Kampen, Jim
Kampen helped Corona to two straight appearances in the state Class B basketball championship game, then went on to star at Northern State, where he finished second in career scoring with 1,206 points. He played for his dad, Gunder, at Corona. In one of the state’s most famous games, the Midgets lost to Canistota 49-47 […]
Keck, Sheri
One of the most successful high school gymnastics coaches in state history, the 1979 South Dakota State grad guided Rapid City. Stevens to six state titles and two runner-up finishes in 13 seasons. A Stevens grad, she coached the Raiders from 1991-2001 and 2005-06. The Raiders won state titles in 1994, ’95, ’97, ’98, ’99 […]
Ekeland, Mark
The winningest baseball coach in South Dakota State history, the Rapid City Central and Augustana grad had a 561-345-2 record in 20 seasons. Ekeland’s Jackrabbits won five North Central Conference titles and they won 11 NCC Southern Division titles in 14 seasons of divisional play, including 10 straight from 1985-94. Poor health forced him to […]
Busch, Galen
The Huron High and South Dakota State grad got in on the ground floor of high school volleyball in South Dakota and left as the winningest volleyball coach in the state. The first person from the sport of volleyball to be selected to the Sports Hall of Fame, Busch had a 617-305 record in 26 […]
Schutte, Clarence
The Hecla native gained fame as “the man who stopped Red Grange’’ for his football exploits at the University of Minnesota. Before Minnesota, he starred at Northern State and South Dakota State. After Minnesota, he became known as “Mr. Santa Barbara of Sports” after spending 40 years in the California city as a high school […]
McIlravy, Lincoln
Lincoln McIlravy, the Philip High and University of Iowa graduate, is one of the greatest wrestlers in state history. He was a freestyle bronze medalist at 152 pounds at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia. There, he beat wrestlers from Nigeria, Turkey, and Moldova to reach the semifinals, where he lost in overtime to Canada’s […]
Nissen, Rick
A star guard for one of the state’s most famous prep basketball teams, the unbeaten 1972 Miller Rustlers, Nissen went on to a stellar career at the University of South Dakota. At Miller, the Rustlers lost only five games in his three years as a starter. In his senior year, Miller went 24-0 and beat […]
Gabriel, Diane (Hiemstra)
One of the state’s greatest female basketball players, the Yankton High and University of Colorado standout got her start playing with her older brother in a church basement in New York City. Their father, Harold, was the pastor and he coached them in organized church leagues. Her family moved to Yankton before her freshman year […]
Dworsky, Dan
Perhaps the greatest football player in the storied history of Sioux Falls’ Washington High, Dworsky led Michigan to back-to-back undefeated seasons and national titles. He grew up in the Twin Cities and moved to Sioux Falls for his junior year of high school. The 6-foot, 200-pounder lettered two years each in football, basketball and track. […]
Brown, Steve
One of the state’s finest prep and college basketball players, the Hamlin High and South Dakota State grad had a knack for scoring. And he was a terrific baseball player as well. At Hamlin, the 5-foot-10 guard was a three-time first-team all-stater and led the Chargers to the 1974 state Class B title, scoring a […]