THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4:
Volleyball:   Sioux Falls O’Gorman @ Brookings
    Mitchell @ Brandon Valley
    Yankton @ Huron
    Hamlin @ Milbank
    Aberdeen Roncalli @ Sisseton
    Clark/Willow Lake @ Deuel
    Rosholt @ Florence/Henry
    Redfield/Doland @ Britton-Hecla
    Elkton-Lake Benton @ Deubrook
    Dell Rapids @ Sioux Valley
    Vermillion @ Madison
    Baltic @ Viborg-Hurley
    Garretson @ Canton
    Oldham-Ramona/Rutland @ DeSmet
    Waverly-South Shore @ Castlewood
    Lake Preston @ Arlington
    Dells St. Mary’s @ Estelline
    Great Plains Lutheran @ Tiospa Zina
    Tea Area @ Chester
    Marion @ Howard

Cross Country:   Northeast Conference meet @ Webster, 4:00pm
    Big East Conference meet @ Volga, 4:00pm
    Big Eight Conference meet @ Vermillion, 4:00pm
    Flandreau Indian School, Adrian, MN @ Luverne, MN

Soccer:    SDHSAA State Tournament @ Aberdeen

Tennis:    State Girls Varsity Tournament @ Rapid City

DVC XC…The Dakota Valley Conference cross country meet was held Wednesday.  The results:
   BOYS: Deubrook 11; Estelline 17; Elkton-Lake Benton 33; DeSmet 36; Dells St. Mary’s 37; Arlington 64.
TOP 5: 1 Trevor Ward, Estelline 17:43.2;   2 Matt Gollaher, Deubrook Area 18:44.3;   3 Justin Sudtelgte, Elkton-Lake Benton 19:02.7;  4 Alex Sperlich, Deubrook Area 19:07.6;  5 Trevor Hinderaker, Deubrook Area 19:11.6.
   GIRLS:  Estelline 12; Deubrook 29; Elkton-Lake Benton 33; Lake Preston 36; DeSmet 40; Colman-Egan 46; Dells St. Mary’s 57.  TOP 5:  1 Janae Sampson, Arlington, 17:05.1;  2 Savannah Dolezal, Estelline, 17:13.6;  3 Evelyn Klein, Deubrook, 17:14.7;  4 Morgan Krein, Estelline, 17:22.7; 5 Karley DeKnikker, Lake Preston, 17:31.3.

SOCCER PLAYOFFS…The South Dakota high school soccer playoffs begin this weekend across the state.  These teams have not yet aligned themselves with the state activities association program.  The playoffs help determine the bracket for next week’s state tournament in Rapid City.
    The playoff schedule:
AA GIRLS:
Brookings @ Sioux Falls Washington, 6:00pm Friday
Spearfish @ Brandon Valley
Watertown @ Yankton
AA BOYS:
Brookings @ Sioux Falls Roosevelt, 2:00pm Saturday
Brandon Valley @ Watertown
Rapid City Stevens @ Pierre
A GIRLS:
Vermillion @ Sturgis
A BOYS
Chamberlain @ Custer
Hot Springs @ Lead-Deadwood

SDSU SOCCER…South Dakota State travels to IPFW and Oakland this weekend after a heartbreaking double-overtime loss Saturday at North Dakota State, to open the Summit League soccer schedule.
   Head coach Lang Wedemeyer says SDSU took the early lead, and played well a good majority of the game in Fargo.  97621   :16   “the game’s tied”.
   Wedemeyer says it’s too early in the conference schedule to panic – he says SDSU’s simplifying some things for this weekend’s opponents.  97622   :33   “tournament last year”.
   SDSU did get senior Courtney Higgins back into action last weekend, but Steph Berube’ may be lost for the season.

SDSU VB…The SDSU volleyball team returns to Frost Arena this weekend for matches Friday against Missouri-Kansas City and Saturday against cross-state rival South Dakota.  Action starts at seven each night.
   SDSU lost to IPFW, but defeated Oakland last weekend. 
   Head coach Phil McDaniel says playing the Kangaroos is almost like playing a mirror image of SDSU.  97623   :16   “a little bit”.
   McDaniel says USD’s trying to solve some issues they have:  97624   :19   “on the fly”.
   SDSU volleyball coach Phil McDaniel.

BLIZZARD…The Brookings Blizzard host Coulee Region Friday and Saturday in a two-game NAHL Central Division home stand.  Face-off each night at Larson Ice Center is at 7:00.
   Goaltender Drew Weigman was named Player of the Week after kicking out 73 of 75 shots against Aberdeen.  Head coach Cory Laylin says Weigman was big in Saturday’s 2-0 win.  97625   :15   “fantastic for us”.
   Coulee Region trails Brookings by seven points in the division standings, so Laylin says it’s a big series for them.  He’s impressed with Coulee’s skill.  97626   :22   “in the net”.
   Laylin says the Blizzard did a good job taking the action to Aberdeen, and wants to see that continue. 

