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COLLEGIAN MEDIA SCHEDULE
FRIDAY, FEB. 27
AFTERNOON — Collegian Report Episode 5 (YouTube)
SATURDAY, FEB. 28
6 p.m. — Jackrabbit WBB vs. South Dakota (YouTube)
MONDAY, MARCH 2
5 p.m. — Collegian Media Reporters Meeting (Student Union Basement)
7 p.m. —Students’ Association Meeting (90.7 FM & YouTube)
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4
MORNING — The Collegian Issue 6 (SDSU, Brookings & Online)
FRIDAY, MARCH 6
AFTERNOON — Collegian Report Episode 6 (YouTube)
MORE AT SDSUCOLLEGIAN.COM
CATHOLIC JACKS WEEK
The Newman Center is hosting Catholic Jacks Week through Feb. 28 to bring a “welcoming atmosphere” to students on campus.
Daily events describe what it means to be Catholic and a Jackrabbit, and offer opportunities for students to meet each other, and grow in their faith.
Those who are not Catholic are encouraged to attend events as well. Upcoming events include Mask Night on Feb. 24, Pizza and a Priest on Feb. 25, Jacks Night Out on Feb. 26, Variety Show on Feb. 27 and the Newman Formal on Feb. 28.
— Nathan Kalous, Reporter
ONLINE NOW
PARKING PROBLEMS
Finding a spot can be challenging, but Parking Services insists there is enough space for everyone. Officials address myths about oversold permits and discuss the reality of a “walking campus.”
Read more about parking updates on pg 7.
— Sara Schoenfelder, Reporter
SUNDAY, FEB. 15
• 4:35 p.m. — Petty Theft All Others
$400-$1,000 — Hansen Hall
JACKRABBIT BASEBALL IN FULL SWING
The South Dakota State baseball team is 3-5 after its first three series of the season. After two wins over Tarleton State, the Jackrabbits now turn to the Central Arkansas Bears.
Read more about the series on pg. 13.
— Cordell Vitense, Sports Editor
PAGE 7 ONLINE NOW
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 18
• 8:54 a.m. — Simple Assault Domestic — Lincoln Hall
• 12:02 p.m. — Disorderly Conduct — Parking Lot 144 (South Daktronics)
• 1:17 p.m. — Intentional Damage to Property $400 or Less — Meadows South
THURSDAY, FEB. 3
• 12:24 a.m. — Tobacco Violation — Mathews Hall
• 2 a.m. — Suspicious Persons/Vehicle — Mathews Hall
Collegian Media corrects all con rmed errors that are brought to
NATHAN KALOUS / COLLEGIAN MEDIA
The Pius XII Catholic Newman Center will host Catholic Jacks Week Feb. 22 through Feb. 28.
City Council member updates
Students’ Association Plans for a public safety center are in the works
RYANN DAVIS & TAYLOR TENNANT
Collegian Media
Next Monday, March 2, is the final opportunity to petition to become a part of next school year’s Students’ Association (SA). For more information on becoming an SA senator, vice president or president, members of the student body can email current vice president, Wesley Siira.
OPEN FORUM
During the open forum, Brookings City Council member Brianna Doran addressed the senate. She gave updates on The Marketplace, a growing site on the East side of Brookings, which currently has ALDI, My Place Hotel and will have a Target and Kwik Star by next fall, according to Doran.
While a portion of the land has yet to be auctioned off, Doran said the former Whiskey Creek restaurant is being replaced with something new by a local entrepreneur, Al Kurtenbach.
“There’s a potential for a patio and kind of expansion area there as well, to just create more of a shopping center down there with ALDI,” Doran said. Doran also mentioned a community conversation that has been “decades in the making.”
“We need a new public safety center,” she said.
While the new fire station will remain in the same location, designs are in the works for a new police station. The police station will be located near the Dacotah Bank Center. Doran said if students have thoughts or input on the designs, they should email city staff.
tions Council (IRC), David Huffman, addressed the senate for the IRC’s annual presentation.
Huffman said many of the countries that SDSU’s international students come from, now have travel bans due to the U.S. government restrictions, and students will not be able to get visas.
The Quarter Scale Tractor Team also gave their annual presentation on Monday night. The team is a student-led organization that designs a mini-pulling tractor to compete at the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers’ international quarter scale competition each year.
The competition is hosted in Bloomington, Illinois.
The Rodeo Club gave their annual presentation. They discussed their funding needs and money raised during One Day for State in Septem-
ber. Their biggest fundraiser, Buckles & Bling, is coming up on April 9.
Following this fundraiser, the Jackrabbit Stampede is April 10 and 11 at the Dacotah Bank Center.
REWARDING
HEALTHCARE CAREERS
Sign-On Bonus & Tuition Assistance FOR THOSE THAT QUALIFY
Weekend Shift Differentials
Internships Available
Certification Opportunities
EMILY ATTRILL/COLLEGIAN MEDIA
Brookings City Council member Brianna Doran gave updates on The Marketplace, a need for a new public safety center and the Dacotah Bank Center changes during the Students’ Association meeting on Monday, February 23 in the Lewis and Clark room in the Student Union.
Brianna Doran
PRESS UNDER PRESSURE
Scholastic Journalism Week Feb. 23-27
Be honest: What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word “journalism?”
When I asked this question to fellow journalism majors, faculty and staff in the School of Communication of Journalism, I got answers like “democracy,” “freedom of press,” “credibility,” “telling stories,” “honesty” and “integrity.”
I also heard more neutral descriptions of journalism, like “writing,” “newspapers” and “watergate.”
People in fields other than media shared similar sentiments. I heard “reporting” and “dangerous situations.”
But I heard other things, too. “One-sided,” “fake news” and “biased reporting” were among the negative connotations with the word “journalism.”
