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UPCOMING SCHEDULE
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15
4 p.m. — The Variety (90.7 FM)
6 p.m. — Dakota DeBruin (90.7 FM)
THURSDAY, APRIL 16
3 p.m. — Sierra Singer (90.7 FM)
FRIDAY, APRIL 17
Collegian Report Ep. 10 (YouTube)
MONDAY, APRIL 20
5 p.m. — Collegian Media Meeting (Student Union Room 069)
7 p.m. — Students’ Association Meeting (YouTube & 90.7 FM)
TUESDAY, APRIL 21
4 p.m. — ApoloJacks (90.7 FM)
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15
The Collegian Issue 11 (Brookings)
MORE AT SDSUCOLLEGIAN.COM
COLLEGIAN MEDIA WINS 8 REGIONAL AWARDS
Collegian Media was honored over the weekend with eight regional awards for their work, at the Midwest Journalism Conference in St. Paul, Minnesota.
The organization received recognition in both the Society of Professional Journalists’ Region 6 Mark of Excellence Awards and the Midwest Broadcast Journalists Association’s Eric Sevareid Awards along with finalist nominations at the Upper Midwest Emmy Foundation’s Student Production Awards.
For a full list of awards and links to the content, visit this story on SDSUCollegian.com.
ONLINE NOW
POLICE DEPARTMENT CRIME LOG
The daily crime log is a document prepared by the SDSU Police Department that provides details on calls they have taken over the past week. The crime log is sent to Collegian Media for publication every Monday.
SUNDAY, APRIL 5 No incident documented.
MONDAY, APRIL 6 No incident documented.
TUESDAY, APRIL 7 No incident documented.
WEDENSDAY, APRIL 8 No incident documented.
THURSDAY, APRIL 9
No incident documented.
FRIDAY, APRIL 10
• 12:28 p.m. — A miscellaneous incident was reported at the University Police Department. The incident was documented.
SATURDAY, APRIL 11
• 4:08 p.m. — A false impersonation incident was reported at Hansen Hall. The report also cited underage purchase or possession of alcoholic beverages and false impersonation to deceive law enforcement. The incident was cleared by arrest or citation.
Collegian Media corrects all con rmed errors that are brought to reporters’ or editors’ attention. A er editors con rm the error and the accurate information, the correction will appear as soon as possible on the same platform. Errors that could be libelous or require a more prominent display may require di erent handling at the editor-in-chief’s discretion. In all cases, transparency in making a correction is essential.
Photo courtesy of ROCKY DAILEY
Collegian Media members, from left, Brooke Burnette, Izzy Cox, Emily Attrill and Brayden Byers pose while holding four Eric Sevareid Awards on Saturday, April 11, 2026.
STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION
Senators urged to speak up during public comments
EMILY DECOCK
Editor-in-Chief
A resolution passed by the Students’ Association (SA) that recommends all 18+ events be moved from the University Student Union drew criticism at the group’s Monday night meeting.
Marj Collins, director of student connection and engagement, addressed the senate during public comments on behalf of Shelly Bayer, director of student engagement, who could not make the meeting. Collins said that while Resolution 25-8-R may have started with good intentions, the discussion surrounding the bill was concerning.
The discussion shifted from a mature-content comedian that performed on the Market Stage in the Union to the Gender and Sexualities Alliance’s annual drag show. Collins said the drag show takes place in a closed space (the Volstorff Ballroom), follows university policy, cards attendees and hires additional security for safety.
“That shift mattered,” Collins said. “It mattered because when a student organization that has fully complied with policies is scrutinized in this way, it sends a message, intentional or not, about who is questioned, who is defended and who is expected to justify their presence.”
Collins also brought up an ordinance on SA’s agenda that denounces hate speech. Ordinance 25-1-O, which was passed by SA after public comments, was introduced in the same March 30 meeting that passed Resolution 25-8-R.
“That ordinance defines hate speech as expression that targets individuals or groups based on identity, including sexual orientation and gender identity. That commitment is incredibly meaningful.
It is only meaningful if it guides how we show up in real time, when conversations are uncomfortable and when harm shows up quietly, rather than overtly,” Collins said.
Collins ended by inviting senators to a bystander intervention training on
Thursday at 6 p.m. in the Student Union room 253.
SA passed an amended version of Resolution 25-8-R on March 30 to recommend mature events be moved out of the Union instead of banning them. This came after Michaela Willis, SA adviser and vice president for student affairs & enrollment management, said the original resolution would conflict with state and federal law, along with SDSU and South Dakota Board of Regents policy, because SDSU facilities are required to have content-neutral access for student organizations, regardless of differing beliefs.
American Indian Student Association (AISA) ex-officio Nevaeh Raye Smith echoed similar concerns. Raye Smith said the resolution could have “unintended consequences” for student organizations like AISA. While AISA has not received any complaints against the family-friendliness of the annual Wetu Wacipi, which was held in the Volstorff Ballroom March 28 and 29, Raye Smith worried about what would happen if someone were
supposed to speak? But there are times where you need to, and as student leaders, we should know when those times are,” Spier added.
Spier commended Collins and Raye Smith for speaking up, and said she would be willing to revisit the resolution.
“I think we have gotten to the point where silence is just as bad,” Spier said. “I think that that line is exactly stated in the ordinance that we’ll be moving forward with. So I think if we pass this (Ordinance 25-1-O) and we really see the intent behind this ordinance, myself included, we really need to see the intent behind our actions and the actions we haven’t taken.”
