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COLLEGIAN MEDIA SCHEDULE

THURSDAY, NOV. 20

7 p.m. — Jackrabbit WBB vs. Gonzaga (90.7 FM & YouTube)

FRIDAY, NOV. 21

1 p.m. — The Collegian Report

7 p.m. — Jackrabbit MBB vs. Georgia State (YouTube)

MONDAY, NOV. 24

TBD — Jackrabbit VB @ Summit League Tourn. (90.7 MF & YouTube)

TUESDAY, NOV. 25

TBD — Jackrabbit VB @ Summit League Tourn. (90.7 MF & YouTube)

Afternoon — The Collegian Report (Thanksgiving Episode)

SDSU’S SEASON ENDS WITH TOURNAMENT LOSS

South Dakota State’s women’s soccer season came to an end Friday as the Jackrabbits fell to the Iowa Hawkeyes 1-0 in the NCAA Tournament.

The No. 5-seeded Hawkeyes hosted the Jackrabbits in Iowa City, and it did not take long for the home team to get on the board.

Just over two minutes into the match, Iowa’s Lexy Griﬃn struck a deep ball... — Brayden Byers, Digital & Breaking News

CAFES SCHOLARSHIP BANQUET

The annual CAFES Scholarship Banquet is a night dedicated to celebrating student success and honoring the donors who make those achievements possible.

The event was held on Nov. 13 at Club 71, located in Dana J. Dykhouse...

— Ava Stading, Reporter

ONLINE THURSDAY

BROOKINGS WINTER FARMERS MARKET

The Brookings Winter Farmers Market brings together producers from across the community to showcase their homemade goods...

— Gracyn Elfeldt,

Reporter

ONLINE FRIDAY

SDSU POLICE DEPARTMENT DAILY CRIME LOG

TUESDAY, NOV. 11

• 3:57 p.m. — Suspicious Persons/ Vehicle, Wellness Center

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 12

• 8:28 a.m. — Intentional Damage/ Vandalism, Young Hall / Binnewies Hall

• 12:24 p.m. — Protection Order Violation Damage/Vandalism, University Student Union

THURSDAY, NOV. 13

• 2:09 p.m. — Suspicious Persons/ Vehicle, University Student Union

FRIDAY, NOV. 14

• 12:02 a.m. — Liquor/Possession/ Consumption, Pierson Hall

• 3:50 p.m. — Liquor/Possession/ Consumption, 900 block of 7th Street

MEGAN VOGEL Q&A

Read the full Q&A with former Jackrabbit women’s basketball standout and current WNBA assistant coach.

— Cordell Vitense, Sports Editor

STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION

UPDATE FROM FACULTY SENATE

EMILY DECOCK Editor-in-Chief

OPEN FORUM

Faculty Senate President Rocky Dailey told Students’Association how Faculty Senate works and issues the body has been discussing this year at Monday night’s SA meeting.

Faculty senators are elected, and any full-time faculty member that has no administrative role or emeritus status can serve on the body, Dailey said. Term limits are three years long.

Dailey said one of the most discussed topics by Faculty Senate this year has been post-tenure review.

The South Dakota Board of Regents had a first reading of a proposed policy establishing a process for post-tenure review of faculty at the Oct. 2 meeting.

Senators have been talking with the Board of Regents and other faculty senates throughout the regental system, Dailey said.

“We don’t just get tenure and stop working,” Dailey said. “We still have annual reviews, we still have expectations. We can still be let go for cause.”

Freedom of expression has also been a hot topic within Faculty Senate, Dailey said.

“We understand that we have to have difficult discussions on difficult things. We understand it’s not our job to try to persuade somebody one way or the other,” Dailey said. “I think there’s an understanding of that.”

This comes after a University of South Dakota professor was fired — and has since been reinstated — for a post made on social media in the aftermath of the Charlie Kirk assasination.

David Overby, vice president for technology and security, also spoke to senators during open forum. Overby backed the response from the SDSU Police Department to Saturday’s cam-

pus-wide alert with the title “shots fired” on campus. You can read more about this on page A4.

IN OTHER BUSINESS

Students’ Association voted 23-0-1 to amend Article VI of its bylaws “to clarify and standardize financial procedures” within SA.

The amendment to the bylaws aimed to clear up any confusing language, SA Finance Chair, Dominic Delahoyde, said.

Nathan Bylander joined for his first meeting as SA’s third adviser. Bylander is the program director for TRIO at SDSU.

Senate president Sophie Spier said the executive socials event will be moved to Hobo Day Gallery. It was previously planned to be in the Volstorff Ballroom. The event will be this Saturday, Nov. 22 from 10:30 a.m. to Noon. You can email SDSU.SAChiefofStaff@sdstate.edu to RSVP for your club.

TOPICS FOR FUTURE DISCUSSION

Parking and Card Services told Spier that parking service employees have been getting verbally abused unfair treatment.

“They’re receiving a lot of bad treatment to their enforcement officers - bad treatment being inappropriate. Not just a Yik Yak post,” Spier said. “Bad treatment.”

“I personally don’t think that that is acceptable,” Spier added.

Parking Services is looking at new ways to get student feedback on how to improve parking issues, such as by creating a student parking committee to bring student perspectives.

There will be no SA meeting next Monday, Nov. 24.