The difference in perspectives didn’t shock me. I expected it. Opinions on the news media have only grown stronger as the U.S. has become more politically divided.
Trust in news media has declined as aritificial intelligence becomes more accessible.
So, it makes sense that “Press Under Pressure” is the theme of this year’s Scholastic Journalism Week, which is celebrated Feb. 23-27.
Additionally, Thursday will commemorate Student Press Freedom Day.
The Journalism Education Association (JEA), the non-profit that hosts Scholastic Journalism Week, said this year’s theme highlights the role of student journalists “in an era of contested truth and rampant misinformation.”
The JEA also said of the theme: “Despite facing censorship, scrutiny and limited resources, young reporters demonstrate resilience and a deep commitment to truth and civic responsibility.”
At Collegian Media, our goal is not to catch officials in “gotcha” moments. However, it is the duty of the fourth estate (to use an outdated term) to keep governing bodies in check.
As we continue to cover breaking news and update on community happenings, we feel that it’s our duty to give the facts and dispel rumors. We strive to be transparent, and tell
the stories that affect not just students and faculty at SDSU, but of the greater Brookings community as well.
We are grateful that SDSU is committed to keeping student media independent, so we can continue to be SDSU’s student-run independent news source for another 140 years.
— Emily DeCock, Editor-in-Chief
COLLEGIAN MEDIA
South Dakota State Collegians from front, left: Jordan Roemeling, Taylor Tennant, Ryann Davis, Cordell Vitense and Willem Lim. Back, from left: Emily DeCock, Emily Attrill, Andrew Lewno, Jacob Brende and Brayden Byers.
Winning poster design for Scholastic Journalism Week by Theo Slade, North Springs High School, Atlanta.
Govornor sign bill approving expansion of
swine facility
House Bill 1118, approving the design and construction for an expansion to the university’s existing swine facility, was signed into law Tuesday afternoon by Gov. Larry Rhoden.
The facility, which was built in 2016, includes a sow teaching and research building, multiple birthing setups, a wean-to-finish research barn and an off-site wean-to-finish production barn, according to a news release from SDSU’s University Marketing and Communication.
The expansion will allow the facility to raise all of the pids born in the facility through to market along with additional opportunities for students and researchers.
The project is expected to break ground in the summer. The money raised by several South Dakota commodity groups including the South Dakota Pork Producers Council, the South Dakota Corn Utilization Council and South Dakota Soybean.
— Collegian Media News
Legislature authorizes new SDSU soccer stadium
The South Dakota Legislature has authorized South Dakota State University to construct a new $5.04 million soccer stadium funded entirely by private donations.
Senate Bill 117 grants the Board of Regents authority to proceed with the project, which will be built on the Brookings campus east of Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium.
The facility is being underwritten by a lead gift from Flandreau-based Dakota Layers and the Scott Ramsdell family. The donation is the largest in university history designated specifically for a women’s athletics project.
The new stadium will move the Jackrabbit women’s soccer team from the off-campus Fishback Soccer Park to the university’s main athletic complex. The plan includes a competition pitch, permanent grandstands, lighting, covered benches and a press box.
The bill passed with an emergency clause, allowing the project to proceed immediately. The facility is expected to open in fall 2026.
BRIEFS
Presidential Historian Jon Meacham to Headline Daschle Dialogues at SDSU
Presedential historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jon Meacham will headline the annual Daschle Dialogues on April 7 at South Dakota State University.
The event will be held at First Bank & Trust Arena, where Meacham will be joined by former Sen. Tom Daschle.
Tickets will be available online starting Feb. 25. There will be a $15 charge for reserved seating, with all proceeds supporting scholarships for SDSU students. There is no cost for students to attend.
Meacham, a distinguished visiting professor at Vanderbilt University and recipient of the 2024 Na-
tional Humanities Medal, is know for his definitive biographies of Abraham Lincoln, George H.W. Bush and John Lewis.
“His extraordinary accomplishments as a presidential historian are so relevant to these times,” Daschle said in a news release.
The program will feature remarks by Meacham followed by a discussion moderated by Chuck Raasch, an SDSU graduate and former national political reporter for USA Today.
For tickets and more information, visit the Daschle Dialogues webpage.
— Collegian Media News
GUEST COLUMN
Banks: The importance of youth dating violence
Experiencing dating violence in youth can have long-lasting impacts, making it all the more important to prevent violence before it occurs. By promoting healthy relationship norms and supporting survivors, we can lessen the impact of violence and prevent further victimization.
According to the Nwational Sexual Violence Resource Center, over 70% of women and 60% of men who experienced sexual or physical violence, or stalking, first experienced it before the age of 25. Additionally, one in four women first experienced intimate partner violence prior to the age of 18, and nearly half of women who experienced rape were victimized as minors.
As a parent or caregiver, one important step in prevention is recognizing the warning signs. These may include extreme jealousy or possessiveness from a partner, unexplained marks, bruises, or injuries, withdrawal from friends and family, depression or anxiety, and constant emails, texts, or calls from a partner.
A healthy relationship is one in which individuals feel safe, respected, and supported in being themselves. If something feels concerning, it’s important to seek guidance from a trusted professional, school counselor, or local support organization. Early support can make a meaningful difference.
If you or someone you know may be experiencing
dating violence, confidential help is available. Call the National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline at 866-3319474. In an emergency, call 911.
— Sami Banks, Rural Advocate — Margot’s Place
SAMI BANKS
JON MEACHEM
LARRY RHODEN
Club offers peer to peer support
BRITTEN SELLNESS
Reporter
A new mental health initiative is taking shape at South Dakota State University. The Green Bandana Project is a student-led initiative meant to raise mental health awareness and suicide prevention that has recently been established at SDSU.
The project’s main mission is to empower students to support themselves and those around them in their mental health journey.