IN OTHER NEWS
to complain about AISA events.
“In the event that someone was to take issue with one of our events, and it is deemed necessary for us to relocate, this could directly impact our new indigenous fashion show on our annual achievements. Considering this, AISA’s main concerns include how the PAC (Performing Arts Center) cannot host events such as our wacipi, where we would need a large open floor space, which the PAC cannot provide,” Raye Smith said.
During her staff report, President Sophie Spier expressed regret for not speaking up during discussion of the resolution during the last meeting. She said SA is meant to represent and speak for all students.
“I immediately regretted my silence. I would strongly encourage senators to think about that. We had an opportunity, and we missed it,” Spier said.
“Going forward, if you are being reelected, or you’re being appointed - and this can be involved in any leadership experience - Is there gonna be times where I feel like I’m not
Next year’s president and vice president, executive team, elected senators and senators-at-large were sworn in Monday. They will serve for the final two meetings of the semester on April 20 and 27 along with next academic year.
For a full list of new student represenatives, visit the online story at SDSUCollegian.com
Vice President Siira thanked senators, SA advisers, his executive team and President Spier during his staff report at his last SA meeting.
“I’ve had a great time here at SDSU. I’ve met some amazing people and I’ve made life-long friends,” Siira said. “I wish you all the same.”
SA unanimously passed a resolution requiring faculty chaperones on study abroad trips to be housed on the same property as students. The resolution will now be sent to the appropriate offices for review and implementation. SA also passed a commemoration recognizing April as alcohol awareness month. The pickleball club was also passed unanimously.
Campus Partner of the Year Awards were presented at Monday’s meeting. See page 4 for a full list of winners.
EMILY DECOCK / COLLEGIAN MEDIA
Director of Student Connection and Engagement Marj Collins addressed the senate during public comments at the April 13 Students’ Association meeting. She raised concerns about a resolution passed at the March 30 Students’ Association meeting.
Busch Light Apple returns for limited 2026 run
Anheuser-Busch has announced the nationwide return of Busch Light Apple for a limited time starting April 20, 2026. The apple-flavored light lager, which originally debuted in 2020, returns to shelves following significant consumer demand and a record-breaking performance last year. In its 2025 release, the beverage sold 1.2 million cases in its first month alone and was officially named the top limited-time beverage innovation of the year.
According to marketing officials at Anheuser-Busch, the product has been a major driver for the brand, which is currently the second fastest-growing beer in the United States. Data from previous releases suggests the flavor helps expand the market significantly, as 27% of sales came from shoppers new to the beer category. The beverage itself is described as a “refreshing-to-the-core” light lager that combines a crisp apple profile with a touch of sweetness on the front end and a clean, smooth beer finish.
The 2026 relaunch includes a continued partnership with Ronald Wayne, a co-founder of Apple Inc. Wayne, who famously “invested” in the lager last year, returns to promote the brew as a “smart investment” for fans. The brand’s marketing history for the flavor has been notably high-profile, previously featuring tech-style keynotes by the mascot “Busch Guy” and a 2021 campaign that delivered cases via helicopter airdrop.
Presentation explores religion in Bond
On Wednesday, April 15 from 6:30-8:30 p.m., George Tsakiridis, a senior lecturer of philosophy and religion at SDSU, is hosting a presentation exploring the religious themes and imagery of the James Bond movies.
This event will be hosted in room 0100 of the Psychology, Sociology and Rural Studies building. Tsakiridis approaches the subject of religion and popular culture through James Bond, focusing specifically on the most recent film, No Time to Die. Also joining Tsakiridis will be Dale Potts from the School of American and Global Studies, and David Palmer from the Ness School of Management and Economics. The two will talk about religious traditions of Quantum Solace and war theory in relation to the James Bond comic strips.
Following the presentations will be a Q&A.
Children’s Museum to host 21+ event
The Children’s Museum of South Dakota will open its doors to an adult audience for a special 21+ “Museum After Dark” event on Friday, April 17. Scheduled from 7 to 10 p.m., the evening offers an opportunity
Anheuser-Bush is bringing back Busch Light Apple for a limited time starting April 20. According to
for adults to explore the museum’s exhibits in a child-free environment.
Admission to the event is $18, which includes one drink ticket. Organizers noted that advanced ticket purchase is required for entry. The museum is partnering with Wooden Legs Brewing Company for the evening’s beer selection, while the on-site Cafe Coteau will offer a $5 nacho bar for attendees.
The night features a variety of interactive games and projects, including life-sized versions of Hungry Hungry Hippos and Supermarket Sweep. Other activities include Light Bright Pictionary, a balcony toss, giant yard games, and retro art projects. Guests will also have access to the Cloud Climber exhibit and a photo booth throughout the evening.
SA announces annual award winners
Each year, the South Dakota State University student body honors exceptional faculty and staff through the Students’ Association Campus Partner of the Year Awards. This allows students to highlight individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to student success and campus excellence.
The selection process begins with nominations from current SDSU students, which are then reviewed and finalized by the Students’ Association Board of Directors. The following are the recipients
of the awards that were announced and honored at Monday’s Students’ Association meeting.
Student organization adviser of the year
Zachary Gutzmer, Adviser of the American Society of Civil Engineers
Professional academic adviser of the year
Brenna Rubendall-LaVoy, first-year adviser in the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences
Faculty adviser of the year
Dr. Allison Berry, College of Education and Human Sciences
Campus partner of the year award
Erica Quam, professional adviser in the School of Communication and Journalism
Pride to perform in Chicago parade
The Pride of the Dakotas Marching Band has been selected to represent South Dakota in this year’s Chicago Thanksgiving Day Parade.
