PAGE 6A: WINTER SPORTS 2016 PRESS & DAKOTAN ? VERMILLION PLAIN TALK The Beat Rolls On For Wynot Girls’ Basketball Program The Wynot girls celebrate after a semifinal victory in the 2015-16 Class D2 basketball tournament this past March. Wynot has played for the Class D2 title each of the past seven seasons, winning the championship five times, including last season. Blue Devils Going After Sixth Class D2 Title In Seven Seasons who made what was the gamewinning three-pointer in last season’s state final. She is joined by seniors Carissa Kuchta (All-Conference), WYNOT, Neb. — The beat rolls Skylar Arkfeld (honorable mention on for the Wynot High School girls’ All-Conference) and Cortney Linder. basketball team. It has to move on without the ser- Juniors Julia Eskens and Maddy Gartner, as well as sophomore Dharian vices of a couple of starters but yet Ahrens, round out the list of returnreturns a handful of talented — and ing players. experienced — starters. But perhaps the biggest key to While that basically describes just any success this season for Wynot is about every basketball team in the country, the Blue Devils are unique in the progression of newcomers to the varsity mix. that the players they do bring back A group of seven freshmen will see have experienced big-game success time this season: Shaelee Planer, Noduring their careers. “It’s nice to have that kind of expe- elle Wieseler, Katelyn Heine, Kaitlyn Heimes, Emma Greninger, Michaela rience back,” said head coach Steve Lange and Whitney Hochstein. Wieseler, who entered the season Even though Wynot will have to with 325 career wins. try to find new ways to score with “Some of the girls are learning that kind of inexperience, it at least new roles.” Wynot , which has reached seven means the roster will be deeper than it was last season, according to coach consecutive state championship Wieseler — who routinely goes 10-11 games, had to move on without the deep. services of starting guards Danielle “That’ll take some time to deWieseler and Olivia Wieseler — they velop, but it’s exciting to have those combined to average 20 points a kinds of numbers,” he said. game and were key components to Adding to the excitement for the the full-court, defensive attack. “We had to replace some big time basketball team was the play of Wynot’s volleyball team, which reached experience, and that’s hard to do, its first-ever state championship no matter what sport it is,” coach match. While that meant volleyball Wieseler said. season bumped right up against the The Blue Devils do, however, return a strong nucleus of four seniors start of basketball practices, there’s and one junior who have seen plenty been a positive carryover, coach Wieseler said. of action in high-stress situations. “I thought they might come in a Leading the way is senior Cortney Wynot’s Skylar Arkfeld, 35, pressures Bloomfield’s Amber Bruegman, center, during their season opener Arkfeld, an all-state guard/forward on Dec. 1 in Wynot, Nebraska. BY JEREMY HOECK jeremy.hoeck@yankton.net WYNOT | PAGE 7A Neb. Girls LAST YEAR: The Cougars posted a 6-16 record. They lost two players to graduation. RETURNING PLAYERS: Emily Knust (Jr., 6-1, P), Ashley Guenther (Sr, 5-11, P), Shania Red Owl (Sr., 5-7, G), Megan Cook (So,. 5-9, G), Madisen Randa (Sr., 5-6, G). FROM PAGE 5A Scoville (So., 5-7, G); Allie Rosener (Jr., 5-4, G); Karli McCain (Jr., 5-7, P) NEWCOMER: Abbe Morten (Fr., 5-6, G) Ponca Laurel-ConcordColeridge COACH: Nate Sims ASSISTANT: Ashley Jairam VITALS: Class C2, District 5, Lewis and Clark Conference LAST YEAR: The Bears finished with a regular season record of 3-18. RETURNING: Katie Leapley (Sr., 6-2, led state in blocks last year); Katelyn Cook (Sr., 5-4); Bryn Schutte, Jr. (5-11, leading scorer last year at 11 ppg); Ashley Wolfgram (Jr., 5-8); Emily Hangman (Sr., 5-8); Lorna Maxon (So., 5-9); Bethany Kardell (So., 5-4); Sydney Chapman (So., 5-10); Mady Holloway (Jr., 5-6); Nicole Hanson (Jr., 5-4) COACH: Bob Hayes ASSISTANTS: Ryan Oldander, Eric Kloke VITALS: Sub-District C2-4, Wynot Lewis and Clark Conference COACH: Steve Wieseler LAST YEAR: Ponca posted ASSISTANTS: Shelly a 15-10 