Stransky, Bob

Yankton High School. University of Colorado. Was an All-American at Colorado in his senior year of 1957, when he was second in the nation in rushing (1,097 yards on 183 carries) and fourth in total offense (1,387) as one of the last of the single-wing tailbacks. In the 1957 Orange Bowl, Stransky’s second interception of […]

Sutton, Jim

1953 Onida HS grad. 1957 South Dakota State grad. One of the state’s finest shooters, Sutton led Onida to the 1953 state Class B championship. Sutton was recruited by several Division I schools (including Kansas State, a national power at that time), but went to South Dakota State instead. At that time, freshmen could not […]

Swanhorst, Bob

One of the leading scorers in South Dakota boys basketball history, Swanhorst was an outstanding coach and college player as well. At Cresbard, Swanhorst was a four-year starter and scored 2,404 points, which is now No. 4 in state history (it was No. 2 when he graduated). He led Cresbard to a state Class B […]

Swett, Rex

Huron. Nebraska. Led the 1958 Huron Tigers to a 22-0 record and state Class A basketball title, averaging 15 points a game. He averaged 20.8 the previous season as Huron finished third. Held Huron High records in the 180-yard low hurdles (20.1) and long jump (22-9). He was named the state’s High School Athlete of […]

Templeton, Kim

A graduate of Miller High School in 1972 and Black Hills State University in 1976, Kim Templeton distinguished himself as an all-state basketball player and helped lead the undefeated Miller boys’ basketball team to the 1972 State A title. Despite Miller being the smallest school in Class A at the time, Templeton’s leadership propelled them […]

Tetzlaff, Mark

1981 Hamlin/1985 SDSU graduate. Hayti native who finished his basketball career as SDSU’s all-time leading scorer (1,931 points) and rebounder (1,132). As a senior in 1985, he led the Jackrabbits to the NCAA Division II finals, where he was named MVP of the Final Four despite SDSU losing the title game. He also set SDSU […]

Thomas, Dave

The second youngest of the six famous basketball-playing Thomas brothers, Dave led Onida High and South Dakota State to championships. The 6-foot-6 forward was a three-year starter at SDSU. He was all-North Central Conference as well as all-district in 1972 and ’73, teaming with Lee Colburn to lead Coach Jim Marking’s Jackrabbits to the postseason […]

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 […]

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 […]

Reinhart, Jim

Jim Reinhart is perhaps the state’s greatest high school distance runner. He graduated in 1973 from Sioux Falls (SD) Lincoln High School and was a 1977 graduate of Notre Dame. As a sophomore, he lost his first cross country race. After that, he never lost another cross country race in high school and went on […]