This year’s parade will be the 92nd and more than 400,000 people are expected to attend.
The pride participated in the 2022 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.
Chicago’s parade will be held on November 26, 2026.
Photo courtesy of ANHEUSER-BUSCH
company, the product has been a major driver for the brand in recent years.
BROOKINGS MARKETPLACE PROGRESSES
AVA HILMOE Reporter
With Aldi open and Target coming this summer, the Brookings Marketplace is preparing for another addition, Kwik Star, which is set to break ground this spring.
The new Kwik Star will be in a lot east of Aldi, while one additional lot east of Target remains available and is being marketed to retail or service-type businesses, according to Mike Struck, Brookings community development director.
Local economic leaders say the development is designed to reduce “retail leakage,” a term for the loss of consumer spending to other communities.
“The grocery leakage study that we completed estimated that about $91 million in retail leakage” was leaving Brookings, said Stephanie Mason, business development director for the Brookings Economic Development Corporation (BEDC). “Those are dollars that are leaving our community and could be captured through services with businesses and retailers.”
Of that, about $15.2 million was tied specifically to grocery leakage, Mason said.
Brookings’ taxable sales and grocery receipts have grown from $14.9 million in 2018 to $20.9 million in 2023, according to BEDC data. Those local shopping dollars matter because they help pay for every-day services residents rely on. Retail sales account for about 56% of the regional sales tax base, revenue that helps fund infrastructures like parks, libraries and other community programs.
“With the addition of the Marketplace, we’re looking at one-time construction of about 622 jobs,” Mason said. “The economic output of that is about $80.9 million.”
Once Aldi, Target and Kwik Star are fully operating, the projected ongoing annual economic impact is estimated at $15.7 million, with about 148 permanent jobs created and between $1.1 million and $1.5 million in additional sales tax revenue.
While the original study looked at overall community spending patterns, Mason said students stand to benefit directly from the expanded options.
“SDSU students will certainly benefit from the additional grocery and retail options,” she said, noting that clothing retail is another area where Brookings has historically seen limited options.
City and community leaders have also been intentional about connectivity to campus and surrounding neighborhoods as the area develops, she said. While city leaders focus on long-term economic
impact, students are thinking about something more immediate: convenience and cost. Emma Arneson, a communication education major from Sartell, Minnesota, said she previously shopped at Hy-Vee but now prefers Aldi.
“It’s a lot more convenient having more options in town, and Aldi is pretty cheap, so my budget likes that,” Arneson said.
Although she will not be in Brookings anymore when Target opens, she said thinks the store could reduce the need for students to travel to Sioux Falls.
“If there are students that go all the way down to Sioux Falls for Target, they don’t have to do that anymore,” she said.
Arneson also sees the corridor becoming more of a gathering space.
“I think it shows that the town’s putting effort into supporting more businesses and giving more options to their college students,” she said.
Looking ahead, Ma-
son said community leaders are thinking long term about how the corridor fits into Brookings’ overall growth strategy.
“We’re hoping that this can really be an area that people want to go to, want to visit, want to spend some time,” she said. “And hopefully spend their hard-earned money in these amenities.”
Kwik Star is breaking ground this spring, marking the next phase of development in what city leaders hope becomes a long-term retail destination. A timeline for the remaining vacant lot east of Target has not yet been announced.
RYANN DAVIS / COLLEGIAN MEDIA
Pictured is the Target construction site on the East side of Brookings on April 13, 2026. The store is set to open this summer.
Flyboy Donuts sees success in Brookings Offers online ordering through website
LAUREN STEINER Reporter
Flyboy Donuts has been open for a little over four months at its Brookings location near the SDSU campus, and workers at the shop said business has been brisk.
“It’s been great. We’ve been very busy actually, which is good,” said Evan Scharberg, an SDSU sophomore and Flyboy employee. “And people keep coming in.”
Flyboy is located at 1717 Sixth Street, and its Brookings location is the Sioux Falls-based chain’s sixth. It’s open from Wednesdays to Sundays from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The donut shop has become a popular stop for students and locals alike, with many SDSU students supporting it on the weekends. For many people, the brand is already familiar thanks to its multiple Sioux Falls locations.
“There is a Flyboy location by my house (in Sioux Falls) and now the one in Brookings,” said freshman Olivia Traviss. “The donuts were delicious. They had really good customer service, (and) everyone was very friendly and personable.”
Owner Ben Duenwald said he saw Brookings as the perfect place to expand beyond Sioux Falls. He was drawn to the small-town feel and the nostalgia he felt from his time in school at SDSU.
Despite the early success of this expansion, Duenwald said growth is not the company’s immediate focus. With nearly 12 years in business in Sioux Falls, the main goals of the Flyboy team are to maintain high standards of the quality and freshness of the donuts, and to prioritize the customer’s experience, he said.
“We really want to ensure we hold quality and customer experience at the highest standards,” Duenwald
said.
At the core of that commitment is freshness. Every donut is made fresh daily, offering customers a noticeable difference in quality and flavor from some other donuts. The menu features a variety of options with plain glazed leading the way as a classic favorite. Other popular choices include Bavarian cream, blueberry cake, chocolate glazed and apple fritters.
“I always tell people to go for apple fritters,” Scharberg said. “They are my favorite and they are like the size of your head.”
Flyboy Donuts also offers online ordering through its website, allowing customers to place orders for either pickup or delivery.
