PAGE 5 FALL SPORTS 2016 Winter: ‘First Recollections Of Crane-Youngworth Are On The Football Field’ BOB WINTER Former Yankton College athlete, former Yankton High School coach and athletic director “When I first came to Yankton College in 1959, I played football, and some of my first recollections of Crane-Youngworth are on the football field. At that time, the light poles were inside the track (it was a 6-lane track), and lane six was right against the concrete bleachers that still exist. One of my bad recollections, that’s where I altered my athletic career, caught my spikes (at that time, they were longer) against Southern and tore my knee up. And at that time, you didn’t fix ligaments. A lot of injuries occurred at that time because the rehab and the medicine wasn’t available. I saw one of our guys run into the light pole on the field and get a concussion. You just saw things that were different because of the light poles. “Then over on the northeast corner, there was a big tree, and people congregated around that big tree. The south stadium, there was no fieldhouse and no fence around it. There was always a portable snow fence that was put up on the north side behind the visitors. That led to some interesting things with the colleges, more so than the high school. It was just a whole scenario. “There was no water system like we have. Until Yankton College closed, we kept those great big pipes, and there was a well on the east end of the field. From there, they pumped irrigation out from those pipes. It was a real pain. Taking care of the field has always been an issue. In the 1970s, that field was re-crowned, and even to this day, there’s a slope going down to the east. “Over on the north side, there were some bleachers, and there was a crow’s nest up on a post. The coaches would climb up that pole to look over the field. The scoreboard was a simple one, not like the nice one they have today. “If you can picture a sixlane track, where that sixth lane is against the concrete wall. That made for some interesting things, especially in the hurdles. When the Junior High Relays were started, we ran the afternoon events at Westside Park, behind the museum. All the equipment was then moved to CraneYoungworth, and the night events were held under the lights. At the time, there were hundreds and hundreds of Season Preview | YHS Football Young Bucks Face Challenge In Class 11AA Title Defense BY JEREMY HOECK jeremy.hoeck@yankton.net The question is going to come, if it hasn’t already: Can the Yankton Bucks win a third state title in a row? In each of the previous two seasons, the Yankton High School football team has won a Class 11AA state championship in an overtime thriller — both times winning on a defensive stop on a two-point conversion. Particularly because of that kind of drama, the following season brings with it questions about doing that again. “Obviously in Yankton, tradition is a big thing, and high expectations are always set,” senior quarterback Nate Stephenson said. “Our goals are high after a state championship.” The Bucks are also realistic. The program graduated a large group of seniors who played key roles in those two titles (and a 20-3 record) and this year has 70 players between the senior, junior and sophomore group — the varsity roster, for example, has 17 seniors. “Hopefully they can be part of something special here, but it’s going to take a little work,” said head coach Arlin Likness, who sits fourth all-time in South Dakota with 254 career wins. This is where the Bucks would urge caution to start the season. They graduated their top Hertz FROM PAGE 4 The field was a sheet of white. Not a glaze, mind you, but a deep frosting. As I recall, there were continual efforts to at least clean the yard markers on the field and the sidelines, but it kept filling in. The only clear memory I have from the game in general was something that, in any other game, would have been utterly forgotten: It was Kooistra FROM PAGE 4 officials and members of the chain gang. It was the one time that the number of players and coaches clearly out-numbered the audience! “As far as the game… every time someone had to punt it would go about 15 yards and just fall into a snow pile. There were only a few first downs in the game, mainly it was just try not to fumble and then punt the football. But thanks to YHS homecoming king Joey