The Green Bandana Project has about 30 members whose main focus is peer-to-peer support.
Members tie a green bandana on their backpack, signifying to those around them that they are a member of this group and are a safe person to approach.
The Green Bandana Project was brought to SDSU by student body president Sophie Spier. Spier learned about the organization from other colleges and was inspired to bring it to SDSU because of her strong passion for mental health advocacy.
“The thought of supporting my peers and coming together with those who share my passion for mental health was a project I was happy to take on,” Spier said.
without judgment. Wearing the green bandana is easy to do, but it can open the door to really important conversations.”
“The thought of supporting my peers and coming together with those who share my passion for mental health was a project i was happy to take on.”
Initially, Spier attempted to create an independent SDSU-based organization in April, but it did not pass the Students’ Association vote due to concerns about university liability and the sensitivity of suicide prevention.
Spier then spent the summer of 2025 addressing these concerns before returning in the fall for her final verdict. The projec that returned in the fall aligned directly with the national Green Bandana Project and this time around, the proposal passed.
Miranda Falconer and Paige Stout are both sophomores at South Dakota State University who recently joined the Green Bandana Project.
Falconer said she was drawn to the organization because of its central mission of supporting students throughout their mental health journeys.
“I joined GBP because I wanted to be someone people feel comfortable talking to,” Falconer said. “College can be overwhelming, and it can feel good to know there is one person out there who will listen
Similarly, Stout said she joined the organization because she wanted to make a difference on campus and help reduce the stigma around mental health.
Sophie Spier, Green Bandana Project President
“Mental health is very stigmatized, and a lot of times people don’t feel like they can talk about what they are going through in fear that they will be viewed differently or viewed as weak,” Stout said. “This project will hopefully encourage people to speak up and get help when it is needed.”
As mental health concerns among college students continue to be a nationwide issue, organizations like the Green Bandana Project aim to make support more visible and accessible. At South Dakota State University, members say the project helps normalize difficult
MORE INFORMATION
Contact: Sophie Spier
Email: sophie.spier@sdstate.edu
Chapters: 78 schools nationwide
Year Established: 2014
Founder: Betsy Gerbec, Professor Emeritus, UW River Falls
conversations that can sometimes feel intimidating. The Green Bandana Project is continuing to grow and would love more support along the way. For more information, contact Sophie Spier at sophie. spier@sdstate.edu
Parking on a walking campus Officials address complaints and misconceptions
SARA SCHOENFELDER Reporter
Many off-campus students who commute will tell you finding on-campus parking can be challenging, but SDSU’s Parking Services says there are enough spots on campus for everyone with a parking permit.
The problem, according to Parking Services, is that most people don’t want to walk very far to class.
“There’s never been a school day where we’ve had every single parking spot filled,” said Kendell Rohrbach, the director of Card and Parking Services, addressing a common complaint that SDSU does not have enough parking.
Rohrbach said there are always available parking spots in the lots on the north side of campus. Even though there is a high demand for parking on the south side, according to Rohrbach, there is no room to add additional parking lots there.
Kenneth Lewno, Chair of the Parking and Traffic Committee, said that not every parking lot is at full capacity at all times. He echoed that issues come from the parking lots not being located where people want them. When a specific lot that students and staff want to park in is full, many assume that “it’s oversold.” Rohrbach explained that people buy a permit for all lots of that type, not for one specific lot.
He said with commuter lots, they sell as many permits as needed because there has always been space in commuter lots. The commuter lots are meant for people to circulate throughout the day, Rohrbach said.
He offered a rather simple solution for students.“You pick a spot, you park and then you walk.” Peterson said. Derek Peterson, the assistant to the vice president of business services at
HALEY CHAMPEAU / COLLEGIAN MEDIA
A student walks through Lot 147 on SDSU Campus on Feb. 19, 2026
SDSU, explained that every year he has met with students that have had issues finding parking, and almost all of them are trying to get to their car between classes and go to different lots.
He said that this is not a successful strategy for getting to class on time. “I think the key is knowing where that space is, and just heading to that location, and then walking to your classes,” said Peterson.
Peterson reminded that SDSU is a walking campus, stating fewer moving vehicles increases pedestrian safety.
To help the SDSU community better understand the parking regulations, Parking Services started a newsletter. The newsletter releases semesterly, and has general information about campus parking. Lewno wants to increase understanding of the parking system and how it works.
The newsletter started in fall 2024, and, “It has been getting much better and gaining traction throughout the university community.” Lewno said.
The main focus, according to Peter-
son, has been to educate and inform the community about parking regulations.
He said the parking system ensures that it is protecting its assets, which people have invested in by buying parking permits.
“We’re not out there to write citations,” Peterson said, later adding that, “We’re enforcing to make sure that if you bought a permit, when you come to campus, you can find a place to park.”
The SDSU parking system does not receive any tuition dollars, student fees or money from the state.
The building and maintenance of lots are paid fully by the permit revenue, Peterson said.
Parking Services officials are creating a “Ride-Along” program that is in its early stages. It will be available by the end of the semester.
“People can sit in the car that’s going out and doing the enforcement, and they can see how it works and why,” Rohrbach said.
Recent changes to parking on campus during this school year include an additional residence lot just southeast of Binneweis Hall and converting most of a reserve lot near the Dairy Bar to a commuter lot.
Lot 157, which is southeast of Binneweis Hall, was built during summer 2025 and opened in the fall. This parking lot helped with high numbers in the residence halls, Rohrbach said.
Lot 110, located north of the Dairy Bar, was an underutilized reserve lot, Lewno said. This lot has a few spots for the people who used it as a reserve lot previously. Now with the spots being open to commuters, more of the parking lot is being used.