EMILY DECOCK / COLLEGIAN MEDIA

Vice President for Technology and Security David Overby addresses the Students’ Association on Monday, Nov. 17, 2025, in the Lewis and Clark room of the Student Union.

Student leaders question emergency communication

BRAYDEN BYERS

Digital & Breaking News

On Monday some Students’ Association senators questioned the wording of a timely warning that was sent to the campus community just before the football game last Saturday.

At 11:50 a.m., the timely warning subject line, sent campus-wide, read, “SDSU Shots Fired - Tailgate Area - Shelter in Place,” which was the entire message.

David Overby, vice president for technology and security at SDSU, spoke at Monday’s weekly Students’ Association meeting in the Student Union. He was asked about the timely warning by senators.

Sen. Dominic Delahoyde questioned the wording used in the timely warning. He asked Overby if oﬃcials are looking into making any changes to the process and how they word the warnings.

He described Saturday’s initial timely warning as a “panic-ensuing message.”

“I don’t know. I just feel like in my mind, putting shots ﬁred, that’s just instantly going to cause panic and is not necessarily going to cause the right response for students,” Delahoyde said.

Because of the Clery Act, university oﬃcials are required to put out a timely warning right away after an incident, so that they warn the campus and make sure people are aware of the situation, Overby said.

“So, they put out the information that they feel that they can put out at that time, based on what they know,” Overby said.

campus. All clear. Please resume normal business activity.”

Overby said, “And then, in this speciﬁc situation, they did respond and do an all clear about 10 minutes later.”

During that period, people took to social media to express concern and oﬀer prayers.

Despite the fact that the ﬁrst timely warning was soon followed up by an “allclear,” Sen. Benjamin Anderson asked why there was a lack of details on the ﬁrst message.

“When you put out a warning to the campus that there was shots ﬁred at a football game, and then, they came out and said, ‘Oh, that was oﬀ campus. That wasn’t a real thing.’ But you had people running, and chaos and sheltering. Do you think there was a lack of detailing and communication there with that?” Anderson said.

Anderson also questioned why this incident was not included on the daily 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 most recent crime log was sent to Collegian Media on Monday morning and did not include this past Saturday’s incident.

On Saturday, nine minutes after the first warning, at 11:59 a.m., a timely warning was sent by university officials saying, “SDSU All Clear. The shots fired at tailgate is all clear. Incident of self-harm that occurred off campus. No shooter on

During the meeting, Overby appeared not to realize that the incident was not included in the crime log.

“I believe it is on the crime log,” he told Anderson.

The person involved in the incident on Saturday, at last report, is in a Sioux Falls hospital. A press release issued by the Brookings County Sheriﬀ’s Department said the man sustained a life-threatening injury.

The events on Saturday unfolded like this:

The sheriﬀ’s oﬃce received a call about a medical emergency near the north end

of Jackrabbit Avenue at 11:29 a.m. At 11:50 a.m., the ﬁrst timely warning was issued, advising people to shelter in place. At 11:59 a.m., the follow-up alert gave the “all-clear,” and normal activities could resume.

Responding oﬃcers found the man inside a stopped vehicle. First responders provided medical aid until ambulance personnel arrived. The man was initially transported to Brookings Hospital to be stabilized and was then airlifted to a hospital in Sioux Falls for further treatment, according to the sheriﬀ.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, you can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at any time. Help is also available at 988Lifeline.org.

DAVID OVERBY

DOMINIC DELAHOYDE

BENJAMIN ANDERSON

COLLEGIAN MEDIA

The screenshots above show the PDF that was sent to Collegian Media on Monday, Nov. 17, 2025. The only entry that is from Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, is a DUI that was recorded at the 1700 block of Jackrabbit Avenue.

SOYBEAN SALES ON THE RISE

China buys beans after months of trade dispute

MORGAN MARKETON Reporter

After several years of strained trade, South Dakota soybean farmers are welcoming China’s return to the U.S. market under a new agreement that has restarted large-scale soybean purchases.

Coming into early September, China had still not purchased U.S. soybeans, but that changed when a deal was ﬁnalized committing China to buy at least 12 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans by the end of 2025 and 25 million tons annually through 2028.

For comparison, China purchased 26.8 million metric tons from the U.S. in 2024.

The renewed demand oﬀers relief following seasons of low prices and uncertainty, though producers and economists say they remain careful about future volatility.

Agricultural Economics Department said the downturn that began in 2018 forced farmers and grain organizations to ﬁnd alternative markets.

“China had been moving away from buying our soybeans for quite a while,” Kosse said. “When China doesn’t buy, the price falls, and that’s an immediate negative impact on farmers.”

“This is a welcome change,” said Jerry Schmitz, executive director of the South Dakota Soybean Research and Promotion Council and the South Dakota Soybean Association. “The economy has been getting tougher. Input prices have gone up signiﬁcantly, but crop prices haven’t, so any improvement in the market helps.”

South Dakota farmers planted about 5.2 million acres of soybeans in 2025, Schmitz said. The crop provides an estimated $3 billion to $5 billion each year in income for the state before it is processed into feed, oil or biofuel products. For producers, China’s renewed buying marks a major shift after years of lost sales. Professor Elijah Kosse of the South Dakota State University

Kosse said South Dakota and other states adapted by exporting to more countries in Asia and by developing local processing facilities. He pointed to a new soybean-crushing plant in Mitchell built to help counter lower export demand.