season and lost seven Arkfeld players to graduation. VITALS: Class D2, SubDisRETURNING PLAYERS: trict D2-3. Lewis and Clark Elizabeth Watchorn (Sr., 5-8, Conference G), Emma Kniefl (Jr., 5-6, G), LAST YEAR: The Blue Rachel Bentz (Sr., 5-8, F), Abigail Van Dyke (Sr., 5-11, F), Grace Salmen (So., 5-10, F), Sadie Finnegan (Sr., 5-9, F), Taylor Lamprencht (So., 5-9, F), Shelby Rickett (Sr., 5-6, G). NEWCOMER: Emily Salmen (Sr., 5-11, F). Devils won the Class D2 title. Two players graduated from that squad. RETURNING PLAYERS: Cortney Arkfeld (Sr., 5-9, F, All-State), Skylar Arkfeld (Sr., 5-9, F, All-Conference honorable mention), Carissa Kuchta (Sr., 5-6, G, All-Conference), Cortney Linder (Sr., 5-8, F), Julia Eskens (Jr., 5-10, C), Maddy Gartner (Sr., 5-5, G), Dharian Ahrens (So., 5-4, F). NEWCOMERS: Katelyn Heine (Fr., 5-6, G), Shaelee Planer (Fr., 5-6, G), Michaela Lange (Fr., 5-5, F), Noelle Wieseler (Fr., 5-5, F), Kaitlyn Heimes (Fr., 5-5, F), Whitney Hochstein (Fr., 5-11, C), Emma Greninger (Fr. 5-5, F) Santee Abigail Van Dyke, Ponca (center) Hartington Cedar Catholic RETURNING: Anna Reifenrath (Jr., 6-0, F); Mallorie Steffen (Jr., 5-11, F); Maddie COACH: Robb Koerting Wieseler (So., 5-10, F); Ashley ASSISTANT: Tate Cunning- Hamilton (Jr., 5-6, G); Sydney ham, Craig Wormann Steffon (Jr., 5-6, G); Jada CatVITALS: Class C2, Midtau (So., 5-10, F); Madie Arens State Conference (Jr., 5-10, F) LAST YEAR: The Trojans NEWCOMERS: Abby finished the season with a Hochstein (Fr., 5-6, F); Brianrecord of 16-9. Need A Plumber NOW? Quality Work At A Fair Price KEVIN’S PLUMBING SERVICE, LLC New Construction In Business Since Home and Cabin Remodel and Repairs Box 1062 Yankton SD 57078 605•668•0177 VITALS: Class D2, SubDistrict D2-3, Lewis & Clark Conference RETURNING: Hannah Nelson (Sr.); Kayla Kleinschmidt (Sr.); Michaela Timmerman (Sr.); Mary Johnson (Sr.); Regan Hennings (Sr.); Krissy Kumm (Sr.); Thea McFarland (Jr.); Alli Barney (Jr.); Megan Kleinschmidt (Jr.); Destiny Fox (So.); Ruth Johnson (So.); Elizabeth Johnson (So.); Paige Nissen (So.) 1994 89476 557th Ave. Fordyce NE 68735 402•357•3302 Kevin Zavadil Cell #605•661•2894 na Miller (So., 5-10, F); Kenlee Goeden (Fr., 6-0, C) Niobrara-Verdigre COACH: Kim Miller ASSISTANT: Jaime Guenther VITALS: Sub-District C2-6, Niobrara Valley Conference COACH: Deon LaPointe VITALS: Class D2, SubDistrict D2-3, Niobrara Valley Conference RETURNING: Kianna Torez (Sr.); Tori Tuttle (Sr.); Stevie Peters (Jr.); Taila Washington (Jr.) NEWCOMERS: Ashleigh Wabasha (Fr.); Hannah Sheridan (Fr.) Wausa COACH: Terry Nelson Harding Glass 907 Broadway Ave Yankton, SD 57078 •Auto •Doors •Commercial •Residential •Windows •Shower Doors •Mirrors 605-665-3616 Welcome to delicious.® Tim Letcher, General Manager TRUE BLUE SINCE 2003 3208 Broadway Ave. 605-689-3200 NIOBRARA-VERDIGRE Boys’ Basketball (N-Game in Niobrara, V-Game in Verdigre) 12/1 vs. Stuart (N) 12/2 at Elgin Public-Pope John 12/6 at O’Neill St. Mary’s 12/9 vs. Clearwater-Orchard (V) 12/10 vs. Bloom?eld (N) 12/13 at Ewing 12/17 at Creighton 12/19 vs. Wausa (N) 12/28-29 Verdigre Booster Club Holiday Tournament 1/5,7 Wausa Post-Holiday Tourn. 1/10 at Wynot 1/13 vs. Elkhorn Valley (N) 1/17 vs. North Central (N) 1/24 at Chambers-Wheeler Central (C) 1/26 at Santee 1/28-2-4 Niobrara Valley Conf. 2/7 vs. West Holt (N) 2/10 at Boyd County (Spencer) 2/17 vs. Neligh-Oakdale (N) Girls’ Basketball (N-Game in Niobrara, V-Game in Verdigre) 12/1 12/2 12/6 vs. Stuart (N) at Elgin Public-Pope John at O’Neill St. Mary’s 12/9 vs. Clearwater-Orchard (V) 12/10 vs. Bloom?eld (N) 12/13 at Ewing 12/17 at Creighton 12/19 vs. Wausa (N) 12/20 at Neligh-Oakdale 12/28-29 Verdigre Booster Club Holiday Tournament 1/5,7 Wausa Post-Holiday Tourn. 1/10 at Wynot 1/13 vs. Elkhorn Valley (N) 1/17 vs. North Central (N) 1/24 at Chambers-Wheeler Central (C) 1/26 at Santee 1/28-2-4 Niobrara Valley Conf. 2/7 vs. West Holt (N) 2/10 at Boyd County (Spencer) 12/3 12/10 12/17 1/7 1/14 1/21 1/28 2/2 2/3 Wrestling Creighton Inv. North Bend Central Inv. Osmond Inv. Winside Inv. Battle Creek Inv. Neligh-Oakdale Inv. Plainview Inv. Niobrara Valley Conf. (Neligh) Pender Duals