SCAN HERE TO VISIT THEIR WEBSITE
FLYBOY DONUTS
Where: 1717 Sixth Street
Hours: Wednesdays through Sundays, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays
Phone: 605-321-5259
Website: flyboydonuts.com
What: Flyboy produces thousands of fresh donuts and rolls daily at their six locations. They have a variety of donuts as well as twists on several others.
ALEX OLSEN / COLLEGIAN MEDIA
Every donut at Flyboy is made fresh daily. The menu features a variety of options with popular choices including Bavarian cream, blueberry cake, chocolate glazed and apple fritters.
ALEX OLSEN / COLLEGIAN MEDIA
Flyboy Donuts is located at 1717 Sixth Street. They are open Wednesdays to Sundays from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. They are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
FUNDRAISER SUPPORTS CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL
Over $155,000 raised last weekend
AVA HILMOE Reporter
SDSU’s State A Thon organization raised a total of $155,328.25 this year from its yearlong fundraising efforts and annual event held last weekend.
All funds support the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and Sanford Children’s Castle in Sioux Falls.
The event brought together hundreds of SDSU students and community members to a weekend of games and activities supporting children and families facing medical challenges.
State A Thon president Kayley Moll, a senior studying exercise science, said the organization connects students and the community through a shared purpose larger than themselves.
“As a whole, I see State A Thon representing the SDSU community by bringing in families from Brookings and people at SDSU who have experienced childhood illness or know someone who has,” Moll said. “It creates a place where they can belong, while also giving students the opportunity to be part of something bigger than themselves, find their niche and develop leadership skills within the community.”
Fundraising for State A Thon takes place throughout the year with both student-led events and community-based efforts.
One of the largest fundraising methods is “canning,” where students go door-to-door throughout Brookings to collect donations. Fundraising co-chair Makenna Jacobson, a junior pre-pharmacy major, said consistency and participation are key factors to the success of this movement.
“Canning is the biggest driver just because of how often we do it,” Jacobson said. “If a lot of people show up, we’re able to reach more houses, and then in turn, we make more money.”
The organization also hosts campus fundraising events in the Student Union, including Crumbl cookie sales, trivia nights, and partnerships with local businesses. Additionally, larger “push weeks” are held each semester, including one that raised more than $30,000 and another that raised more than $26,000 this year.
Another large contributor to the fundraising was a live auction of the children’s artwork that took place during the event. This auction raised about $5,000 in just over 30 minutes, according to student leadership. Jacobson said this year’s total was slightly lower than last year’s, but still exceeded the organization’s main fundraising goal.
Moll said outreach has expanded during her time at SDSU.
“We’ve really worked on increasing outreach and communication,” Moll said. “We’ve been going out, talking to people, and making sure State A Thon is visible across campus and the community.”
Behind the scenes, student leaders said months of preparation go into making the day go smoothly.
Emily Lingle, a senior studying human biology on the pre-med track, served as event operations chair this year. She said her role focused heavily on planning the day-of schedule down to five-minute increments.
“For my position, event operations mainly focus on planning the day-of,” Lingle said. “We have an Excel sheet, and it’s broken down into five-minute increments for the schedule.”
Lingle said planning begins nearly a year in advance and intensifies in the spring semester.
“We had applications about a year ago in April, then transition meetings, and over the summer we had meetings to discuss ideas,” Lingle said. “Then in the spring semester everything really kicks off and we have weekly meetings.”
Lingle also led the entertainment committee, which helped plan and execute interactive portions of the event designed to maintain engagement throughout the day.
One major focus was balancing active and passive moments.
“For every portion of the event that you have to sit down for, the next thing should be something that you have to stand up and do something active for,” Lingle said.
This year’s theme, “To the Castle and Beyond,” loosely referenced the “Toy Story” movie while avoiding any direct usage of copyrighted branding.
Lingle saw excitement around a new addition to their activities this year called “Woody’s Wardrobe Roundup.” Children would spin a wheel and get a character, then they would have to select a costume from a pile before presenting their outfit on stage.
“I was really nervous about how it would go,” Lingle said. “But everyone was cheering, and the kids were having fun and made it a competition among themselves.”
Lingle said the most challenging part of the day was staying on schedule.
“We tend to pack ourselves very tight on our schedule,” Lingle said. “At one point we were about 20 minutes behind.”
She explained they have to think quickly and adjust the schedule to make sure everything and everyone still gets their chance.
Despite challenges, Lingle said seeing the event come together made the effort worthwhile.
“You just take a step back and look around the room and see so many people smiling and laughing and spending time with the miracle kids,” Lingle said. “That made it all worth it.”
HALEY CHAMPEAU / COLLEGIAN MEDIA
Two State A Thon participants dance together during one of the morale dances at the event on Saturday, April 11, 2026.
equal in creation and hold of unalienable rights. It’s the “most important sentence ever originally rendered in English,” and a phrase that has changed America in more ways than any other, he said.
The Constitution was not drafted to create a deep political divide, but protection for all those who obey it, Meacham said. Polarization is not the core of America, but rather a plain altruism. To regain a healthy political atmosphere, we must re-establish a respect for the Constitution and a belief in the principle of “love thy neighbor.”
When asked why he did it, Bush reportedly remarked: “I’ve never been stuck in a barrel, but if I had been, I’d want somebody to pull me out.”
