South Dakota
Top South Dakota sports storylines to watch for in 2024
As we continue to ring in the new year, we’re breaking down some of the biggest South Dakota sports storylines of 2024.
With South Dakota State football coming off their second consecutive FCS national championship, South Dakota having their most successful season at the FCS level, and both universities’ basketball teams vying for a spot in the NCAA Tournament, there’s going to be plenty to watch for and look forward to.
The Argus Leader has laid it out for you. Here are the top South Dakota sports storylines in 2024.
Will any SDSU, USD basketball teams make it to the NCAA Tournament?
Both South Dakota State basketball teams have a better chance of winning their respective conference tournament and earning an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament than they do getting an at-large bid.
Both USD basketball teams are in rebuilds under first or second-year head coaches. The men’s team is 8-10 overall and 1-2 in conference under the direction of first-year head coach Eric Peterson. It’s still early, but the men’s team doesn’t look like conference contenders thus far.
The USD women’s team has had a more promising start, going 12-6 through their first 18 games but are also 1-2 in Summit League play under second-year head coach Kayla Karius. The Coyotes have talent, they’re led by junior guard Grace Larkins, who is one of two Summit League players named to the Becky Hammon Player of the Year award watchlist, so I still give them a shot to put together a run.
More: South Dakota women’s basketball suffers soul-searching defeat against Oral Roberts
The South Dakota State men’s basketball team currently has a 9-8 overall record. The Jackrabbits are currently 2-0 in conference play and coming off a season in which they made it to the Summit League semifinals.
The Jackrabbits women’s team won the Summit League last season and made a run to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. They’re looking poised to make another run in 2024 despite some early-season injury woes. SDSU lost Kallie Theisen and Haleigh Timmer to season-ending injuries in late September and have had to deal with shorter-term injuries throughout non-conference play and are still five games over .500. South Dakota State is currently 2-0 in conference and has strong coaching and talent to contend for another Summit League title.
Does South Dakota State football have the depth to replace seniors after dominant 2023?
The Jackrabbits football team had a perfect year.
They didn’t lose a single game in the calendar year and are still in the midst of a 29-game winning streak that extends back to 2022. They won another FCS national title, adding that to their expanding trophy cabinet. Junior quarterback Mark Gronowski also became the program’s first Walter Payton Award winner.
More: Mark Gronowski is South Dakota State’s most accomplished football player after prolific 2023 season
South Dakota State was a senior-laden group this season that capitalized on their experience, but they’ll lose team cornerstones in Mason McCormick, Garret Greenfield, Jason Freeman, Isaiah Davis and the Janke twins, just to name a few, to the NFL Draft. There have also been questions about whether Gronowski will return to SDSU. Getting him back is crucial to any FCS championship conversations.
Aside from the Gronowski piece of this, do they have the talent and depth to make up for those senior losses?
Next season will look different than 2023. It’s hard to imagine the Jackrabbits extending the 29-game winning streak past their season opener against Big 12 Conference foe Oklahoma State, but the conference season will also test SDSU.
It will be on 2023 Rimington winner and Jackrabbits center Gus Miller to anchor the offensive line for running backs Amar and Angel Johnson, who will take on larger roles with Davis no longer on the team. On defense, tackle Jarod DePriest, linebackers Graham Spalding and Adam Bock, and defensive backs Dalys Beanum and Tucker Large will be returning.
SDSU will be young at the wide receiver position, but they have talent. Rising sophomore Griffin Wilde showed real flashes as a true freshman and should slide into one of the open wide receiver slots. Devon Cole and Grahm Goering both received limited runs at wide receiver and should have a shot at that second spot next season. The Jackrabbits also bring in Lincoln wide receiver Jack Smith, who could have a real opportunity to get playing time right away.
Can USD football improve on a historic season?
After going 3-8 a season ago, South Dakota responded with their best season in program history.
The Coyotes won 10 games for the first time in the program’s time in the FCS, this was also the first time they entered the FCS playoffs as a seeded team, and the first time they played in a quarterfinal.
