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

West Central Softball Posts Two Shutout Wins

September 19, 2021 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The West Central high school softball team posted two shutout wins at home on Sunday, September 19th allowing only one hit combined in the two games.

In their first game, West Central scored in every inning against Edgerton in a 10-0 win in four innings while not allowing a hit. Sammie Mallinger had three hits and an RBI. Mckenna Sichmeller had two hits and an RBI. Grace Harden had two hits. Both Emillee Stofferahn and Caitlyn Maa had a single and two RBIs each. Addy Kramer and Jocelyn Nilson both had a single and an RBI. Emma Khulman had an RBI. Mallinger pitched all four innings with no hits allowed while walking one and striking out 11.

The strong pitching performance by West Central continued in the second game while the offense also continued to roll. West Central scored in every inning again against Winner, this time winning 12-0 in three innings while allowing just one hit to Winner. Harden had three hits and an RBI. Mallinger and Kramer both had a double with two RBIs. Sichmeller and Jenna Lueth both had a single and two RBIs. Maa and Hanna Raethz both had singles. Harden pitched three innings allowing one hit while striking out seven batters.

Dell Rapids Softball Wins Big in Two Games

September 19, 2021 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Payton Krumm, Kenzie Gerry, Haileigh Barnhart – Photo submitted

The Dell Rapids high school softball team cruised to two big wins on Sunday, September 19th in Hartford. Dell Rapids played Edgerton and Winner.

In the first game against Edgerton, Dell Rapids scored five times in the first inning, one more in the second, and then seven runs in the third. The game ended after three innings with Dell Rapids taking the win 13-1.

Kya Alderson had three hits, including a double, and three RBIs. Haileigh Barnhart had two hits, one a double, and three RBIs. Lexi Ingalls also had two hits, one a double, with an RBI. Kenzie Garry and Rileigh Foster both had two singles and one RBI each. Katie Scherff had two hits. Alessandra Swartwout had a hit with two RBIs, and Katie Kvigne had an RBI. Alderson pitched all three innings allowing a run, which was unearned, on two hits with four strikeouts.

The Dell Rapids offense did not slow down in the second game. After a scoreless first inning, Dell Rapids scored 12 times in the bottom of the second. Winner got a single run in the third inning, and Dell Rapids took the win 12-1.

Claire Wynja had three hits, with one double, and two RBIs. Foster had two hits, one double, with three RBIs. Alderson also had two hits, including a double, with an RBI. Scherff had a single with two RBIs, and Barnhart had a single and an RBI. Kvigne pitched four innings allowing an earned run on two hits with two walks and eight strikeouts.

The three seniors for Dell Rapids were recognized at the games. They are Payton Krumm, Kenzie Garry, and Haileigh Barnhart.

Dell Rapids (7-1) will play their final two regular season games at home on Sunday, September 26th against Dakota Valley and West Central

Garretson Girls Soccer Loses and Draws in Past Two Matches

September 19, 2021 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Photo taken and used with permission by Tammy Chamley

The Garretson Blue Dragon girls soccer team had one loss and one draw in their last two matches.

On Thursday, September 16th, Garretson hosted the #1 team in Class A, the West Central Trojans. West Central got a goal in each half of the match for a 2-0 victory over the Blue Dragons. Garretson then hosted the Groton Tigers on Saturday, September 18th. Garretson was able to earn a 0-0 draw against the Tigers.

With only two matches left in the season, Garretson currently is in eighth place in the standings. The top six teams qualify for the state tournament. Groton is currently in the sixth spot with 39.938 points. St Thomas More is seventh with 39.667 points, and Garretson has 38.591 points.

The Blue Dragons will have their final home match of the season on Tuesday, September 21st when they host Dakota Valley. Their final regular season match will be at Sioux Falls Christian on Thursday, September 23rd.

Trojan Football Wins Third Straight

September 19, 2021 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The West Central Trojan football team won their third straight game after shutting out the Sioux Falls Christian Chargers on Friday, September 17th. The Trojans scored six points in the first half for a 6-0 advantage. West Central then scored 13 in third quarter. Both teams were held scoreless in the final quarter as the Trojans won 19-0.

Gavin Koch was 16-24 passing for 173 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Justin Zirpel was 2-2 passing for 38 yards. Braden Dierickx had 11 catches for 120 yards. Jacob Krempges had three catches for 67 yards, and Zirpel had two catches for 13 yards. Zirpel led the ground attack with 21 carries for 61 yards.

