Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media, Author at Big Sioux Media Sports Network

Cardinal Volleyball Wins Close Match over De Smet

October 16, 2021 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Photo taken and used with permission by Tammy Chamley

The Dell Rapids St Mary Cardinals won their homecoming volleyball match against the De Smet Bulldogs in four sets on Thursday, October 14th. The Cardinals won by set scores of 25-23, 25-22, 21-25, and 25-14.

The first set was close throughout the entire game. Neither team had a lead of more than two points until the Cardinals took a 22-19 lead late. The Bulldogs tied the score at 22-22 and then again at 23-23, but the Cardinals scored the final two points for the win.

St Mary raced out to an early 6-2 lead to start the second set. De Smet tied the game at 6-6 and then took an 11-8 lead. The Bulldogs built three-point leads of 14-11 and 18-15, but both times the Cardinals tied the score. St Mary went on a run to take a 21-19 lead and finished the set with a 25-21 win.

De Smet started the third set on a 7-1 run for an early lead. After the Cardinals pulled within two points at 7-5, the Bulldogs were able to keep about a five-point lead throughout most of the set. The lead grew to nine points at 22-13, and the Bulldogs also led 24-17. The Cardinals rallied with four straight points, but De Smet finished the set with at 25-21 win.

St Mary built a big lead to start the fourth set and led 11-1. The Cardinals cruised from there for the 25-14 set and match win.

Courtney Brown led the team with 19 kills and 23 digs in the match. Maya Heinitz had 10 kills and 17 digs. Brianna Lindeman finished with 18 set assists, 14 digs, five kills, two blocks, and two ace serves. Ella Griffin had nine set assists, eight digs, and four kills. Brianna Griffin had five kills, four blocks, and two digs. Addy Gilbert also had five kills. Madala Hanson added 16 set assists and seven digs. Josie Baumberger had eight digs, and Whitney Warwick finished with five. Jaycee Tebay had a team-high five ace serves.

Late Score Gives Tri-Valley Win over Vermillion

October 16, 2021 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

A sack with fumble recovery late in the game triggered a game-winning drive by the Tri-Valley Mustangs on Friday, October 15th in Vermillion. Mason Hendrixson got a sack with fumble and recovery with 5:47 to go in a tie game. The Mustangs then drove 79 yards down the field in nine plays, and Owen Besmer scored on a one-yard quarterback sneak with :24 to go to give Tri-Valley a 20-13 win over the Tanagers.

The Mustangs scored first in the opening quarter. Besmer scored on a one-yard run with 6:02 to go. The extra point was no good. The score remained 6-0 at the end of the first quarter. Vermillion tied the game in the second quarter with 7:33 to go. Their extra point attempt was also no good. The game was tied 6-6 at halftime.

Despite kicking off to start the third quarter, the Tanagers scored in the first few seconds. The kickoff bounced strait into the air at about the Mustang three yard line instead of rolling into the endzone for a touchback. The Mustangs had to try to scramble to recover the ball, but Vermillion recovered the fumble in the endzone for a touchdown. The extra point was good, and the Tanagers lead 13-7.

Isaac McFarland scored on the very first play of the fourth quarter on a nine yard run. Reese Smith made the extra point, and the game was tied 13-13 with 11:53 to play. The score remained tied until the game-winning drive by the Mustangs.

Besmer had 24 carries for 173 yards and two touchdowns. I. McFarland finished with 10 carries for 46 yards and a touchdown. Jaden Siemonsma also had five carries for 27 yards. Besmer was also 2-8 passing. I. McFarland had 11 tackles. Siemonsma had 10 tackles. Isaac Nehlich finished with seven tackles, Brandon Havlovic had six, and Colby Carruthers had five. Eli McFarland and Lawson Loiseau both had an interception.

Tri-Valley (5-3) will host the Dell Rapids Quarriers on Thursday, October 21st in the final regular season game of the year.

Both Trojan Cross Country Teams Finish Fourth at Region Meet

October 15, 2021 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Both the West Central Trojan girls and boys cross country teams finished fourth at the Region 2A meet in Madison on Thursday, October 14th. Both teams just missed qualifying everyone for the state meet as the top three teams qualify for state.