“The basic bean isn’t worth very much,” Kosse said. “People want to buy the oil and the feed. We’ve created facilities where we can crush the soybeans ourselves to add value here.”

Even with China purchasing again, both Kosse and Schmitz said the state’s eﬀorts to expand processing and diversify buyers will continue. Schmitz said soybean leaders have promoted South Dakota’s crop worldwide to attract new interest.

“We share that our soybeans are some of the best quality in the world,” Schmitz said. “Our weather gives them a natural refrigeration cycle in the winter, which helps maintain quality better than in warmer areas.”

Schmitz added that South Dakota soybeans generally contain higher amino-acid levels, making them desirable for feed production because buyers need fewer synthetic additives. He said those characteristics have drawn interest from Southeast Asian nations, which can ship directly from the Paciﬁc Northwest at lower transportation costs.

While China’s renewed imports are expected to strengthen prices, Kosse said long-term trends still show the U.S. relying more on other suppliers.

“Even if all the tariﬀs disappeared, China probably still wouldn’t be buying as many of our soybeans as before,” Kosse said. “They don’t want to be reliant on the U.S., so they’ve looked for other producers.”

Still, Kosse said China’s return is signiﬁcant for South Dakota farmers.

“China tends to pay a premium,” he said. “Its return could temporarily improve farm income.”

South Dakota Farm Bureau president Scott VanderWal said many producers are grateful for the agreement, but know its success depends on follow-through.

“They’re just thankful and hopeful that it works out,” VanderWal said. “The Chinese market is really tough, and you never know for sure if they’re going to take them until they’re actually delivered.”

VanderWal said that while yields this year were mixed, renewed Chinese demand has helped lift prices slightly.

“Soybean yields are OK, not as good relative to corn,” he said. “Just since President Trump signed the deal with China, prices have come up quite signiﬁcantly, but really not to proﬁtable levels yet. But at least it helps.”

He added that farmers may begin adjusting marketing strategies if exports remain steady.

“Hopefully, if we get some trade agreements in place and get the market for soybeans back up, that’ll increase the production of soybeans a little bit,” VanderWal said.

Still, he cautioned against depending too heavily on a single buyer.

“That’s what caused this whole thingbecause we were so reliant on China for our soybean exports,” VanderWal said. “We continue in the Farm Bureau to urge the administration to look for varied markets, expand other markets, look for new ones and not just depend upon the Chinese market to sell soybeans.”

VanderWal said new processing investments, including the Mitchell plant expected to produce renewable diesel, could strengthen the state’s long-term soybean economy.

“We hope that getting into that fuel market with renewable diesel will be a good thing,” he said. “They say that fuel won’t gel up like the old biodiesel did.”

Both VanderWal and Schmitz said that broadening domestic uses and international buyers will be key to stability.

“We’re glad to see China buying again,” Schmitz said. “But our strength will come from building more markets and keeping our soybeans competitive everywhere.”

HEALTHCARE CAREERS

JERRY SCHMITZ

ELIIJAH KOSSE

SCOTT VANDERWAL

RENOVATION REFRESHES WANETA

TAYLOR TENNANT

Assistant News Director

Students living in Waneta Hall this semester are seeing a fully modernized building following a $4.5 million summer construction project that extended into the fall semester.

The project included renovated bathrooms across all three floors, a refreshed lobby and an upgraded kitchen area. Other updates included a new air conditioning system was added in the lobby and student rooms and a new roof for the building

David Law, director of project management and engineering, said timing was one of the biggest challenges they faced with this project. He said any construction in an occupied residence hall requires careful scheduling.

“We really only had from mid-May until essentially late August to get the bulk of the work done,” Law said. “There’s always challenges in construction where things don’t always work out perfectly, so if one thing doesn’t go how it’s supposed to, you lose a few days or a week here and there, and that did happen to us.”

While most of the construction was completed over the summer, some work extended into the fall semester, causing temporary inconveniences for students.

During the first two months of the school year, students sometimes had to use bathrooms on different floors while crews rotated through individual pods to finish remaining work. Rebecca Peterson, director of housing and residential life said, however, that students were generally understanding and adapted quickly.

“We did have to take a bathroom offline at a time, but most students adjusted with no issue, and the main communal areas remained accessible,” she said.

The renovations were guided by both practical needs and student feedback. Peterson said the team incorporated student feedback as they worked to improve communal spaces and the overall environment.

“We brought in student feedback to provide us with opportunities to learn and grow,” Peterson said. She said the renovations focused on upgrades that would make shared spaces more practical for students.

The bathroom upgrades were a major part of the project, with updates focused on modernizing the space and improving privacy. The new pod-style layout gives students fully enclosed shower and toilet areas, while the main sink area remains communal.

The lobby also got a makeover, with new flooring, ceiling and lighting to create a brighter, more welcoming space. The kitchen adjacent to the lobby was expanded with two vent hoods, larger sinks and a bigger refrigerator and freezer to accommodate high traffic

and provide better opportunities for communal dining. Additional improvements throughout the building included new carpeting in hallways, refreshed laundry rooms and updated finishes that contributed to a more modern environment.

Students have responded positively to the completed updates. Peterson recalled speaking with a student last year during a walk-through who said she was not excited to live in Wanteta, but after seeing the renovations, described the space as “amazing.”

