WINTER SPORTS 2016: PAGE 5A PRESS & DAKOTAN ? VERMILLION PLAIN TALK Veteran Lineup Provides Spark For Bucks NEB. GIRLS’ BASKETBALL Hockey: Yankton Squad Boasts Four Seniors, Six Juniors This Year BY DYLAN HUGGINS sports@yankton.net The season is underway for the JV Yankton Bucks hockey team and the Bucks will rely heavily on not only their four seniors, but a big junior class as well. “Our junior class has actually seen extensive varsity action the last couple years, so they are very experienced players and they have played at a high level,” Yankton head coach Chad Kapla said. Kade Larson (captain), Olivia Kotalik, Zane Wiedenbach and Travis Munyer are the four seniors. Six juniors are on the team including Nathan Eickhacker, Trey Bakke, Dillon Barger, Oakley Palmer, Jack Schoenfelder, and Jackson Somsen. “Bakke is a hard nosed forward and a proven goal scorer for us, he is off to a fast start already this year and we will look for him to be one of the top scorers in the state,” Kapla said. “Palmer, Somsen and Jace Kapla are all proven defensemen and will solidify our blue line.” Due to the number of players, Yankton is playing at the JV level. “The last couple years we’ve had to play varsity and JV and our number have kind of dictated that,” Kapla said. “We didn’t have enough for two teams and so we are playing at the JV level.” Kapla said that this year will not only be good experience for the juniors, but next year as well when they will be seniors and there will be younger kids who are on the team whom they will lead. “We have a big group of Bantams coming up next year and so we’ll have those six juniors next year as seniors and they will set the tone and be a good example for them.” The three areas that the Bucks will focus on throughout the season are competing harder, getting ourselves into better physical condition and playing smarter hockey Sophie Noecker, Hartington-Newcastle (20) Allen ABOVE: Yankton players celebrate a goal during the team’s home opener against Rushmore on Nov. 26. LEFT: Trey Bakke fires the puck in for a goal. YANKTON Boys’ JV Hockey (1-2) 11/26 11/27 12/3 12/10 12/11 12/30 12/31 1/6 1/13 1/14 1/21 1/22 1/27 1/28 2/4 2/11 2/12 2/18 2/24 2/26 3/3-5 according to Kapla. “If you’re going to compete, you have to compete hard in practice and practice well and with the slimmer numbers that we have, we’re going to have to be in really good shape so we’re going to have to work hard with our conditioning on and off the ice,” he said. “Just being better hockey players by willing to learn the game, making smart plays and working YHS WR Bloom?eld COACH: Terri Mlady ASSISTANT: Vicky Jensen VITALS: Class D-1, Lewis and Clark Conference RETURNING: Sara Castaneda (Sr., 5-10, 16.6 ppg, 9.0 rpg, All Conference, All State HM); Amber Bruegman (Sr., 5-4, All Conference HM); Leah Poppe (Sr., 5-7); Renae Kauth (Sr., 5-3); Michelle Wachter harder not smarter.” (Jr., 5-3); Emma Fiedler (Jr., The Bucks are 1-2 on the 5-8); Michaela Johnson (So., season. 5-6); Carolyn Nagengast (So., Follow@dhugg23 on Twitter 5-9) NEWCOMERS: Brooklyn Eisenhauer (Fr., 5-8); Bree Eisenhauer (Fr., 5-6) tion of wrestlers to hold up the new Buck wrestling traditions that are being chiseled with each ensuing season. “Coach Smith brought a lot of tradition change and liveliness to the room,” said Diedrichsen “he really knows how to get us going and get us pumped for practice.” FROM PAGE 4A Schmidt, will be looking to lead this team with the help of an experienced junior class. “We performed better than we expected, we had six state qualifiers,” said Schmidt, “the moral in the room is definitely up.” The youth of this Bucks’ squad is something to behold. Aside from their three seniors, there are only three juniors on this Yankton squad. However, Smith is confident in the abilities of his youthful wrestlers. “They’re