Bennett County; Reagan O’Neill, Bennett County; Lily Van Hal, Chester; Jacy Wolf, Chester; Paisley Dimmer, Gayville-Volin; Taylor Hoxeng, Gayville-Volin; Jordyn Rossow, Herreid/Selby Area; Ella Boekelheide, Northwestern; Ashley Haven, Northwestern; Keeara Oakley, Parkston; Jaycee Jung, Warner; Keira Steger, Warner

Our newsroom occasionally reports stories under a byline of “Mitchell Republic.” Often, the “Mitchell Republic” byline is used when rewriting basic news briefs that originate from official sources, such as a city press release about a road closure, and which require little or no reporting. At times, this byline is used when a news story includes numerous authors or when the story is formed by aggregating previously reported news from various sources. If outside sources are used, it is noted within the story.

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South Dakota

Live box score: South Dakota State at UND, 1 p.m.

Published

1 day ago

November 22, 2025

Press Room

Live box score: South Dakota State at UND, 1 p.m.

GRAND FORKS — UND and South Dakota State kick off at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Alerus Center with both teams chasing an eighth win of the season.

Scoring recaps will be posted below.

UND 7, SDSU 0, 2:59 left: On fourth-and-1 from the 14, Jerry Kaminski takes a designed keeper up the middle and dives into the end zone for a touchdown.

UND 14, SDSU 0, 1:10 left: UND’s first play of a drive is an 89-yard slant pass from Jerry Kaminski to B.J. Fleming.

Miller has covered sports at the Grand Forks Herald since 2004 and was the state sportswriter of the year in 2019 (NSMA, NDAPSSA), 2022 (NSMA, NDAPSSA) and 2024 (NDAPSSA).

His primary beat is UND football but also reports on a variety of UND sports and local preps.

He can be reached at (701) 780-1121, tmiller@gfherald.com or on Twitter at @tommillergf.

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South Dakota

Giving Tuesday coming up in South Dakota

Published

2 days ago

November 21, 2025

Press Room

Giving Tuesday coming up in South Dakota

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – To prep for the giving spirit of the holiday season, South Dakota Day of Giving will be happening all over the state, including locations near you.

South Dakota Day of Giving, also called Giving Tuesday, is in its eighth year. It’s an occasion where communities throughout the state can come together and donate to local nonprofits. It will take place this year on Dec. 2, 2025.

Nearly 400 community organizations throughout the state are registered to participate.

“Too often, the vital role South Dakota nonprofits play in providing essential services and amenities is taken for granted,” said Nora Leinen of South Dakota Gives, which organizes the statewide giving day. “The South Dakota Day of Giving allows us to take a moment out of the busy holiday season to show our gratitude and our support for the passionate people and organizations around us, elevating our communities’ quality of life.”

Throughout the state, nonprofits will have multiple campaigns to engage community support. In 2024, nearly $1.1 million was raised during Giving Tuesday.

“The Day of Giving may be a one-day event, but it’s a reminder of the work nonprofits are doing year-round,” said Leinen. “We’re excited to see our participants go all-out this Giving Tuesday.”

To find participating South Dakota businesses and organizations for this year’s Giving Tuesday, click here.

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