Luce, Jim
Always one of the smaller players in the game, Luce was always one of the best as well. The Sioux Falls Washington High grad quarterbacked Augustana to the 1959 North Central Conference title – the Vikings’ only football title in a span of nearly 70 years. The 5-foot-11, 160-pound junior was all-NCC that year for […]
Kapitan, Colin
One of South Dakota’s most recognizable referees, “Kappy” has been involved in officiating for more than 50 years. The lifelong Yankton resident got his first refereeing job as a 17-year-old USD freshman on Nov. 22, 1958 (Elk Point vs. Wakonda basketball). He worked his first state “B’’ tournament in 1965 at age 24. He officiated […]
Martin, Doug
A basketball coach for 46 years, Martin guided Dakota Wesleyan to four conference titles and a national tournament berth in 17 seasons. Martin coached college men’s basketball for 31 years in South Dakota, starting as an assistant at the University of South Dakota from 1974-78. He was Mount Marty’s head coach for four years, then […]
Boner, Gary
The winningest football coach in South Dakota School of Mines history, the 1959 Edgemont graduate had a 93-74-7 record in 19 seasons (1971-89). His teams were 72-31-3 in the South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference and won seven SDIC titles (1974-77-78-80-81-82-84). His 1980 team was 8-1, while his 1978, ’81, ’82 and ’84 teams each won seven […]
White, Tommie Lee
White came from a large urban area (Atlanta) to a small rural town (Yankton) in 1962, and he became one of the greatest hurdlers in the world. The 1966 Yankton College grad held virtually every high hurdle record in the immediate three-state area (South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa). He also held the world record at 60 […]
Jensen, Becky (Flynn)
Arguably South Dakota’s greatest girls basketball player, Jensen set the state scoring record and led Wakonda to a state-record 101 consecutive wins. A six-year starter and a four-time first-team all-stater, the 5-foot-11 forward led the Warriorettes to three state titles (1988-90) and scored a state-record 3,268 points in her career while playing for her dad, […]
Heirigs, Roger
The first person to be named the state’s High School Athlete of the Year and the College Athlete of the Year, the multi-talented Heirigs was one of South Dakota’s brightest stars in the 1960s. He earned the prep honor in 1963 at Irene and the college honor in 1966 at Yankton College. Both honors were […]
Adkins, Steve
The 1928 Parkston High and 1934 University of South Dakota grad was one of the state’s greatest all-around athletes of the 1930s. He was one of the first players in North Central Conference history to be three-time all-NCC in basketball (1930-32) – freshmen weren’t eligible then. The sturdy 6-foot-2 forward led the NCC in scoring […]
Anderson, Cliff
The 1969 Dell Rapids High grad was one of the last great four-sport college athletes in South Dakota, excelling in basketball, football, baseball and track at Dakota State. At DSU, the 6-foot-5 Anderson was all-South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference in basketball three years (1971-73) and all-NAIA District 12 twice while playing for Coach Ed Harter. He […]
Colburn, Lee
Perhaps the greatest basketball player in South Dakota State history, Colburn probably was the most exciting as well. The Brookings High grad was all-state in 1968 and ’69 as the Bobcats won the state “A” title in ’68 and were runners-up in ’69. Colburn, who set the school single-game scoring record with 38 points, was […]