More: South Dakota’s dream season comes to an end: Bison dominate in the DakotaDome
USD finished the regular season 9-2 with three wins over top-10 teams and went 7-1 in the Missouri Valley Conference.
The big question is where do they go from here?
The Coyotes are expected to return most of their starters on offense, with quarterback Aidan Bouman, running back Travis Theis and wide receiver Carter Bell running it back with South Dakota. They lost Nate Thomas to Idaho but have great depth in the running back room.
Another year in Josh Davis’s offensive system should make the team better offensively and defensively they have a solid base to build off of in 2024 with Myles Harden, and Shahid Barros among others returning.
Who will emerge as 11AAA favorites after Lincoln’s dominant run?
Lincoln football completed their dream season in 2023, going a perfect 12-0 en route to the 11AAA state championship. The Patriots were led by quarterback Tate Schafer and wide receiver Jack Smith, but next year Schafer and Smith will be playing at the University of Sioux Falls and South Dakota State respectively. On defense, they also graduate key starters Brycen Mitchell and Sawyer Tolk.
More: Lincoln completes perfect season, wins 11AAA state football championship over O’Gorman 31-7
That begs the question, will Lincoln be able to remain competitive without the cornerstones from their 2023 season? Or will a new team emerge? It certainly feels wide open.
Harrisburg and Brandon Valley return talented players in Tigers quarterback Sam Knuth and Lynx wide receiver Landon Dulaney while Washington and Jefferson both bring back senior play-callers with another year of experience under their belt.
Jonathan Fernandez covers high school and college sports for the Argus Leader. Contact him at jfernandez1@argusleader.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JFERN31
The South Dakota Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at June 22, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from June 22 drawing
17-19-21-45-48, Powerball: 13, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lotto America numbers from June 22 drawing
12-13-35-41-52, Star Ball: 05, ASB: 02
Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from June 22 drawing
07-08-20-24-42, Bonus: 05
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize
- Prizes of $100 or less: Can be claimed at any South Dakota Lottery retailer.
- Prizes of $101 or more: Must be claimed from the Lottery. By mail, send a claim form and a signed winning ticket to the Lottery at 711 E. Wells Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501.
- Any jackpot-winning ticket for Dakota Cash or Lotto America, top prize-winning ticket for Lucky for Life, or for the second prizes for Powerball and Mega Millions must be presented in person at a Lottery office. A jackpot-winning Powerball or Mega Millions ticket must be presented in person at the Lottery office in Pierre.
When are the South Dakota Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
- Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Dakota Cash: 9 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
- Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Dakota editor. You can send feedback using this form.
At the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Foundation’s 13th annual Prime Time Gala on Saturday, June 20, 2026, the point of the evening was never far from view: beef, music, scholarships and fundraising all tied back to getting high-quality protein to South Dakotans who need it.
Held at the Sioux Falls Convention Center and Denny Sanford PREMIER Center complex, the Prime Time Gala again brought together cattle producers, agricultural businesses, community supporters and Feeding South Dakota for an upscale dinner, auction program and country concert. The evening opened with a prayer from Ray Larson before moving into the program, awards and live auction.
“Success boils down to one thing, and that’s to all of you who are with us tonight,” foundation leadership told the crowd, framing the event as a collective effort by ranchers, cattle feeders, donors, volunteers and businesses across the state.
Viewpoints
VIEWPOINT | Don’t blame voters for lack of trust in South Dakota politics: Look in mirror
Too much of today’s political conversation revolves around personalities, endorsements and internal political scorekeeping. We argue about who is conservative enough, who is endorsed by the right people, who is supported by the right organizations and who belongs to the right political tribe. While politicians and activists debate those questions, many ordinary voters are simply asking who is focused on solving problems and improving their communities.
See Macy Bryant talk about her cycle, Jefferson softball’s 5-0 start
Sioux Falls Jefferson’s Macy Bryant talks about her cycle against St. Louis Park (MN) and her team’s undefeated start to their state title defense.
The South Dakota High School Activities Association’s fourth year sponsoring softball is in the books, and there were plenty of standout performers during this season.
From Class AA to B, teams made leaps thanks to some top-tier players and were able to place at the state tournament because of them.
