Bulldogs Bring Home Gold from State Track 

Sam Rick won the state Triple Jump title for Milbank at the 2026 South Dakota State High School Track and Field Championships held at Howard Wood Field in Sioux Falls from May 28-30. 

Rick also won second place in the Pole Vault competition and eighth place in the Long Jump. Nine more MHS athletes brought home top eighth-place finishes.

Bulldog Lawson Novy claimed second in the Shot Put competition. Jeter Scoular took sixth in the 3200-Meter Run. Harley Zemlicka came in seventh in both the 110 and 300-Meter Hurdles.

Lady Bulldogs Ella Koplin, Haylen Schneck, Susie Schuneman, and Zayda Townsend  earned fifth place in the (4×400) 1600-Meter Relay. Jacy Dexter was seventh in the girls Pole Vault competition and Raina Untalan eighth. 

The Milbank boys took eighth place as a team. The girls finished 24th. Sioux Falls Lincoln(AA), Sioux Falls Christian (A), and Philip (B) won the boys team titles.  Rapid City Stevens (AA), Sioux Falls Christian (A), and Bennett County (B) won the girls team championships.

Class A Boys:

Top-20 Team Scores : (1) SF Christian – 110, (2)  Lennox – 78.5  (3) Hill City – 64  (4) Vermillion – 51  (5) Madison – 48 (6) Ethan/Parkston – 40 (7) Deuel – 38  (8) Milbank – 34 (T9) Groton Area – 29  (T9) Sioux Valley – 29 (11) West Central – 24  (12) Custer – 23 (13) Tri-Valley – 22 (T14) Garretson – 18  (T14) Webster Area – 18  (16)  Winner – 16 ( 17) Elkton-Lake Benton –  15  (18) Baltic – 12  (19)  Dakota Valley – 9 (T20) Great Plains Lutheran – 8  (T20) Canton – 8  (T20)  Mobridge-Pollock – 8.

Boys Individual Event Winners- (*=Meet Record)

100-Meter: 1. Oliver Fieber, Deuel, 10.67; 2. Mark Deckert, Ethan/Parkston, 11.07; 3. Nick Schroeder, Hill City, 11.19; 4. Shane Veenhof, Madison, 11.20; 5. Keegen Tracy, Groton Area, 11.26; 6. Jackson Shoulders, Dakota Valley, 11.26; 7. Colt Beck, Elkton-Lake Benton, 11.35; 8. Jaxson Bittner, Lennox, 32.18.

200-Meter: 1. Oliver Fieber, Deuel, 22.10; 2. Teegan Musser, Lennox, 22.34. 3. Dylan Runestad, Baltic, 22.62; 4. Jacob Fischer, Vermillion, 22.81; 5. Keegen Tracy, Groton Area, 22.89; 6. Drake Mikkelsen, Lennox, 23.07; 7. Owen Effling, Tri-Valley, 23.10; 8. Mark Deckert, Ethan/Parkston, 23.39.

400-Meter: 1. Keegen Tracy, Groton Area, 49.54; 2. Drake Mikkelsen, Lennox, 49.94; 3. Dylan Runestad, Baltic, 50.36; 4. Brady Hiltunen, Sioux Valley, 50.44; 5. Dax Frandsen, Hill City, 50.60; 6. Brant Wassenaar, SF Christian, 50.76; 7. Gavin Pearson, Belle Fourche, 52.16; DQ: Isaak Booker, Lennox, DQ

800-Meter: 1. Tate Grabow, Hill City, 1:55.02; 2. Levi Vander Leest, SF Christian, 1:55.96; 3. Carson Wosje, Sioux Valley, 1:56.40; 4. Carter Siemonsma, Garretson, 1:57.56; 5. Brice Wassenaar, SF Christian, 1:58.36; 6. Izayah Ulmer, Scotland/Menno, 1:58.78; 7. Oscar Edelen, Vermillion, 1:59.99; 8. Zachary Cooper, Custer, 2:00.15

1,600-Meter: 1. Tate Grabow, Hill City, 4:24.82; 2. Levi Vander Leest, SF Christian, 4:26.11; 3. Peyton Tetzlaff, West Central, 4:29.05; 4. Carter Siemonsma, Garretson, 4:29.54; 5. Cloy McVey, Lennox, 4:29.95; 6. Dylan Gerdes, Madison, 4:30.15; 7. Oscar Edelen, Vermillion, 4:30.20; 8. Sawyer Pettengill, SF Christian, 4:30.26.

