Cross Country opens around USD Friday

The South Dakota State cross country season begins Friday with the USD Preview in Vermillion, South Dakota.

Led by young Carson Noecker, the men’s cross country team looks to extend its already impressive winning streak of eight Summit League titles.

Noecker, a Nebraska native, won the individual conference title last season as well as the Championship MVP and Championship Newcomer awards.

While it’s an impressive team, head coach Rod DeHaven, who is in his second decade leading the program, believes several other teams in the conference can compete.

“I think the Summit League has five teams that can be ranked regionally on the men’s side,” DeHaven said. “North Dakota State is obviously a great team, UND is good, Oral Roberts is very good and St. Thomas is really good. I think all of those teams are rightfully in the top 15.”

In the women’s category, the Jacks lose Leah Hiskens, the face of their respective program.

“Leah Hiskens will go down as one of the most successful, if not the most successful, cross-country dancer in the history of the program,” said assistant coach Alex Mundering.

Hiskens led the Jacks to a second-place finish at last year’s Summit League Cross Country Championships and finished second overall in the women’s race.

After the loss of Hiskens, runners Jessica Lutmer, Mya Kizer and Claire Beckman must step up their game to maintain their dominance.

Following their USD preview meet, the Jacks will travel to Sioux Falls, South Dakota for the Augustana Twilight on September 6.

Softball and baseball get artificial turf fields

South Dakota State University announced that it will launch a new project for its softball and baseball teams: artificial turf fields.

The installation of artificial turf for both sports fields is privately funded and was recently approved by the South Dakota Board of Regents.

Construction and installation of the fields began earlier this month.

The main reason for this project was to be able to play more home games. In the past, both teams had to move their home games to other cities due to weather or to Bob Sheldon Field here in Brookings, South Dakota to play games earlier in the season.

To make this possible, fans, local businesses and former teams have joined forces.

The team working on the project will be Mid-America Sports Construction, a company based in Lee’s Summit, Missouri.

Completion is expected for softball and baseball before the 2025 season.

arena construction is nearing the end

After the basketball and wrestling seasons ended earlier this season, construction on the new First Bank & Trust Arena is in full swing.

In the first event at First Bank & Trust Arena, the South Dakota State volleyball team will face Kansas City on Thursday, October 3rd.

To give you a quick glimpse of the new and improved facility, they are hosting an event on September 27th at 5 p.m. where they will offer tours of the First Bank & Trust Arena.