Sdsu rabbit tracks winter 2015

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY

VOLUME 20 NO. 1 / WINTER 2015

Zach Zenner –

All-American and more ...

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY

CONTENTS

VOLUME 18 NO.3 / SUMMER 2014

A commitment to excellence

2 NEW DIRECTION Casey VanDamme has taken over the Jackrabbits’ golf programs and has a plan in place for the Jacks to reach new heights.

4 MAKING IT FUN Since taking over the softball program, Krista Wood is working on changing the team’s attitude and success.

There’s a common saying in sports that, “You’re either getting better or you’re getting worse. You never stay the same.” This past winter, I had the unique privilege to be selected to represent The Summit League as a member of the NCAA’s inaugural Division I Council. My involvement with the council not only allows South Dakota State to have a voice as leaders and student-athletes from across the country help shape the future of our industry, but it also gives me a chance to have a dialogue with peer institutions.

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12 THE BEST STUDENT-ATHLETE Head coach John Stiegelmeier calls Zach Zenner the best student-athlete he’s been around. Learn why.

We get better when we find new ways to serve those who support us.

Our external staff has unveiled more than 15 new benefits for Jackrabbit Club members. We’ve also revamped and simplified our priority points system to reward loyalty and investment in our student-athletes. We ask our donors to continue to go above and beyond, and so we will always strive to find new ways to reward your support and bring you closer to our programs.

14 “AN ABSOLUTE TREAT” The Sanford-Jackrabbit Athletic Complex opened in fall 2014 to the delight of many Jackrabbits.

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We get better when we relentlessly pursue excellence. We’ve introduced new coaches like Casey VanDamme, Krista Wood and Nicole Cirillo who, in the short time they’ve been here, have bought into our culture and have begun to redefine success in their respective programs. Our current student-athletes continue to achieve at unprecedented levels of success in the classroom, in competition and in the community and serve as a testament to why this place is so special.

PRESIDENT David L. Chicoine DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS Justin Sell DEPUTY ATHLETIC DIRECTOR Leon Costello ASSISTANT ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, SPORTS INFORMATION Jason Hove SDSU SPORTS INFORMATION ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR Ryan Sweeter

Go Big. Go Blue. Go Jacks.

ABOUT THE COVER Zach Zenner received numerous awards for his accomplishments in the classroom and on the playing field. For more on Zenner, see page 12.

16 DONOR SPOTLIGHT The Roby family has made the transition from student-athletes to donors.

17 THE ARCHWAY Sen. Jim Abdnor’s love of baseball pays off for the Jackrabbits.

18 DAIRY DRIVE The first-ever Dairy Drive celebration kicked off the 2014 football season.

20 PLAYOFFS AGAIN The Jackrabbits made their thirdstraight appearance in the FCS playoffs.

EDITOR Andrea Kieckhefer, University Marketing and Communications

Athletic Department South Dakota State University, Box 2820, Brookings, SD 57007 1-866-GOJACKS Fax: 605-688-5999 www.gojacks.com

22 CHAMPIONS A shooutout goal powered the soccer team to The Summit League title and NCAA postseason berth.

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS, PHOTOGRAPHERS Dave Graves, Karissa Kuhle, Matt Schmidt and Emily Weber University Marketing and Communications; Intertia Sports Media

Rabbit Tracks is produced by University Marketing and Communications in cooperation with the SDSU Athletic Department at no cost to the State of South Dakota. Please notify the Athletic Department office when you change your address.

DESIGNER Rachel Fritz, University Marketing and Communications

28 RETURN TO GLORY Nicole Cirillo has seen the Jackrabbits volleyball team be successful and plans to return the program to glory.

1,600 copies printed by the SDSU Athletic Department at no cost to the State of South Dakota. PE069 07/14

SDSU SPORTS INFORMATION ASSISTANT DIRECTOR Michele Schmidt

JUSTIN SELL DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS

8 FAMILY TIES, II The Hendricks and Hinton sisters are key members of the swimming team.

10 ART AND MEDICINE Megan Stuart’s recent internship at Sanford Health combined her majors in biology and studio art.

As I heard about what’s happening at other schools and witness what’s going on in our department, I have no doubt that at South Dakota State we are getting better every day!

Just as the springtime brings about a spirit of growth and renewal in South Dakota, it also brings with it an energy and renewed sense of purpose at South Dakota State University. It’s an incredible time to be a Jackrabbit and even with all that we’ve accomplished recently, trust me, the best is yet to come!

6 FAMILY TIES Islamiah and Naqiuddin Fuad found their way to State from Malaysia to join the golf teams.

DEAN ELLIS: Assistant Coach

ESTABLISHING A CULTURE Casey VanDamme: Director of Golf

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ith the fall portion of golf season in the books, Casey VanDamme feels like he’s in the swing of things.

VanDamme started as Director of golf in August 2014 and has been striving to make the Jackrabbits better each day.

“I’ve attended a lot of sporting events already—volleyball, wrestling, football, men and women’s basketball, and have gotten to know all the coaches well.

“Sometimes, sports at other universities are segmented, but that’s not the case at SDSU at all. Everyone uses each other as a resource and support system.”

“I got to know all the players, and really tried to establish a culture,” said VanDamme of his first months on the job.

Past pro instructor

VanDamme has always wanted to be a head golf coach, and Brookings’ small-town atmosphere appealed to him.

VanDamme and his wife, Jill, have three children, Madelyn, 8, Claire, 7, and Andrew, 3.

VanDamme’s grandfather taught him how to golf as a toddler.

“Golf has been a big part of my life from as far back as I can remember,” he said. VanDamme played competitively throughout high school and college, and at the professional level in 2003 and 2004.

“I was looking for a place to raise my family,” said VanDamme. “Brookings is a town with good Midwestern values and big-time athletics. The people and community are great.

During college, VanDamme started teaching for the Jim McLean Golf School in Palm Springs, California, and Traverse City, Michigan. He became the youngest master instructor in the school’s history.

“The kids are excited to be in Brookings and see the snow,” said VanDamme. “They visited me this summer and went to the water park. The town has a lot to offer, and I know we’re going to love it here.”

VanDamme has worked with PGA Tour players, including as an on-site teaching professional for a participant in the 2009 PGA Championship.

Originally from Perkins, Michigan, VanDamme graduated from Northern Michigan University with a secondary education social studies teaching degree in 2000.

“I have been fortunate enough to work with some of the best golfers in the industry,” said VanDamme, who worked for the Jim McLean Golf School for seven years. “And I think my previous experience as an instructor is helping me add value to the team.”

He comes to State after serving as director of instruction and player development for men’s golf at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

Great rounds ahead

“The biggest difference from my job at Tennessee is how close all of the sports are here at SDSU,” said VanDamme.

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“Becoming a part of the Jackrabbits Athletic Department and the community of Brookings has been a special experience for me personally,” said Ellis. “The genuine hospitality and camaraderie amongst the people of SDSU has made a long lasting impression on me. It is a pleasure to be a part of such a positive environment.”

VanDamme said he values his team. “We are right on the edge of doing some great things,” he said. “Both our men and women’s teams are young, and we are striving to get better.”

VanDamme said there is a three-step process of becoming a high-performing national team. They are: • Constructing a new indoor/outdoor facility; • Hosting an elite women’s and men’s golf tournament; and • Increasing the operating budget to build a schedule that allows both the men and women’s teams to take part in top tournaments.

“These three areas will allow us to get top recruits and keep building the program,” said VanDamme. “Things are going well in that regard, too. Our women’s team reached 91st nationally in the fall rankings, the highest ranking in program history. The team did some great work.”

VanDamme’s drive to excel has already carried through to both the men’s and women’s team performance.

“In golf, the little things add up,” VanDamme said. “We are actively making plans for improvement. Performance comes down to consistent practice, setting goals and following through.”

KARISSA KUHLE

Ellis coached golf for 20 years at Northern Michigan University, as well as men’s basketball for 24 years, before retiring in 2010. Ellis coached VanDamme throughout college. “Even though he had retired, I convinced him to come here and coach with me,” said VanDamme.

Ellis, originally from Negaunee, Michigan, also served as the lead instructor for individual and group lessons at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa, in Traverse City, Michigan.

Ellis and his wife, Lois, have two grown children, David and Daniel.

“The fall semester was a tremendous learning experience for Coach VanDamme, myself and the players,” said Ellis.

“There has been many positive areas of improvement for both teams, and we are looking forward to the challenging spring schedules.

“Casey VanDamme and I are truly committed to forwarding the success of the golf program and providing a quality experience for all of the team members.”