3,200-Meter: 1. Tate Grabow, Hill City, 9:34.02; 2. Peyton Tetzlaff, West Central, 9:38.18; 3. Jayden Schwan, Groton Area, 9:40.14; 4. Dylan Gerdes, Madison, 9:44.19; 5. Simon Roelofs, SF Christian, 9:46.86; 6. Jeter Scoular, Milbank, 9:50.50; 7. Sawyer Pettengill, SF Christian, 9:51.09; 8. Wesley Lyon, SF Christian, 9:51.12

110-Meter Hurdles: 1. Shane Veenhof, Madison, 14.39; 2. Ty Oyen, Tri-Valley, 14.58; 3. Dominic Butts, West Central, 15.09; 4. Isaak Hunter, Miller, 15.21; 5. Wyatt Bult, Lennox, 15.33; 6. Brensen Veneklasen, Hill City, 16.25; 7. Harley Zemlicka, Milbank, 17.96; DNS. Dawson Holthe, SF Christian, DNS.

300-Meter Hurdles: 1. Shane Veenhof, Madison, 39.17; 2. Aiden Buys, SF Christian, 41.18; 3. Ty Oyen, Tri-Valley, 41.30; 4. Cole Sandland, Mount Vernon/Plankinton, 41.86; 5. Milo Schumacher, Great Plains Lutheran, 42.16; 6. Brensen Veneklasen, Hill City, 42.91; 7. Harley Zemlicka, Milbank, 42.97; 8. Austin Bosman, SF Christian, 44.29.

4×100: 1. Vermillion (Ryne Chapman, Ian Job, Elijah Lara, Jacob Fischer), 43.23; 2. Deuel, 43.30; 3. Dakota Valley, 43.68; 4. SF Christian, 43.93; 5. Ethan/Parkston, 44.16; 6. Wagner, 44.37; 7. Tri-Valley, 44.59; 8. Hot Springs, 44.74.

4×200: 1. Deuel (Axel Gallardo, Gavin Kloos, Brock Johnson, Oliver Fieber), 1:29.81; 2. Vermillion, 1:30.10; 3. Lennox, 1:30.57; 4. Hill City, 1:31.16; 5. Tri-Valley, 1:31.79; 6. SF Christian, 1:31.81; 7. Ethan/Parkston, 1:31.89; 8. Hot Springs, 1:32.26.

4×400: 1. SF Christian (Aiden Buys, Brice Wassenaar, Levi Vander Leest, Brant Wassenaar), 3:23.49; 2. Sioux Valley, 3:26.02; 3. Vermillion, 3:30.77; 4. Ethan/Parkston, 3:31.20; 5. Hill City, 3:31.71; 6, Madison, 3:34.07; 7. West Central, 3:35.25; 8. Hot Springs, 3:36.23.

4×800: 1. SF Christian (Brice Wassenaar, Sawyer Pettengill, Wesley Lyon, Levi Vander Leest), 8:06.47; 2. Lennox, 8:11.71; 3. Custer, 8:12.03; 4. Garretson, 8:17.86; 5. Vermillion, 8:17.97; 6. Hill City, 8:23.07; 7. Madison, 8:26.85; 8. Cheyenne-Eagle Butte, 8:28.11.

Medley: 1. Sioux Valley, 3:32.07-*Record (Mitchell Guthmiller, Hunter Steinhaus, Brady Hiltunen, Carson Wosje); 2. SF Christian, 3:35.26; 3. Hill City, 3:36.88; 4. Groton Area, 3:37.27; 5. Custer, 3:39.15; 6. Garretson, 3:39.30; 7. West Central, 3:39.79; 8. Hanson, 3:42.92.