The parking lot that gets the most citations is Lot 140, also known as the Union lot, according to Rohrbach. This space is a reserve lot in the center of campus, making it appealing to people wanting to park closer to their buildings.
The most common types of citations are for having the wrong permit for the lot a vehicle is parked in, or the vehicle does not have a permit at all, Rohrbach said.
“Because of technology and staffing, we’re able to better enforce that violation and capture those quicker,” Peterson said.
Rohrbach said that Parking Service is looking at software that would keep track of how many open spots there are in a particular lot.
The goal of this would be to inform students and faculty alike when a lot is full and when there’s space, Rohrbach said.
There is no time frame yet for when this may happen.
“If students or faculty or staff have questions about how things are done, search out the parking and traffic committee,” Lewno said.
New semester, new dining options
ADLEN WHEELOCK Reporter
Two new dining options in Larson Commons opened at the beginning of the spring semester.
BBQ Nation and Stuffed Sensations have received positive feedback from students, said Emily O’Connor, general manager for Sodexo.
O’Connor said BBQ Nation is part of Sodexo’s “Created With Love” concept. Each semester, a different dining option is available in the Larson Commons. “RAMEN” served students last semester, before giving way this January to BBQ Nation and Stuffed Sensations.
“We had done BBQ Nation a couple of years ago, and it was really successful, so we wanted to bring it back,” O’Connor said.
The new dining option offers smoked meats such as beef brisket and pulled chicken thighs. O’Connor said the brisket is the most popular choice among students. Students also can enjoy the macaroni and cheese, cheddar mashed potatoes and maple bacon cornbread.
Stuffed Sensations serves four different flavors of cookies, with Nutella-stuffed chocolate chip cookies.
Freshman entrepreneurial studies major Brianna Morrell said she enjoyed her experience at BBQ Nation. She ordered brisket, cheesy potatoes and a Nutella stuffed chocolate chip cookie. She said the employees and customer service was great.
Morrell emphasized her love for their cheesy potatoes.
“I love the cheesy potatoes. Those are 10 out of 10,” she said.
Madison Whitney, a sophomore interior design major, also tried the brisket. She said it was good, but the grease made her bun a little soggy.
“I felt like you got a lot for the price,” Whitney said. “Simple Servings doesn’t give you a lot and it (BBQ Nation) is cheaper than Simple Servings and you get more.”
The “Created With Love” concept will continue to be offered next year with Larson Dining reopening after renovations between Binnewies and Young Hall. They are also trying to add seating to the area, so students won’t have to take their food to go.
O’Connor said a change will be coming to the menu soon. The menu change will help reduce wasted food items.
“It’s just a few items we took off based on them not selling. Like one item, the collard greens, we sold once,” she said.
BBQ Nation and Stuffed Sensations is open from 10:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4-8 p.m. The restaurants are also available through the Starship app and mobile ordering starting at 11 a.m.
Both Morrell and Whitney liked the fact that the dining option brought more variety to the food on campus. They enjoyed trying something new because the regular dining options began to lose their appeal.
BBQ Nation is open to all students and the public. They accept cash, credit card and flex dollars, O’Connor said.
She is happy with the feedback they have received this semester. BBQ Nation serves about 100 people a day, which is similar to the number RAMEN served.
“When we opened for the first time this semester, there was a line out the door waiting,” she said. “So, people really enjoy it.”
“I love the cheesy potatoes. Those are 10 out of 10.”
BRIANNA MORRELL FRESHMAN ENTREPRENEURIAL STUDIES MAJOR
Collegian photo by RYANN DAVIS / COLLEGIAN MEDIA
BBQ Nation and Stuffed Sensations are two new dining options in Larson Commons for spring semester. The previous dining option last semester was RAMEN.
New Plays event draws nearly 200
JORDAN ROEMELING Lifestyles Director
The Festival of New Plays drew nearly 200 people over the weekend showcasing original works by students along with staged plays from guest professionals.
The event began Thursday, Feb. 20, and wrapped up Sunday afternoon at the Fishback Studio at the Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center.
Katrina Weber, the marketing and box office manager from the Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center, said that 190 theatre tickets were sold for the event. Each ticket purchased allowed audience members to attend performances throughout the weekend.
“We don’t have concrete numbers on how many people attended every night of the show, because of the nature of the ticketing for this event,” Weber said. “I would guess we were around three-fourths full house each night.”
As for the students’ works, called the One Day Plays, participating students had 24 hours to complete a play.
Three students were selected to write original
scripts within six hours with help from the guest professional playwrights.
Brooklyn Mauch, a senior advertising major and selected playwright, wrote “I Fell,” which was centered around an ER waiting room with ‘a bunch of different funny injuries and hijinks.’
“It went well,” Mauch said. “It was amazing watching my play in real time.”
Willem Lim, a sophomore journalism major and another selected playwright, made “Saltine Crackers,” which was about a vice president who is abusing his power in a bunker.
“It was wacky,” Lim said. “My overall inspiration was just like, ‘what’s going on?’”
Lim said he took inspiration from a video game called “Fallout” and from the movie, “The Day the Earth Stood Still.”
Both Mauch and Lim were first-time playwrights, and both enjoyed their experiences.
“It was definitely fun, and if I have time, I’ll try (it) again,” Mauch said.
Although it was nerve-wracking for Lim to write his play within a short time frame, he said he would sign up for a playwriting role again after a conver-
sation with his professional playwright mentor, Aly Kantor.
“We were talking, and I said, ‘I don’t know if I can ever do this again, I just feel so anxious right now,’” Lim said. “It is very scary and very vulnerable, but she was telling me that I’ll end up getting addicted to it.”
And sure enough, after Lim saw his opening monologue being performed by a friend, he felt a feeling he hadn’t before.
“It was so special to see what I was working on being alive,” Lim said.
