PAGE 8A: WINTER SPORTS 2016 PRESS & DAKOTAN ? VERMILLION PLAIN TALK Sage Looks To Add State Trip To Impressive Resume Freeman All-Stater Has Played For Region Title Four Straight Seasons said Coach Sage. Freeman has missed out on a state appearance the last two years, losing to Viborg-Hurley and Irene-Wakonda the previous BY ROGELIO RODRIGUEZ nent coach. Sage was also an as- two years in the Region 5B final. sistant coach when former coach sports@yankton.net “I think that we learn more Ryan Mors, now the activities from losing,” Sage said. director at Yankton, brought her FREEMAN – Erika Sage, of There is no denying that Sage up to the high school team when is a vital part of her team on and Freeman, stands 5-6. She is a basketball player with good ball- Erika was a seventh grader. off the court. However, when one Having a parent as a coach handling skills, shooting ability, player makes such a difference, may seem daunting or an added other teams take note. and is aggressive both defenpressure, but the success of the sively and offensively. “Some teams will make it a It is no surprise then that she Freeman team and Sage’s indipriority to deny her the ball,” vidual success, says otherwise. has earned various individual coach Sage said, “In those cases, “In most cases she accepts honors. In the 2015-2016 season she [Erika] knows that we are that pressure and is willing to she: scored her 1,000th point, blessed in other players who can work hard to improve her skill,” score double figures.” averaged 18 points per game, was named first team All-Confer- coach Sage said, “Do I demand Those players are Karli more from her I am her father? ence, and was named first team Maske, Ashley Glanzer, Josie The answer is yes.” All-State. Fuhrmann, and Hannah Eberts. Aside from being a good bas- Fuhrmann was named second However, despite all of her individual success on the court, ketball player, Erika is a leader to team All-Conference and Maske her team and in the community. was named third team All-Conshe said that in end she would rather be remembered as a good She is the only senior on this ference. year’s squad so her team looks person and not just a good basThere is no doubt Erika Sage to her for guidance. ketball player. is a well-rounded player and “I have embraced that “That’s not why I play the person. She does plan on playing [leader] role,” Sage said, “I want basketball in college but has not game,” Sage said, “I’m part of to be an example for my team a team and we win and lose tomade any decisions yet. gether, those awards don’t mean and even to the younger kids in “I’ve looked at many area as much to me as the success of my community.” schools and have ruled some of Both father and daughter the team.” them out,” Sage said. agree that the team success is All of that success and she No matter where Sage ends far more important than the has one season left to play for up, that team will benefit from individual accolades that Erika the Freeman Flyers basketball her work ethic and her attitude has earned in her career. team. Last season, her team both on and off the court. For “Our team as a whole, ended with an overall record of now, she is focused on finishing including Erika, does not set 17-6, losing to Irene-Wakonda in up her senior year and doing all the championship of the Region goals involving scoring points she can for the good of the team. or becoming an all-conference 5B tournament. Freeman is coached by Curtis player, but rather the developFollow @RogelioUlisesR on ment and growth as a person Sage, Erika’s