PRESS & DAKOTAN SPRING SPORTS 2016: PAGE 3 PLAIN TALK Gazelles Golfers Aim For Another High Finish BY DYLAN HUGGINS sports@yankton.net GIRLS’ GOLF After finishing fourth at state last year, the Yankton Gazelles Girls Golf team expects to compete in the upcoming season. “We have high expectations for the upcoming season,” Head coach Brett Sime said. “We finished second in the ESD conference, finished in the top five at state, and we diddn’t lose anybody from last year.” Six girls finished in the top 100 at state for Yankton last year to earn a fourth place finish as a team. Becky Frick finished tied for third, Payton Pierce tied for 17th, Linze Cowman tied for 19th, Morgan Strahl tied for 34th, Ashley Van Meeteren, and Darian Tramp tied for 84th. The South Dakota State Girls Golf Tournament is June 6-7 this year. Last year’s tournament was held May 18-19. Sime said the change in the schedule for the state tournament could possibly affect how his team performs. “The state tournament is two and half weeks after school gets out and not having school in session alter how often our team meet for practice,” he said. “The girls will have to work hard to finish in the top five at state again,” he said. “There will be pretty good competition at the state team and the girls just have to Apr. 14 Harrisburg Inv. 10 a.m. Apr. 18 vs. Brookings/Brandon Valley (Hillcrest) 2 p.m. Apr. 21 vs. S.F. Washington/Mitchell/ Harrisburg (Fox Run) 1 p.m. Apr. 25 at O’Gorman 2:30 p.m. Apr. 29 at Mitchell 2 p.m. May 3 vs. Mitchell/at Lincoln 2 p.m. May 6 Yankton Inv. (FR) 10 a.m. May 13 Mitchell Inv. 10:30 a.m. May 16 Washington Inv. 9 a.m. May 19 Brookings Inv. 10 a.m. May 26 ESD (Brookings) 9 a.m. June 2 Brandon Valley Inv. noon June 6-7 State (Mitchell) 9 a.m. believe in themselves.” Sime also mentioned a goal for his team for the upcoming season. “A goal of our ours would be to get better at the short game,” he said. “Improving our chipping and putting game will help us out a lot in the different competitions,” he said. “Internal competition will also be important because it will allow for some of the younger golfers to compete for some of the top spots.” Yankton’s first meet of the season takes place on April 14 against Harrisburg at the Spring Creek Country Club in Harrisburg. Three meets will take place in Yankton including two back-to-back meets on April 18 at Yankton Hillcrest and April 21 at Yankton Fox Run. Follow @dhugg23 on Twitter. Bucks Baseball Begins First Season Under Nelson Frick Begins Final Season Of Long Golf Career BY DYLAN HUGGINS sports@yankton.net Becky Frick may have finished tied for third last year at state golf, but doing well individually isn’t her only focus. “As a team, we’d like to finish in the top three overall at state,” Frick said. “For me personally, it’s not only about getting better, but helping the team out in any way I can. Frick was a part of the Yankton girl’s golf team that finished fourth overall last year at the South Dakota State Girls Golf Tournament. “We didn’t lost anyone from last year and I think our team has the possibility of being even better than last year,” Frick said. “Although the state tournament is pushed back a couple of weeks this year, I think it is definitely a plus for us to have some girls on the team that have competed in a state tournament.” Yankton girls golf head coach Brett Sime had high praise for Frick on her not only being a great golf, but also a leader for the group. “Becky Frick is not only a good athlete, she’s also a great competitor,” Sime said. “She was the captain last year for our golf team and she’ll be one of the leaders on this years team.” Frick has not only been involved in golf, but in basketball and volleyball as well. Frick mentioned that it is a combination of things as to what has made her successful in the different sports she has participated in. “Practicing over the years and my experience on varsity has definitely helped me,” Frick said. “Having great teammates has also helped me in the different sports.” Although Frick has participated in different sports, she mentioned how some things are transferable from the court to the course. “Golf is a very mental sport and so it allows me to be able to translate YANKTON: Becky Frick that in the other sports I have participated in,” she said. “Staying calm is important and knowing just to try and do your best every time you step on the court or the course.” Frick will be playing volleyball for Dakota Wesleyan University starting in the fall of 2016. Yankton’s first golf tournament of the year will be on April 14 at the Spring Creek Country Club in Harrisburg. Follow @dhugg23 on Twitter. BY BEN HEGGE Sports@yankton.net EDITOR’S NOTE: This article originally appeared in the April 2 edition of the Press & Dakotan. With a new head coach and returning experience, the Yankton Bucks are geared up for the 2016 season. “We are very anxious,” said head coach Derrik Nelson. “This is a very motivated group looking to get over the hump.” Nelson will be in his first season as head coach for the Bucks, but he is not new Yankton baseball. Nelson graduated from YHS and played baseball at Mount Marty College. He also coached this year’s senior class for three years for the Yankton Reds, Lakers and Black Sox. “Coach Nelson has been a great addition,” said Bucks senior Sheldon Gant. “He coached us when we were younger, and he is easy to learn from.” The Bucks hope to see success from past Legion seasons and other sports translate into more success for the spring season. “This is a group of winners,” said Nelson. “They have been runner-up the last two years in legion and have two state football championship rings.” The Bucks will be led by seniors Gant and Colin Muth, BASEBALL (1-3) Apr. 3 Apr. 4 Apr. 10 Apr. 12 Apr. 17 Apr. 21 Apr. 22 Apr. 26 Apr. 28 Apr. 29 May 3 May 6 May 10 May 13 May 15 May 21 May 28 vs. Brookings W 12-3/L 7-14 at Washington L 2-6/L 1-2 vs. Watertown (DH) 1 p.m. vs. Br. Valley (DH) 5 p.m. at Huron (DH) 1 p.m. vs. O’Gorman 6 p.m. at Roosevelt 6:30 p.m. at Brandon Valley 6:30 p.m. vs. Mitchell 6 p.m. vs. Roosevelt 6 p.m. vs. Harrisburg 5 p.m. at O’Gorman 6:30 p.m. at Mitchell (DH) 6:30 p.m. vs. Washington (DH) 5 p.m. vs. Huron (DH) noon Regions TBD State at Sioux Falls TBD who have both signed to play college baseball. Muth will be attending Mount Marty in the fall, while Gant will attend Minnesota State University at Mankato. “I think we have a good combination of experienced leaders and young talent,” said Nelson. Gant not only looks forward to stepping on the field as a senior, but he is anxious to take on a leadership role. “Young guys look up to us older guys all the time,” said Gant. “I just want to make sure that they feel comfortable and that I can be there to help them.” As far as goals, the Bucks have one thing in mind. A state tournament bid. “If you can get to state, anything can happen,” said Nelson. Follow @BigHeadBenny13 on Twitter Hage Excited For Challenge Of Coaching Tennis BY MICHAEL HAMMOND sports@yankton.net An open coaching position and a longtime enjoyment of playing tennis brought Ryan Hage to become the head coach of the Yankton Bucks tennis team in 2016. Hage, a sixth grade physical education teacher in Yankton, started playing tennis recreationally in high school and will coach tennis for the first time. “I went to a small Iowa school that didn’t have tennis, we had two small courts that we played on in the evenings for fun,” Hage said. “I am excited to get back into the sport and coaching.” Wrestling is where Hage’s coaching experience lies, coaching for over a decade before replacing Matt Termansen as the Bucks’ head coach. Termansen is now the head coach at Harrisburg. The opportunity fell into Hage’s lap at the right time, allowing him to trade seasons and spend more time with his children as they grow older. “This will be brand new for me and it’s a big challenge, but I am excited and fortunate for the opportunity,” Hage said. The first task for Hage will be transitioning between the two sports and figure out what works best for him and the players. Hage inherits a young roster with just three seniors and no juniors, but he believes that the young players have talent. “I want to get a routine down,” Hage said. “It will start with finding out what skills each player needs and getting routines for each player and what will work for them on game days and at practice.” If the team can get the routine in place things should fall in place for the Bucks, just like the timing for Hage to take the job. Tennis: Veteran Bucks Set For Season BY MICHAEL HAMMOND sports@yankton.net EDITOR’S NOTE: This article originally appeared in the April 2 edition of the Press & Dakotan. With a new coach and a young roster, the Yankton Bucks tennis team is poised to be competitive at the Eastern South Dakota Conference and state level in 2016. The Bucks will welcome Ryan Hage as head coach this year. Hage is a long time wrestling coach with no tennis coaching experience, but is set for his new challenge, while the roster features just three seniors and no juniors after graduating a trio of seniors a year ago. “We are excited, we are young, but have three experienced seniors,” Hage said. “No one should be able to look past or overlook