UPCOMING THEATRE & DANCE EVENTS
April 16-19 : Sweeney Todd
April 24-26: Masked: Spring Dance Concert
Sell: University ‘fully committed to equestrian program’
TAYLOR TENNANT
Assistant News Director
A comment made during Monday’s Students’Association meeting raised questions on if South Dakota State University’s equestrian program could be in jeopardy.
During committee reports, Sen. Regan Bollweg, who is an Intercollegiate Athletic Committee student representative, referenced a broader discussion about NCAA emerging sports list and long-term athletic planning.
“Something exciting that I heard, they’re looking forward to possibly new future women’s sports coming on campus, kind of if equestrian falls through with the recent news on that,” Bollweg said. “But the three that he (Justin Sell) said was flag football, stunt and lacrosse, were the three kind of options that athletic department officials are juggling.”
The phrasing prompted clarification from SA President Sophie Spier on if equestrian could “fall through.”
Bollweg replied: “Not what I was necessarily implying, but if it were to fall through – so I don’t think they plan on dropping it, but with recent news, kind of what I heard, not many questions were asked about it. But if equestrian falls through for some apparent reason, but I don’t want to spread any false narrative here.”
Even with the clarification, the exchange led to broader questions about the status of SDSU’s Division I equestrian program - and whether it would eventually disappear.
Athletic Director Justin Sell said on Tuesday the equestrian program isn’t going anywhere.
their experience.”
Sell said the program is far from being cut.
“There is nothing at all that would say we don’t want to have equestrian fully engaged and going,” he said.
While SDSU officials say equestrian is stable locally, its national classification continues to shape the conversation.
Equestrian has been classified as an emerging sport since 2002. To move from emerging status to a full NCAA championship sport, 40 schools must sponsor the program at the varsity level. Now in its 24th year on the emerging sports list, equestrian remains short of that number.
There are currently 19 NCAA Division I programs and three Division II programs that sponsor the program at varsity equestrian through the National Collegiate Equestrian Association.
An additional 24 Division III schools also sponsor the sport, but those programs do not count toward the NCAA’s 40 school requirement for championship status.
The University of California, Davis announced in January it will downgrade its NCAA Division I varsity equestrian team to club sport status in favor of elevating another emerging women’s sport to varsity this July.
That move raised some eyebrows about the future of the sport.
“We are fully committed to our equestrian program,” Sell said. “Our student athletes have done some great things, and we’ve done some great things to enhance
Lynn Hickey, executive director of the National Collegiate Equestrian Association, said Tuesday the decision at UC Davis has been difficult for those involved.
“Anytime you lose a program, it’s not something you want to go through. First of all, we feel bad for the student athletes,” Hickey said.
“Secondly, there is a lawsuit in place now where the parents and supporters
of that program are trying to stop the decision or delay it at least. I think we’re waiting to see what will happen with that.”
Hickey said the situation at UC Davis is still playing out. Reaching the championship status will depend in part, if Division III schools will be counted toward the 40 school mark.
Hickey said reaching championship status will depend on broader Division III recognition.
“We have enough NCAA schools sponsoring varsity equestrian currently to meet the 40-team mark - we just must first work to get Division III to embrace our sport as an emerging sport,” Hickey said.
and growing women’s sports to stay prepared if participation numbers, conference alignment or NCAA policy were ever to shift.
“It’s really about just being prepared and knowing what’s out there,” Sell said. “We’re just open to understanding and continuing to study what’s out there with no intent right now of adding any sports.”
Among the women’s sports that have gained attention nationally are flag football, stunt and lacrosse. Flag football, in particular, has grown rapidly at the high school level and has recently become an Olympic sport.
If that happens, the sport would be eligible to request a vote at the NCAA convention for championship status.
In the meantime, Hickey pointed to signs of stability, including championship events hosted by the SEC and Big 12. She also said this year’s national championship will be broadcasted by ESPN+.
She noted the size of the equestrian industry nationally, mentioning there are over 7 million horse owners in the United States and more than 20,000 middle and high school students who compete in equestrian, creating what she described as a strong recruiting base for collegiate programs.
Still, equestrian remains short of the NCAA benchmark to hit championship status, a reality that has people wondering what the future of equestrian is.
Although national discussions about emerging sports can create uncertainty, Sell said those conversations do not signal change at SDSU. Instead, he said they reflect the kind of long-term planning athletic departments do.
Sell said SDSU studies emerging
Sell said adding any new sport would require extensive evaluation, including facility needs, roster sizes, scholarships, conference opportunities and budget impact. Participation numbers also factor into Title IX requirements, which requires fair athletic opportunities for men and women.
SDSU currently sponsors 19 varsity sports and has over 500 student athletes, making it one of the larger athletic programs in the Summit League.
“We’re pretty full with the opportunities that we have right now,” Sell said.
Because of that, Sell said discussions about other women’s sports are about preparation - not immediate expansion or replacement of existing programs. Monitoring sports such as flag football or stunt, he said, is part of staying informed in a college athletics landscape that continues to change.
Because equestrian remains classified as an NCAA emerging sport, its long-term status ultimately depends on decisions made at the national level.
“And honestly, the only factor at this point that would make it go away is something we don’t control. I mean, that’s an NCAA designation,” Sell said.
LYNN HICKEY
BORDER BELL GOES TO BISON
Jacks lose to NDSU for the first time since 2021
JORDAN RADDATZ
Sports Reporter
South Dakota State wrestling concluded their regular season with a loss to rival North Dakota State University, 20-13, on Sunday, Feb. 22.
NDSU
Both teams traded blows for the majority of the match. The Bison started strong as Ezekiel Witt defeated Brady Roark in the 125-pound dual. Cale Seaton and Julian Tagg scored victories for the Jacks, giving them a 6-4 lead heading into the dual between SDSU’s Colin Dupill and NDSU’s Max Petersen. A 16-7 major decision in that dual, followed by a 6-3 decision in the next dual, gave the Bison the lead again.