Top Left: Assistant coach Dean Ellis provides some pointers while working with Islamiah Fuad.

Bottom Left: Casey VanDamme, SDSU’s Director of golf, celebrates a shot with Dylan Baker at the Jackrabbit Fall Invitational.

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PUTTINGPOSITIVITY BACK INTO THE GAME Krista Wood: Head Softball Coach Wood signed six recruits in November, who will be incoming freshman fall 2015. “We have talent here,” Wood said. “We just need to utilize it.”

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proven winner, Krista Wood looks to have that attitude take over the SDSU softball program.

A key figure on a national championship team in college as a successful player and then as a coach who turned an unsuccessful program into one of the region’s top teams, Wood started as the Jacks’ head softball coach last fall.

She came from Wayne State College in Wayne, Nebraska, where she coached softball for eight years.

“SDSU has so many good things going on both in athletics and academics,” said Wood, a Missouri Valley, Iowa native.

“Taking this position was a great opportunity and challenge for me.”

Wood said it is her mission to turn the softball program around. “I want the team to go out there this season with a positive attitude,” she said. “Our main goal is to be competitive and be in every single ball game.”

The team started practicing Jan. 7, and played its first indoor tournament at Iowa State University in February.

“By changing our team attitude, we are starting a new softball tradition here at South Dakota State,” said Wood.

“We are trying to be the best in the league.”

SHANNON PIVOVAR: Assistant Softball Coach Assistant softball coach Shannon Pivovar, a Ralston, Nebraska, native, hopes to help bring a competitive nature back to SDSU softball.

“I think there’s a lot of opportunity here at SDSU,” said Pivovar. “I’m excited to be working with the team and making a name for softball again.”

She graduated from Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Missouri, in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in sports management, and a minor in business. For one season, Pivovar worked as a Wayne State College graduate assistant for Wood.

According to Wood, practices went well last fall. “We gave all of the players a lot of opportunity to prove themselves in multiple positions, and they’ve really been working hard both on and off the field,” said Wood. “We are trying to teach them that hard work and dedication in the offseason will pay off in the spring.”

describe playing on a team with them as fun, intense at times, but an experience none of us will ever forget.”

Wood graduated from the University of Nebraska-Omaha in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education K-12, with a coaching endorsement. During her time there, she pitched for the softball team and still holds the career record for most wins at 106.

Wood and her husband, Alex, moved into their newly built Brookings home in November.

“I really like Brookings, even though it’s a lot bigger than what I’m used to,” said Wood. “This seems like a great town to raise children in.

In 2006, she earned a master’s degree in sports management from St. Could State University. For two seasons at St. Cloud State, Wood served as the graduate assistant pitching coach for the softball team.

“I’m appreciative of all the people who have helped me with the transition. Everyone in the community has been great to us, and I love the athletic family environment Brookings has.”

Bat girl to coach

When she’s not coaching, Wood enjoys spending time with her husband and their 2-year-old son, Braxton. “Braxton loves being on the field,” Wood said. “He’s content when he has a baseball in his hand. I have a feeling he will be playing when he’s older.”

Wood’s father served as the head baseball coach for the high school varsity team at Missouri Valley High School. “I grew up on the baseball field,” said Wood, who played baseball kindergarten through fourth grade. “I was bat girl forever, and I just loved the sport. So, when I was a fifth-grader, I started playing the girl version of it.”

All throughout grade school and high school, Wood played softball alongside her two sisters, Kara and Kayla. “I would

After college, Pivovar interned for two years at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, before working full time as the assistant sports information director in 2012 and 2013.

When she’s not working, Pivovar enjoys running and attending sports events on campus.

“Brookings is a great place to be,” said Pivovar.

“It’s great to see how much the community backs the college.”

Wood’s father Rod is a retired high school teacher, but still serves as the head high school baseball coach. Wood’s mother, Cindy, works in education in Iowa.

Right out of college, Wood served as pitching coach for two Omaha high schools in 2003 and 2004.

Even though Wood didn’t play on a softball team until fifth grade, she grew up on the diamond.

Pivovar started all four seasons as shortstop for Missouri Western.

Wood said her family also enjoys attending other Jackrabbits sporting events on campus. “Softball wants to be a part of the great athletics here,” she said. “We are trying our hardest to get the softball program where it needs to be.”

KARISSA KUHLE

Right: Braxton, the 2-year-old son of Krista Wood, lends a helping hand following a fall 2014 practice.

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ALL IN THE FAMILY: IZZY & DIN FAUD SISTER, BROTHER GOLFERS FROM MALAYSIA

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he Fuad siblings—Islamiah (Izzy) and Naqiuddin (Din)—were in elementary school the first time they played golf.

“One of my mother’s friends told us one of the golf courses in town was offering free golf lessons for three months,” said Izzy. “It was a big deal because golf is considered a privileged sport in Malaysia. We were excited to get to learn to play.”

Din and Izzy said the on-course sibling rivalry is inevitable, but it doesn’t last long. “We used to be pretty competitive out there,” said Din. “But it only lasts for 10 minutes, then we’re over it.”

The golf program brought Izzy to South Dakota State in fall 2013. “I actually applied to a lot of universities, but SDSU’s offer was the best,” said Izzy.

The second- and third-grader grew attached to the sport, and asked their parents if they could continue lessons. Din and Izzy’s parents agreed, and a sport that started out as a leisurely pursuit transformed into a lifelong passion. Though the local golf club does not have a professional coach, the two pursued their lessons in golf through the help of golf videos, tips from players and lessons taken by their parents on coaching fundamentals.

Izzy said the reason she wanted to attend college in the United States was because the post-college golf opportunities.

“In America, if you golf at the collegiate level, you have a much better chance at playing professionally,” said Izzy.

“We compare America and Australia that way. We chose to come to America, though, because one of our national high school coaches is from Florida, and told us it would be a great opportunity.”

Din and Izzy’s parents also decided to take golf lessons after they realized how serious their children were about the sport.

“Izzy and I would talk about parring certain holes, or getting birdies, and our parents just didn’t understand the golf lingo,” said Din. “So, they took lessons for a year.”

Their parents were supportive of Din’s decision to follow in his sister’s footsteps and attend SDSU. “There are a lot of people supporting us back home,” said Din. “That is the one thing that has always kept us going. Our parents, friends, friends’ parents, our golf family—they’ve always been amazingly supportive.”

The siblings are from Taiping, Perak, Malaysia, and both are sports, recreation and park management majors.

For the 2013-14 seasons, Izzy averaged an 80.26 average in 31 18-hole rounds. For fall 2014, Izzy averaged 78.07 and Din averaged 77.50.

Izzy said her parents saw the progress she made in golf and academics during her first year at State, and were more than happy Din was joining her. “I knew the college and community well, and it made my parents more comfortable with me here,” said Izzy.

Izzy said she got homesick quite a lot last year, but not this year. “Din and I hang out nearly everyday,” said Izzy. “And we try to socialize a lot to occupy ourselves and not think so much about missing our family back in Malaysia.”

Din’s goals have evolved over the years. “My previous goals were different,” said Din. “Our coach from Florida introduced us to the idea of American college golf. From there, Izzy and I both stepped up our game.”

“I try to hang out with my teammates because they are like my family away from my family,” said Din. “Our golf family here supports us no matter what,” said Izzy. They help us with anything. We know we can count on them always.”

Din’s personal goal by graduation is to cut a few strokes from his average to qualify as a professional. He would also enjoy teaching personal lessons.

The Fuads love SDSU and the Brookings community. “I like how everyone is so friendly here,” said Izzy.

Din and Izzy said their coaches, Casey VanDamme and Dean Ellis, exercise the players’ minds without saying they’re doing that. “I can tell when they talk to us before a meet that they’re getting us going mentally,” said Din.

“Everyone here is so knowledgeable and willing to lend a helping hand,” said Din. “It’s much different here than it is back home. In Malaysia, if we would talk to someone in the grocery store or gas station, it would be a bit awkward. We do talk to strangers but it depends on circumstances.”

Professional golf, a goal Izzy and Din have both been playing for 10 years now on high school, state and national teams.

Izzy played on the national Malaysian Amateur Ladies Golf Association team from age 12-17. Din is still part of the Malaysian Golf Association. He’s been part of the team since he was 15.

After college, Izzy plans to stay in the golf industry. “My first goal is to be professional,” she said. “To be at that level, I have to have the right fundamentals, which will take awhile.

But the options available for me after college are pretty broad.