PREVIOUS DIALOGUES
2025: Sharon McMahon
2022: Jonathan Karl
2019: Doris Kearns Goodwin
2017: Tom Brokaw
2015: Madelein K. Albright
2014: Trent Lott
Meacham fondly recounted an early story involving future president George H.W. Bush and a classmate of his, Bennett McNichol, at Greenwich Country Day School in the 1930s. Bush and McNichol were competing in an obstacle course, when McNichol got stuck while crawling through a barrel. McNichols was described as slightly rotund.
Bush could have won but instead chose to stop and help free his classmate and they finished together. The moral of this recounting is that Bush’s actions were not motivated by religion or etiquette, rather it was a simple altruism.
It is this utilitarian, yet ultimately altruistic approach, that America was founded on, Meacham said.
He called for a similar approach in present day, arguing that people in attendance that night don’t have to turn an entire populace to a certain political view. It is more than enough to convince a few to do the right thing for the nation.
There is a need for responsible and active citizens to continue to grow and thrive in an ever-changing world.
“What I fear right now,” Sen. Daschle admitted at the beginning of the event, “is young people don’t really see the need to do it. It’s a dilemma we’re really going to have to face at some point because our future depends on that discipline, and our participation.”
EMILY ATTRILL / COLLEGIAN MEDIA
Former congressman Tom Daschle speaks to the crowd gathered inside First Bank & Trust Arena for the Daschle Dialogues on April 7, 2026.
ROPIN’ AND RIDIN’
AVERY ZEISLER Reporter
The Jackrabbit Stampede celebrated 70 years of rodeo this past weekend with 15 teams totaling over 300 competitors, some of which competed in multiple events.
The teams came to Brookings from North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
The South Dakota Sate Rodeo wom-
2026 JACKRABBIT STAMPEDE
Here are the individual and team results for the SDSU rodeo team.
OVERALL
• Women’s Team 2nd Place
• Laney Hoier
Women’s All-Around
en’s team placed second overall, with freshman Laney Hoier taking home the title of Women’s All-Around.
“I was very happy with how the entire week and weekend went,” SDSU head coach Ron Skovly said. “We had very good crowds again this year and had 10 team members qualify for the top 10 finals ‘short go’ on Saturday night.”
“It means a good deal to get the women’s all-around at our home ro-
BREAKAWAY
• Laney Hoier 2nd Place
• Isabella VanLith 6th Place
• Maggie Noonan 10th Place
deo,” Hoier said.
The freshman accounting major said that winning the all-around was the cherry on top this weekend.
“Colt and Trey Frank winning the team roping and Laney Hoier winning the women’s all-around at our home rodeo was very special to see,” Skovly said.
The rodeo is a long-standing SDSU tradition dating back to the early 1950s. This year’s rodeo is the 70th edi-
TEAM ROPING
• Colt Frank & Trey Frank 1st Place
BARREL RACING
• Dayna Terning 3rd Place
tion of the event, continuing a legacy that began at Crystal Springs Arena in Clear Lake.
The team also hosted the Buckles and Bling banquet on Thursday, which included scholarship presentations, a team introduction and Calcutta auction, senior recognition, a buffet meal and both live and silent auctions.
The proceeds from the event help cover the team’s travel and expenses.
GOAT TYING
• Josie Laue 10th Place
• Laney Hoier 12th Place
STEER WRESTLING
• Dusty Rose 8th Place
REAGAN MONSON / COLLEGIAN MEDIA
A bull rider exits the chute during the 70th annual Jackrabbit Stampede rodeo.
Homework and home runs The challenges of balancing school and softball
BREANNE PATTERSON Sports Reporter
For the South Dakota State Jackrabbits softball team, managing academics and athletics is a daily grind that requires discipline, time management and drive to succeed both on and off the field.
The Jackrabbits are sitting just below .500 with a record of 23-24 overall.
“This season has had its ups and downs,” said Tori Kniesche, a former player and current pitching coach. “There have been a lot of positive and growing moments. They have been facing adversity and handling it well.”
The Jackrabbits spent their first 37 games on the road this year and only nine of their 56 games will be played on their home field.
That raises the question of how they manage all of their schoolwork while being on the road so much.
“Our girls do a really good job of not letting being on the road affect them academically,” Kniesche said. “It can be a challenge, but it also motivates our players to get their work done so they can play.”
The student-athletes are held to a high standard in both the classroom and on the field. They are expected to have above a 3.0 GPA, and the team’s goal GPA is 3.5.
The team ended the fall semester with a 3.44 GPA, slightly below expectations. However, according to Kniesche they have improved in the classroom this semester.
To improve academic performance, the players are expected to show up to every class they have in person when they are not away at a game according to Kniesche. Even if they get home late from a game and have an 8 a.m. the next morning, it is non-negotiable.
They are also required to attend four hours of study hall when they are outside of season and two hours when
they are in season. In addition to their mandatory study hall, hours are added if a player falls below an A in a class.
When on the road, the team has mandatory study time whether that is during a long bus ride or in a conference room at the hotel.
“We are on the bus for eight to 10 hours sometimes so that is a great time to get stuff done,” said Akayla Barnard, junior pitcher and outfielder. “When I am motivated and I know I need to get something done, I get it done.”
Accountability plays a major role in this kind of setting.
“Iron sharpens iron both on and off the field,” said Alli Boyle, fifth-year senior first baseman. “We put good work in when it’s time to work.”
The players have many people in their corner. Coaches, professors and advisors all work hand in hand to make sure the players have what they need to be their best on and off the field.
“We have them fill out every assignment for every class, day by day,” said Kniesche. “This helps them stay more organized and to help track their progress. We also meet with them one on one to make sure they aren’t struggling.”