High Jump: 1. Teegan Musser, Lennox, 6-5; 2. Davin Hohn, Ethan/Parkston, 6-4; 3. Tate Gerdes, Lennox, 6-3; 4. Bryson Edwards, Todd County, 6-2; 5. Lucas Johnson, Great Plains Lutheran, 6-2; 6. Hudson VanDonge, SF Christian, 6-2; T7. Maverick Stockwell, Lennox, 6-0; T7. Shea Kjeldgaard, Wagner, 6-0.

Long Jump: 1.Teegan Musser, Lennox – 22-04.00 2.Elijah Lara -Vermillion 22-01.50  3. Ian Job – Vermillion 21-06.25  4. Danny Immormino – Custer 21-05.75 5. Mason Jervik Ethan-Parkston 21-04.50  6. Maddox Johnson – SF Christian 20-11.50  7. Colin Robertson – Parker/Marion 20-11 8. Samuel Rick – Milbank 20-10.75.

Triple Jump: 1. Samuel Rick, Milbank, 44-07.50; 2. Sean Deckert, Ethan/Parkston, 43-05.50; 3. Tate Gerdes, Lennox, 43-03.50; 4. Trayden Stambach, Mobridge-Pollock, 42-10.50; 5. Maddox Johnson, Sioux Falls Christian, 42-08.50; 6. Micah Goehring, Scotland/Menno, 42-04.25; 7. Bo Begeman, Clark/Willow Lake, 42-00.50; 8. Dawson Hlavacek, Florence/Henry, 41-10.00.

Shot Put: 1. Marcus Furth, SF Christian, 60-08.50; 2. Lawson Novy, Milbank, 54-02.75; 3. Matthew Mount, Webster Area, 53-11.75; 4. Maddux Munson, SF Christian, 53-05.50; 5. Maxon Speed, St. Thomas More, 53-02.75; 6. Taiton Boersma, Elkton-Lake Benton, 50-04.75; 7. Kellen Pfitzer, Mobridge-Pollock, 50-04.00; 8. Michael Severson, Clark/Willow Lake, 50-01.75.

Discus: 1. Jaxon Day, Winner, 176-04, 2. Taiton Boersma, Elkton-Lake Benton, 167-00; 3. Legend Benedict, Winner, 161-10; 4. Nick Popkes, SF Christian, 154-02; 5. Gabe Raba, Belle Fourche, 151-05; 6. Jaxton Hoftiezer, Stanley County, 150-04; 7. Matthew Mount, Webster Area, 150-01; 8. Kellen Pfitzer, Mobridge-Pollock, 149-11.

Javelin: 1. Matthew Mount, Webster Area, 176-09R; 2. Keyvin Strand, Canton, 165-06; 3. Brock Bowman, Aberdeen Roncalli, 160-10; 4. Peyton Glenn, RC Christian, 158-08; 5. Jackson Peppel, Dell Rapids, 155-05; 6. Brennen Juffer, Lennox, 155-03; 7. Trey Vander Weerdt, Elk Point-Jefferson, 151-09; 8. Luke Schmitz, Elk Point-Jefferson, 148-07.

Pole Vault: 1. Colton Davis, Madison, 14-3; 2. Samuel Rick, Milbank, 13-9; 3. Ezra Wollman, Custer, 13-3; 4. Zade Seaman, Lead-Deadwood, 12-9; 5. Jason Koenes, SF Christian, 12-9; 6. Jake Hamilton, Flandreau, 12-9; 7. Eliot Erickson, Elkton-Lake Benton, 12-9; 8. Ayden Dooley, Custer, 12-3. 

Class A Track Boys MVP – Tate Grabow of Hill City Class A Boys Field MVP-  Mathew Mount of Webster Area.

Class A Girls:

Top-25 Team Scores: (1)  SF Christian – 178 (2) Lennox –  100 (3) Dakota Valley –  58.83 (4) Elk Point-Jefferson – 47 ( 5) Custer – 36, (6) Belle Fourche – 35.33 ( 7) Flandreau –  32  (8) Parker/Marion – 31 (9) Dell Rapids –  29 (10) Clark-Willow Lake – 25 (11) Hill City – 20 (12) Chamberlain – 17 (13) Sioux Valley – 16.5  (T14) Hot Springs – 16 ( T14) Wagner – 16 (16) Mahpiya Luta – 12 (T17) Britton-Hecla – 11  (T17) Groton Area – 11 (19) Deuel – 10  (T20) Ethan-Parkston – 9  (T20) Mobridge-Pollock – 9. (T22) West Central – 8  (T22) Scotland- Menno – 8  (24) Milbank –  6.5  (25) Mt. Vernon-Plankinton – 6.