I would love to coach golf at any level.”

Mental game

“Everything in golf is mental,” said Izzy. “Emotion is your game. If you’re saying no before you start, then your game is a no.”

Izzy and Din try to visualize every aspect of the game before it happens—how it feels in the game and the desired outcome.

“We learned that from a coach in Malaysia,” said Izzy. “Our minds play so strongly into our performance, and it’s helped me throughout the years.”

Izzy and Din said the coaches have helped improve their games in many ways. “Our coaches are awesome,” said Din. “They are very knowledgeable and skillful, and have a lot of tricks up their sleeves. They have us do simple drills that we sometimes don’t understand, but afterward we say ‘wow, I improved a lot.’”

KARISSA KUHLE

Above Left: Islamiah (Izzy) Fuad prepares to hit a shot at the Jackrabbit Fall Invitational.

Above: Naqiuddin (Din) Fuad watches his drive take flight during a round at the Jackrabbit Fall Invitational.

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who, like her sister, graduated from Winnipeg’s Grant Park High School with a 4.0 GPA. At State, Kendra was named to The Summit League’s Academic Honor Roll (3.0 GPA) and was a Distinguished Scholar (3.6 GPA) in 2013-14. Also last season, she won her first race—the 200yard breaststroke at the Minnesota Challenge. Then she recorded season-best times at The Summit League Championship.

Both the Hintons are now distance swimmers, so a friendly sense of competitiveness has entered their relationship, said younger sister Paige, who now is going beyond the 100- and 200-yard events. However, her best mark to date has been in the 200-yard butterfly, where her time is ninth best in school history.

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HINTON, HENDRICKS SISTERS ENJOY FAMILY CHEMISTRY rad Erickson has learned a few things about efficiency in his 39 years of coaching the SDSU swim team.

For instance, once having a member of the family sold on the squad, it’s easier to attract another. He applied that lesson twice last spring, recruiting Paige Hinton from Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Cassie Hendricks from Brookings.

This fall, Hinton joined her sister Kendra, a sophomore.

Cassie joined her sister Jessie, a junior, who followed another sister Ellie, who completed her college swimming the season Jessie graduated from high school.

Erickson has had siblings on the team several times, but this is the first time to have two sets in one season.

Assistant coach Phil Hurley handled much of the recruiting for both families. He said already having a relationship with the family makes it that much easier in opening the door. For instance, he said he would frequently talk about the older sister when opening the conversation.

Since Hurley was once an assistant coach for Brookings Swim Club, he already knew the Hendricks before recruiting began.

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Hintons high on State Paige Hinton was encouraged by her sister to attend State, but she also was impressed by the coaches’ superior communication. “It was nice to get quick responses to my emails,” she said. Plus, as a preveterinary student, she wanted to go to a school where she could get large animal experience.

She won’t get much help from her sister on that count.

Kendra Hinton is an English major who wants to be an editor of novels.

The book on SDSU is that its people are very helpful, the aesthetics are pleasing and the practices are hard, the sisters summarized. While there has been an adjustment to swimming at the college level, the time demand hasn’t been an adjustment. They come from a club where they swam 22 ½ hours a week.

In addition to spending time together in the pool, the Hintons usually spend a half-day together on the weekends and will go out to eat together once a week.

Hendricks continue family tradition

of what it is like to be here,” Cassie said.

200-yard backstroke; and tied for eighth in the 50-yard freestyle.

Jessie said, “One of the things that helped Cassie come here, she knew my friends and they became her friends pretty quickly.” In fact, they were mutual friends before Cassie was even a student at State.

Jessie said, “I’m really blessed to be able to watch my sister. When Cassie wins an event, I’m pretty proud of her.”

For the Hendricks, collegiate swimming has meant more time and a different focus. “Club swimming is more focused on your own time. On the college level, it is more focused on beating your opponent to score more points for your team. You may not swim the time you want, but as long as you score points, you have to be happy with that,” Jessie said.

However, they have swam some pretty good times.

Jessie Hendricks is tied for 10th in school history in the 200-yard breaststroke. Cassie Hendricks is second in school history in the 100-yard backstroke; tied for third in the

At practice, Jessie says, “It’s fun to have a workout partner I’ve had my whole life. Monday afternoons Cassie and I are assigned the same lanes. It’s the best day of the week.”

Likewise, Cassie says, “Jess is my best friend. I care about her swimming as well as mine, and Jess is a good role model.”

One would think that swimming practice would not lend itself to conversation, but there is that opportunity if they’re using kickboards and “you do get to talk and share a joke when you’re standing at the wall between laps. It kind of takes your mind off the pain while you’re swimming,” Jessie said.

DAVE GRAVES

That is similar for the Hendricks.

“During the week, it’s kind of hard when we both have different class schedules,” freshman Cassie said. When together, they might do a Pinterest craft, bake, stop at Starbucks or spend time outside in the summer. “It’s more spending the time together. It’s not so much what we do,” she said.

Jessie, 2 ½ years the older, said, “We’ve always been best friends.” That didn’t keep her from considering other schools.

“I visited Kansas University and the University of Idaho. After praying about it and talking with friends and family, SDSU just seemed like the right place.

I had to carry on the family tradition,” Cassie said with a smile. Her parents, Bernie and Julie Hendricks, are 1977 and 1987 graduates, respectively.

Here it is 15 hours per week, which also includes dry-land training, primarily weightlifting (two 90-minute sessions each week).

Both Jessie and Cassie said they were committed to swimming at the college level before they were committed to SDSU.

Adding academics to the mix makes for a full day, but all of the sisters are good students. “I don’t use swimming as an excuse for not doing well in school,” said Paige Hinton,

Jessie credits Ellie for preparing her for life at State while Cassie credits Jessie.

“I had pretty much gotten every aspect

Opposite Page: From left, Hendricks sisters Ellie, Cassie and Jessie at an SDSU swim meet in January 2013.

Above: Sisters Kendra, left, and Paige Hinton, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, have found a second home at SDSU and its indoor pool.

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“You know the Malcolm Gladwell book “Outliers,” which talks about the 10,000-hour rule? That’s her. She will figure out a way to do it as she’s hungry, visually hungry to make her skill level match her imagination.”

Todd Clercx on Megan Stuart

Unfortunately for Stuart that senior season was cut short as she suffered a season-ending knee injury just a few weeks into the campaign. She already planned on attending State next year to finish her degrees and could play another season.

Art is the topic of choice

But when talking to teammates, the conversations turn toward her interactions with patients from the summer art internship.

“My teammates really enjoyed it when I came back with stories,” said Stuart, noting the challenges of balancing her pursuits. “When I entered the lockerroom this summer and everybody’s getting ready for the workout, I’m like ‘guys, today this really awesome thing happened.’ They thought what I was doing was really neat. It’s pretty cool to have that support from them.”

COLLEGE LIFE BUPART SY OF STUART’S PLAN T

Focus, attention to detail, driven to improve.

hose are three characteristics seen in Megan Stuart.

Those facets appear when you see her preparing for a test, creating a piece of art or playing basketball.

“Sometimes art has helped me with my studies,” Stuart said.

“I think what helps me through anatomy class is be able to visualize it and draw the images.”

Most people recognize Stuart as a member of the South Dakota State University women’s basketball team. However, there is much, much more to her than playing basketball.

The ability to visualize and then draw the images was something that came naturally to Stuart, according to her high school art teacher Todd Clercx.

Stuart completed a summer art internship with Sanford Health in Sioux Falls. She and other interns then displayed their works at Sanford Arts’ triannual art exhibition “Internall Perspectives” Sept. 4. Her dedication to community service activities made her a candidate for the 2015 Allstate Women’s Basketball Coaches Association and National Association of Basketball Coaches Good Works Teams®. In addition, she has been chosen to create artwork for the upcoming scholarship auction.

“She’s got the ability to see what she wants and somehow do it,” said Clercx, an art teacher at Roseville (Minnesota) Area High School. “She doesn’t coast on the gifts she’s been given.

She pushes them beyond what most people do. You know the Malcolm Gladwell book “Outliers,” which talks about the 10,000-hour rule? That’s her. She will figure out a way to do it as she’s hungry, visually hungry to make her skill level match her imagination.”

Her ability to focus and pay attention to the tiniest of details has allowed her to compile a 3.701 GPA while pursing two majors—one in biology with a premedicine specialization and another in studio arts. While initially appearing not related, Stuart said the two disciplines work hand-in-hand for her.

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They also supported her when she walked into the office of head coach Aaron Johnson to surprise him with a painting of Johnston’s son, Dylan, in 2013.