Here is the first Argus Leader Starting 9, comprised of athletes from all three classes. They are broken down positionally, with a pitcher, a catcher, four infielders and three outfielders making up the team.
The players are listed in positional order.
Statistical key: IP-innings pitcher, K-strikeouts, ERA-earned run average, WHIP-walks and hits per inning pitched, K/7-strikeouts per seven innings, H/7-hits allowed per seven innings, BB/7-walks allowed per seven innings, AVG-batting average, OBP-on-base percentage, SLG-slugging percentage, OPS-on-base plus slugging, 2B-doubles, 3B-triples, HR-home runs, RBI-runs batted in, R-runs scored, SB-stolen bases
P: Tya Devericks, Jr., Sioux Falls Jefferson
80 IP 112 K 0.88 ERA 0.76 WHIP 9.8 K/7 4.1 H/7 1.3 BB/7
.514 AVG, .590 OBP, 1.000 SLG, 1.590 OPS, 10 2B 3 3B 6 HR 32 RBI 16 R 6 SB
Devericks dominated both in the circle and at the plate, but she put together one of the more impressive pitching seasons imaginable. The South Dakota commit helped Sioux Falls Jefferson allow just 1.2 runs per game, go undefeated and win the Class AA state championship with her dominance, commanding multiple pitches in and around the zone.
“The best part of Tya is her competitive instincts,” Jefferson head coach Ed Whiting said. “This drives everything that she does, and others follow. Outside of being an absolutely dominant pitcher, she is an elite hitter which makes her an outstanding two-way player. Tya has been voted a team captain since her sophomore year. This is due to her strong ability to lead by example on the diamond, in the weight room and in the community.”
C: Claire Loofbourrow, Jr., Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy
.612 AVG, .634 OBP, 1.328 SLG, 1.962 OPS, 17 2B 2 3B 9 HR 50 RBI 16 R 8 SB
Loofbourrow was one of the top run producers in the state, with her 50 RBIs leading all members of this team. She helped Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy earn the upset over No. 3 Deuel in the SoDak 16 and finish fifth in the Class B state tournament. She has one more year left in high school, and any more improvement will put her stats in rare air nationally.
“She’s got a pretty good arm for a catcher,” Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy head coach Kyle Weier said. “But where she’s most beneficial is when she’s got a bat in her hand. She is really solid and always makes contact. She takes a hard swing, so when she makes contact the ball goes and then she’s pretty fast. That’s how it’s always an extra base hit.”
INF: Macy Bryant, Sr., Sioux Falls Jefferson
.784 AVG, .804 OBP, 1.595 SLG, 2.399 OPS, 20 2B 8 3B 8 HR 41 RBI 56 R 16 SB
Bryant put together one of the most special seasons in the nation, with her .784 batting average sitting in the top 10 and her on-base percentage and slugging percentage are both in the top 50. She was also a terrific defender for the unbeaten state champs. Bryant will be going to South Dakota State next year, and she could be a major contributor if this hot stretch continues through the summer and fall.
“Macy is dominant at the plate,” Whiting said. “The problem with pitching to Macy is there is not a pitch that catches a fraction of the plate that she can’t hit hard. The problem with walking her is that other teams have to deal with her aggressive approach on the bases. When on base, which happens eight out of 10 times, she typically ends up touching home. She is a complete player as she has a cannon of an arm and amazing range that makes her hands down the best shortstop in the state.”
INF: Brooklyn Herrera, Sr., Sioux Falls Jefferson
.577 AVG, .595 OBP, .901 SLG, 1.496 OPS, 7 2B 2 3B 4 HR 32 RBI 27 R 7 SB
Herrera was one of the steadiest players in the state on both sides of the ball. She was a middle-of-the-order bat on South Dakota’s best team and was always a threat, even if the power production wasn’t as prolific as others. Add in that Herrera was a very good defender, and she’s more than deserving of making the cut.
“Brooklyn shows up and works downhill at all times,” Whiting said. “Playing the hot corner, her instincts do not let anything get by her. She is a consistent player who rises to the occasion when the stakes are the highest. Whether it’s locking down third base or driving in runs from the cleanup spot, Brooklyn always delivers.”