father. He first Twitter. who represents those attributes coached her when she was on a that people will remember when traveling team in fifth grade, he filled in until they found a perma- they think of you in the future,” Freeman’s Erika Sage, center, was congratulated after scoring her 1,000th career point in the 2015-16 season. Sage wants to add a state tournament berth to her resume before she graduates this coming spring. S.D. Girls were consolation champs at State A tournament. They lost five players from that team. RETURNING PLAYERS: Karlee Shatswell (Sr., 5-9, C, All-Conference honorable mention), Elise Alseen (Jr., 6-1, F, All-Conference honorable mention). NEWCOMERS: Kylee Donnelly (Sr., 5-9, F), Addison Ludwig (Jr., 5-6, G), Anna Jallow (So., 5-6, C), Meghan Brewer (So., 5-6, G), Emily Mickelson (Sr., 5-6, G), Jill Donnelly (Jr., 5-6, G), Riley Donnelly (Fr., 5-6, G). FROM PAGE 7A They graduated three players last season. RETURNING: Ahna VanderPol (Sr., 5-10, G/F), Shaylin Stotz (Sr., 5-9, G/F). NEWCOMERS: Lily Flying Hawk (Jr., 5-3, G), Beulon Black Cloud (Jr., 5-8, F), Sidney Muckey (So., 6-1, C), McKenzie Muckey (8th, 6-0, C), Brianna Deurmier (So., 5-6, G), Meagan Mudder (Jr., 5-6, F), Annie Housemon (So., 5-6, G). Freeman COACH: Curtis Sage ASSISTANT: Chris Maske VITALS: Class B, District 9B, Cornbelt Conference LAST YEAR: The Flyers finished 17-6, losing to Irene-Wakonda in the Region 5B final. They graduated two players. RETURNING: Erika Sage (Sr., 5-6, G, 18 ppg, 3 rpg, 3 apg, 1st team All-Conference, 1st team All-State), Karli Maske (Jr., 5-6, G, 8.3ppg, 3rpg, 3rd team All-Conference), Ashley Glanzer (Jr., 5-9, F), Josie Fuhrmann (So., 5-6, G, 7.5 ppg, 2nd team AllConference), Hannah Eberts (So., 5-8, F), Journey Mehlhaf (So., 5-9, F), Dayna Roth (Fr., 5-5, G), Jamie Glanzer (Fr., 5-4, G), Emily Miller (Fr., 5-9, F). Avon COACH: Brad Poppe ASSISTANT: Jody Gittings VITALS: Class B, District 12B, Little Missouri Valley Conference. LAST YEAR: The Pirates finished 19-7, winning District 12B and Region 6B titles. They finished fourth at state. Heidi Cap, now at Minnesota State-Mankato, graduated from that squad. RETURNING: Lauren Sees (So., 5-9, G, 13.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.5 apg, All-Conference), Cheylee Nagel (Jr., 5-7, G, 8 ppg, 6 rpg, 2.3 apg, All-Conference), Kacie Mudder (Jr., 5-10, F, 5 ppg, 5 rpg, 2 apg), Hanna Powers (Sr., 5-1, G, 5 ppg, 2 rpg, 2 apg), Ashley Cap (Sr., 5-5, G, 2 ppg, 1 rpg, 1 apg), Jill Bertus (Sr., 5-4, F, 2 ppg), Courtney Buchholz (Sr., 5-6, C, 2 ppg, 3 rpg), Hannah Reeves (Sr., 5-2, G), Livi Jurrens (Jr., 5-11, F, 2 ppg, 2 rpg). NEWCOMER: Tori Schryvers (So., 5-7) Freeman AcademyMarion COACH: William Massey ASSISTANT: Lindsey Unruh VITALS: Class B, District 9B, Tri-Valley Conference LAST YEAR: This is the first year of the co-op. Freeman Academy went 12-12, while Marion was winless. RETURNING PLAYERS: Michele Schoenwald (Jr., 5-9, G), Amy Ptak (Jr., 5-9, G), Annie Carlson (Jr., 5-10, F), Tiana Schroeder (Sr., 5-6, G), Andrea Wollman (So., 5-9, F), Destini Miller (So., 5-9, F). Beresford COACH: Brent Palmer ASSISTANTS: Kelly Knutson, Scott Ebert VITALS: Class A, Region 4A, Dakota XII Conference LAST YEAR: The Watchdogs finished 6-15 last season and graduated two seniors. RETURNING: Katy Diefendorf (Sr., 5-3, G), Alana Bergland (So., 5-4, G), Hannah Nelson (Jr., 5-7, G/F), Jillian Hansen (Jr., 5-10, C/F), Hannah Ebert (Jr., 5-4, G/F), Cait Savery (Jr., 5-6, G/F). NEWCOMERS: Angela Jensen (Sr., 5-7, C), Hope Johnson (Jr., 5-4, G/F), Sydney Maddie