Following SDSU victories by Marcus and Moses Espinoza-Owens, NDSU took control of the match in the last three duals, including No. 24 Devin Wasley beating No. 4 Bennett Berge, to give the Bison their first win over SDSU in five years.
“Yeah, that [loss] hurts,” head coach Damion Hahn said. “For us, and we’ve said this from day one, our end goal is not the Bison…would it have been nice to pick up that win? Absolutely... NDSU hats off to them. They wrestled well and they were ready to go and they caught us on our heels... it happens.”
SDSU finishes the regular season with a 12-5 record.
BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP
The Jacks head to Tulsa, Oklahoma, for the Big 12 Championships. With third-place finishes in the last two years, SDSU looks to finish strong in this year’s tournament.
In conference the Jacks got wins over Utah Valley, Cal Baptist, Air Force and UNC.
SDSU’s four losses came at the hands of Wyoming, Iowa State, Northern Iowa and North Dakota State.
Two Jackrabbits finished the regular season with 15 dual wins: Moses Espinoza-Owens and Carl Swensen. Espinoza-Owens’ only losses were against Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa. He finishes the season with a team high 24 overall wins, picking up four wins against ranked wrestlers. Espinoza-Owens’ highest-ranked win was against No. 8 Cam Steed from the University of
Missouri, a 12-8 decision during the Tiger Style Invite on Nov. 9, 2025. The redshirt sophomore from Utah led the team with 12 decision wins and seven major decision wins.
Swensen picked up five ranked wins on the season, his highest being against No. 15 Charlie Millard from the University of Minnesota, a 7-5 decision in their dual match on Nov. 25, 2025. The junior has a 21-5 overall record with three of those losses coming against ranked wrestlers and has a team-high 57 dual points.
Other Jackrabbit team highs entering the conference championships include Micah Hach with the quickest pin time of 26 seconds. Keenan Sheridan recorded the second-fastest pin time on the team at 56 seconds. Jarrett Wadsen led in tech falls, going undefeated in six matches. Carson Dupill had the second-most tech fall wins with five.
The Big 12 Championships are scheduled for Friday, Mar. 6, and Saturday, Mar. 7. Matches will be streamed live on ESPN+.
COLLEGIAN/ FINN HOLSEN
South Dakota State’s Moses Espinoza-Owens wrestles Max Magayna at First Bank and Trust Arena on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. Espinoza-Owens came out with the victory but the Jacks as a team took a 20-13 loss.
SDSU finishes Last Chance
Jacks get ready for Summit League Indoor Championship
NATHAN THOMPSON Sports Reporter
On Feb. 20, SDSU hosted its last home meet of the indoor track season and the last meet before the conference championships in Grand Forks this Friday. The last chance meet gave athletes a chance to improve on season bests, and score a spot on Friday’s roster.
In the men’s events, there were many noteworthy performances. Brady Wallace, Carter Johnson and Cael Woods took gold, silver and bronze respectively in the 60 meter hurdles.
Grayson Ring jumped just over 6-feet-6 inches, and Brooks Holen was right behind at 6-feet-4-inches to secure the top two spots in the high jump.
Kincaid Lehman jumped 23 feet to secure a first in the long jump. Ty Nelson jumped 49-feet-2 inches to win the triple jump.
Ryan Karajanis’ pole vault of 16 feet, while second place at the meet, makes him the fifth-best Jackrabbit ever in the event.
The SDSU Shot Put took the top 4 spots at the meet, led by Caiden Gebheim and Caiden Fredrick who both threw over 54 feet.
Frederick would also go to set a new personal best in the weight throw, throwing 68 feet-eight inches. This mark places second in SDSU history, less than four inches shy of the school record.
The stand out performance for the men however is Brandon Kampsen’s 800 meter time. Running a time of 1:49.48, Kampsen beat his own school record by mere milliseconds.
The Jackrabbits womens team also showed potential. Sian O’Sullivan and Reese Beemer took the first two spots in the women’s 60 meter dash running 7.55 and 7.76.
Kyra Weiss ran the 400 meters in 57.53 seconds to win the event.
Starlyn Edwards and Nora Peterson took the first two spots in the mile with times of 4:57.08 and 4:59.56.
Taylor Jochum jumped 5 feet-3.75 inches to win the high jump and McKenzie Blowers jumped 36 feet, one inch to claim first place in the triple jump.
The women’s standout performer has to be Sian O’Sullivan. Her time in the 60 meter dash makes her 6th all time in school history.
Going into Friday’s Summit League Indoor Championship meet, there are many Jackrabbits that have the potential to have great performances.
Looking into the men’s top performers, the big stand out is Cody Larson. He already holds SDSU records in the 1 mile, 3000 meter, and 5000 meter events. His distance teammate Will Lohr is also SDSU’s 5th best time all-time in the mile, and can be expected to excel alongside Larson in the distance events.
Brandon Kampsen has a chance to improve on his new record in the 800 meter race.
Fans of the field events could have a lot to be excited about as well this weekend. Caiden Fredrick is also going to be looking for the four inches he needs to take the school record in the weight throw. The women’s team has some standouts as well.
Sian O’Sullivan for example, she is one of SDSU’s best ever sprinters in the 60 meter and the 200 meter. Her teammate Ellie Harris can be expected to be right on her heels for the 60 meter dash and boasts SDSU’s second best all-time 200 meter time. Their teammate Maggie Madsen has also had great races in the 200 meter. The distance also shows some promise in the mile, with Meghan Ford, followed closely by Eleni Lovgren and Emma Gonzalez. All three put up great times and places at the Iowa State Classic, and could prove a powerful trio.