Waneta Hall has a long history on the SDSU campus, opening in 1959. The building has been closed and reopened multiple times over the past decade, often in response to enrollment demands and pandemic-related considerations. Peterson said the decision to reopen and keep Waneta open long-term was strategic.

“Keeping Waneta online gives us flexibility while we renovate other residence halls,” she said. “It is now an integral part of our housing strategy rather than just a backup option.”

Currently, Waneta houses 213 students out of a total capacity of 248, which includes second-year students and international students. Peterson said that it is no longer used only when extra capacity is needed.

“This is a building our students can select as their primary residence,” she said. “We invested a significant

amount of money into these renovations, and the plan is to maintain it as a key part of our housing options for the next 10 years at least.”

The project also served as a learning opportunity for future renovations. Peterson said the pod-style bathrooms and design choices aimed at improving the student experience will guide how other residence halls are updated in the future.

“We will continue to gather feedback on how students are interacting with the space and what they like or would change. That information will help us plan for future projects,” she said.

Looking forward, major renovations are planned for other halls, including Binnewies, Young, Hansen and Matthews. These projects may require taking buildings offline temporarily and will involve mechanical, accessibility and architectural upgrades similar to those done in Waneta. According to Peterson, planning and scheduling these projects requires careful consideration of student enrollment and housing needs, as well as long-term financial resources.

BRAYDEN BYERS / COLLEGIAN MEDIA

This new bathroom on first floor south of Waneta Hall is part of a $4.5 million renovation the residence hall has received over the past five months. Waneta is located on the west side of campus near Hansen Hall.

Wreath making workshop returns to McCrory Gardens

RYLEE BORSTAD Reporter

SDSU students and Brookings community members will have the chance to start their holiday season with a fun tradition as the Horticulture Club hosts its annual Holiday Wreath-Making Workshop on November 21 and 22 at McCrory Gardens.

Now in its seventh year, and its second year being held at McCrory Gardens, the workshop continues to grow, with increasing interest from students looking for a festive break from coursework.

The two-day event invites participants to create their own wreaths using fresh conifer branches, wire rings, bows, ornaments and other decorative materials. All provided by the club. Hot chocolate is also provided to help set a festive atmosphere.

In addition to wreath making, McCrory Gardens also will host several “Gifting for Good” shopping locations throughout the weekend that will accept donations for Jack’s Cupboard.

Claire Galvin, a Horticulture Club member is in her third year of organizing the workshop. She said the event has become one of the club’s most anticipated traditions.

“We had around 160 people last year,” she said, noting the shift to McCrory Gardens has allowed for a larger turnout and a more immersive experience. “A lot of people are really excited about it.” Online ticket sales are still ramping up.

The workshop was originally located in the Horticulture and Forestry Building. As attendance grew, the event moved to McCrory Gardens to accommodate more participants and enhance the atmosphere. Galvin said the change was prompted by convenience and potential to create a better experience

“We realized we needed a bigger space, so we moved to McCrory Gardens,” she said. “This year we’re trying to make it more of an experience compared to last year.”

A new addition includes coloring

books for kids.

The club hosts two main fundraisers a year, making the workshop an accessible opportunity for students across campus. Their mission is to provide students with opportunities to experience horticulture hands-on, Galvin said.

Nearly all materials used for the workshop, especially the greenery, are locally sourced. SDSU forestry instructor John Ball assists in selecting trees around campus and McCrory Gardens that need to be removed due to aging or disease.

“We use trees that are dying or need to be taken down,” Galvin said.

As interest in hands-on, seasonal events grows, the Horticulture Club has noticed strong engagement from students.

“We have about 30 students signed up so far,” Galvin said. “Students are really responding well to our events this year.”

The club promoted the workshop with nearly 300 posters around campus. McCrory Gardens also reposted promotional materials to broaden community reach.

For many SDSU students, the idea of taking part in a creative seasonal activity oﬀers a break from academic stress. Sophomore Amber Brockberg said she hadn’t yet decided whether she would attend the workshop, but the idea immediately appealed to her.

“My ﬁrst reaction was, ‘That sounds cool, I would do it,’” she said.

She added that she often enjoys holiday crafting but doesn’t always have the time during the semester. Activities like wreath-making, she said, oﬀer a refreshing change of pace.

“Deﬁnitely, any campus activity is a fun break from classes,” said Brockberg.

Lisa Marotz, director of operations at McCrory Gardens, talked about additional oﬀerings during the event weekend. Several “Gifting for Good” locations will be open, each accepting donations for Jack’s Cupboard, SDSU’s food pantry for students in need.

“This is a new addition meant to support the local community while encour-

Attendees from last year’s workshop making their

Now through JANUARY 10

aging people to shop local and support non-proﬁt museum stores,” Marotz said. She also noted that McCrory Gardens will accept Hobo Dough for student purchases, making it convenient for SDSU attendees.

MUSEUM

HOURS

For Galvin, the most rewarding part of organizing the event has been watching it evolve and implementing new ideas each year.

“It’s exciting to get to apply my ideas and make it better every time,” she said.

Courtesy CLAIRE GALVIN

holiday wreaths hosted by McCrory Gardens and Horticulture Club in Brookings, SD.

DRAG QUEEN POLLIE ESTHER

DRAG QUEEN KASSIE KAIN

SDSU Athletics to host Native American Heritage Night

PHIA LOPEZ Reporter

You can expect more than basketball from the SDSU Jackrabbits team this Friday.

