PAGE 8: SPRING SPORTS 2017 PRESS & DAKOTAN ? PLAIN TALK Stubbs Set To Help Cardinals Defend Title Senior Placed 2nd As Randolph Won Second Straight ‘D’ Crown In 2016 BY BEN HEGGE sports@yankton.net RANDOLPH, Neb. — One of the best golfers in the state of Nebraska is ready to start his senior campaign. Mason Stubbs, of Randolph High School, is fresh off a second place finish in last year’s Class D Boys’ State Championships and back a ready for more. Stubbs, a senior for the Randolph Cardinals, helped lead the squad to their second consecutive team title at the 2016 Championships in North Platte. “I am really excited to get the season started,” said Stubbs. “So far I have been right around par or under in practice. It’s an exciting time.” There is a lot of buzz surrounding the Randolph golf team, as the two-time defending state champion Cardinals return their top five golfers from the 2016 title run. “This is a great group of kids,” said head golf coach Rob Engel. “I remember two years ago when these guys were sophomores. We went down to state and won by three strokes, and no one really expected it. Now we are one of the favorites.” When Randolph won their first of consecutive titles in 2015, Stubbs finished in fourth place with a two day score of 159. He followed up in 2016 by leading the field by three strokes after the opening day, before ultimately finishing as runner-up with a score of 150. “I felt like I had a really good opening round last year, and didn’t shoot as well on day two,” said Stubbs. “But, to win back to back state championships as a team feels really good.” So what is in store for Stubbs and the Cardinals this season? “We have a goal to win every tournament we play in this year,” said Stubbs. “With having our top four golfers back, we want to be able to pull away at tournaments and win by double-digit strokes.” A lot of Randolph’s success over the last two years can be accredited to the low number put up by Stubbs, but it is not just golf that he excels in at Randolph. “Mason is the quarterback of the football team, and had an important role on the basketball team,” Engel said. “He is a great athlete and a great kid.” Stubbs well rounded success throughout high school has opened the eyes of many including several college NEB. BOYS’ GOLF Bloom?eld COACH: Gary Eisenhauer ASSISTANT: Chip Bartos VITALS: District C-3, Lewis & Clark Conference RETURNERS: McGwire Mackeprang (Sr.); Wilson Wagner (Sr.); Mitchell Mackeprang (So.) NEWCOMERS: Austin Belcher (Jr.); Derek Gillilan (So.) Creighton COACH: Gary Hammer VITALS: Class D, Lewis & Clark Conference LAST YEAR: The Bulldogs were the runner-up at both the district and state tournaments RETURNERS: Ryan Neumann (Sr.), Chase Largen (Jr., 3rd at state), Brady Brockhaus (Jr.), Bryce Zimmerer (So.) NEWCOMERS: Niklas Frennfelt (Sr.), Wyatt Diedrichsen (Jr.), Conner Hammer (Fr.), Brennan Pint (Fr.) Crofton Freeman’s Brayden Edwards Freeman Academy/Marion Gayville-Volin Viborg-Hurley Irene-Wakonda NEWCOMERS: Dylan Dendiger (Fr.), Shaye Morten (Fr.), Alex Kneifl (Jr.), John Reinert (Jr.) Hartington Cedar Catholic HartingtonNewcastle Open 7 Days A Week At 11AM Platte-Geddes Scotland COACH: Mike Johnson ASSISTANT: Rob Bengston VITALS: District C-3, MidState Conference LAST YEAR: The Trojans return five letterwinners from last year, but will be without three due to graduation. The Trojans boasted a state tournament qualifying team in 