Individual Event Winners:

100-Meter: 1. Bergan Musser, Lennox, 11.94; 2. Braelyn Berens, Parker/Marion, 12.10; 3. Jayla DeCou, Lennox, 12.34; 4. Alexis McEntee, SF Christian, 12.57; 5. Tavyn Tiedeman, Beresford, 12.60; 6. Millie Squier, Dakota Valley, 12.61; 7. Bentley Bauer, Mobridge-Pollock, 12.63; 8. Arianna Farris, SF Christian, 12.67.

200-Meter: 1. Halle Braun, SF Christian, 24.23 *Record; 2. Bergan Musser, Lennox, 24.73; 3. Braelyn Berens, Parker/Marion, 24.95; 4. Jayla DeCou, Lennox, 25.47; 5. Ashlynn Elshere, Hot Springs, 25.78; 6. Alaina Dean, Hill City, 26.26; 7. Bentley Bauer, Mobridge-Pollock, 26.40; 8. Lauren McDermott, Elk Point-Jefferson, 26.42.

400-Meter: 1. Braelyn Berens, Parker/Marion, 57.65; 2. Ashlynn Elshere, Hot Springs, 58.03; 3. Rorie Thoreson, Dell Rapids, 59.63; 4. Jayla DeCou, Lennox, 1:00.17; 5. Cadence Bochek, Clark/Willow Lake, 1:00.39; 6. Amia Ward, Sioux Valley, 1:00.52; 7. Gracelyn Campbell, Elk Point-Jefferson, 1:00.68; 8. Amara Usera, St. Thomas More, 1:01.13.

800-Meter: 1. Ellie Maddox, SF Christian, 2:12.53-*Record; 2. Sadie Pettengill, SF Christian, 2:13.90; 3. Alex McCullough, Dakota Valley, 2:14.24; 4. Grace Phillips, Chamberlain, 2:16.27; 5. Rorie Thoreson, Dell Rapids, 2:16.53; 6. Rhys Pearson, Belle Fourche, 2:16.94; 7. Natalie Smith, SF Christian, 2:17.03; 8. Maddie Kooiman, RC Christian, 2:17.55.

1,600-Meter: 1. Ellie Maddox, SF Christian, 4:53.37 *Record; 2. Alex McCullough, Dakota Valley, 5:00.02; 3. Sadie Pettengill, SF Christian, 5:03.64; 4. Faith Wiese, Flandreau, 5:05.60; 5. Bailey VanderGriend, SF Christian, 5:06.42; 6. Rhys Pearson, Belle Fourche, 5:07.15; 7. Grace Phillips, Chamberlain, 5:11.61; 8. Kamryn Nesheim, Clark/Willow Lake, 5:17.82.

3,200-Meter: 1. Ellie Maddox, Sioux Falls Christian, 10:29.33 *Record; 2. Faith Wiese, Flandreau, 10:54.77; 3. Sadie Pettengill, Sioux Falls Christian, 11:01.17; 4. Bailey VanderGriend, Sioux Falls Christian, 11:01.22; 5. Rhys Pearson, Belle Fourche, 11:21.77; 6. Grace Phillips, Chamberlain, 11:26.64; 7. Kamryn Nesheim, Clark/Willow Lake, 11:30.61; 8. Sarah Johnson, West Central, 11:47.57.

100-Meter Hurdles: 1. Halle Braun, SF Christian, 14.41 *Record; 2. Lauren McDermott, Elk Point-Jefferson, 14.83; 3. Ansley O’Brien, Belle Fourche, 14.93; 4. Tori Gerdes, Lennox, 15.08; 5. Ashlan Carlow, Mahpiya Luta, 15.11; 6. Ivy Jaacks, Elkton-Lake Benton, 15.30; 7. Nealie Stanford, SF Christian, 15.38; 8. Sydney Schaap, SF Christian, 15.50.