During the game against Georgia State, SDSU Athletics and the Wokini Initiative are sponsoring the second official Native American Heritage Night. Fans can look forward to Indigenous dancers, a drum group, trivia and more.

The dancers and drum group that are performing will consist of current students at SDSU and SDSU alumni. They will be featured during half time after the recognition of our Indigenous student clubs.

Maggan Schultz, the assistant athletic director, said last year focused on creating a strong foundation to support the growth of this program.

This year the Native American Heritage Night is expanding on the event “to include more interactive opportunities for fans to engage with Native culture,” Schultz said. This includes adding two-minute timeout trivia relating to both Native American Heritage and SDSU history.

“SDSU Athletics partnered with the Wokini Initiative and the American Indian Student Center to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the people in our community,” Schultz said.

was created to honor and recognize Native American contributions, increase awareness, and provide a platform for cultural celebration within our athletics programs,” Schultz said.

Wakinya Bose, coordinator of engagement, highlighted the importance of having a spotlight on Indigenous student groups on campus and their accomplishments in front of the whole community.

“Having support from (SDSU) Athletics or SDSU in general is huge,” Bose said. “As we progressively get bigger as a program, it’ll get better.

“The perspective of the students is huge,” said Marisa Hare, Indigenous Adviser of Student Success.

She said engagement with the audience and the community is equally as important as highlighting the accomplishments of the students.

Members of the American Indian Student Association (AISA) and American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) will be brought on the court to be recognized for their accomplishments – similar to last year’s Native American Heritage Night.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

• Helping dancers find their dressing rooms

• Finding students needed on court

• Welcoming and guiding people attending

Schultz said SDSU athletes will gain a greater appreciation for the culture and history of the Native American community. This event allows them to see the broader impact of their programs beyond sports, which will foster respect, awareness and meaningful connections with fans and the community.

“Native American Heritage Night

to “create that sense of belonging authentically.”

Eagleshield wants Indigenous high schoolers to know that there is a safe space for them at SDSU and the Brookings Community.

“Whether they attend or family members attend or maybe one day their kids attend SDSU, they’ll know that this is a safe and welcoming space to Native students,” said Eagleshield.

The Wokini Initiative is sponsoring groups of students to come to the event, many being in groups associated with local partners they’ve either worked with previously or that have been interested.

SDSU Athletics encourages everyone attending to approach the night with curiosity and respect. This event is to learn from the cultural programming and “celebrate alongside the Native communities that make South Dakota unique,” Schultz said.

Since November is Native American Heritage Month, AISA and AISES, in past years, have already been recognized in basketball games during that month.

Last year, 22 Indigenous high school students from around the Brookings area attended the first Native American Heritage Night. This year, that number has more than doubled.

“We’re really excited because we’ve invited 250 Native students in the region to attend.” said Keely Eagleshield, Wokini Initiative director.

She explained how the Wokini Initiative and SDSU are working

MARISA HARE

Lindsay Hammer, a member of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Tribe, performs a fancy-shall dance at the 2024 American Indian Heritage Night on Nov. 21, 2024.

JACK’S BASKETBALL

BOYD / COLLEGIAN MEDIA

Men back over .500

JACOB BRENDE

Sport Editor

After riding a two game losing streak, SDSU Men’s Basketball got back into the win column after beating Peru State 9446 to get to a 3-2 record. What were some of the contributing factors towards the dominant win? Rebounding, defense and shooting efficiency were certainly among them.

Firstly, the Jacks outrebounded Peru State 52-24, the fourth most in SDSU’s history as a D1 school.

Secondly, the Jacks held the Bobcats to a horrible shooting percentage throughout the entire game, stopping any apparent chance at creating a comeback.

Shooting from the field? About 34%, their three point percentage was worse, Peru State shooting 33% from the arc. Even when the Bobcats got to the free throw line, they still shot poorly, going

2-8 on free throws.

While Peru State was having trouble shooting the ball, the Jacks were putting up pretty decent figures. From three they were just as average as the Bobcats, but it was from the field that SDSU was able to create and expand their lead, shooting 50% from the field.

Leading SDSU in minutes and points was rotation player Trey Buchanan. He went 5-7 from three on his way to a career high 24 points in 23 minutes. Also scoring a career high for SDSU was Alec Squires, who shot 13 while recording eight rebounds, tying Jackrabbit Damon Wilkinson for the team’s most. Bubz Alvarez and Luke Haertle both tied for team high assists with five a piece.

The now 3-2 Jackrabbits will take on Georgia State at home this Friday at 7 p.m. Georgia State is 1-4 on the season and is coming off of a 75-62 point loss to Arizona State.

Win streak extends

CORDELL VITENSE Sports Editor

The South Dakota State women’s basketball team extended its undefeated streak to four games this past weekend after a 95-71 win over the Montana Grizzlies.

Senior forward Brooklyn Meyer kept up her fantastic scoring streak with 25 points in just 27 minutes. Meyer also added 11 rebounds and five assists to her box score.

Sophomore guard Emilee Fox had a big game with 16 points on 6-9 shooting and 4-6 shooting behind the arc. Fox also dished out five assists and grabbed four boards.

For Montana, it was sophomore forward Jocelyn Land leading the way in scoring with 24 points.

The Jackrabbits controlled the game from the jump, getting out to a 5-0 lead to start and ending the first quarter up 25-17.