Lefdal, the Bucks were the victors! Lefdal intercepted a Brandon Valley pass and trudged through the snow into the corner of the end zone for the only points of the game and the Bucks defeated the Lynx by a 6-0 Yankton’s Michael Heine (41) six receivers and top four rushers from a year ago, and of the 42 total touchdowns Yankton scored last season, only 10 are back. In other words, there’s a lot of production to replace. In time, as this season progresses, certain players will have to emerge as leaders, the coach said. “We’re still looking for a little stronger leadership,” said Likness, who added that FOOTBALL | PAGE 6 YANKTON 8/26 9/2 9/9 9/16 9/23 9/30 10/7 10/14 10/20 Football vs. Brookings 7 p.m. at Mitchell 7 p.m. vs. S.F. Washington 7 p.m. at Aberdeen Central 7 p.m. vs. Pierre (Pioneer Day) 7 p.m. at S.F. O’Gorman 7 p.m. vs. Huron 7 p.m. at Douglas 7 p.m. (CT) vs. Harrisburg 7 p.m. 11/11 Class 11AA Championship (Dakotadome) 7:30 p.m. downed punt. My sportswriter and I were standing near Yankton’s 30 yardline — probably — when Brandon Valley had to punt. The ball shot off toward us on the YHS sideline and landed less than 10 yards in front of us. POOF! The ball simply disappeared in the snow. The whistles blew and the referees dug the ball out of what was the beginning of an impressive drift. Yankton won the game, which irked Brandon Valley. But that’s the way it went that snowy autumn. As a postscript, the bliz- zard buried a large swath of the region, and numerous high school and college football games were moved to the DakotaDome. As I recall, that included Nebraska and Iowa high school playoff games, too. On one long day, the dome hosted a succession of games, with the final one, which I think was an area college game, kicking off at about 11 p.m. at night. In other words, it was a monster storm, and Crane Youngworth was in the eye of it. But, it was football. And it was crazy. score. “I remember a comment that Bucks football head coach Max Hawk said to Tschetter and myself the next day when Dave delivered the video-tapes to the coaching staff, “How were you able to follow the football during the blizzard and tell what yard line we were on, us coaches couldn’t even see where the end zone was!” Before the game, Max exhorted his players that instead of complaining about the blizzard conditions they might as well just enjoy the game and play hard, and it will be an experience you will remember forever! “It may not have been great football, but the “Halloween Snow Bowl” of 1991 was an incredible CraneYoungworth Field memory of mine and as a broadcaster and community citizen I kids. “As I became a coach, I coached sophomore football for a couple years, and then when I wasn’t, I became the cross country coach. The cross country team, we would train a lot there. We’d send our times in, and nationally, we would always rank. It was only possible, that was one of the only tracks in the area back then. Especially when I became athletic director, things really changed there. We had to make a decision, if we would build something somewhere or would Yankton College sell it. That became part of the empetus for building the fieldhouse, which is still there. It was a very costly venture to build that fieldhouse, and there was a philosophy about parking at Crane-Youngworth. The north area where people park now on the grass, I don’t re- member that being open. The school owned it, but I don’t think people parked there. That fieldhouse has worked out very well. Eventually, metal bleachers were put up next to the concrete bleachers, and the north bleachers were put in for the visiting fans. A big deal was a chain link fence, which kept crowds under control. “We didn’t used to have the north gate open, as I remember. On the south side, we had one gate, or maybe two. The issue was, the more gates you have open, the more people you have to hire. When we started opening more gates, the attendance started to rise, because it was easier. “The games that have been played there have been amazing. I’m a tradition guy, and the tradition has been, Yankton’s football teams have won at Crane-Youngworth. And other teams haven’t liked to play here. The real positive has always been, no matter what the weather, that field has always been protected. “The weather report (notorious Snow Bowl) was for the Yankton area, would that be we could get that game in. At