West Central (3-1) will host Dakota Valley on Friday, September 24th.

Richard ‘Dick’ Gannon

September 18, 2021 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Richard “Dick” Gannon, 83, of Dell Rapids, passed away on Thursday, September 16, 2021 at the Dells Nursing and Rehab Center. His Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, September 20, 2021 in St. Mary Catholic Church. Interment will be in St. Mary Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 19, 2021 at Kahler-Brende Funeral Home. The Christian Wake Service will begin at 4:00 p.m. with a Catholic Order of Foresters Rosary to follow. www.kahlerfh.com

Richard “Dick” Dale Gannon was born to Cletus and Delia (Day) Gannon on April 2, 1938 in Dell Rapids. He grew up on a farm west of Dell Rapids, and attended St. Mary School. On August 22, 1959 he married Rosalie Van Dam in Dell Rapids. To this union four children were born.

In his youth, he enjoyed horseback riding, hunting and fishing. Although he never graduated from high school, he went on to become an accomplished carpenter and contractor, traveling to various states working on big projects for Mortenson and Witcher companies in the 1980’s and 1990’s.

In his retirement he helped out at St. Mary’s on the Grandpa Crew doing odds and ends around the St. Mary Campus. His handiwork can be seen on the St. Mary Altar.

Richard is preceded in death by his parents, and his three brothers, Lawrence, Donald and George.

Richard is survived by his wife of 62 years, Rosalie of Dell Rapids; his children, Renae (Tom) Mergen of Dell Rapids, Kim (John) Bunkers of Dell Rapids, Rodney Gannon of Rochester, MN and Paul (Tammy) Gannon of Dell Rapids; his eleven grandchildren, Kelly (Jenni) Mergen, Katie (Heath) Abraham, Eric (Morgan) Mergen, Rane (Aneta) Mergen, Chris (Ashlee) Bunkers, Caitlin Bunkers, Colby (Kaitlin) Bunkers, Rich (Kayla) Gannon, Luke Gannon, Tyler Gannon, Cody (DJ) Gannon; his 13 great-grandchildren; his brothers, Eugene Gannon of Des Moines, IA, Gerald (Deb) Gannon of Worthing; his sister, Donna Entringer (John Nelson) of Sioux Falls; his sisters-in-law, Doris Singer of Falcon Heights, MN and Julie Abrahamson of Sioux Falls and his many nieces, nephews and extended family.

Memorials may be directed to the St. Mary Campus Renewal Fund.

Quarriers’ Late Rally Secures Win over Lennox

September 18, 2021 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Photo taken and used with permission by Tammy Chamley

Three scores in the final quarter lifted the Dell Rapids Quarriers to a 28-14 win over the Lennox Orioles at home on Friday, September 19th. The first three quarters of the game had defensive stops and near misses on offense, but the Quarriers scored in a hurry in the fourth quarter to seal the win.

Dell Rapids got the only touchdown in the first half. Landon Ruesink scored on a seven-yard run with 7:04 in the opening quarter. Aiden Boechler made the extra point to give Dell Rapids a 7-0 lead. That score held for the remainder of the first half.

Lennox started to pick up momentum late in the third quarter. Jackson Arlt scored on a three-yard run to pull the Orioles within a point. The extra point was missed as it bounced off the left upright. Dell Rapids kept the lead at 7-6 after three quarters of play.

The Quarriers quickly took the momentum back from Lennox. On the very next drive, Ruesink scored on a 33-yard run with 10:27 to go in the game. Austin Henry completed a pass to Ruesink for the two-point conversion to make the score 15-6. After a turnover on downs, Dell Rapids took over at about midfield. Landon VonHoltum found the endzone with 5:55 to go on an eight-yard run. The extra point was no good, but Dell Rapids led 21-6. Just :54 later, the Quarriers scored a defensive touchdown when Brayden Pankonen intercepted a pass and returned it 64 yards for the score. Boechler made the extra point to push the lead to 28-6. Lennox did get a score with 1:16 to go in the game and also made the two-point conversion.

Dell Rapids had a total of 287 yards of offense, 248 rushing yards and 39 passing yards. Lennox finished with 473 yards of offense, 123 rushing yards and 350 passing yards. The Quarriers were 6-11 on third down conversions and one turnover. The Orioles finished 4-12 on third down and 2-6 on fourth down. Lennox also turned the ball over three times.