If the players are struggling in their classes or with their schedule, they meet with the teams’ academic advisor who is always there to help the athletes.
“The SDSU professors work really well with our athletes,” said Kniesche. “The girls do a great job communicating with them, and the professors are flexible.”
Along with helping the players succeed in the classroom, the professors are helping prepare student-athletes for the future.
The support extends beyond the classroom, helping prepare student-athletes for life after college.
“Every professor that I’ve had has
gone above and beyond to apply their teaching to what I want to do,” said Boyle. “And that has helped me the most.”
Being a student-athlete comes with many challenges, but those challenges turn into valuable life skills that players will carry with them into the real world.
“Being a student-athlete has pushed me in and out of the classroom,” said Barnard. “Doing all three positions can be very hard, but it has taught me so many life lessons outside of softball.”
Kniesche stated that time management is one of the biggest skills the players will take with them beyond college.
For players like Boyle, the challenge is what makes it all worth it.
“Being a student-athlete is one of the hardest but most rewarding things I will get to do in my life,” Boyle said.
SDSU ATHLETICS
SDSU sophomore Amanda Vacanti pitches against Iowa on Saturday, April 11, in Iowa City. Vacanti allowed five hits and two runs while striking out three batters in eight innings pitched. Vacanti earned a win against the Hawkeyes, helping the Jacks get a 3-2 win.
Wrestling’s big move
ERIC HEGGESETH Sports Reporter
Conference realignment struck again with the Pac‑12 announcing on April 1 that it will add South Dakota State and three other programs as affiliate mem bers for wrestling starting in 2026–27.
Joining the league with SDSU will be Air Force, Northern Colorado and North Dakota State, expanding the Pac 12 wrestling membership to nine programs.
All four schools were previously members of the Western Wrestling Conference before the Big 12 welcomed the group. The move to the Pac 12 ends an 11 season run in the Big 12 for the four programs, a stretch that proved especially successful for the Jacks.
During its tenure in the Big 12, SDSU had a dual record of 126 56 and qualified 65 individual wrestlers for the NCAA Championships, including one national champion in Seth Gross, who won at 133 pounds in 2018. SDSU earned five individual Big 12 titles in that time. Gross won at 133 pounds in 2017 and 2018. Nate Rotert also won a title in 2018 at 197 pounds. The Jacks added two more in 2024 with Cade DeVos at 174 pounds and Tanner Sloan at 197.
The move to the Pac 12 includes significant implications for the con ference competitively. The expansion pushes the league past the NCAA min imum requirement of six programs for its individual champions to advance automatically to the national tourna ment. According to SDSU head coach Damion Hahn, the league has been able to keep automatic qualifier (AQ) status for its wrestlers despite having four teams, through a waiver from the NCAA that required the conference to show evidence of attempting to expand membership.
Former SDSU All American and current Midco Sports color analyst for Jackrabbit home matches Nate Rotert weighed in on the move, responding to
fans who were skeptical of the transi tion.
“If you pay attention to the national tournament at all, winning your con ference means something to the seed ing committee,” Rotert commented.
“Not to mention the behind the scenes cost to the university to be a part of the Big 12 conference. The return on investment does not match the cost up front. As well as wrestling a home tournament for Oklahoma State in Tulsa every season. The Pac 12 has a rotating host site system,” Rotert added.
Damion Hahn echoed that argu ment.
“In the Big 12, they would have the conference championship in Tulsa ev ery year,” Hahn said. “If you are going to have it in Tulsa, you might as well have it in Stillwater, Oklahoma.”
Now that SDSU is in the Pac 12, Hahn explained that SDSU will have the ability to host because the Pac 12 rotates its championship site.
Going to the Pac 12 also sets up the potential for better seeding for SDSU wrestlers.
“I think this will position our guys come the national tournament,” Hahn shared.
SDSU Athletic Director Justin Sell agreed.
“Being able to win a conference tour nament generally helps with seeding and better opportunities to advance in the NCAAs,” Sell said.
“Winning a conference champion ship plays heavily into seeding for the national tournament,” Hahn said.
Hahn also thinks it is a very good thing for college wrestling and also the region.
“This is a great step for wrestling because we have another strong conference and it is in the Midwest to West. Wrestling was struggling in that part of the country, and we have made it stronger,” Hahn said.
Sell shares that vision. “I think we are going to have good wrestling and we are going to have good qualification numbers out of the conference cham pionship so I think it really strengthens the Pac 12,” Sell said.
Overall, Hahn said there is excite ment around the program too.
“Our guys are excited,” Hahn said. “I think guys are eager and ready to get after it being in this new conference,” Hahn commented when asked about how the team is feeling about the move.
Justin Sell was asked if the move could lead to other opportunities with the Pac 12.
“I think that applies to all of our sports and where conference realign ment might go nationally, what are the Power Four schools looking to do? So you know just do not know the answer to that,” Sell answered.
Sell did say SDSU has a firm com mitment to wrestling at a very high level.
“The only thing we can control is making sure we’re the best version of ourselves, and this opportunity allows us to do that,” Sell said.
Sell added that they are looking forward to the new opportunity.
“We’re looking forward to investing in the experience in the Pac 12. We’re looking forward to working with those schools and I think from that other things grow naturally,” Sell said.
FINN HOLSEN / COLLEGIAN MEDIA
SDSU redhsirt sophomore Marcus Espinoza-Owens duals agaisnt NDSU wrestler on Sunday, Feb. 22 in First Bank & Trust Arena in Brookings, SD. Espinoza-Owens won his matchup but the Jacks fell short 13-10 against the Bison.
