Thorne, Joe

Josef “Joe” Thorne grew up in Gettysburg and moved to Beresford in his junior year, where he graduated in 1958. He graduated from SDSU in 1963. As a high school junior, Thorne led Beresford to a 7-0-1 record, the Big Eight Conference football title share, and a state runner-up finish. He led Beresford to the […]

Tays, Jim “Slim Jim” & “Jumping Jim”

1950 Gettysburg/1954 USD graduate. Won 18 letters as one of SD’s best all-time basketball players and high jumpers — 4 TF letters, 4 BB and 3 FB at Gettysburg and seven (4 track and 3 BB) at USD. Left USD as its second leading scorer in history and “the greatest high school and college high […]

Thormodsgaard, Robin (Anderson)

With South Dakota girls basketball in its infancy, Anderson was the state’s first great pure shooter, leading Clear Lake to the state “B” tournament four years in a row. The Gale Lundberg-coached Cardinals were state champs in 1976 (24-0), runners-up in ’77 and ’79 and sixth in ’78. She scored 286 points in the state […]

Rasmussen, Wayne

Howard High School. 1964 South Dakota State grad. Rasmussen was all-North Central Conference in three sports (twice each in football and basketball and once in baseball) at SDSU. The 6-2, 180-pound Rasmussen was drafted by Detroit in the ninth round and went on to play nine seasons (1964-72) as a defensive back for the Lions. […]

Rasmussen, Marv

A key player on the Claremont High football team that set a national six-man record with 61 consecutive wins, Rasmussen was a standout basketball player at Northern State and an outstanding prep basketball coach as well. The 6-2 1/2, 175-pound Rasmussen was all-state in football his last two seasons under Bill Welsh and played on […]

Reisdorfer, Patricia

The 1976 Adrian (Minn.) High grad was the first woman inducted into the Augustana Athletic Hall of Fame (in 1990). She lettered in basketball, volleyball and track at Adrian. She ran the mile for the track team but never made it past the region meet. After high school, she took up running to maintain her […]

Robinson, Darwin

Darwin Robinson is considered one of the greatest football players in Dakota State University history. He was an All-America choice and team captain in football and track & field. With Robinson in the lineup, the Trojans posted a 25-14 record. In 1971, he helped DSU win the Boot Hill Bowl at Dodge City, Kansas, the […]

Rykhus, Duane

The 1953 Brookings High and 1957 South Dakota State grad was a fine all-around athlete but it was in the pole vault where he really stood out. He was a three-time state pole vault champion in high school. He used a bamboo pole for the first state title, then went to a metal pole for […]

Schemmel, Jeff

Jeff Schemmel was the first South Dakota native to run a sub four-minute mile (3:59.4), running for Kansas State on June 1, 1974. He was a four-time track NCAA DI All-American who anchored K-State’s distance medley relay team to the 1975 NCAA championship. He won five Big 8 Conference individual track titles and helped KSU […]

Schlekeway, Jim

With one of the most successful sports resumes in South Dakota, Jim Schlekeway’s accolades span many years as an outstanding player and long-time coach. He was a four-year starter, three-time first-team All-Stater, and High School All-American basketball player at Britton. He averaged over 20 points per game throughout high school with 1,900 career points and […]