Ruesink finished with 14 carries for 129 yards and two touchdowns in the running attack. VonHoltum had 16 carries for 73 yards and a touchdown. Pankonen had eight carries for 47 yards. Henry was 3-6 passing for 39 yards. Ruesink had two catches for 24 yards, and Pankonen had a catch for 15 yards.

Ruesink also led the team in tackles with 11 and had an interception. Pankonen had nine tackles and an interception. Mason Stubbe had eight tackles. Jake Henry and Aiden Geraets both finished with seven tackles each. Ian Mason had six tackles and a fumble recovery.

Dell Rapids (3-1) will travel to Sioux Falls to play the Sioux Falls Christian Chargers on Friday, September 24th.

	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Lennox	0	0	6	8	14
Dell Rapids	7	0	0	21	28

Mustang Volleyball Falls Short of Win Against Dell Rapids at Home

September 17, 2021 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The Dell Rapids Quarriers and Tri-Valley Mustangs had quite the battle on Thursday, September 16th at Tri-Valley High School. The two teams traded set wins and needed five sets to determine the winner.

Tri-Valley opened the match with a 25-21 victory. Dell Rapids came back and cruised through the second set for a 25-12 win. The third set went to the Mustangs by a 25-18 score. Once again Dell Rapids cruised through another set, winning the fourth 25-13. With the match tied 2-2, it came down to the fifth set. Dell Rapids came out victorious with a 15-12 score.

This was the third match in a row the Mustangs have fallen in five sets.

Hillary Hastings had four kills, and Megan Wenzel had three on the night. Wenzel also had seven total blocks. Ava Pearson finished with three. Jenna Hanson had a team-high 10 digs, and Hannah West had eight digs. McKenzie Atwood had four ace serves. Nevaeh Grann had 10 set assists in the match. Brookelyn Stieben had nine set assists and one ace serve.

The Mustangs (0-8) look to get that first win of the season at home against Canton on Tuesday, September 21st.

Quarrier Volleyball Wins Back-and-Forth Match at Tri-Valley

September 17, 2021 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

JoJo Henry led the team with 14 kills. Sophi Randall finished with 11. Kenzy Garry had seven kills, and Lauren Kloth had six. Lexi Ingalls and Riley Hill both had a team-high five ace serves. Randall added three. Randall led the team in blocks with 12 on the night, while Garry notched eight. Three players finished in double figures for digs. Henry had 16 digs, Garry had 15, and Hill finished with 13. Randall also had 18 set assists, and Hill had 17.

The Quarriers (6-5) will travel to Baltic on Monday, September 20th.

West Central Boys Golf Wins Another Tournament

September 17, 2021 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The West Central Trojan boys golf team posted yet another tournament win on Thursday, September 17th. The Trojans won the Elk Point-Jefferson Match Play Invite with a total of 70 team points. This is the fourth straight tournament win for the team.

The Elk Point-Jefferson tournament is different from the rest of the tournaments throughout the year. Each golfer is placed in an individual eight-person bracket and places based on their play compared to the other golfers throughout the day. Each place is then awarded a point value for the team score, and the highest team score wins the team portion.

West Central had three first place finishers on the day. Connor Eisenbeisz, Connor Eich, and Connor Mebius all won their respective brackets. Easton Eberhard had a second-place finish. Cole Miles placed third in his bracket. Anthony Lanham had a fourth-place finish. Kamden Zomer placed fifth, and Peyton Bettcher finished sixth in his bracket.

The Trojans will be in Madison on Monday, September 20th for the Dak-XII Conference Tournament.

Dell Rapids Boys Golf 8th at EPJ Invite

September 17, 2021 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The Dell Rapids Quarrier boys golf team played in the Elk Point-Jefferson Match Play Invite on Thursday, September 16th. This is the one tournament a year that points and places are based on bracketed match play rules.

Three of the Quarrier golfers had seventh place finishes in their respective brackets. They were Ryder VanZee, Konrad Richael, and Lauden VonHoltum. The other players finished eighth in their brackets. They were Carter Traill, Tyler Tjaden, Oscar Anderson, Nick Snyder, and Gage Schultz.

Each place was given a point value, and Dell Rapids finished with 11 total points on the day. West Central and Sioux Falls Christian both had 70 team points.

The Quarriers will be at the Madison Golf and Country Club on Monday, September 20th for the Dak-XII Conference Tournament.

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