From USD's Buell to Jacks' Baseball to High School Track, The Price of Admission Seems Worth It
In the past few weeks, we have been presented with a vivid picture of South Dakota athletic pride.
One such example is women's pole vaulter Bethany Buell of The University of South Dakota, who on Friday will be the first USD athlete to compete at the NCAA DI Track and Field Championships.
Another example was the inspired and energetic play of Ritchie Price's South Dakota State University men's baseball team. The Jacks pushed Oral Roberts to the brink in the Summit League Baseball Championships http://www.gojacks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=15000&ATCLID=205155970. While ORU won the league championships for the 14th straight year it was not without a few tense moments at Sioux Falls Stadium last week, created by the spirited bunch from Brookings.
Today, one of the SDSU's baseball standouts, Jackrabbit standout pitcher Blake Treinen, has gone in the seventh round of the baseball draft by the Oakland Athletics. His selection, at least by round, is the highest by an SDSU player since Wade Adamson went in the fourth round (94th overall) in the 1978 June draft by the Minnesota Twins. http://www.gojacks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=15000&ATCLID=205157701
Let's recall the recent standout performances at the South Dakota High School Track and Field Championships at Howard Wood Stadium where we saw a reappearance of one of the state's most storied programs, Sioux Falls Washington. The Warriors, led by former SDSU great Everett Gebhart, won the AA boys title for the 32nd time in school history and the first since 1988. It was at that same meet that we saw the continuing of a remarkable track legacy in Rapid City Stevens, whose girls team, led by former Coyote Paul Hendry, picked up its 18th overall title and 15th in 16 years. Along with thousands in attendance at Howard Wood Field, I witnessed the exploits of Carly Carper, Kari Heck, Seth Boomsma and Sami Galliger and others, who dazzled us with their powerful and graceful talents.
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| Bethany Buell of The University of South Dakota |
Now our attention shifts to Buell and what her historic pole vaulting at the NCAA Championships means for South Dakota. Clearly, Buell's achievement of qualifying for the DI championships is remarkable, and at the same time, the next step for USD program, which was fast-tracked in track and field as part of its move to Division I.
Buell will now walk the walk with such storied programs as Arkansas, Oregon, Nebraska, Minnesota and others. While she has only the power of one, Buell carries a heavy weight on her shoulders. She not only represents the University of South Dakota and the state of South Dakota, she also hold the mantle for the Great West Conference as the only athlete from that league competing at nationals http://www.usdcoyotes.com/sports/track/release.asp?release_id=6446.
The weight doesn't appear to be to heavy for the redshirt freshman Buell, who seems to be taking the pressure of the moment in stride, at least that is what she told NCAA.com reporter Tim Turner.
“It was tough,” Buell said of advancing through windy and rainy conditions at the NCAA West Preliminaries in Oregon two weeks ago. “You have to focus on what you have been working on. I would like to have jumped higher, but I am thankful to have made it to the next round so I can go there and experience that atmosphere.” http://www.ncaa.com/news/trackfield-outdoor-women/2011-06-02/buell-lone-coyote-championship
Buell has designs on DI All-American status, meaning she needs to finish in the top eight in the women's pole vault competition at Drake Stadium in Des Moines this weekend. If she reaches that mark, which is two spots above her current ranking, she will give the Coyotes, its first-ever points at the NCAA nationals. And, she will become the school's first DI All-American in any sport. If she finishes ninth through 16th, she will receive second-team All-America honors. If she just participates in a round she will earn honorable mention All-America from the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
As we watch or follow Buell in the Coyote red and white this weekend, we should recognize the hard work and effort of the entire USD program from student-athletes to coaches and administrators. It has been a quick journey and one that will get rougher as the tide gets higher. As we honor their achievements, it is right to take a look at the remarkable achievements of its leaders -- coaches Dave Gottsleben and Lucky Huber. Gottsleben arrived at USD in 1984 and Huber in 1993.
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| Lucky Huber, USD Women's Track Coach |
Huber, who coaches Buell along with coach and two-time Olympian Derek Miles, has led the Coyote women to three consecutive indoor Great West team titles. He has directed Coyote teams to 16 overall conference titles, including USD's time in Division II and its three years at DI. Huber, who has also served as coach for the U.S. Olympic star Miles, has coached 187 All-Americans at USD. The Elk Point native was the 2008 Division II national coach of the year. In 1998, he led USD to a second-place finish at the Division II indoor nationals, which is the highest finish by a Coyote track and field team. That same year the Coyotes placed fifth outdoors. While USD was in the NCC, Coyote women teams coached by Huber won 13 titles and he was named the Indoor and Outdoor Coach of the Year in the same season in 1997, 1998, 1999, 2005 and 2007
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| Dave Gottsleben, USD Men's Track Coach |
Gottsleben, originally of Brookings, S.D., has also enjoyed remarkable success as the coach of the men's program for 27 years. He has led the Coyote men's team to three straight indoor Great West crowns and three straight second place outdoor finishes. The Coyotes finished one point away from an outdoor title this spring. Gottsleben has won 14 men's conference titles in the old NCC and the Great West. He is a two-time Division II national coach of the year, copping honors outdoor in 2006 and indoor in 1998. Under his watch, 150 Coyote student athletes have earned All-American honors. An 11-time NCC Coach of the Year, he received the NCAA Division II Men's and Womens' Track and Field Coaches Assocation Award for Distinguished Servide in 1994.
When Buell finishes up this weekend, Huber and Gottsleben will prepare the Coyotes for their next step of preparing for their entry into the Summit League this fall, where they again take up competition with old friends, SDSU and North Dakota State.
From Buell to Jacks baseball and high school track, all of these athletic efforts are worth the price of admission — so keep watching, the actors in this reality show will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Is There Something in the Water?
First, we have the Reggie Bush saga that brings down the proud Southern California football program, including forfeiture of its 2004 national title. Then comes the whole Cam Newton affair at Auburn University and whether his father received any money for Cam's services. We all wondered if Newton should compete; he did and led the Tigers to a national title under fairly controversial circumstances. Next comes "clean" Jim Tressel and his All-American quarterback Terrelle Pryor, who seems to have a vehicle for each day of the week. A proud University, Ohio State faces major challenges and penalties in the days ahead because of Tressel's actions and his decision to put a mask over the truth. The Buckeyes faithful won't like what happens in the coming days and weeks. It gets better, tonight we learned that Pryor is leaving Ohio State to ply his trade professionally http://www.freep.com/article/20110607/SPORTS08/110607056/Terrelle-Pryor-leaving-Ohio-State?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE. Big surprise huh?
Finally, this afternoon Mike Hamilton of embattled Tennessee resigned amidst major problems http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=6634194 in his basketball and football programs.
All of this begs the question, is there something in the water at these college institutions? Do they really believe, like some of our politicians, that in a 24-hour news cycle that they can hide misguided and wrong behavior? Maybe we need our scientists to find a truth serum that can be downed with good clear water.
All Seriousness Aside, how about this diddy?
Tyler Merriam, a friend who is an South Dakota State University broadcaster, put this fun piece on Facebook today about Adam Vinatieri, the former Jackrabbit kicker and Rapid City Central kicking standout, now starring for the Indianapolis Colts.
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