Two runners for the girls team qualified for state individually with a top 20 finish. Aubrey Borns was 17th with a time of 21:42.27. Maelee Krempges was 18th in a time of 21:43.00. Drew Caffrey (23rd) had a time of 22:55.46. Ellie McDonald (28th) finished in 23:21.07, and Elizabeth Johnson (34th) finished in 24:35.10.

The boys team had three individual qualifiers to state. Ben Strunk finished ninth with a time of 18:04.14. Jacob Peterson was 12th with a time of 18:28.30. Jonathon Roth placed 20th in a time of 18:53.17. Griffin Stallman (31st) finished with a time of 20:07.91. Blake Stark (39th) had a time of 20:46.27, and Josh Wagner (42nd) had a time of 20:57.79.

The 2021 South Dakota Class A State Cross Country Meet will be held at Yankton Trail Park in Sioux Falls on Saturday, October 23rd.

Peters Headed Back to State Cross Country Meet

October 15, 2021 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Brie Peters will be heading back to the state cross country meet after a top 20 finish at regions on Thursday, October 14th. Three varsity runners for the Tri-Valley Mustang cross country team ran in the Region 2A in Madison.

Peters finished sixth individually with a time of 21:00.02. Lizzy Dahl was 36th with a time of 24:55.73. Teagin Gacke had a 34th place finish with a time of 20:20.72.

Peters will run in the 2021 South Dakota Class A State Cross Country meet on Saturday, October 23rd at Yankton Trail Park in Sioux Falls.

Fletcher Qualifies for State Cross Country Meet

October 15, 2021 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Josh Fletcher qualified for the state cross country meet after a top 20 finish at regions on Thursday, October 14th. The Dell Rapids Quarrier cross country teams ran in the Region 2A meet in Madison. The girls team finished eighth with 135 points, and the boys team finished ninth with 151 points.

Fletcher placed seventh to earn a spot at the state meet with a time of 17:54.87. Jackson Pepper (44th) had a time of 21:01.49. Jack Montgomery (51st) finished in 21:45.50, and Weston Mason (54th) had a time of 22:13.50.

Madyn Lacey (30th) had a time of 23:31.11. Elizabeth Price (33rd) finished in 24:13.52. Peyton VanZee (38th) had a time of 25:33.61, and Cariss Montgomery (44th) had a time of 28:22.20. Adisen Stadem, who was projected to finish in the top 20, was unable to finish the race due to a medical reason.

The 2021 South Dakota Class A State Cross Country meet will be held on Saturday, October 23rd at Yankton Trail Park in Sioux Falls.

Sacred Hoops Podcast – Adversity

October 14, 2021 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Willard Wirkus

October 13, 2021 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Willard W. Wirkus, 72, of Dell Rapids, passed away on Sunday, October 10, 2021 at Riverview Healthcare Center in Flandreau, SD. His Memorial Service will begin at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, October 15, 2021 in the Lutheran Church of Dell Rapids. Visitation will be one hour prior to the start of the service. Inurnment will be in the Dell Rapids Cemetery. Will entered his final journey and is now at peace. He pursued his life’s greatest adventures with his loving wife, Diane Wirkus. They lived in Dell Rapids. www.kahlerfh.com

Will was born to Benedict and Clara (Gaikowski) Wirkus of Grenville, SD at the Webster Hospital in Webster, SD. He attended grade school in Grenville, SD and graduated from Watertown High School.

Will started his trucking career in 1974. He drove for Arrow truck lines, Hamlin County Implement and Orion Foods where he was a transportation driver for 25 years. After he retired he worked for Jerry Ellefson Farms until he became ill in August of 2020. He loved going to the farm, that was a big part of his life and being with his special friends at the farm.

Will loved going to Toy Auctions and his “collection” of numerous Case IH Implements and other associated toys are a sight to see. Even with his collection looking complete, there was alway room for one more. He did have his special ones that he admired more than others.

He is a member of the Lutheran Church in Dell Rapids.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his daughter, Kelly Wirkus and his brother, Richard Wirkus.

Will is survived by his wife, Diane of Dell Rapids; his sister, Audrey Wirkus and companion Bill Worley of Bethel, MN; his sister-in-law, Bonnie Wirkus of Lennox; his nephews, David and Nikki Wirkus of Baltic, Rich and Alicia Wirkus of Baltic, Michael and Amber Wirkus of Dodge Centre, MN; his niece, Jamie and Mitch Rayman of Baltic; his brothers-in-law, Gary (Jan) Kangas, Dale (Janne) Kangas, Dewayne (Shari) Kangas; his sister-in-law, Jane (Doug) Youngblood and his many nieces, nephews and grand-nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flower, memorials may be directed to the Lutheran Church of Dell Rapids.