INF: Kennedy Kokenge, Jr., Harrisburg
.531 AVG, .597 OBP, 1.203 SLG, 1.800 OPS, 4 2B 3 3B 11 HR 37 RBI 28 R 1 SB
Kokenge is one of the most powerful bats in South Dakota, ripping 11 home runs to finish second statewide. The South Dakota State commit provided consistent on-base skills when she wasn’t launching the ball over the fence for the top-scoring offense in Class AA. Kokenge also mixed that with the smoothness to play a quality shortstop for Harrisburg.
“Kennedy Kokenge possesses all the tools of a premier infielder,” Harrisburg head coach Keith Flemmer said. “She has exceptional range, the ability to get to nearly any ball and the arm strength to make throws from anywhere on the field. Combined with one of the quickest and smoothest glove-to-hand transfers I’ve ever seen, she makes difficult double plays look routine. At the plate, Kennedy is equally impressive. She batted .531 this season while tying the team record with 11 home runs. She also struck out just once all year, showing how powerful and consistent she is.”
INF: Kjerstin Kyte, So., Sioux Falls Washington
.535 AVG, .638 OBP, .887 SLG, 1.525 OPS, 6 2B 5 3B 3 HR 28 RBI 43 R 18 SB
Kyte was the engine for a Sioux Falls Washington team that made the Class AA state championship game for the second year in a row. The sophomore had to anchor the offense as the leadoff hitter and the defense as the shortstop. She has two years left to help the Warriors get over the hump and win their first softball state title.
“There are many things that make Kjerstin special,” Washington head coach Kim Bazata said. “For starters, she’s a great competitor. On the rare occasion she makes a mistake in the field, the pitcher better watch out because she is making up for it with her bat. She is constantly stepping up to make things happen for our team. It could be a diving play or an extra base hit. She’s definitely our spark plug. She is very tough to defend at the plate as well. She can hit one over the fence or beat out a bunt. Always a tough out.”
OF: Cydni Kudrna, Jr., Castlewood
.627 AVG, .689 OBP, 1.173 SLG, 1.862 OPS, 10 2B 8 3B 5 HR 37 RBI 36 R 7 SB
Kudrna moved to the leadoff spot for Castlewood this season and flourished as the table-setter. She ripped off 23 extra base hits and helped the Warriors slug their way to the Class B state championship. Kudrna also stepped up as a leader and led Castlewood to its second state title.
“Cydni is a very determined, focused person,” Castlewood head coach Craig Horn said. “We talked with her at the beginning of the year about staying focused throughout the whole game and she increased her batting average by 200 points this year. She clicked all season long. Besides being an incredible talent, she’s a great leader. She would put in the most work at practice and stay after to help the younger kids.”
OF: Kassidy Smith, Jr., Sioux Valley
.537 AVG, .642 OBP, .805 SLG, 1.447 OPS, 7 2B 6 3B 1 HR 26 RBI 43 R 13 SB
Smith spent the first half of the year bouncing around positionally, but she stuck in the outfield in the back half and shined in all phases of the game. She led off and consistently populated the bases for the middle of Sioux Valley’s order, which knocked her in a ton. Smith has one more year to add even more juice to her offensive profile and become one of the top players in the region.
OF: Josalyn Traupel, So., McCook Central/Montrose
.613 AVG, .663 OBP, .838 SLG, 1.501 OPS, 11 2B 2 3B 1 HR 44 RBI 38 R 8 SB
Traupel broke out as a sophomore in a potent McCook Central/Montrose lineup. The Fighting Cougars led Class B in runs scored per game, and a lot of that was because of the sophomore’s ability to deliver with runners on. She, like Smith, can add a little more pop to her bat as she ages to become a truly feared hitter.
“Josalyn has made tremendous strides this season, particularly in the outfield where her confidence and consistency have taken a major leap forward,” McCook Central/Montrose head coach Nick Morrison said. “She approaches every play with confidence, energy and a strong desire to make the next play. Josalyn’s growth, production and competitive mindset have made her an invaluable part of our team. Her ability to impact the game both defensively and offensively sets her apart.”
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