all seasoned wrestlers, I think that leadership has been passed down to this group,” Smith said, “we have a lot younger squad, we have a lot of room to grow.” One wrestler who will be looking to grow will be Diedrichsen, the only member of this squad who has qualified for state. He qualified for state at 220 pounds , but was beat out in the first round. “I had some tough matches and got beat out the first round, I didn’t place last year but I’m looking to get back there and build on last season,” Diedrichsen said. With such a young team, it will be easier to transition into the style of wrestling that Smith wants to see from his athletes. He has been pushing them towards a more aggressive style of wrestling. Taten Bahm is one wrestler who will be most affected by the presence of Smith. vs. Rushmore L 5-6 (OT) vs. Rushmore W 5-4 at Watertown L 1-8 at Sioux Falls 12:45 p.m. vs. Brookings 2 p.m. at Oahe 8 p.m. at Oahe 6 p.m. vs. Fremont 7 p.m. at Sioux Center 8 p.m. vs. Sioux Falls 7 p.m. vs. Boji 6 p.m. vs. Sioux Center 11 a.m. vs. Mitchell 7 p.m. at Brookings 3:15 p.m. at Boji 5 p.m. vs. Aberdeen 8 p.m. vs. Aberdeen noon at Fremont 10:25 a.m. at Mitchell 6 p.m. vs. Watertown 11 a.m. State Tourn. (Rapid City) COACH: Chris Blohm ASSISTANT: Paige Green VITALS: Class D-2, Lewis and Clark Conference LAST YEAR: The Eagles lost in the first round of districts last year. RETURNING: Bri Hingst (Jr., 5-7, PG, 174 pts, 76 reb); Haley Stapelton (So., 5-4, SG, 17 pts, 13 reb); Bethany Kneifl (So., 5-5, SG, 8 pts, 14 reb;) Madison Schneiders (So., 5-9, PF, 73 pts, 95 reb); Sierra Brahmsteadt (Sr., 4-11, SG, 3 pts, 4 reb) NEWCOMERS: Alyssa Boese (So., 5-4, SG); Alyssia Strivens (Fr., 5-7, PF); Katie Bathke (So., 5-2, PG); Kaitlyn Madsen (Jr., 5-8, PF); Ally Twohig (Fr., 5-6, PF); Alexis Brahmsteadt (So., 5-6, SG); Desi Martell (Jr., 5-5, SG); Heidi Johnson (So., 5-9, PF) Follow @RogelioUlisesR on Twitter. Creighton COACH: Kyle Kibbie ASSISTANT: Danielle Wagner VITALS: Class C-2, Lewis and Clark Conference LAST YEAR: Creighton finished with a record of 2-20 last year. RETURNING: Chelsea Boelter (Sr., 5-6, 4.6 ppg, 3.3 rpg); Kasey Kuhl (Jr., 5-7, 2.3 ppg, 1.5 rpg); Sydney Walton (Jr., 5-5, 3.6 ppg, 1.8 rpg, Cassidy Moeller (Jr., 5-7, 6.4 ppg); Clarissa Becker (So., 5-7); Ashtyn Fritz (So., 5-5, 4.6 ppg) NEWCOMERS: Jordyn Kuhl (Jr., 5-5); Alaina Farnik (So., 5-4); Kim Hines (So., 5-6), Malissa Dardet (So., 5-6), Charlize Wilmes (Fr., 5-8), Kayla Peiper (Fr., 5-5) Crofton COACH: Aaron Losing Jada Cattau, Cedar Catholic ASSISTANT: Tiffany Panning VITALS: Mid-State Conference, Sub-District C2-5 LAST YEAR: The Lady Warriors finished the year as state champions. RETURNING: Kelsey Sanger (Sr., 5-7, 11.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg); Monica Arens (Sr., 5-10, 18.0 ppg, 6.7 rpg); Lauren Steffen (Sr., 5-6, 5 ppg, 2.5 rpg); Mariah Dendinger (Sr., 5-10); Sam Altwine (Sr., 5-3); Haley Arens (Jr., 5-6); Madison Kube (Jr., 5-8), Hannah Steffen (Jr., 5-6); Lauren Arens (Jr., 5-7); Josie Sanger (So.), Aubree Potts (So., 5-7); Hannah Van Heek (So., 5-6); Danielle Steffen (So., 5-4); Sydney Tramp (So., 5-4) NEWCOMERS: Shelby Oetken (Sr., 5-10); Alexis Arens (Fr., 5-8), Elyssa Tramp (Fr., 5-6); Ryah Ostermeyer (Fr., 5-7); Keirra Vornhagen (Fr., 5-8); Taylor Arens (Fr., 5-5) Hartington-Newcastle COACH: Marcus Messersmith ASSISTANTS: Josh Morton, Molly Ladwig VITALS: Class C-2, Lewis and Clark Conference LAST YEAR: HartingtonNewcastle finished the year with a record of 13-10. RETURNING: Sophie Noecker (Sr., 5-8, G); Belle Harms (So., 6-1, P); Willa NEB. GIRLS | PAGE 6A Hartington Shopper 402-254-6406 Josh Rowell, left, looks for an opening during a match in the 2015-16 season. Bahm wrestled varsity last year as a freshman at 106 pounds. He was also on the verge of qualifying for state, having missed it