The Jacks kept the momentum going, outscoring the Grizzlies in every quarter

and leading every second of the game on their way to a 95-71 victory.

The Jackrabbits will now face the 2-2 Gonzaga Bulldogs at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls this Thursday, Nov. 20. The Bulldogs started the season 2-0 after wins over Toledo and North Dakota State. They then dropped their last two against Colorado State and Stanford.

6 ‘3 redshirt freshman forward Lauren Whittaker leads the team in scoring, averaging 16.5 points per game while shooting 60% and grabbing seven rebounds a game.

Sophomore guard Allie Turner is having a good year, averaging 12.5 points per game while shooting over 50%. Turner also leads the team in assists with 4.2 per game, but she also turns the ball over almost three times per game.

After SDSU faces Gonzaga, they will travel to Mexico for the Cancun Challenge starting Nov. 27. The Jacks will face three teams, one of which is the top 15-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels.

OWEN

Sophomore Jaden Jackson fights his way to the basket during a basketball game against Peru State on Nov. 17, 2025. Jackson had seven points in 3-7 shooting in the 94-46 win.

EAN WETZEL / COLLEGIAN MEDIA

Senior Brooklyn lays the ball up enroute to the Jack’s 95-71 point win against Murray State on Nov, 1, 2025. Meyer recently won the Kwik Star Peak Performer of the Week award this Tuesday.

JACKS SLIDE CONTINUES

CORDELL VITENSE

Sports Editor

ILLINOIS STATE

The South Dakota State football team continued its skid over the weekend, losing to Illinois State to push the losing streak to four in a row.

Redshirt freshman Jack Henry made his second start in a row at quarterback. Henry had a solid game, throwing for 254 yards, completing 32 of 51 passes, one of those completions being a touchdown. Even with the solid numbers, Henry did throw two interceptions, with one going the other way for six.

Henry was also the team’s leading rusher with 18 carries for 41 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

Receiver Alex Bullock and junior tight end Greyton Gannon did most of the work in the receiving game against the Redbirds. Each player caught nine passes on the day, with Bullock having 68 yards receiving and Gannon recording 63 yards through the air.

Illinois State quarterback Rittenhouse completed 17 pass on 32 attempts for 141 yards throwing three touchdowns and adding one rushing touchdown.

Running back Victor Dawson had 98 yards on the ground on 20 attempts while also catching one pass for 24 yards.

Daniel Sobkowicz led the Redbirds in receiving, hauling in five catches for 55 yards and snagging all three of Rittenhouse’s touchdown passes.

Illinois State got the ball first possession of the game and went on an eightplay touchdown drive after Rittenhouse found Sobkowicz for the first touchdown of the day to go up 7-0.

On the first Jackrabbit drive, Henry would be intercepted on third and 21 by linebacker Patrick Baur, who would take the ball 10 yards for another Redbird touchdown.

On the kickoff after the interception, Jackrabbit tight end Brayden Delahoyde would muff the kick and the ball would be recovered by Illinois State. Illinois

State would once again capitalize on the turnover and Rittenhouse would find Sobkowicz for the duo’s second touchdown of the day, this time from two yards out to go up 21-0.

The SDSU offense wouldn’t find a pulse on their next drive and after three plays, they would bring out punter Max Pelham. Pelham would get the snap and fumble it. SDSU would recover it but since it was fourth down, Illinois State would take over from the SDSU 25-yard line.

Like clockwork, the Redbirds would take advantage of the sloppy play from the Jackrabbits this time, a two-yard rushing touchdown for Rittenhouse to get the fourth Redbird touchdown in the first quarter and extend the lead to 28 points.

After a couple punts the Redbirds had the ball once again. This drive would be a nine-play 63-yard drive that resulted in another Rittenhouse to Sobkowicz touchdown and the fifth touchdown of the half to put Illinois State up 35-0.

This would be the last Illinois State score of the game, while the Jacks would go on to score three unanswered touchdowns, including a 16-yard Henry rushing touchdown, a Henry to Delahoyde four-yard touchdown and a Josiah Johnson two-yard touchdown run. The three touchdowns would be too little too late as Illinois State would get a 35-21 win.

NORTH DAKOTA

The Jacks will now play their final game of the regular season when they travel to Grand Forks to take on the 7-4 UND Fighting Hawks this Saturday, Nov. 22.

The four losses the Hawks have on this year have all been close-fought games. with the largest deficit being five points.

North Dakota scores just over 35 points per game, which ranks them fourth in the Missouri Valley Football

Conference (MVFC), while their defense allows just 18.8 points per game, which ranks second in the conference.

Sophomore running back Sawyer Seidl currently sits fourth in the MVFC in rushing with 814 yards on 151 carries while finding the endzone 11 times.

Sophomore quarterback Jerry Kaminski has totaled 2068 yards with 23 touchdowns and nine interceptions so far in his sophomore campaign.

Junior receiver B.J. Fleming leads the team in catches, yards and receiving touchdowns with 41 receptions for 647 yards and six touchdowns.

Kickoff against the Fighting Hawks is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday.

FINN HOLSEN / COLLEGIAN MEDIA

Jack Henry celebrates after scoring a touchdown in a football game against Illinois State on Nov. 15, 2025, at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings.