Field fans should keep an eye on Johanna Pihl in the long jump. She and her teammate Taylor Schuster have been placing well within the conference.
The big must watch in women’s events is Josie Curry, who is looking to improve on her great performance in the weight throw from the Jim Emmerich
invite earlier this year. Already third in school history, she has the potential to accomplish big things this weekend.
The men’s team is chasing their second straight victory in the indoor championships, and the women hope to make the top three they were six points away from taking.
BECCA BALL / SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
Softball looks to stay hot in Oklahoma
CORDELL VITENSE
Sports Editor
The 12-4 Jacks softball team will compete in five games against four different teams in two different cities starting Friday, Feb. 27 and ending Sunday, March 1.
“We’re going to have our hands full this weekend, that’s for sure,” head coach Kristina McSweeney said when talking about the upcoming schedule. “This is a good chance for us to work how we’re going to do against top caliber competition. Are we going to be able to be successful against that competition and if we’re not successful how do we figure out ways to get to the point where we could be successful? So I’m looking forward to putting our best foot forward and looking forward to playing some of the best teams in the country and hoping that our Jackrabbits rise to the challenge.”
TULSA
The Jacks will play Tulsa twice. The first game will open the tournament on Friday, Feb. 27 at noon. The second game will be the following day at 1:30 p.m. Both games will be in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Tulsa currently sits at 5-9 and when they host SDSU, it will be the first home game for them all season.
Senior infielder Maci Cole is a player to watch as she leads the Hurricanes in slugging percentage and home runs. Cole’s slugging percentage is .604 and she has three home runs on the year.
Sophomore Amber Turner is another key player, as she has the most RBIs on the team with 10.
NEBRASKA
After SDSU’s first matchup with the Hurricanes, they will face Nebraska at 12:30 p.m. in Tulsa.
Top 10-ranked Nebraska is currently 11-4 and sits on a seven-game win streak. They will face Oklahoma State before they play SDSU.
In the Huskers seven game winning streak, they have allowed just five runs total, which included four games where they held their opponent scoreless.
Senior Jordy Frahm is a two-way star for the team, as not only does she pitch, but she also hits. On the season, Frahm has tallied six home runs and 16 RBIs. When it comes to pitching, Frahm has pitched 43 innings and allowed 43 hits while having an ERA of 1.95.
SEMO
The Jacks will stay in Tulsa for their third game of the tournament when
they face Southeast Missouri State University at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 28.
The Redhawks haven’t had a great start to the season, as they are 3-10.
Senior Madison Winkler has been the standout for the Redhawks to start the year as she leads the team in batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, hits, RBIs, doubles, triples and home runs.
OKLAHOMA STATE
The Jacks will end their trip to Oklahoma against the Oklahoma State Cowgirls in Stillwater on Sunday, March 1, at noon.
Oklahoma State is currently 11-4 and riding a five-game winning streak. Three of the team’s 11 wins on the year have come against ranked opponents.
Senior Claire Timm will be a name to watch as she leads the Cowgirls in hits with 16 and is second on the team with a batting average of .485.
Another player to look out for is freshman Jayelle Austin, who leads the team with four home runs.
After the trip to Oklahoma, SDSU will travel to Lincoln, Nebraska, to take on the Cornhuskers on March 5 for a doubleheader.
The first time you can see the Jackrabbits at home will be March 27 when the Jacks host the UND Fighting Hawks.
To read the full softball story with a recap of the Velvet Milkman Classic from Feb. 20-21, visit sdsucollegian. com.
SDSU ATHLETICS
Sophomore Amanda Vacantie rounds third base against Stephen F. Austin on Feb. 13. Vacanti has gotten off to a hot start with 16 hits including five home runs and 13 RBIs. Vacanti also has the highest batting average for the Jacks with .485.
Regular season nears end
SDSU builds momentum into Summit League Tournament
By: JACOB BRENDE, BRAYDEN MACKENZIE
SDSU’s men’s basketball team will finish the season this week trying to build momentum going into the Summit League Tournament.
The Jacks play the University of Missouri Kansas City on Thursday and finish the regular season against USD. This comes off the heels of a 91-83 comeback win against UND last week.
Currently, the Jacks stand at 13-16 overall and 6-8 in the conference with the win over UND bringing some energy.
“Hopefully it gets us over the hump and gives us some confidence going into the last week of the regular season,” said head coach Bryan Peterson.
To build on the new momentum, the Jacks will have to beat the Roos and Coyotes. Here is a closer look at the upcoming matches and some history behind the SDSU-USD rivalry.
UMKC
Kansas City has had a difficult season so far. They enter the game on a 12 game losing streak and have four wins on the season. Despite their record, Peterson mentioned how their arena has a unique energy to it and games against the Roos seem gritty.
“It feels like every games a grind it out affair, you know I don’t care what’s going on with their team, or what’s going on with our team, it just seems like it’s always been a battle,” Peterson said.
The Jacks have a 25-5 record against Kansas City, their first matchup being a loss back in 2005. SDSU has won the last three games and is 9-1 in their last ten games.
Karmello Branch leads the Roos in scoring with an average of 12.4 points per game. Trailing Branch is Cj Evans with 11.6 points on average. As a team, UMKC averages 69.9 points a game and
lets up 83.9 per night on average.
USD
“The rivalry with USD is as strong as ever,” Peterson said.
With the recent success of SDSU’s athletic programs and with the state of NIL, for some the rivalry with the University of South Dakota has dimmed, but it doesn’t seem that way when you talk to the players.
“I think they’ll always be our rival for one, just being in South Dakota in itself will always make them our rival,” said senior forward and Yankton, S.D native Matthew Mors.
When it comes to the effect NIL has had on the sports world and this rivalry, Jackrabbit Kalen Garry said that even with NIL, the rivalry is still competitive.