HARRIS BREAKS SCHOOL RECORD
NATHAN THOMPSON Reporter
200 meter dash record set by .01 second
For many people at SDSU, Runnings simply refers to the outdoor retail store on 6th street. But to a select few, it refers to a passion and a lifestyle. Of course, I am referencing the SDSU track & field team. The Jackrabbits competed in two meets on April 10 and one on April 12 in their latest week of competitions.
JIM DUNCAN INVITATIONAL
Drake hosted the Jim Duncan Invitational on April 10 and the Jackrabbits went on to have a great meet. The big story from this meet is Ellie Harris’s 23.81 second 200 meter dash. This makes her the fastest Jackrabbit ever in the event by 0.01 seconds.
The women also ran a great 4x100 relay, winning with a time of 46.21, faster than the meet record by 0.05 seconds.
Hannah Spoden won the 1500 meter race with a time of 4:32.79. The women’s 4x400 relay got second by 0.22 seconds, running a time of 3:43.49.
The women’s highest field placement came thanks to Hadley Carlson’s second place finish in the high jump with a height of 5 feet, 3 inches.
In the Men’s events Will Lohr ran a time of 3:52.37 in the 1500 meters, which earned him third place.
Sophomore Lucas Flemmer ran a time of 47.19 to win the 400 meter race.
Cael Woods finished third place in the 400 meter hurdles with a 53.96.
The Jackrabbits went one, two and three in the triple jump thanks to Ty Nelson, Kincade Lehman and Wyatt Melcher. All three jumped over 46 feet.
Jaden Peters tied for first in the pole vault, with a height of over 15 feet. Brooks Holen got second in the high jump, leaping over six and a half feet. Rylan McDonnell’s jump of 23 feet, 2 inches earned him second place honors at the meet.
UW-PLATTEVILLE INVITATIONAL
This Wisconsin meet was attended by only seven athletes from South Dakota State. Going strictly off place, Nicole Swanson did the best at the meet, claiming 37th place in the 5000 meter.
However, Jared Lutmer’s 47th place in the 5000 meter race was the best percentage, placing in the top 13% of the race with over 350 people competing. Swanson was close, being in the top 19% of a 200 person event. Swanson ran 17:25.43 and Lutmer ran 14:38.17.
MINNESOTA STATE OPEN
Mankato was also host to a lower number of Jackrabbits, with only nine athletes in attendance. They all participated in the throws for the meet. Ethan Fischer’s discus throw of 185 feet, 1 inch was good enough to place him at third in the meet, and 43 in NCAA D1 competition this year. Ryan Hackbart won the hammer throw with a throw of 183 feet, 10 inches.
Piper Eby set a new personal best
in the discus with a throw of 153 feet, 9 inches. She finished second, the winner of the event is ranked fifth in all NCAA D1 throws this year. Josie Curry won the women’s hammer throw with a throw of 173 feet, 1 inch.
NDSU SPRING CLASSIC
This meet is historically significant, if not for the fact that it will easily be SDSU’s lowest attendance at any meet ever Redshirt Sully Anez with his first ever 5000 meter. The result was a
15:21.76 second place finish.
UP NEXT
The Rabbit’s next meet is the Brian Clay invite in Azusa, California. Billed as the “FASTEST TRACK MEET IN THE COUNTRY,” it is sure to be highly competitive.
There will be a live stream available for those with a FloTrack subscription. The Jacks also have the (slightly less prestigious) Big Red Classic in Lincoln, Nebraska to look forward to.
BECCA BALL / SDSU ATHLETICS
BECCA BALL / SDSU ATHLETICS
Sophomore Ellie Harris runs at the Jim Duncan Invitational, breaking the record for the 200 meter dash, and earning the Summit League Kwik Star Female Track Athlete of the Week Award, on April 14, 2026.
Junior Ryan Hackbart performs the weight throw during the Minnesota State Open on Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Mankato, Minnesota. Hackbert claimed gold with a throw of 183-10.
SDSU picks up three road wins
Jacks one game away from .500 after Iowa City trip
JACOB BRENDE Sports Editor
After spending a weekend in Iowa City, Iowa, the SDSU softball team is now one game out of .500 after sweeping the University of Iowa and splitting with Georgia Tech. This Friday through Sunday, the Jacks will get a chance to improve upon their 2324 record with their series against the University of Omaha.
GEORGIA TECH
SDSU picked up a 6-0 win over the Yellow Jackets on Saturday.
Jackrabbit Bria Riebel hit a single in the top of the first to start the inning off. After advancing to second because of a wild pitch, Akayla Barnard drew a walk to put a runner on first and second base. Georgia Tech pitcher Sydnie Watts threw another walk to load the bases. Watts immediately after threw a four pitch walk to Amanda Vacanti, leading to SDSU scoring a run. A double play got Watts out of the jam and held the damage to only one run.
In the fourth inning, Vacanti and Emma Vike each hit a home run to add three more runs to the lead. Christensen would hit a sacrifice fly to score one run and an error brought in another runner to tack on two insurance runs in the sixth.
Sunday was a different story. After shutting out Georgia Tech on Saturday, the Yellow Jackets would score ten runs by the fifth inning to end the game early, winning 10-1.
IOWA
With the game tied at the top of the eighth, Riebel had one of the biggest hits of Saturday’s game to win 3-2.