2016. RETURNERS: Capp Bengston (Sr.), Reggie Miller (Sr.), Kelby Schommer (Sr.), Levi Arens (Jr.), Reid Arens (Jr.), Sam Feilmeier (Jr.), Quinn Paulsen (Jr.), Matthew Schaefer (Jr., 2016 District Champion), Tomas Kathol COACH: Ken Kneifl (So.), Jaron Kleinschmit (So.), VITALS: District D-2, Lewis Nolan Klug (So.) & Clark Conference NEWCOMER: Ted BengsRETURNERS: Caleb Kalin ton (Fr.) (Jr.), Jacob Gothier (Sr.), Ethan Lammers (So.), Logan Buschkamp (So.) 605.689.2244 Parker COACH: Tiffany Weiler VITALS: Class B, Region FROM PAGE 7 3B, Big East Conference RETURNERS: Trey VITALS: Class B, Region 3, Christensen (So., State Qualifier); Alex Kasten (So., State Cornbelt Conference Qualifier); Sam Gillespie RETURNERS: Levi WaldRandolph’s Mason Stubbs watches a shot during a round in the 2016 season. (So.); Noah Maska (So.); Nick Stubbs, second in Class D a season ago, will look to lead the Cardinals to a hauser (Sr., 3rd at Cornbelt, Haraldson (So.) 8th at Region, State Qualifithird straight Class D team title. NEWCOMERS: Jaron er); Josh Wynia (Sr.); Brayden Pesicka (So.); Jackson Fiegen Edwards (Jr.); Bailey Sage coaches. In the fall of 2017, Mason will said. “It’s going to be a fun year.” (So.) (Fr., 7th at Cornbelt, 6th at attend Northeast Community College in It is safe to say that Stubbs and the Region, State Qualifier); Tryg Norfolk, while receiving a scholarship Randolph Cardinals will be one of the Aanenson (Fr.) on the golf team. elite powerhouses in Class D as they NEWCOMERS: Eric “A few different coaches contacted look to complete their quest for a third COACH: Frank Cutler Fuhrmann (Jr.); Hunter Balvin me from different colleges in the area,” straight state title. ASSISTANT: Brooke Bonte (Fr.) Stubbs said. “I was able to golf with the And, if you are curious as to just how VITALS: Class B, Region team at Northeast once last spring, and much buzz surrounds the golf team in 4B I really enjoyed it. I liked the option of Randolph, Nebraska… RETURNERS: Riley Hoffbeing able to golf there two years and A simple Twitter search for the man (Sr., 11th at state), Kade go on somewhere else after.” hashtag #DolphGolf will tell you all you Johnson (Sr.), Payton Foxley But it is clear that Stubbs and the need to know. (Jr., state qualifier), Stewart COACH: Jesse Johnson Cardinals are focused on the task at VITALS: Class B, Region 3, Van Zee (So., state qualifier) hand this season. The Cardinals open Follow @bigheadbenny13 on Twitter. NEWCOMERS: Hayden Tri-Valley Conference up their season on Saturday, April 8 in Koopal (Fr.), Brody Boltjes RETURNERS: Caleb Plainview. (8th) Chedester (Sr.); Patrick “We are all anxious to start,” Stubbs Casey (So.); Phillip Balzer (Fr.); Kade Rupp (Fr.); Angel Hernandez (8th) COACH: Greg Gemar NEWCOMERS: Gavyn VITALS: Region 4B Tieszen (7th); Noah Hofer LAST YEAR: The High(7th) landers will have big shoes to fill from a season ago, as Tanner Iwan, a top 20 finisher in the 2016 state tournament, graduated. COACH: Amy Westrum RETURNERS: J.R. Wagne VITALS: Class B, Region (Sr.), Grayden Furney (Jr.), 3B, Tri-Valley Conference Chelub Hall (So.), Triston RETURNERS: Luke HumFrederick (So.), Derek Pravamel (Sr.), Collin Mann (Sr.), Cameron Jueden (Jr.), Parker cek (Fr.), Conner Orders (8th) NEWCOMER: Luca Bailey (Jr.), Tristan Gustad D’Amato (Sr.) (So.), Chase Huether (So.), Payton Hejna (So.) COACH: Barb Bowers ASSISTANT: Alan Arens VITALS: District C-3, Mid States Conference