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 […]

Odson, Urban

1936 Clark HS grad. University of Minnesota. An All-American tackle for Minnesota in 1940, he helped the Gophers to unbeaten seasons and national titles in ’40 and ’41. The 6-3, 251-pounder was a first-round draft pick (ninth overall) of the Green Bay Packers in 1942. He was selected to play in the 1942 College All-Star […]

Palmer, Dale

The 1929 Sioux Falls Washington High grad was one of the state’s finest track sprinters, dominating the dash events throughout his career at Washington and continuing it at South Dakota State. WHS coach Howard Wood rated Palmer as “one of the most outstanding athletes that Washington High ever had.” At Washington, he lettered four years […]

Piatkowski, Eric

The Rapid City Stevens grad was an NBA first-round draft choice who played 14 seasons in the league. Nicknamed the “Polish Rifle” for his deadly long-range shooting, Piatkowski was the first South Dakotan to be an NBA No. 1 draft pick. He was the 15th pick overall in the 1994 draft. The next day the […]

Potts, Grover

Chosen as the outstanding football player in South Dakota for the 1900s by the Argus Leader during the state’s centennial in 1989, Potts grew up near Hooker, S.D., in Turner County. He was a center on offense and tackle on defense from 1912-14 at the University of South Dakota, where he also lettered in basketball, […]

Mickelson, Amy (Brecht)

Amy (Brecht) Mickelson, a 1986 graduate of Brookings High School and a 1990 graduate of the University of Washington, was a standout athlete throughout her career. Standing 6-foot-3, Mickelson was a key player on the Brookings girls’ basketball team, leading them to unbeaten seasons during both her junior and senior years. Under her leadership, the […]

Musiel (Nielsen), Candi

1984 Armour /1988 Augustana graduate. Candi Nielsen Musiel was an all-state in prep basketball as a junior and senior. Led Armour to 1983 state basketball title (first of five in a row) and to three State B track titles. Armour went to the State B basketball tourney three times with Nielsen patrolling the court, and […]

Koupal, Mandy

Mandy Koupal was a 1999 Wagner High School graduate and 2004 University of South Dakota graduate. At Wagner, Koupal led the Red Raiders to back-to-back state Class A titles (1997 and 1998). She set national high school records for field-goal shooting in a season (76.4 percent in 1998) and career (69.1 percent). She scored 2,065 […]

Loecker, Romain

Born Oct. 13, 1945. 1964 Yankton HS grad. Yankton College. One of South Dakota’s greatest amateur baseball players, Loecker was the MVP of the 1969 state tourney and the batting champ in three tourneys (1969, ’70 and ’76). A slick-fielding, hard-hitting shortstop, the 5-foot-11, 170-pound Loecker competed in 18 straight state tournaments and led the […]

Lone Hill, Edgar

EDGAR LONE HILL (Born 1932. Died 1999.) 1952 Rapid City Central graduate who attended Black Hills State before leaving for the military. Born in Pine Ridge and moved to Rapid City at age 6 where he lived until he died. West Point nominee and Korean War veteran. Lettered in football and basketball. He was the […]