Some West River gymnastics programs are concerned about their future.
In Rapid City, two local gymnastics clubs have closed and some are worried about the future of the high school program, given the district’s possible budget cuts.
School superintendent Peter Wharton says the program will be reviewed in the coming months. Rapid City gymnastics coach Randy Hagen says money is a weak reason for cutting the sport.
Wharton points out there were only 14 competitors on the Rapid City Stevens and Central teams this past season.
Elsewhere in West River, Kadoka coach Kippy Udehn will not return. The gym the school uses has closed. Community efforts may be needed to keep the program going.
Tennis: Gebauer signs with Augustana College
Sioux Falls tennis standout Hannah Gebauer has signed a national letter of intent to attend her hometown college. Gebauer has inked a letter with Augustana College, according to Vikings’ tennis coach Marc Kurtz.
Gebauer is a four-year letter winner at Sioux Falls Lincoln. She was a three-time state finalist in singles play and a doubles finalist in 2008 for the Patriots. Gebauer was a state runner-up in Flight 1 singles and also placed second in Flight 1 doubles in last year’s state meet, as the Patriots finished third as a team.
She finished with a 23-2 record in both Flight 1 singles and Flight 1 doubles play during her senior season.
In a news release from the school, Kurtz commented,
“We are extremely fortunate to have a player of this caliber and character to join Augustana College and our tennis program," Kurtz said in a press release. "I feel she has yet to reach her true potential and we will see continued improvement when she is put in a more challenging environment. Hannah will be an instant impact player for our women's tennis program.”
Track and Field: USD Coyotes ink state talent
The University of South Dakota signed a number of in-state high school athletes to its track and field and cross country programs.
Andy Coy of Hill City placed third at the state Class A cross country meet last fall. He was named to the all-state cross country team in 2007 and 2008, placing second in the 2007 event as Hill City won the state team title. In track, Coy was a member of last year’s Class A state championship 4x800 meter relay team. Coy also competed in basketball, where he set a school record for career points.
Sioux Falls Washington’s Casey Shade was the Dan Lennon Invitational’s most valuable performer this spring and also won the 800 meter event at this year’s Nebraska Mid-America Winter Track and Field Classic. Last spring, Shade was on the bronze-medal winning 4x400 meter relay team and his team placed fourth in the 4x800 meter relay event at the Class AA state track meet.
Jordan Smith of Yankton won the 2007 Eastern South Dakota Conference 110 meter high hurdles and also took second in the same event at the state Class AA state meet. Smith holds Yankton’s school record of 14.57 seconds in the event and has a personal best of 21-feet, 9-inches in the long jump.
On the women’s side, Winner’s Alix Driscoll has the school record in the 100 meter race and is a member of Winner’s 4x100 and 4x200 meter relay teams. Driscoll also competed in volleyball and basketball and was named the school’s outstanding female athlete of the year. She was nominated for the Elite 15 National Women in Sports Day Award.
Mitchell’s Tessa Dee qualified last year for the state meet in the 100 hurdles. Dee is a four-time letter winner in track and a six time letter winner and state meet qualifier in gymnastics, helping the Kernels to the Class AA state team titles in the 2007 and 2008 championships.