Mohr, Irene-Wakonda (left) Nelson (So., 5-8, F), Aubrey Twedt (So., 5-10, F) COACH: Tara Ronke ASSISTANT: Ashley Armstrong VITALS: Region 5A, Little Missouri Conference, Southeast South Dakota Conference LAST YEAR: The Cava- five players from that squad. RETURNING: Peyton Wingert (Jr., 5-10, G, 15.6 ppg, 4 rpg, All-Conference, All-Region, Offensive player of the year), Anna Rasmussen Gayville-Volin (Sr., 5-8, G/F), Katie Soukup COACH: Matt Malloy (Sr., 5-6, G/F), Shayla Johnson ASSISTANT: Jeremiah (Sr., 5-9, G/F), Alyssa Johnson Dibley (Jr., 5-7, G), Madisyn Heeren VITALS: Class B, District (Jr., 5-10, F), Emily Phillips 10B, Tri-Valley Conference (So., 5-6, G), Britney Schubert LAST YEAR: The Raid(Sr., 5-8, F), Natalie Full (Jr,. ers lost in the first round of 5-8, G/F), Hope Carlson (Jr., 5-7, F). NEWCOMERS: Morgan Tritz (Fr., 5-6, G), Rachael Wente (Fr., 5-7, G) Dakota Valley Bon Homme liers finished 3-18 overall, and graduated five seniors. RETURNING: Rachel Sestak (Jr., G), Brecken Bullard (Jr., F), Emily Cap (So., G), Macy Hajak (So., F), Desirae Sanders (Sr., F). NEWCOMERS: Camile Sykora (7th, G), Skylar Garcia (8th, G), Cassidy Soukup (8th, G), Lacey Wittmeir (8th, G), Hannah Cuka (8th , G), Jenae Alberts (8th, G), MaKayla Kelley (8th, F), McKenzie Carson (8th, F), Kayli Jelsma (Fr., G), Ciera Himes (Fr., G), Lauren Bastermeyer (Fr., G), Abby Crites (Fr., F). Elk Point-Jefferson COACH: Tammy Lilly ASSISTANTS: Will Bisenius and Kristin Hanson. VITALS: Class A, Region 4A, Dakota XII Conference LAST YEAR: The Panthers finished 16-6. They graduated COACH: Gary Nebelsick ASSISTANTS: Adam Timmins, Melissa Curry VITALS: Class A, Region 4A, Dakota XII Conference LAST YEAR: The Huskies posted a 19-6 record and 2410 Broadway Ave., Yankton, SD 57078 (605) 665-8717 Lauren Sees, Avon districts last year to IreneWakonda. RETURNING: Megan Hirsch (Sr., 5-10, F, All-Conference, 10 ppg, 9 rpg); Traia Hubbard (Sr, 6-1, C, All-Conference, 8 ppg, 8 rpg); Laura Nelson (Sr., 5-5, G, Honorable Mention All-Conference); Lanny Clark (Jr., 5-7, G); Abby Larson (So., 5-7, F) NEWCOMERS: Sally Quatier (Fr., 5-7, F); Tori Gale (Fr., 5-5, G); Molly Larson (7th, 5-4, G) Irene-Wakonda COACH: Stacy Huber ASSISTANT: Colleen O’Malley VITALS: Class B, District 10B, Tri-Valley Conference LAST YEAR: The Eagles, 19-7, were the consolation champions of the Class B State Tournament. They graduated seven seniors. RETURNING PLAYERS: Shannon Sokolowski (So., F, G), Maddie Mohr (Jr., 5-11, C), Ashley Emmick (So., 5-1, G), Gabby Hutchison (Sr., 5-6, F), Mikayla Heirigs (Sr., 5-5, G). NEW PLAYERS: Shannon O’Malley (Jr., 5-6, G), Malloy O’Malley (Fr., 5-6, G), Nora O’Malley (7th) Menno COACH: Doug Hall ASSISTANTS: Glenda Bohlman and Kylee Kessler VITALS: Class B, District 9B, Cornbelt Conference. LAST YEAR: The Wolves posted a record of 11-13. They graduated one senior. RETURNING: Courtnee Edelman (Sr., 5-7, G), Marissa Buechler (Sr., 5-4, G), Paige Heckenlaible (Jr., 5-10, F, All-Conference honorable mention), Breanna Mehlhaf (Jr., 5-5, F), Ashton Vaith (Jr., 5-7, G), Haily Fergen (Jr., 5-5, G), Eisley Sayler (So., 5-6, F), Jeedyn Oplinger (So., 5-6, F), Klara Nusz (So., 5-8, C), Morgan Edelman (8th, 5-5, G). NEWCOMERS: Haley Handel (So., 5-5, F), Jesse Munkvold (8th, 5-5, G), Trinity Kocourek (Fr., 5-6, G). Parker COACH: Tami Jurgens ASSISTANT: Lance Jurgens S.D. GIRLS | PAGE 9A We’re on your care. team for 605-624-8643 No appointments necessary. Weekdays: 5 – 9pm 101 South Plum Street Vermillion, SD 57079 www.vermillionmedicalclinic.com Weekdays: 8am – 5pm