the last possible moment, we said we would play, there was no snow on the ground here. We decided to play. We got everyone in, and it started snowing just before the game. And boy did it snow. Yankton ended up upsetting Brandon Valley, but the real issue was after. Everyone wanted to know why we didn’t call it off, but we thought we could get the game in. The reports were that we could get it in.” Yankton College Grads Share Their Memories Of Crane-Youngworth Field DENNIS FETT Youngworth standing around the track as we did what we were told. Very seldom was there any discussion, but you knew he was watching as he raked cinders along that track. I hope a part of your story will be about the men for whom the field is named. Fortunately for Coach CIY, he had other athletes with talent.” Thank you Dr. Weed! “The next summer I visited my parents who had moved to Lexington, Massachusetts. “The Memory I have on While there I worked out with Crane-Youngworth Field was some guys to were planning while I was playing in the pep to try out for the new AFL band for the college and I franchise, the 1960 Boston wasn’t paying attention to the Patriots. They spoke to the game. Then all of a sudden coaching staff about my someone said, “look Lyle abilities and of all things the Alzado is on the ground,” I Patriots offered me a tryout. said” but there are four play“I obviously did not make ers under him.” Soon after WESLEY DOAK the team but I believe I am after that, I took his football Yankton College Grad the only person who had a his draft photo for the colprofessional football tryout lege PR office for the Denver “This is a story that Broncos. I was told to tell me sounds like a Yankton football who attended Yankton on a full ride football scholarship, had to wear a tie and a dress failure but it finishes with a yet did not play a down for shirt. I did that and if you can dream come true. Yankton. imagine the expression he had “In high school I won 8 “I owe a lot to Yankton but on his face when I said that letters as a middle linebacker I wish I could have played and he said, ”I’m not wearing with a great football school. for them. All’s well that ends a tie, I cannot find a tie and a Due to that record Yankton shirt that will fit. He ended up awarded me a full ride football well!” wearing a turtleneck. During scholarship. How lucky can our photo session I mentioned you get? J.A. WILSON to him that I saw him on the “Because I was also a mem- Yankton College Grad ground once on top of 4 play- ber of the US Navy Air Corp ers and he looked at me and Reserve I went to camp the “I played for the Greysaid that is my job with a big summer after my Junior and honds 1968-1972. My senior smile on his face.” Senior High School years. the last home game of the “My training in Brooklyn season was played in 9 deRICHARD PATNOE during the summer of 1957 grees. Players were having a lasted beyond the first day difficult time focusing on their Yankton College Grad of school at Yankton and assignments. It was time to Yankton wouldn’t let me start take the field. Instead of being “If someone doesn’t menlate. Yankton also did not led onto the field by captains tion the football game that and co-captains we were led occurred in about 1960 (could allow students to enroll for just the Spring semester, so onto the field by our defensive be 59) when Yankton College I worked on a farm for the coach. As coach Dean Wink played Huron College, it is a lead us on to the field and to mistake. Huron had a running harvest season and went to Iowa State Teachers Colleges the sidelines I noticed that he back by the name of Garney for the Spring semester and was only wearing a pair of Henley. He scored 50 or 60 shorts and a Tshirt. When he points against Yankton as they that Summer School. “Upon returning to Yankreached the sidelines he spun ran away with the game. He ton I was told that I was ineliaround and leaped about four was really fast and we had gible due to being a “transfer feet into the air fist pumping no one who could even come student.” I did appreciate and all. He said, with a red close to his speed.” that Yankton did not pull my face at the top of his voice, football scholarship. ‘it’s not cold out here!’” “I asked if going to the GENE BORMANN next Summer school at ISTC TY MUNN Yankton College Grad, Former Yankwould also cause me to be as Yankton College Grad