SWEEPING THE SUMMIT

CORDELL VITENSE

Sports Editor

The Jackrabbit volleyball team is now undefeated in conference play after two 3-0 sweeps in a row move them to a perfect 16-0 finish to the regular season. This is the first time in six years that the Summit League has gone undefeated in regular-season play. The last team to do so was USD in 2019. And a stat that Jackrabbit fans don’t want to hear is that USD did not win the Summit League Tournament that season after losing their first match of the tournament.

KANSAS CITY

Last Thursday, on Nov. 13, SDSU beat Kansas City in Missouri to get win number 15 in conference play.

Junior Sylvie Zgonc had a big game with 19 points on 18 kills, averaging over six points per set while also managing ﬁve digs in total.

Sophomore Madison Burr also had a good outing with 11.5 points on eight kills and four total blocks. For the Roos, it was Mia Weaver who led the team in scoring with nine points on seven kills, two block assists and a service ace.

The ﬁrst set of the match started out close, tied at 4-4, before gaining a 5-4 lead. And even though the set stayed tight for a while, SDSU would never relinquish the lead and the Jacks would take a 25-19 win to get a 1-0 lead.

The second set would start a lot more one-sided with the Jacks taking a 10-3 lead. Kansas City wouldn’t give in, though and would tie the score at 13-13. Kansas City repeatedly tied it up and even held a tie at 19-19, but the Jackrabbits would never trail and would go on to win 25-19.

In the third set, Kansas City held a 6-4 lead before SDSU went on a run and took a 9-6 lead. Once again, the Roos would never be able to regain control and SDSU won the set 25-20 and the match 3-0.

NORTH DAKOTA

Tuesday night in Grand Forks, SDSU completed a perfect regular season in conference play after a 3-0 Sweep of the Fighting Hawks.

Zgonc once again led the Jackrabbits in scoring this time with 12 points on 11 kills while recording six digs.

Burr was close behind with 11 points on eight kills. Burr was also big defensively with four block assists and one solo block.

Paige Barber for North Dakota was the only Hawk in double-ﬁgure scoring with 11 points on nine kills.

In the ﬁrst set, the Jackrabbits jumped to an early 7-1 lead, but UND would close the gap to 11-9. The Jacks eventually extended the gap and won the ﬁrst set 25-18.

In the second set, SDSU would again hold an 11-9 lead and again the Jacks would pull away and win 25-14 to take a 2-0 match lead.

In the third set, SDSU never trailed and at match point up 24-15, Zgonc delivered history, getting a kill that gave SDSU the title of the 11th team in Summit League history to go undefeated in regular-season conference play.

Summit League Tournament play starts Sunday, Nov. 23, but with SDSU clinching the top seed, the Jackrabbits won’t play until Monday and will face the winner of the NDSU and Denver match.

EAN WETZEL / COLLEGIAN MEDIA

Jackrabbit teammates celebrate after a point against the UND Fighting Hawks on Tuesday, Nov. 18. The Jackrabbits swept the Hawks 3-0 to complete a perfect 16-0 regular season in conference play.

FORMER JACK MAKES HER MARK

CORDELL VITENSE

Sports Editor

As the college basketball and NBA seasons ramp up, the WNBA season has just wrapped up. And one team has an SDSU connection.

Former SDSU women’s basketball star Megan Vogel is an assistant coach for the Phoenix Mercury. The Mercury played in the WNBA finals, where they lost to the Las Vegas Aces 4-0.

Vogel had an outstanding career at South Dakota State, currently sitting fourth all-time for the most points scored with 1850 points.

Vogel was a Jackrabbit from 2003-2007. After she completed her four years at SDSU, she was drafted in the second round, 19th overall, in the 2007 WNBA draft by the Washington Mystics. Vogel’s WNBA career didn’t start out like she wanted, as she didn’t make the team. But now, 18 years later, Vogel has found her place as an assistant coach in the WNBA.

The Collegian got the chance to sit down and talk with Vogel about the WNBA and the influence SDSU has had on her career.

Q: How did your experience at SDSU prepare you for your job at the top of the sport?

A: My time at South Dakota State was probably the most influential time in my career. It just shaped who I became as a coach. The base and the foundation were laid there. Coach Johnson did such a good job of really teaching me how to pursue something. You know, at that time, I was trying to play in the league and what it would take to get to this level, but all those lessons learned in that process helped me when I got here as a coach.

Q: Do you ever get to go in and play in practice?

A: Oh gosh, well, when we first got

hired, our training camp was actually in San Diego, so we didn't bring practice guys out to San Diego, so our coaches were the practice guys for training camp. So that was an alarming experience, to say the least, for someone who is 39 and hasn't played basketball in a little while. All of us have players that we train every single day, and you’ve got to get out there and get on the floor and build sweat equity with those players, whether that's being on offense so they can defend something, whether that's being on defense so they can get a read. Do I go up and down and play five on five anymore? Not in the least, my friend, not in the least. I would like to have no more surgeries. I would like to keep my Achilles. I would like to not pull a hamstring. But no, you still have to be able to get out there and play and demonstrate and do something so a little bit, but not to the extent that you're thinking,

Q: What do you love about coaching in the WNBA?