300-Meter Hurdles: 1. Halle Braun, SF Christian,43.22; 2. Ashlan Carlow, Mahpiya Luta, 44.94; 3. Lauren McDermott, Elk Point-Jefferson, 45.01; 4. Hill City, Andee Frandsen, 45.77; 5. Tori Gerdes, Lennox, 46.30; 6. Ava Squier, Dakota Valley, 46.37; 7. McKenna Tietz, Groton Area, 46.48; 8. Cera Schmitz, Elk Point-Jefferson, 47.86.

4×100: 1. SF Christian (Autumn Aukes, Emory Lems, Sydney Schaap, Alexis McEntee), 49.53; 2. Belle Fourche, 50.17; 3. Dell Rapids, 50.57; 4. Dakota Valley, 51.10; 5. Parker/Marion, 51.11; 6. Elk Point-Jefferson, 51.24; 7. West Central, 51.56; 8. Hill City, 51.58.

4×200: 1. SF Christian (Alexis McEntee, Arianna Farris, Autumn Aukes, Emory Lems), 1:43.82; 2. Belle Fourche, 1:46.69; 3. Dakota Valley, 1:47.12; 4. Groton Area, 1:47.21; 5. Hot Springs, 1:48.05; 6. Elk Point-Jefferson, 1:48.08; 7. Dell Rapids, 1:48.32; 8. West Central, 1:49.20.

4×400: 1. SF Christian (Emory Lems, Natalie Smith, Ellie Maddox, Halle Braun), 4:00.07; 2. Flandreau, 4:04.57; 3. Lennox, 4:05.70; 4. Dell Rapids, 4:07.59;5. Milbank (Ella Koplin, Haylen Schneck, Susie Schuneman, and Zayda Townsend) 4:10.09; 6. Groton Area, 4:10.31; 7. Ethan/Parkston, 4:10.50; 8. Clark/Willow Lake, 4:11.20.

4×800: 1. Sioux Falls Christian (Bailey VanderGriend, Bryn Barker, Elia Peterson, Natalie Smith), 9:29.50; 2. Lennox, 9:41.97; 3. Mount Vernon/Plankinton, 9:49.68; 4. Chamberlain, 9:56.91; 5. Garretson, 9:59.05; 6. West Central, 10:00.60; 7. Ethan/Parkston, 10:01.33; 8. Vermillion, 10:03.36.

Medley: 1. Lennox (Tori Gerdes, Bergan Musser, Jayla DeCou, Adie McVey), 4:09.54; 2. Flandreau, 4:10.49; 3. Sioux Falls Christian, 4:11.31; 4. Clark/Willow Lake, 4:11.50; 5. Dakota Valley, 4:11.94; 6. Belle Fourche, 4:12.06; 7. Dell Rapids, 4:12.56; 8. West Central, 4:19.54.

High Jump: 1. Ashlyn Koupal, Wagner, 5-6; 2. Holly Gillick, Lennox, 5-5; 3. Lillie Ham, Hill City, 5-5; T4. Emma Gorvin, Sioux Valley, 5-2; T4. Claire Munch, Dakota Valley, 5-2; 6. Lydia Nelson, Madison, 5-2; 7. Jaelee Grupe, Britton-Hecla, 5-2; T8. Ansley O’Brien, Belle Fourche, 5-0; T8. Jade Rhody, Beresford, 5-0; T8. Tinsley Sorensen, Dakota Valley, 5-0.

Long Jump: 1. Bergan Musser, Lennox, 18-01; 2. Arianna Farris, SF Christian, 17-08.25; 3. Claire Munch, Dakota Valley, 17-06.5; 4. Mandi Schock, McCook Central/Montrose, 17-04.25; 5. Bentley Bauer, Mobridge-Pollock, 17-03.25; 6. Gracelyn Campbell, Elk Point-Jefferson, 17-01; 7. Julia Bernard, Dakota Valley, 16-07.75; 8. Abigail Lee, Britton-Hecla, 16-04.25.