“NIL has affected the whole college
basketball landscape,” Garry said.
“But at the end of the day it’s still two universities sharing a state. I know there’s players who are from around the country that take these games very seriously.”
Peterson echoed a similar sentiment, mentioning how even those from outside the state think highly and take these games seriously.
The rivalry first started March 4, 1915, SDSU lost to the Coyotes 18-31 in Vermillion. Since then, the Jackrabbits have built up a comfortable record against the Coyotes, going 90-58-1 in the over 100 year long rivalry.
Mors mentioned how the electricity of the game changes when they play the Coyotes.
“I think our fan support is incredible, and I think for a game like this it reaches another level. You can feel the energy when you enter the arena in warmups where it just feels different.”
Most recently, the Jacks had a ten game winning streak snapped in a heartbreaking loss earlier this February. It marked the 13th loss at home in the series.
With their leading scorer Issac Bruns out for the season with injury, Cameron Fens is the Coyotes leading scorer with a 14.8 points a game average while also leading the Summit League in rebounding with an 8.7 average. Behind him in scoring average is Jordan Crawford with 14 a night.
Saturday’s game marks the last of the regular season so while there is inherent importance in ending the season strong, the memories of their last matchup still remain.
“We lost and obviously our guys are, weren’t satisfied with that one, that one stung, it was in our home arena which we were really disappointed in losing that game,” Peterson said. “We didn’t play good enough basketball so yeah, it’ll feed into obviously our motivation,” for Saturday.”
OWEN BOYD / COLLEGIAN MEDIA
Jaden Jackson holds onto the basketball during a basketball game on Feb. 21, 2026 in First Bank & Trust Arena. Jackson had 13 points on 4-12 shooting while goin 4-11 from three.
JACKS EYE REDEMPTION SDSU to face NDSU and USD in last games of season
CORDELL VITENSE
Sports Editor
The SDSU women’s basketball team got two big wins last week to move to 12-2 in conference play.
ORAL ROBERTS
On Thursday, Feb. 19, the Jacks got a 95-93 win over Oral Roberts.
Senior forward Brooklyn Meyer had a big night with a career high 44 points on 15-22 shooting from the field and 14-17 from the free throw line.
Senior guard Madison Mathiowetz also had a major role in the Jackrabbits’ getting the victory with 23 points on 10-17 shooting from the field and a perfect 3-3 from the free throw line.
Freshman guard Hadley Thul was the only Jackrabbit to hit a three in the game. Thul went 2-2 from three and 6-7 from the field, scoring 14 points and grabbing seven rebounds.
Fifth-year senior Jalei Oglesby was the Golden Eagles’ leading scorer against SDSU with 19 points.
The game was tied 26-26 at the end of the first quarter and stayed close the whole second quarter, with ORU taking a 41-40 lead late in the quarter. Meyer would give the Jacks the lead 42-41 right before halftime.
The game would continue to go back and forth and with Oral Roberts down 93-90, junior guard Gentry Baldwin knocked down a three to tie the game with under 10 seconds left.
With the game on the line, the Jacks would go to Mathiowetz, who laid the ball up and in to give the Jacks a 95-93 lead and win the game.
DENVER
On Saturday, Feb. 21, SDSU traveled to Denver and got a 71-55 win over the Pioneers.
Mathiowetz was the Jackrabbits’
FINN HOLSEN / COLLEGIAN MEDIA
Senior Forward Brooklyn Meyer drives in for a layup on Feb. 12 against the UND Fighting Hawks. Meyer led the Jacks to a 94-48 win over UND with 21 points on the night.
leading scorer against Denver with 24 points on 9-12 shooting from the floor, including 3-5 shooting from deep. Meyer recorded a double-double on Saturday with 19 points and 10 rebounds on 80% shooting from the field.
Sophomore guard Coryn Watts led the Pioneers in scoring with 26 points, shooting 9-18 from the field with eight made threes.
The Jackrabbits showed dominance early, leading 17-10 after the first quarter and 33-23 at halftime.
SDSU would go on to outscore Denver 38-32 in the second half and get a 71-55 win to move to 12-2 in the Summit.
The Jacks will now close out the final two games of their regular season against the two teams that they lost to so far this year.
NDSU
The first matchup for the Jacks is in Fargo on Wednesday, Feb. 25, against NDSU.
The rest of the season is now a little
more challenging for SDSU as it was announced sophomore Katie Vasecka will miss the rest of the season.
The Bison currently sit at 14-0 in the Summit League and will look to stay undefeated heading into the Summit League Tournament.
During the first matchup between the Jacks and Bison, NDSU came out with a 76-68 win. This game ended the Jackrabbits 67-game win streak.
Junior forward Avery Koenen leads the Bison in scoring, averaging just over 19 points, which puts her third in the Summit League in scoring. Koenen not only scores 19 points but she does it efficiently, shooting over 65%.
She also leads the team in rebounding, averaging over 11 per game, which is the most in the Summit League.
The Jacks didn’t have an answer for the Junior forward in their first matchup as she had 26 points and 13 rebounds while shooting 10-17 from the floor and 6-7 from the line.
Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
USD
On Saturday, Feb. 28, the Jacks will host USD, which is the last regular season game of the season and senior day for the Jackrabbits.
USD currently sits third in the Summit League with an 11-3 record. Two of the Coyotes’ three losses came from NDSU, with the other from ORU.
Earlier in the season, the Yotes came out on top 73-54 over the Jackrabbits in Vermillion.
Senior guard Angelina Robles leads USD in scoring, averaging just under 16 points per game, which is fifth in the Summit League.
Robles had a big night when USD hosted the Jacks earlier this year, scoring 25 points, including five made three-pointers on six attempts.
The Jacks will look to get some redemption on Saturday at 6 p.m.