“When you see the size of it, the amount of work and time Megan put in to make it happen, it just grabs you because it looks so much like Dylan. It has the facial expressions he would have. He’s just a happy-go-lucky, smiling little boy.

And Megan really captured it in a really neat, neat painting,” said Johnston. “It was a little bit of an overwhelming experience to think that somebody would take the time to do that for our family. I was really kind of struck by that.”

games. She loves basketball and the Child Life specialists are ‘just talk to her about basketball.’

“I think basketball has helped me out a lot in this, like learning how to communicate with people,” she continued.

“Another thing would be learning how to compromise. When you’re working with a patient, you find out that something doesn’t work, so you have to take a step back, kind of rework it and try to make the directions work. It’s just like that quick decision-making you’d have on the court, when you need to compromise and try to figure out something that will work.”

One thing Stuart has figured out is how to balance her loves of medicine, art and basketball.

“No sleep, I guess,” said Stuart, breaking into a laugh, about how she has enough hours in the day. “For me, it’s better for me to be really super busy. When I have a day where I don’t really have anything going on, I’m not really sure what to do with myself. I like being busy. It makes it a lot easier.”

That answer came as no surprise to Johnston.

“She’s just a really unique person who has a lot of talents and she’s good at trying to get them all on a daily basis to keep herself going,” said Johnston. “She’s an incredibly well-rounded person and very, very bright on top of it.”

MATT SCHMIDT

Johnston’s reaction was just what Stuart intended.

“The subjects I choose inspire me in some sort of way— whether it’s an amazing photograph or a person who means a lot to someone—that’s why I chose my coach’s son or my high school art teacher,” she said. “The painting means a lot to me or another person.

“When I see a blank canvas, I see an opportunity to create something really special for someone,” continued Stuart. “I feel like it gives me the ability to try and make them smile or feel how powerful art can be.”

Basketball helps

That hunger for success also powers Stuart on the court.

That opportunity also comes out when meeting patients at Sanford. However, there are times when her basketball career helps break the ice.

She entered her senior season having played in 73 games, highlighted by a career-high 23 points on 10-of-11 shooting from the field versus Georgetown Nov. 15, 2013. Her field goal percentage against the Hoyas set SDSU’s Division I record for highest field goal percentage in a game, 90.9 percent.

“Yeah, it’s happened a couple of times actually when I walk into a room and they’re like ‘Oh, you play basketball’ because I’m so tall. It just happens,” said the 6-foot-2 Stuart. “It really sparks a lot of conversations. There’s a little girl in Sanford Children’s I’ve worked with and she always came to the

Left: Megan Stuart displays her painting of an empty Frost Arena.

Above: Aaron Johnston, head coach of the Jackrabbits women’s basketball team, stands next to Stuart’s painting of his son, Dylan. Stuart surprised him with the picture in 2013.

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ZACH ZENNER

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ike his run through the South Dakota State, Missouri Valley Football Conference and Football Championship Subdivision records, honors continue to pile up for Zach Zenner.

Zenner, a senior from Eagan, Minnesota, was named to three All-America teams for his efforts on the field. They were: • AFCA Football Championship Subdivision Coaches’ All-America; • Walter Camp FCS All-America; and • The Associated Press FCS All-America.

For his work in the classroom and in the community, he received the following honors: • The inaugural Mickey Charles Award as the top FCS scholar-athlete; • 2014 Capital One Academic All-America® Team Member of the Year; • Football Championship Subdivision Athletic Directors Association All-America Team; • Finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy; • National Football Foundation’s National Scholar-Athlete Class; and • Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.

In 2014, Zenner gained 2,019 yards on 337 carries while scoring 26 touchdowns when combining his rushing and receiving totals. He topped the 100-yard mark in 11 of 14 games, including two performances of 200-plus yards, while adding 28 receptions for 331 yards.

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RABBIT TRACKS

Zenner became the first player in FCS history with three consecutive 2,000-yard seasons and finished third in the FCS career rushing statistics with 6,548 yards. In addition, he and the other members of the Jackrabbits senior class won a record 32 games and qualified for three consecutive playoffs.

While the honors and mid-December trips to New York and Philadelphia gave Zenner new experiences, he’s appreciative of the awards from the National Football Foundation, which include an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship, and The Sports Network FCS Awards Banquet.

“Zach Zenner is the best student-athlete I’ve been around,” said head coach John Stiegelmeier. “He accomplished so much on the field. But off the field, he used every minute he had.

I’ve heard guys say in trying to explain what he’s about, that he’s perfect. I think that’s a pretty good statement.”

Not bad results from a recruit who was only offered one football scholarship after graduating from Eagan High School.

“It’s been a whirlwind, certainly a whirlwind ... very special unique experiences,” said Zenner, noting he had previously never been to either city.”

Those honors came as a result of one word—work.

“My goal was to work hard and take advantage of the opportunities that were here,” said Zenner when asked about his decision to come to State. “I really think, in my goal to work hard, I’ve accomplished that. Looking back, there aren’t

Photos: Whether running past or over the opposition, Zach Zenner has received countless awards for his actions in the classroom, community and playing field.

He was named the inaugural recipient of the Mickey Charles Award as the top FCS scholar-athlete in the top right photo.

many times when I can say I didn’t work hard. I think my effort has been good and that’s all I wanted.”

That solid effort is not a result of having just the one scholarship offer.

“There is not a specific burning thing inside of me. I haven’t been slighted in any way... it’s not a chip on my shoulder,” he said. “I guess competitiveness is really the only thing I can point to. I don’t know. You don’t really think about why you walk down the street, you just walk down the street.”

That competitiveness carries over into the classroom. With a 3.86 GPA in biology/premedicine, the three-time Capital One Academic All-America selection has shown his skills there, too.

With roommates majoring in biology, mechanical engineering and pharmacy, he strives to have the top GPA. “My success in the classroom, would come, in my opinion, from a great environment here at South Dakota State,” Zenner said. “Coach Stig has created a team that focuses not only on athletics but also on academics and community service.

“There was a time at one point in my sophomore year where three of us were part of an organic chemistry course and Coach Stig moved practice back for us. That isn’t something you find everywhere, you’re not going to find that in other programs,” he continued.

“At the end of the day, it comes down to small sacrifices—the small sacrifices of studying a little bit more or studying on the road.”

of medicine,” he said, his eyes lighting up when describing his medical future.

“I’m one of those guys who when he hears about something, I want to go after it, want to go do it. Right now, surgery is most attractive. It sounds bad but I like to get my hands dirty. Being an athlete, I think the physical aspect of surgery is appealing. Feeling things in the body is incredible. It’s awesome, it really is for me.”

Those sacrifices and the extra work have started to pay off in what’s next for Zenner. He has been accepted into the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, the Sanford School of Medicine at the University of South Dakota and has applied to other medical schools. However, there are aspirations of playing in the NFL.

Just like it’s been for Jackrabbits watching Zenner and his quest to make the most of his opportunities.

MATT SCHMIDT

He participated in the NFL Combine Feb. 20-23 in Indianapolis and plans to take part in State’s pro day March 25.

If Zenner does play in the NFL, the plans are to defer enrolling into medical school until his playing days end.

“Right now, I’m interested in surgery but I’m open to a lot of different aspects WINTER 2015 13

For the football team, weather has sent them to Frost and the didn’t have the cold or hot tubs before. Now we also have an Barn on campus, to the Swiftel Center across the interstate and underwater treadmill. the Fifth Street Gym downtown.

“The amount of people who can be treated and how they can be treated is light years ahead of where we were at. It’s a huge “We’ve been all those places,” Stiegelmeier said. “No routes improvement and we were in a new facility.” can be run, there’s no specificity of relationship from receiver to receiver. Those facilities lent themselves to review, not DeHaven said the physical therapy portion of the Sanfordpractice. Now we have the width of an actual field. This is Jackrabbit Athletic Complex is “a part of the wow factor that like going into a candy store with an unlimited budget. It’s an is this building. The world-class athletic training room really absolute treat.” gives our student-athletes a feel for the kind of treatment a professional athlete receives.”

It’s not just coaches who think it’s a treat. So do the athletes.

By reaching the second round of the playoffs, the Jackrabbits season didn’t end until Dec. 6. Practicing in the SanfordJackrabbit Athletic Complex “made a 100 percent difference, especially this year when we had those blizzardy, cold weeks,” said quarterback Austin Sumner, who returned from an injury before the early dose of winter arrived Nov. 9.