NAHL AWARDS…The North American Hockey League has announced its September player. The Forward of the Month is Jono Davis from the Wenatchee Wild. The Defenseman of the Month is Mark Evan Auk from the Port Huron Fighting Falcons. The Goaltender of the Month is Drew Weigman from the Brookings Blizzard.
   For the month, Weigman posted a perfect 3-0-0 record with a 1.00 goals against average and stopped 101 of 104 total shots for a 97.1% save percentage. Davis led all NAHL players in scoring in the month of September as he registered 14 points during the month (8 goals, 6 assists) in eight games played. Auk recorded eight points from the blueline (2 goals, 6 assists) in 10 games played during the month.

HS SOFTBALL…The state high school varsity softball tournament begins Friday at Sherman Park in Sioux Falls.  The double-elimnination tournament champion will be crowned Saturday.
   Opening round games:
#8 Sioux Falls Lincoln vs. #9 Sioux Falls O’Gorman (winner to meet top-seed Sioux Falls Washington)
#2 Rapid City Stevens vs. #7 Yankton
#3 Rapid City Central vs. #6 Sioux Falls Roosevelt
#5 Watertown vs. #4 Mitchell

RICE WATCH LIST…Five Missouri Valley Football Conference players highlight the list of 16 named to the Jerry Rice Award watch list, including linebacker T.J. Lally of South Dakota State.
   Lally broke out for a four-sack game against UC Davis - the most in SDSU's Division I era - with 10 solo tackles and a fumble recovery. Overall, the redshirt freshman has 41 tackles in five games, adding one interception and one forced fumble.
   The award goes annually to the FCS freshman of the year.

HOWARD WOOD BOOZE…There will be more on tap than just a football game when North Dakota State University takes on the University of South Dakota at Howard Wood Field in Sioux Falls later this month.
   The City Council has approved a special one-day liquor license for the facility that belongs to the Sioux Falls School District and typically is dry.
   The USD campus is in Vermillion. The Oct. 20 game is being played in Sioux Falls in an attempt to increase the school's presence in South Dakota's largest city.
   Sioux Falls Sports Authority Director Mike Sullivan says allowing alcohol sales at the game will increase revenue and help bring in more events in the future.

NDSU-YOUNGSTOWN…Two of the top three FCS teams in the nation play at the FargoDome Saturday, when number-three Youngstown State meets top-ranked NDSU.
   Each team is 4-0 – Youngstown is the last team to have beaten the Bison, having edged them by three points last year in Fargo.
   NDSU head coach Craig Bohl says the Penguins have assumed the personality of their coach, Eric Wolford.  97631   :20   “their top rating”.
   Wolford, in turn, says the Bison are a well-coached, well-disciplined team.  97632   :28   “a great game”.
   To magnify things, it’s also North Dakota State’s homecoming game. 

BHS FB…The I-29 football rivalry resumes Friday night when Brookings visits Watertown in ESD Conference play.  Air time on KCountry 102 is at 6:30, with kickoff at Watertown Stadium at 7:00pm.
   Brookings coach Lee Schmidt says throw out the records – this’ll be a knock-down, drag-out.  97633   :08   “a great game”.
   Schmidt says Watertown will show multiple offensive sets, and a 4-3 defense.  97634   :18   “haven’t seen already”.
   Schmidt says the Bobcat offense has to sustain drives, and score points.  The defense has to avoid the big play.  97635   :19   “that’s what’s disappointing”.
   Watertown defeated Aberdeen Central 28-14 last Friday to snap a four-game losing streak, while O’Gorman knocked off Brookings 35-19.

GFP COMMISSION…The state Game, Fish and Parks Commission will meet Thursday and Friday in Deadwood.
   Finalization of the mountain lion hunting season is on the agenda.  The proposal calls for the season to open December 26th, and close March 31st.  An increase in the harvest from 70, to 100 lions is requested, along with an increase from 50 to 70 female cats. 
   Also, the bighorn sheep auction tag finalization is scheduled.
   The commission will set park entrance, camping, and lodge fees for next year.  Proposals addressing fishing regulations, bait fish, aquatic nusiance species, fisheries rules and non-resident small game hunting, are also on the agenda.
    Next month’s commission meeting will be held at Camp Lakodia near Madison.

GFP REVIEW… Depleted big-game herds, populous mountain lions, and wildlife management policies and procedures are top concerns of people helping shape an upcoming independent review of South Dakota's Game, Fish and Parks Department.
   Gov. Dennis Daugaard called for the review earlier this year after months of controversy over elk, deer and lion management in the Black Hills, as well as other issues. His office solicited comments from the public to help define the study objectives.
   Daugaard staffer Jason Glodt will meet with the Game, Fish and Parks Commission in Deadwood to review the comments and talk about advertising for a contractor to do the review. It is expected to take up to six months and cost about $150,000.

IA ST WBB…Iowa State spent roughly two months digging itself out of a massive hole and somehow reaching last season's NCAA tournament. Its trip lasted just 40 ugly minutes.
   The Cyclones should have an easier time getting back to the NCAAs in March. Whether they'll have enough to make a serious run remains to be seen.
   Iowa State brings back its top three starters from last season's team, which recovered from an 0-5 start in Big 12 play to earn an NCAA tournament bid. But the Cyclones (18-13) were blown out at home by Green Bay 71-57 in the opening round.
   Iowa State opens its 18th season under coach Bill Fennelly on Nov. 11 against Western Illinois.