ton HS Teacher transfer student and was told “no problem”. “Remembering the 1982 “What I remember about “Upon returning to Yankton Football Team that finished Crane YOUNGWORTH is not for my Junior year I was told the season 8-2, tying a school about football, but rather that they had made a mistake record. Remembering the late the great COACH, Carl Ivan and that I was still ineligible to Pete Chapman as a great coach Youngworth. Coach Youngand the amazing team that I worth always typed the day’s play football. “Since I was also a music had the privilege of being part track workout and posted major, Dr. Weed offered to of. Thanks to the 1982 teamit on a bulletin board in the match my football scholarmates that made it a special hallway off Nash gym. We ship so I could stay in school. part of my life.” track athletes would check the board, then go to the track to do our workout under his direction. I can still see Coach Yankton College Grad am very pleased that the Yankton School Board has decided to make the necessary improvements and keep Bucks football on the north side of 12th Street!” Heritage Kevin Guthmiller Freeman (605) 925-4510 Bridgewater (605) 729-2744 Menno (605) 387-5641 AGENCY Your Independent Agent 605-665-4230 800-477-2765 1818 Broadway Ave., Suite 6, Yankton, SD kguthmiller@iw.net 611 W. 23rd St. Yankton 605-689-3400 Good Luck To All Of The Area Athletes And Teams! Power Source Electric Your Heating & Cooling Specialists 665-2895 Chris Frick 260-8683 Divisions of Electair, Inc. Doug Dykstra 8/25 8/30 9/1 9/8 9/12 9/13 9/15 9/22 9/24 9/26 9/29 10/3 10/6 10/8 p.m. 10/13 10/18 10/24 10/27 Volleyball Hanson Tourn. (Alexandria) 5:15 p.m. at Viborg-Hurley (H) 6:15 p.m. vs. Irene-Wakonda 6:15 p.m. at Howard 6:15 p.m. at Gayville-Volin (G) 6:15 p.m. vs. Scotland 6:15 p.m. vs. Bridgewater-Emery 6:15 p.m. vs. Tripp-Delmont-Armour 6:15 p.m. vs. Menno 6:15 p.m. Kimball-White Lake Tourn. 9 a.m. at Iroquois 6:30 p.m. vs. Ethan 6:15 p.m. vs. Dell Rapids St. Mary 6:15 p.m. vs. Bon Homme 6:15 p.m. vs. Sanborn Central-Woonsocket 1 at Avon at Hanson (Alexandria) at Canistota at Alcester-Hudson (A) 6:15 p.m. 6:15 p.m. 6:15 p.m. 5 p.m. 8/26 9/9 9/16 9/23 9/30 10/7 10/14 10/20 8/26 8/30 9/8 9/14 9/19 9/21 9/28 9/30 10/5 Canistota Football vs. Dell Rapids St. Mary vs. Howard (Freeman) at Elkton-Lake Benton (E) vs. Hanson (Canistota) at Mt. Vernon-Plank. (MV) at Alcester-Hudson (A) at Menno-Marion (Menno) vs. Bon Homme (Canistota) Cross Country FREEMAN ACADEMY-MARION 8/23-25 9/1 9/8 9/10 FREEMAN 8/23 605-925-4000 Residential & Commercial Electrical Contractors 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. Bersford Inv. 10 a.m. McCook Central-Montrose Inv. (Salem) 10 a.m. DeSmet Inv. 4 p.m. Flyer Inv. (Freeman) 1 p.m. Bon Homme Inv. (Tyndall) 2 p.m. Cornbelt Conf. (Freeman) 1 p.m. Parker Inv. 2 p.m. Lennox Inv. 4 p.m. Irene-Wakonda/TVC Inv. (Irene) 3 p.m. Volleyball Hanson Tourn. (Alexandria) TBA vs. Menno (M) 6:15 p.m. vs. Scotland (FA) 6:15 p.m. at Oldham-Ramona-Rutland (Rutland) 2 p.m. 9/13 at Irene-Wakonda (W) 6:15 p.m. 9/15 at Gayville-Volin/vs. Baltic 5 p.m. 9/19 vs. Alcester-Hudson (M) 6:15 p.m. 9/22 vs. Andes Central-Dakota Christian (FA) 6:30 p.m. 9/24 S.F. Pentagon Tourn. TBA 9/27 at Canistota 6:15 p.m. 9/29-10/1 Tri-Valley Conf. TBA 10/10 at Bridgewater-Emery (E) 6:15 p.m. 10/11 at Viborg-Hurley (V) 6:15 p.m. 10/13 vs. Marty Indian (FA) 6:15 p.m. 10/18 at Dell Rapids St. Mary 6:15 p.m. 10/25 at Mitchell Christian/vs. JV Christian 5 p.m. 10/27 vs. Hanson (M) 6:15 p.m. Soccer (1-1) 8/12 8/19 (Home matches in Freeman) vs. Tea Area at Douglas L 0-5 W 10-2 8/23 8/25 8/27 9/3 a.m. 9/5 9/9 9/12 p.m. 9/17 9/19 9/22 9/24 vs. S.F. Christian 6 p.m. vs. St. Thomas More 5 p.m. vs. Hot Springs 11 a.m. at. Mitchell Christian-MV-SC (MC)11 8/26 8/30 Beresford Inv. 10 a.m. McCook Central-Montrose Inv. (Salem) 10 a.m. Augustana Twlight (S.F.) 7:45 p.m. Freeman Academy-Marion Inv. (Freeman) 2:30 p.m. Nike Heartland (S.F.) 11 a.m. Flyer Inv. (Freeman) 1 p.m. Alcester-Hudson Inv. 4 p.m. Platte-Geddes Inv. (P) 10 a.m. Parker Inv. 2 p.m. Howard Inv. 3 p.m. Tri-Valley Conf. (Irene) 3 p.m. 9/2 9/7 9/10 9/14 9/19 9/24 9/28 10/3 10/5 at Tea Area 6 p.m. vs. Vermillion 5 p.m. at James Valley Christian (Huron) 6 vs. Groton Area 1 p.m. vs. Mitchell Christian-MV-SC 5 p.m. at Vermillion (5 p.m.) at Southwest Minn. Christian 11 a.m. Cross Country