RETURNERS: Justin Goeden (Sr.), Connor Dahl (So.), Logan Leader (So.), Levi Suing (So.) NEWCOMERS: Calvin Schieffer (So.), Tyler Potts (Fr.), Nathan Schmidt (Fr.), Blake Zavadil (Fr.), Jason Zavadil (Fr.) 407 Walnut St. S.D. Golf P.O. Box 326 115 Ohio St. Wakonda 267-2665 Hours: 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Mon-Thurs 9 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. Friday COACH: Tony Hauger VITALS: Class B, Region 3, COACH: Heath Marshall Tri-Valley Conference VITALS: Class B, Region RETURNERS: Nicholas 3B, Tri-Valley Conference RETURNERS: Kaden Mork Sorlien (Jr., state qualifier), (Jr.), Cole Norris (Jr.), Bentley Lucas Nielsen (Jr.), Josh Green (So.), Dylan Gordon Book (So.) Creighton’s Brady Brockhaus (8th) NEWCOMERS: Steven Legette (So.), Dawson Johnke VITALS: District C-3, Lewis (7th) & Clark Conference RETURNERS: Karsen ANDES CENTRAL-DAKOTA CHRISTIAN THUNDER COACH: Don Maxwell NEB. GOLF | PAGE 9 Boys’ & Girls’ Golf Track & Field Laurel-ConcordColeridge IRENE-WAKONDA EAGLES 4/13 4/28 4/26 5/2 5/5 5/10 5/19 5/23 6/5-6 Boys’ & Girls’ Golf Southeast South Dakota Small-School Inv. (Fox Run, Yankton) 9 a.m. Parker Inv. 9 a.m. Gayville-Volin Inv. (Yankton) 9 a.m. Baltic Inv. (Renner) 9 a.m. Irene-Wakonda Inv. 10 a.m. Tri-Valley Conf. (Fox Run) 9 a.m. Pre-Region (Sioux Falls) 8 a.m. Region 3B (Sioux Falls) 8 a.m. State B at Sioux Falls TBD (Girls at Prairie Green, Boys at Spring Creek) 3/21 3/27 4/6 4/11 4/18 4/21 4/28 5/2 5/5 5/5-6 Track & Field Dan Lennon Class B (Vermillion) Lounsbery Early Bird (Centerville) Turner County Relays (Centerville) Centerville Rotary Relays 12:30 p.m. Tri-State Inv. (Gayville) 1 p.m. Flevares Relays (Tyndall) 4:30 p.m. 1st Dakota Relays (Yankton) 2 p.m. Don Diede Relays (Freeman) 1 p.m. O’Gorman Inv. 9 a.m. Howard Wood Dakota Relays (Sioux Falls) 2 p.m./9 a.m. 5/9 Tri-Valley Conf. (Baltic) 1 p.m. 5/18 Region 5B (Centerville) 10 a.m. 5/26-27 State Meet (Sioux Falls) 9:30/9 a.m. Gary’s Repair & Towing Light, Medium & Heavy Duty Towing 4/7 Class B Classic 4/13 Southeast South Dakota Small-School Inv. 4/21 B-SC/Gregory Inv. 10 a.m. Avon/Scotland Inv. 10 a.m. 4/28 (Lakeview, Mitchell) (Fox Run, Yankton) 10 a.m. 9 a.m. (Boys at Gregory, Girls at Burke) (Boys at Scotland, Girls at Bon Homme CC) 5/5 Platte-Geddes/BSC Inv. 10 a.m. Avon/Bon Homme Inv. 10 a.m. 5/19 Pre-Region 10 a.m. 5/23 Region 4B 10 a.m. 6/5-6 State B at Sioux Falls 5/12 (Boys at Burke, Girls at Platte) (Boys at Spring?eld, Girls at Bon Homme CC) (Lakeview, Mitchell) (Lakeview, Mitchell) TBD (Girls at Prairie Green, Boys at Spring Creek) Harding Glass 907 Broadway Ave Yankton, SD 57078 2100 SD Hwy 314 Yankton,SD •Auto •Doors •Commercial •Residential •Windows •Shower Doors •Mirrors 665-4351 605-665-3616 1000 Cattle Dr., Yankton, SD (605) 665-1665 3/21 3/27 4/4 4/7 4/11 4/18 4/21 4/27 4/29 5/2 Dan Lennon Class B Gregory Inv. Scotland Inv. Avon Inv. 4:30 p.m. Wagner Relays 2 p.m. Jaguar Inv. (Corsica) 1 p.m. Flevares Relays (Tyndall) 4:30 p.m. Great Plains Conf. (Scotland) 1 p.m. Platte-Geddes Inv. 10 a.m. Little Missouri Valley Conf. (Wagner) 2 p.m. 5/6 Andes Central-Dakota Christian Inv. (Lake Andes) 9 a.m. 5/9 Fort Randall Conf. (Lake Andes) 1 p.m. 5/12 Kimball-White Lake Inv. 2 p.m. 5/18 Region 6B (Kimball) 2 p.m. 5/26-27 State Meet (Sioux Falls) 9:30/9 a.m. Gerstner Oil Co. E. Hwy. 50 Yankton 665-5568 A Touchstone Energy Coorperation Lake Andes, SD 57356 (605)487-7321