us.” Leading the way for the Bucks will be sophomore Hunter Rockne, who is set to be the team’s number one player after finishing eighth in flight three singles and flight one doubles at the state tournament as a freshman. “Hunter comes from a family of good tennis players and has come a long way,” Hage said. “He has all the skills and talent in the world and is a great learner.” Behind Rockne are seniors Ben Mooney, Tanner Dykstra, and Nathan List. All three seniors will be a big part of trying to improve upon a seventh place team finish in last year’s state tournament. Mooney and Dykstra will have a chance to make Follow @michaelhammond_ an impact on the team this year, while List brings a lot of on Twitter. FARMERS CO-OP ELEVATOR Fuel Service & Ranch Supply For All Your YANKTON: Hunter Rockne experience and leadership to the team. “As the seniors go, the team goes,” Hage said. “If they play hard and stay sharp, we should walk off with wins.” If all goes well for the Bucks and the team keeps its focus, they should be in contention for an ESD title and place multiple players on the podium in the state tournament. “With the guys we have, we can do that,” Hage said. “We will try to win as much as possible and we will be competitive, there’s no doubt about that.” Yankton is 1-2 on the young season. Follow @michaelhammond_ on Twitter. CENTERVILLE TORNADOES Track & Field Mar. 29.........Lounsbery Early Bird (ppd) Apr. 7 .... Turner Co. Relays (Centerville) Apr. 12 ............................ Centerville Inv. Apr. 14 .............................Menno Relays Apr. 21 ................... Flyer Inv. (Freeman) Apr. 28 ............Erv Ptak Relays (Menno) May 3 .......Don Diede Relays (Freeman) May 6-7........Howard Wood Relays (SF) May 7 ..................... Parker Booster Club May 10 ........................TVC (Centerville) May 19 ................. Region 5B (Scotland) May 27-28................. State (Sioux Falls) Golf Needs AVON, SD PH. 286-3297 YANKTON: Jordan Kathol COMMUNITY BANK AVON, SD 286-3213 Member FDIC BERNDT FARM Locally Owned & Operated EQUIPMENT 102 N. Main, Avon, SD 286-3917 One mile west of Hwy 46 & 37 junction 286-3233 CROSBY-JAEGER FUNERAL HOME INC. Avon, SD 119 N. Poplar St. Wagner, SD 124 E. Hwy 50 384-3781 Springfield, SD 604 8th St. 369-2488 Jim & Julie Jaeger and Chad Peters Apr. 14 ....................SESDSS (Fox Run) Apr. 19 .................................. Parker Inv. Apr. 27 .......Gayville-Volin Inv. (Yankton) May 6 .......................Irene-Wakonda Inv. May 11 ............................ TVC (Yankton) May 31 ..............Region 3B (Sioux Falls) June 6-7..................... State (Rapid City) BOYS’ TENNIS (1-2) Apr. 2 Apr. 5 Apr. 8-9 Apr. 15 Apr. 19 Apr. 21 Apr. 26 Apr. 30 May 2 May 3 May 7 May 9 May 10 May 13 May 19-21 vs. Heelan W (9-0) vs. Brandon Valley/ L (2-7) at S.F. Roosevelt L (4-5) Roncalli Tourn. noon/9 a.m. vs. R.C. Central/ at Huron 11 a.m. vs. S.F. Washington/ Vermillion 1 p.m. at Harrisburg 4 p.m. vs. Vermillion 4 p.m. vs. Watertown/vs. Mitchell/ at Madison 9 a.m. vs. Pierre/ at Mitchell 10:30 a.m. vs. S.F. Lincoln 4 p.m. vs. Aberdeen Central/vs. Huron/at Brookings 9 a.m. vs. O’Gorman 4 p.m. vs. Mitchell/ at Brandon Valley 1 p.m. ESD at Yankton 8 a.m. State at Rapid City AVON PIRATES Track & Field Mar. 29................................Dan Lennon Apr. 5 ................................. Scotland Inv. Apr. 12 ........................... Wagner Relays Apr. 15 .....................................Avon Inv. Apr. 19 .........SD/NE Challenge (Tyndall) Apr. 22 .... Jim Flevares Relays (Tyndall) Apr. 28 ......Great Plains Conf. (Gayville) Apr. 30 ...................... Andes Central Inv. May 3 ..........................LMVC (Parkston) May 6 ...................... O’Gorman Inv. (SF) May 6-7........Howard Wood Relays (SF) May 10 ...........Fort Randall Conf. (Avon) May 13 ............Trojan Relays (Parkston) May 19 .................. Region 6B (Gregory) May 27-28................. State (Sioux Falls) Golf Apr. 8 .............Class B Classic (Mitchell) Apr. 14 ....................SESDSS (Fox Run) Apr. 19 ....... Mount Vernon Inv. (Mitchell) Apr. 27 .......Gayville-Volin Inv. (Yankton) Apr. 29 ......................Gregory/Burke Inv. May 6 ........................Avon/Scotland Inv. May 13 ......................... Burke/Platte Inv. May 20 ................Avon/Bon Homme Inv. May 23 ............ Pre-Region 4B (Mitchell) May 31 ................... Region 4B (Mitchell) June 6-7..................... State (Rapid City) AVON LOCKER 104 N. Main St. Avon, SD 605-286-3427 8-5 Weekdays 8-12 Saturdays Tues. & Wed. Butchering Days - Call for Appointment