T

hree years ago, an indoor competition/practice facility was a tantalizing dream for SDSU coaches and athletic department fundraisers.

But Oct. 11, 2014, they were on the infield of the Sanford-Jackrabbit Athletic Complex for the dedication of the 150,000 square-foot track and human performance facility—a $32 million project that is billed as the nation’s largest indoor facility of its type.

“To walk in there, it’s just been such a tremendous blessing. So many people stepped up to make it happen. I hope we don’t ever take it for granted,” said football coach John Stiegelmeier, whose team benefited from the regulation width football practice field when winter arrived before the season ended.

One of the first parties to step up was Sanford Health, which provided a $10 million leadership investment gift.

That was announced Aug. 3, 2012, in companionship with an $8 million anonymous gift, and the fundraising effort was off to a good start. The Board of Regents approved planning for the facility in 2011.

By the time the groundbreaking ceremony was held Aug. 31, 2013, the Dale and Pat Larson family, First Bank 14

RABBIT TRACKS

and Trust, Larson Manufacturing, Brookings Health Systems and other anonymous donors had also stepped forward.

One year later, as student-athletes returned to campus for the school year, they were able to use the state-of-the-art facility.

“How very thankful we are to practice and compete in this incredible building,” said Rod DeHaven, track and field and cross country coach.

‘Second to none’ facility “This building really is second to none for serving the student-athletes,” said DeHaven, a 1989 graduate who logged plenty of miles around tight turns on the Frost Arena track and coached athletes there from 2004 until this past fall.

He was inducted into the Jackrabbit Sports Hall of Fame the same day the Sanford-Jackrabbit Athletic Complex was dedicated.

Leaving Frost has been a big change for DeHaven, whose track program’s offices moved in September from Frost to the Dykhouse Student-Athlete Center, which is adjacent to Sanford-Jackrabbit Athletic Complex.

“The biggest thing is often times when you practice, you try to visualize things

that will happen in competition. For multiple generations, that has taken a little more creativity. Now, some of that competition is taking place right where we practice,” DeHaven said. “It’s always good to be able to sleep in your own bed.

“It’s one of the best facilities we compete in. It’s very exciting for our program.”

What you may not notice While by no means an ornate facility, the wow factor for this thoughtfully designed building is undeniable.

Among the things that make the building special are features that a spectator may not notice.

DeHaven said at Frost he restricted the volume of training because the “irregular turns create a lot of stress on your body. The volume of workouts in some areas is critical for reaching your full capabilities. The throwers have a real surface to gain a feel for rather than plywood on the floor.

“Jumpers can know how many steps they need to be going full speed before taking off. Pole vaulters are not practicing at 9 o’clock in the Barn.

They’re able to feel like they’re a part of the team.”

Soccer coach Lang Wedemeyer said, “It helps our team play in larger numbers that is more realistic to the game and better for development.”

The building’s first indoor track meet was Dec. 6 and the women’s team set three school records.

“Two years ago, a lot of times we were in the Swiftel Center.

“We expect that to be more of an expectation than a fluke We practiced there after the rodeo. The cement floor was dusty because we are now competing in a facility that is without a and slick. People were falling and bruising up their elbows and doubt the best in our school history,” DeHaven said. knees; not a good football atmosphere.

DAVE GRAVES “At the Fifth Street Gym, the defense would go for an hour and a half, we’d go for an hour and a half. It’s a small place; it wasn’t wide enough to get anything done. It’s been real great SO WHAT MAKES THIS BUILDING SO INCREDIBLE? to have the new facility,” Sumner said.

THE ANSWER COMES IN TWO CATEGORIES:

A recruiting plum Coaches say the Sanford-Jackrabbit Athletic Complex also is paying dividends in recruiting.

In fact, Stiegelmeier said, “We found it to be so last year when guys would just walk up to see the framework. It was a wow factor then. But we don’t recruit with facilities. We recruit on the opportunity to improve and hone abilities. To do that, you need facilities. We look at it as a must rather than something to recruit with.”

DeHaven said, “We’ve gotten kids to campus who would have never come to campus before. We’ve gotten kids to come who are being recruited by Big Ten schools.”

Human performance center features What the public doesn’t see are the weight and athletic training rooms.

Stiegelmeier said, “The weight room is 60 percent bigger (than the Dykhouse weight room) and a lot more can get done with more people. The rehab and training room is much bigger. We

BIG

COACHES, PLAYERS OFFER RAVE REVIEWS FOR NEW INDOOR FACILITY

Track and field and football may be the primary users of the building, but they are by no means the only ones. Soccer, golf, baseball and softball all are able to do offseason workouts there.

• An eight-lane, 300-meter track with a 150-meter straightaway • A 283 by 525-foot footprint (149,384 square feet, 3.42 acres) • Building volume—11.36 million square feet (the height to the

roof’s highest point is 82 feet, 2 inches). To give that number some perspective, consider what could be wrapped up inside— Mount Rushmore National Monument.

• Construction required 1,800 tons of steel, 9,800 tons of concrete and 123,360 square feet of exterior siding.

UNIQUE

‘AN ABSOLUTE TREAT’

“We did go outside a couple times to get used to the cold weather. But footingwise, it was bad and being so cold, you can’t throw or catch or kick. The kickers popped about 15 footballs and they’re $90 footballs.

Also serves other sports

• Permanent seating for 1,000.

• The 300-meter track. There are only five others in intercollegiate sports.

• The 150-meter straightaway.

• A Jackrabbit blue track with a synthetic rubberized surface.

• The 100 yards of synthetic infield turf is made from a soy-based product.

• Two areas for pole vaulting, two areas for throwers and two

areas for jumpers, all located outside of the track, not within the 100-meter infield.

• A video board to post results and eventually to view performances.

Opposite left: The Sanford-Jackrabbit Athletic Complex was a busy place during the Jim Emmerich/Alumni Invitational.

Opposite right: The physical therapy section in the complex includes an underwater treadmill.

• Drop-down netting that allows golfers, weight throwers and

baseball hitters to practice while track athletes can still be on the oval.

WINTER 2015

15

DONOR SPOTLIGHT Left: The Roby family of Watertown pose inside the Sanford-Jackrabbit Athletic Complex during the Jim Emmerich/Alumni Invitational Jan. 24, 2015, the first major event at the new $32 million facility. Joe, Jim and Scott ran track at SDSU and got behind the fundraising efforts. Pictured, from left, are Joe, Annette, Jim and Scott.

project, which moved fast. The Board of Regents approved planning for the facility in 2011. Sanford Health’s $10 million leadership investment gift was announced Aug. 3, 2012, and ground was broken Aug. 31, 2013.

Scott Roby remembers as an SDSU athlete that “I heard rumblings about (an indoor facility) in the 50-year plan.

We joked it would be year 50 when we actually see it.

ROBYS RECALL RUNNING AT STATE,

ENVISION PROGRESS WITH NEW TRACK

T

wo generations of Robys conditioned and pushed their anaerobic threshold around the Frost Arena track, and couldn’t be happier to have made a financial gift to help create the Sanford-Jackrabbit Athletic Complex.

The $32 million facility was dedicated Oct. 11, 2014, with Jim Roby and his sons, Scott and Joe, among the track and field alumni attending.

Jim, a 1976 journalism graduate, practices law in his hometown of Watertown. Scott ’07 and Joe ’10 are pharmacy grads. Scott is with Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis.

Joe is with Rapid City Regional Hospital. All left the dedication feeling very impressed with the complex.

“I’ve been to many other indoor track facilities. I’ve been on other 300-meter tracks. No question, this ranks with the best in the country. Watch what it does for the track and field recruiting and bringing attention to the program.

People will want to come to meets just to run in that facility,” Jim Roby said.

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RABBIT TRACKS

Joe Roby echoed that. “In my time at SDSU, I’ve run at some nice facilities— the University of Nebraska, Iowa State.

I would put this building against any other indoor facility. It’s as good, if not better.”

a few years ago, but he remembers running around the Frost Arena track when it opened in the winter of 197273. To simply have an indoor track marked a great stride for State, he recalled.

It’s an eight-lane, 300-meter track with room outside of the track to simultaneously run two flights of high jump, long jump/triple jump and pole vault.

However, he also recalls that training there was “exhilarating because it was so darn dangerous to run around those corners.”

Exceeded expectations Scott Roby said, “It exceeded what I hoped the university could have. I would have been perfectly happy with a 200-meter track for training purposes.

But to put in a 300-meter track with all the field competition areas is going to make a place other schools want to come to.”