Christensen started the game off strong for the Jacks with a double and Gentry sent her home with an RBI single. After taking the 1-0 lead, scoring seized for both teams until the fifth in-
ning, where Hawkeye Nailyn Marshall hit an RBI single, one of the runs being unearned.
Iowa didn’t hold onto the lead for long, Gentry responding with an RBI double in the sixth inning to tie the game 2-2.
“She’s right where she needs to be, we are excited that she is also moving in the right direction,” said Head Coach Kristina McSweeney of Gentry. “I mean, right now she’s our leading hitter and as it should be, she’s killing it.”
Going into extra innings, Riebel would take a 3-0 count before a strike and foul ball forced a full count. On the sixth pitch of the at-bat, Riebel would hit her tenth home run of the
season to give SDSU a 3-2 lead late in the game. SDSU pitcher Amanda Vacanti shut the door on Iowa, recording three outs in five pitches.
Just two and a half hours after the start time of their game against Georgia State, SDSU would bounce back from their 10-1 loss with a 7-4 win over Iowa to end their weekend.
Kiara Sipe stole home to start the scoring for Iowa in the second inning, but Christensen drove in Mia Buske in the third to tie the game. Vacanti would tack on three more runs with a homerun in the fourth, driving in Gentry and Quinn Marnocha.
Iowa responded with a scoring streak of their own. The Hawkeyes recorded three runs in the fifth inning to tie the
game 4-4.
The sixth inning saw the Jackrabbits take the lead again. Riebel hit the game winning RBI double, Vike and Buske capitalizing on the hit to record runs. A wild pitch later in the inning would add on another run for SDSU and with Iowa unable to respond, the Jacks would win 7-4.
OMAHA
The Jacks will play their third remaining series of the year against Omaha this Friday through Sunday. The 26-8 Mavericks are coming off of a 7-5 loss to St. Thomas last Sunday. Friday and Saturdays games will be played at 6 p.m., their senior day game on Sunday slated to start at 1 p.m.
DAVE EGGEN / INERTIA
Jackrabbit senior infielder Emma Vike holds the bat during a softball game. Vike recorded 12 at-bats, three hits, three runs and two RBI’s in the four game stretch in Iowa City, Iowa.
JACKS OFFENSE SHOWS OUT
JORDAN RADDATZ Sports Reporter
South Dakota State baseball took three victories in their last four games, defeating the University of St. Thomas twice in three games and Midland University once this past week.
ST. THOMAS
A sacrifice fly RBI started the scoring early for the Tommies. They held the lead until the third inning, when an SDSU fielder’s choice and a sacrifice fly put the Jacks ahead. A pair of RBI singles in the fifth inning extended the lead before the Tommies hit a solo home run in the sixth. SDSU scored three runs in the seventh inning to take game one of the doubleheader, 7-2.
Sam Schlecht started on the mound for SDSU, pitching five and two-thirds innings with six strikeouts. Tristan Augedahl filled in and struck out three more batters.
The Tommies opened the scoring again in game two with a homer in the fourth inning. The Jacks could only produce one run with a Nolan Grawe RBI single. An RBI double, home run, and RBI single capped off scoring in the Tommies favor, 4-1.
Sam Novtony pitched for the first six and one-third innings, earning five strikeouts. Ty Madison relieved for the last one and two-third innings and earned another SDSU strikeout.
Game three saw the Jacks offense dominate. Luke Wroblewski opened the scoring with a home run in the first inning and an RBI single in the second. Luke Jones hit an RBI single in the third inning.
A hit by pitch allowed a bases-loaded walk in the fourth, followed by a Nic Werk 3 RBI double. He would score on a wild pitch later in the inning. SDSU’s lead was 9-0 entering the fifth inning, which extended with four runs over the next two innings. The Tommies scored two runs in the seventh inning but could not draw closer to the Jacks in the 13-2 win.
Kaden Rylance struck out five batters in the first six innings. Dylan Richardson finished the game in the last inning with another strikeout.
MIDLAND
The Jacks put up another good offensive performance Tuesday against Midland.
SDSU scored four runs, including a home run by Grawe, before the Warriors were able to score in the sixth inning. They managed to cut the deficit to one run, trailing 4-3, but the Jacks would score nine more runs in the next two innings to take the win, 13-3.
Six pitchers played for the Jacks with Trey Husar getting the starting nod. He pitched for two innings with four batters struck out. Jacob Sjuts recorded his first save of the season.
SDSU moves to 12-21 overall with a 6-6 Summit League conference record, ranked third.
ORAL ROBERTS
SDSU continues their homestead with a threegame series against Oral Roberts. The Golden Eagles are 11-1 in conference play and ranked first in the Summit League.
Batting .318 this season, Makani Tanaka leads the starters with 25 RBIs and five home runs. The senior outfielder from Honolulu, Hawaii has had two games with three runs batted in, doing so in games against the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and Oklahoma State University.
Tanaka has also hit 2 RBIs in four other games this season.
On the mound, Easton Teel leads the starting pitchers with an earned run average of 2.11, giving up just 11 earned runs in 47 innings played across his eight starts. Jackson Farrell owns the team’s lowest earned run average at .61, with one run in 14 and twothirds innings pitched.
First pitch for game one is Friday at 3 p.m. Game two is scheduled for Saturday at 2 p.m., and game three will start on Sunday at 1 p.m.
OWEN BOYD / COLLEGIAN MEDIA
Nolan Graw celebrates with his team after hitting his second homerun of the season against Midland in a baseball game at Erv Huether Field on April 14, 2026.