Triple Jump: 1. Claire Munch, Dakota Valley, 37-3.5; 2. Abigail Lee, Britton-Hecla, 36-11.50; 3. Katie Humpal, SF Christian, 36-0.75; 4. Alaina Dean, Hill City, 35-10.75; 5. Gracie Turbes, Canton, 35-0.5; 6. Rhegan Sheppard, Flandreau, 34-10.25; 7. Hailey Schmitz, Elk Point-Jefferson, 34-7.5; 8. Julia Bernard, Dakota Valley, 34-4.5.

Shot Put: 1. Eliza Larson, Clark/Willow Lake, 39-3.75; 2. Jessica Hite, Custer, 36-4.75; 3. Ashlyn Koupal, Wagner, 36-4.75; 4. Addison Martz, Lennox, 35-11.25; 5. Kate Hayes, Elk Point-Jefferson, 35-5.25; 6. Jersey Lessman, Parker/Marion, 35-4.75; 7. Calla Larson, Clark/Willow Lake, 35-4; 8. Karyn Ellerton, Custer, 34-11.

Shot Put: 1. Eliza Larson, Clark/Willow Lake, 39-3.75; 2. Jessica Hite, Custer, 36-4.75; 3. Ashlyn Koupal, Wagner, 36-4.75; 4. Addison Martz, Lennox, 35-11.25; 5. Kate Hayes, Elk Point-Jefferson, 35-5.25; 6. Jersey Lessman, Parker/Marion, 35-4.75; 7. Calla Larson, Clark/Willow Lake, 35-4; 8. Karyn Ellerton, Custer, 34-11.

Javelin: 1. Sydney Schaap, Sioux Falls Christian, 121-05; 2. Kylie Guthmiller, Scotland/Menno, 121-04; 3. Cera Schmitz, Elk Point-Jefferson, 117-11; 4. Keeara Oakley, Ethan/Parkston, 115-04; 5. Amari Ward, Sioux Valley, 114-04; 6. Kadence Davey, Tri-Valley, 113-09; 7. Ava Christensen, Tri-Valley, 113-04; 8. Rylee Dunker, Groton Area, 112-02.

Pole Vault: 1. Tenlee Stiefel, Custer, 13-3R; 2. Kelsey Stiefel, Custer, 12-1; 3. Hannah Cutshaw, Deuel, 11-1; 4. Alexis McEntee, Sioux Falls Christian, 11-1; 5. Lauryn Peterreins, Deuel, 10-7; 6. Victoria Gassen, Sioux Falls Christian, 10-1; 7. Jacy Dexter, Milbank, 10-1; T8. Raina Untalan, Milbank, 10-1; T8. Karstyn Miller, Madison, 10-1. Class A Girls Track MVP– Ellie Maddox and Halle Braun, both of Sioux Falls Christian Class A Girls Field MVP – Claire Munch of Dakota Valley.

Complete Results for Milbank Athletes:

Boys–

3200-Meter Relay: 15th Place – (Liam Street, Jeter Scoular, Beckham Berry, Liam Heller).

400-Meter Relay: 18th Place – (Garrett Weber, Lance Engebretson, Mason Allen,  Jaxson Wiese).

800-Meter Relay: 13th Place – (Garrett Weber, Harley Zemlicka, Jaxson Wiese, Sam Rick).

Pole Vault: Max Scoular – 10th Place and 11th Place Bryton Blauert. 

1600-Meter: 17th Place –  (Liam Street, Cade Grabow, Garrett Weber, Harley Zemlicka).Discus: 11th Place – Lawson Novy.

1600-Meter Run: 19th Place – Liam Heller and 20th Place Jeter Scoular.

Girls–

400-Meter Relay: 14th Place –  (Jacy Dexter, Violet Johnson, Raina Untalan, Bree Townsend).

High Jump: 12th Place – Haylen Schneck.

Medley Relay: 13th Place – (Violet Johnson, Bree Townsend, Zayda Townsend, Ella Koplin).

Discus: 11th Place – Anna Neugebauer.

800-Meter Relay: 13th Place – (Violet Johnson, Zayda Townsend, Bree Townsend, Ella Koplin).

Triple Jump: 17th Place – Susie Schuneman.

400-Meter Dash: 11th Place – Zayda Townsend  13th Place – Ella Koplin  17th Place Haylen Schneck.

Long Jump: 13th Place – Susie Schuneman.

Shot: 12th Place – Anna Neugebauer.