The Robys got a feel for what it is like to stage a meet in the new complex when they attended the Jim Emmerich/ Alumni Invitational Jan. 24.

Jim Roby, a middle distance runner in his day, traded the treadmill for an NordicTrack skier after knee surgery

“I remember when Justin Sell came to the Twin Cities in January 2010 for an alumni meet-and-greet at 3M. I introduced myself and told him I ran track and cross country. He told me that one of their priorities was to build the facility. I still didn’t really believe it.”

When he got a joint fundraising email from track and field coach Rod DeHaven and past coaches Paul Danger and Scott Underwood, Scott Roby was convinced this project was more than a social hour conversation topic.

“I was happy to contribute to it,” he said.

Younger brother Joe said, “I knew if I was able to help out, I would. I was on board with the idea right away. It was just a matter of deciding how I could help.”

Jim and Annette Roby, whose oldest son, Jeff attended USD (’03/law ’06), have been annual donors to SDSU athletics since 2001. “We’ve always tried to send some money for SDSU track and field,” Jim Roby said. “Scott and Joe had a great experience there.

We signed on pretty early. I know the boys are pretty proud of that place (Sanford-Jackrabbit Athletic Complex).”

Special times at State It wasn’t just the sons who had a great experience at State. Jim fondly remembers working under the direction of Jay Dirksen.

His teammates include the renowned Garry Bentley ’74, a three-time NCAA national champion, and Don Larsen ’75 and Dave Gottsleben ’75, both of whom have had long and distinguished head coaching careers at North Dakota State University and the University of South Dakota, respectively.

“Track was real important to me because it was so fun and the people I met. To this day, I still have contact with SDSU teammates,” Jim Roby said.

That camaraderie also was enjoyed by his sons, who shared memories of the blue D before running the alumni mile at the Jan. 24 Jim Emmerich/Alumni Invitational. There were no tight corners with which to contend.

Jim Roby observed, “The corners (on the new track) are close to outdoor corners. That takes away the advantage short guys have in indoor track.” For tall, angular runners like the Robys, that’s a bonus.

But the short guys aren’t complaining about the new track either. “We are now competing in a facility that is without a doubt the best in our school history,” DeHaven said.

Joe Roby added, “They didn’t scrimp on anything. It’s a first-class facility. It will be truly appreciated by studentathletes for years to come.”

DAVE GRAVES

Below: The Roby family gathers at the 2013 Summit League basketball tournament. From left, are Jim ’76, Scott ’07, Annette and Joe ’10. They helped make the new complex a reality.

By the time his sons were training there, the “oval” was called ‘The blue D’ because two of the corners were about 90 degrees, Scott Roby said. “I remember as a freshman, I had no idea how to run it. Then you would see the upperclassmen swing out wide so they didn’t crack their ankles. We got by with it, but I think it’s great that the program has what they do now.”

What the team has now is so spacious that eight Boeing 737s could be parked inside two abreast and four deep.

Supporters rally quickly “I’m so pleased with how it turned out.

They kept the size,” said Jim Roby, who was an early financial supporter of the WINTER 2015

17

DAIRYDRIVE

ABDNORARCHWAY

A

$50,000 donation from former U.S. Sen. Jim Abdnor has been used to create an archway entrance to the baseball stadium. Dedicated Sept. 20 as the Abdnor Archway, it is the latest of upgrades done at Erv Heuther Field.

To celebrate its connection with agriculture, South Dakota State University has the Beef Bowl, Pork Classic and Lamb Bonanza. It also had the Cereal Bowl but this fall held the inaugural Dairy Drive game.

Agropur, Bel Brands USA, Midwest Dairy Association, South Dakota Dairy Producers and Valley Queen Cheese Factory sponsored the Dairy Drive game, highlighting the SDSU Dairy Science Department and the state’s dairy industry. The game was the 2014 football home opener against Cal Poly.

Abdnor, whose political career ranged from the South Dakota Legislature to lieutenant governor and in both the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate, was a supporter and fan of the Rapid City Post 22 American Legion baseball program. He also coached Kennebec’s American Legion team.

Various game-day festivities included a milk mustache photo booth and a contest on the best use of dairy products at a tailgate. In addition, approximately 4,000 cheese products were given away.

“Jim was an extremely dedicated baseball fan,” said Keith Jensen, who managed Abdnor’s successful 1980 U.S. Senate campaign. “He spent the last 20 years of his life in Rapid City and went to the nationals and on other trips with Post 22. He was like the godfather of the team. He just loved baseball.”

“The activities are a way to show off the dairy science department to anyone who is a potential student or parent of one,” said Tim Czmowski, a 1985 graduate in dairy science and currently the general manager at Agropur’s cheese plant in Hull, Iowa. “It’s a perfect way to show off what is going on in the region. We need people in the industry to carry on the leadership of these plants. South Dakota State is a great starting place for it.”

To demonstrate the program’s reach, SDSU dairy science students stood alongside alumni working for the state’s leading dairy manufacturers at halftime on the field.

“The ultimate goal is to bring awareness to the South Dakota State Dairy Science Department for its contribution to the dairy industry,” said Roger Scheible, executive director of the South Dakota Dairy Producers and senior industry relations manager for the Midwest Dairy Association.

Mark Leddy, Valley Queen’s CEO, said the idea for sponsoring a football game came as a result of a 2012 tour by South Dakota legislators of the state’s dairy industry.

The baseball entrance was one of several proposals considered by the Abdnor donation committee, according to Jensen.

Abdnor’s niece and nephew, Leanne and Jim Abdnor, liked the baseball entrance idea. They attended the dedication.

The grand opening (from left): Baseball coach Dave Schrage, Jim and Leanne Abdnor, relatives of the donor, and athletic director Justin Sell stand in front of the baseball stadium’s Abdnor Archway.

THEPHEASANTHUNT

T

“We came to realize that the dairy industry is pretty good sized but very concentrated in South Dakota. If you’re not in the area along the I-29 corridor, you probably don’t know anything about the state’s dairy industry,” Leddy said.

he SDSU Pheasant hunt is a fundraising activity created to benefit SDSU athletics. According to Matt Morgan of Chesterman Co., when the firm was thinking of ideas, what is more South Dakota than pheasant hunting? Helping make this decision possible was the ranch owned by Marvin and Eileen Kroupa. The 2014 hunt expanded to include land donated

by Justin and Kari Blasius, and Brent and Kassi Leiferman.

After talking with Scheible, Leddy said discussions started on how to educate the public on the industry as well as State’s impact in it. Midwest Dairy was already working with the athletics department as a sponsor of the Junior Jacks program and had a dairy awareness event at a women’s basketball game in the 2013-14 season. The various dairy entities took those ideas and came up with the idea of sponsoring a football game after discussions with Jackrabbit Sports Properties.

Top: The Valley Queen Cheese Factory tailgate has become a featured stop for its employees and friends.

Middle: A prizewinner from the Dairy Drive tailgate event.

Bottom: A happy tailgater.

18

RABBIT TRACKS

“Sen. Abdnor loved baseball and especially youth baseball,” said SDSU coach Dave Schrage. “This entryway gives a definitive entrance to Erv Heuther Field and a landmark for fans as to where to enter. It also remembers a man who served his community and the state of South Dakota.”

“I think it went really well,” Leddy said. “It was great day, a great game.

I thought went really well given it was its first year.”

Plans are underway for a 2015 Dairy Drive game.

Top: Leiferman and Kroupa families recognized at Frost Arena.

Right: The 3rd annual pheasant hunt took place in October.

MATT SCHMIDT

WINTER 2015

19

Club Seats (yellow section in picture) offer outdoor, With reserved seating elevated for unobstructed views, reserved, extra-wide seating with chairbacks, armrests the Loge Boxes are a premium seating option for and drink holders. As a premium seat holder, you will watching the game with your selected group of fans. Invite “It’s crazy how it’s changed over the years,” Leddy Construction is underway at the Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium have access to all the benefits and amenities of the friends, family and clients for an unparalleled view of the continued. “SDSU is important to us as a business and while pieces of Coughlin-Alumni are slowly disappearing. indoor Club Room. action and a unique experience sold in groups of four. important for us as a state. Now that it’s DI, it’s exciting for The east and south bleachers are being removed as will the scoreboard and visitor’s locker room.

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20

RABBIT TRACKS

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With reserved seating and elevated for unobstructed views, the loge boxes are a premium seating option for watching the game with your selected group of fans.