Four Runners for Cardinals Qualify for State Cross Country

October 13, 2021 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Four runners from the Dell Rapids St Mary Cardinal cross country teams, two boys and two girls, qualified for the state cross country meet by finishing in the top 20 of the Region 2B Meet. The regional meet was held at Rocky Run Golf Course in Dell Rapids on Wednesday, October 13th.

Lucy Vargas had a 17th place finish in a time of 23:08.90. Addy Gilbert placed 20th with a time of 23:09.15. Vargas and Gilbert will represent the Cardinals at state. Cami Wolles (23rd) had a time of 23:38.24. Sierra Klein (36th) finished in 24:45.13. Madison Reiff (42nd) had a time of 25:48.34. The girls team finished sixth in the team standings with 60 points.

Noah Reiff placed 11th with a time of 20:11.31. Seth Roemen was 17th in a time of 20:29.77. N. Reiff and Roemen will represent the Cardinal boys team at the state meet. Owen Vargas (25th) had a time of 21:43.31. Gabe Nelson (37th) finished in 24:42.28. The boys team finished fourth with a total of 39 points.

The 2021 South Dakota Class B State Cross Country Meet will be held on Saturday, October 23rd at Yankton Trail Park in Sioux Falls.

*Photo taken and used with permission by Tammy Chamley*

Deubrook Sweeps Dell Rapids in Volleyball Action

October 13, 2021 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Photo taken and used with permission by Tammy Chamley

The Deubrook Dolphins spoiled the homecoming match for the Dell Rapids Quarriers on Tuesday, October 12th in Dell Rapids. The Dolphins defeated the Quarriers in straight sets by scores of 25-16, 25-23, and 25-23.

Deubrook jumped out to an early 6-1 lead in the opening set. The lead grew to eight points at 15-7 before the Quarriers got within two points at 16-14. Deubrook stopped the Dell Rapids rally and finished the set on a 9-2 run for the win.

The second set started back and forth, and the score was tied 8-8. The Dolphins then went on a 6-0 run for a 14-8 lead. Dell Rapids battled to get within a point at 23-22, but the Dolphins were able to finish the set with a 25-23 win.

The Dolphins got out to another quick 4-0 lead to start the third set. Dell Rapids then went on a 5-0 run after trailing 6-3 for an 8-6 lead. After that point neither team had a lead of more than two points. The set was tied multiple times late and was tied 23-23. Deubrook then scored the final two points for the match win.

Sophi Randall had six kills. Kenzie Garry, JoJo Henry, and Lauryn Kloth all had five kills each. Riley Hill and Randall both ended with two ace serves. Randall had a team-high four blocks. Garry and Kloth both had two blocks. Three players finished with 10 digs – Hill, Henry, and Randall. Garry had eight digs, and Lexi Ingalls had six. Randall finished with 12 set assists, and Hill had 10.

Dell Rapids (12-11) will play in the Dak-12 Conference Tournament in Tea on Saturday, October 16th.

Cardinals Win Second Straight Five-Set Match

October 13, 2021 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The Dell Rapids St Mary Cardinals play in their second consecutive five-set match on Thursday, October 12th. Not only did they play in their second straight five-set match, they also won for both of those matches. St Mary defeated the Centerville Tornadoes on the road.

The Cardinals got the first win of the night by a score of 25-20. The Tornadoes responded with a 25-21 win in the second set. The teams traded wins again as St Mary won the third set 25-16. Centerville forced a fifth set after another 25-21 win in the fourth. The Cardinals won the match after a 15-9 win in the fifth and final set.

Courtney Brown tallied 19 kills, seven digs, and three blocks. Maya Heinitz had eight kills, 14 digs, and two ace serves. Ella Griffin added six kills, six digs, four set assists, a block, and a team-high 10 ace serves. Addy Gilbert finished with three kills, seven digs, and six blocks. Brianna Lindeman had 13 set assists, five digs, and four ace serves. Madala Hanson added five set assists and four digs. Josie Baumberger had 13 digs, and Whitney Warwick had 12 digs.

The Cardinals will host De Smet on Thursday, October 14th.

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