by a one match. Now a sophomore, Bahm is set to become one to Smith’s first four year wrestlers. “I think this year is the year I’m going to win it,” Bahm said. Confidence is pouring out of these wrestlers this year. The high intensity of their workouts mixed with the positive reinforcement of Smith has begun to harbor a new style and generation of Buck wrestling. Smith believes in personal progression: slowly building up from previous results until a desired result is achieved. “Maybe we lose by a few points, we work on it until it’s one point, and we keep working until we are the one win- ning by a few points,” Smith said, “We want to be in their face, force them to make a mistake and not be afraid to make mistakes.” With the Bucks going through a transitional time, it will be a few seasons until Smith’s philosophy is perfected. When the time comes, there will be a solid founda- 313 Industrial Ave. Hartington, NE www.folkersbros.com Like Our Photos? Order Copies Of Them At www.yankton.net (402) 254-7471 Check out this week’s advertising in the Hartington Shopper or at our Web Site: www.hartingtonshopper.com Member FDIC Boys’ Basketball Member FDIC | Equal Housing Lender Hartington, NE FORDYCE, NE WYNOT, NE 402-357-3508 402-357-2324 HARTINGTON, NE 402-254-3983 HARTINGTON CEDAR CATHOLIC 605-260-8674 • 2408 N. Broadway, Yankton www.greatwesternbank.com PO Box 248 214 N. Broadway Hartington, NE 68739 (402) 254-3549 www.steffendrug.com 12/2 vs. Boone Central-Newman Grove 12/6 at Bloom?eld 12/9 vs. O’Neill 12/13 at Crofton 12/22 Knight Classic (Fremont) 12/28-30 Great Northeast Neb. Shootout (Wayne) 1/2 Knight Classic (Fremont) 1/5 vs. Laurel-Concord-Coleridge 1/13 vs. Pierce 1/17 at Creighton 1/20 at Wayne 1/21 at Guardian Angels CC 1/24 vs. Ponca 1/28-2/4 Mid-State Conf. (Norfolk) 2/7 vs. Homer 2/9 at Battle Creek 2/11 vs. Lutheran High Northeast 2/17 at Norfolk Catholic 12/1 12/2 12/6 12/9 12/12 Girls’ Basketball vs. Crofton vs. Boone Central-Newman Grove at Bloom?eld vs. O’Neill vs. Norfolk Catholic 12/15 at Avon 12/28-30 Great Northeast Neb. Shootout (Wayne) 1/5 vs. Laurel-Concord-Coleridge 1/13 vs. Pierce 1/14 at Lutheran High Northeast 1/17 at Creighton 1/20 at Wayne 1/21 at Guardian Angels CC 1/24 vs. Ponca 1/28-2/4 Mid-State Conf. (Norfolk) 2/7 vs. Homer 2/9 at Battle Creek Wrestling (w/Hartington-Newcastle) 12/1 at Scribner-Snyder 12/3/16 Howells-Dodge Tourn. 12/10 Stanton Tourn. 12/17 EP-PJ Tourn. 12/29 Pierce Inv. 1/7 Winside Inv. 1/12 vs. Crofton-Bloom?eld/West Holt 1/14 Battle Creek Inv. 1/21 Oakland-Craig Inv. 1/26 at Winnebago/vs. Wake?eld 1/28 Plainview Inv. 2/4 Mid-State Conf. (Norfolk) HARTINGTON-NEWCASTLE Boys’ Basketball 12/2 vs. Ponca 12/3 at O’Neill St. Mary’s 12/6 at Walthill 12/12 at Emerson-Hubbard 12/13 vs. Allen 12/17 at Wake?eld 12/19 vs. Crofton 12/29-30 Creighton Holiday Tourn. 1/5-6 Hartington-Newcastle Post-Holiday Tourn. 1/12 at Homer 1/13 vs. Osmond 1/17 at Laurel-Concord-Coleridge 1/20 vs. Bloom?eld 1/24 at Plainview 1/26 at Winside 1/27-2/6 Lewis & Clark Conf. 2/7 vs. Wausa 2/10 vs. Wynot 2/17 vs. Randolph 12/2 12/3 12/6 12/12 12/13 12/17 Girls’ Basketball vs. Ponca at O’Neill St. Mary’s at Walthill at Emerson-Hubbard vs. Allen at Wake?eld 12/29-30 Creighton Holiday Tourn. 1/5-6 Hartington-Newcastle Post-Holiday Tourn. 1/10 vs. Randolph 1/12 at Homer 1/13 vs. Osmond 1/17 at Laurel-Concord-Coleridge 1/19 vs. Gayville-Volin 1/20 vs. Bloom?eld 1/24 at Plainview 1/26 at Winside 1/27-2/6 Lewis & Clark Conf. 2/7 vs. Wausa 2/10 vs. Wynot Wrestling (w/Hartington Cedar Catholic) 12/1 at Scribner-Snyder 12/3/16 Howells-Dodge Tourn. 12/10 Stanton Tourn. 12/17 EP-PJ Tourn. 12/29 Pierce Inv. 1/7 Winside Inv. 1/12 vs. Crofton-Bloom?eld/West Holt 1/14 Battle Creek Inv. 1/21 Oakland-Craig Inv. 1/26 at Winnebago/vs. Wake?eld 1/28 Plainview Inv. 2/4 Mid-State Conf. (Norfolk)