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The new Jackrabbit Club Seats (yellow section in above picture) offer outdoor, reserved extra-wide seating with chairbacks, armrests and drink holders. As a premium seat holder, you will have access to all the benefits and amenities of the enclosed Club Room.

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• Fully enclosed climate-controlled indoor space • One parking pass per four seats Costello said a very limited number of suites are available According to Deputy Director of Athletics Leon Costello, • Comfortable social spaces • Covered heated outdoor seating but the department is taking orders for club seats and loge stadium construction/renovation is on schedule.

• Upscale restrooms • Field-view seats from endzone to endzone boxes. media level • Parking pass with JRC annual gift • WiFi access “One will see a lot of things happen in late January, early • Enhanced concessions • Food and beverages included Both club seats and loge boxes can be leased in 5-, 7- or 10February, weather permitting,” he said. “We still should have levelaccess suite level • Food and beverage included • Club media Room year packages. half of the stadium complete by the start of the next season • Pregame through postgame access • TV access and have everything complete for the start of the 2016 • Multiple flat screen monitors, CCTV, distributed TV,aftermedia • Private, level suite level upscale restrooms on Loge Level General seats will go on sale the 2015 season. As itloge level season.” satellite TV, WiFibecomes available, ticket information will be • Tax-deductible gift credit based on club theseats term selection posted on • Tax-deductible gift credit based on the term selection club room suite level One person ready for the stadium is Mark Leddy, CEO of CLuB SEatS loge level www.DanaJDykhouseStadium.com LOgE BOxES Valley Queen Cheese Factory in Milbank. club seats “We’re excited for the new football stadium,” he said. “We were able to get in and get a suite, which we will use to host people. There are a lot of good things going on at SDSU.

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CLUB SEATS

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SEASON RECAP

SEASON RECAP

FOOTBALL

that, but at the same time we did make it to the playoffs for the third year in a row and that was special.

“It was a special experience as a senior to go back for the third year in a row and compete,” he continued. “Even in our loss to North Dakota State, it was a very competitive game.

If you’re going to lose, that’s how I’d like to lose, playing against, in my opinion, the best and really playing a good game and just get beat.”

Jacks make third-straight postseason

T

he Jackrabbits’ 2014 season started quickly when senior running back Zach Zenner went 75 yards for a touchdown on the season’s first offensive play.

While hopes were high in the season-opening game at Missouri and all season due to a strong senior class and other key returnees, injuries started to pile up.

The injury that garnered the most attention was to quarterback Austin Sumner, the school’s all-time passing leader. He suffered a leg injury against the Tigers that sidelined him for seven games. Sophomore Zach Lujan stepped in and led the Jacks to a 5-2 record in Sumner’s absence but the Jackrabbits reached another level when Sumner stepped back in his starting role. After one game to get back into rhythm, Sumner led the Jacks to four-straight games with 500-or-more yards in total offense, all wins.

“Losing Sumner right away was difficult. As a starter for a very long time but not only that, he’s a friend and a teammate,” said Zenner. “Then we had (Zach) Lujan come in and do a very nice job. In that sense, it was a little bit of a roller coaster at the beginning.”

Zenner was his consistent self, gaining 2,019 yards and scoring 26 touchdowns when combining his rushing and receiving totals. He topped the 100-yard mark in 11 of 14 games, including two performances of 200-plus yards, while adding 28 receptions for 331 yards. He became the first player in FCS history with three consecutive 2,000yard seasons and finished third in the FCS career rushing statistics with 6,548 yards.

“Personally, the season was good. Obviously, you leave yards out there every year but getting to play with that group of seniors, with that team and go through another season how we did, was a very special experience,” said Zenner, noting the senior class won a record 32 games.

After suffering the loss at Missouri, the Jacks rattled off wins against Cal Poly, Southern Utah and WisconsinOshkosh before losing to FCS semifinalist Illinois State.

SDSU added wins over Missouri State and Northern Iowa before back-to-back losses to Youngstown State and North Dakota State.

“The Hobo Day loss was a tough one,” said head coach John Stiegelmeier, who became the program’s all-time win leader with a win against Wisconsin-Oshkosh. “After the loss at North Dakota State, we went on a run—our backs were against the wall but we’re used to that here—and were able to get in the playoffs.”

Similar to the 2013 season, the Jacks finished the season strong.

Following the NDSU contest, Sumner and the Jacks went on their offensive onslaught, scoring at least 32 points in wins over Indiana State, Western Illinois, South Dakota and first-round playoff opponent Montana State.

Sumner and Lujan combined for 28 passing touchdowns, a schoolrecord 16 of those caught by the hands of redshirt freshman Jake Wieneke, who was named the Missouri Valley Football Conference’s Freshman of the Year. Wieneke, who caught 73 passes for 1,404 yards, was the runner-up for the Jerry Rice Award as the FCS’ top freshman and was named a secondteam selection to The Associated Press FCS AllAmerica Team. Joining Wieneke on the AP’s second team was senior kicker Justin Syrovatka, who scored a school-record 107 points by making 19 of 20 field goals and all 50 extra-point attempts.

While the Jacks lose the 16 individuals of the successful senior season, eight defensive starters will return for 2015 along with Wieneke and Lujan on offense.

MATT SCHMIDT

A rematch with the threetime defending national champion NDSU was next for the Jacks. The Bison pulled out a 27-24 win in the game’s final minute.

“The season was a success in many ways but not in other ways” Zenner said. “Our goal going into the year was to win a national championship and we did not accomplish Clockwise, from top left: Freshman Jake Wieneke catches a pass against Western Illinois on his way to Missouri Valley Football Conference Freshman of the Year honors.

Placekicker Justin Syrovatka scored a school-record 107 points and only missed one kick all season.

HONORS MICKEY CHARLES AWARD | Zach Zenner FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SUBDIVISION ATHLETIC DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION ALL-AMERICA TEAM | Zach Zenner WILLIAM V. CAMPBELL TROPHY | Zach Zenner, semifinalist NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION’S NATIONAL SCHOLAR-ATHLETE CLASS | Zach Zenner ALLSTATE AFCA GOOD WORKS TEAM | Zach Zenner THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FCS ALL-AMERICA TEAM First Team – Zach Zenner Second Team – Justin Syrovatka, Jake Wieneke AFCA FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SUBDIVISION COACHES’ ALL-AMERICA TEAM | First Team – Zach Zenner WALTER CAMP FCS ALL-AMERICA TEAM First Team – Zach Zenner JERRY RICE AWARD (FCS FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR) Jake Wieneke, runner-up MISSOURI VALLEY FOOTBALL CONFERENCE FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR | Jake Wieneke ALL-MISSOURI VALLEY FOOTBALL CONFERENCE TEAM First Team – Trevor Greger, Jake Wieneke, Zach Zenner Second Team – T.J. Lally, Cole Langer, Jason Schneider, Justin Syrovatka Honorable Mention – Jimmie Forsythe, Jacob Ohnesorge, Austin Sumner MISSOURI VALLEY FOOTBALL CONFERENCE ALL-NEWCOMER TEAM | Trey Carr, Zach Lujan, Jake Wieneke CAPITAL ONE ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICA® TEAM First Team – Nick Purcell, Jason Schneider, Zach Zenner CAPITAL ONE ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT 6 TEAM First Team – Cole Langer, Nick Mears, Nick Purcell, Ethan Sawyer, Jason Schneider, Zach Zenner MISSOURI VALLEY FOOTBALL CONFERENCE ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM First Team – Jason Schneider, Zach Zenner Second Team – Cole Langer, Nick Mears, Nick Purcell Honorable Mention – Jesse Bobbit, Shayne Gottlob, Ethan Sawyer 2014 CAPITAL ONE ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICA® TEAM MEMBER OF THE YEAR | Zach Zenner

Quarterback Austin Sumner returned from an injury to lead the Jacks to four-straight wins.

22 RABBIT TRACKS

Head coach John Stiegelmeier became the program’s winningest coach as the Jackrabbits qualified for their third-straight postseason.

WINTER 2015

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SEASON RECAP

SEASON RECAP

SAVING THE BEST FOR LAST Soccer claims league titles in back-to-back weekends, challenges North Carolina tight defensive game in which each team only had nine shots on goal at Fishback Soccer Park.

Q

uickly looking at the final summary on SDSU’s season, one would think the 10-8-2 women’s soccer team had a mediocre 2014.

Nothing could be further from the truth. It was a record breaker, just not in terms of total wins. For only the second time in the program’s history, the Jackrabbits won both the regular season and The Summit League Tournament titles, opened NCAA tournament play against the legendary University of North Carolina program and reaped postseason awards.