A: I love a couple of things. Number one, this was always a lifelong dream of mine to get to this level. Now, don't get me wrong, I would love to be a player in this league, but for me, to have the opportunity to coach in this league, after the opportunity to play in it didn't work out. I didn't see that ever as being an option. And so for me, it's living out a childhood dream to be a part of this incredible League. The other part of it is that I love that it is just all basketball all the time, every single day. You know, everything is derived around, how can we be better? I'm on the offensive side of the ball, so how can we be better offensively? How can we work on our spacing? How can we put people in better positions? Yeah, it's the relationship piece with our players, and then it's all basketball.

Q: What is it like coaching with someone who has a South Dakota connection, like you?

A: We actually have some good back and forth. The biggest thing is that we

both have Midwestern values. We care about people. We treat people how we want to be treated. One of the best things about working with Nate is how intentional he is with his leadership and how he forms relationships with everybody, whether you're on the staff, whether you're a player, whether you work in the facility, it doesn't matter. Honestly, I feel like that's the Midwestern in us, is that we just we want to get to know who we work with. We want to be a part of their lives. We care about them as people, and we know that we're doing this together. So it's fun to have the South Dakota ties, you know, especially like in the finals, there was Becky (Hammon) and him (Nate Tibbetts) from South Dakota, which was pretty cool, especially for how small as far as population goes, the state is, but it's a unique thing that kind of brought us together.

Q: If you’re familiar with Brooklyn Meyer, what do you think of her game?

A: I mean, obviously, I watch a lot of South Dakota State games and love cheering on the Jacks. And she’s a special one, for sure. There’s been a lot of really special players over the years, but she’s fun to watch, she’s physical and can really score around the rim and rebound the ball, and I hope she has a great year.

Q: What does it feel like being able to represent a smaller school like SDSU on such a big stage?

A: You know, I don’t know if I ever really think about that on the day-to-day, but I absolutely love South Dakota State, and it is very much in the fiber of who I am every single day. And you know, just coming from where I am coming from, I’m extremely grateful that I had the opportunities that I did at South Dakota State, but it just makes me so proud to tell people that I’m a Jackrabbit. Find the full story at sdsucollegian. com.

SDSU ATHLETICS

Megan Vogel, former Jackrabbit guard, handles the ball. Vogel played for the Jackrabbit basketball team from 2003-2007, and is now the assistant coach for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA.

MADI IN THE MIDDLE Burr brings ‘elite’ talent to volleyball team

EDEN DURANDT Sports Reporter

When watching South Dakota State’s volleyball team, it’s hard to miss Madison Burr, the 6-foot-1 middle blocker whose energy, competitiveness and athletic ability make her a key player for the Jacks.

From Goodhue, Minnesota to Brookings, Burr has always been an athlete.

“I’ve played volleyball since I was in second or third grade,” Burr said. “I also played basketball and softball through my senior year, but I just loved volleyball the most.”

Even with the chance to play softball in college, Burr chose volleyball because it “felt like home” at SDSU.

Even with her growing list of accomplishments, Burr remains humble and ﬁrmly grounded. She embodies what Georgalas calls SDSU’s blue-collar spirit. He recalled a story from early in her recruiting days.

“We had a phone call set up once, and she had to cancel because she and her dad were out looking for a deer she’d shot,” he said. “That was definitely a first and tells you the heart of who Madison is: hardworking, downto-earth and she fits our culture perfectly.”

Oﬀ the court, Burr is studying construction management, a choice inspired by her family.

Head coach Dan Georgalas saw that athletic spark in Burr early on when scouting. He knew Burr was something special during the recruiting process.

“She’s a multi-sport athlete with versatility that shows up on the court,” Georgalas said. She can score oﬀ of one foot, oﬀ two feet, block, dig, serve, she just impacts every part of the game.”

“I wanted to do architecture ﬁrst,” she said, but with volleyball time commitment, that schedule wouldn’t have worked. Her uncle owns a construction business, and she hopes to follow in his footsteps one day. Her journey hasn’t been without setbacks. Burr tore her meniscus muscle in both knees during high school, once as a junior and again as a senior. These injuries forced her to sit out and face signiﬁcant challenges.

“But it taught me mental toughness,” Burr said. “I think that’s the biggest thing I took away from it.”

That versatility and drive helped Burr earn Summit League Freshman of the Year last season, and her coaches say she’s only improved since. This season, Burr’s improvements have got her 214 kills, 113 total blocks and a total of 297.5 points.

“Her oﬀense is really elite for a player only in her sophomore season,” Georgalas said, sharing that there’s a phrase in the gym: ‘When Madi touches the ball, ball go boom.’

The saying highlights the incredible velocity and pure arm swing Burr has when making a play.

Assistant coach Courtney Chacone agrees, noting Burr’s all-around presence on the court.

“She does it all,” Chacone said. “But I think her blocking really stands out. She’s quick, makes fast decisions, and has great timing.”

For Burr, the key to success is conﬁdence and perspective.

“It’s a game of mistakes,” she said. “You can’t let it get to you, but rather just roll with it and move on. The biggest thing for younger players watching is to let them see you conﬁdent and having fun.”

So far, that mindset has paid oﬀ for the Jackrabbits. They remain undefeated in conference play (14-0) and are preparing to host the Summit League Tournament on their home court November 23–25, a major advantage as they aim to win a conference title.

When asked what motivates her to keep pushing, Burr didn’t hesitate. “My parents,” she said. “They have spent so much time supporting me ... They’re my biggest fans.”

With two more years left in her college career, the ball will keep going boom.

EAN WETZEL / COLLEGIAN MEDIA