Milbank Athletes Shine at 2026 Northeast Area Special Olympics

The 2026 Northeast Area Special Olympics Spring Track and Field Games were held at A.B. Campbell Stadium in Milbank on Friday, May 1. Approximately 300 athletes from cities across northeast South Dakota and Milbank’s very own Special Olympics athletes competed in the all-day competition. 

The MHS band started the day with pre-ceremony music. Kaylee Torgerson carried in the Special Olympics torch. American Legion Post No. 9 of Milbank presented the colors, and Lorn Harstad sang the National Anthem. Pastor Daniel Lopez of Calvary Church led everyone in the invocation. The Special Olympics oath was led by Jason Stovall.

Abbey Trapp and Peggy Greiner, who have spearheaded the annual event in Milbank for four years, offered  a huge “Thank you” to the volunteers and the community. 

Milbank Athletes
Matthew Athey: 
50-Meter Dash – Second Place
Softball Throw – Third Place
Standing Long Jump – Second Place 

Cindy Fish:
50-MeterDash – Second Place
Softball Throw – Second Place
Standing Long Jump – First Place

Jimmy Gesswein:
50-Meter Walk – Third Place
Softball Throw – Second Place
Standing Long Jump – Second Place

Tyler Johnson:
100-Meter Dash – First Place
Softball Throw – Fourth Place
Standing Long Jump – Third Place

Barb Kloster:
Softball Throw – First Place

Ian Madsen:
100-Meter Dash –Fourth Place
Shotput – First Place
Standing Long Jump – First Place

Sarah Rick: 
50-Meter Walk – First Place
Softball Throw –Second Place

Jason Stovall:
50-Meter Walk – First Place
Softball Throw – Second Place
Standing Long Jump – First Place

Briar Zuraff:
100-Meter Dash – First Place
Softball Throw – First Place
Standing Long Jump – Second Place

Schoolers
Achilles Lunsford:
1 Mile – First  Place
200-Meter – First  Place
Mini Javi – First Place

Jaden Athey:
100 Meter – Second  Place
Softball Throw- Second Place 
Standing Long Jump- First Place

Math Moen
100 Meter – Sixth Place
Softball Throw – Fourth Place 
Standing Long Jump – Third Place

Mia Payan Montes:
50-Meter Walk – First Place
25-Meter Walk – First Place
Tennis Ball Throw – First Place

Rose Marvel:
100 Meter- Third Place

Hannah Henrich:
100 Meter – First Place
Softball Throw – First Place
Standing Long Jump – Second Place

Mike Jansenn: 
Competed in the Shotput/100 Meter/Running Long Jump. Places not available

Nick Johnson: 
Shot Put – First Place 
100 meter – Second Place
Running Long Jump- Third Place 

Anthony St. Martin:
Shot Put – Second Place
100 meter -Second Place 
Running Long Jump -Second Place
Team Relay- First Place

Gabe Coalter-
50 meter Walk- First Place
Softball Throw- First Place

Shyenne Giossi:
100 Mete r- First Place 
Softball Throw – Second Place 
Standing Long Jump – First Place

Reese Scheuneman:
200 Meter- First Place 
Softball Throw – First Place
Running Long Jump  -First Place
Team Relay – First Place

Rylan Miller:
100 Meter – First Place 
Running Long Jump – First Place 
Softball Throw – Second Place 
Team Relay- First Place

Kaylee Torgerson:
100 Meter – First Place
Standing Long Jump- First Place
Softball Throw- First Place
Team Relay-First Place

Elementary Athletes – Results not available
Carter Busack: Tennis Ball Throw /Long Jump/100-Meter Run
Addie Boese:  Tennis Ball Throw/Long Jump/100-Meter Run 
Emmett Tesch: Tennis Ball Throw/Long Jump/100-Meter Run
Scarlett Holmquist: Tennis Ball Throw/Long Jump/100-Meter Run
Peyton Lee: Tennis Ball Throw/Long Jump
Caspin Johnson: Tennis Ball Throw/Long Jump
Jaxson Tuttle: Softball Throw/100-Meter Run