During the year, the program and coach Lang Wedemeyer notched the 100th Division I win and shut out defending league champ Denver.

SDSU was picked to finished second in The Summit League after finishing 2013 with an 11-5-2 mark. Wedemeyer, the only coach in the program’s 15-year history, said, “We knew we were going to miss some of our seniors who played key roles, but we had a majority of our team (including eight starters) back.”

So the team’s boilerplate goal of winning the league, winning its tournament and advancing to the NCAA tournament was a realistic vision.

A program milestone But with a tough opening schedule, mostly on the road, SDSU began 0-4. The Jacks rebounded against Drake, Bemidji State and Northern State, but still found itself at .500 (6-6-1) entering a home match Oct. 12 against Oral Roberts. SDSU dominated 3-0, outshooting ORU 19-5.

“We started with a lot of energy in that game. The girls were really pumped to play that game. They knew that Denver was going to be one of the best teams we played all season. Having the knowledge that this was going to be a regular-season championship game really added to the level of competition,” Wedemeyer said.

Finding a way to win Six days later, SDSU was at Denver to play North Dakota State in the first round of The Summit League Championship.

It was a record performance for the Jacks, at least for freshman Tori Poole, who scored just 41 seconds into the game, a school record for the quickest goal. The South Saint Paul, Minnesota, sensation added an unassisted goal at 51:18 as SDSU beat rival NDSU 2-1.

In the Nov. 8 title game, Denver took the lead at 21:53 of the first half and the Pioneers looked like they were going to be able to nurse that margin all the way to the NCAA Tournament. But with 31 seconds left, freshman Nicole Hatcher took a pass from Delaney Ratcliffe and, while colliding with the goalkeeper, slid the ball underneath her to force overtime.

Neither team scored in two 10-minute overtimes so the match went to a shootout.

“We had never gone to a shootout in the championship game before, much less a sudden-death shootout. But we had a lot of confidence after that late goal going into the overtimes and the shootout,” said Wedemeyer, who noted the young Jackrabbits team had championship game jitters early.

The starting lineup had no seniors, five juniors, four sophomores and two freshmen.

It was win No. 100 for Wedemeyer and the program, which only lost two more times until facing North Carolina.

But it was youth that came through late. Freshman Poole made SDSU’s sixth and final shootout kick as the Jacks won 5-4. Sophomore goalkeeper Nicole Inskeep stopped two of the Pioneer kicks in the shutout.

SDSU needed to beat a streaking University of Denver on the regular-season finale to claim the league title and did so 2-0 in a

“She made two great saves, which opened the door up for Tori to win it,” Wedemeyer said of the Ankeny, Iowa, goalkeeper.

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UNC results go beyond scoreboard As Summit League champion, the Jacks automatically qualified for the NCAA Tournament. The following day they found out they would travel to Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Nov. 14 to face UNC, which had 21 national titles to its credit and was ranked sixth nationally, although the Tar Heels had been upset in its conference tourney.

expectations are to be the best team in the Summit League and to be very competitive against teams outside our conference.

Wedemeyer said his team was excited to play North Carolina, but acknowledged beforehand, “The girls have got to play the best game of their season and have a little luck” to beat UNC.

Potterveld makes marks on field, in class Potterveld led the team in scoring (six goals, 12 assists, 24 points) while being one of five players to start all 20 games.

All five of those are coming back as is Inskeep, who started the second half of the season.

SDSU played well, but North Carolina dished out no favors. The Tar Heels relied on a pair of first-half goals to win 2-0 while outshooting SDSU 19-2 and having a 9-1 advantage in shots on goal.

“Going into it, we much rather would have had a lower-seeded opponent in which the possibility of victory was even higher. Coming out of it, playing North Carolina was more memorable, even more profitable for our program,” said Wedemeyer, who noted that interest from recruits has increased “exponentially” since playing UNC.

Deep roster next season The 2015 class of recruits have made their unofficial commitment. They become Jackrabbits on signing day Feb. 4.

At this point, it looks like it could be a year of learning for the newcomers. “In our last three games, we didn’t start or hardly play any of our seniors. We have everybody back,” said Wedemeyer, who will be back for his 16th season with an 103-79-24 mark in 11 seasons at the Division I level.

Among those returning is current junior Diana Potterveld, of Fort Collins, Colorado, and the captain of the 2014 team.

“We have a group of talented and hardworking girls coming back for the 2015 season. It will be great to have this core group coming back, along with some exciting new recruits who will add more depth to the team. Our

“We want other teams to know how strong the Jackrabbits are. After last season, we know how great we can be and how hard we have to work to be champions again,” Potterveld said.

Potterveld’s league-high 24 points led her to offensive player of the year honors in the Summit and her 12 assists set a school record while tying a league record.

Her marks in the classroom were equally impressive. The 4.0 biology/premed major not only was academic all-league, she also gained first-team Capital One Academic All-America honors. She was joined on the league all-academic team

by Shelby Raper, a sophomore with a 3.91 GPA in prenursing.

Poole earns unprecedented honors Perhaps the biggest individual honor went to Poole, who was named third team all-Great Lakes Region, which stretches from South Dakota to New Jersey.

“I don’t know if I’ve had a freshman honored the way she has. She made big-time plays in big-time games and deservedly received a lot of those honors.

She really finished strong and was a big reason why we had so much success at the conference tournament,” Wedemeyer said.

Poole became the first freshman named the Summit League Tournament MVP. Poole is the fourth Jackrabbit to earn National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-Region accolades since State transitioned to the Division I level, joining Danni Healy, Kaitlin Justice and Kayla Braffet. Jennifer Briggs and

Team Captain Diana Potterveld

Erin Miller were honored on NSCAA All-Region teams when the Jackrabbits competed at the Division II level.

Poole worked her way into the starting lineup early in the season, starting 18 of 20 games and “becoming indispensable for us at midfielder,” Wedemeyer said.

Although her 11 points only ranked fifth on the team, the tallies came at key points and Wedemeyer wasn’t the only one to notice. Poole was named to the All-Summit League first and freshman teams.

“The nice thing about Tori is she is humble. She is just as happy with her team winning if she doesn’t score or have any recognition. That character trait will allow her to continue to grow and mature as a player,” Wedemeyer said.

2015 needs ‘something extraordinary’ It’s one of the traits he wants to see in the entire team in 2015.

“They could be the best team in South Dakota State history, but there is a price that has to be paid to accomplish that feat. They have to transcend the ordinary effort and do something extraordinary,” he said.

DAVE GRAVES

WINTER 2015

25

THANK YOU TO ALL OUR CORPORATE SPONSORS!

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SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR HOME TEAM SPONSORS!

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RABBIT TRACKS

WINTER 2015

27

FAMILIARITY TO HELP CIRILLO New coach looks to return Jacks to conference champion caliber program

D

espite being the Jackrabbits’ new volleyball coach, Nicole Cirillo has experienced wins and losses in Frost Arena. Cirillo joins the Jacks after being the associate head coach at IUPUI the past six seasons.

“I think the biggest thing that sparked my interest in the job is the fact that South Dakota State was in The Summit League so there was already a sense of familiarity with the university, league and the team’s strengths and weaknesses,” she said.

That familiarity was one factor that prompted Cirillo to take over at State. As the IUPUI’s recruiting coordinator, she helped the Jaguars win three Summit League regular-season titles and advance to the program’s first NCAA Tournament.

Cirillo now aims to do that with the Jackrabbits.

“I knew there had been success here in the past, which reassured me there is definitely an opportunity for success here,” she said. “Seeing the resources and support that are in place, there are plenty of opportunities to be successful sooner rather than later.”

That process started shortly after being named the program’s 12th coach in mid-January. Cirillo is making the most of workout sessions and has plans for the spring season.

“The spring gives me an opportunity to implement some things that I do feel extremely strong about that will help us move forward,” she said. “I can’t and don’t want to change everything. I do feel that a small tweak here or there can and will make a big difference.

“Though this spring will have a huge impact on the upcoming fall, it is not everything. This is not a quick fix situation,” Cirillo continued. “This will be a process and processes take time but this spring will determine how quickly we take a step forward.”

She is married to Kiley Cirillo, who spent the past four seasons as the women’s soccer coach at the University of Indianapolis, and they have two sons, Kale and Daxton.

MATT SCHMIDT

- SAVE THE DATES APRIL 25, 2015 4:00PM FROST ARENA

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RABBIT TRACKS

JUNE 6, 2015 BROOKINGS COUNTRY CLUB